#it's not my favorite trope but i have dabbled in it

[absolutebl]

TOP 10 BL Trends of 2023

This is just me with my analysis hat on. 

1. 2023 = the year EVERYONE went outside their lanes

Everything went topsy-turvy this year in BL. 

For example, Korea gave us agonized yearning and outright queerness (The 8th Sense, The New Employee) while Japan served up soft office workers and tender family (Our Dining Table). 

The BL world went askew for a while, especially in the spring of 2023. 

Not that we still didn’t still get Korea’s soft angsty bubbles or Japan’s “what are you doing and why does it hurt?” kink-fests. But there were quite a few BLs that made us chronic watchers sit up in confusion and wonder if Korea was dabbling in Taiwan’s territory or Japan in Thailand’s. Then they fudged the kisses and we were like... okay, back in familiar territory. 

In contrast, Thailand stayed course-correcting for the damage they’ve done in the past with tropes (2022) and self referential meta criticism (2021), but also almost aggressively returned to their BL roots after last year’s series of shockers. Certainly, they are reexamining those roots, transplanting some, aerating others. But they really went back to classic Thai university and high school BL and pulps in a big way in 2023. 

Taiwan is always difficult to gage because they produce so few but they seem to have stuck with what they do best with no deviation while producing more this year than they have in ages. I’m happy for that, why change a good thing? But there is a tiny part of me that really wants them to hit it out of the part with a quality piece soon. For me, We Best Love still reigns supreme, but I would really like the HIStory franchise to give us that level but longer - like a happy version of Your Name Engraved Herein. I think Taiwan has the chops to give us something as good as The 8th Sense or Old Fashion Cupcake but in their style, and I would like to see them exercise their talent for good rather than just profit. 

I know, what a very odd thing for me to say. But if any BL is going to break into the mainstream American market, I genuinely think it’s most likely come from Taiwan. 

Vietnam and the Philippines are falling behind, in general. They just didn’t bring out very many shows in 2023, and what the brought out tended to fub the endings. This is forgivable in Japan (because of their style and quality) but not what watchers want in the lower production value propositions. In other words, if you do a pulp, you can’t mess up the ending (by romance standards). that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. 

2. The Office Romance Dominated

After years of Thailand serving us an endless (and slightly bland) buffet of university (and a few high school) BLs, this year Korea was basically like...

Ofiice. We like the Office. It’s cheap to film we can use grown up actors, acting (mostly) their actual age. 

And yeah... it totally worked. 

To be fair, Japan has always given us office live action yaoi from the beginning (they had the source material) but this year everyone else, including Thailand, seriously started playing in this setting. 

3. Boys Danced with Boys

The darling @heretherebedork​ was a big fan of this one, and I rather like it myself. Prior to this boys dancing together was very very rare in BL, but this year we got way more than our fair share. It was lovely. 

Never Let me Go

My School President 

Bed Friend 

The Day I Loved You 

Step by Step

Be Mine Superstar

Tie the Not 

Dangerous Romance

I think there were a few more. These are the ones I remembered to write down. 

4. Getting (even more) Meta With Tropes 

BL has been getting more and more meta over the past few years but this year they really focused in on tropes specifically. Calling out their own biggest and most favorite tropes in a massive way, especially Thailand and especially GMMTV. 

Like they tunneled in on damaging tropes with Bad Buddy and the like over the past 2 years, and now they are just having fun with us. 

I mean they just started the dancing trope and already they are calling it out? That’s like rapid-fire regurgitated meta there, GMMTV. 

5. Cameos are the norm now 

Taiwan has always loved cameos but in the past the other countries have been show and steady with only one or two a year. (Unless Japan does a parody.) 

This year Korea got in on the game.

Korea rarely starts trends but they do adopt smaller and lesser known existing ones and make them super popular. 

This year they did that with cameo couple appearances, even borrowing a few of Thailand’s pairs (TutorYim and MaxNat traveled north). They did it so much I stopped tracking. Love Class 2, Why R U?, and Jun & Jun were the heaviest hitters. 

Taiwan, of course, came back swinging. Kiseki was the gum-ball machine of pair cameos. (In Taiwan mafia = gay.) 

6. We are entering the cross pollination age

The number of remakes picked up or started this year was startling, not just countries revisiting their own content (Thailand, Japan) but countries revisiting OTHER countries stuff.

Lemme explain...

Korea has started remaking Thai content (Why R U?) alongside cameo'ing Thai pairs.

Thailand is doing Korean IP (My Dear Gagster Oppa) and has 2 Chinese ones slated for next year. 

GMMTV acquired a lot of Japanese IP (Cherry Magic, Ossen, and My Love Mix Up) - and then had problems distributing it. 

This is probably the most surprising trend for me. Especially the Japanese stuff. I would have thought these properties well outside of Thailand's price range (even GMMTV's) not to mention Japan’s legendary IP issues (I swear I typed this pout before the pulled TayNew’s excellent Cherry Magic). 

Also why not option some of the older popular manga instead? Bet that's much cheeper. (I did see a NEW Thai translation of Finder into Thai, which is 90s yaoi, so I have my fingers crossed on that front.)

I shouldn't be too surprised. 

Thailand is running out of y-novel content. Their publication industry is just not robust enough (I was just talking to a friend about this at length recently). But I didn't think they had the funds to option, especially from Japan. 

Perhaps the option deals are for peanuts?

7. Korea got cheeky

I’m not sure quite how else to put this. 

After finally figuring out boys can kiss, Korea started to do not just higher heat but playful higher heat, with more aggressive word play and linguistic innuendo, like they are entering their racy rom-com teenage years (Why R U? Love Class 2 and Jun & Jun in particular.) 

I guess: Welcome to your BL teens, Korea? 

It’s cute of them. I am very much enjoying it. 

And now that comedy is warming them up, we get to see them play with actual queer burgeoning physicality in shows like The 8th Sense. 

It’s nice. I like seeing Korea stretch its wings. They still stick to their bubble, but that bubble seems to be expanding. 

8. The Amnesia Trope is back

And I, for one, would prefer to forget about it. 

9. BL got trendy 

I’m not quite sure how to articulate this category but basically we started seeing a lot of “modern” romance trends out of the west (like a/b/o) show up in our BL. Not a ton and sometimes quite small, but there has a been a steady rise of things like: no seme/uke, femme gay, out gay, condom use, messy gay. 

We also got an increasing range of sub genre frameworks (like mafia, office setting) that’s moved BL pretty firmly (even in Thailand) out of school and into the workplace, whether actual working is involved or not. 

It’s not to the point where it feels like we get more non-school BL than school BL (if I include all countries in this assessment).

Japan, in classic Japanese fashion, quietly started moving in the opposite direction. It’s what they do. 

10. The Vampires are coming 

This is an announcement trend, which I don’t usually report on but it’s so CLEAR. 

So last year we had a spate of announcements of possible Omegaverse (2 from China, 1 from Japan, 1 from Thailand - the only one that’s happened). 

This year we got 5 Vampire (or vampire-esk) Thai BLs announced including one from GMMTV. 

Whether all 5 will actually get made is unlikely, but having had (basically) none prior to this (Kissable Lips), I’m pretty confident that we will get at least 2 of them. And I wouldn’t be surprised if at least one other country made one as well. (Side eyes Taiwan with interest.) 

Final thoughts

It feels like we are also seeing a decline in BL (both by quantity and quality) from Vietnam and the Philippines. As you all know, I don’t track or really watch either of these two very closely. But it feels like, now, no one else is either. 

I think we have likely seen the BL heyday already in both places and their industries are now on the decline. 

We might be witnessing a thinning in the players in the BL field. 

FYI we had approximately 

136 BLs in 2023

Previous Years

2022: 117

2021: 95

2020: 62

2019: 40

2018: 30 

2017: 44 (China’s last gasp)

2016: 27

2015: 17 (50% micro)

2014: 17 (50% micro)

And that’s it! Let me know in the comments if you’ve spotted any additional trends you want to call out.

Last year, 2022′s trend report

2021′s Trend report

Last Year’s Stats & Predictions

(source) 

[pascallftv]

Girl Next Door— Part 2

Previous Part Series Masterlist

This is part 2 of a series. I highly recommend you read part 1 first!

Summary: Joel takes you to the store to pick out the materials for your new bathroom. At the store, you have an uncomfortable run-in with Joel’s ex wife.

Content: This is a plot based chapter, but it’s very important for the trope <3 Also thank you so much for the love on the last part. Part 3 will be here soon, she’s so cutesie and I can’t wait for you to read it :)

Word count: 4.6k

The drive to the nearest home improvement store was half an hour away. You watched as Joel popped a CD into the CD player in his truck, immediately recognizing the intro to the Rumors album by Fleetwood Mac.

“Rumors?” You said, blocking the sun from your eyes with your hand as you hit the road. Joel glanced over at you, the hint of a smile toying at his lips.

“I didn’t take you as a Fleetwood Mac kind of girl.” Joel said. You watched the veins on his forearm and hand as he gripped the steering wheel to make a turn.

“Dad always played this album when I was growing up. He loved to try and explain all the romance drama in the band to me.” You explained, tapping your thigh with your free hand to the beat of the song.

Your bangs fell softly over your forehead, the golden sun making your skin radiate. Joel kept peeking over at you to admire your beauty. You were so effortlessly beautiful.

“What else do you listen to?” Joel asked you. You looked over at him, admiring the way the sun made the brown in his eyes softer.

“A little bit of everything. I love classic rock because of my dad, but I dabble a lot into pop and alternative. I’d say my favorite artist is probably Aerosmith.” You bit your lip as you thought about your music taste. Most of the artists you listened to were probably after Joel’s time. “What about you?”

“Hmm.” Joel hummed in thought, tapping his forefinger against the steering wheel. “Anythin’ from the sixties and seventies. I love Pink Floyd and Elvis.”

“Interesting.” You said. You noticed a pair of yellow aviators sitting on the dash of his truck, so you reached out to grab them, placing them over your nose. Joel looked over at you, shaking his head.

“Makin’ yourself at home, huh?”

“Do I look like Elvis?” You bit your lip, snapping your finger and pointing at him.

“Somethin’ of the sort.” Joel teased, turning back to watch the road.

“He sure was dreamy wasn’t he.” You said, watching at the fields flashed by you as Joel accelerated down the highway. “I had such a huge crush on him when I was a teenager.”

Joel knit his brows together and glanced over at you with a look of interest, silently asking you to elaborate.

“I had a random Elvis phase. Dad made me sit down and watch a documentary about him one night and after that I was infatuated.”

“Didn’t take you as the type to like Elvis either.” Joel observed, glancing over to look you up and down. “I have his greatest hits CD in the glovebox.”

You grinned and opened the glovebox, sure enough finding the CD. You pressed the eject button and the CD player spit out Rumors, and you carefully replaced it with Elvis 30 #1 Hits. You quietly hummed along as Heartbreak Hotel began playing.

The rest of the drive, you exchanged small talk about music with Elvis playing softly in the background, making it go by in a flash. When you reached the home improvement store, the sun was beginning to set in the horizon. It was golden hour as Joel shifted the truck into park and you both climbed out. Joel caught himself staring at you again. You looked even more beautiful in this lighting and he couldn’t get over it.

You walked beside each other as you entered the store. Something about the smell of a home improvement store felt nostalgic to you. The crisp smell of fresh wood wafted into your nose, mixing with the smell of Joel’s aftershave.

“Let’s look at tiles first.” Joel said, leading the way through the aisles of the store. The store was overwhelming; there were too many aisles to count and you had no idea where anything was, but Joel knew the place like the back of his hand. Going to the hardware store was a common trip for him and he had the store almost memorized.

“Here we are.” He said, entering an aisle with a wide array of both shower and floor tiles. There were so many different colors and textures of tiles, and you immediately began inspecting some that caught your eye. You started with shower tiles.

Your eye landed on a beautiful, dark green backsplash that was coated in a gloss, emphasizing the shifts of color within it. You immediately fell in love with the style of it.

“I think this might be the one.” You said, pointing towards the forest green tile. Joel stepped closer, running his forefinger over the sample of the tile. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. In his chest pocket was a pen, and he jotted down the inventory number of the tile.

“Alright, now what about flooring?” He said, stepping to the left towards the arrangement of flooring samples. There was an overwhelming number of floor tiles.

“Joel?” A voice spoke behind you. Both of your heads snapped up, and standing there was a woman who appeared to be in her forties. She had blonde, blown out hair and a striking red lip. Her makeup was done boldy, and she was wearing a long black dress with sandals.

“Josephine.” Joel cleared his throat. His brows were knit together in irritation. His ex wife was the last person he wanted to see right now.

“And what brings you here?” Josephine questioned, her eyes flickering over to you. She eyed you up and down, taking in your appearance. Suddenly feeling very insecure under her stare, your arms crossed in front of you.

“Buying some things for a remodel.” Joel said monotone. He noticed the way she was eyeing you, and he knew she assumed the worst, but he didn’t care. In that moment he wanted her assumptions to run wild. He didn’t care if she thought you were his girlfriend.

“And who is this?” Josephine said in a catty tone. Her smoked out eyes locked on you, her red manicured fingernails tapping against her purse. You looked down at your own nails. Your nails were barren of any polish, and you felt childish standing next to her.

Joel told her your name and glanced over at you.

“I’m remodeling her bathroom for her.” Joel clarified, his finger toying with the sheet of paper in his hand.

“Hmmm, Lionel’s daughter?” She pursed her lips. “I’d say she’s a bit young for you, huh?”

Your stomach dropped and your eyes quickly landed on Joel. His expression was stoic and almost peeved.

“Where’s Rick?” Joel changed the subject. “Usually when I see you, your tongues are down each other’s throats.”

Josephine scoffed, rolling her eyes. It was then you noticed the massive diamond ring on her finger.

“He’s over in the light section. We’re replacing our chandelier in the foyer.” She said, glancing back over to you. “What’s a spry little thing like you need a new bathroom for?”

“I just moved back from Chicago to live with my father for the time being, and my bathroom needs some updating.” You explained, your voice wavering.

“Living with your daddy, huh?” Josephine’s eyes reverted to Joel’s with a smirk toying at her overdrawn red lips. “I remember those days. Mooching off my parents with no responsibilities.”

You shifted your weight on your feet, now feeling extremely uncomfortable. You weren’t sure who this woman was, but it was evident that she and Joel had a past and she was making it a point to make jabs at you. Joel’s fists clenched at his sides.

“That’s enough, Josephine.” Joel grumbled, shooting daggers with his eyes. She chuckled manically, looking back at you.

“Oh, please. You know I’m just being satirical.” She half smirked, winking at you. You stared back at her blankly.

“Jo?” A man’s voice interjected your attention. A man who looked to be in his thirties was walking towards you all. He appeared to be younger than Josephine, a ring also adjourning his finger. Putting two and two together, you realized this was her husband. His gaze stayed on Joel for a few seconds before landing on you briefly.

“Hi, baby.” She said, pulling him in for a rather long, wet kiss. You tried to hide your face of disgust and turned to distract yourself with the floor tile samples.

“Joel.” You turned your head at her husband’s voice. He was nodding at Joel, and Joel stared back at him with a blank stare.

“Well, we should get going.” Josephine cleared her throat. “It was wonderful to see you.”

Josephine patted her husband’s chest, her fake nails clacking together. Her eyes flickered over to you, but didn’t acknowledge you. The two of them walked away, leaving you with a steaming Joel.

“I fucking hate her.” Joel grunted, stepping closer to you, your shoulders bumping together. “I’m sorry about that. Don’t take anything she said to heart. She’s a miserable bitch.”

“Who is she?” You asked. His brows were taught together in frustration and he shook his head.

“My ex wife. It’s a long story.” He mumbled, lifting the piece of paper with the inventory number. You frowned up at him.

“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I have all the time in the world if you want to tell me over dinner.” You said caringly, your hand reaching up to touch his arm. Joel looked down at your hand, his eyes then moving to your face. His brows drew together at the gesture, your touch sending heat up his arm. God, you were beautiful.

“I’m sure it would bore you.” He murmured.

“Far from it.” You responded sweetly, removing you hand from his arm and pointing towards a black and white checkered tile. “This one’s perfect.”

He nodded at you and quickly wrote down the inventory number.

“Let’s go pick out your sink and shower so we can get out of here.” Joel said.

You quickly chose your sink, faucets, toilet, shower basin, and shower head. You made sure to choose a detachable shower head, and you hoped to god Joel didn’t pick up on your intentions. Joel, on the other hand, knew exactly why you wanted a detachable shower head. All he could picture was showering with you and using it on your pretty pussy, but he quickly discarded his dirty thoughts, considering you were still in the middle of a home improvement store.

After you’d checked out and left, it was already dusk outside. The materials for your new bathroom would arrive early next week which was perfect. You both climbed up into Joel’s truck, him starting up the engine. Elvis began playing softly through the speakers again. You glanced over at Joel, his mouth turned downward in a frown. The interaction with his ex wife was still bothering him. He was incredibly guilty; it was his fault she degraded you and he should’ve blown up on her right then.

“Where would you like to eat?” You asked, attempting to distract him. He looked at you, his eyes softening when he made eye contact with you.

“Hmm.” He pondered, resting his arm on the door, and scratching his chin in thought. “There’s this diner down the road with really good burgers and shakes. That okay?”

“Sounds amazing.” You replied, reaching to turn the volume dial to turn up the radio as “Return to Sender” began to play.

The drive to the diner was silent, both of you lost in your own thoughts. You were trying your best to seem indifferent, but you truly felt insecure after your interaction with Josephine. After that conversation, you realized you were way too young for Joel and it would never be anything close to what you fantasized about. You felt stupid to even think you’d ever had a chance. Before you knew it, you became teary eyed, but you quickly blinked away the tears. The last thing you needed was to cry in front of Joel.

Joel pulled into the parking lot of the diner, putting the truck in park. You followed behind him inside, keeping your head low. He opened the door for you, noticing your change in mood. He sighed quietly and followed you inside. He followed you to a booth tucked away in the corner. The restaurant was mostly empty aside for a couple elderly couples.

“This place is cute.” You observed, looking around at the various retro decorations. In the corner you noticed a jukebox and bit back a grin.

A waitress approached your table and sat down your menus. You ordered your drinks and food since you already knew what you wanted, and she quickly whisked away with your orders. You cleared your throat and played with your hands in your lap. Joel was looking out the window, his face still laced with irritation.

“So..” you began. “Josephine.”

Joel shifted his eyes to you. He swallowed and rested his arms on the table.

Joel and Josephine’s relationship dated back to high school. They dated on and off for ten years. When they reached their mid twenties, Joel decided he wanted children, but Josephine did not. Albeit, Joel decided it wasn’t a dealbreaker, and decided to stay with her. She was the first woman he truly loved, and he was willing to do whatever it took to please her. Despite her distaste for starting a family, Joel proposed to her on the night of her twenty-eighth birthday. They had a courthouse wedding the next day per her request. Fast forward to their thirties, and Joel noticed that Josephine was acting differently.

Josephine began leaving home for days at a time without an explanation. She stopped being intimate with Joel altogether. He would try, and Josephine would complain that she was tired and not feeling it. One night, Josephine snuck off, and Joel decided to follow her. She drove a few blocks away, and parked at a random house. Joel’s heart dropped when he realized what this meant. Joel parked one house over, and waited several minutes before getting out of the car. He tried the front door, and it was unlocked. The door swung open, and he found Josephine spread out on the couch with Rick between her legs. Nauseous at the sight in front of him, Joel slammed the door behind him and stormed to his car, Josephine yelling his name. Joel ignored her and revved his engine, speeding off.

After he caught her cheating, he soon after learned that Josephine was pregnant, but not with his child. Joel filed for divorce soon after, and it wasn’t a pretty divorce. Joel won the house, but Josephine won most of his money. Years after the divorce as Joel grew older, he realized nothing was tying him down to that deadbeat town. He moved next door to you over four years ago.

Your food came during his story, and you quietly ate as Joel spoke. No wonder he was so agitated at the sight of that woman. You frowned as Joel finished telling you the story.

“I haven’t made an effort to date since then.” He said. “I don’t know why she was at the store. Must not’ve had what they wanted at the store in their area.”

“How long had it been since you’d seen her?” You asked, then took a sip of your chocolate milkshake.

“I’d seen her at our mutual friend’s wedding a couple years ago. She was there with Rick, tonguing each other down the entire time. Then again when my Mom passed away. She had the audacity to show up and kiss on him at the funeral.” Joel said, wiping his fingers with a napkin.

“Oh my god.” You said, reaching across the table to touch his hand. “I’m so sorry. What the fuck is wrong with her?”

Your touch sent shocks up his forearm. He swallowed hard, glancing down at your hands touching.

“I don’t even think god knows.” Joel said as he waved the waitress over to give him the check. You reached for your purse, pulling out your credit card, quickly handing it to the waitress.

“What— no.” Joel said, pulling cash out of his wallet.

“Yes, it’s fine. You drove and you’re doing me a massive favor.” You insisted, Joel putting the cash away in defeat.

“I owe you one.” He said. He cleared his throat looking down at you.

“So, are you seeing anyone?” He spoke, taking a drink of his shake. You laughed and looked down at the table.

“Absolutely not.” You sighed with a smile. “Now that’s a long story.”

“Well, sweetheart. I’ve got time.” Joel responded, tapping his finger against the glass of his milkshake.

“Give me one second.” You said, reaching into your purse and pulling out a five dollar bill.

You stood up from the booth and walked over to the jukebox, inserting the bill into it. You searched through the database of songs, choosing several that stood out to you. You smiled as Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith began playing through the speakers of the diner. When you’d chosen all the songs you could, you found your way back to the booth. Joel gazed up at you with wonder in his eyes. He chuckled softly and shook his head at you. While you were gone the waitress had returned your card, and he slid it across the table to you. You grabbed it and put it away in your purse, then leaned onto your crossed arms on the table.

Joel listened attentively as you gave him the rundown of your last relationship. Similarly to what your dad had told him, you explained that your ex boyfriend cheated on you after dating him for two years. You caught him cheating on you with your best friend at the time. There wasn’t anything crazy about the story, just that you spent many sleepless nights crying yourself to sleep wondering what you could’ve done differently. You wondered if there was something wrong with you; you had given him your all just to be torn down entirely. Among many firsts with him, he was your first love and was the one to take your virginity. Since then, you’d avoided getting close with anyone romantically out of fear of getting hurt again.

“I went on a few dates in Chicago, but none of them really amounted to anything.” You said, your finger tracing the rim of your milkshake glass. “I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time in all honesty. My ex fucked me up pretty bad and I just wasn’t ready to commit to anyone. I’m glad I didn’t.”

“You’re glad you didn’t?” Joel questioned, furrowing his brows.

“Yeah, I don’t think that would’ve been fair to someone, you know? Me not being ready to commit and fighting my own insecurities shouldn’t have been anyone’s problem but my own.” You explained further.

“And how do you feel currently?”

You cleared your throat and averted your gaze around the restaurant as you thought. You bit your bottom lip as “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen began playing.

“I’m not sure if I’m being honest with you. I’m not entirely opposed to trying a relationship again, but I’m not going to actively go out and seek something. If it happens, it happens.” You said. “And you?”

“I think you explained it perfectly.” Joel said as he pulled his truck keys out of his pocket. “As much as I’d like to keep chatting, the night isn’t getting any younger and neither am I.”

The next day, you were working attentively in your makeshift office while Joel began tearing apart your bathroom. After your dinner the night prior, all you could think about was Joel. Your heart ached for him. You felt hopeful that he had enough trust for you to tell you about his past. You also felt more comfortable with him in general. It was comforting seeing a side to him that wasn’t abrasive and stand-off. You’d both had your tribulations with your romantic pasts, and it made you hopeful that just maybe there was a future for the both of you. You felt silly for even thinking there was a part of you that thought there was a possibility of you two being able to be together.

By noon you were finished with your work for the day, so you decided you could help Joel with the demolition. You stood from your desk, closing your laptop for the day after sending off your completed content. Suddenly, you got an idea. You remembered you brought your vintage camcorder, and this would be the perfect opportunity to use it. You could record the progress of your bathroom remodel and make a short video when it was all finished.

You entered your bedroom to the sound of Joel ripping apart the walls of your shower. You reached into one of the boxes you had yet to unpack and pulled out your camcorder. You turned it on, and walked over to the entryway of the bathroom, recording him. You admired the way his muscles flexed as he pried apart the paneling of the shower wall, exposing the bare wall behind it. He was sporting protective glasses and thick gloves. You watched as he leaned over in his jeans, the material pulling tight against his muscular legs. A smile tugged at your lips as Joel turned around, his breathing heavy.

“What are you doing?” He said winded, letting his hand with the crowbar fall slack to his side.

“Making a progress video.” You replied, zooming in on him with your camera. Joel fought back a smile, shaking his head at you.

You looked adorable standing there in your flowy sweatpants and off the shoulder sweater. Joel could tell you weren’t wearing a bra underneath, your nipples poking through the material. You looked so cuddly and he wanted nothing more than to halt working for the day so he could spend his time cuddled up next to you in your bed kissing every inch of your body.

You lowered the camera from your eyes, and turned it off. You tossed it on your bed, then turned back around to watch Joel for a moment. You leaned against the door frame and crossed your arms. Joel continued peeling the shower paneling off the wall, tossing the remnants into the tub behind him.

“Can I help you?” You asked. Joel turned to face you, his chest rising and falling, his breathing heavy.

“No need.” He said, wiping the beads of sweat off his forehead.

“But I want to. I’m done with work for the day, it’s the least I could do.” You pleaded. Joel stared at you for a moment before finally reaching down to his tool bag, grabbing a spare pair of gloves and goggles.

“Here.” He said, holding out the gear for you to take. You grabbed them from him, carefully putting the goggles over the bridge of your nose, then sliding on the gloves.

“Do you see those tiles behind the paneling? I need you to break those off the wall.” Joel instructed. “Watch me.”

He brushed past you, rearing back his dominant hand with a hammer, striking the tiles with force, watching them crumble down into the shower basin. He stepped back to give you room to take.

“Your turn.” He said, gesturing for you to try.

You stepped forward, taking the hammer from his hand, clearing your throat. You wound your arm backwards, before hitting another tile. You didn’t hit it hard enough, as the tile didn’t budge. Joel approached you from behind, grabbing your hips, then snaking a hand around to lay flat against your belly. Your breath hitched in your throat, the touch planting goosebumps across your skin. Joel leaned down to your ear, his breath hot against your skin.

“Keep your abdominals tight. Twist your torso like this when you swing.” Joel said, using his hand to twist your hips backwards slightly, then twisting them back parallel with his own. Your back brushed against his chest. Your cheeks felt hot, and the air began to feel stuffy in the room.

Joel’s internal monologue was screaming at him to back away from you. Your body heat was radiating onto him, your hips pressed to his. Your sweet vanilla scent enveloped him, his eyes fluttering shut as he made a mental note to cherish this moment with you, for he didn’t know if he’d ever be this close to you again. Snapping out of his trance, Joel backed away from you, giving you room to try again at the tiles. Your cheeks were flushed and your skin was on fire. You knew you were pooling in your panties; you felt pathetic. The most innocent of touches and you completely and utterly in shambles.

You inhaled deeply, and did exactly what Joel told you to. You tightened your core muscles, and wound back to swing at the tiles, shattering two of them on impact. You smiled proudly, turning your head to gauge Joel’s reaction. A smile tugged at his lips, and he brushed his hand across your lower back.

“Amazing, sweetheart.” He said. His touch sent chills up your spine.

For the next hour, the both of you took swings at the tiles, knocking the rest of them off the wall. By the end, you were both sweaty and exhausted. You were starving by then, your stomach grumbling.

“Sounds like someone is hungry.” Joel observed ss he took off his gloves and glasses, tossing them in his tool bag. You mimicked his actions, placing yours adjacent to his.

“I haven’t eaten since this morning.” You admitted, running a hand through your hair to get it off your forehead. Joel noticed one of your hairs sticking up, so he reached up and gently fixed the hair, blending it in with the rest of your locks. You bit your lip and averted your gaze. The effect Joel had on you was insane. You felt like a swooning teenager again, like a ball of putty anytime he touched you.

“How about this: I planned on grilling tonight. Why don’t you come over and I’ll make you dinner.” Joel offered.

“That sounds amazing.” You smiled. “I’ll shower, then I’ll head over.”

Joel wondered if you’d touch yourself in the shower like you did the day before. The possibility aroused him immediately. He longed to shower with you, washing your hair and massaging your beautiful body for you.

“I guess I’ll see you in a little bit, darlin’.” Joel said, grabbing his phone and sliding it in his back pocket. Joel started to walk away, and you reached out to grab his arm to stop him. He turned to you with a look of confusion.

“Do you like scary movies?” You asked, keeping your hand on Joel’s wrist.

“I don’t mind them, why?” Joel questioned.

“I’ll bring a couple movies over and maybe we can have a movie night. I know I’ll have nothing to do tonight and I’m sure you get lonely over there by yourself.” You said. You wanted to be able to spend more time with him without raising any red flags or seeming desperate. You couldn’t help that all you wanted was to be around him.

“Sure, that sounds nice.” Joel said, glancing down at your hand on his skin, then giving the slightest trace of a smile on his lips. You smiled up at him, releasing his arm from your grip.

“See you there.”

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is:  Pricklywhicket/@messessentialist ! Prickleywhicket has four fics published to AO3 -- All in the Steddie tag!

Our anonymous nominator recommends the following works by pricklywhicket:

so let's sneak in from the cheap seats, honey

it's supposed to be fun (turning twenty-one)

start by pulling him out of the fire

"Sadie is so super talented in the way she describes literally everything. She is so good at writing and it's a shame that she's flown under the radar because she's not the quickest at putting things out there." -- Anonymous

Below the cut, Pricklywhicket answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

Why do any of us write anything? Because we want the story to exist in the world, and it doesn’t yet, so we gotta hike up our pants and do it ourselves!

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

Hurt/Comfort. I’m always a sucker for the blorbos taking care of one another, in whatever form that takes. This has always been true, across a truly astronomical number of fandoms I’ve found myself dabbling in over the years.

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

…actually, probably hurt/comfort! I just need to get those little dudes some validation and unconditional positive regard, okay?

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

I’m sure I won’t be the first one to say this, but: I HAVE TO PICK ONE????? Okay, alright. I can do this. I’m gonna say…Sanctuary by SpicedSage.

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I’ve only written canon or canon-adjacent fic so far, so I’m eager to work on something that’s completely AU. I think there’s a unique challenge to keeping characters recognizable as themselves in a world that might not have all the same contexts that made them into that person.

What is your writing process like?

I would love to say it’s super organized and well-planned, but the truth is it’s mostly about routine and responsibility. I set aside time to do it every day, even if I can only tap out a few sentences. I’m not very strict about writing in a straight line - I can stop a scene if it’s giving me trouble, write a note about what I think happens in some [brackets], and move on to something that I have more fully fleshed-out ideas for. Sometimes writing the next scene helps you know more about what needs to happen in the current one. 

Do you have any writing quirks?

I'm sure my betas would say yes 🙃 I tend to write a lot of dialogue - a lot of my revision process is going back through and realizing I have two pages of a conversation with no indication of what’s physically happening in the world around the speakers.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

Definitely when I’m finished. Prior to my ‘23 bang fic, I had never written anything chaptered. I knew going in that I could NOT start posting if it wasn’t finished, because I’ve been burned too many times by abandoned works. I didn’t want to do that to people reading my fic, and the best way to avoid it is to finish before you post.

Which fic are you most proud of?

Easily start by pulling him out of the fire. The biggest, most ambitious thing I’ve ever attempted - I still kind of can’t believe I wrote 85k.

How did you get the idea for start by pulling him out of the fire?

Like most terrible ideas, it was spawned in a fandom discord chat. We were discussing the tendency of Steddie fics to centralize the party at Steve’s house, because his parents are never there anyway. And then someone mentioned what if the parents came home and found their house occupied, and someone else mentioned Wayne being there, and it just sort of…spiraled out from there.

When writing start by pulling him out of the fire, what was something you didn’t expect?

I had no idea, going in, that I was going to write a comprehensive history of the Wayne and Eddie Munson relationship. I started writing it where I did to give some background on Wayne’s existing distaste for the elder Harrington, and then I just…kept writing. Over the course of a month or two I wrote 20k of WayneAndEddie that I had no idea was in me - it just kept coming.

What inspired it's supposed to be fun (turning twenty-one)?

@wynnyfryd. It was a gift for her birthday. We were talking about our mutual love of Letterkenny, and she mentioned that the episode was her favorite and wouldn’t it be funny if someone wrote… and the rest is history.

What was your favorite part to write from it's supposed to be fun (turning twenty-one)?

I had an unreasonable amount of fun with that one in general. But I think my favorite part was Eddie polling the party about what Steve means to them all. It was fun to sort of put myself in each character’s shoes and think about how they would answer. Plus y’know, any excuse to unironically love on Steve Harrington.

How do/did you feel writing so let's sneak in from the cheap seats, honey?

I believe my exact words upon deciding to write it were “jingles miserably to a blank google doc.” This was a classic case of saying “god I wish there was a fic where—” and having friends tell me that it was now my responsibility to write it. I’m glad I did, though. I love that story, and it proved to me that I could write sex and publish it and not burst into flames. I also just really, really love summer storms. And Wayne’s use of the singular ‘herpe.’

What was the most difficult part of writing so let's sneak in from the cheap seats honey?

Getting over the fear of publishing something E-rated. It was just something I hadn’t done, and I had a lot of anxiety that people were not going to respond well to it. I made three people individually review the sex scenes before I even asked anyone to beta the full fic. Of course I was worried for nothing, the reception for that fic was super lovely and gave me the confidence boost I needed to attempt start by pulling him out of the fire!

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

This is like asking me to pick a favorite child. I’ll say this: most of my favorite lines in start by pulling him out of the fire were taken directly from conversations @wormdebut and I had about the fic. She’s my number one cheerleader and sounding board, and sometimes she’s so goddamn funny that I just have to include it. You have her to thank, for instance, for Steve quite literally dropping his croissant when he first sees Eddie in glasses.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

I have a couple of irons in the fire, but nothing I’m ready to share just yet! I’ve been taking a breather from writing (blame baldur’s gate 3, okay) but my WIPs are still very much IP. Stay tuned!

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

Not that I can think of!

Thank you to our author, Pricklywhicket, and our anonymous nominator! See more of pricklywhicket's works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[lebenspurpur]

what does your favorite slasher say about you? because i am working on other things rn, but i don't want to leave all of you hanging.

These are all just jokes and my personal takes. Don't get offended and don't take them serious.

RZ Michael Myers

daddy issues

he can kill you in a millisecond, and you like that

you're pretty introverted and probably traumatized

you might be masochistic

hands you all know what I mean

fast food is something dear to you, and you probably enjoy candy

Vincent Sinclair

definitely a savior complex

you're introverted and most likely dabble in either art or music

long haired men are a weakness of yours

the trope of the conventional ugly character who's been mistreated their whole life has you in a chokehold

you're either into soft aesthetics like fairy core or pastel goth or into heavier, dark aesthetics like grunge or goth

you prefer relaxed free time activities over adventurous ones

Bo Sinclair

daddy issues to the max

also a savior complex

you're either extroverted or an ambivert

there's a chance that you have at least one sibling

you're either very self-defensive in fights or you don't argue at all

music taste relies on either rock, punk, grunge or metal music

you enjoy 00s MTV shows

Lester Sinclair

you're probably an ambivert or an introvert

fairy core, cottage core or/and goblin core make you very happy

you like to collect things

an animal lover and you probably enjoy the forest

for some reason, I think you'd enjoy road trips

your favorite ice cream flavor might be a fruit

you despise capitalism

Baby Firefly

you like the idea of worshiping a woman's body

you're either super into feminine aesthetics and clothing, or you really enjoy masculine things

you like a partner that can defend you and your relationship

public displays of affection are no problem for you

a little unhinged, but hey aren't we all

you like perfume and jewelry

Otis Driftwood

you use sarcasm and playful banter to communicate with your friends, or you're super sweet, no in between

you've had some strange phases growing up

heavy patriotism is something you despise

politics as a whole is something you kind of despise

you enjoy the smell of petroleum

for whatever reason, I think you're into/were into philosophy

RJ Firefly because I'm generous

you like dogs and the forest

you are also touch starved and really want a hug

you like soft things

chances of a twilight phase (plus points if you were team Jacob)

for some reason, I think you enjoy werewolf and vampire media

Brahms Heelshire

you're probably younger than the average slasher fan

you like dark/light academia

the idea of an educated, sophisticated life makes you happy

your partner should be romantic

you do a lot of things simply for the aesthetic of them

also a twilight phase

you collect fictional crushes religiously

Thomas Brown Hewitt

you're really sweet

you like baking, sewing, crafting or cooking

owning a garden would make you very happy

you're a little shy sometimes

domestic fantasies are your favorite fantasies

you're very loyal, and would go anywhere to protect your loved ones

Jason Vorhees

there's a chance that you might be extroverted

you rooted for the nice, friendly character in teenage romance trios instead of the mysterious, edgy ones

picknicks and hunting trips are sweet date ideas to you

favorite subject was probably either English, PE or arts

you're probably short and/or have a size kink

were you into Wicca, or any other nature-based practice at any point of your life? I feel like you were

Asa Emory

you had a crush on either a priest, a doctor, a teacher, or on all three before

now you're definitely a masochist

you've taken the kink test before, haven't you?

you're older than the average slasher fan

also daddy issues, congratulations

and mmmmaybe religious trauma?

Amanda Young

[indigosabyss]

With over 400k words under my belt of purely crossover fanfiction (no really) I feel like I've dabbled enough in the genre to pinpoint three distinct types of Crossover Fanfiction Setups. With no one else to rant about this, and the hopes that this will be helpful to someone, here's you go:

A Breakdown on All Three Ways to Cross Fandoms Together

1- Fandom Fusion

My favorite type. This is where the worlds are happening on the same plane, simultaneously with one another. So, both stories are happening, or have happened, or will happen, without meshing with each other. Except they don't. Characters from each world meet, and get pulled into the other world's shenanigans. Very easy to do when both stories are both taking place in modern day Earth. Or in similar time periods of Earth.

2- Portal Crossover

Breaking out the isekai trope here. It's a classic work, with a built in setup in stories where grand cosmic scale is introduced. I'm talking the Gate sending Edward Elric into another world, or jonmartin finding Somewhere Else to be another medium entirely. Or Amphibia's music box, or Owl House's Between Dimensions or- or- or- you get it.

It's easy to do, and people are generally willing to accept PORTAL happening esp in superhero media and the like. You dont have to figure out how to make the fandoms compatible either, and gives a good common goal for all parties to work towards (i.e. return the interloper home)

Doesn't have to be a trans dimensional portal. Could be a time travel thing. Or visions. Or whichever plot device you find fits most. I enjoy this a lot because it forces characters who would never normally meet to interact and we need that. The two fandoms being transported could easily be fictional in each other's universes. Or not. The possibilities are endless with this one, just on a surface level.

3- Scenery Change

Last, there is the Alternate Universe Setting. Or, as I prefer, the Scenery Change. This is where the characters from one fandom are taken wholesale and translated into another setting, never having experienced their Original World. You know which ones I'm talking about. The Percy Jackson AUs where characters from another fandom are given godly parents. The Hunger Game AUs. The fandom w four easily separated groups that we do not talk about anymore but is prolly still v prevalent.

There's a lot that can be done with this, ranging both from fluff oneshots to 100k plots, but I've found that this is most effective when unique characters are placed into a very structured setting from another media, where their unique perspectives and reactions will color the overdone situation and give it life. The appeal of these crossovers lie solely in this: "We've seen it happen before, but what would happen if these characters were here?"

And. It. Works.

--------

So, yeah, careful observation has made me categorize these three premises. Tell me if you think there are more. Probably might do some breakdowns on the themes and the possibilities each premise holds the best weight for, and what goes into a crossover AFTER the two fandoms meet.

[creeppostss]

Anon with the headcanons request from a minute ago. More specifically what are your dark nsfw headcanons? Any uncommon opinions on EJ? What that eldritch horror peen do.... 😇

..... i am clinically obsessed he has been my comfort character for a decade 🤭

EJ IS MY FAVORITE EEK

I hope these will be as good as you're hoping!! enjoy anon!

GN mentioned with some references to AFAB/AMAB but they're just hcs so it doesn't really change anything!

NSFW under the cut!!

This isn't necessarily dark, but I feel like EJ would have a HUUUUGE breeding kink. He yearns to see his cum drip from any of your holes, and he'd repeatedly fill you just to watch it all seep out. Pump you full and plug you up, take you out in public somewhere to watch you get embarrassed.

We all know he's got sharp as shit teeth. And he would ABSOLUTELY use them on you. Anywhere you have open skin is free real estate to him, making quick work to bloody up and mark the most tender skin on your body.

To follow up, during sex, he absolutely uses his teeth to latch onto you when he's cumming. He doesn't mind the position, but usually picks one where he can see your face and hear you. Although, he isn't opposed to shoving your face into the pillows while you scream.

BONDAGE. He loves seeing you tied up and helpless, squirming under him like some little worm!!! Bonus points if the restraints leave marks on you, he'd absolutely adore that afterwards.

If you're AFAB, he'd 100 fucking percent DEVOUR you on your period. He'd almost beg to do so, twirling his tongues up into you to taste all your delicious goodness just for him.

If you're AMAB, he'd bite all over your inner thighs, tearing up the skin until it bleeds and he gets to lap up the resulting blood while he's sucking you off.

Because he's half demon, his dick is above average. Me and my friend occasionally dabble with the idea he has a tentacle for a dick, cause like, c'mon. Look at him. Human or tentacle dick, he knows how to use it. Could absolutely split you apart.

He takes pride in watching you choke on his cock, staring at you with such hunger in his eyes and grinning as you're gagging, choking and struggling to breathe. He only pulls your head back when he feels you can't take it anymore.

Tying in with that choking thing, he will wrap his hands around your throat while he's ruthlessly fucking into you and will strangle you until you're on the verge of passing out, and then he'll let go.

I've seen a lot of people headcanon that he goes into heat and I really enjoy that trope. I can imagine him locking himself in his room trying to avoid you but of course you come in and look so good he just can't possibly help but fuck you into his mattress until you're crying out of pleasure.

EJ is the type to try anything once before he says no, wanting to make sure you always feel good. If you tell him about a weird kink or fetish you have I'm sure he'd happily indulge you in that! He's not picky when it comes to you.

He definitely jerks off with your underwear, sniffing them as well. He'd cum in them if you're away, and lay them on your bed as a gift to tell you he was thinking about you.

I like to think that he's a bit of a stalker. ESPECIALLY if you show interest in him. He'd follow you around, stalk social medias if he has access, ask around about you, and find his way into your personal life. Definitely has a journal in his nightstand of information about you, maybe even a few cute polaroids of you sleeping.

He can be somewhat shy or absolutely overbearing depending if he's in heat or not. If he's in heat, he'll practically drag you to his room to carry out his disgusting fantasies. If he isn't, he'll approach it differently, touching you and sending subtle signs until you get it.

This absolutely does NOT carry over to sex. Once he has you under him he's feral. He lets his desires take over, and he will not stop for anything, unless you make it clear you are uncomfortable.

This being said, he's pretty good with aftercare! At first he doesn't really understand the concept but he begins to understand once he's messed with you more. He'll clean you up, snuggle with you afterwards and occasionally bring you something to drink or eat. Typically he tries to stay awake with you until you fall asleep first.

As for uncommon opinions, I feel as if he is more of a recluse. He stays in his room majority of the time unless he has to go on a mission. He leaves his room to talk to you and a few housemates. This doesn't mean he doesn't get along with the housemates, he gets along fairly well with everyone.

That's all I have for now! Thank you anon for the request! This was the request that really caught my eye first and I have a few others I'm working on!! Tips about writing and formatting are appreciated! Love y'all!!

[anewkindofme]

Welcome to anewkindofme’s tumblr!

Hi there! My name is Taylor and I’m in my late 20s. I’m a lesbian with diagnosed ADHD and bipolar disorder. I also struggle with sensory overload. I have dabbled as an online caregiver in the past but have sort of retired for mental health reasons. I still make content for fandoms as it does help my mental health nonetheless. I’ve been writing agere content for a little over 15 years now!

I write sfw agere fics, make moodboards, write headcanons, etc. I only write platonic agere dynamics. One of my favorite tropes is found family!

Currently, I’m mostly writing Grey’s Anatomy & TVDU fics, but I would be interested in writing for other verses (from media I watch). Even if I can’t get the muse to write a certain fic, I’m always down to write headcanons or make moodboards! Requests are open so feel free to hit up my inbox!

I do not write romantic pairings practicing sfw agere, even if it’s strictly non-sexual. I do include romantic pairings in my fics but only for married caregivers. Even then, I keep their interactions to mainly kissing or flirting and it won’t take up the entire fic. I will never write about incest!

My fics do include a variety of discipline, including spanking but I don’t include it as much anymore and it’s usually just a few swats with the hand. But mostly it includes grounding, timeouts, etc. If that bothers you, my fics probably aren’t for you. I also have a couple of verses with non-sexual breastfeeding and diapers. I am a compulsive tagger on both Tumblr and AO3, so just check those out!

I’ll only write for the fandoms listed here. I also stick to the headcanon I have for how a character is classified. For example, I know some people see Dean as a Little, but I only view him as a caregiver. I would struggle to write him otherwise! But always feel free to ask me whatever!

Do not sexualize my fics or interact with me if you are anti-agere, racist, homophobic, ableist or transphobic. Several of my fics include POC and queer characters, as well as characters with disabilities.

I also want to mention that I don’t do character x reader fics, they’re just not in my wheelhouse!

Fandoms I make content for:

The Vampire Diaries Universe, including The Originals & Legacies

One Tree Hill

Supernatural

Grey’s Anatomy, including Private Practice (I haven’t seen enough of Station 19 to make content)

Teen Wolf

Once Upon A Time. At this time, I have not seen OUATIW, so I cannot make content for characters that were strictly on there. I could for those that also appeared on the main show, such as Will Scarlet.

Twilight

Pretty Little Liars. I have not watched any of the spin-offs, so I only make content for the main series!

9-1-1 & 9-1-1: Lone Star

Criminal Minds

My ask box! I keep anonymous asks on. Requests for fics, moodboards and headcanons are always open! At this time I am not accepting headcanon requests for 9-1-1 Lone Star.

My current master list! Please checkout the tags before reading. Please remember: No content is worth your mental health! Take care of yourself, friends.

My current list of characters I headcanon as Littles and Caregivers! If you don’t see one on here, feel free to ask me how I sort them! I will also include ships on here for caregivers, as well as my NOTPs.

[seek--rest]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thanks for the tag @stackthedeck !

How many works do you have on ao3?

300

what's your total ao3 word count?

3,264,597

What fandoms do you write for?

Marvel Spider-Man 99.9% of the time but I’ve been known to dabble in other things.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Through a Glass Darkly with @blondsak

5 Times Peter Didn’t Need Tony’s Help with @blondsak

Flying High with @blondsak

every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end with @blondsak

solkillerseeksak febuwhump with @blondsak @akillerqueenyouare solstice

seeksak supremacy

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yep! Always! I love telling people thank you because we’re just both fellow fans vibing together

What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending

Idk what anyone else would say (though I’d love to know it) but for me my saddest ending is as strong as you were (tender you go).

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

Idk if it’s the happiest or if I could choose just one, but I was recently reminded of graceless. and I still really like that one.

Do you get hate on fics?

Every so often, either a commenter that blames for the state of spideychelle or an irondad person yelling at me to don’t like don’t read when I lightly criticize tropes (while also anonymous commenting on said fics they clearly don’t like make it make sense)

Never more annoying than a quick come back

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Smut is the vehicle with which emotional history is built. Love sex as a storytelling device.

Do you write crossovers?

I wrote one but I’m not sure if that’s a true crossover vs fusion

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

A few times! Once by a collab partner that reuploaded it and then pretended they didn’t lmao and a few others by people who more or less ripped off exact words and phrases. No one owns a concept, I believe in fandom having 40 cakes. But I can count more than a few times when I’ve seen fics that had exact words and sentence structure AND plot identical to mine.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Several!!! It’s very flattering

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I LOVE COLLABS

It’s half the work for twice the fun.

What's your all-time favorite ship?

Peter and MJ

What's a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

If I really don’t think I’ll finish, I delete it lmao. So anything is up has a chance!

What are your writing strengths?

Something I strive for and am told I succeed is in making characters feel like people; they exist outside of each other and outside of the plot. “Character study” is just a default for me.

What are your writing weaknesses?

I have none my writing is perfect 😌 lmao jk probably that I refuse to edit. First draft final draft.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Never have but think it’s interesting!

First fandom you wrote for?

This one!

Favorite fic you've written?

I refuse to choose; my series the highlight reel has my favorites.

Tagging: @abcd-em @weezly14 @missamyshay @promiseofthepremise @blondsak @mysterycyclone

[theskeletonstealer]

Writeblr Introduction

Hello everyone! I’ve been lurking on writeblr for a hot minute, but I figured it was high-time I got my act together and finally make an intro of my own!  I’m Mercury (she/her), and I’m looking to both make some new writer friends and to get back into writing.  I am also interested in working to improve my proofreading and editing skills, so if anyone needs a beta reader, I’m your gal!

What can you expect from me? 

The main two genres I write in are fantasy and thriller / horror, but I will dabble into others from time to time.  

My favorite tropes / things to write include: Morally Gray Characters, Body Horror / Uncanny Valley, Found Family, Redemption Arcs, Bastardization/Corruption Arcs, and Friends to Lovers.   

I will likely post writing tips, various blurbs I wrote based on different writing prompts, and talk about whatever interesting factoids I learn while researching for my worldbuilding.  I might also pose some questions to the writeblr community every once in a while to aid me in my worldbuilding efforts.

What are my WIPs?

My only WIP as of right now is my worldbuilding project, which is a D&D-inspired fantasy world that takes place during their version of the Industrial Revolution.  As of right now, I don’t really have any stories that are WIPs, but I am working towards writing a book that takes place in this world I’m currently building. 

[poochiray]

10 OffGun-ish fics you should read

So I’m coming up on my anniversary soon. This month it’s been a year since my first OffGun story I’ve published. Within this year, I’ve read and wrote a ton of OffGun. So I thought I’d celebrate the occasion by recognizing some of my favorites from the fandom. These are not really in any particular order, so please keep that in mind. I’m not ranking one over the other. And each story has its own special things I like about them. Some of my favorite tropes I tend to gravitate towards are slow burn, pining, angst, smut, humor, switching (be it sexual position or partner), happy endings, & getting together stories. Almost all of these stories have a couple of these things in them. So without further ado, the list~

1) Picking Flowers by allourheroes | 13.3k, Explicit, Pick/Rome

Ya’ll, it was so hard to pick a story by this author. I like a lot of their stories and honestly anything you read by them is going to slam. But there are two stories I think back on even months later. This is one of them. The synopsis of this story is that Pick (as a veterinarian) sometimes has to take care of supernatural creatures. And as such, he comes across a half-pixie named Rome. It’s just such a unique take on Pick/Rome and even though it’s a fantasy AU, their personalities still shine through. It’s cute, romantic, a little angsty, and honestly I remember it being a little slow burn too. Just a very very cute story and definitely worth the read.

2) our hands speak for us by Rioana | 12.1k, Explicit, Off/Gun

K this author has three works, and honestly you should read all of them. I’m not even kidding here. Rioana just gets Gun. Her first story is basically an extensive character study on Gun and as you read through it, you just accept it as reality. Her stories just make sense as plausible explanations, and the same can be said for our hands speak for us. The premise of this story is set during Puppy Honey era, and Gun casually decides to give Off a blowjob to get him to be more comfortable to work with. Then things go from there. I won’t spoil it too much, but be forewarned, Off is not painted in the best light here. This is during his earlier filming career with Gun. As such, there is real situations referenced and the whole thing feels like we’re just going back in time. It’s very real. But very good. 

3) A Savage Gang by piningbisexuals | 53.4k, Explicit, Khai/Third

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but this is my favorite Theory of Love story. It’s definitely a darker, more gritty tale. This was inspired by the Not Me trailer and what resulted was an amazing story where the Savage Gang are actually...well, a gang. There’s drugs, there’s sex, there’s the typical Third pining over Khai. It has everything I ever wanted in a story and the slow burn is just ughhh. So well done. This is a story that sticks around and stays in your head for weeks later. If you’re going to read any Theory of Love story, read this one.

4) make a wish by Feyrelynn | 7.7k, Explicit, Off/Gun

This was the very first OffGun story I bookmarked, so it kinda has a special place in my heart. I’d been dabbling in the fandom, going absolutely feral over edits of these two clingy men, and then I stumbled across this story and that was pretty much it for me. This is a birthday fic, with a very simple concept. Off places a wish on his birthday to see what life would be like if he was really with Gun. And then he gets his glimpse into that reality. Short, simple, and adorably sexy.

5) Provocation by hedgielettuce | 5k, Explicit, Third/Khai

Ok, if you are at all familiar with the things I write/read, this one won’t come as any shock to people on why it’s listed here. This is by far the sexiest Theory of Love story I’ve ever read. And why? Because this author embraces BOSSY THIRD. One of the reasons I love Third so much is because he calls the shots. He instills fear into his hot shot playboy boyfriend. He’s not playing.  And this story expands on it, going so far as to show a jealous dom side to Third that makes perfect sense and leaves Khai in shambles.    

6) love and eggs are best when they are fresh by pancakelady | 10.7k, Teen, Sean/White

Making this list made me realize I’m sorely lacking on Sean/White stories to recommend lmao. I think the reason being is that I just love their canon story so much. So, I don’t feel the need to read more about them? Does that make any sense? I dunno. But either way, this story stuck out more than any other for this particular pairing. It’s the classic high school AU where they are partnered to take care of a “child” for a school project. The “child” being an egg. This is just a very fucking cute story and pretty wholesome too. I think it’s the only story not rated E that I’ll be reccing, so there ya go haha. 

7) The Initiation Series by pallidvixen | 30k+, Explicit, Pick Your Not Me Pairing, it’s all there

Now for the complete opposite of wholesome because I’m fucked up like that lmao. Wow. What’s there to say about this one? Well, for one, it’s a series. You have to read each story because it gradually builds up and gets crazier as it goes. But the basic premise is that Gumpa has an initiation ceremony that all the members of the gang must undergo to prove their loyalty and devotion to the cause. The ceremony? Group sex. It’s everyone fucking everyone. Gumpa with big dom energy, Black just pissed off and not wanting to be there, Gram being an eager fluffer for Black, Sean the virgin, Yok the slut...it’s just. It’s so fucking amazing. And shocking. And I could write so much more but I’ll stop. I get it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but ya’ll. This is the story I think about more than any other, it’s so fucking messed up and perfect.

8) Meant to Be by lililyyli | 76k, Explicit, Maetee/T-Rex

Ya’ll. I have a specific need, and it’s more of this pairing. I started this story because on the word count alone, ngl. Finding longer OffGun stories in general is such a rare treat. But to have one for this pairing too? Sign me the fuck up. The plot on this one was super cute too. Maetee has magical powers and is an exorcist, meanwhile T-Rex is a demon. Together they run into each other as kids and grow up as friends. Things happen, they part ways. They come back as adults and slowly fall in love with each other. I just remember binge reading this entire story in a day, it was so interesting and cute and lovely. And I still think about Maetee getting to dress up as a princess.

9) How Old My Heart by Xagan | 44.3k, Mature, Khai/Third

Ok one of my favorite tropes to read is pining. The thing is with this story is that all the pining is off screen. It's in the background. And it's fucking brilliant. As the reader, you get to piece it all together. You get to watch Khai wait and wait, always playing off as this fuckboy friend. You get to watch Third fall in and out of love with someone else. You then finally get to watch them both come together and create something beautiful, only for one to think it's all casual, the other not. It's a slow burn story, but well worth the read, and the ending was just perfect.

10) there’s a word for it by smyx | 8.7k, Explicit, Yok/Everyone

Lol so this story isn't even technically OffGun focused. This author has written some spicy stories that do feature more OG pairings, but, y'all. This story has a special place in my heart and there's a reason I'm reccing it over the others. It has charm. It is hilarious. Yok is basically a flirty slut who works his way around the gang. Yet in the end, he ends up attempting a threesome with SeanWhite and lol. It's so bad. I just like how sometimes the sex isn't omg amazingly mind-blowing. There is a realness there that I appreciated reading. And Yok's casual approach was just adorable and had me roaring with laughter throughout.

💚 If you've gotten to the end, thanks for reading my list! I'll probably be creating a new list for next year. Drop your recs in the comments! I'm always looking forward to reading new content of OffGun and their associated ships. 💚

[actuallycassidyiambusy]

What are some of your all time favorite tropes to use when you write or draw your ships or and ocs?

I really love the size difference one you went with for Bluffy🥰 it's my favorite! Your art made me a Bluffy fan btw. It's gorgeous.

I have quite a few that I enjoy.

My top five favorites are

Size difference. Probably my biggest weakness when it comes to pairings. It could be done a number of ways. Tall bottom/short top, short bottom/tall top, switches with size difference, etc. I try not to lean into bl tropes too much, but it doesn't mean I don't dabble lol. I have a variety of ships with a size difference going both ways and even ocs with it. It really just depends on the character.

Age difference. I don't ship anything with children. I just can't. But a noticeable age difference between two adults is just 🤌🏻

Feminine bottoms who aren't helpless. I see the trope a lot where the bottom is feminine and can't defend themselves for shit. It's not that I don't mind it, I just see it a little too much. I like when the bottom is super pretty, but can also kill you 🫠 which is a major thing that happens with my oc, Talon. I also like tough bottoms who become whiny and pathetic when their top is around.

Puppy dog top/vicious bottom and vice versa. Those kind of pairings are loved by a lot of people, including me.

Demon/angel or a god, demon/priest. To me it doesn't matter who tops or who bottoms in this trope, it's the evil corrupting the good or even the good influencing the evil for me. I even like a little mixture of both.

Some honorable mentions:

Dom/sub. This one has a very wide range. Both could be doms, both could be subs. The top could dom or the bottom could dom. They could switch and mix up their dynamic. I really like power bottoms with doms bc that's basically what my husband and I are and it's what I see with Buggy and Luffy.

Mpreg. I LOVE me some mpreg because it's just so damn sweet. Idc how it happens, trans men, some unknown force, etc. Idc. I will read it or draw it a hundred times over.

Murderer or kidnapper/victim and hunter/prey. People know me. I like the dark stuff. Something about a character being hunted down just UGH. Toxic tropes in fiction just scratch an itch, ya know?

The size difference between Buggy and Luffy is already pretty apparent in the show. Luffy's head reaches Buggy's chest. However, my version just took it a little further because it's my all time favorite. I put them in a lot of categories because they're both bold and they just fit.

To me, Buggy is not a bottom. He just isn't. People can try to tell me all day that he is, but I can't be swayed. That man is a top 100% It's just his personality. People can babygirl him all they want, he's still a top lmao. Now, I'm not opposed to him being a sub sometimes. Give Luffy the reins every now and then, because that's Luffy's personality. Buggy still has that pathetic side to him where he would definitely cave and allow Luffy to take control of what happens in the bedroom, office, bow of the ship or wherever they decide they want each other.

Also, thank you for liking my art🖤

[0junemeatcleaver0]

I WANNA STUDY YOUR BRAIN 🥹

J: What's your favorite fanfic trope? Have you written it?

K: Do you have a guilty pleasures in fic (reading or writing)?

T: Any fanfic tropes you can't stand?

U: Is there a pairing you would like to write, but haven't tried yet.

While you're rummaging around in there, if you happen to find any motivation to actually write, would you kick it to the front for me? Thanks.

J: Heh. Yeah. You could say I've dabbled in it. (It's age gaps. It's always age gaps.) If that doesn't count as it's own category, then incest. Which I haven't written in fic yet! Yet.

K: I don't have any guilty pleasures at all. I'm a miserable fuck in recovery. My Rx for that is no longer denying myself joy.

T: ...I don't think so? There are some that are just not for me, for sure. But none that I'd say I simply can't stand.

U: Believe it or fucking not: Loustat. I really wanna give it a go at some point.

[spnfanficpond]

New Member Spotlight - January 2024

The Pond is always growing and we want to make our new members feel welcome! Here’s a list of recent additions to our fishy family, along with a little info about them!

Guppies, Jellies, and Mutuals, oh, my!

@thebejeweledwatercat -

Other SM names? - Same name on Discord and AO3

OTP? - Samwena bit it varies

Other fandoms? - Chicago Med, fire, & PD, Stranger Things, Teen Wolf

Looking for in the Pond? - Community

Pairings you read? - OC's and Poly fics

Genres you read? - Hurt/comfort

Favorite writer(s)? - winterfire22 on AO3

What do you like to write? - Hurt/comfort, Poly, What if, AU's

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - Chicago Med - Sunshine, Moonlight, and Shadow

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - A lot actually. Mostly because I’m not good with the follow-through.

.@hello-starlingfics -

Other SM names? - HelloStarlingFics on AO3, HelloStarling on Discord, and hello-starling.bsky.social on BlueSky

OTP? - Sam/Dean. They're just too compelling!

Other fandoms? - Right now it's just SPN

Looking for in the Pond? - Connect with other writers and fans. Writing can be a lonely thing.

Pairings you read? - I mainly stick to Wincest, but will dabble in Wincestiel, Destiel, and Dean/John.

Genres you read? - I read a range of styles and tropes. Whump is probably my favourite, with the comfort optional.

What do you like to write? - I like to write a range of things! I have hurt/comfort, angst, fluff, crack where Sam and Dean are catboys, erotica, and even some gen.

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - Last Fair Deal Gone Down

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - This year I hope to write some darker stuff including Major Character Death. Balancing making it emotionally affecting while avoiding being heavy-handed will be a challenge.

.@michaelmilligan -

Other SM names? - QuicksilverCastiel on AO3, alexanderlewis on Discord

OTP? - Midam

Other fandoms? - Star Trek and Yu-Gi-Oh! (specifically JouKai as a ship - the resurgence of an old fandom for me)

Looking for in the Pond? - I would like to connect with other writers and share insights and hopefully bounce story ideas off each other.

Pairings you read? - Midam, Midamoul (Michael/Adam/Ghoul), I'm trying to branch out with Samifer and Sam in poly relationships (preferably with Gabriel, Eileen, Rowena and/or Lucifer)

Genres you read? - Fluff and Smut mostly, though some angst is good now and then. I enjoy AUs (especially fantasy and sci-fi) and won't say not to fake dating.

Favorite writer(s)? - I go absolutely feral about most (all?) of the Midam fics by saintmichael on AO3

What do you like to write? - Smut, fluff, AUs, fix-its, and lately I've been dabbling in dark(er) fic

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - That would probably be this dark(-ish) Nickifer fic: Blind Trust

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? -I've never written a case fic, which seems criminal in the SPN fandom! So far I'm not confident I could pull off the suspense aspect of the search for what monster is involved, and resolve the whole thing competently. Some suggestions on how to structure/plan a case fic would be appreciated.

@kazsrm67 -

Other SM names? - Same name on Discord

OTP? - I would have to go with Sam x Eileen I suppose.

Other fandoms? - Not much really although I occasionally read Stargate or NCIS fics.

Looking for in the Pond? - I was invited by a friend on Tumblr to be honest I'm super introverted and I can't really answer this. But I was told its a good way to "meet" other writers and get help when stuck on an idea.

Pairings you read? - I mostly read Dean x reader or Dean x OFC (this is what I mostly write as well), I do read some Sam fics and dabble in some poly fics but only with specific characters.

Genres you read? - I'll read all of these (angst, fluff, smut, crack) but I spend a lot of time between angst and smut fics. I do love a good soulmate au.

Favorite writer(s)? - So hard to pick a favorite but @spnexploration and @jawritter on Tumblr are two of my top writers.

What do you like to write? - I write a lot of soulmate fics, but I try to write many different types.

Masterlist!

Most underappreciated fic? - My Omega

Something you haven't written but would like to try? Why not? How can we help? - I have a rockstar!Dean fic in mind, it would be very angsty and discuss domestic violence against men, I haven't tried writing it yet mostly because time. I work full time and am a mom but it's definitely something I am looking at diving into sooner rather than later. I think the help I could use is someone to edit and bounce ideas off. I have a good friend I do this with but sometimes I wonder if it would help to have someone else to bounce ideas off (I get shy and don't reach out tho).

That's all for this month, folks! (If we're missing anyone, let us know and we'll add them to next month's list!) Make sure to say hi to the newbies and make them feel welcome! Thanks to all from @manawhaat, @mrswhozeewhatsis, @mariekoukie6661, @thoughtslikeaminefield, @spencereliotwinchester and @heavenssexiestangel!

[attroxx]

                                         GET  TO  KNOW  THE  MUN

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 ?

as far as canons go, they are my lil glorbo's. i have a thing for main characters, especially underrated main characters. naruto and atsushi are just my lil guys that i heavily relate to in one aspect or another. i'm writing an alt verse of atsushi but i love atsushi's character in general ( i've considered adding his canon self ) john has been a recent add to this blog and just...i really love FAITH, the game hits all the good religious trauma / horror notes for me. i love a priest who is dabbling with his faith and loyaltys. as for my oc's well, some of them i've had for years ( dom and mia ) but a lot of them are new since i made this blog and i love each of them differently but deeply.

𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 ?

i'm pretty down for most genres. there are some tropes / writing themes i'm not into like pregnancy threads ( i could make an exception for mia ) and obviously gross shit like incest / pro-ship stuff makes me sick. heavy no. otherwise i'm pretty open to things like horror, comedy, romance, dark themes, religious themes.

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 ?

i love writing romance and i'm tired of being made to feel sorry for it. of course i love writing angst, familial things as well but i really enjoy romance. i am a hopeless romantic in real life so, i just love shipping and the different dynamics that come with that. i love writing religious themes and general horror. i love writing characters who are total opposites it's just super fun.

𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 ?

mostly at random. i'll see something in a movie or have a random thought and it leads to other thoughts and boom headcanons. my muses just give me vibes on things and it stems from that...idk i dont have a system LOL

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 ?

music. i gotta have music. even a yt video in the background works but i gotta have noise. lmao.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 ?

mostly wing them. plotted things i have a little bit of an idea how things will go but i'd say 99% of shit i write is never plotted so, it's all me just winging it. i don't really enjoy super plotted threads tbh cause then it feels like i'm just coloring in the numbers ? i like things to be a little loose and free.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 ?

yes very much. but not just romantic. platonic and familial is good too. <3

𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐬 / 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 ?

salem ~

𝐚𝐠𝐞 ?

i am 28 *cries*

𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 ?

october 1st, libra gang

𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫 ?

pink, blue, black

𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬 ?

next. lmao how am i supposed to pick favorite songs of all time ? smh.

𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 ?

scream 6

𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 ?

i'm not sure ? probably one of the 4 anime i'm watching rn

𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 ?

moving out - kacey musgraves

𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 ?

potatoes, seafood, ramen, sushi, chicken ( mostly fried chicken or wings ), pasta, chocolate and a bunch of stuff i love food i love eating out at a good restaurant.

𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 ?

fall, it's the best season. i don't mind early summer either but august is too fucking hot. i hate winter . . . i got seasonal depression and i live in midwest hell so winters are terrible here.

𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 ?

would have to be @aeviare who is on hiatus rn but she's my babe. lmao. we met on tumblr rp in 2020 and i've flown to see her multiple times and talk every day so. but other than tiff i'm not sure ? sighs. i'm very shy and i do love getting to know my rp friends but sometimes conversations just die and i'm horrible at reaching out. i'm just . . . i'm a shy lil guy okay i'm trying to be better but. (: personally i consider all my mains good friends but idk if they would say the same so. shrugs.

tagged by: @blaecdog tagging: @mythcaels, @metrictita, @fangier, @mundanemiseries

[emotionalcadaver]

Rules: I figured we needed a little more OC appreciation, so if you have OCs, list your favorite piece of work you have done for them, then tag ten people. It can be anything from a fic to a piece of art to a moodboard! And feel free to expand on why you like that specific work so much if you'd like. If you have multiple OCs, list your favorite piece for each one!

Tagging @moral-terpitude, @runnning-outof-time, @zablife, @shelbydelrey, @eclecticwildflowers, @cillmequick, @call-sign-shark, @confidentandgood, @emilynightshade89, @areyenotfondofmelobster, and anyone else who would like to participate, feel free to say I tagged you!

Vanessa Sullivan (The Dark Knight Trilogy)

How to Make a Monster: Essentially her origin story and how she met and became involved with Jonathan. I had so much fun examining her psychology and motivations, and the development of her relationship with Jonathan is I think one of the better steady burn romances I've written.

Lucy Winters (Peaky Blinders)

Lady of the Various Sorrows: This was the hardest to pick just one because I have so many fics that I'm proud of for this OC. But this is a fic I'd had in my head for a long time before it was written and I'm really proud of how I built up to it over time in my other works with her and the balance of angst and fluff. I think it's the best depiction I've done of Lucy, Tommy, and Grace's relationship.

Alice Emerson (Inception)

A Sleepless Dream: I'm a sucker for childhood best friends to lovers and this fic allowed me to entirely indulge on that trope to my heart's content. Both Alice and Robert are very sweet, sensitive people which was a bit new for me to write since many of my characters are more emotionally guarded. I'm still really proud of how I managed to expand more on Robert's character from what we get of him in the film.

Daisy Preston (Dunkirk)

In the Heart of War: This was my first ever attempt to write one of my OCs into the canon story they were involved in, and I'm still very happy with the result!

Rose Mason (In Time)

The Clockwork Laws: I say this with love, but this fic was a pain in the ass to write. I went back multiple times once I got about halfway through and scrapped everything and started over because I wasn't happy with it. The canon material made it a challenge to write from a worldbuilding standpoint, but that ended up being kinda fun in the end. Also was my first time dabbling in writing enemies to lovers.

Lily Callaghan (Platoon)

Arrival: It was a scene I'd had in my head for a long time, and I really enjoyed being able to capture that moment when Lily first meets Elias and also her anxiety and fear over being sent to war.

[the-goblin-cat]

would it be too weird to ask for a 🐗 for enrique 👉👈

Not at all! He's just less developed than some of my other guys so these answers may not be very long or interesting lmao

✨- How did you come up with the OC’s name?

It's just a nice name lmao

🌼 - How old are they? (Or approximate age range)

late 20s, early 30s

🌺- Do they have any love interest(s)?

Originally I was on the fence about whether or not he loves his wife, Charlotte, but have since decided that he does indeed

🍕 - What is their favorite food?

Enrique comes from two worlds, an aristocratic father and indigenous mother. As such he loves a wide variety of food. The most bougie thing he enjoys is jamon iberico croquets, and the least is just rough-milled corn tortillas with chile.

💼 - What do they do for a living?

He is an anthropologist writing a book about his homeland, Tlatoque. In real life he would probably be doing the same for Mexico.

🎹 - Do they have any hobbies?

Technically, I suppose, alchemy. It is not a legitimate career but rather an occult amusement of the wealthy and overeducated. It is real however.

🎯 -What do they do best?

Enrique is a better writer than he is a fighter or sorcerer (though he has to dabble in the latter frequently)

🥊 -What do they love to do? What do they hate to do?

He loves doing his job, he hates getting involved in other peoples' conflicts (though he will often find he must)

❤️ - What is one of your OC’s best memories?

He did not have the happiest childhood, but most likely his favorite memory would be something involving himself, his brother, and Charlotte. In their youth they formed a sort of outcast trio among the nobs of their age group.

✂️ - What is one of your OC’s worst memories?

Probably the time he was executed by firing squad. He got better though.

🧊 - Is their current design the first one?

Yes. I created him, oh, seven years ago? for a short story, nd have not revisited his series much sense, despite having big plans for the setting. So he hasn't changed much.

🍀 - What originally inspired the OC?

His story emerged setting first, on a day when I saw an episode of a bloodborne LP and then found a black votive candle for Lady Death at my local hardware store. Wires crossed in my mind and I thought "mexican bloodborne" and worked outward from there.

🌂 - What genre do they belong in?

latin gothic

💚 - What is your OC’s gender identity and sexuality?

cishet

🙌 - How many sibling does your OC have?

One brother (deceased)

🍎 - What is the OC’s relationship w/their parents like?

Not a fan of his father. Liked hismother but she died when he was young.

🧠 - What do you like most about the OC?

I love the trope of a scholar forced into having adventures

✏️ - How often do you draw/write about the OC?

Not often!

💎 - Do you ever see yourself killing off the OC?

Maybe at the end of the series, I haven't planned that far ahead.

💀 - Does your OC have any phobias?

lightning

🍩 -Who is your OC’s arch-nemesis or rival?

He doesn't have one per se. The plan is to have all his stories be serialized and mostly self contained, though there is an Entity masquerading as his brother that he's trying to find, and of course, The Actual Devil frequently show up to taunt him.

🎓 🍥 - these shouldn't be different questions

I think I said 7-8 years ago earlier lol