#icarus writes the bear

[murdrdocs]

explicit sexual content MDNI

you know when you’re laying in bed on your stomach, scrolling through your phone, one leg bent at the knee in a 90 degree angle and the other outstretched completely? yeah thinking about being used in that position.

your shorts are already tiny enough to barely cover much when you’re standing and walking around. so when you’ve been laying down for nearly an hour now, rolling around in search of the perfect position for your mindless scrolling, the fabric has ridden up to cut between your cheeks, exposing the bottom of them.

subsequently, your shirt has lifted, exposing your sides and back, and although so much of you is covered, it appears the opposite.

he feels as if it’s the opposite.

laying beside you on his side, no longer focused on whatever he was supposed to be doing before your figure caught his eye. he’s been silent for a while, letting his eyes rake over your figure. letting the sight of you relaxed like this entice him. convince him that he needs you.

which, with the way you’re laying, legs already spread and inviting him in, he thinks you feel the same.

he starts off casual, innocent. he lets you warm up to his touch.

you hum a little appreciatively whenever his hand lays flat against the exposed skin of your back. your hips wiggle a bit when his palm glides down to rest over your ass. your legs spread more whenever his large hand situates itself between your legs, fingers resting against the taut crotch of your shorts.

you don’t tell him to stop. you don’t tell him to keep going. but your back arches and you move just a little closer.

your head, previously having been faced the opposite direction, turns to look at him once he starts to trace the outline of you with a light touch. barely enough to provide stimulation, but the memory of what he could do to you is what drives you to want more. not the preview of what will inevitably come to be.

you watch him, he watches you, and then you reach down to slide your shorts and panties off in one motion. you go to change positions, too, maybe lay on your back to give easier access, but he shakes his head and kisses his teeth.

“back on your stomach. like before.” it’s a request, there’s room for denial, but with the speed at which you follow it, it could easily have been identified as a command instead.

either way, you end up just as you were before. your eyes flutter shut at the first touch. firmer than before, but still gentle in nature, once more a glide through your slit before ending at your entrance.

by the time he has two fingers buried in you, you’ve thrown your leg over his hips and dug your nails into the forearm not flexing with the effort of fingering you. you’re watching him again, but he’s focused on your cunt swallowing his digits this time, the lewd sounds of it all echoing around the bedroom now that the clacking of your nails against your phone screen isn’t present.

he seldom blinks. his lips are parted, gentle breaths leaving them periodically, and if your own lips weren’t so preoccupied with spewing out thankful praises then you would’ve kissed him.

the heel of his palm digs into your ass as he crooks his fingers a little more aggressively. he searches for a second, eyebrows furrowing in determination, and you do your part by lifting your hips and twisting them a little and then there. there it is.

your hips are already lifted so it makes it all the more easier to slide your hand down and press against your clit when he tells you to.

after that it doesn’t take long. just a little while longer and your toes are curling and your back is arching and you’re burying your face into the pillow beneath you.

his fingers stay within you at first, pumping at a more languid pace, and then once you’ve stopped twitching he pets your head soothingly. he peppers kisses into your scalp, and your eyes are suddenly heavier than they were previously.

you peel your head out of the pillows to ask him, “what was that for?”

he pulls you closer into his side with one hand, urging you to press your back to his chest.

“those little shorts.”

[apollos-boyfriend]

Please share any more snippets of Purpled Vs the concept of gender. I need more of that little bitch

here r some more (also discarded) snippets i was playing around with. cpurpled vs the concept of gender will forever be my favorite thing, you CANNOT convince me that an alien would have the slightest idea of what human gender means

“Their planet didn’t have such concepts, much less actual words to describe them. Up until that point, he’d assumed the boy in 80’s name was just that—a name, like how Chazm wasn’t a word, or the bear part of Walli’s.”

“It was stupid, but a little funny, at least when she got to use them for herself. They were still willing to void anyone who called them it. They didn’t get her irony.”

“Boomer once tried to sit him down and explain the concept of gendered terms and societal standards and expectations for them, but Purpled tuned them out around halfway through their tangent. It couldn’t make her money, so it was essentially worthless to her. Boomer seemed passionate about the concept, at the least, which she wagered was enough for them both.”

[mightydyke]

The thing I want most in the whole world is for Carol Ann Duffy to write a poem about Frankenstein. If she wrote a Frankenstein poem in the style of her "The World's Wife" poems, I think I would die. From the point of view of Elizabeth, or the female Creature if she was created, or a female version of Victor... I think a poem like that would be too perfect. If it existed I would know for certain that some force out there is looking out for me specifically

[sunlit-mess]

you always seem to draw a lot and like i wonder how you deal with burnout or art block

Burnout is nothing new,

I can't bear to fail this too

HOW TO DEAL WITH CREATIVE BURNOUTS :

Shut your brain off, and REST. Get away from your canvas for a while, take a breather.

Have FUN, Go ahead and boost your mood in certain ways you want to let off steam.

Socialize and interact with other people and treat yourself, eat what you like or do something you've like been dying to try with your friends/family. It's like a reward for doing hard work!

Reflect. Lessen being harder on yourself, you can only take so much, you don't want to break completely. Our ideas can be infinite, but our body is not.

If you want to start again, work comfortably on times you are likely to be productive. Get comfortable while drawing!

FOR ART BLOCK :

Almost the same thing with burnouts, actually!

Step away from the canvas. Step outside, Do other hobbies and such, read a book, listen to music, socialize, etc.

If you have 'failed works; works you think that are shit', draft them instead. You'll find them useful! You can try redrawing them again some other time.

Eventually, you'll take action when inspiration strikes.

----------

Having hyperfixation keeps my creative fuel maxed, especially with music or literature ☠️ though sometimes they can get so irritating bc I'd have nothing to think about but the same thing over and over huhu.

Outside the hyperfixations, also a struggle. But I like to research and collect information in order to find out how I want to execute whatever idea.

I also have too many ideas, and can be over ambitious, to a point it's like some Icarus thing... 😅 I fly too high sometimes, I crash so low.

I also tend to write them down, or just do thumbnails then drafting them for another day.

And trust me when burnout always take a toll on you, it's been years and I still deal with frozen shoulders and wrist-arm pains. If not that then it's lethargy, both mentally and physically. And more tbh. kms so bad HAHAHAHAA

Despite all the burnouts and handicaps,

I'm always hungry, always itching to create something.

[fandomwriterstuff]

Call it What You Want

James Potter x Fem!Reader

Words: ~1k

Heavily inspired by Call it What You Want by Taylor Swift.

My castle crumbled overnight

I brought a knife to a gunfight

They took the crown, but it's alright

Brown leaves crinkling beneath your feet, you made your way back to the place you used to call home one last time. You used to love this place. You used to love this castle with its endless hiding spots, the abundance of life and personalities within, the things you learned. But this year was different. 

The sun was low in the sky, and you sighed with a visible puff as you walked slightly behind the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors. In previous years you’d walked with your friends, a group of witches and wizards from different houses mingling together. You were well loved, a Gryffindor who cared about more than the house cup, pranks, and house rivalries. You had good marks in class, a wide variety of companions, and the respect of your professors. 

You didn’t realize how fragile all of that was, how quickly they would all turn on you. In the last month of sixth year you lost it all (save your good marks, nobody could take our hard work away from you). You would give it up any day though for what you gained.

All the liars are calling me one

Nobody's heard from me for months

I'm doing better than I ever was

You spent the summer by yourself, only writing letters to your sweet boy. You couldn’t bear the thought of not writing to him, and having to face those pretty puppy dog eyes day one back at Hogwarts. You thought you’d be walking with him and his friends today, maybe you would feel less alone. 

Alas, James had interned during the summer with the Ministry of Magic and was coming back to school a day later than everyone else. 

If you were being honest, without the pressure of maintaining a dozen friendships, pretending to be perfect all the time, being obedient and well-behaved… You were doing better than ever. 

Sirius brought out your mischievous side that you hadn’t indulged in since your youth. Peter was your homework buddy and gossip partner. Remus listened to you and anchored you when you felt like you would float away. And your James. James brought out every shining golden thread of love and affection you had within you (a seemingly never ending supply when it came to him). He was there for you when everyone turned against you. He was there for you when the last of your friends stopped trying to spend time with you. He introduced you to his friends when it seemed like you had none left. 

'Cause my baby's fit like a daydream

Walkin' with his head down, I'm the one he's walkin' to

So call it what you want, yeah, call it what you want to

James was the sun in the sky and you were sure you were stronger and smarter than Icarus. You could withstand his glow. You were his partner.

“What do you mean you haven’t seen her?” His voice was clear once he’d breached the entrance to the common room, and you perked up at the sound.

“We couldn’t find her on our way in, we looked, promise,” Sirius was pleading, and you sort of felt bad. You were busy wallowing the day prior to notice that the other three marauders were looking for you. 

“And she wasn’t at breakfast or lunch today either,” Peter’s timid voice reached your ears and you unfolded yourself from the cozy chair you’d spend the afternoon in.

“Jamie?” Your voice was soft and you only had a second to bookmark your page before you were wrapped up in those muscley arms. 

“Baby, I missed you,” he peppered your flushed face with kisses. “I was worried about you,” he murmured only for you to hear and your chest tightened. He was so good to you. 

“Sorry I worried you, sweetness,” you whispered, breaking out of his grasp to sheepishly look over his shoulder at your three friends. “Hello, boys.”

“And where have you been?” Sirius mock scolded you and a laugh bubbled up in your chest. “We were looking all over for you.”

“We were worried when we didn’t see you at breakfast or lunch,” Remus added and you shrugged guiltily.

“I was reading?” 

“You shouldn’t skip meals to read, love. You know that,” James chided you with soft eyes. 

“But they’ve finally realized they’re in love I just had to read another page and-”

“And another page, and another. Merlin you’re a nerd,” Sirius chuckled before heading up to their shared room. 

“We’ll see you two later,” Remus then dragged Peter up the stairs and you were left in your corner of the common room with James. There were other students there, but none paid you any mind. Nobody paid you mind anymore. 

James plopped himself down into the cozy chair you’d spent most of the afternoon in and tugged you down into his lap. 

“Tell me about your book.” 

All my flowers grew back as thorns

Windows boarded up after the storm

He built a fire just to keep me warm

All the drama queens taking swings

All the jokers dressin' up as kings

They fade to nothin' when I look at him

James was better than anyone you’d ever known. After you were broken down from losing all you ever knew and you built up walls where once there was openness, James was the one to build a door. He didn’t try to break your walls down, he didn’t try to force you to be happy. He was caring and understanding, he was patient and he loved you. You couldn’t care less about everyone else's drama when you were in his arms.

Masterlist

[kirbybecomesastarwarrior]

💋: what motifs/symbols do you associate with your ship?

I would love nothing more than to explain all of them.

Motifs/Symbols

When I say that they're the heart & soul of KBASW I mean it! Arthur & Celestine are the moral compass of the story/KBASW AU.

Tropes/Themes/Dynamics

@kirbyoctournament

As you can see once again I had too much fun. Sorry, it took a while for these inbox questions. I ended up putting them together because they went so "hand & in hand". (link to questions)

Once again I will say this again... "writing romance is a different type of beast I kid you not!" Shoutout to all the romance writers. I've been a single pringle my entire life so... that's why these posts (Celarthur/Merther) post take so long!

I hope my portals of romance aren't... I don't know how to put this "don't seem too romanticized" or that cringe (LOL).

Keep reading for my long in-depth explanation of the content. (and honestly I still don't think it's enough lol)

I hope you guys enjoyed the post.~

Please continue reading if want a full explanation of the following...

Motifs & Symbols explained~

Creatures:

Celestine: Owls are the symbol of wisdom, power, and spirituality; the birds of Athena. But they're also the symbol of bad luck and are also known as an omen of death.

I've worked this into her character, she's all known just like the animal she represents. But also worked the "bad omens" in her future sight... she mostly (if not always) sees horrific futures. Despite this, she's used that to her arsenal, after all, you learn more from your mistakes, or in this case horrible futures.

And of course, her "cracked warpstar" is her omen of death.

Arthur: Dragon (of course) can either be a force of good or evil. Bravery, ambition, and strength a symbols of adversity, and wickedness.

This paired so beautifully with Arthur's character, (since he is a redeemed good bean). All the best qualities can be used for good and evil... Also, I made his dragon green & red as a reference to the Welsh flag and well...

Alright truth be told the only reason I had Arthur go to "Yomi" is so I can justify why he as dragon monster form (I've been working on it)...hopefully you'll be seeing it soon

Flowers:

Celestine: Lotus represents overcoming adversity, the cycle of rebirth, and enlightenment. Not only that but spiritual growth.

Just like the flower itself, she was able to bloom in the murkiest water and despite all made the most of her life. The (sad) truth of it all is had she not had that hardship... she would have been just as egotistical & selfish as Icarus & Uther.

It was her "future vision" & her struggles that made her into such an empathic person.

Arthur: Marigolds represent family ties divinity and the connections between life and death.

And as I have recently revealed Sir Arthur is why Morpho Knight can go in & out of the living world. Also without spoiling anything refers to when he becomes King of Avalon. (and those of you who have seen Coco... there is indeed going to be a Marigold bridge that Arthur can create with his powers :3)

Elementals (symbols):

(Water power) Celestine (like her elemental) is a very go-with-the-flow person. She understands that the unexpected can happen at any moment and will change the course.

With Arthur when he's particularly stuck in a rut, Celty will give him options, or mentally stuck she goes to her "Rolodex of knowledge." Adaptive and flexible with he thinking, she's very willing to think outside the box.

This is also throwing Arthur's burn mark: I changed Arthur's burn mark (caused by Uther's fire magic) to just be the right shoulder. To represent the burning of the " angel on your right shoulder."

Celestine (who's a water element) is healing his right shoulder, or basically, the goodness he lost. Of course, the mark is still but in the sense he no longer bears the burden alone. "Literally taking the weight off his shoulders. " That he doesn't have to be this perfect soldier... that he can just be a "wart".

(Earth powers) Arthur, he can be stubborn (as a rock) and stuck in his ways, (which is why it takes him a while to get him out of Uther's thumb). But this also applies to his determination. Someone who doesn't give up and makes him incredibly ambitious.

When she's thinking "what I could've done" or "what I should've done", ruminating on it. (trapped in her own current) Using his "very a matter of facts" to remind her of what she's done, and that things are better because she did act.

Out of the many vast futures she sees, Celestine can rely on one constant... who was there for her was Arthur... he's her constant her rock. And was the thing that ultimately made her choose Arthur to be the one to help her fulfill Kirby's prophecy. Because she knew he'd still complete it even after she was gone/.

~

(I'd love to explain Arthur & Excalibur but if I'd go into detail with it that'd be going into spoiler. But for those of you who aren't familiar with Arthuriana lore... the true value of Excalibur is in the Scabbard...

But here it's for another reason... because the Scabbard & Excalibur are two separate relics. The scabbard belongs to Arthur... the sword however was never his.~)

The Yin & Yang to each other & when the sun and moon are brought together they form the dusk & dawn~ Taking on and bringing out the best in each other.

Tropes/Themes/Dynamics

Enemies to Lovers troupe & cop vs. vigilante.

As a result, they have such a fun back & forth and witty banter... but despite it they.

In short, the cop working for the corrupt system is first at odds with our lovable rogue. And believe they are the villainous one (because society says so), only to realize through their many interactions that they are fighting for good despite operating outside of the law.

Then eventually (the cop) realizes "Oh, crabs" I'm working on the wrong side. For Arthur, his hesitation/ignorance of this doesn't come from the idea of a "holier than thou mindset" (like Uther). Rather it comes from "I want to be accepted" & "I want to be worth something..." Arthur started as the weakest of the three (students of Uther) which is why he was burned by Uther (to be used as an example to the other two)

When he finally beat the odds it was his proudest moment. The desire to be seen by Uther was what blinded him and made him see his mentor as the pinnacle of what he should be. (but in reality, it was actually just a want for affection and praise.) And believed in these ideals (that Uther spits out), making the ends justify the means & ignoring the damage they cause. (For the greater good)

The fact that accepting this means that the suffering & all the hard work he went through were for nothing.

But it's through Celestine's influence as Merlyn who actively tried to expand his worldview. That there was so much more to life than war, and showing "Might is not always right" him there are other ways than (Uther's) brute force.

A more fulfilling & smarter way, where he can still do his duties without having to sell his soul for it. Having his first taste of unconditional love.

Leading him to be able him to befriend Gaius, and Kit Cosmo (who is Sir Kay in this) later become his sworn brothers, emotionally adopted by Sir Ector (Kit's father ), and tame/ befriend Fritz Stahlbaum (Ribbon's Grandfather).

The Double life /Secret Identity

Are very much an important aspect of Celestine's character. While she is confident in herself and who she is... it's not as herself it's as her alter-ego Merlyn.

Basically, being Merlyn it's not just her "redemption for Shiver Star" but this is also her escape as well.

She's seen as this hero, someone great and fantastical when she dawns on the the cloak and the mustache. She's the great mage Merlyn she can be herself... But when she's Celestine her true self she's seen as the broken... the useless Hero of Yore something to be hidden away and ashamed of.

(I'd know you from anywhere & any form)

Celestine only ever told her friends (Minerva Mimi- great grandmother, Dairus Drosslemeyr- Daroach's great uncle, and Velvet Stahlbaum- fairy Queen, Ripple's stepmother) about her Merlyn persona.

That's why it's such important that the only person to ever figure it out (without Celestine telling them... ) was Arthur. You see, Arthur Celestine as Merlyn, but as she became more popular in the diplomatic world, she. had to be seen more. (Much to Icarus & Uther's dismay~)

Arthur started to see the similarities between her and Merlyn... it was through her quirks & character that she was indeed Merlyn. And does not mind at all she's still the same person. Respectfully Arthur pretends that he does not know..

It was also through these interactions realization... that she does not value herself (true self) as Celestine.

And this hurts Arthur deeply, the person who he always saw as this amazing mage, who was the smartest person he knew.. doesn't see that in herself at all. Arthur has always asked her (as Merlyn) "what he could do to pay them for everything they've done for him..." But all they'd ever say was... "the fact that we're able to be finally partners in crime is enough for this old man" (basically they were saying, the fact we were finally friends & your company is enough).

Uses this as a chance (of knowing her identity and Celestine not being aware of it) to repay her for everything she's given him.

Not only that but he actively does things that make her more comfortable and appreciate herself more (as Celestine.) Buy subtly reminds her that she is Merlyn. And performing these small acts of kindness for her gives her chances to be herself around him and encourages it.

Scene Example of this/ & more of their Dynamic :

C: You know you don't have to do this for me, you merely have to just guard me have to-

A: Oh but I do...It seems your diplomatic work was overlooked... Unfairly I may add especially.

C: Thank you so much... War-ta (had to stop herself from calling him Wart) The war on the battlefield must be so physically taxing on everyone... people tend to forget it's a political one as well... this means a lot but in reality, it's not that much as you do.

A: I don't see it like that... if anything your battles are one of tongues

Y' know an old friend of mine told when people forget to appreciate you... you forget the importance of yourself, so they told me to perform small acts of kindness to myself... to remind myself.

I hope I'm overstepping or making you feel uncomfortable *sees her blushing & getting embraced*

C: No, it's nothing I just wasn't expecting someone to give me flowers today (Oh, hoot he's talking about me *as Merlyn*)... Your friend sounds wise~

A: Oh my friend? *smiles sweetly at her* I wish they could tell you this themselves... they have such a fantastic way with words... I don't know how convincing I sounded compared to them, after all... *looks at her directly* They're the smartest person I know~

C: Oh is that so * gets more embarrassed* that's so sweet of you to say... I should take his advice... I tend to forget this myself.

A: Oh no need to be so hard on yourself... Actually...* grins wickedly* the friend I speak of is actually a very old man... with very old bones... at first I thought he was making up old bones since he seemed so energetic for an old man~

C: Oh hoo hoo, hoot really? *nervously laughter

A: Ah, but alas I haven't seen him for awhile... perhaps its old bones have caught up to him... he just seemed so lively... but who are we to determine the vitality of the elderly after all... We're not old men!

C: Yes we most certainly are hoo hoo hoot *still nervously laughing*

Oh look dear we're already at the temple!

Good night dear have a wonderful evening *hilarious sprints inside*

A: Go-od night, My- la-lady *tries to stifle his laughter then-* AH BwaHAHAHAHAHAH!~

Alright, admittingly he does have a little slice of revenge for Celestine hiding her identity as Merlyn. With little fun jabs like that. (LMAO)

~

They do have this "More than the mask moment..." Arthur admits the only reason he ever found out that she was "Merlyn," was because they were the same person with or without the cloak.

Oh I have so many ideas for this but that'll be for another day~

Forbidden Love

And of course, it's forbidden!~

Since astral are born from wishes (made by the positive energy of the Fountain of Dream) there was no need for "relations". Not only that because of status, or (mainly Uther ), but a tragedy involving Sir Orpheus & his lover.

Uther took this as a chance to further his agenda "Look & at the tragedy of Sir Orpheus... look what happened to him and his lover! It's clearly a sign from Void... THIS LEADS TO WEAKNESS AND WEAKNESS LEADS TO DEATH! WE ARE SOLDIERS NOTHING MORE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIVERGE FROM THE PATH! THIS IS OUR LOT IN LIFE DO NOT BELIEVE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING ELSE!"

And yes that is indeed Papi. (Sir Orpheus )

Nobody Gets Me Like You ~

They are the two sides of the same coin. Both of them are trapped in the positions they were given...

Arthur is trapped in the position of being Sir Uther's (bloody) right-hand man, his Perfect Killing Mach- I mean soldier- his golden boy.

Celestine is trapped in the position of being the Oracle... the broken one, the one cast aside, the overlooked and underestimated.

The key to breaking these chains that they've been cursed with is finding self-love within themselves. And they find that within each other. "A Steven Universe Love like you" moment.~

It's this deep understanding and trust they have for one another that allows love to develop feelings for one another. Emotionally they're both dealing with the same issue.

Being able to be there for one another and not having to explain it allows the other to put their guard down. And truly fall apart in front of another knowing that the other will hold them together.

I really love these two so much... if you've read this long thank you so much I hope you guys enjoyed the post!

[highabovethecloudssomewhere]

the WINGS THE WINGS THE WINGS tell me more about. the wings

👏 👏 OKAY SO THE WINGS

I’m still hashing out the finer details on this AU and I’d love to write something for it one of these days but the long and short of it goes like this:

The people of Xerxies are descendants of an ancient minor deity/eldritch being, and the people of Xerxies through bloodline inherit a pair of wings. The wings exist in a pocket-dimension and can be manifested or banished as their person wills.

Edward and Alphonse, being half-Xerxien, were born with a set of Xerxian wings. It takes time to learn how to manifest/banish the wings in and out of the pocket-dimension, so they just sort of let the wings do whatever they wanted for most of their early childhood. Hohenheim kept his wings to himself while the two of them were growing up because the memories of his people were too much to bear. Once he left, Edward and Alphonse started keeping their wings to themselves more often too.

Since Edward and Alphonse are only half-Xerxien, their wings do require the occasional maintenance (preening) and sometimes Edward struggles to control whether they appear or disappear (reservations against Hohenheim, wings responding to his emotional state/impulsiveness, etc). He’s more torn on his wings, but tolerates them because it’s something he has in common with Alphonse and Alphonse loves their wings. 

Then their mother died. Then they tried to bring her back. Alphonse lost his body; Edward lost his arm and his leg. Edward refused to bring out his wings after that, no matter how many times Alphonse urged him. What did it matter, anyway? Alphonse’s wings were taken along with his body. Hohenheim was never coming back and neither was Mom.

For years, Edward lived as a grounded Icarus.

Then there was the ‘incident.’ Edward reacted without thinking, because a moment’s hesitation meant life or death, and his wings manifested before he could think. But something was wrong. He kicked off the pavement, his arm outstretched, only to come slamming back down. That was when he realized the Gate was cruel beyond coincidence. 

It’d taken one of his wings—just one—to make sure he never forgets that he used to be able to fly. 

(This marked the first time Mustang and his team saw Edward’s wings. Edward had never so much as mentioned them before, but Mustang heard stories of the ancient civilization that flew on wings made of comet tails and stars.) 

(It was supposed to be a myth. It isn’t.)

— Aaaand that’s what I’ve got on this AU so far. TL;DR Edward somehow needs even more hugs

[sparks-chaotic-cove]

Planning a big embroidery project in honor of Fable! I'm trying to make a shirt with the symbols of each of the characters on it, and maybe some writing along the arms. For this, however, I need a little bit of help! I can't seem to settle on a few symbols for some of the characters-

Here's ones I have planned:

Aax/Perseus - Axolotl (in Percy's colors)

Caspian - Compass star

Centross/Violet - Reaver

Wolf/Fenris - Wolf with a star over an eye

Ocie - Water and waves cascading down

Momboo - Tree sticking out of the water

Addie - Spider hanging from the tree

----------------------------------------

Ones I need help with:

Rae - Its hard to sum Rae up into one symbol- I have an eye of Ender and a book so far. Not sure what to settle on

Arisanna: Thinking about torn fairy wings?

Icarus: I don't watch icarus a lot, but my ideas were: a) a set of purple and yellow wings, b) Goggles with a bit of blood

Bruin/Jamie: I'm not sure how to represent them? Thinking about a bear with ram horns ?

Athena: Athena's another hard one to communicate with just a symbol. I'm not sure whether to do an Allium with fire and gold, or something else-

Ven: For Ven I'm leaning towards a quill that is writing in red? sort of covering up the bloodshed?

Haley: Only thing I can think of is a blindfold? like the one she wears?

Easton: Not sure whether to do a sort of skulky thing or a lightning one? I feel a blindfold would be too similar to Haley's.

[yeyinde]

thank you for tagging me @cordeliawhohung and @vanderilnde ! i'm tagging @ivymarquis @cosmicpro @when-pigsfly @eilidh-eternal @ethereal-night-fairy and anyone else who wants to participate!

1. How many works do you have on AO3? 40

2. What's your total Ao3 word count? 692,024

3. What fandoms do you write for? cod right now. slashers. predator. six. i have planned fics for John Wick, JJK, RDR2, Far Cry 5, Top Gun. nothing really put me in the same horrifying chokehold as cod, though.

4. Top five by kudos body electric, baby, (don't) fear the reaper, riptide, in undertow, past and pending

5. Do you respond to comments? i try to. i just never know what to say.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? i don't really do angsty endings, but probs down to the marrow. it was meant to be read as an "oh, no..." sorta fic. on the flipside since it's in Soap's pov.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? ahhhhhhh. when your need grows teeth? i think those two freaks got exactly what they wanted lmao

8. Do you get hate on fics? sometimes. rarely on AO3. mostly just asks on tumblr. and almost always about my prose as if i wasn't writing exclusively from Giovanni's room lmao or my use of rare/big words. getting Purple Prose Queen was a highlight, though.

9. Do you write smut? i've been known to dabble

10. Craziest crossover. i took at stab at Joe "Bear" Graves x Reader x John Price because of an ask once. it was never posted because i got bored editing it so it'll rot in my "stuff i am too lazy to fix and post" folder forever. but other than that, idk. i prefer aus.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? nope.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? no.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? naur. it sounds fun, though.

14. All time favorite ship? hard to pick, but probs Brittany/Santana. or Spider-Man/Deadpool. Icarus/Apollo. Iwaizumi Hajime x ME!!!! Ulquiorra/Orihime. Stiles/Peter. most recently, Reylo. Itadori/Sukuna.

15. What's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will? it's called: freefall :/

16. What are your writing strengths? flow. i used to go to a lot of poetry readings/open mic nights and think i developed a pretty solid feel for how to make things flow nicely. pacing and direction (i take a lot of inspo from my favourite directors and try to add elements of their films/style into my writing). ignoring grammar/punctuation. experimenting. trickery/masking. sneaking animism and anthropomorphism into my writing.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? god. a lot. punctuation. grammar. overuse of metaphors. big words. misusing words. dialogue. action. brevity. consistency. tone. characterisation. my stuff tends to meander, i find.

18. Thoughts on dialogue in another language? no real opinion, tbh.

19. First fandom you wrote in? mythology. i wrote an ungodly amount of Hades/Persephone from 12-14.

20. Favorite fic you've ever written? uhhhhhhhhhh. sea fever. baby, (don't) fear the reaper.

[taciturnpoet]

okay here is the promised anderperry Icarus and the Sun/Apollo post because @73647e enabled me lol

this will be mostly rambling because I love this comparison (and use it a lot) so be happy if there is even a single coherent thought in this okay? talking about this makes my brain go FAST and I went over this about a thousand times so bear with me here

When I had first started thinking about this, I had originally thought of Neil being the Sun and Todd being Icarus. But then I realized no, their dynamic shifts and actually switches roles after Todd does the poem in Keating’s class.

In the beginning, Neil is the one that draws Todd into the group and persuades him to join the poets, all while also encouraging him to be himself and speak up more. While Todd is not only falling for Neil, he’s also trying to take Neil’s advice to heart since Neil is what Todd wants to be.

Neil could befriend a brick wall if left alone with it long enough. Everyone likes him and believes that he is made for great things (though not the same great things he wants to do), and you can tell that Todd wants to get to that point himself eventually. Todd’s been told his entire life that he will never amount to anything unless he becomes this thing he doesn’t even like, and Neil is more of what he aspires to be.

Then the poem in Keating’s class happens and things change.

After the poem, Todd starts to come into himself a little more. He’s gaining confidence in himself and his work—the work he wants to do, the work he’s passionate about—and he’s joking around and talking more with the poets. (Even though this scene is deleted, and I think that’s a crime) he reads a poem out loud to them and Keating at the end of the movie without Neil there.

Now, we know why Neil isn’t there, but that’s not important yet lol

Neil has been Todd's safety net, the person that kickstarted his self-confidence growth and made him truly embrace himself in the long run. By the end of the movie, Todd can show other people his work without Neil having to be there, which is a major development from Todd in the first poets meeting too afraid to speak and always looking to Neil for guidance.

When Todd is helping Neil practice his lines on the dock—another criminally deleted scene—he’s excited. He’s teasing Neil and playing around with him and becomes what he had the potential to be at the beginning of the movie with the help of Neil and Keating. 

Todd’s decided that he wanted to be his own person. He’s not going to try and live up to his parent’s expectations of him becoming a second Jeffrey, he’s going to pursue his writing and be his own person, and he appears to become so much freer after that realization. He’s embraced his passion for writing and poetry and pursues his art without hesitation, just as Neil wants to do with his acting, becoming a shining light of possibilities and potential, and most of all, freedom. 

After the poem, the glimpse of Todd’s brain, and his passion, Neil almost views it as something holy. In Neil’s eyes, Todd and his freedom are something to strive for, to look up to, and hope for like it's something divine. In a way, Todd becomes a symbol of freedom and passion, a beacon of everything Neil could be and wants to be/do.

I know we as a fandom talk about this a lot, but look at the way Neil looks at Todd after the poem, the way the sun is shining on his face and lighting him up only in the way it does whenever he’s having a Moment™ with Todd. No, seriously, it does that to him both when he decides to audition for the play and after the poem, but practically nowhere else in the movie.

Insanity. Anyway.

But then, during this same time that Todd is embracing his freedom, there is Neil. Neil who is practicing and alive and passionate while preparing for the play, making plans for the future, and dreaming of pursuing this life as an actor.

 ["God, for the first time in my whole life, I feel completely alive!" // "Most people, if they're lucky, live about half an exciting life. If I could get the parts, I could live dozens of great lives!"]

And yet, there is another Neil. The Neil who gets confronted by his father and told to stop doing the play, to stop acting, and give up his dreams, his passions, and what he believes to be his life, all to stay stuck in the existence his father wants him in. The Neil that goes to Keating for help and cries that he’s “trapped.”

The moment Neil decides to lie to Keating and tell him that he talked to his father, the moment he chooses to continue with the play and acting despite everything that could happen is the moment he cements his place as the Icarus in their dynamic. He chooses to ignore his father’s warnings against participating in the play and does it anyways. He chooses freedom and passion over safety. Neil chooses to fly.

Neil chose to take a chance, to try and escape and join Todd on the other side of freedom and authenticity, where he could pursue his dream and become an actor. He has his moment to shine, to taste the warmth of the stage lights akin to sunlight as he brings the play to life. All the possibilities, hopes, and dreams, all within his reach in the form of a crown made of sticks and leaves in a small-town theater. He can see his friends and his teacher in the crowd and feels invincible and in his element, bigger than life.

But then comes the melting of the wax and the plummet back to earth as he sees his father’s angry face in the back of the theater, and he knows.

He knew that there was no going back now, no reversing what he’d done, the fact that he’d lied to the two most influential men in his life for just a chance to join the other side. And yet, as someone pointed it out recently (I can’t find the post right now, I’m so sorry), there is a moment when Neil comes out after the play, and he smiles at his father, an attempt to see if maybe he won’t be falling tonight. But then his father doesn’t smile back, and everything goes by in a rushed blur of a freefall.

All of the poets try and reach out to him, to talk to him and congratulate him on his way out, but the only one he looks at is Todd. Todd, who’s so excited to see him afterward, tries to talk to him and get him to come back with them, but Neil smiles sadly at him and lets himself be dragged away. He knew he couldn’t put off this fight with his father forever and decided to stop hiding from it. He’s falling and isn’t trying to stop it.

I think Neil looks at Todd the way he does before they leave because a part of him knows he’s not coming back. He doesn’t want to go, but he can’t slow it down and spends his last moments with them looking at the boy whose become his Sun.

The descent is quick after the car pulls away, and Neil cannot stand up to his father. Every moment that led to Neil’s decision to be a part of the play, to follow Todd, is in the sun's bright light. It makes sense then that he’d die at night, with death embracing him with the sound of a gunshot rather than water splashing.

Todd finds out about Neil's death after sunrise. It's gray and quiet, but the sun still rises even after he knows Neil isn't rising with it.

And he's devastated, and he's angry, and he's no longer afraid to show that. He gets mad at Cameron for blaming Keating for Neil and believing he would kill himself under any circumstances other than his father. [“That is not true, Cameron, you know that. Keating didn’t put us up to anything. Neil loved acting!”]

Then, he gets mad at Nolan, talking back to him in front of his parents in that sham of a conference and in front of Keating's class as Keating is leaving. The same Nolan Todd nearly cried in front of on his first day at Welton because he was so afraid to speak his mind, to stand up for himself.

Todd is grieving, he is angry, and he is stronger than he was at the start. While he stands on his desk for Keating in a show of support, in thanks, he is also standing on his desk in thanks to Neil. For Neil.

Neil's gone. And yet, Todd shows his strength. He stands up for the ones he loves and is thankful for while also standing in defiance for those who played a hand in Neil's end and killing their dreams. He appears to smile ever-so-slightly when Keating looks at him, and Keating must know he'll be okay. 

His best friend is dead. The actor who brought a play to life and cast light everywhere he went was gone, but Todd isn't. Neil's light only reflected what Todd still had and would dedicate to Neil.

The freedom, art, and life that Todd now held were what Neil fell for, and Todd would spend his life creating in memory of the boy who fell trying to join him. Todd had to ensure that everyone would know the story of Neil Perry as much as they did Icarus. They were so similar, after all.

(this started to change halfway through, so idk if it makes sense but that’s fine. please talk to me about anything like this I get so excited about it lol)

[murdrdocs]

sleepy lazy couch sex; hints of very slight somno; pull out method; fluff (again!) MDNI 18+ w/ CARMEN BERZATTO

you tend to like carmy in the aftermath.

it's not like you hate him during the preparation, or despise him throughout the event. but you like him in the aftermath because he actually lets himself relax.

after preparing a menu, grocery shopping, and spending the entire afternoon working like the cookout is service at the bear, you tend to prefer the moments after. when you're on the way home with heat induced fatigue sticking you to the car seats. when your clothes smell of grill and outside and bug spray.

you drag yourselves home, ignoring whatever other festivities the family might have planned for the night. carmy's drained, you can see it in his eyes, which means you're drained too.

so there's no complain to pack up and leave.

he’s so calm in the aftermath.

he laughs weakly at your stupid jokes when you both enter the house. he kicks his shoes off and waits for you to do the same before he's wrapping himself around your body, burying his head in the crook of your neck and letting the remains of your perfume lull him into a state that's rarer and rarer these days.

you both avoid the couch. you know as soon as you sit down, you won't be getting back up. you lead him to the shower, wondering if he'll manage to keep his hands to himself for once. shockingly, he does.

he passes you the soap and lets you shampoo his hair. he scoffs halfheartedly when you chastise him for refusing to use any of the products you recommended. you only catch him staring twice, and he only pretends like he wasn’t the second time.

and then afterwards, when you smell like yourselves and not the backyard of a family member, you make your way to the couch. you're tired, and full, and searching for mundane entertainment until it's late enough to fall asleep without fucking up your sleep schedules.

the entertainment doesn't come from the TV.

it comes from carmy's hand on your thigh, your waist, your tits. carmy's hands slipping beneath your loose tee shirt and your tiny shorts. carmy's hands working you open between your thighs while tweaking your nipples.

he's lazy with it, not particuarly driven to get it all over with quickly. he wants you and you want him, but it's not carnal. it's languid, a hazy but motivated need to explore each other's bodies until exhaustion prevents you from doing so.

you slip your hand beneath his pants, feeling up his cock for long enough to confirm that he's as aroused as you are, and then you straddle his hips.

he looks up at you, eyes lidded and head cocked to the side. his hands rest on your hips, fingers rolling the thin waistband of your panties mindlessly. you could slip them off, but your limbs are getting heavier every minute so you just reach down and pull them to the side before sinking onto carmy.

there's a few moments throughout where the two of you just sit. where carmy's blinks are long and you consider resting your head onto his shoulder and knocking out like this. carmy commented on it once or twice, small questions of "we gonna stay like this?" and "are you gonna move f'me? or do you want me to help you out?"

you're just so comfortable like this. you keep telling yourself that if you were to fall asleep, it wouldn't be anything you haven't done before. but then carmy would shift his position, teasing the possibility of helping you out, and the feeling of his cock brushing up against you makes you want him more.

so you move. you lift and sink. you grind and roll.

he's just as tired as you, but you know how easy it is for him to get needy even at the sight of your cunt. so having you be right on him but unmoving must've been damn near torture.

your suspicions are confirmed by how instantly grateful he is.

"god, there you go. thank you," and he says your name, smooth in the way that you like.

the two of you sound beautiful together. your moans soft and breathy, his breaths extended and his grunts guttural. he slips your shirt over your head and tosses it to the side, and it's then that you have just enough of each other.

you do end up burying your head into carmy's chest at one point. you do lose your rhythm when you zone out and feel yourself slipping into sleep at one point.

but carmy takes over.

he wraps his around around your back and picks up your pace, nearly the exact same but with an added punctuation at the end of each shove up into you.

he only removes an arm to rub tight circles into your clit, and as soon as you come, the full extent of your exhaustion hits you like a ton of bricks. by the time carmy's hips become a little more erratic, you're nearly asleep, only awake enough to register carmy's hands gripping your ass as he turns you over.

you blink awake when your back rests against the couch, watching carmy move above you, feeling the change of position as he fucks you and fucks you and fucks you. his eyes taking in the way your tits shake, your eyes taking in the way his gold chain glints. his hands pressed into the couch and gripping your waist, your hands reaching for his face and his hair.

he pulls out right before and you don't flinch when his cum hits your stomach.

you really do think about falling asleep right there, but carmy helps you up, leading you to the bedroom with hands on your shoulders.

right before you knock out, you have just enough sense to lay on your back instead of your stomach.

[alexandraisyes]

Rate all TSAMS Earth ships that exist

Fucking hell why not

Earth x Monty: ZERO STARS - BOOOO BOOOOOO I SAY

Earth x Puppet: Five Stars - I need more of them

Earth x Foxy: Five Stars - YEAHHHHH

Earth x Solar: Three Stars - Cute but I see them as friends

Earth x Bloodmoon: Four Stars - I will not elaborate

Earth x Eclipse: FIVE STARS - LETS FUCKING GO

Earth x Killcode: Two Stars - They feel more like friends to me

Earth x Ruin: Five Stars - Me and like five friends know why

Earth x Solar Flare: Five Stars - Anything with Flare is a yes

Earth x The Computer: Two Stars - I mean sure I guess lol

Earth x Gemini: Two Stars - Why the fuck not

Earth x Nebula: Four Stars - Lesbians

Earth x Frank: Five Stars - Because Frank

Earth x Golden Freddy: One Star - Sugar Grandpa Real

Earth x Roxanne Wolf: Four Stars - Toxic Yuri

Earth x Glamrock Chica: Four Stars - Cuties!

Earth x Glamrock Freddy: Four Stars - It would be five but KC needs his bear damned it!

AU TIME!!!

Earth x Sobek (Evil Monty): Zero Stars - He would kill her

Earth x Gaia (Evil Earth): Five Stars - Toxic Self Love

Earth x Icarus (Star Holder Freddy): Five Stars - She would treat him so kindly and help him get over his trauma of accidentally deleting everything ough she would be so sweet and good to him

Earth x Kronos (Lord Eclipse): Five Stars - That man needs a woman's touch

Earth x Moros (Servant Eclipse): Two Stars - Moros seems a little too devoted to his act (and his lord) to consider a relationship or even friendship with someone else

Earth x Solstice (Swap Eclipse): One Star - Nah this feels like shipping her with Moon, no thanks

Earth x Space (Swap Earth): Five Stars - Self Love again but positive

Earth x Ammit (Mage Monty): Four Stars - Honestly this is 100% because of the way I write Ammit and hc him since we have so little content of him. I think he's a lot more mature than our Monty and really wise and shit. Soft-spoken maybe after centuries and centuries of solitude

[ragecndybars]

AO3 tag game :3

thanks so much for the tag @mvshortcut !!!!! much appreciated, this was a blast to fill out :D

How many works do you have on AO3?

86! Damn, that's more than I remember 🙀 I have been writing pretty fervently since I was pretty young, though, and I transferred all my old fics from fanfiction dot net to AO3, so it's a long stretch of time. All my old wattpad fics are still rotting somewhere though lmaooo I can't even access them anymore bc I forgot my password and I can't reset it bc I used a school email 😔

What's your total AO3 word count?

443,734! When I get to half a million I'm gonna have to throw myself a party. With boba and everything

How many fandoms have you written for, and what are they?

Oof, okay, here we go. A lot of the fandoms I have tagged on AO3 don't really "count" because they're just aggregate tags for the same fandom, so even though AO3 says the number is 48, I'm gonna count the TRUE number as 17. (It got cut down so much because of how many video game series have different games with different fandom tags on AO3, lmao)

Here's the breakdown of the list:

Persona (Mostly Persona 3)

Fire Emblem (Mostly Shadow Dragon and Blazing Sword)

Legend of Zelda

Pokemon

Professor Layton

RWBY

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Earthbound/MOTHER

Red vs. Blue

Voltron Legendary Defender

Naruto

Final Fantasy XV

Harvest Moon

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Avengers

Animal Crossing

Care Bears (despite having never actually consumed any Care Bears media to my knowledge)

The worst part is that this stupid list would be much, much, MUCH longer if I finished even a quarter of my WIPs 😭 Hell, even just my "Video Games" subfolder in my "Fanfiction" subfolder has more than 17 subfolders in it...

Y'all don't understand how many random fics my ADHD spares you from ever seeing I have no focus

Top five fics by kudos:

Ash and Emotion (Zelda) - Not surprising, I knew this was my most popular fic. It was for a ZeLink zine full of beautiful work :)

Resemblance (Naruto) - bro I always forget people really liked this one. Literally an unedited drabble I did in an hour for a "pride month drabble challenge" which I immediately abandoned. Trans rights I guess

Always Wanna Play (But You Never Wanna Lose) (Persona 3) - This one isn't surprising either, and I'm very proud of this fic so I'm quite chuffed to see it get so much attention... thanks everyone :')

The Beat of Your Heart (Zelda) - Now this one surprised me a lot. This was just a little piece for ZeLink week... Another unedited one, I literally was writing it on the toilet in church so I could get it out in time 😭

Comfort (Zelda) - Another ZeLink week piece, but I knew this one was popular. Also unedited, lmao. I was writing it on the day of my AP Calc finals and I rushed through the exam so I could have more time to work on the fic 😭 I made some Choices that year

Do you respond to comments?

I try to! But I get very anxious about it and tend to work myself into a tizzy, so I often put it off for later and then forget, haha. Then I'll go and respond to all my comments from the last few months and feel even weirder about it... T_T

What's the fic with the angstiest ending you've ever written?

Oof. That's... a hard one, haha. I've written a couple of fics without happy endings, though I typically don't. At least three fics which end on a canonical character death, for instance. But I'd say the ending which made me the most emo writing was Butter, a Mother 3 fic. It ends with Lucas, who's like 9, recently lost his mother, then lost his twin brother (and thinks it's his fault), and is now being neglected by his father, crawling into bed and crying. So yeah, pretty bleak, lmao... but at least he doesn't die I guess?

Do you write crossovers?

I do, but I haven't posted many yet. I'm not always huge on writing them, but I do think about them a lot. I was working on this one Persona 3 x Fire Emblem Awakening crossover but I lost steam on it, and now there's a really lovely crossover on AO3 with a similar premise that I was SO delighted to come across!!! Hope y'all don't mind me taking a break from linking my own work to shill for this one, hehe

Have you ever gotten hate on a fic?

Unfortunately, yes, about six times, I'd say. Even more unfortunately, most of those times happened earlier on in my fanfic writing career, and I was pretty sensitive to hate back then, so I deleted many of the relevant fics, and some of them I don't even have access to myself anymore.

Not gonna talk about the ones that are still upsetting, but I will talk about the funny examples: on a (since deleted) RWBY fic, I said in the author's note that I "wrote them as platonic, but the fic can be read as WhiteRose", and then I got a glowing comment gushing about how good the story was which ended with "but then you had to ruin it by shitting all over WhiteRose, how about you [long suicide bait]". Third most baffling comment I've ever received.

The two most baffling were on different fics, but both were making the same weird accusation??? One was on a ZeLink fic (actually, on Comfort, my fifth most kudos'ed fic of all time now), and y'know I think I'm just gonna show you the comment in question:

The other one was on a long-since deleted fic which focused on both a romantic ship, as well as a fatherly relationship between one member of the ship and the other member's father. I guess having a fatherly relationship with your father-in-law makes your boyfriend actually your brother (and therefore you can't date him anymore). IDK man people are crazy. (tbf the commenter in question thought I was setting it up so that he'd get adopted by his boyfriend's parents, which would give them more of a case, but like... that didn't happen in the fic and wasn't going to. they just guessed at a future plot development and got angry about their guess)

Do you write smut?

I do, but I've never posted any. I've posted one fic that was very suggestive, I'd even call it "NSFW" in a sense, but never anything explicit. Maybe I will in the future? We'll see if I can ever finish anything smutty, lmao.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yep, I had Ultimatum, my longest chapter-fic (and by far my most popular fic in the ff.n days) stolen and posted on another site by somebody. I reported it but never checked back up to see if it got taken down.

I also feel that I've had my work plagiarized pretty damn blatantly in another fandom (I was browsing a certain AU tag and read one which contained all the exact events and sometimes word-for-word dialogue from a fic of mine, just very very slightly rewritten) but the poster had no other works and their writing was definitely extremely juvenile, so... I figured they were a dumb kid and just decided not to raise a fuss. Checked back later and they deleted it, hopefully because they realized they shouldn't do that, so I figure there's no need to start shit over it. Honestly, if that person used that experience as a jumping-off point to write their own fics, then I'm glad it happened, imitation being the highest form of flattery and all.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, though I had someone reach out to me on fanfiction dot net a long time ago and ask permission to translate An Unheard Goodbye, which was super exciting! I agreed, but I don't believe they ever got around to it, or if they did, they never posted it. Still very flattering, and I think about that a lot, hehe.

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

HOW COULD I POSSIBLY ANSWER THIS. UM. UM UH. UHHH UM UH I. UM.

I'm.... gonna say Zelda/Link? I haven't written it in FOREVER but it was such a huge part of me coming into my own as a fanfic author, so I have to give it credit for that.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish, but don’t think you ever will?

.......all of them 😭 god I have so many of these damn things. But for the prime example, I'd point to Ultimatum, an old Pokemon fic that I started in middle school. I got all the way to the climax and I feel bad leaving my readers hanging, but... at this point, if I did continue it, I would honestly have to rewrite the whole fic first just to be in line with my current understanding of the characters.

What are your writing strengths?

Y'know, I think I get character voices down extremely well in a way which elevates my dialogue and narration. That's probably the thing I'm most proud of in my own writing, at least.

What are your writing weaknesses?

BREVITY. Or the utter, glaring lack of it. I have also been known to muddy up my writing with an overabundance of A) adverbs, B) unneeded clauses tacked onto perfectly good sentences, and C) em-dashes 😭

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fics?

I think it's dope as fuck, but I currently can't really accomplish it because I'm monolingual (NOT FOR LONG IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT, I'M COMING FOR YOU, JAPANESE FLUENCY!!!!). I will also say that I don't like when authors will write characters having a story-important conversation in another language, then put the translations in the end notes or something, requiring you to either read the chapter confused or else keep scrolling back down and back up.... I think even that's totally fine to do if what's being said isn't plot-relevant, though.

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

Naruto. I hadn't read or watched Naruto btw, I had only read other Naruto fanfics. I have spoken on this topic many times, but it remains hilarious to me. Also, so many of my old Naruto fics are lost to the Wattpad times, but I will take this opportunity to once again share a quote which I recently managed to unearth from my long-lost unsung magnum opus:

Never ever will I intentionally attain the level of comedy gold that I managed while writing completely dead serious Naruto fanfiction on Wattpad in 2012.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written so far?

See above. How could I ever top that fic.

In all seriousness, this question always makes me sweat, but I think I'm gonna say Oil, a slightly older fic from my EliHec days which I absolutely obsessed over for months before finally managing to finish. And, unlike most of the fics that I obsess over, I think the obsession actually made it come out better rather than worse, haha.

thanks again for the tag!!!! as for me, I'll tag uhh, hm, @wizard-finix @dreamedge @misty-wisp @flyfish1999 and any other AO3 writers who see this!!! (idk how many of you use AO3 and most of the MBS authors I know have probably already been tagged hehe but anybody who wants to should absolutely feel free!!!!!!!)

[liminalmemories21]

9 Books To Read in 2024

tagged by @jesuisici33. Thank you!

In release date order:

1- Holly Black - The Prisoner's Throne

After the shocking events of The Stolen Heir, Prince Oak is in deeper trouble than ever before. As his situation grows more precarious, Oak is desperate to find a way out, before all of Elfhame is caught in the coming storm.

I love pretty much anything Holly Black writes, but I particularly love the Folk of the Air series. I'm a sucker for a good dark faerie court drama.

2 - K Ancrum - Icarus

Icarus Gallagher is a thief. He steals priceless art and replaces it with his father’s impeccable forgeries. For years, one man—the wealthy Mr. Black—has been their target in revenge for his role in the death of Icarus’s mother. To keep their secret, Icarus adheres to his own strict rules to keep people, and feelings, at bay: Don’t let anyone close. Don’t let anyone touch you. And, above all, don’t get caught.

Hi yes, I am predictable.

3 - EK Johnston - Pretty Furious

In the small town of Eganston, Ontario, five good girls have had enough. They’ve experienced the best of what their community has to offer, but they’ve seen the darker side too. Together, they’ve decided that it’s time for a reckoning and that justice is their privilege to give.

If you have not read her earlier novel Exit Pursued by a Bear, go read it. It is so angry, but also so beautifully about healing and friendship.

4 - Leigh Bardugo - The Familiar

Set in the Spanish Golden Age, during a time of high‑stakes political intrigue and glittering wealth, The Familiar follows Luzia, a servant in the household of an impoverished Spanish nobleman who reveals a talent for little miracles. Her social‑climbing mistress demands Luzia use her gifts to win over Madrid’s most powerful players but what begins as simple amusement takes a dangerous turn. Luzia will need to use every bit of her wit and will to survive—even the help of Guillén Santángel, an immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both.

I like most things Leigh Bardugo writes, so curious about this.

5 - Tess Sharpe - The Girl in Question

Four teens. Three henchmen. Two thousand acres of remote forest. One very bad man. And a whole lot of new secrets to unearth. The unmissable, thrilling follow-up to The Girls I've Been.

First go read The Girls I've Been. Then Five Times We Almost Kissed. Then Barb Wire Heart. Tess Sharpe is such a fantastic writer - and the heart of her books is always people making the best choices they can when none of the choices are good or easy. Also, Barb Wire Heart is kind of like if S2 of Justified had been about the women.

6 - Anna-Marie McLemore - Flawless Girls

The Soler sisters are infamous in polite society—brazen, rebellious, and raised by their fashionable grandmother who couldn’t care less about which fork goes where. But their grandmother also knows the standards that two Latina young ladies will be held to, so she secures them two coveted places at the Alarie House, a prominent finishing school that turns out first ladies, princesses, and socialites.

Younger sister Isla is back home within a day. She refuses to become one of the eerily sweet Alarie girls in their prim white dresses. Older sister Renata stays. When she returns months later, she’s unfailingly pleasant, unnervingly polite, and, Isla discovers, possibly murderous. And the same night she returns home, she vanishes.

I will read anything they write. No questions asked. They're books are always so gorgeous and lush.

7 - Kristin Cashore - There is a Door in This Darkness

Wilhelmina Hart is part of the infamous class of 2020. Her high school years began with the election of Donald Trump and they ended with COVID. Now Wilhelmina, like so many of her peers, is in limbo, having deferred college because of the pandemic. Compounding the national trauma of 2016 to 2020, Wilhelmina has wrestled with the devastating loss of one of her three beloved aunts shortly after the 2016 election. This is a loss she felt so keenly that she’s spent the last years deep in her personal depression, only obscured by the seemingly endless waves of national trauma. Now on the cusp on the most consequential election in living memory, Wilhelmina may have found a door in her darkness and perhaps the courage to pass through it, if she can decipher the bizarre messages that keep appearing in her life.

I love Kristin Cashore's Graceling novels, so I'm curious about this.

8 - Jennifer Lynn Barnes - The Grandest Game

Seven tickets. An island of dreams. The chance of a lifetime.

Welcome to the Grandest Game, an annual competition run by billionaire Avery Grambs and the four infamous Hawthorne brothers, whose family fortune she inherited. Designed to give anyone a shot at fame and fortune, this year's game requires one of seven golden tickets to enter. With millions on the line, those seven players will do whatever it takes to win.

Is this series a little silly? Sure. Is it a lot of fun. Yes. Kind of like a grown up Westing Game.

9 - Margaret Owen - Holy Terrors

third book in the Little Thieves series - which on the surface is a heist story about what if the protagonist of the Goose Girl was the servant not the princess. And at it's heart is about recovering from trauma and loss, and learning how to let yourself be someone different. 

tagging @lemonlyman-dotcom, @ladytessa74, and @strandnreyes

[ellalalala]

Masterlist

All of these works are on my AO3. Please be respectful. Do not copy or steal my works, as I, just like all other writers, put a lot of time and effort into writing my fics, no matter how small or simple they are.

PS. If some of the ships below are not to your liking, just look away. Any needless negativity won't be tolerated and I'm sure someone else could offer you exactly what you want.

(Bear in mind that some of these are years old so the writing may be... subpar)

Genshin Impact:

Stay by my side, eternally - Il Dottore x Reader || Complete

the icarus to your certainty - Dainsleif x Reader || Complete

By your name (all the stars, rivers, cities) - Il Dottore x Reader || Complete (also on AO3)

lover, be good to me - Il Dottore x Reader || Complete (also on AO3)

Who We Are - Il Dottore x Reader || Multi-chapter, in progress

strangers in the night - Zhongli x Reader || Complete

don't ever tell me to go away (from you) - Childe x Scaramouche || Complete

on the common tongue (of your loving me) - Childe x Scaramouche || Complete, NSFW

burning it down - Childe x Scaramouche || Complete, NSFW

you and you - Alhaitham x Kaveh || Complete

don't wanna keep secrets (just to keep you) - Alhaitham x Kaveh || Complete, implied NSFW

everything good in life (seems to lead back to you) - Childe x Scaramouche || Complete

the sun and the moon - Childe x Reader || Complete

Romance Club:

When The Night Is Over - Cain x Lane || Complete

Arcane:

pure as the driven snow - Silco x Vander || Complete

I can't escape (the rain in my heart) - Silco x Vander || Complete

Bungo Stray Dogs:

two worlds apart - Nikolai Gogol x Sigma || Complete

I've got in my mind (all the things we could do) - Nakahara Chuuya x Reader || Complete

we should just kiss (like real people do) - Nikolai Gogol x Sigma || Complete

the more that you say, the less I know - Nikolai Gogol x Sigma || Complete

dumb and dumber - Nakahara Chuuya x Reader || Complete

the autumn breeze - Nakahara Chuuya x Reader || Complete

dancing with the devil - Fyodor Dostoevsky x Reader || Complete

Attack on Titan:

flowers for a ghost - Colt Grice x Reader || Complete

[autogyne-redacted]

The interplay between trauma and theory crafting is rly weird and imo worth talking about more.

A basic way trauma plays out is projecting aspects of a past traumatic situation onto a present situation that bears some (perhaps only superficial) similarities. You jump to conclusions that things now are the way as they were then, or treat ppl now like they're ppl from your past, or have emotions that are proportional to the past traumatic situation in response to the present stimulus.

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If you're projecting past situations and roles onto present situations it's extremely easy to see patterns. Once you've ideologized these patterns it's even easier to see future situations as them happening again.

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And especially in more social justice type spaces the idea that oppressed ppl have an automatic, inherent expertise in their oppression works to take the rush of trauma-fueled clarity and cement it into collective ideology.

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And, like, it's not like we can/should/need to separate out what comes from trauma vs what's detached and rational. (Detached rationalism/objectivity are fake ofc).

Thinking about how theory around transmisogyny forms, but also about how older writings talk about feminist and anti racist consciousness raising work, letting ourselves see patterns and talk about them and affirm them and risking getting positioned as crazy /being crazy is rly important. (The combahee river collective statement gets at some of these dynamics re feeling crazy without communal validation).

I think there's a lot of really important theorizing work that's come from ppl being deep, deep in their trauma and in their own head and having extremely low thresholds for pattern recognition.

But it's also easy to end up too deep. To cling so tight to a specific theoretical framework that you lose the ability to appreciate the specificity of a given situation. To reduce individuals to demographics. To let one framework or one axis of oppression become the way you try and make sense of the entirety of the world. (Ask me how I know).

The Icarus comparison is inescapable.

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Lately I've been trying to stay grounded in the idea that theory isn't truth (cuz there is no truth at that level). It's just a lens or a tool. And a lens that brings one point into focus obscures and distorts all else.

But you can think with a framework and see what it tells you, and you compare it to what you'd get with a different framework, or what your gut says, to common sense, to your emotions, to various friends, and you make your decisions. Theory informs and you get to amend your frameworks over time and see where they take you.

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I have a ton of appreciation for the ppl who are deep in this shit. It's a real place to be, and it's where the bulk of theory is born imo. The times I've been there have been rly important to getting where I am rn.

My big thought here is just that it's a disservice to ppl in that position to hyper validate them, and it's been rly helpful for me to get to a point where I recognize and can think intentionally about these dynamics.

(extremely curious about other ppls thoughts. Pls talk to me about this shit)