#idk if this would super fit in to drops' au but i tried haha

[emsartwork]

super loved @drops-of-moonlights glissandix so i wanted to take a stab at it with my winx-sona! two color variations becuase i couldn’t decide heehee

[yume-x-hanabi]

Writer Meta Meme

I decided to do all the questions on this meme :)

1. Tell us about your current project(s) – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it?

My current project is Concubinage, my gaiwin arranged marriage AU. It started as a random, entirely self-indulgent idea, but it has since grown into an actual project. Progress is good, I’ve managed to do bi-monthly updates and I have 30k in my drafts so far.

What I love the most about it is that, since it’s an AU, I’m pretty free to do whatever I want. I don’t have to be too careful of timelines and so on. Plus, in this AU, Gaius and Wingul are able to get closer than they otherwise would, due to the different circumstances. They have their own trials, but it’s different than in the canon timeline.

Another current project is Tales of Xillia Week, but I didn’t get much inspiration for it so I think I’m gonna do meta/headcanon posts more than fics ^^;

2. Tell us about what you’re most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project

I’m looking forward to getting to the part where it’s just domestic fluff haha. It’ll take a while to reach that point though.

3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway)

Not just one scene ig, but I’ve been wanting to write one-shots showing how the Chimeriad survived, and... haven’t gotten around to planning it. So it’s pretty low on my project list tbh.

4. Share a sentence or paragraph from your writing that you’re really proud of (explain why, if you like)

I have... a few, but they’re all spoilers for future chapters XD;;

5. What character that you’re writing do you most identify with?

I don’t... really identify with characters. I mean, they’re pretty different than me in personality, life and circumstances...

6. What character do you have the most fun writing?

I love writing Gaius and Wingul of course, but Agria’s probably the most fun. She’s completely unrestrained, which makes her pretty easy and fun to let loose XD

7. What do you think are the characteristics of your personal writing style? Would others agree?

Exposition and worldbuilding XD

I can’t help it, I always need to develop the setting...

8. Is what you like to write the same as what you like to read?

Yes. I would love it if more people wrote gaiwin XD

9. Are you more of a drabble or a longfic kind of writer? Pantser or plotter? Do you wish you were the other?

I used to be more of a ficlet writer, but I’m currently doing well with a longfic XD

As for the rest, it varies. I like to plot and outline a bit, but it’s often rather loose and I let inspiration guide me.

10. How would you describe your writing process?

Wait for inspiration time, energy and motivation to align.

11. What do you envy in other writers?

Those who update super long fics every week. How do you do it????

12. Do you want your writing to be famous?

Naah, I’m fine in my corner of fandom. Though I wouldn’t say no to a few more readers, if only to know that the ship still sails xD

13. Do you share your writing online? (Drop a link!) Do you have projects you’ve kept just for yourself?

Yep, I post on AO3. And all projects are meant to be posted one day, but some aren’t simply because they aren’t finished.

14. At what point in writing do you come up with a title?

The beginning, usually, but I might change it

15. Which is harder: titles or summaries (or tags)?

Tags are easy. Titles and summaries are hard, and I always end up with something boring but heh, as long as they get the meaning across...

16. Tried anything new with your writing lately? (style, POV, genre, fandom?)

It was last year, but I tried first person pov with my Agria fic, because that fits her well. I’d like to try poetry, maybe.

17. Do you think readers perceive your work - or you - differently to you? What do you think would surprise your readers about your writing or your motivations?

I have no idea tbh. When I write, I like to imagine what my readers will think (especially like when I write funny scenes, I hope they’ll make people laugh), but idk if it’s exactly like I think.

18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.

In Concubinage, I considered adding a plotline where Arst met an ex and had to deal with complicated feelings about it -- being reminded how it was to be in a loving relationship vs political marriage, craving intimacy like he used to have with said ex, etc. I ended up scrapping the idea though.

I also have... two or three possible ways things can play out in a much later plotpoint, and I think I’m pretty sure of which way I’ll go already, but the other possibilities exist. Maybe I’ll make a post about all abandoned plotlines one day...

19. Is there something you always find yourself repeating in your writing? (favourite verb, something you describe ‘too often’, trope you can’t get enough of?)

“And, but, and, but...” XD;

Also characters often find themselves doing something before they knew it...

My style is probably pretty repetitive. I’m not a native speaker, and I feel limited sometimes...

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

Concubinage is the result of watching too many sageuk and  taiga drama. No I’m not sorry.

When writing AU, I always like to include “cameo” of the original storyline (for example, as the plot of a book, or treating the canon games as a fractured dimension in Chimeriad Live AU’s, etc)

In Fractured Lives, I try to alternate Wingul and Gaius’ pov. It’s probably gonna bite me in the ass when some plot points work better in one pov but the chapter requires the other. I’ll probably have to come up with some fillers or something...

I have extensive headcanon about Auj Oule’s geography, history etc, which pops up in a lot of (planned) fics. Even if it’s different fics/AU’s (ex. Concubinage vs my pre-game gaiwin project vs the Wingul fic I was writing for the big bang), I reuse the same settings and OC’s. Most of those aren’t written/posted yet so it’s pretty self-contained for now, but if I ever get to completing those projects I hope it won’t be too confusing to readers who don’t follow all the stories...

21. What other medium do you think your story would work well as? (film, webcomic, animated series?)

If I had the art skills, I’d love to turn some of them into comics ;A;

22. Do you reread your old works? How do you feel about them?

Sometimes. Usually because I need to refresh my memory before writing a new chapter XD

23. What’s the story idea you’ve had in your head for the longest?

That project to write the whole pre-game Gaius & Wingul history, that’s something I’ve been wanting since forever. Well, I originally wanted to read it, but since no one’s gonna do it, I started thinking I should write it. It’s gonna be a huge project though...

24. Would you say your writing has changed over time?

I honestly have no idea. I do sense a difference in that it’s much easier for me to just write now; I guess habit helps. But I have no idea if style changed or anything lol.

25. What part of writing is the most fun?

Filling the tag with my OTP XD

[wavemaker9]

Firefly AU!Toni notes + some bits with kyle at the end

I think Toni definitely lied to Mel about his involvement with the war. This wasn’t something like Aus where oh it just never came up that I used to be a part of the alliance you never asked haha! Like when he first met her in the war, it was something he could kind of dismiss, just cite battles he fought in and they assumed it was on their side. But either before the war’s end or shortly after, some situation arising where he had to say to mel’s face that he had been fighting against the alliance the whole time. It wasn’t a dramatic thing I don’t think, like her accusing him of lying and him having to specifically lie to defend himself. I think it was just a casual conversation, her asking for clarification on something, maybe him mentioning without thinking at some point that he grew up on an allied planet and when she questions further, it leading to a point where he realizes okay she does actually believe that he’s always been fighting for the independent planets. And he either has to admit he was actually fighting with the alliance there for a bit or lie & confirm her beliefs. And he’s pretty good friends with Mel, he doesn’t want to lie to her, but he also figures she won’t take the truth too kindly, not at this point in their friendship, not after she already believes this lie about him, so after a moment’s hesitation, he laughs and tells some story about when he first entered the war, but changes up the details per what he saw serving as a browncoat so as to confirm yep yep, from the start i was on your side! Like i want toni to not have completely lied about being a browncoat where he never was one at all, and him actually fighting alongside Mel is a good thing to build their friendship and respect for each other on, but i also don’t want this to be something toni can try to sweep under the rug with a “technically i never /lied/ to you” excuse. No, he definitely did! He definitely, definitely lied to her and also did again and again later whenever it came up to anyone. 

God i remembered the apple story from war stories again and fucking. Okay but mel having a story like that. Not necessarily that, but something like it where she watched a lot of her fellow soldiers die in like some at least low level fucked up way from something alliance soldiers had done under the guise of kindness that actually turned fucked up. Now. toni /definitely/ being in the group of alliance soldiers who did that thing and going a touch pale when he first hears Mel tell the story from the other perspective. Mel even catching and asking based on his reaction if something similar happened to him, too. Him giving a shaky, hollow sort of chuckle, saying he remembers something like that happening, yes. 

Even if/when mel finds out about toni lying about his past in the war, i don’t know if she should ever find out about that. especially since like, idk maybe i’m wrong but i’d imagine she could move past just finding out he was alliance but swapped sides and then lied to her about it. It would take some time to rebuild the trust there a bit but eventually they’d work things out. but finding out he was specifically involved in a moment like that and knew but never told her would be. Rough for them to come back from? if even possible? I also just like that having to be something he holds in his chest forever.

I don’t even know if toni actively participated in it or was just there and didn’t stop any of them. If he didn’t stop them, it wasn’t like a “i’m too scared to speak up”, he just didn’t think about it, wasn’t in the mindset to think about it from the other side, few soldiers are. a lot of times, especially in a long lasting battle, you’re just trying to beat the other side, who cares how sometimes. I think he’d see the action the same either way because of that. Like literally if asked, his response would be “Does it really matter?” because like either way in his mind it’d be a shitty fucked up mistake he made that was pretty fucking lowdown and underhanded and he’s especially ashamed of it knowing it ended up being against his current friend.

Toni def had like shoulder length hair he wore in that ponytail look but cut it to the shorter length it’s at now. a part of me wants to say he cut it when he left the alliance as a symbolism thing, but a part of me also definitely wants to say it wasn’t until after the war and mel still teases him about it sometimes.

Even if he switched last minute just to end up joining the losing side, toni doesn’t really regret losing. He didn’t switch to win, he switched because he felt it was the right thing to do. He’s also pretty happy with where he ended up. The Oasis isn’t quite as sort of like. A pleasant agreeableness or as advanced a home as he had back as a part of the alliance, but he’s used to it and it’s comfortable in its own way. He likes being friends with Mel, values their relationship and is very grateful that they fought together during the war, that they still fight together now. Similarly, he’s met some good people being on the ship, like he didn’t like gil at first but now they’re like best friends and that never would have happened otherwise. He’s content with where his life is, and that’s all he can really ask for considering.

Besides Toni’s parents, has a brother. hey lemme preface this with i know very little about the hetalia historical relay between portugal and spain so like. this is just basing on very basic stuff from that and then what i wanted to build to fit the story i wanted to tell!

They didn’t get along too well growing up. They fought a lot, at first just as siblings tend to, but a bitterness kind of grew between the two as they each pursued their own interests and paths in life. Bro was nicknamed Port because he could fly very well and so made that into his job. before the war if you were looking for him, head to the nearest spaceport, he’s probably there heading out or coming in from a job. Toni learned a little how to fly from him and thus likely flew the oasis more than mel did before cian came on board.

I think during the war, port was pretending to be working with the alliance but was actually aiding the browncoats when able to. I’m not sure yet what the deciding factor was for toni to leave the alliance but it probably being related to that. Atm i’m fleshing out an idea of maybe port being found out by the alliance and needing an escape, setting aside his differences with toni to ask him for a final favor to help use toni’s ranking to help him slip under the radar to get away. Toni at first resisting, why risk his own title for a foolish mistake his brother did? But in the end it’s still his brother and it doesn’t take much to get toni to cave, promising help this one time. It’s risky, but they make it. Port tries to sway toni during the whole trip into joining him and helping fight against the alliance, and though some of the stories he gives chip away at toni’s resolve a little bit, he still seems determined to just be done with this and get back to his life. Again, i’m not sure exactly what’s the turning point, i just know that like. the reason toni supported the alliance at first was mainly he was genuinely just kinda clueless about these factors for why the independent planets were rebelling. but both sitting down and having to hear these details be explained to him + likely seeing some shit first hand while on the trip shakes a lot of those beliefs up for him.

I know that’s the last time he sees his brother, that i’m certain of. He gives his brother a final hug and wishes him well when asked a final time if he can’t join him. and then he drops Port off to find another ship to take him the rest of teh way he needs to go and he goes back into teh ship and heads off. A part of me says thinking more about it on his own on the flight back is the push toni needs and he just steals the ship and disappears, but a part of me also likes him making it back and trying to focus himself back to his normal way of thinking. Going into another battle or two thinking more and more about this, starting to realize it’s harder doing all this because he’s more aware of the other side as people wanting something rather than as enemies fighting something. and some final trigger in one of the fights being the final push. It being just a rough terrible battle near the end, so it’s not super easy but it’s not too hard for toni to find a small ship crashed with its pilot dead, stealing it, and taking off. There’s a belief he died in the battle, plenty of people did even if not all of them could be named officially. His family has at least assumed he died, and while Toni doesn’t know that for sure, he assumes they’ve assumed it and figures it’s probably for the best. I think it took longer but even Port eventually heard he died in the war and regrets to a point not being able to convince toni to leave off with him instead. 

Hey! What if the not-apples thing was part of the tipping point? Okay here’s a thing. Him definitely participating, but as part of his “i gotta get my head on straight” attempt. And then after the fact, him not able to stop thinking about it? I feel that still shouldn’t be the final moment. Either that battle getting really bad or him joining another battle that’s much worse and leaving during that one, but i kind of like it being like another step towards the final straw? Idk, i’ll probably eventually figure out something

Toni having been made a captain in the army before leaving the alliance? does not plan to tell anyone about this ever. I think he slipped up and mentioned it to like one person once, like gil. Included it as some detail in another story (“He says to me- he says, ‘Captain Fernandez, do you have any idea-?’” “Hold on, hold on, wait, when the hell were you a captain? Mel said you joined after her.”). Toni immediately waving it off as a mistake, though, hahaha, freudian slip he guesses, could you even imagine him as a captain? No thanks! corrects the story this time with a lower, more fitting rank as if it really was just a misspeak. Because he plays himself off as being careless like that a lot, Gil kind of lets it go. He’s still probably a little suspicious? especially as he’s gotten to know Toni more and realized the guy is not as obvious or clueless as he lets on, but he hasn’t brought it up to toni again yet.

Most kyles get temporary crushes on mels in an au and i want that to hold true for simply one reason. Before kyle eventually hooks up with ivan, him trying to lowkey woo mel. By which i mean lowkey for kyle, medium-to-highkey for everyone else. Toni catching him one night with some flowers he stole from austin’s garden to give to her (austin is so mad when he finds out) and toni is just so fucking amused? Trying very hard to fight a grin as he asks to confirm if kyle is trying to court their captain. Kyle suddenly feeling a little flustered like toni’s making fun of him, puffing out his chest and setting his shoulders back, fake cocky and asking yeah, why, toni jealous? And toni just fucking. Can’t fight it anymore, just starts laughing. Really loudly? Oh my god this kid is precious, i’m so glad we got him on this ship. Yeah! Yeah, Kyle, i’m jealous. I don’t even know if you were trying to say i was jealous of mel or jealous of you but sure, yep, you nailed it, got it in one! Kyle even more upset while toni heads off laughing, but definitely quiets down in the hall and doubles back. he can’t wait to see the kid try to get mel into bed with some fucking stolen flowers, oh this is going to be hilarious. Toni, please. 

When kyle and ivan do start flirting more with each other, toni even more amused? Teasingly asking kyle at some point if he’s planning to run through the whole ship or-? Should he be prepared for a late night visit from kyle soon too or will kyle be moving on to cian next instead~? Kyle immediately upset, grumbles out a ‘fuck you’ and starts to stomp away, before calling back at a still giggling toni ‘y’know, you fucking wish I’d stop by your room! Y’should be so fucking lucky’ which only gets toni to laugh harder again and tease again “oh absolutely! I’d be so honored! Y’know, I’ve actually been waiting up every night wondering when to expect you! I’m saving a bottle of wine and some very good candles just for the occasion” before just devolving into giggles again while kyle just fumes and stalks off. Worst fucking guy ever. The captain won’t mind if I kick her war buddy and second in command off the fucking ship next time we’re about to leave orbit, right? Right? Pretty sure. God, toni, just let the kid live, cmon. 

He’ll probably cook a nice meal for kyle later to make sure the kid knows he’s just teasing and he really is sorry if he genuinely hurt kyle’s feelings. it’s just so amusing in the moment he can’t help laughing.

ALTERNATIVELY TO THE FIRST! When kyle tries to pick up mel, mel realizing toni’s down the hall clearly expecting kyle to fail spectacularly and deciding to play it up a bit to fuck with him. Probably leans in close and whispers to kyle that toni’s there so play along! Kyle’d be a little upset at it being play if it weren’t for the fact that he and the captain are fucking helping each other prank the shit out of toni for being a jerk? he’s in! the two fake flirting with each other a bit before her inviting him into her room. Once the door is shut her kind of more honestly talking to kyle about him apparently being interested in her? and that idea eventually being talked down with kyle disappointed but understanding. Pro is that she just lets him hang around for a bit and they spend some time just talking and getting to know each other better until it’s late enough where it’d be reasonable for him to go under the act. Her knowing toni would come talk to her about it to confirm before mentioning it to anyone else, so her also adding before kyle leaves that he can shoot toni a few smug looks tomorrow if he wants to really fuck with him and she’ll just set toni straight whenever he does come talk to her. Listen, toni loves being sly about his shade/sarcasm all the time, it’s about time she got him back. what are friends for?

if cian’s religious too, that being something him and toni can bond on! also the two reacting to just how aggressively kyle is gnostic atheistic. kyle’s a bit more chill about it with cian than he is with toni since honorary uncle, but like. definitely hard rolls his eyes any time religious talk comes up. the one thing they probably like about austin more than kyle is that at least austin doesn’t throw how dumb he thinks your religious beliefs are in your face half the time.