#replying to comments

[ellenembee]

Replies were restricted either just for me or in general literally a minute after this response came through in my notes, but I just want to say that I also have a job, a life, write thousands of hours of fan fic, and struggle with mental health. I still expect myself and others to reply to comments. It's not difficult to copy-paste a "thank you!" into a text box and hit submit if spoons are low. Or even take extra time to reply. I'm not saying replies need to be instantaneous. I've often taken days or even weeks (very rarely months) to reply.

But fandom is *supposed* to be a community. If engaging in that community makes a person miserable, I would question whether it's the best place for them to be for their own mental health. Or, again, writers should close comments and walk away from the fic after posting. Expecting others to lavish praise and not even acknowledging it with a thank you is, again, rude. It's a hill I will die on, my friends.

Fandom is turning into a commodity-driven thing, and it's bad for writing. Bad for art. Bad for fandom. If we want people to comment and interact, we have to be willing to be part of that conversation and not a brick wall. Otherwise, why are we even doing this? What's the point? Why share something at all? (Notice I said "share" there, not "write.")

Perhaps I'm too old school for modern "fandom." Perhaps there's not a place for me and others like me who are here because we actually want to connect with others over a shared love. Who think that fic is the start of a conversation and not an end. I'm not telling anyone what to do—people can still behave how they like. I'm not required to like it, though, nor the harm it's doing to those of us who do desperately want to engage with readers who no longer bother to comment because of writers who have decided they don't want to be part of the fandom community.

Yes there's a typo in the first option but I am not redoing the whole thing

[ao3-shenanigans]

i know how to comment on a fic, but i need advice on how to respond to comments!!

Of course!

Some response to comment ideas!

1. 💕💕💕

2. I’m so glad you liked it!

3. Hearing this made my day!

4. I agree about [insert comment about character needing therapy or whatever], they really do!

5. So glad you caught that line! I’m really proud of it!

6. [insert ominous story foreshadowing]

7. I’m so glad you like this series too!

8. That’s a cool idea! I might steal it! (For when the comment offered a hc)

[longlivefeedback]

Hey! Not sure if this is the right blog for this, but I have a question about responding to comments on Ao3. I usually respond to all comments I get, but this year was really stressful and for a while I didn't mentally feel up to answering comments. I'm getting back into responding now and was wondering: is it taboo to respond to a comment you got months ago? I want to thank the writer for their words, but at this point have I missed my window?

No taboo that I'm aware of! In fact, receivers seem to love any response to comments, regardless of how long they took to arrive!

If you're still feeling antsy about being "too late" to respond, consider this permission to respond to any comments you have sitting in your inbox, no matter how much time has passed!

[the-pen-pot]

Me: Breaks Excalibur in Hiraeth. My readers:

[patchwork-crow-writes]

Replying to comments on AO3 from like almost an entire year ago, and I'm like, is there any point to this? But then I go, how will I ever get better at responding to people if I never... you know... respond to people?

So if you get a notification from a comment you wrote like several months ago, it's probably me lol. Sorry for taking so long!!

[killerpancakeburger]

Thanks for the cutest tags 😭🥺

Sleeping Beauty

Gif by @no-one-fights-alone

SUMMARY: The sleeping beauty is Soap hehe. You weren't supposed to fall asleep in the rec room, but you did. When you emerge, there's someone snoozing in your lap.

PAIRING: Soap x f!Reader

TAGS: Fluff, first kiss, confessions, light/non graphic smut: dirty talk, friction, Clingy!Soap, Civilian!Reader, Smitten!Soap AND Smitten!Reader. Part of the Moaning and Blushing Soap Agenda.

WORDS COUNT: 1.8k

A/N: My thanks to the fanartists who draw Soap alseep, giving me inspiration :') been obsessed with this piece.

It was never your intention to doze off on the rec room's couch.

However, the combination of the coziness of the sofa, the bone-deep tiredness you accumulated over the work week, and the delicious warmth radiating from Soap's body eventually defeated you. The rowdy Sergeant  had always displayed a tactile kind of friendliness, but lately he was glued to you, downright clingy. 

Another person would have been irritated by this behavior quickly enough - his teammates from the 141 made it pretty clear, teasing him frequently about it, and jokingly pitying you. Nonetheless, you didn’t mind, at least outside of the bursts of heat that would overrun your face from time to time. Just when you thought you were used to him, one brush of his fingertips or one gaze from his piercing blue eyes would revive the fire in your blood. 

But just like with most things, you couldn’t say no to Johnny. Not to mention, you were seriously touch-starved; had been your whole life, to be honest. To have someone apparently addicted to the feel of your skin was like a heaven-sent gift.

This was how you ended up sitting way too close to him on the couch, thighs touching, his burly arm thrown carelessly on the backrest behind you, as the task force was enjoying some TV before heading to bed. Between vaguely paying attention to the movie, keeping up with the guys’ conversation, and fighting your own mind to forbid it from obsessing over how burning his leg felt against yours despite the barrier of your respective jeans, you were plenty busy. At least until you fell asleep without realizing.

Filled with confusion, you sluggishly blink at the half-light illuminating you. The lights have been switched off, but the TV provides enough brightness for you to figure out your surroundings. The room is silent and empty, save for the murmur emitted by the television, and your lap feels strangely heavy.

You lower your eyes to figure out that mystery, and immediately supress a yelp of surprise by pressing your hand against your mouth.

John Mactavish in the flesh is right there, sleeping like a baby. 

You can’t help but drink in this one-of-a-kind sight; you've never seen him asleep before. Never contemplated him looking so peaceful, so tranquil. There's an inherent vulnerability that comes with catching him sleeping. 

He's laying on his stomach, the side of his face pressed against your thigh, grabbing it with one hand. The way his cheek is squished by your leg is both funny and adorable. Low but regular snores escape his parted lips.

His mohawk is as ruffled as hair that short can be, and now that you’re observing it, you’re tempted to stroke it, to find out whether it is as soft as its owner. You ponder over that dilemma for a minute, biting your lip, before giving into temptation. Tentatively ruffling the top of it at first, terrified of waking him up, you gain in confidence as his hair proves to be delightfully smooth. You run your hand through the strands carefully, your touch as delicate as possible, removing some stray locks from his forehead as you go.

Eventually you stop, taking in the room around you, and thinking about how this situation can’t last. Soap really needs to reach his bed. You peek at him again.

There's a self-indulging part of you that very much desires to let him sleep, keep him in your lap and stare at him for hours. With how heavy he feels, you’re not sure you could get up even if you wanted to.

“Why'd ye stop?” he rasps, voice made hoarse by drowsiness, tone surprisingly whiny.

You barely stifle a screech, completely taken aback by his awakening.

He shoots you a look so indignant, you'd think you woke him up at 3 a.m with a bucket of ice-cold water. That, or he's a petulant child you’re waking up for school.

“Sorry…?”

Why you are apologizing, you don't even know. His expression somehow manages to make you feel guilty, so you lift your hand and caress his hair again. 

His eyes instantly close at the contact, like a cat. A pleased, satisfied “Mmmh” leaves him, as a deep rumble escapes his torso, like a purr. A blissful smile stretches his lips, sending a pang to your chest.

“Soap.”

“...”

“Johnny.”

“Mmh?”

“You need to get to your own bed.”

“Nooooo.”

He proceeds to turn his head and bury his face in your lap. Next thing you know, the hand squeezing your thigh releases you, only to sneak behind your back and grab your waist. The other slides under your legs to seize your knee.

You end up well and truly trapped in his grip.

“M great ‘ere.” he retorts, muffled by your body.

His hot breath sends tingles over your skin, and the motion of his lips against your pants provokes a throbbing between your thighs. You feel your cheeks’ temperature rise dangerously. The fact that you two are alone together is both a blessing and a curse. You’re going to give Gaz and Ghost a piece of your mind for abandoning you like that.

“Soap,” you sigh, trying your best to sound unaffected, pinching the bridge of your nose. “You can’t stay here all night.”

“Can't I?” 

The cheekiness in his voice manages to be both irritating and arousing.

“John Mactavish,” you scold, attempting to sound menacing.

“Could spend tha whole night between yer thighs, bonnie.”

Yep, that's it, your entire face is on fire. He's never been so forward before; your chest feels like it's about to burst.

Unfortunately for Johnny, your annoyance exceeds your embarrassment. This explains why your next course of action is to take hold of his mohawk and yank. 

Face finally unsticking from you, he lets out a noise that's half a grunt, half a moan, and fully obscene.

Astounded, turned on, and just a bit sheepish, you stare at him in bewildered silence as he returns your gaze, cerulean eyes wide, cheekbones and the tips of his ears bright red.

You only meant to remove him from your lap - cross your heart and hope to die. And roughen him up a little in the process as payback, but that was counting on the fact that his pain tolerance must be way beyond the average mortal's.

As you stay frozen in place, he pounces. Next thing you know, he got you pinned against the backrest, hands on each side of your head, hovering over your lap.

“Can I kiss ye?”

His voice suddenly turned so husky that the question comes out more like a growl than anything else.

“W-what?” you stutter, convinced you heard him wrong.

“Can I kiss ye? Please?” he insists, pouting.

The “please” has the effect of a punch in your sternum.

“I… you… uh.. “

His face is way too close to yours, his gaze way too intense for you to do anything else but combust on the spot.

“We shouldn't”, you mumble, looking anywhere but at him.

“Aye we can, fraternization is authorized between military and office personnel.”

That has the merit to make you look back at him, eyes wide in surprise.

“How do you..?”

“Ah checked”, he asserts like it's evident.

“You're really putting me on the spot…”

You pivot your head to the right to relieve yourself from his piercing blue eyes. That doesn't seem to deter him at all, however, as he presses his forehead against your temple.

“Well, ye tend tae run away when ah flirt wi’ ye…”

His lips brush against your cheek as he talks.

“So really, this is all yer fault. Yankin’ mah hair like that-”

“MY fault!? You’re the clingy bastard who stuck his face into my lap-”

Outraged, you face him abruptly. He must have predicted your reaction because he backed away enough to avoid a headbutt.

“Very nice lap.”

The compliment leaves you unimpressed.

“Not really,” you correct automatically, your self-consciousness deeply ingrained.

He doesn't lose his smug smirk at that.

“Oh? Need me tae demonstrate?”

His hand leaves the backrest and slips between the sofa and your leg. He grabs your thigh and lifts it slightly, then slowly trails the tips of two fingers from the edge of your ass until the back of your knee, sending suggestive tickles all over your lower body.

You stare in anticipation, voice stuck somewhere in your throat.

“Bonnie? Ah'm not hearin’ a no, but ah'm not hearin’ a yes either-”

“Yes,” you murmur.

He tilts his head questioningly, smile teasing.

“Wha’ was that? Didn’t catch-”

“I said yes, you-,” you assert, riled again, loud enough that he cannot pretend to have missed it.

His mouth presses against yours almost immediately, so eager that your back hits the backrest. You close your eyes and interlace your fingers behind his neck.

His hands feel everywhere at once, like he can’t get enough of you. As for you, the accumulation of sensations threatens to overwhelm you, so you clench your hands into fists to hold on, one desperately clutching the other's wrist.

Lost in his embrace, you forget yourself. At the feeling of his muscular thigh between your legs, you grind against it thoughtlessly.

Soap reacts instantly, abandoning your lips for a moment, despite you chasing after his.

“Humpin’ my leg, ae? Ye naughty girl… ah can give ye so much better than mah leg.”

Regardless of his comment, he pushes back against your crotch.

“But if that's what ye want… ah'll give ye anythin’. Everythin’ ye want, baby. Ah'll be so good to ye, promise.”

The sweet vows falling from his filthy mouth makes you hang onto him tighter, as if you were trying to fusionate your two bodies.

“...Everything,” you reply softly after kissing him some more.

“Wha…?”

Taking Johnny by surprise is not something that you manage often. But oh, how the view is worth it.

He withdrews a bit, face flushed, mowhawk tousled, gaping, eyebrows lightly frowned in incomprehension.

“What if I want everything? All of you?” 

You cup his cheek affectionately. Your own boldness surprises you, but this whole situation feels like a dream anyway - maybe it is one -, so you might as well make the best of it. Soap has never been one to be stingy with compliments, so the least you can do is return the favor.

“You're amazing, Soap. You’re so brave, and smart, strong, selfless, and goodhearted, caring… and you have the prettiest eyes I've ever - mmh.”

He seemed pretty captivated by your words, listening religiously, until something snapped and he crushed his lips against yours.

After making you dizzy, he releases you, beaming. You remember hearing Price calling him “sunshine”. He's always been luminous, but now he's downright blinding.

“I love ye. IloveyeIloveyeIloveye.”

He chants fervently while covering your face in ardent kisses.

“Ye don't have tae say it back,” he adds hastily afterwards, like distressed he'd scare you away.

“Ye don't have tae say anythin. Ah just… can’t contain it anymore…”

“I love you too,” you cut in.

The words came out more easily than you expected. Almost naturally. It makes sense in a way - you’ve been enamored for a while after all.

You two seal your mutual confessions with an enthousiastic kiss.

[only2braincellsavailable]

Time for my bi-annual "I actually have energy to reply to all my AO3 comments"!!!

[supertaliart]

Still siblings, after everything.

This is the last page I had planned for this story! I might add some extra goofy bits to it later.

First - Prev

Other Skywalker Comics

[breannasfluff]

^ So I saw this post

And then these comments

Which makes me sad?

It’s already so hard to convince readers to be perceived and that commenting has value.

If you don’t want the deranged comments, please send them to me instead haha!

[cozylittleartblog]

"content creator" is a corporate word.

we are artists.

[chloesimaginationthings]

I want you to know that because of your art, I now ship Harley Sawyer x Springtrap

Suffer the consequences of your actions

I’m shocked how many of y’all were into these two

[lexinoctura]

(Little) Rant or Request - Commenting

First of: I know that commenting on fics is important, and that its a wonderful feedback for authors on their work.

And I do that!

I almost always leave a comment, and the absolute majority of those are long, are detailed, are appreciative towards the story and author!

And I like doing that, I enjoy doing that, no questions asked!!!

But what declines that desire to leave auch long comments immensely, to write more than just “nice” or “cool story”, is when the author doesnt interact/ write back….

I get that you don't always have the time for it, or that when you are a big author you simple have too many comments to reply to, but on a story that has barely any comments, or is from an author who is brilliant - no discussion - but not a leviathan in the fandom/on AO3 not to reply makes it a bit… sad? to put the effort in, you know?

I read so many posts (which are all valid!!!) that the readers should leave comments, that fandoms thrive on that interaction, but I also have to add to those that its a two-way street! If someone appreciates your story, and wants to let you know that, maybe has a question or suggestion, and you just ignore them indefinitely, then the desire to interact leaves as well…

Soooo….

Reader? Please leave comments, we authors so very much appreciate them!!!

Authors? Please interact with your audience if you can! It keeps us motivated to go on and read and comment!

[ghostofnuggetspast]

I guess fandom has trolls too. DELETE

Now back to this delightful conversation about sex toys.

You again?

[eruden-writes]

Replying to Strictly Pleasure - Part 8 Reactions

Here's the link to Strictly Pleasure's masterlist, in case anyone needs to catch up.

@fangsandfluff -

Well, it'll always be here when you return. Plus, now you get 8 parts to read rather than having to wait on me to post them!

And thank you! I enjoy writing orcs.

If you want more of my orcs also Bruhka from Self-Defense (a short story based on a meme/prompt) and Larek from Wretched Creature (a short Beauty and the Beast retelling.) ;3

There's also my webcomic (on indefinite hiatus) with a half-orc Noth.

@vaya-writes -

Yeah, the second-hand embarrassment is high in this chapter. lol Might be why it was a struggle to write.

As for Heidi's alleged size queen behavior, maaaybe. We'll get into that orc ex too in the story, so I don't want to ruin anything right now. I've been sneaking in some foreshadowing, here and there.

[add1ictwithapen]

Phil needs to get the pumpkin mug

[dynamitekansai]