#maybe I do need to go to g fest

[mikey-ways-dogshit-bread]

Maybe it's just all the time I spend with The Nerd (it's definitely something to do with The Nerd, let's be real), but there's just something so fucking breathtaking and genuine to me about the Minus Win.

Just a whole team of absolute dorks, doing it for the craft and for the love of the lizard, showing up with their nerdy little shoes and their arms full of action figures, jumping and shrieking and laughing because we did it, we won.

Awards shows can feel so fake so often, but this one shining moment felt like a Wednesday night Fathom showing full of nerds in graphic t-shirts, or a Saturday afternoon on the couch with your best friend. Everyone was just cheering for Godzilla, because we love him, because we knew he could do it, because we were right.

I'm hugging my Kamata-kun plushie a little closer tonight, is all.

[peachpety]

Upon reflecting this past year, I’m reminded of one area as a fandom citizen that i am lacking - reading fic. And so was born an idea to canvas my fandom family and friends to share with me a fic they've written, art they've created, a podfic they've recorded in 2023 of which they are most proud.

This two part 'rec yourself' list is the result.

Part One features Drarry creations (heavily featured since that's my OTP). Part Two (here) includes a kick-ass mix of various HP ships and ships from other fandoms, including Carry On, Check Please!, Good Omens, Teen Wolf, and Stranger Things. Also, and most importantly, each entry presents a smol blurb from the creator about why they chose their particular piece as their 2023 favorite.

For ease in reading, I've also placed all submitted works posted to AO3 into a filterable bookmark collection, Rec Yourself 2023. Be aware that there's a range of ratings and archive/creator tags, so please, take appropriate responsibility for your personal consumption. And please also be sure to shower the creators with kudos and lovely comments.

Y'all. This endeavor has been a fucking blast. One thing's for sure, I am blessed, humbled and honored to know a whole bunch of fantastic, brilliant, fun folks. Big love to you all, and thank you for participating.

So go forth. Indulge and enjoy! xo peach

* * *

✩ @pato-roldnart ✩ Quiet as a mouse HP | Viktor Krum x Ron Weasely | ART | G rating | Unleashed!Fest 2023 I'm quite proud of this one, I don't know how I made it, I had never drawn them before! My mind went full "oh yeah ronvik " Also, I like the idea of them bonding over their pets and Ron seeing that Viktor cares about something else that is not Quidditch.

✩ @tontonguetonks ✩ Coffee and a Croissant HP Next Gen | Scorpius x Albus | 903 FIC | G rating There are parts of myself and my lived experience in every story and character I write—how I socialize, how I take my coffee… I can’t help it. In *Coffee and a Croissant*, I put a lot of myself in my ace and autistic Albus. He is very dear to me in this story, and in my Fizzy Lifting Drinks drabble. The fic is just a toe-dip in the Soulmate waters where Albus grapples with what to do if he is someone’s Soulmate, but they’re not his. Parts 2 and 3 are in the works, but there is no timeline on either of them. Maybe in 2024?

✩ @crazybutgood ✩ I Bloom Pink For You HP | Narcissa Malfoy x Pansy Parkinson | 993 FIC + ORIGAMI COMIC | M rating | HP Bodice Ripper Fest 2023 This whole idea came about because I got so excited to fold a corset for hp bodice ripper fest, realised I couldn't just submit that one thing, and started brainstorming more loose ideas. It all clicked together when I was inspired by a fic by @schmem14, whose writing I adore. I was so grateful and even more excited when Em gave permission to make this. From there started the self-indulgent process of folding fancy things with fancier papers for this origami comic, and I couldn't have done it without Em and my lovely support team.

✩ @seekercass ✩ Something Cosmic HP | Cedric x Draco x Harry | 1.7k FIC | M rating | Polyship Week 2022 A self-rec that I am still extremely proud of is a short fic written for Polyshipping Week 2022 called Something Cosmic. It's a small coda to Something Good to Always Keep, another fic that I wrote for Quidditch Fest 2021 that I cherish very much. Even though writing is still hard for me these days, I often think about this 'verse and what life is like for Harry, Draco and Cedric after they graduated from Oxford. These three and slice of life bring me such joy. I hope to write more of them.

✩ @roseharpermaxwell ✩ Sounds Worth It HP | Hermione x Draco | 5k FIC | T rating | D/Hr Advent 2023 Being nominated for d/hr advent was a sweet surprise. It gave me a good excuse to remember how to write and the nudge I needed to create something this year.

✩ @basicallyahedgehog ✩ (They) Keep Me Warm HP | Hermione x Harry x Ron | 5.8k FIC | E rating | HP Trans Fest 2023 This was my transfest fic - I wrote it as a love letter to all my trans and Enby friends and as a way of processing some of my own feelings. It’s my first (and so far only) foray into poly golden trio and I loved playing with their dynamics with that added layer to their relationship.

✩ @lumosatnight ✩ For I Have Found Salvation HP | Harry x Severus | 7.1k FIC | E rating | Snarry AUctoberfest 2023 Although this is a smut fic at its core, I tried really hard to make the pacing flow, bringing in background characters, and creating memorable imagery. I am very proud of how it turned out. However, this is probably my favorite fic from 2023 simply for the fact that I had the most fun writing it!

✩ @sugareey-makes-stuff ✩ Feel You Breathing Teen Wolf | Derek Hale x Stiles Stilinski | 8.4k TEXTING FIC | E rating | 2023 Year of the OTP This is my fav 2023 piece because I learned how to create a custom text message AO3 skin, stylize things for plain text reading, and I wrote a whole story  that had some plot that was told through text messages. Also, I did not know I could achieve so much spiciness and throw in so many bad pick-up lines through this medium, but hey, the more you know! XD

✩ @schmem14 ✩ Mastermind HP | Harry x Ron; Draco x Harry; Ron x Draco | 10.7k FIC | E rating | Dronarry Fest 2023 This is one of the few times a story just flew out of me. Possessive stalker Draco sets out to win over Ron in this creepy thriller, but there’s a catch: Ron is already in love with Draco’s boyfriend, Harry.

✩ @drwhoisginnyholmes & @fledglinger ✩ Not Bad, For A 6000 Year Old Classic! Good Omens | Aziraphale x Crowley | 11.8k FIC + ART | E rating | DIWS Reverse! Reverse! Mini Bang

✩ @sniperjade ✩ The Sounds of Us HP Marauders | Regulus x Remus | 20.4k FIC | M rating | Remus Lupin Fest 2023; HPFC Spring Fling 2023 I've been thinking about this for a couple of days and whilst I would really love to say it was the drarry I wrote for this fest last year my favourite would have to be this moonseeker I wrote for Remus Lupin Fest last year. It's my favourite because I lived this fic. It became the entirety of my personality for a whole month because I desperately needed to get to the chapter where Regulus was riding on Padfoots back, through the forbidden forest, with only the light of the full moon to guide them, just to try and help Remus. It's also just because it's very musical and I'm very musical so that makes me love it all the more.

✩ @ghaniblue ✩ Sleeping With Ghosts HP | Regulus x Draco x Harry | 21.9k FIC | M rating | Harry Potter Rare Pair Fest IV I posted a Regulus/Harry/Draco fic last month that I'm very fond of. I started writing it more than 1 1/2 years ago, before I ever read a single Regulus fic. It's triad fic, and I'm pretty proud of the way the individual relationships develop. That was important to me, and I think I succeeded. Posting the first fic on ao3 with this triad tag doesn't hurt either.

✩ @celilasart & @wolfspurr ✩ Shifted Teen Wolf | Derek Hale x Stiles Stilinski | 25k FIC + ART | T rating | Sterek Reverse Bang This work was created for sterek reverse bang, a collaboration fest where the artists create first and the writers write second. wolfspurr and I just clicked when we talked about my art and the things that it inspired in their writer brain ;D the result is just an amazingly sweet and wholesome fic, that is still set in the teenwolf universe as we know it. but unlike many other fics which are full of violence and danger, this one starts with a bang and then it is a beautifully woven story of two people who just complete each other. also... the working title for my art was: tiny fox & sour wolf.

✩ @orange-peony ✩ At the speed of light Carry On | Basilton Pitch x Simon Snow | 26.3k FIC | E rating I picked [this fic] because I had a lot of fun writing it! It started off as a drabble and ended up 26k because I just had a blast writing it and the fandom support was so lovely. Last but not least, Pato made an absolutely stunning art piece for this fic, and it was the best present ever.

✩ @wynnyfryd ✩ i don’t know, you figure it out Stranger Things | Steve Harrington x Eddie Munson | 35.4k WIP FIC | E rating bragging about yourself is difficult, but i’ll just say it’s my favorite because i’m proud of myself for sticking to one project for this long, i love all the artwork the fic has inspired, and i just think the line “the river styx must taste like pennies” fucks severely lmao.

✩ @decaflondonfog ✩ growing pains Check Please! | Eric Bittle x Kent Parson | 50k FIC | T rating i am not usually a long fic gal, which i think is in part lack of patience, but also how attached i get to a universe if i’m working on it for a longer period of time. i finished writing this back in june but this fic felt very “me” in many ways and i think about them so often still  so it’s definitely my 2023 creation i’m proudest of!

[dramioneasks]

HP FESTS:  Love Is In The Air Fest

Love Is In The Air Fest 2023:

A Little Something New by GreenInk_RedLetters - T, 14 chapters - "Oh? You taking a pledge for my protection, Malfoy?" She teased. He was smirking and hell but it did something to her. "I believe... They call that a knight in shining armor." He fingered his chin. "Got an opening, Granger?" After a string of bad dates and unexpected work issues, Hermione Granger doesn't have time for her best friend's request to set her up on a blind date. She's done with men wasting her time and bleh having a total lack of ambition. Draco Malfoy doesn't expect much out of life, and he certainly doesn't expect the Golden Girl of all people to come barging into his life again. She hates him, doesn't she? Or is it simply his best friend playing matchmaker again? Dramione story with a myriad of misunderstandings, a matchmaking Theo Nott, alcohol-induced dinner parties, and light-hearted banter.

Right where you left me by Goldenbucky - G, one-shot - Hermione Granger-Malfoy is being stood up. Frankly, she wants to cry. Where is her husband? He said he was going to meet her here. Didn't he?

endings & new beginnings by riddikulus_puff - M, one-shot - Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy were the public’s favourite couple — adored by the entire Wizarding population of the United Kingdom after everything they have had to face together, marked with the label of “star-crossed lovers” by many — after the defeat of Lord Voldemort and the ending of the Second Wizarding War. Yet, the pressure that was surrounding them had become too much for both of them and at the end of 2001, their break up was finally made public with an exclusive interview in the Daily Prophet.

Of Roses, Hummingbirds, and Bees by AutumnWeen - M, one-shot - Hermione Granger is dead, but that is not the story. The tragedy is that she didn't have to be.

Annabel Lee by undercoverdrxco - T, one-shot - Draco shows up to HER blind date, to recite HER favorite poem on the open mic and what on earth is Hermione Granger supposed to do about that? “But we loved with a love that was more than love” - Edgar Allan Poe

Great Divide by TeslaMalfoy - G, one-shot - Letters were how it began. its only fitting that's how it ends.

Valentine's Day In The Room Of Requirement by elcieford - T, one-shot - "Another Valentine’s Day and I find I’m back here in the Room of Hidden Things. Or Requirement. Whatever makes your swotty brain feel better about calling it. Why does this day make me think of you? Why do I feel the need to write to you again? Admittedly, I hate myself for it, especially as I know I’m going to continue on with this letter. Maybe next year I’ll have pulled my stupid head out of my stupid arse." Or - Every Valentine's Day Draco finds himself writing to the one witch everyone thinks he hates... which he does. Doesn't he?

Forgiveness, Can You Imagine? by forestknifefight - M, one-shot - Guilt gnaws at twelve-year-old Draco Malfoy in ways he can't quite accept. He has no outlet except a quill and has no chance at forgiveness until he is seventeen.

This fest is ongoing.

[louisrarepairfest]

LOUIS RARE PAIR FEST 2024

— Prompts —

[Submit a prompt you'd like to read or write here!]

🫐 The prompt can specify a particular pairing or can use Louis/Character B as the pairing.

🫐 Writers can sign up with one of these prompts or sign up with their own prompt not on this list.

🫐 Prompts will be crossed off as they are chosen during sign ups.

⬇️ Possible prompts below ⬇️

(A) Louis/Character B are uni roommates

(B) Louis/Greg James - Louis takes Clifford to a secluded park and lets him run free for a few hours. A few weeks into going to a park, a friendly dog (Barney) Louis assumes is a stray comes over by him with a stick in his mouth and Louis plays fetch. This becomes a Thing every time. Louis notices Clifford has been gaining weight and can’t figure out why. One day, Clifford doesn’t come back like he usually does. Louis goes looking for him with (Barney) trailing on his heels. He’s just about to give up when (Barney) sprints away and Louis can’t stand the thought of losing two dogs in one day so he runs after him. Cut to…Louis finding a very tall, very handsome man, very excitedly welcoming Barney back with Clifford barely looking up from the almost gone bucket of dog food said very (very) handsome man clearly brought to the park. Confusion ensues since each thinks the other’s dog was a stray. Wild accusations from Louis about Greg making Clifford fat, jokes from Greg about how Barney has taken up finding perfect sticks and running away with his best one. They fall in love and become one big happy family.

( C ) Louis/Character B are musicians vying for the role of band leader at their former high school. They went there at the same time and were rivals then too, though for a totally different reason: they both had secret crushes on one another. When I've of them learns this, it changes everything.

(D) Girl direction! Louis/Character B are star athletes on the college (you choose the) sport team. They're both on the butch side, and it takes them a while to figure out that they're into one another and don't need to femme it up to get the other to like them.

(E) Omegaverse: Alpha Louis has never questioned who he is, a strong Alpha loving Alpha who defies stereotypes. When he meets character B, a beta, he certainly doesn't expect to fall for him (and hard)

(F) Famous Louis returns to his home town for his sister's wedding. When he sees his non-famous ex-boyfriend at the first wedding event of the weekend, sparks fly. Cue a whirlwind romance and a lot of big decisions about what they're both willing to do for love.

(G) Louis is a werewolf who's gotten good at hiding his nature in order to make a quiet life for himself in a small town. Character B is the vampire whose arrival coincides with a couple of murders that threaten his peaceful existence. When it becomes clear that B isn't behind the murders, he and Louis team up to find the real culprit (and maybe accidently fall in love along the way).

(H) Louis/Liam - Bros who get married for insurance purposes and then decide divorce isn’t worth the hassle.

(i) Louis/Charlie Lightening…no plot but sex on the ping pong table. Obviously. 

(J) Louis and his bandmates/opening band let off some steam by having a circle jerk. It might turn into more for some of them.

(K)

(L) M/M Louis and Taylor Swift are rival quarterbacks for their town's 2 high school teams. Nobody knows that they've been secretly dating since sharing a NYE kiss. 

(M) Louis/Liam - everyone thinks Louis and Harry are together but it’s actually Louis and Liam

(N) Lilo hot water maintenance au based on this tumblr post

(O) Lilo Robin Hood AU

(P) Lilo Howl’s Moving Castle au

(Q) Louis and either Charlie or Nick from Heartstopper (the Netflixshow), friendship fic. Would love Louis either helping Nick through his sexuality crisis or Louis being there for Charlie through the events of the first season

(R) Omegaverse: Louis is about to turn 25 without having presented. As he debates undergoing the risky process to force a presentation, he meets Character B who helps him realize he doesn't necessarily have to "present" to be the alpha he know he is. (Omegaverse but make it trans and powerful!!)

(S)

(T) Louis plays on the uni football team and Liam is on the athletics team. they pass each other to and from training all the time. cue attraction. they are or become friends and are secretly pining for a while before they eventually start dating

(U) Edwardian era Lilo au where they’re both working class. maybe one is a servant and one is a shop assistant, or both servants.

(V) Louis and David Dawson bond over their time with Harry

(W) Louis/Oscar Isaac- edwardian AU where Oscar is a poet and Louis is his muse

(X) Louis/Pedro Pascal AU where Louis is exploring in the arctic and needs a guide

(Y) Louis/Pedro Pascal Gladiator AU

(Z) Michael B. Jordan as a boxer and nurse Louis

(AA) Louis/Sebastian Stan arranged marriage royalty AU. Louis is betrothed to King Sebastian Stan, a widower with two kids who aren't to keen of the King's fiancé.

(BB) Louis/Sam Claflin - something based on the interview where Sam says Louis follows him on Twitter and that they've had a conversation but he doesn't want to get into it.

(CC) 27 dresses take off where Niall is always the best man, never the husband, and Louis is the snarky reporter.

(DD) Zouiam, uni AU - Zayn meets Liam at the library and falls halfway in love during a single conversation. It’s a fairy tale, only back home is Louis - his FWB, the most important person in Zayn’s life, and someone who doesn’t take well to losing out on attention. Louis' a bit put out when he meets Liam at football practice and this annoying, bossy, fit as all hell guy slides right in under all his defences. It could be the start of a beautiful term of fighting and fucking, only back home is Zayn. Zayn not only needs Louis - he’d become a full-time hermit otherwise - but it’s damn convenient having sex on tap right there in his own flat. And, oh yeah, Zayn’s like, his reflection or his shadow or his other half or something. Liam’s quite confused by having two drop dead gorgeous guys alternately sending him go signals, then just as quickly, stop. He figures if either of them settle on go, he’ll be batting a thousand. Then he realises they know each other. Biblically.

(EE) Louis is an actor in a murder mystery troupe. Character B (maybe Nick Grimshaw...?) is the audience member who’s clearly too cool for all this but giving joining in his best shot anyway. Louis is distracted by him all night, and then after the denouement they meet in the bar.

(FF) Louis/Greg James - Louis won’t stop whanging on about not getting to do the breakfast show with his new album, and character X (maybe Niall, or Oli?) eventually realises it's less career-related jealousy and more about who sits behind the mic. He hatches a matchmaking plan.

(GG)

(HH) Character B joins local amateur dramatics society and suddenly Louis is no longer a shoo-in for every lead role. Cue the drama!

(ii) AU. Preschool teacher Louis / Boxer Sebastian Stan

(JJ) Yellowjackets AU! Girl direction, any pairing from the show, cutting from 1996 to present.

(KK) Louis/Cillian Murphy - 1970s criminal au (preferably with Louis as the criminal), based on this photo: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FvyDkCnWAAk1UwS?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

(LL) Louis/Isaac: Louis and his band Rogue Direction are doing their first tour in their beat-up van at questionable bars across the country. One night, Isaac is hurled into his life, fleeing from an abusive boyfriend in parking lot of the band’s gig. Louis can’t help but feel..protective of the scrappy tagalong who’ll do anything to earn his keep.

(MM) Louis/Isaac: Louis fucks Isaac’s gauged ears.

(NN) Omega Louis / Male Alpha / Female Alpha polyamorous relationship

(OO) Louis/Patrick Dempsey. AU Patrick is Louis’ dad’s best friend. Possible tags: age difference, secret relationship, feminine Louis, hung Patrick

(PP) Louis Tomlinson/Alex Turner AU. Is basically based in the Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino where Louis and Alex are imprisoned together; so they must find a way to escape. But while they try to escape they begin to fall in love with each other however it will be difficult for both of them to escape.

[theewokingdead]

Yes (Javi G x F!Reader)

Pairing: Javi G (TUWOMT) x f!Reader Summary: You and Javi wait for the results of an at-home pregnancy test. Word Count: 1.7k+ Rating: Teen. Though this fic isn’t explicit, my blog is 18+ only. Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story.  Notes: I think this is the first time I came up with and wrote a fic all in one day lol. Enjoy this fluff fest and join me in all the dad!Javi G feels.

Main Masterlist

Wait ten minutes, you read on the little pamphlet before setting it down on the vanity. Ten minutes. No big deal. What’s ten minutes after waiting a week for your period?

A fucking eternity.

Your heartbeat creeps into your throat, and you fear you might choke on it.

Just breath, you tell yourself. You can do this.

Hunched over, clutching the marble vanity, you take a deep breath…but it’s not enough. Despite its grand size, the walls of the master bathroom are closing in on you. A wave of nausea washes over you as your vision tunnels and your body tingles. Everything magnifies. The lights are blinding and the slight drip from the sink faucet is deafening.

No… You can’t do this.

Pushing yourself away from the vanity, you turn and open the door that connects to the bedroom, searching for air, for a distraction, for anything. A figure whips around to see you as soon as you enter the room, making you freeze.

“Javi!”you breath in surprise. You thought he was in his study, working on his latest screenplay, wanting to spare him the stress of waiting for the results of the test.

“Did you take it?” he immediately questions, the anxiety clear in his voice.

“I-yeah,” is all you can manage to say, trying to process what’s happening.

“What did it say? Is it positive? Can I see?” He moves past you to walk into the bathroom, but immediately turns back. “No. I can’t. I’m too nervous. What did it say?!”

“It didn’t say anything,” you reply. “I only just took it, and it takes ten minutes to show the results.”

“Ten minutes?! Ay, Dios Mío!” He places a hand on his chest. “My heart is beating so fast. I think I need to sit down.” Seeming like he may be sick, he moves over to the bed, taking a seat on the edge.

You fold your arms and hug them closely to your body. You feared he’d freak out. Why did I even tell him that I’m late?

“It’s okay if you want to leave,” you assure him.  “You don’t have to stay. You don’t have to have any part in this…if you don’t want to.”

Javi looks up at you, brows knitted together, the eyes beneath them shining with a love that burns from within. “What? You really think I don’t want to be a part of this?” he questions, sounding hurt by your inference. He rises to your feet and walks to you, then clasps your shoulders, his large hands warm and comforting. “Of course, I want to be a part of this! I mean, I’m already a part of this, aren’t I?” He pulls back and tilts his head. “Unless this happened because of some sort of…divine intervention.”

You hang your head to hide a smile. “No. Of course not.”

“Good.” He lets go. “So we just wait then?”

You nod, and he turns away. Silence falls between you.

“I’m sorry,” you squeak, though you’re unsure why. Maybe it’s shame, facing a pregnancy when you’re not even engaged let alone married. Or perhaps it’s guilt, feeling as though you’re trapping him. A tear falls down your cheek, but you quickly wipe it away “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Oh, dulzura. No, no.” Javi returns to you, this time pulling you into a hug. “Don’t be sorry. Why be sorry?”

Shaking your head, you push him away. “I don’t know,” you admit, trying to make sense of all the thoughts in your head. “The timing feels horrible. You just started your next screenplay with Nic, and I know you’re under a lot of stress with that. You don’t need something like this occupying your mind or holding you back.”

“Something like this?” he questions. “Mi amor… Look at me.” He tilts your chin up to look at him. “I have a confession.”

Your heart slams against your chest as you look up at him through your eyelashes.

Javi moves his hand to your cheek. “Do you remember when we were watching the Academy Awards together and I told you that one of my biggest dreams is to win an Oscar for Screenwriting?” he questions.

Yes. Of course, you remember… Cuddling on the couch. The way he looked like a little kid while spewing random facts about which awards Nic Cage and his movies had been nominated for in the past. Cheering on his favorite nominees and yelling when the ones he disliked won. Crying at the sweetest acceptance awards. It was one of your favorite date nights.

“I lied to you,” Javi admits. “It was a lie. Well, it wasn’t technically a lie because it is one of my dreams, just not my biggest. My biggest dream is to have a family. To share kids with the love of my life…it would be a magical experience. Not always an easy one, I know, but I can’t imagine a future without having a family of my own.”

Instantly, you melt. “Oh, Javi,” you sigh. “Why have you never told me that?”

His hand slips from your face, and he seems ashamed. “Because I am a coward,” he responds.

“You aren’t a coward.”

“I am,” he states, nodding. He walks away, his hands on his hips as he looks down at the ground. “I never allow myself to have what my heart wants because I’m afraid of failing.”

“You’re doing perfectly, Javi,” you reassure him. “At everything.”

“But who’s to say I can do good at this? I…I don’t know how to be a father, and there’s no script for parenting. I know I’m not much of a better man than my father, and I don’t want to be like him. I don’t want to be an old man, alone on my deathbed, guilty of what kind of father I was, but refusing to make things right.”

“That won’t happen,” you assure him. You close the gap between the two of you, laying one hand on his chest, the other reaching up to touch his face, feeling his thick facial hair. “I may not have known your father, but I know you, and I’m certain you will make an amazing father. Yes, you may be stubborn and sometimes extremely difficult”-you offer him a smile-“but you are also very kind and compassionate. I have no idea how to be a parent either…but I’m willing to learn.”

Javi looks at you with the sweetest puppy dog eyes, filled with hope and wonder. “With me?”

“No, with God,” you jest. “Yes, with you, silly.”

“Oh, good,” he chuckles. “Because I want to do this with you. You will make a phenomenal mother. You already take such good care of me.”

You giggle but it quickly fades. You look down at the hand on his shirt. “Listen, Javi, truth… The reason I didn’t test sooner, that I didn’t even bring it up when I first suspected it, was because… Well, I’m scared too. I’m afraid that, no matter the results, our entire relationship will change. That it will change the way you feel about me. I don’t want to mess up what we have.”

“I don’t want to lie to you, querida. It does change everything,” he admits freely. “But not for worse. If anything, this has made me see just how much I love you, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’ve always wanted to. I’ve just been too paralyzed by fear – doubts – that someone as beautiful and perfect as you would want to spend the rest of their life with me. Everyday I’m worried that I’m living in a fantasy world, and one day I’ll wake up, and you’ll be gone.”

You’re shocked by his admission. Looking deeply into his eyes, you place your hands on either side of his cheeks and say, “Javi Gutierrez. When is it going to sink into that enormous head of yours that you are a wonderful man who I love more than anything else, and – should you ask me to - I’d be honored to spend my life with you?”

His eyes widen, and a ridiculously happy smile appears on his face. “Really?”

You nod. “Really.”

“Maybe I, uh… Maybe I should ask you to then?”

“Maybe you should,” you respond, smiling. You bite your lower lip, remembering what brought you here in the first place. “But not now. It’s not the right time.”

“No?” he questions, confused.

“No.”

“No. Yes, no. You’re right. Now’s not the right time.” He’s silent, his eyebrows screwed up as he looks at you. After a moment, he questions, “How about now?”

You can’t help the laugh that escapes your lips, wondering if he’s forgotten about the test. “No, Javi. But I… I think it’s about time to check the test.”

“Oh, yeah. Right. The test. No, go. I cannot look.”

You nod, then turn and walk toward the bathroom.

“Mi vida, wait.”

You turn back to him, watching as he steps up to you.

“No matter what the test says, no matter what happens next… I love you. I love you unconditionally and nothing will change that.”

Beaming, you respond. “I love you, too.”

He nods, encouraging you to go, which you do. Walking up to the vanity, you pick up the small plastic stick sitting on it. It shakes as you hold it in your trembling hand, but you see that the little clock on the display screen has turned into a word - a word so simple yet capable of changing the course of your life.

A million emotions rushing through you, you step back out into the bedroom, your eyes fixed on the letters as your brain tries to process what it means.

“Well?” Javi prods.

“It’s…positive.”

You look up at him, watching the realization wash over his face. He releases a breath, his eyes wet with tears.

“Really?” His mouth twists into a bright smile after speaking the words, flashing nearly all of his teeth.

“Yeah. Really,” you reply, beaming. Your voice is shaky, filled with tears. “You’re going to be a father, Javi.”

You hold out the test, and Javi looks down, uttering an excited, “Oh, wow!” as he gazes at the word staring back at him: YES. He’s in absolute awe.

Unexpectedly, he looks up at you, then tosses his arms around your back, picking you up and spinning you around. Your arms instinctively wrap tightly around his neck, holding onto him.

“Javi!” you exclaim, laughing as tears of joy start to stream down your face.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, setting you back down and unwrapping his arms, as though he’s afraid of breaking you. “I’m sorry, my vida. I’ll be more careful. I just cannot contain my excitement! You just made me the happiest man alive!”

Your arms remain wrapped around his neck, and you move to press your lips to his. He finally holds you once more, this time less tightly. One of your hands reaches up, allowing your fingers to run through his curls. Pulling back, you demand, “Ask me, Javi. Ask me what you wanted to ask.”

Without missing a beat, he asks, “Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

[mostlymaudlin]

Twenty Questions for Fic Writers 💫

thank you @decaflondonfog for the tag !! ill tag @sillyunicorn @starwarned @urban-sith @tea-brigade

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

98!! (woah) plus an unrevealed t&n fest fic, so 99. wow i need to do something rly crazy for 100 lol. what if i do a ridiculous crossover of all my fandoms and everyone in the fandom tags will hate me. 

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

544,914. (again. woagh)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

mostly all for the game and simon snow series, have dabbled in & posted even less for check please, captain america, and one direction! i feel like i’m missing something but regardless my fixations are hardcore, so all except like 4k of that posted wc is for either aftg or ss hahahha

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

all are andreil! boyfriend privileges (4k, T) / Trigger (62k, E) / flashes of intimacy (10k, t) / Would you still love me if I was a worm? (6k, T) / Inside Thoughts (1k,T)

man this is long, rest is going under the cut lol

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

not very often, but i wish i did. i am stricken with a combination of being really awkward when people are nice to me & being bad at interacting with anyone in ways i fear could be perceived as ingenuine. im not sure if that makes sense LMAO. and sometimes when i put a story out, i kind of feel like i’ve said my piece — i’ve put so much into it that i don’t really know what else to say!

anyway, i always reply to questions, because that’s got clear social boundaries hahaha, and i DO love talking abt my stories!! and sometimes i’ll reply to comments that really get me thinking. but yeah, i know i reply less than i could, and i want to like double down on the fact that i am endlessly grateful for everyone who has ever left a comment on my work <3

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i have killed simon snow twice lmfao. i’d actually classify icarus as rather hopeful — it’s about grief & healing. but legacies is just fucked up lmfao

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

oh man, i write a lot of happy endings haha. i feel like even when my story is tonally darker (rare), it still has a happy or at least hopeful ending. this is probably not the correct answer, but i think sing of the moon has a really vividly happy ending. like — the sun rises for the first time in the whole fic! amazing. or maybe my high school au, We Can Live Forever, which is just the happiest thing i’ve ever written. 

8. Do you get hate on fics?

not really, thankfully! people are smartasses sometimes but overall ive been lucky. there have been a couple of fics where ive winced before hitting post, but it usually ends up fine

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

yessss. i guess i mostly write tender smut, bc i write tender things in general. i think my smut tends to be rather exploratory/playful as well? intentionally sloppy and awkward choreography hahaha

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

sort of LOL. once upon a time i was betaing @tea-brigade's medieval snowbaz au, Reliquary of an Arsonist, and there’s this part where three highway bandits mug simon and baz and then get blasted by simon’s chosen one magic. i am sick in the head so im in the google doc like “lol what if its kandreil.” and then i was like… what if it was kandreil….. and so i wrote Reliquary of a Bandit

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i don’t think so

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

yes!!! and i’m really thankful for everyone who has done so <3333 shoutout to russian aftg translators, yall go HARD

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

i recently collaborated with @thewholelemon on our episode of Star Trek: Redemption, Heart-Shaped Box. by which i mean: i wrote the outline & a few scenes, got really overwhelmed, and jenny turned it into something worth reading! 

i also wrote Good Boy in the snowbaz stoner verse with @starwarned, which was rly fun — we sat in the google doc for like, 5 hours trading back and forth on POVs as we wrote pure porn together LOL. it’s funny to think about this, because lauren knows like everything abt me now but we did not know each other as well back then!!! and we were just like “yeah lets write porn together” hahahahha 

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

right now it is deeefinitely andreil… they are everything to me for reasons i just cannot possibly be brief about LOL so ill just leave it at that

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

i have a postcanon snowbaz time travel/time loop wip that i was going to try to write for COBB this year but i fucked up the deadlines then the brainrot was like “guess that means more andreil !”. i did SO MUCH research for it and i think it’s rather clever and smutty and fun bc they are yeeted back to watford era! but it’s also dealing with snowbaz, who are in their late 20s and are like in a relationship low point/actively fighting when they end up in the loop… so they are dealing with that tension at the same time as they are trying to get out of the loop. and also fucking around watford to fulfill fantasies HAHAHA

16. What are your writing strengths?

characterization is the thing i care most about! and i think that’s the draw of fanfic in particular to me — i love getting such a grasp on a character that i can translate them into endless situations while still making them feel true to self. i rarely let myself publish anything until i can read through the whole thing without any he would not fucking say that moments hahahha. this is of course pertaining to my own interpretations of the characters, which is the only thing i care abt lmfao

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

i rely a lot on body language because im always writing abt reticent fuckers who cant use their words. but i think i sometimes overcompensate, or describe actions that don't actually fit the scene. i've seen this described as "cheek-biting" -- like, throwing in action during a conversation just to delay the pacing/further the tone, but when you really look at it, it's not necessary. (cheek-biting being like, "character bites at their cheek" in the middle of a tense conversation)

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i don’t really know any other languages! i think i’ve put a little bit of french in neil/kevin/baz POVs before, but my french knowledge is elementary at best. love the idea of it though.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

one direction babyyyyyyyy !! i wrote quite a bit of it in like 2012-2015 but published very little. there’s 1 on my ao3, some lost somewhere on fanfiction.net (i dont rmr my username lol), and tons in my folders from my old laptop lol.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

hmmmmm. im gonna cheat bc i cant pick a single favorite. i always say i think No Turning Back is some of my best writing from a craft standpoint, and it also includes my favorite type of conflict (andrew self-destructing lol). however, i reread both that fic & We Can Live Forever on a plane trip recently after not having touched either for 6+ months — and the solidness of We Can Live Forever actually surprised me, especially because i wrote the majority of that fic while i was stoned and also view it as just exceedingly silly. the world of it is just very rich, and also very very different from the typical character backstories, and i’m very proud of how much that reread played with my heartstrings.  

ok last one — there are several installments of my flashes of intimacy series that i come back to a lot, because i’m proud of what they each accomplish in 500 words. especially because i often turn to those when im trying to express my own emotions lol. specifically, my favorites are picking fights, i don’t mind, swimming lessons, and practicing gratitude.

that was such a bullshit and cocky way to answer this lmfaooooo. but tbh i am my own biggest fan and that is by design — i write stuff so that i can reread it months later and have it be perfectly catered to my tastes. i love all my fics <3

[sugareey-makes-stuff]

20 questions for fic writers!

Ooo, this look fun! Thanks for the tags, @lumosatnight (x) and @anaxandria-writes (x) ! This is going to be interesting since I've only started writing again a few years ago, so I'll do what I can to make this writing-centric. This is also probably going to be rambly AF, so you've been warned. And onwards!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

118 (39 are fics, and the rest is all art). That number will change because it's spooky season, and there are definitely some fun things being posted for that very soon.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

91,266, but if you exclude a couple of collabs where I only provided art, then it's down to 68,276. I have a few works that are hidden and haven't been "officially" released yet because these are the WIP text fics I've talked about before, and they need more TLC!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Harry Potter (31)

Teen Wolf (8)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Little did I know [HP: Perciver, T, 2.5k]

There's a guiding light [HP: Perciver, G, 1.5k]

Love me like that [HP: Perciver, T, 2.5k]

Help Me Out [TW: Sterek, E, 3.3k]

It's Enough For Now [TW: Sterek, G, 300 words w/ art]

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

You know what's funny? I had to take a break from answering for quite a while, and I just started replying back to comments to most recent works yesterday. So, progress! I really do want to show some appreciation to folks who have read and viewed my work, especially across multiple fandoms and ships over the last couple of months. The multi-fandom life is a tricky one to balance, but I'm hoping I can reply to a batch here or there when I have a chance to eventually get caught up with the backlog. If I haven't replied back yet, please note that I have read your lovely comment, but I just haven't had a chance to string together some words to say thank you! I cherish each and every comment I get, especially if I've made someone smile or their day a little brighter with my creations.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I've actually been in a whumpy phase lately, but I posted up The Walls Came Crashing Down (TW: Sterek, T, 4,242 words) maybe a couple of weeks ago because it's a Bloody Mary fic, and there was a near-death experience included. There's also so many terrible feels, crying and trauma after that happens. It's hopeful but yeah. I've been wanting make something like this for a long time, so I'm glad I finally did because it was such a fun and challenging fic to write (while keeping it at that exact word count :P).

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

Navy and Gold (HP: Perciver, G, 900 words) for Cruel Summer Fic fest, because I was given a song that had a lot of fluffy family vibes, and that's usually what I don't write? But I turned it into a wedding ficlet, and I think I surprised myself because it came out really well. Especially in such few words!

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've gotten some weird comments on both fic and art. More of the kind where someone wanted or expected a certain thing, or they were questioning that something was missing. Anyway, some friends have defended my honour or else tell me that those commenters weren't worth it, so I'm glad to have that kind of support!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Once upon a time I did not write PWPs. Ever since I came out of writing hibernation, PWPs have definitely slipped in. That's how I actually started writing more when I challenged myself to write drabbles for a smut workshop for Kinkuary. Now, I love writing sexy and kinky microfics and drabbles because they're short, quick and punchy. I've recently graduated to writing a couple of one shots (and heyyy, I'm actually working on a couple for Kinktober as we speak ;D). Kinkuary and Kinktober are usually my inspirations to get things written out anyway, but I'm open to other challenges too. There's a reason why A Study in Kink exists as an HP fic and art series. At this rate, I may need to make a new series for Sterek Sexy Stories. The amount of Sterek smut ideas I have kicking around in WIPs rn is kinda insane. But also, porn with feelings. <333

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Not in the traditional sense. The most I've done is add in fandom references into a fic. So for Teen Wolf, I've been adding in little elements from Supernatural, especially if I want to bring a certain type of lore or big bad into the scene. But that's it.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Thankfully, I haven't. Then again, I've only written short things these past few years (and I'm more concerned about art theft, considering how much of my art is out in the world).

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, I have not!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, I have! @crazybutgood and I got to know each other when we were paired up last year for the Owlery Exchange: To Days to Come and wrote I Just Want You To Know (Drarry, T, 3.5k) together. Epistolary fics are awesome btw! My Harry had a lot of fun bantering and bonding with her Draco, and I love how we didn't even know we were writing to each other until partners were revealed, and it was time for betaing and editing. That's how we became fast friends, which was totally meant to be! :D

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

That's just...I like a lot of ships, okay? I'm a multi-shipper and a multi-fandomer, so that's a tough question!! Hang on tight...this is going to be a long ass explanation. I'm not going to rank them, but I'll list three ships that have impacted my life in a huge way. I'll start with Sterek, because I've only gotten to know them for a little over a year. But Sterek was a blessing to discover at such a shitty time. Literally one year ago, I felt burnt out, like I was losing my muse, and I was recovering from COVID. Everything in RL kind of sucked. But when I got curious and started reading Sterek fics late one night, I was sold. Sterek helped me pause and get to know myself again as a creator, reader and a human. I really needed that, so the timing couldn't have been any better. I latched on to Sterek quickly and tightly because I see some of Stiles' and Derek's traits in me. They're also complicated and deserve Nice Things, and I can relate so, so much. That's why it's been easy to make art and fic for them. Their potential is endless because Sterek made my love for supernatural and spooky things deeper. Every time I write or draw for them, I can do it with ease and clarity. Everything just comes together and works. And it's so satisfying! Perciver is a rare pair I owe so much to. They're the ship that gave me the confidence to write again and they changed the way I currently draw. I think drawing Percy and Oliver helped me understand them as characters, and that translated into writing because I already had visuals. I know them in and out, and I made the fic series, Where do we go from here? because I believed in them. I wanted to share stories that haven't been told yet, but I wanted them to be real. And the fact I've figured out how to bring Perciver to life through art and fic has an amazing journey. They've given me the practice I needed to improve my crafts. It's because of Perciver that I've become a better artist and writer because I finally found my groove. And gosh, it's nice to have a well-established style. I will love these boys forever because they may be opposites but gods, do they go so well together. They get each other, they're each other's rocks, and it's beautiful. Of course, Drarry was my first ship I fell in love with. I still love them to pieces, and it's because of these two that I learned how to write and draw in the first place. I've been able to make some amazing friendships with other folks because of these two, and I cherish that a lot. Also, Drarry was why I entered fandom and the fest scene, and why I've stuck around for so long. What the creators in this community have made year after year is immaculate. And all the fics I've binged over the years got me through some of the hardest times of my life, especially when I was dealing with family issues, school and just growing up. I cannot imagine what life would have been like without Drarry, tbh. I think of Drarry as two sides of the same coin, and their banter and their snark and their complexities make it so they learn to understand each other. It's inevitable why they're drawn and will always be drawn to each other.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I don't want to say never, but more like when. I've mentioned way back in other posts that there are 2 text fics WIPs that have been kicking around, but since I have sooo much I need to rewrite and recode for each one, I have no idea when I'll have time? One of them is slotted to be a 50k Sterek fic with texting, IG messages and a scrolling playlist and I have half of it written out. Let me tell ya, coding alone takes more time than the writing. The other fic is a sequel to the above fic and has holidays vibes, and it still has the same coding setup, so yeah. I'll figure it out one day, I guess.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue is my fav and something I write out first because it shapes how the fic will read. It's how I develop voices, snark, banter and whatever else, and then I'll fill in the gaps with narrative, description and all that jazz. That's also how I end up getting the best ideas. The dialogue ends being my prompt to move the story along. I'm also a thorough researcher and like to check my facts before writing in little details. Just so I can have some perspective and so I have an idea how I want to explain something from a character's PoV. Also, it's super helpful to drop in little Easter eggs to shape things up and give a scene some context. Facts are fun. And I'm a nerd, but we all knew that. XD I've definitely gotten way better at showing vs. telling once I started writing again. I try to go for smooth or punchy if I can. It comes down to a lot of things like dialogue, selecting certain verbs and descriptors to explain a person's narrative (like what's going on in their mind), how those thoughts are broken up in multiple sentences and how those are punctuated. Those are the things that create beats and rhythms that keep the story going. And since I'm creative who also loves music and dancing, I'm all for that. I actually think I'm wired to think this way, so that's not a bad thing!

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Extensive world building and making big plots that need a lot of ends tied up. I used to write longer fics that had all of this, and while I still have copies of these (not published on AO3 for reasons), they're not strong. Rereading things now, these stories could use improvements. It's easy to try to jam everything in one go, but that needs to be done strategically. And you know, sometime less is more. I also don't have a lot of patience to go crazy with intricate outlines (since I'm more of a pantser than a planner), and I've found that writing something that's super detailed ends up boxing me into a corner or else it's like dragging teeth to finish the thing. I think this is definitely related to my writing style having changed over time, which is not a bad thing! I just can't write like that anymore.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Yessss. I've done that with Love me like that! I also happen to know Scottish Gaelic, so I was able to drop words in pretty easily. I love the cultural sense another language adds to a fic because it shows more dimensions than just describing what someone looks like, where they're from, etc. I also like using a few words vs a long sentence. Names, or little sayings that hint at traditions or history are just nice touches. So if I do know a language and I know I can add in some words in correctly, I most certainly will!

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter, specifically for Drarry (all of my older stuff is on LJ)

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

Probably Feel You Breathing [TW: Sterek, E, 8.4k] because it was my 3rd attempt in writing a text fic, which ended up being a success. It's 100% texting, something I totally made for myself, but I'm really proud of it because I had a chance to write from alternating PoVs. Also, this somehow turned into porn with plot and feelings and had some minor world building included based on texts alone. I didn't think I could accomplish that, but I did!

Tagging (no pressure, this is just for funsies): @danpuff-ao3, @phdmama, @outtoshatter, @thistlecatfics, @phoebe-delia, @nanneramma, @theheadgirl, @raisesomehale, @thotpuppy, @bleepbloopbotz, @quackquackcey and anyone who wants to do this!

[sitp-recs]

Hi Liv,

Do you have any recs for outsider point of view? I read a recent one (from Astoria pov) which was really great (i can’t remember the name but it was from wireless fest, I think). And I absolutely love « Invisible » by Phoenixstrike. It’s short, angsty and a bit heartbreaking for Ginny but it’s a great fic.

Do you have any other fics you would recommend along those lines?

Thanks for all your work ! You are amazing.

Hi there! I think the Astoria fic you’ve read is the one by Sleepstxtic below - I don’t really read infidelity but have heard amazing things about this one so I decided to include other fics with this tag that I haven’t checked but might work for you. I don’t read outsider POV very often to be honest, but I hope you’ll enjoy these!

Aftermath of an Accidental Bond by @the-starryknight (2021, T, 1k)

When you took the Mungo's third shift, you knew there would be weird shit. You just didn't expect to find the most recognizable face in the Wizarding world shoved into a hospital cot beside Draco Malfoy.

Let it Come to Them by thestarryknight (2021, T, 1k)

From her position at her loom, Narcissa caught her son's lover slipping in through Draco's bedroom window.

I Don't Give a Crappuccino by @xx-thedarklord-xx (2018, T, 2.5k)

Ron already had a lot on his plate, what with working for Snape and all. He didn't need Harry and Malfoy making it worse. They really were the worst sort of customers. Of course, Pansy said it was love, but he wasn't sold on the idea. He just wanted to sell overpriced coffee, get through his shift alive, and avoid Pansy's matchmaking schemes.

Working With Them by Lomonaaeren (2013, T, 3.2k)

The newest Auror in the Socrates Corps, Isla Rudie, watches Aurors Malfoy and Potter at work and—well, at work.

Get a Room by @lqtraintracks (2015, M, 4k)

Harry and Draco have been seeing each other for six months now, and they really can't keep their hands off one another, especially when they get a little drunk.

so lie to me tonight by @bonesliketambourines (2021, T, 5.2k)

Ginny thought it would be different, after.

Florean Fortescue The Third by @queenofthyme (2018, T, 5.3k)

Florean Forestcue The Third or "GET IT FORTESCUE BOY" follows the story of the grandson of Florean Fortescue and his attempts to run his ice cream parlour in peace. When new regulars, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, begin to shamelessly flirt with him, Florean the third uses his grandfather's famous flavours and his own quick powers of deduction to stop both customers bothering him once and for all.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by @sleepstxtic-drarry (2022, T, 5.7k)

Astoria watches her husband fall in love with Harry Potter.

Need to Know by Saras_Girl (2013, T, 6k)

Some are born to matchmake, others have matchmaking thrust upon them, and all of this is Neville's fault, anyway.

Doer of Good Deeds by Lomonaaeren (2013, T, 6.2k)

Ron certainly knows how to recognize obsession when he sees it, thanks to feeling some of the same with Hermione. And he would rather that Harry's obsession with Draco Malfoy end sooner rather than later. Otherwise, Ron's afraid that he’s going to spend the rest of his life hearing about how ugly all of Malfoy's girlfriends are.

Maelstrom, the water told me by @onbeinganangel (2021, E, 11k)

Maelstrom (noun, /ˈmeɪl.strɒm/, from the Dutch maalstroom): 1. a large powerful whirlpool; 2. a turbulent tidal current; 3. an agitated and/or confusing situation or state of mind; 4. a magical core disturbance occurring on an adult, not directly caused by trauma

On the Couch by Frayach (2014, E, 26k)

It’s a Mind Healer’s worse nightmare to lose a patient to suicide, but Mind Healer Nick Nichols can attest to the fact that a murder/suicide is even worse. If only Dr. Freud had come up with a sure cure for love.

Normal is the Watchword by lamerezouille (2012, G, 30k)

This story is about love and family and yes, maybe it’s not supposed to be about Jamie exactly, but Draco and Harry are very stubborn and Jamie’s just a kid, you can’t expect him to completely extract himself from a story he’s actually living, right?

[late-nite-scholar]

Aug 9th (Day 5): Prompt- Forgotten / Devotion

Day 5: Devotion- Dagoth Ur is dead. But Voryn Dagoth survived and now has to deal with that fact, and the fact that everyone and everything he once cared about is gone. But the Nerevarine isn’t quite ready to give up on him— or let him give up— just yet.  Post-game Morrowind (and completed Tribunal expansion), Pre/Early relationship. Rilenna uses they/them pronouns and is not Nerevar. Shameless Nerevoryn shipping (both Nerevar and Nerevarine). Voryn is dramatic and we love him for it.

Voryn Dagoth x Indoril Nerevar, Dunmer Nerevarine x Voryn Dagoth

Prompts by @tes-summer-fest

Warnings- Blood, canon-typical violence

Wordcount- around 1800

(image made in picrew. description in alt text)

***

He hurt. He was recovering, yes, but it would take time for him to regain his strength. His wounds were mostly healed, though the stab that had gone through his body would ache for a long time yet. But he would survive. 

That was part of the hurt. That he survived at all. He shouldn't have. He believed that to his core. It would've been so easy. To make an end of it once and for all. He would have welcomed that fall, to join all his machinations in the lava below. To end things at Red Mountain, where it had all begun and ended and begun again the first time. To die for good, as he should have. 

To be with Nerevar again. 

Ancestors, he missed Neht. His beloved, but never truly his. Circumstance had always kept them apart in some way, no matter how they'd tried. He knew he wasn’t the only one who’d felt that way, but at the time they'd all done what was needed. And he'd done it, gritting his teeth and smiling as he had. His devotion had been absolute; to his House, to his Hortator, and to the First Council’s grand plan to unite and protect their people. And all he’d been rewarded with had been betrayal, death, and then a terrible, corrupt existence. He’d been freed from all that, but had no devotion left to give. Not that there was anything left to devote himself to; everything was long gone. And had he died, perhaps he could have finally been with Nerevar. But he hadn’t died, and it was a terrible, deserved punishment for his many, many sins. 

"Hey Voryn, you wanna go for a walk or should I just leave you here feeling sorry for yourself?" a voice asked in Cyrod-accented Dunmeris, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up; Rilenna stood at the entrance to their cave with their hands on their hips. They grinned. 

"I am an expert on feeling sorry for oneself, but we should get you up and about. We've been here nearly two weeks. I don't know if you plan on staying in this cave forever, but sooner or later I'd like a proper place to sleep." 

"You don't have to stay." He tried to say it offhandedly, like the leaving of the one person who'd shown him kindness in nearly four thousand years wouldn't affect him. 

As he got to his feet and made his way over, they sighed sarcastically. "All that talk of wanting me to come meet you and now you want me to go? 'Come, Sweet Nerevar…’ and all that? I know I'm not Nerevar, but I didn't think my company was that bad!" 

The self-deprecation at the end made something inside him twist. Not for the fact that Rilenna was not truly Nerevar reborn and the inherent mourning in that, but for how they constantly made such digs at themselves. He reached out, and touched their shoulder. 

“I do like your company. But, I don’t want you to feel obligated to stay.” 

Rilenna shrugged. “Where else would I go? Besides, I dragged you out of that volcano, I should at least make sure you can take care of yourself. Especially after I stabbed you. Come on, let’s walk through the trees. It’s a nice day today, we’ll go down to the river, maybe even catch something for supper!” 

“That sounds lovely.”

The walk to the river was slow. He was better, but still easily winded. Rilenna slid their arm around him, their other hand taking his as he started to sag.

“I got you. Is this too much? Should we go back?” Their crimson eyes had gone big, and they chewed their bottom lip as he wheezed. 

“No. Let’s keep going. I’ll be alright.” 

“You don’t look alright.”

“We’ll walk slower. I’ll be fine. It would be nice to sit by the water.” He assured them. They put a hand to his forehead, just above that third eye that was a reminder of what he’d been. They frowned, like a mother checking a child for illness, but nodded. 

“Okay.”   

By the time they got to the river he was glad to drop onto the scrubby grass and sit. The walk, though short, had taken a lot more out of him than he cared to admit. Rilenna hovered over him, pressing a waterskin into his hands.

"Have something to drink." 

He did, and it helped a little. "Thank you." 

"Are you in pain anywhere?" 

Before he could reply, a voice rasped from the trees. "If he's not now, he might be. Or we could avoid that and you two could give us whatever coin and valuables you've got."

A half dozen roughly dressed mer melted out of the forest around them. Despite their ragged appearance, their weapons were honed and well cared for. They surrounded them in a loose circle, taunting grins on their faces.

Rilenna drew their axe. "Fuck you and the guar you rode in on. You're getting nothing from us but an ass kicking." 

"Huh, and here I thought you were a proper Dunmer, but you're just a filthy n'wa….." 

Rilenna's axe clove the man's face in two before he could finish the slur. That stunned the rest for a second, buying them a precious few seconds. Rilenna kicked and swung, knocking the thugs away from Voryn as much as possible. They cast both Weapon and Armor Eater in quick succession before throwing themselves into the fray. And they were relentless. He could only watch in awe, before coming to his senses and casting a barrier spell to keep Rilenna protected from harm. He couldn't do much else. 

One of the bandits saw this, and made for him. He knew he couldn't hold the spell on Rilenna and protect himself at the same time. But nor could he actually fight in his wounded state. He grit his teeth, perhaps if he could…

But the bandit was on him now, delivering a kick to his ribs that sent a shriek through his body. He gasped— in too much pain to scream— as his body curled protectively around itself. Through watered eyes he watched the other man raise his foot again and braced for more. 

The bandit stopped, frozen to the spot. Then a blade went through his neck, separating head from body. The body fell in a heap, head rolling to rest about five feet away. 

The bandits were quiet now, because now they were all dead. He looked around in a daze. Rilenna had made short work of them. He knew they were an indomitable warrior, but he'd never been so close to their raw, aggressive power. Their own duel had been much more civilized, in comparison. He saw now how powerful a battlemage the Nerevarine really was. Rilenna had told him they hadn’t really wanted to fight him, and watching this proved how much they’d held back. He’d been a god, but Rilenna was a god-slayer.   

But now their hands were gentle, probing him for new wounds. Their voice rose with worry. "Are you okay? Did that guy hurt you? Voryn, look at me, talk to me… please." 

He looked up blearily at mention of his name, and beheld a vision that took his breath. Rilenna was splashed with blood as red as their hair; as red as their eyes that still held a feral wildness in them. And that wildness made his heart skip a beat. 

"Voryn?" They asked again softly, pushing back the hair that had fallen into his face. No one had had concern and compassion for him since Neht. Not until this hero, who'd fought him, destroyed everything he'd worked for, and then saved him. 

"I'm… I'm alright." He rasped, throat so suddenly dry he could barely talk. 

"Good. Here, drink this healing draught. I think you could use it." 

They pressed it into his hands and he drank. The warmth of it paled in comparison to the warmth that spread through him as Rilenna wrapped gentle arms around him. 

"I'm so glad you're okay. I saw that one guy kick you and…" They swallowed hard, then continued lightly, "I did a lot of work to keep you from dying once already. I don't wanna do that again. Why don't we move upriver a little? I don't want this to ruin our day. And you could use the fresh air." 

They moved along until they rounded a corner and the bodies were out of sight. Rilenna washed the blood off themselves and spread out their ground blanket for them to sit on. They brought out some snacks and wine and they ate together. The sun was warm and the water cool, and it was just nice. Nicer than either of them could have asked for.  

Later, the two of them argued playfully as they tried to fish with little success. 

"Maybe pull the line a little more?" he suggested, before joking, “I thought you knew how to do this!” 

"No, I'm from the city!" Rilenna cried with mock indignation.  

"A city on a lake!" 

"You think they'd let riff raff like me near the fancy lake estates? Ha! And the parts of the docks that weren’t so nice was no place for a Dunmer kid if you wanted to stay alive. You didn’t fish as a fancy nobleman?”

“I was busy with other things as well!”  

They both laughed, splashing around like kids. Eventually they retired back to the blanket, drinking a little more wine. Voryn was tired now, but by the Ancestors this had been fun.  

He put a hand on Rilenna’s shoulder, though it drifted a little and settled between their shoulder blades. “Thank you. This was a lovely idea.”

“Hey, no problem! We should do this more often, yeah?”

“I’d like that.” 

Sitting like this and enjoying the day, Voryn realized that perhaps he had a little bit of devotion left in him yet. He’d just needed to be shown the right person to give it to. Perhaps it was the last person most would expect; Rilenna was after all the hero who’d been prophesied to be his enemy and defeat him. But they’d also saved him, and the more time they spent together, he knew that it could be no one else. Rilenna was not Nerevar (or even him returned);  they were instead their own gloriously unique person. And though he hadn’t thought it possible, they’d stolen his heart. No, he corrected himself as he met Rilenna’s smile, Not stolen. I give it freely. 

“Watcha thinking?” Rilenna asked, nudging him a little. 

“Just about how fortunate I am.”

Their smile softened, and they leaned their shoulder into his. “That makes two of us.”             

[themculibrary]

Easter Masterlist 3

part one, part two

A Easter Surprise (ao3) - olicityfan15 frank/david T, 1k

Summary: Frank and David have started a new life together and for their first Easter, David has a huge surprise for Frank.

agony in the garden (ao3) - AliuIce0814 steve/bucky G, 696

Summary: Easter cuts through Steve to his marrow. Easter means a year since Bucky turned to ash three feet from his arms.

A Parent's Burden (ao3) - Marv-with-a-v (Marv_aka_Kitten_Writes) G, 1k

Summary: How do you set up an Easter egg hunt for a blind child? The same way you do for a sighted child, only with a little more creativity. But with every egg Matt finds, Jack finds a little something himself: hope that maybe, just maybe, things are going to turn out okay.

Boiled Eggs and Onions (ao3) - Siberianskys maria/bobbi T, 594

Summary: Allbingo Food Fest Prompt: Easter Eggs Ladiesbing Prompt: Spring

Easter Egg Hunts (ao3) - Toxictimefanfics_Orphan_Account tony/stephen T, 2k

Summary: Basically I wanted a fic where Tony and peter got to meet Stephen's family without them immediately hating them (Victor doesn't count) also nobody freaks the fuck out in a bad way when Stephen reveals he's Sorcerer Supreme.

Easter Shenanigans (ao3) - Jellybean96 skye/grant G, 2k

Summary: Basically what the title says

Holiday Spending (ao3) - tisfan bucky/tony E, 70k

Summary: anonymous asked:

Winteriron collage au w/fake relationship; Tony asks Bucky to be his fake boyfriend, either to shake off some matchmaking friends or to piss off Howard. Turns out Bucky is all Tony ever wanted in a boyfriend. Too bad it's not real (extra angst if Tony paid for Bucky to act as his boyfriend, now Tony wonders if it was all for the money). Happy ending?

Loki and Steve's eggcelent adventure (ao3) - aLoggedInReader loki/steve G, 5k

Summary: Easter is coming up and weird things start appearing in front of Steve's door. Figuring out who they come from is not that hard, figuring out the why is a real head scratcher though.

Of Pink Easter Bunnies and Drawing with Cap (ao3) - Stories_can_make_us_fly steve/bucky G, 1k

Summary: Bucky didn’t expect their Easter Sunday to turn out like this. Then again, what had he expected when Tony Stark had invited them to a picnic in Central Park with the Avengers? And really, having Steve by his side was all he needed anyway.

Picture Perfect (ao3) - Everythingirl44 lincoln/skye G, 592

Summary: "I don't understand why I have to wait in a two hour line for a picture." Daisy mumbled, gently lifting their daughter on her hip.

"Because it's her first Easter, she needs a picture with the bunny."

Or

Daisy gets irritated waiting in line to meet the Easter Bunny.

Resurrection (ao3) - Eledhwen G, 1k

Summary: The city is too quiet in these odd, odd days, and Matt cannot sleep. He has been out every night, prowling the rooftops in the shadows, but the sounds reaching him are sounds he cannot help with. The violence on the streets has stopped; the violence in people’s homes, he cannot help with, though he wants to.

run baby, I'll catch you when you fall (ao3) - HogwartsToAlexandria G, 300

Summary: Memories are sometimes all you have left.

Simple Moments (ao3) - MissAdoration steve/natasha, clint/laura G, 29k

Summary: Just a little insight into what happens at SHIELD besides the craziness that happens within the stories of “Love Through the Pain”

Tampa: A Visitor's Guide (ao3) - DJClawson matt/theo, foggy/marci T, 4k

Summary: Theo takes Madame Gao's advice, and Matt learns to deal with feelings.

The Easter Hunt (ao3) - NovaRain, STARSdidathing loki/tony G, 1k

Summary: Tony is an Easter Bunny hurrying to collect some last minute chocolates, all while being watched by a certain smitten fox.

The Simmons Family Easter Luncheon (ao3) - RoseDeVents jemma/grant E, 3k

Summary: Jemma brings Grant to Sheffield to meet her parents over the Easter holiday.

[stupidporcupine]

Together at the end

Rating: G

Tags/Warnings: Bucky Barnes/Steve Rogers, major character death

Wants: I just want they can be together til the end of the line.

DNWs: What happened after Endgame

Summary: 

Bucky Barnes – a WW2 veteran just had a weird dream that he became an assassin under a maniac Nazi’s organization and Steve was there... It was so real, but glad that it was just a dream. Now, he can go back to his family and…his Steve.

Thanks to the wonderful mods of Bucky Barnes Events  @buckybarnesevents and the Shrinkyclinks Double Fest 2023. I'm so happy to have claimed this amazing art from @dwarvishgeorge. It's been an honor and privilege to work with you again, and your art is gorgeous.

-”You’re my friend…”

-”You’re my mission!” – the Winter Soldier looked violently at Captain America, punched him as hard as he could. 

-”Then …finished it…Cuz I’m with you…til the end of the line…” – Captain America looked straight at the Winter Soldier, which confused the assassin so much. ‘How can this man want to be killed. He could have beated him, but why?

Then, the Helicarrier collapsed. Captain America fell into the river. 

‘Cuz I’m with you til the end of line, pal’

‘Why does it sound so familiar? Has he heard it before?’ – Winter Soldier thinks.

‘Thank you Buck, I can be on my own now’

‘Don’t do anything stupid til I come back’

‘How can I? You take all the stupid with you.’

“Steve?”

-” Sergeant Barnes? Are you okay?”

Bucky Barnes woke up. He looked around, they were his warbounds, looking at him worriedly. 

-”Look like you just have seen a devil” – one soldier said. 

-”I guess it was a really bad nightmare.” – said Bucky. He calmed everyone that he was fine, but only he knew that he wasn’t. Everything he saw was so real. Himself as an assassin tortured by Nazis, a metal arm, and big strong Steve that tried to stop him but his crazy mind keep hurting Steve. That was definitely a nightmare – he thought. Although he always wanted Steve to be healthy, but a giant Steve like that…it’s impossible for his condition. And he would NEVER EVER hurt Steve, even never think about it. So maybe it was just a bad dream that showed him everything he never wanted to see. That’s all!

‘Kiss me once, then kiss me twice

Then kiss me once again

It's been a long, long time’

After nearly four years, the war was finally over. Bucky and his peers can finally go home. The ship finally stopped at New York habour. Bucky was really excited to see his family and…his Steve. 

-”Mom…Dad…girls…It’s good to see you!!!” – Bucky hugged all of his family the moment they reunited at the habour. After experiencing a deadly war and that terrible nightmare, he cherished this like it was the most precious moment ever.

Dad drove the family to their home. Bucky asked them about another person, the one he vowed to protect. 

-”Guys, how is Steve?” – Bucky can’t not help it but asked about Steve, that punk. He did also hope to see him at the habour, but Steve was not there. Maybe because his condition was not good again, or he was making troubles somewhere, or even worse, he joined the army and became a what…super soldier?. Oh, snap it out, it was just a bad dream.

-”Oh, I thought you was gonna ask about him sooner” – laughed Rebecca. “Steve was the same without you, but you know, no one was there for him the deal with trouble, but mostly, he’s fine, we also supported him when he got sick. His health is not good these days, that why he cannot come and see you. He must be very happy if you come and see him.”

Rebecca was right, he needed to see Steve right now. He really missed that punk. 

*cough…cough* 

-”Rebecca? Is that you? Did Bucky come…back?”

Steve cannot say a word right now…It’s him…It’s Buck.

-”I heard that you have done some stupid things while I’m gone.” – Bucky smirk.

-”BUCKY!!!” –Steve burst into tears, seemed to forget that he was sick, ran forward and hugged Bucky like he never hugged him before. It’s been a long time since Bucky last wrote him. There was rumours that his unit was captured and was tortured. But now Bucky is here, and if it was a dream, Steve would never want to wake up. 

Bucky hugged Steve back. He was thinner than the last time he saw him. It must be so hard for him to be on his own during cold winter. Bucky knew that Steve is a strong man, but everyone needs helps sometimes. Steve must have refused the support from his family because he didn’t want to be treated like a weak kid. That punk,…always stupid.

However, Bucky was glad to see a small Steve, not that big guy that was called Captain in his nightmare. Because in that nightmare, Steve stupidly joined a deadly experiment, then was treated like a clown, and then sneaked in Nazis’ lair alone just to find him. Bucky never wanted Steve to run into a deadly war like that, never wanted him to see deadly scene. So, in a way, he was glad that Steve can stay at home safely.

Bucky missed his punk so much, he could not help himself but laying a kiss on Steve’s lips. To Steve’s astonishment, he said: “It must be God’s gift that I can be alive and go home. I just want to be by your side. Will you let me be with you til the end of the line?”

Bucky knew Steve did not have any prejudice on this kind of emotion, but would he accept his feelings? Bucky didn’t why he dared to do this, maybe he that nightmare gave him a belief that Steve also had the same feelings.

-”I miss you too, jerk” – Steve kissed him back. 

After returning from the war, Bucky got benefits from the government such as higher education and housing. Now, he can have a place of his own, where he can take a better care for Steve. He heard about an island called Hawaii, where the weather was sunny all year long. Therefore, he wanted to live there, with Steve so his health can be improved. 

Bucky worked very hard to earn money to support for his small family (in secret) and savings for Hawaii. Steve also have drawing jobs. Bucky knew that Steve loved it, but he worried about his health more. However, Steve is happy, so Bucky is happy. 

Finally, it was a sunny day in 1950, they can have a new life in Hawaii. 

The weather is really good for Steve’s health, the asthma was lessen. Everything here is relaxing, life is slower and people are friendlier. The native people there was open with the kind of feelings that they were having, which was amazing. 

It was a nice, quiet, and peaceful life that Bucky always wanted.

But nothing lasts forever. 

On Steve’s 50th birthday, they celebrated it in the hospital. Steve used to say on his 15th birthday that it would be a miracle if he can live until he was 50. But now, he is 50, and may leave this life at any moment. But he regrets nothing, accept the fact that he always feel like he has been a burden for Bucky because everything that Bucky did was for him. He wished that he was stronger to make Bucky happier. But, Bucky stopped Steve to say more. He got all he needed for this life, is to be til the end of the line with Steve. All he wanted is Steve to be healthy and stay with him longer.

Outside, fireworks were displayed colorfully in the sky, and inside, Steve had been into a forever sleep with a smile on his face.

Bucky held Steve’s hand, which was cold now. 

What could he do now? How can he move on without Steve? What should he do now?

Suddenly, Bucky saw a light outside, in the sky. It’s not fireworks or something, it’s just stay there. Bucky thought that his eyes had problems, since he is old now. 

-”Bucky…Bucky…” – he heard a voice outside. That familiar voice, how can he not recognize. But it’s not from the one on “sleeping” on the bed. It’s from the light, that light outside. Curiously, Bucky opened the window, in that light, he saw Steve, but not the same as his Steve. It’s the tall and big one that he once having a nightmare about it in the 40s.

-”Bucky…we will be til the end of the line together, won’t  we?” – that Steve said. Bucky knows that smile, that eyes, it was always Steve, just a different body. Steve would always want to be strong like that. His heart and mind never fits his body. This must be how he would have become if he was fully healthy. 

-”Sure, why not?” – Bucky takes “big Steve” hand and go into the light…

.

I guess that your mind is in peace now, and you can see you punk in Astral Dimension. Sleep well Bucky Barnes, you finally can be at the end of the line with Steve Rogers. 

I confirm that Bucky Barnes or Winter Soldier is dead now. There is no reason for me to stay in this dead universe anymore. 

You might be wondering who I am and what I am talking about. So, let me introduce myself. 

I am an inter-universe creature, who can travel across the multiverse. You can say that I, myself is a dark matters between world, who goes around, see things and escape from danger. With my power combined with my device, I accidently landed on this universe, where Ultron won and annihilated everything. On this planet Earth, somehow, Bucky Barnes still alive and he is also a Winter Soldier in this universe. I found him under the radiation snow, he was still fine, but seems lost. I tried to talk to him and looks like he was still finding his lost memories, just like his versions in many other universes. He did remember about Steve, his little Steve, which was Captain America. 

But well, in this hopeless universe, there is no more Steve for him to find, and now, he is all alone, in this world, waiting for death, a sad lonely deadth. Therefore, I decided to help him a little bit, by injected a dose of strong LSD, REALLY strong LSD. I did have a little affect on his mind, and with LSD, he can have a illusion in his mind about the life he always wanted with Steve. At least he died happily.

When the time comes, I touch his hand, take him to death with my power, a soft death, with a smile on his face. I guess you saw your Steve in Astral Plane. 

Well, this universe is dead now. I need to move to another one. Good night Bucky Barnes, I hope in a universe that I will come, you will be truly happy.

-THE END-

[aziraphales-library]

hello i was wondering whether you knew any more good fics where aziraphale is an aristocrat and crowley works for him, maybe as a gardener? the forbidden romance trope, something like that.

thank you so much !!!

Sure do!

When the Rain Comes by TawnyOwl95 [E]

It’s never too early to have a midlife crisis.

Inheriting his Auntie G’s gothic mansion in the Yorkshire Moors gives Aziraphale the excuse he needs to finally escape the train wreck of the life he's stumbled into.

He just needs some space. Some time to get his thoughts in order.

But Eden’s End House is full of mystery and dark secrets, and a devastatingly attractive gardener who just wont stop questioning everything Aziraphale thought he knew about himself. And he does it while shirtless, which really is terribly unfair of the man.

A Secret Garden AU written for the GO Events Server Book Fest.

Only Ever Yours by Caedmon [E]

Aziraphale Fell, Ninth Duke of Tadfield, is quite happy with his life. He has his books, his friends, and no need for more. His sister, Michael, disagrees. She feels most strongly that Aziraphale should have a wife, and has determined to see him married with an heir on the way by the end of the Season. So she installs her husband's valet, Crowley, to spy on him and help her find him a wife.

Nobody is expecting the Duke and the valet to fall in love...

sine qua non by drawlight (snagov) [E]

There is a ball tonight at the Winter Palace. Crowley has laid out his lord's clothes.

Je T'Aime; Rien Ne Va Plus by saretton [E]

Je t'aime. Je t'aime.

It's a constant hum in the back of his mind whenever Lord Fell is around and even when he isn’t; inescapable like the tide, loud or quiet in the various moments of the day, but always present. It feels like breathing, and a little bit like drowning.

Angel of Quality by angelsnuffbox (MrsCaulfield), MrsCaulfield [E]

Long decided that she was never to marry, Lady Aziraphale Fell took the opportunity of establishing her own household the minute it had come up. Despite the inclinations of her overbearing brother, she expected only a smooth transition. But she had not been anticipating to struggle with a burgeoning attraction to her strange, handsome footman; nor had she expected to tumble headlong into a whirlwind relationship, a passionate secret whispered only in the shadows, never to be made known.

~Mod N

[wolfiemcwolferson]

I just finished my first draft for Fantasy Fic Fest and I’m still in a mood.

I had two ideas for FFF and one didn’t make the cut so I’m gonna write y’all a little snippet and ask if you’d want more? (Also I’m committed to academia Carlos and I won’t back down.)

Pairing: Carlando

The house was dirt cheap and that’s why Carlos rented it. He had been living in house shares and flats for 10 years and maybe the fact that this house was the same price as some of the studio apartments in town should have told him something, but he had allowed himself to be taken in by the original wood floors and the high ceilings and the landlord who was so desperate for someone to move in that he waived the security deposit.

Carlos moves in on a Sunday and his first day at the university is on Wednesday, but he’s not unpacked until two weeks later and that’s when he really starts to notice things.

Until then he had been able to brush it off. He didn’t remember putting his glasses down on the counter, but he couldn’t really remember where anything was since it was mostly boxes and clutter anyway. He doesn’t think he left his egg pan in the kitchen floor, but maybe he knocked it off in a rush and he just doesn’t remember because it’s been such a whirlwind of a new semester and a new school. And he’s really just not sleeping well. It’s the old house, he tells himself. He’s not used to old house noises. And neither is Piñon.

By the end of September, he has to admit to himself that something is wrong. He’s a man of science, but there is no scientific explanation as to why one room of his house is 30 degrees colder than all the others every though he bought a space heater for it. He doesn’t know why the office doors slam shut randomly. The things in the kitchen rattle incessantly if he leaves anything in the sink. Piñon shivers underneath his bed randomly.

He admits to himself that something is very wrong, but he’s embarrassed by it and doesn’t want to be seen as a kook by his colleagues so he keeps it to himself.

He goes to parties and dinners and faculty meetings and he says his new house is nice and full of character and when he agrees to host a group of PhD candidates for an award thing dinner with a catered meal, he doesn’t expect to learn that he’s living in the town’s haunted house.

It’s a tall PhD candidate named George who is wearing a fucking bow tie that leans over and says, “You know that ghost show on YouTube said once that they wanted to do an episode here. Since you’re on the most haunted list for the Northeast.” He looks supremely proud of himself.

Carlos barely keeps it together long enough to hand him a glass of tea and he’s barely out of the room when the tea carafe is tipped over and Carlos has to save it. Fucking haunted fucking house, of course.

After the students clear out, Carlos googles his own address and stares as result after result comes up and he reads in horror. Mysterious deaths. Suicides. Missing children. Hauntings. Carlos is so confused because the most that he’s experienced is his belongings being moved and a severe lack of sleep.

He clicks over to videos and there’s a clip of the cutest curly haired human being he’s ever seen in his life. He’s standing in front of Carlos’ house but everything is covered in snow so it’s not recent.

“And this is the ultimate. Cloaked in mystery and legend, no one has ever been granted permission to film inside, so we only have very limited data and a few photographs.” His adorable little Californian accent says.

Carlos is entranced and before he can stop himself, he’s looking at the YouTube channel - Lando. His name is Lando. And Carlos is emailing him with an attached picture of himself and Piñon on the front steps the day he moved in. He tells him that Lando is more than welcome to come and look around, but no cameras.

He shuts his laptop down, embarrassed that the draw of Lando was that great. He just needs to go on a date. Get laid. Stop thinking about beautiful YouTubers who make ghost shows.

He means to fall asleep immediately, but Piñon is shaking again and it’s very cold and maybe Lando does need to come and sort out the haunting.

[simpingwriter]

Jerome Valeska

x

Faith Wayne/Phoenix

'All you need is

a bit of Faith'

pt.7

___________________

...but in exchange, I got TWO chapters done! Wooo yeah baby~ 😎

First time of the family in the story, MediNait Blackout Fest, then hitting up the ginger the next morning as Phoenix.

Enjoy! :)

Word Count: approx. 3.410 Words

___________________

When you park your motorcycle in front of the garage, you can already see the light coming from the living room and kitchen windows of the Manor, and it wasn't weird for the time of day either, it's 7PM by now and that usually meant it's time for dinner.

Unfortunately you were absolutely out of spare clothes in your backpack, so you had to literally decide between driving home dressed like an escapee from Arkham or go through the exhausting troubles of getting into your Phoenix-costume until back home.

Dad and his reputation can thank you for having enough cells in your body left that know what shame is and what it feels like to a certain extent which in the end practically forced you into the tight costume.

Add to that that you were absolutely losing your literal mind with the cold clogging up near all holes available to your airways, you were grateful that you could drive home relatively safely in the first place. "God I hope I got some MediNait left in my first aid cabinet, that no one raided it…again, while I was gone." You mumble to yourself while turning the main house key in the lock, though before you can finish turning it, the door gets pulled inwards, close to dragging you along had you not some sense of balance left in your limbs.

On the other side, the culprit of opening the door was none other than Jason, brows pulled up when he looked you up and down, "You look like you died and came back as well." Probably because you're starting to feel exactly like that, more and more by the hour too. "...Cool. Now let me in, Jay…" Pushing past him, you rip your Mask off first, then your gloves, then your boots. The worst things first.

Then you lie down with a groan, feeling the tiled foyer floor cool down your skin, wondering how there wasn't steam rising from you by now already. "The hell happened to you??" your older "brother" asks, poking your side with one socked foot before crouching down next to you at the height of your head. "Gotham River… that's what happened." You cough out, rolling onto your back just in time to see the rest fill into the Foyer. "The cat brought in a dead firebird?" Damian jokes, doing the same thing Jason did, poking you with his foot. This family was mostly not by blood, that didn't mean that you all didn't copy or learn stupid shit from each other, this being one of the many examples.

"How is the River the reason you look this shi- bad? Dad informed us that you're doing undercover work for the Commissioner in Arkham." Well, the river is right next to that shithole. "Does that really matter now, Master Jason? Clearly Lady Faith is not in the condition to argue with you as usual."

You were, you just didn't want to. Too tired and exhausted…okay…maybe you weren't in the condition, point taken.

"You're getting a cold, aren't you, Lady Faith?" Full course into one, yes. "Alfred, how do you know it's a cold?" At that, Dick needs to laugh, pointing down at Damian now, "Damian is sick too, since this morning, that's how." Of course it's always the siblings connected by blood that end up sick at the same fucking time, it's somehow always like that, but never Damian first. He just follows up and immediately everyone goes: "Faith, since when have you been carrying that shit around without asking for help?" You refuse to ask anyone but Alfred for help, because everyone else is absolutely helpless in these situations. So why ask in the first place if you know you only end up getting half buried alive again like last time??

A shiver runs down your spine, incidentally so did Damian shake, glaring at you, "You're a curse, sister." "And you're a brat…that refuses his Jacket even in a blizzard, obviously a…a damn skill issue." More coughing later, Alfred and Bruce are done watching this miserable scene, one of them helping you back to your feet while the other escorts everyone back to the Dining room. And the sight would almost bring tears to your face: Hot, steaming Chicken Noodle Soup, most definitely cooked by Alfred, taking it from the way it looks basically perfect. "Since young Master Damian had a cold, I thought it was best to make one not just for him but for everyone. A type of prevention for the rest of us. Plus, I got a kind of feeling it would've hit you too."

After Alfred explained, he hurried back into the kitchen to ready a bowl for you as well while you sink into your chair. It was just a week, but it felt like an eternity to not have felt the nice cushions on these chairs, or the generally inviting interior of the Manor. It was quite literally worlds that differentiate this all from Arkham. And something inside you wished you could've taken Jerome here as well instead of just the apartment.

But you knew how your family ticks and what makes them tick specifically, bringing Jerome here? All hell would break loose. You won't even mention him and you meeting if they ask you about this Undercover Mission, and they will definitely ask, it would be weird for them to not be interested. Even Jason and Damian usually wanted to know what happened on the missions or Patrols of the others. You talk and think about the two like they are your least favorite siblings of them all, but if anything it was the polar opposite: You had the closest connection to Jason of them all. And Damian? Even though he avoided it at first, and so did you, you both quickly realized you have quite a lot in common due to your shared father, so you often train and hang out together despite the age difference.

But it was only natural, the closer siblings were, the more brutal the teasing and "insults" would become.

"The damn cold, I'm freezing like hell…" It makes Bruce hum, looking outside, "It's mid-autumn already, it's getting much colder, much quicker again. So I wouldn't just push it onto your cold alone. I will start the fireplace in the living room with Alfred after dinner. If you're still cold after, maybe we should start the one in your's and Damian's rooms as well..." Damian, sitting across from you, grunts out in disapproval at that, partially stopped by a cough, "I'm not cold! I'm not as weak as her!" Shut up, you shivering too, Garden Gnome. He shook just as much as you, it just didn't show as much through him already wearing some thicker, warmer clothes than you. After all, your Costume is uninsulated unlike the Cold-Weather one you usually started using towards the end of Autumn Season. Perhaps you should switch them out sooner this year…

When dinner was finished, along with some Pudding for dessert and you all started to migrate to the living room after helping to clean up the mess, well, excluding you and Damian in your clumsy conditions, Bruce clears his throat, crouching over the right side of the fireplace, placing some dry wood pieces in. Right. Here it comes, he will ask about the mission now-

"So. The undercover mission. I take it as having ended positively if you're back already?" Already is not the word you would've chosen. One week was already more than enough for your probably relatively short lifespan – in comparison to other People – as Phoenix. The others settled into the couch cushions as well, getting much more comfy than you, as you didn't plan on dozing off on it at all. You need to be fit again till tomorrow afternoon at least, if not earlier.

"More or less, the day I caught the suspect for Gordon was also the day I took a bath into that dank river. And they ended up tossing me right back into those freezing cells, not even bothering to think about a new set of clothes for me..." They could imagine for themselves how that would feel, when you feel the cold of the walls bite at your skin and bones already and then you add a dripping layer of dirty River canal water to the mixture. "In that case I am pleasantly surprised that you got away with just a cold, Lady Faith." Alfred was right about that, you could have as well gotten the flu or worse…pneumonia.

Had that once and never again. Mostly because you dragged Damian into that mess as well, as expected. And you hated having a second person sick in the Manor, why? Obvious reasons: Just you sick, Alfred can pay enough attention to your sick ass so you don't waste away in your own used tissues for weeks, just a few days maybe. But TWO? It's going to be WEEKS of two Robins completely taken out of the equation and Patrols. Mostly because despite his intelligence, and stupid "gEnEtIc AdVaNtAgEs"...he is still a stubborn little brat that refuses to take the bitter medicine when needed.

"How did you even end up in the river, darling?" Bruce asks worriedly, pulling his hand away quickly before the fire got to it when he threw more lumber into it. Feed it and it wants to bite you for it, ...feral Fire, ha ha. Stop it, Faith.

"...saw the suspect...and...climbed over the Courtyard fence?" Your siblings first stare then laugh, probably a mental image of you basically throwing yourself like a this time legitimate madman over the barbed wire at the top. "You broke out of Arkham…because it was an inconvenience to you, you're basically saying?" Basically, yeah. Had you known that the fucker would just return to sender (the crime scene) like that, you wouldn't have done all this shit and would've just posted up nearby, preferably in a car that has heating installed.

But you of course wouldn't have met and talked to Jerome that way. He would've still been…there. Wasting and rotting away more and more mentally, until not even the world's best therapist and psychologist could shake sense back into him.

Just like his very unfortunate origin of blood, his father the Joker, there would probably be nothing left to do but put him in a straight jacket and hope he doesn't accidentally kill himself while trying to escape that certain "clothing" article.

Who knows…three more months? Would Jerome have gained some unhealthy confidence through someone or something else and broke out? Killed people on the same day, caused havoc? Who would you be to not stop that from happening AND save a boy from becoming someone he doesn't even want to be at this point of time?

"Still with us?" "Huh? Y-yeah, just sunken in thoughts. Not so important though." "If you say so. I asked how you want to continue with what you have thanks to seeing the suspect? Did you give Gordon's men the description of the man?" You shake your head, already having set aside a plan for Phoenix to follow once you feel at least a slight bit better. "Well, Lady Faith, if i'm correct and you're going to do this yourself, you need to be fit again. I recommend drinking a lot of water, even more than usual. Preferably the same Electrolyte Water you and your siblings use during training sessions." Alfred notes loudly from the kitchen, placing two two liter bottles of said water onto the counter, the heaviness of them underlined by the sound they made, a deep thump.

Heavier than Jason's self-loath.

All that in ONE night?? You’re never getting out of the bathroom at that point…

But Alfred usually was right when it came to any of you getting sick, so you didn't have much of a choice than to trust him. "O-okay. Guess I should start then, and go to bed to be rested for tomorrow…" grabbing the bottles, one in each hand, you trotted back out to the living room, giving your Dad a hug and wishing everyone a unified goodnight before slipping away fully for the night.

Once in your room, you steer into the bathroom and before you hit the hay, you grab the rest of the MediNait left from last time. You had thrown away the instructions when you unpacked it a few months ago, so you don't remember what the right dosag- eh. fuck it, down the hatch!

The green liquid burned like medicinal honey, smooth yet disgusting as it moved down your throat, many big gulps of Electrolyte Water getting sent right after to clean your pallet of the nasty green magic liquid. While it tastes absolutely awful and at least half of your family doesn't feel better through it either way, it was half a miracle potion when used on you.

So it wasn't far off for you to believe that if you both downed half that left-over bottle – already sitting on your bed while doing so, knowing it's side effects of making everyone and everything sleepy with just the fumes it creared – and followed Alfred's advice for the Wat-

When you wake again, you are in a different spot on your bed than before, you also weren't in the confines of your Costume anymore, the main part of it thrown haphazardly over the chair of your desk, your underwear missing entirely and the water bottles both empty…

Did you mentally blackout the last hours yesterday? If yes, congrats to yourself for drinking all that water and not just yet wetting your bed…but it was just about as your struggle out from your bed. The very bed that you missed so badly while in Arkham. You don't even remember what bed and mattress you had in the safe house that Jerome is using right now, but you hoped it was something similarly comfortable. And if it was, you wanted to imagine him lying in it, too comfortable and lazy to move even one muscle once he lies in it. You doubted that the bed in his old trailer from the Circus was all that comfy either, so if past-you was as smart as today – oh...she definitely wasn't – and it's the same mattress as here, this might be a welcome change to his back.

Standing up, you're quick to notice the missing dizziness and the ease on your lung trying to breath in Air once more. Fuck, you love MediNait.

Knocks you out, like your allergy meds, and does the rest while the lights are out.

After quickly using the bathroom in your room to take care of the mess you left behind on yourself, you went to pick up your strewn about Suit, first putting on fresh underwear and immediately throwing yourself back into your Costume. There is never a day you don't have to wear it for some reason or another, so you need to remember to switch out for one of your spare ones on washing day…

You barely had found your way into garage when you felt something akin to a tension or stress headache forming all around your head, great so the medic-

"Where are you going so early in the morning?" Never fucking mind, the headache is just Damian…

"Good morning to you too, head- i mean, Damian… If it matters to you, I need to finish the promise I gave to Gordon and catch his suspect." The boy squints and shakes his head with a sigh, "Do you even know where to start with that? I thought you only got his description." Yes, you do only have that, but that alone can give you enough hints to at least shrink the search radius for him. "That's why I'm leaving now already. And you get back to bed, unlike me you still sound like death molested you…" Even when he scoffs at your actually serious recommendation, himself not done with you, you grab your helmet from the rack at the wall and get onto motocycle that Phoenix used, it was black and Grey with orange and yellow accents unlike the dark purple sportbike you yourself used as Faith. This one was similar in design to the Batcycle and drove just like it.

"I wasn't done talking!" "I was! See you and the rest for dinner! And take your cold medicine!" Damian was smart enough to not jump in front of the motorcycleas you started it, clearly it wasn't that important to him anyways as he rather chose to childishly pout at you while you started the bike and drove off towards the city, your cape flying behind you.

It was a ten minute drive usually, in your case six as you had luck and the highway you and the rest used to get into the city was still relatively empty, the morning rush not yet having started and giving you the thrill of speed to wake you fully now.

On the way, you still had to decide whether to drive to the Station and Gordon, to your safe house and Jerome or to just investigate on your own for now. But unfortunately your curiosity got the best of you, drawing you in like a magnet in front of the building your safe house, or "Faith's Apartment" is located at, hiding the motorcycle with its invisibility cloak setting. At first, you wanted to use the second set of keys you had of them, luckily the only other set, otherwise who knows who of your family would suddenly decide to check in your apartment only to find a stranger living in it. And then you remember that you're here as Phoenix, not Faith. Phoenix doesn't own this apartment, in Jerome's eyes.

Slightly disgruntled at that, you throw the keys back into the small satchel on your tool belt before getting your gloves to good use, unsheathing the metal claws hidden inside the mechanism on top. With them, you quickly could scale most walls around Gotham, if that didn't work, you still could use the grappling gun everyone of you had. Within half a minute, you slipped onto the balcony in front of the living room window of the Safe House.

You couldn't fight it as quickly as it came, the smile once you saw the redhead walking around in…oh dear. Still wearing the dirty Prison Uniform. Did Jim not give him at least one different set of clothes??

You really need to change that, but you don't know if you're going to have the time for such "miscellaneous" deviations today. Plus, Phoenix isn't exactly the kinda person to suddenly go shopping with someone and walk among the rest of the Gothamites like a normal person, she's a brutal, often feared, Vigilante for God's sake! That's a job for Faith!

Well, at least it looked like he took a shower, a fulfilling one at that, his hair did look much nicer than you expected when not coated and crusted with his own blood and the cement dust of the cells.

You can't help but chuckle at the little jump going through his whole body once you knocked at the window, feeling the smile growing into a smirk when his eyes widen, seeing you at the window, unable to react at first.

"Could you let me in please?" You knock again to throw him back to his senses, a quick nod followed by him almost falling over his feet to get to the window and open it, watching you as you leaned against the windowsill with your forearms. "It's…it's really you…you're Phoenix!"

"In the blood, yeah. First of all, good morning, Jerome, second of all, Faith asked me to check up on you, since she couldn't stay all that long after getting you to the Precinct." Climbing in through and into the living room, you stretch out a bit from the climb up the wall, still keeping your eyes on Jerome either way. He looked not as well rested as you expected.

"...I'm guessing you didn't sleep that well, so we can take that one off the list of 'Yeah, doing good', huh?" He averted his dark green eyes, something in the mix of shame and annoyance in them, nodding, "You could say so…i.I…had a nightmare. But that's nothing new to me."

Nightmares?

You doubt they are of Arkham, as he knew them to be nothing new to him. And from what he had told you, you could believe that opinion. You had a pretty good idea where these nightmares actually come from and why he has them anyways: His mother and the abuse he got from her, his twin and from the rest of the people working at the Circus. Maybe even of the Circus itself if his trauma constantly was fed and built in that very place. Or perhaps even of the day he killed her?

No, you doubt that. While he seemed spooked about quite literally anything that moved too quickly or he didn't know, you were very certain that Jerome…that he didn't exactly regret what he did. Maybe someday he will see that his abuse could've been ended in different, legal ways, but regret will probably never come to his mind, and if, not for very long.

But: No matter what the cause is, you, both Faith and Phoenix, will attempt to get this out of his mind as well.

You knew all too well how nightmares could mess with one's head, the repeated memory of Jason's death back then, the funeral, being an example...

[louisrarepairfest]

LOUIS RARE PAIR FEST 2023

—Prompts—

[Submit a prompt you'd like to read here!]

✦ The prompt can specify a particular pairing or can use Louis/Character B as the pairing.

✦ Writers can sign up with one of these prompts or sign up with their own prompt not on this list.

✦ Prompts will be crossed off as they are chosen during sign ups.

(A) Louis/Character B are uni roommates

(B) Louis/Greg James - Louis takes Clifford to a secluded park and lets him run free for a few hours. A few weeks into going to a park, a friendly dog (Barney) Louis assumes is a stray comes over by him with a stick in his mouth and Louis plays fetch. This becomes a Thing every time. Louis notices Clifford has been gaining weight and can’t figure out why. One day, Clifford doesn’t come back like he usually does. Louis goes looking for him with (Barney) trailing on his heels. He’s just about to give up when (Barney) sprints away and Louis can’t stand the thought of losing two dogs in one day so he runs after him. Cut to…Louis finding a very tall, very handsome man, very excitedly welcoming Barney back with Clifford barely looking up from the almost gone bucket of dog food said very (very) handsome man clearly brought to the park. Confusion ensues since each thinks the other’s dog was a stray. Wild accusations from Louis about Greg making Clifford fat, jokes from Greg about how Barney has taken up finding perfect sticks and running away with his best one. They fall in love and become one big happy family.

( C ) Louis/Character B are musicians vying for the role of band leader at their former high school. They went there at the same time and were rivals then too, though for a totally different reason: they both had secret crushes on one another. When I've of them learns this, it changes everything.

(D) Girl direction! Louis/Character B are star athletes on the college (you choose the) sport team. They're both on the butch side, and it takes them a while to figure out that they're into one another and don't need to femme it up to get the other to like them.

(E) Omegaverse: Alpha Louis has never questioned who he is, a strong Alpha loving Alpha who defies stereotypes. When he meets character B, a beta, he certainly doesn't expect to fall for him (and hard)

(F) Famous Louis returns to his home town for his sister's wedding. When he sees his non-famous ex-boyfriend at the first wedding event of the weekend, sparks fly. Cue a whirlwind romance and a lot of big decisions about what they're both willing to do for love.

(G) Louis is a werewolf who's gotten good at hiding his nature in order to make a quiet life for himself in a small town. Character B is the vampire whose arrival coincides with a couple of murders that threaten his peaceful existence. When it becomes clear that B isn't behind the murders, he and Louis team up to find the real culprit (and maybe accidently fall in love along the way).

(H) Louis/Liam - Bros who get married for insurance purposes and then decide divorce isn’t worth the hassle.

(i) Louis/Charlie Lightening…no plot but sex on the ping pong table. Obviously. 

(J) Louis and his bandmates/opening band let off some steam by having a circle jerk. It might turn into more for some of them.

(K) Girl direction! Louis and character B are star athletes on the college (you choose the) sport team. They're both on the butch side, and it takes them a while to figure out that they're into one another and don't need to femme it up to get the other to like them.

(L) M/M Louis and Taylor Swift are rival quarterbacks for their town's 2 high school teams. Nobody knows that they've been secretly dating since sharing a NYE kiss. 

(M) Louis/Liam - everyone thinks Louis and Harry are together but it’s actually Louis and Liam

(N) Lilo hot water maintenance au based on this tumblr post

(O) Lilo Robin Hood AU

(P) Lilo Howl’s Moving Castle au

(Q) Louis and either Charlie or Nick from Heartstopper (the Netflixshow), friendship fic. Would love Louis either helping Nick through his sexuality crisis or Louis being there for Charlie through the events of the first season

(R) Omegaverse: Louis is about to turn 25 without having presented. As he debates undergoing the risky process to force a presentation, he meets Character B who helps him realize he doesn't necessarily have to "present" to be the alpha he know he is. (Omegaverse but make it trans and powerful!!)

(S) Person A falls in love with his gym bro, Louis based on this post

(T) Louis plays on the uni football team and Liam is on the athletics team. they pass each other to and from training all the time. cue attraction. they are or become friends and are secretly pining for a while before they eventually start dating

(U) Edwardian era Lilo au where they’re both working class. maybe one is a servant and one is a shop assistant, or both servants.

(V) Louis and David Dawson bond over their time with Harry

(W) Louis/Oscar Isaac- edwardian AU where Oscar is a poet and Louis is his muse

(X) Louis/Pedro Pascal AU where Louis is exploring in the arctic and needs a guide

(Y) Louis/Pedro Pascal Gladiator AU

(Z) Michael B. Jordan as a boxer and nurse Louis

(AA) Louis/Sebastian Stan arranged marriage royalty AU. Louis is betrothed to King Sebastian Stan, a widower with two kids who aren't to keen of the King's fiancé.

(BB) Louis/Sam Claflin - something based on the interview where Sam says Louis follows him on Twitter and that they've had a conversation but he doesn't want to get into it.

(CC) 27 dresses take off where Niall is always the best man, never the husband, and Louis is the snarky reporter.

(DD) Zouiam, uni AU - Zayn meets Liam at the library and falls halfway in love during a single conversation. It’s a fairy tale, only back home is Louis - his FWB, the most important person in Zayn’s life, and someone who doesn’t take well to losing out on attention. Louis' a bit put out when he meets Liam at football practice and this annoying, bossy, fit as all hell guy slides right in under all his defences. It could be the start of a beautiful term of fighting and fucking, only back home is Zayn. Zayn not only needs Louis - he’d become a full-time hermit otherwise - but it’s damn convenient having sex on tap right there in his own flat. And, oh yeah, Zayn’s like, his reflection or his shadow or his other half or something. Liam’s quite confused by having two drop dead gorgeous guys alternately sending him go signals, then just as quickly, stop. He figures if either of them settle on go, he’ll be batting a thousand. Then he realises they know each other. Biblically.

(EE) Louis is an actor in a murder mystery troupe. Character B (maybe Nick Grimshaw...?) is the audience member who’s clearly too cool for all this but giving joining in his best shot anyway. Louis is distracted by him all night, and then after the denouement they meet in the bar.

(FF) Louis/Greg James - Louis won’t stop whanging on about not getting to do the breakfast show with his new album, and character X (maybe Niall, or Oli?) eventually realises it's less career-related jealousy and more about who sits behind the mic. He hatches a matchmaking plan.

(GG) Louis/Zayn/Liam - something soft, canon and present day. Maybe Louis comes home to them after being away on tour. Lots of domesticity.

(HH) Character B joins local amateur dramatics society and suddenly Louis is no longer a shoo-in for every lead role. Cue the drama!

(ii) AU. Preschool teacher Louis / Boxer Sebastian Stan

(JJ) Yellowjackets AU! Girl direction, any pairing from the show, cutting from 1996 to present.

(KK) Louis/Cillian Murphy - 1970s criminal au (preferably with Louis as the criminal), based on this photo: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FvyDkCnWAAk1UwS?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

[joytraveler]

#6. SPOOKSTERZ!

The title is spelled out on gravestones. When Bea starts the game, she’s given the choice of four playable characters: all of them are knights in different-colored armor, but each has a different weapon: a sword, a spear, a flail, or a jousting lance.

"I'm a-scared, I dunno if I can do this one what with the tombstones and all.." She selects the lance knight. "You know I have to pick the weapon that would be most impractical in melee combat. He's like 'hey uh, can I, can I borrow a horse from one of you guys..?' "

DueyDecimal: I don’t know who the Hero or Big Guy are in this group, but at least you picked the Lancer! berd_snurglar: all right everyone roll to save vs. pun

The lance-wielding knight turns out to be named “Rancor”. After Bea chooses him, the game makes her wait ten seconds to see if any other players want to join in!

aroseahorseboy: a multiplayer game? but there’s only one controller??

"Aw is there a CPU I can get to join in? Be my knight buddy? Maybe there was going to be a multi-port doohicky. Unless it's searching online somehow."

HNV: I hope it doesn’t have online capabilities, you didn’t even enter your WiFi password!

"Well maybe me and the two other people who bought this can do a dungeon fest. Anyway, prepare to feel my sting, vile spawn!"

Ten seconds later the game begins. It’s a multiplayer arcade-style beat ‘em up, in the fashion of Final Fight or Double Dragon, except your armed knight has to take on all kinds of spooky graveyard monsters!

DueyDecimal: Skeletons? Were-bats? Hopping coffins? This is SO my thing! HNV: and a green slimy humanoid thing that’s obviously a ghoul, because everyone knows they live in graveyards but not what they look like

"This is.. this is.. great??" She says as she charges through a group of skeletons! "And I think I even got moves! I mean special moves, not to be confused with The Moves which I also have"

TaichouSenseiKun: I had the moves recently, you probably just need more fiber

The lance itself isn't easy to use: Rancor does best from a long distance, since it's made for jabbing, but in close-up he can only swing it like a baseball bat which isn't as effective. The place it shines is in the special moves, though, which do put him astride a skeletal phantom horse to charge through the stage!

"You know what's better than a bigass steed? BIGASS GHOST STEED!" She has it rear back and stomp the foe she's just knocked down before it disappears again. "I think with more people you could do some pretty crazy group combos!"

Glockroach: this is like the abandonware treasure trove. Bea you should consider trying to copy some of these off the system berd_snurglar: is that not illegal Glockroach: Only if the company still exists HNV: Cue lecture about the dire need for copyright reform from Duey in 5... 4... 3... pigbarrel: yes this should be super ghouls n' guests *ghuests

The first boss stomps into view... with a single foot. It's a huge zombie snail with a mausoleum for a shell, its swollen eyestalks flashing like crazy barber poles! Every time Bea manages to get a good hit in, it retreats into its 'shell' and spits out partial skeletons, each of them hopping out on one foot just like their master.

pigbarrel: haha wow good. this game is good

"I'll be watching this episode later to appreciate this yucky boy, right now gotta do the fight!" Rancor's extra range is helpful for this battle, fortunately, as she whittles down the boss with jabs.

Finally the snail shrinks into its house for good, and a number of friendly-looking ghosts come to the windows and wave in thanks! They seem to be the original family that inhabited the mausoleum.

A results screen pops up, showing the four players' scores; since Rancor is the only player, he's the top scorer, of course. The big surprise is that he's posed without his helmet... and he has no head at all! The knights are all dead too!

burd_snurglar: wow this is like castle crashers of dark souls games aroseahorseboy: ghosts fighting ghosts to save ghosts, no live people allowed HNV: Makes me wonder if you can even get an "extra life"!

"This could just be the Underworld! And no HNV. You can only earn EXTRA DEATHS"

Round 2 begins with Rancor leaping off a rotted dock and onto the barnacle- encrusted hull of a ghost ship! The eerie light of St. Elmo's fire gleams from every surface as he lances his way through a crowd of skeletal pirates, some of whom fight with skeletal swordfish and sawfish!

"Ahhhh help I can't swim!! Haha, just joking, I'm dead of course!" She's excited to find a room full of treasure chests, but all but one turn out to be huge killer hermit crabs! "Aha! See, the real treasure will be the crabs we met along the way."

The ship itself isn't that big, with only the upper deck full of enemies and the treasure room to explore, but once Bea finishes off the crabs and makes her way to the stern, there's a little bit of platforming action as she jumps from dinghy to haunted dinghy! These lead to a second ghost ship, an even bigger one: it's an ocean liner, with a huge hole in the side and a quartet of dead musicians playing on the deck.

"Oh hell. Actual hell. Or the underworld thing, anywho. I guess we're deader than we thought! Been dead longer."

Baconnaise: I'm glad the ghost of the titanic got work after Ghostbusters 2 DueyDecimal: Maybe you're just armor and not a ghost at all! HNV: The armor from Ghosts N' Goblins got sick of dicking around and decided to leave Arthur behind this time

The string quartet fires bows at Rancor like arrows (how counterintuitive) and wield their instruments like clubs, but are quickly dispatched by the lance. Next comes a wave of drowned zombie tourists in grass skirts, some of whom are so waterlogged that they burst on the first attack, scattering chomping scallops in all directions!

"I might NEED another player! Any dead knights in the chat can lend a hand?" She tries to charge ahead as much as possible, only fighting the ones the game throws in her path. "Hark and buzz off, ye vast fuckin' jerks! Avast n' whatnot"

HNV: Funny but not very relevant: I saw some costumes at the Halloween store that look just like these guys, labeled “Tacky Tourist” and they had big inflatable butts HNV: but the French name underneath was “Touriste américain”

The grueling wave of tacky tourists goes for several screens, taking Rancor through a shuffleboard court, a swimming pool with rotted octopus tentacles whipping around, and a wedding reception where he gets to knock over the barnacle-encrusted cake and a tower of wineglasses, some of which have eyeballs floating in them!

"I feel like I'm fighting my way through Tim Burton's studio here. On that note I do hope there's an evil pumpkin king behind this in a massive twist!" She says as she fight's off the bride's pet zombie shark

pigbarrel: one of those sharks they caught and put bones in

The mid-boss for this ship is not a pumpkin or even a ghost-- it's the iceberg itself, which is home to a very angry frozen mammoth! All it can move are its tusks and trunk, but that's enough to lob icicles and pull more bodies from the ice to roll at Rancor like logs. Once again, the extra range of the lance really helps!

After Bea defeats him, she continues across the iceberg to more dinghies; these ones are floating in the air, and climbing from dinghy to dinghy leads her through a cloud bank to a FLYING ghost ship!

"Is this where Bowser's airships go when they die.." Bea wonders aloud, fighting off winged pirates even as they're being picked at by seagulls!

Glockroach: this is Davey Jones's Cupboard

After just a few steps on the ship, a huge spinning windmill looms into view, and demonic tulips rise from the deck to cackle at the hero.

DueyDecimal: ...The Flying Dutchman. Of course.

This battle must have been crafted with Rancor in mind: the windmill lifts itself up, unfolding like a Transformer, and roars. Don Quixote was right, the windmills really are giants, and this one needs to be tilted at!

"My main issue though, really, is that a windmill is not an undead. As far as we know. Or maybe this one is, I'm not sure of anything?" She blocks the huge swinging fists as the go by, jumping up to attack between the arms.

Glockroach: Honestly the game could end right here and I would be satisfied pigbarrel: when you die, if you are cursed, you may become a windmill.. if you laughed at windmills in your living life

Her charge move is helpful here too, as she can pretty quickly get from one side of the screen to the other as the windmill-bit flails about! Through careful use of special attacks and judicious dodging, Bea manages to hit the monster’s weak spot multiple times, finally causing it to collapse back in on itself. Once again, friendly ghosts appear to thank her, this time emerging through the front door to do a celebratory clog dance!

aroseahorseboy: This is the second time you had to fight a building at the end, it’s like a claustrophobia game

"Tell me if this is too much of a stretch, but it's almost like all the places you'd expect ghosts to be are turning bad? Like, all the haunted houses are turning on their residents. Or haunted windmills, what have you"

HNV: I expected to fight a ghost ship at the end of this one, the windmill was a surprise!

"I just expected a pirate, not all the pirates and the dutch. And now, mummies!"

Syrupentine: Who wants to bet you’re going to actually fight a pyramid at the end of this stage!

"Pyramid boss, after a brief detour to fight the entire terracotta army and some modern day mob guys with cement shoes. Actually I'm shocked they didn't show up when we were underwater!"

DueyDecimal: So how are we for good games vs. bad games so far? Most of the good ones have been sort of just OK until now

"I'm thinking this was a bunch of different developers and one publisher? Maybe even entirely different companies. SOME of them had to care!"

HNV: The bedbugs one and the eggs one were just sort of eh, like you said... Demolition Crew was rad, though aroseahorseboy: yeah what Bea said! i bet a lot of these are ripoffs of actual good games that were sold on their own DueyDecimal: Yeah, I bet this one and the King of the Monsters type one were from the same dev team! They both have good monster graphics

Bea finally gets stuck on a pair of mummified aliens(?!) that are just a bit too unpredictable and quick for her, even if she manages to take one down before the second turns into a mummy-saucer!

HNV: Aliens even now?? It’s turning into Super Mario Land but that’s fine with me!

"Gotta admit, there really seems to be something for everybody!"

aroseahorseboy: thank you, good monster developers, for your buffet of beasts