#so from here on I will likely be posting snippets for my next writing project instead

[shamera]

Chapters: 15/15 (COMPLETE) Fandom: 诡秘之主 - 爱潜水的乌贼 | Lord of the Mysteries - Cuttlefish that Loves Diving Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Audrey Hall | Justice, Leonard Mitchell | The Star, Klein Moretti, Melissa Moretti, Benson Moretti, Fors Wall | The Magician, Xio Derecha | Judgment Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Family Reunions, Rescue Missions, MI9 as a feature, Evernight Church as a feature, guest appearance by Amon, several other characters as guest appearances, entire story takes place within one night, featuring the Fulgrim Hounds!

Summary: Set during the timeskip in volume 6: Lightseeker In the midst of war, MI9 captures Benson Moretti and get more than they bargained for.

Snippet: “Sir,” Benson tried again, “you have the wrong person. My job does not give me any power at all. Whatever reason you have me here, there must be a misunderstanding!”

The man with the empty smile flipped through the papers on the desk again, ignoring Benson’s words.

“Mr. Moretti, you had,” the man continued to say, “a brother named Klein Moretti, did you not?”

Benson’s heart sank.

[kianamaiart]

Growing an audience takes time and getting people to care about your characters can often take more time. I've done a bunch of OCs in the past but none of them really got traction until my IDWTBAMG OCs. I steadily grew my social media following for well over a decade. A lot of checking socialblade, looking at analytics and generally drawing/posting everyday. I have a whole doc available about this type of stuff.

There's no particular shortcut other than happening to go viral or getting really lucky. But I will say "branding" or carving out a niche for yourself over time helps. Although I've been in a number of different fandoms over the past 15 years I've been on the internet, the kind of art I do has been pretty consistent. Lots of shorter, light hearted comics or vignettes highlighting relationships (be them romantic, platonic or familial) and people started enjoying my work for my writing style more so than just what fandom I was creating for.

Finding your community, creating stuff that aligns with those communities and engaging with others is huge. A lot of my work prior to IDWTBAMG centered queer people (specifically sapphics), Black and Asian folks and stylistically is very anime/modern western cartoon inspired. It's what became known for in fandom spaces and what people were following me for. So when I finally did make IDWTBAMG, a concept with anime influences, in a western cartoon style, with two Black, sapphic leads, it just fit right into what I was already doing. Like if you grew your following from doing cute, slice of life stuff, then suddenly dropped a psychological horror comic, chances are it's not gonna grab a large part of your audience. Might bring some new folks in, but you're ultimately kinda starting over and pivoting (that's why rebrands are hard to pull off). This may not be the best example but hopefully you get what I mean. Appeal to the communities you've fostered!

I hate using corporate speak for art but if you ARE trying sell your ideas to people and get your work out there, you do kinda have to learn how to market yourself and your art to some extent. Get in the head of a marketing agent or a brand manager. What's popular right now? How can I use that to my advantage? What times should I be posting my artwork to get the most eyes on this? Who is my target audience and how do I effectively appeal to them while staying true to my own work? Stuff like that. Genuinely, studying how social media managers operate as well as just observing how businesses market their products helped me a lot. "Okay I'm making this animatic, but it won't come out for the next four months. How do I keep people interested and hyped for that amount of time leading up to the pilot's release? I'll keep doing comics here and there so people connect with the characters by the time the pilot comes out. Once I get he VAs recorded, I'll make posts to get people hyped for the casting. I'll upload snippets and behind the scenes stuff to give people a taste of what's to come. I'll release during Black History Month since this is a Black led project with Black characters. I'll have a specific upload time at peak hours to get a good amount of people watching for the premiere and to give the pilot a good running start." This was all stuff I was taking into consideration and planning for.

Then generally, I think people connect to characters more than anything. You can have a cool concept and fun world building ideas but if your execution is bad and your characters aren't compelling, what's the point, y'know? IDWTBAMG isn't a particularly novel concept imo, but I think its strengths lie in the characters and how they interact. The concept is just a tool to give the character dynamics and relationships legs to stand on. So few of the comics I've done with these guys have to do with their lore, it's just small interactions of the girls in class, at a convenience store or just talking to each other in a void. Even though it's simple, that's often the kind of thing people connect with.

Then there's just the technical aspect of having appealing drawing! Getting better at your craft, if nothing else, is good for catching eyes and helping with your execution of your project. While it's not always necessary, I think it helps a lot. I know there's a lot of people who follow me just because they personally like my art style and character design.

Not sure how helpful this actually is LOL. It really does just kinda take time. We all have to start somewhere. I was a "small artist" too at one point. It was years of trial and error, mental breakdowns, finding my own artistic voice and posting artwork almost daily for like 5 years straight. I do think that's why IDWTBAMG ended up being so special to me. It really does feel like a culmination of everything I've learned and all that hard work up to this point and people can kinda feel that.

[felassan]

Some more DA:TV and related snippets from Sylvia Feketekuty, Part 2. rest of post under a cut due to length and spoilers. [Post One, Post Three]

The dev team really wanted to deliver on Emmrich's romance [source]

Sylvia Feketekuty has now left BioWare so there are likely some things she can't answer now "just because I can't look them up with certainty anymore" [source]

When Emmrich is first introduced, he has a skull helmet. Why does it never ever appear for the next 40-100 hours? "The helmet does indeed look wicked! I believe it actually shows up on his shelf in the Lighthouse eventually. (If I had been a smarter writer I would've asked if we could have it appear again, that one's on me.)" [source]

User: "In another post you mentioned shops in Nevarra City near the Necropolis. How far IS Nevarra City itself is from the Necropolis? Do only senior MWs get to go?" / Sylvia: "I'm reluctant to say what the distance is since I never defined it in game so it's Unknown™. But I imagine they can either walk or take a carriage, depending. Also I never imagined junior MWers are forbidden from going into town or such. It could be they have set hours and times where they're allowed. But got to get all those chores done first..." [source, two]

On the DA:I goat scene ([link]) - "The GOAT! God bless them, that was a delight." [source]

Brian J. Audette, on [this thread] - ""Better late than never" addendum to this thread. I just noticed that Isle of the Gods' writer Sylvia is on here now and I'd be remiss not to tag her in this thread. I can't say enough wonderful things about having worked with Sylvia on this mission." [source] / Sylvia: "Thanks Brian! You tackled an absolutely jam-packed mission with aplomb." [source]

Jo Berry: "Thank you for everything and everything else, on both Veilguard and Inquisition. Sunlight on your road, wherever it goes." [source] / Sylvia: "Thank YOU for all your writing Jo. Seriously, you were a godsend on Veilguard and DAI both." [source]

Trick Weekes: "It's been fantastic working with you, Sylvia, and I know you're going to crush it with whatever you do next. Thank you for finally letting me make you "the person who has to do journals so Trick doesn't" on one of our projects." [source] / Sylvia: "Thank you Trick! I'll miss working with you. It was an honour to finally be given the awesome responsibility of the journal system that still haunts my dreams." [source]

John Epler: "sylvia did you see i told the world Emmrich sleeps standing up like a horse" [source] / Sylvia: "It's days later but: yes. Yes I did." [source]

User: "As someone who also has a truly debilitating fear of death, Emmrich is so special to me. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it represented in such a clear and concise way." / Sylvia: "Thanks, definitely felt that fear myself. I really wanted to express it clearly and was hoping would resonate with others." [source]

User: "Do you have any thoughts or opinions on what nickname Emmrich might have gotten from Varric if he'd ever gotten one?" / Sylvia: "Oh man that's a good question, but ultimately since I didn't write Varric, that must remain a mystery. Nicknames can only be bestowed. ("Bones" like someone suggested below is funny though.)" [source]

User: "If Emmrich's hobby is alchemy/plants, Vorgoth's is art, and Audric's is architecture... what's Myrna's? (Next to Emmrich, she's my favorite Watcher - sorry Vorgoth!)" / Sylvia: "Myrna has a one off line, you may not have heard it yet, where she talks to Vorgoth about getting tickets to the Sword of Drakon.* She enjoys a night out at the theater, whether it's a play or an opera. *(I think that's the play I named, I hope I'm recalling my own line haha.) It's a bit indulgent of me, but I chose Sword of Drakon because it was one of the plays I made up for a series of codices in DAI about Orlesian theater. I had a lot of fun with these and wanted to give them life once more. [link]" [source, two]

User: "During Rook’s disappearance in the prison, how did Emmrich react? Considering their intense romance, did he fall into depression, or did he show a more vulnerable side? Could his fear of death have influenced the situation? In the immortal romance💀, Emmrich promises that nothing will separate them, not in this world or any other. How likely is that? Would he go to great lengths for Rook, even crossing boundaries? Or, at some point, would he accept Rook's death?" / Sylvia: "1) Very strongly! I think it's a bit more interesting if I leave details to your imaginations, but Emmrich feels things deeply and probably had some sleepless nights. 2) So this I can't say much on even though it's a juicy topic. The truth is, I wouldn't even know unless I was actually sitting down to write it. Again, Emmrich feels things very passionately, but this is the kind of scenario where I might want the player's choices to have an effect." [source, two]

User: "Any chance that color scheme [of Emmrich's coat] was based off the corpse flower?" / Sylvia: "I couldn't find anything on the colour scheme and the corpse flower. Afraid this one's a mystery to me." [source]

User: "I'm really curious if there's a Nevarrese language? We have Orlesian, Antivan, Tevene, Qunlat..." / Sylvia: "I wondered that myself, especially given its ancient ties with Tevinter and also Orlais which would certainly have affected the languages of power and influence. Could also have roots with the Planasene. We never talked about one though, as far as I know, so the answer remains...unknown. 💀 (I did introduce tomb-script, the language you see etched into stone in the Necropolis, but I thought of it as more of a specialist's language for occult and magical things specifically.) (If we did define a Nevarran language in some corner of the lore, now I'm going to feel embarrassed, but I don't BELIEVE we did.)" [source, two, three]

User: "I wanted to ask if you have anything you can share about MW grave dowry jewellery - is it the sort of thing they keep on at all times? Also, would Emmrich like jewellery gifts or give them to Rook?" / Sylvia: "I figured it would be something they wear most of the time, or at least in public. You don't want to be without your grave-gold if you pass away! Emmrich would love to get jewellery, especially if it marked a special occasion like his other pieces do! He'd also probably like to gift Rook a piece of grave gold himself, though he knows a non-MW Rook might look at that part askance." [source, two]

User: "Question: how much if anything can you tell us about the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Emmrich's magic and him going to the Mourn Watch? In my mind, his parents' death could certainly be a catalyst for the emergence of mage powers, but I'm so curious why the butcher's boy goes to what seems the equivalent of Nevarran Harvard instead of a regular Circle unless he immediately demonstrated outstanding ability?" / Sylvia: So timeline wise, I think his magic manifested after he was taken in. This part isn't canon, so much as a background thought I had that maybe the spirits of the Necropolis nudged the MW to scoop up this future corpse-whisperer. It seems like a kind of place ripe for that sort of omen. That said, it could've also been a kindhearted Watcher who saw how shattered and alone this young boy was, and thought an upbringing in the Grand Necropolis would be the better place to deal with his grief. It's the kind of thing I want to leave open unless someone goes back one day to fill it out!" [source, two]

User: "what’s the overall Mourn Watch opinion on the whole Weekend at King Markus’s the other Mortalitasi are pulling? I can’t blame Emmrich for not wanting to be involved with that political mess!" / Sylvia: "No clue what you're talking about. King Markus is in the finest of health!!!!! ahahahahaha (To my mind Emmrich's response indicates a tension between the orders, but that they're going along with the polite fiction to avoid a mess. I can't say what the future holds though.)" [source]

User: "Ah, one last note: whoever decided “DA liches are immortal protectors and not always evil?” Chef’s kiss. It’s all I’ve ever wanted!" / Sylvia: "Thanks again! It was in Emmrich's first draft. The other writers and editors gave me good feeback on lichdom and the philosophy behind it especially" [source]

User: "I'm an ICU nurse, and that is imagined to confer a comfort with mortality. Suffice to say Emmrich has been a huge comfort to see." / Sylvia: "Thanks so much. I really wanted him to struggle with it while also engaging with it, because it's something I find hard as well. And I hoped it would find purchase with players." [source]

User: "If you’re willing, can you share a bit about the other orders within the Mortalitasi? Is there a rivalry with the Tevinter Imperium?" / Sylvia: I'm afraid I don't have much, sorry. I left the other Mortalitasi orders a big open canvas in case we wanted to invent more some day. (We've mentioned the palace Mortalitasi are separate from the Mourn Watch, so there's one. As you probably caught, Emmrich's not a fan of theirs.) Is there a rivalry with the Tevinter Imperium? I can't really point to anything in the game talking about that, so I hesitate to call it canon. But to my mind it would be very natural and also very funny. So if that ever manifests, I approve." [source, two]

User: "was any of Emmrich's design or personality modeled on British actor David Niven? I think there is resemblance just wondering if that was intentional." / Sylvia: "Oh I love David Niven. But the more direct actor influence for me was Peter Cushing in a few old Hammer Horror films." [source]

User: "just wanted to say thank you for creating the character of Josephine in Inq!! Helped me learn some stuff about myself when I was younger and meant a lot." / Sylvia: "Thank you so much on all counts! I'm glad the lovely Lady Montilyet was there for you (and enormous credit to her actor, Allegra Clark. She absolutely nailed Josephine, straight away.)" [source]

User, on Emmrich: "He mentions he thought he would marry - is that permitted for Mortalitasi when it wasn't for regular Circle mages? Can they now raise their own children?" / Sylvia: Mortalitasi have a lot of power. I imagine the Nevarran Chantry might grant them permission to marry outside the Circle more regularly than in places where mages are given less respect. (Mages can also marry within Circles, so no permission needed in those cases.) The same might be true for mages raising mage-born children in Nevarra, but I say that with less certainty. I think that's a topic I would've wanted to discuss with the rest of the narrative team." [source, two]

User: "is there a particular reason why emmrich is always wearing a glove on one hand?" / Sylvia: "I like to think it's mostly because he works a lot with his hands. The glove seems useful if he has to, say, grip a rough outcrop of rock when traversing the Necropolis, or deal with a bitey corpse." [source]

User, on Emmrich: "On my 1st run I played a trans Rook and romanced him. It felt incredible how he was so accepting of Rook's identity, and in return she could support him as he did a transition of his own as well. Beautiful mirroring!" / Sylvia: "Thanks very much! If those scenes worked, it's thanks to some people at work who kindly gave feedback that helped get the tone right." [source]

User: "I've been wanting to thank you for writing Luck in the Gardens for 4 years. Hollix was the first time I ever saw a non-binary character given a real voice." / Sylvia: "I loved writing Hollix in that story, they were a treat, and I'm glad they meant a lot to you. (And a shout out to a nb friend who gave me some good feedback on the character, I don't think the story would've been as clear without their help.)" [source]

User: "I was curious about Audric from TN, and if he originally was planned to have an appearance in veilguard, and what he's up to now" / Sylvia: "Love Audric, but I never planned to bring him into VG. I'm not AGAINST it, but I didn't want the short stories to feel like required reading for the game, and I liked where his arc ended in DatDM. That said, I dropped in a few references to Audric to let people know he's around and well. And I imagine he's doing what he loves: being a force of order, in the library. (And reading books during the more quiet hours below.)" [source, two]

User: "As a consumer of (and probably future creator of) so called "erotic" fanficfion, I'm wondering how you feel about the fact that fans make it about a character you created?" / Sylvia: "No issues with it whatsoever. We put sex and romance into the game itself, after all. I think people use fan art and fanfiction to extend their time with a story they've grown fond of, or to figure things out. So it feels like a natural extension of that." [source]

User: "Maybe one day my rook will join the mw!" / Sylvia: "Well, the Grand Necropolis is always eager for more company...🪦👻" [source]

User: "did the flame eternal (short story) come first or the flame eternal (quest)? i’ve been wondering if the quest was named after the story or vice versa" / Sylvia: "I wrote the scene first, the short story came after. But I named the quest AFTER the short story had come out, so I'd say the quest is named for the story because I liked the callback." [source]

User: "1.I know John answered already that Emmrich sleeps like a horse but is there really no bed for this man? 2.How would he react to a bouquet made for him?" / Sylvia: "1. Unknown. Perhaps he brings out pillows and a blanket for the slab in his room (after scrubbing it, of course!) Perhaps he goes home to an elaborate silk-covered bed in his Necropolis apartments. Or the horse thing. (TBH: I never decided myself, so I've leaned into impish mystery). 2. Emmrich would be absolutely delighted and flattered by being presented with a flower bouquet." [source, two]

User: "I hope it's okay to pop here but it might interest you to know a lot of us have been headcanoning that he has a secret bedroom behind one of his bookshelves! It seemed to line up with his sensibilities somewhat." / Sylvia: "That would honestly be great. Pull out the right book and snooze time." [source]

User, on the cemetery date: "This makes me feel like Mourn Watchers include the dead in important personal milestones/events and, if so, I love that so much. Like they want to share these events and the joy/love/excitement/etc. with those who have passed (and perhaps linger.)" / Sylvia: "That's absolutely how I thought of it too." [source]

User: "was there any game/book/show/film that inspired the Mourn Watch and Emmrich? When I saw them in the preview content, I got reminded of the Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir and playing through the game cemented those vibes." / Sylvia: "I hadn't read any Locked Tomb when writing Emmrich, I think we must both just have impeccable taste. (I actually tried to stay away from contemporary stuff on necromancy when writing him, out of a superstitious fear I'd be unduly influenced. I do want to talk about influences later though!)" [source]

User, on Josie: "Do you think she’s open to having kids/adopting with the Inquisitor? Lord Ontranto and Yvette are so ahead!" / Sylvia: "I think that falls firmly within the category of what you imagine she and your Inquisitor's romance looks like, which means: absolutely, if that's where you imagine life would take them." [source]

User: "Emmrich, his story & everything surrounding him absolutely played a huge part in helping to lift me up & connecting me with new friends online" / Sylvia: "Thank you! And I'm very glad to hear Emmrich and his fellow Watchers helped you out when you needed it. He'd be pleased to know so himself." [source]

User: "Was it ever considered for him to appear in the game?" / Sylvia: "(short answer is no, but I wanted to let people know Audric's doing well.)" [source]

User: "I enjoyed your short stories in Tevinter Nights. Emmrich mentioned working out in the morning. What does his morning routine look like, and what kind of exercise does he do?" / Sylvia: "Thanks so much! Those stories have a special place in my heart, so that's especially nice to hear. On exercise: He likes a brisk stroll, and does morning stretches, and for something more strenuous, he likes to go swimming. Why? It's a workout where you don't have to worry about sweating. That just seemed to align with his fastidiousness in a funny way to me. (I also imagine exploring the Necropolis keeps him active, climbing all those stairs and crumbling ledges and the outsized walls of hallowed tombs, etc.)" [source, two]

User: "Harding will turn to a MW Rook who's been talking nerdy necro shop with Emmrich, and goes (paraphrasing), "You're so different when you're talking about this stuff than you are when you hang out with us!" and I loved that" / Sylvia: "Yes indeed! And thanks. I really wanted a beat where you realize MW Rook has learned to swap between being a fancy nerd and talking a bit more like "regular" people in Thedas. It seemed like a fun trait for that background." [source]

Sylvia, on how she came to BioWare: "No formal training. The closest to practice I had was running tabletop RPGs for friends, which actually helped me a lot with understanding the different kind of RPG players out there and what people want out of a story. And honestly: I just kept applying, over and over. That was my main virtue. I was rejected the first couple times I applied to BW. And rightly, I think, I wasn't ready and practicing in between really helped me become a stronger writer." [source, two]

Some more on this topic ^ from Sylvia: "To be honest: mostly luck, some perseverance, and then writing skills, in that order. I was rejected at least twice from BW before I got in, and I think they were right to do so. I wasn't ready yet. The third round someone I knew passed on my sample to a writer there, I did two more rounds of samples while taking feedback and revising over the next month. And then I was lucky enough they liked it enough to interview me. I wish I had better advice than perseverance. I think having a small, completed game, even something text based or a mod, isn't bad either. Even if it's short, it shows you finished it. But: my entry was over 15 years ago now, and to be honest I'm not sure what BW's applicant process are anymore. I don't want to be discouraging though. I would say keep applying, and make friends with like minded people who also want to make games, and best of luck." [source, two, three, four]

User: "I've been wondering something about Mourn Watch Rook's background - their bio says they were found as a baby + raised by the MW, and they reference it in-game, but then they also say they were a street kid and left their old life behind to join the MW to Taash. I'm just curious how one - being raised by the MW - lead to the other - street kid era. I just hc'd it as a euphemism for my Rook's party girl phase lol but it did leave me a little confused." / Sylvia: "This is a case of the background changing slightly over time, and me not squaring it in time with dialogue. In my mind: MW IS found by the Mourn Watch, raised by them, and work for them. But MW Rook also had period(s?) growing up where they explored Nevarra city, to explain why they're more. street savvy and worldly than your typical Watchers who never leave the city. I've seen people noting some discrepancies, and in a perfect world I would've caught those lines in time to smooth them out to encompass the whole story. But perhaps your Rook gives slightly different answers to different people for their own, mysterious reasons! (Or, in reality, it's writer error.)" [source, two, three] "Anyhow, I encourage any head canons that help square these discrepancies" [source]

User: "I romanced him on a Rook that I perceived as about 42ish and my running interpretation of the lines acknowledging her being young were either Emmrich not realizing how old she is, a running bit between them, or some cute form of flattery to not remind her of her own age haha" / Sylvia: "That's adorable, I love it" [source]

User: "1. What would Josie's ideal date be? 2. Could adopted kids be heir of the Montilyet estate or would it go to Yvette? 3. What does Josie think of the Crows?" / Sylvia: "1. I think she'd try to structure something, but the Inquisitor taking her away from her strictly scheduled routine to relax would actually be better for her. A picnic in a garden, a stroll around a lake followed by a meal in a quiet little restaurant. Something with a soft evening. 2. I don't think I ever said so in the game, but to my mind Josephine had some nieces and nephews in line to be heir. If she adopted a child and thought they'd be a better candidate, they could absolutely inherit the estate. (And of course, she could bequeath money or personal effects as she liked.) 3. She thinks of them as a necessity in Antiva, and that it's important to appease them. There's probably highly placed Crows she would get along with. But she'd never be comfortable with them. At the end of the day they're contract killers, and she's no lover of violence. (If I actually DID mention who Josephine had lined up to inherit the estate after her, but just forgot, I will ask for mercy because the game came out over 10 years ago.)" [source, two, three, four]

User: "Would you ever consider making a playlist on spotify of the sort of music you could picture Emmerich listening to? Or perhaps sharing any of the music you listened to while writing Emmrich?" / Sylvia: "I actually have an itunes playlist of what I listened to when writing Emmrich on my old computer. If I dig it out, I'll post a screenshot! (A lot of ambient stuff, probably unsurprisingly)" [source]

User: "I utterly, completely adore the way Josephine was written, she's such a wonderful and complex character. Her history as a bard, her ruthlessness, her kindness and sweet nature and how CUTE her romance is." / Sylvia: "Lady Montilyet herself would be flattered to hear you liked it." [source]

User, on Sylvia's comment about Peter Cushing being a go-to for what Emmrich would be like: "This makes me so unbelievably happy given my love for Peter Cushing 😭 my love for Emmrich was inevitable." / Sylvia: "I want to talk a little more about it later but Cushing was such a wonderful actor. Wish we'd had him around even longer." [source]

User, on death and working in death care: "In the end, it’s always about memory." / Sylvia: "That's so true. We want to be remembered, or to have something that lets people know even a little about who we are. (It's why I'm glad newspapers still print obituaries, you can read about the most amazing lives.)" [source]

User: "I was starting to think the game was reading my mind and tailoring to me once he said his favorite color was lilac, and I was given the option to say darker purple." / Sylvia: "I'm glad you enjoyed Emmrich and his romance. And that the bit about colours worked for you, I was trying to think of what would be something fun there, and purple is one of my favorites too. (Fine taste!)" [source]

User: "“Down Among the Dead Men” is one of my favorite chapters from Tevinter Nights. I loved Audric and I was so happy when Myrna mentioned him in Veilguard! Was there any chance he might’ve appeared in game?" / Sylvia: "basically I didn't plan it, but I wanted to let TN readers know Audric is living well" [source]

User: "If Hezenkoss was also you ALL of that was a sheer stroke of brilliance!" / Sylvia: "Thank you! Hezenkoss was me, so glad you liked her. She was a blast to write. Oh my god, I meant to write Hezenkoss was one of my favorites not "me". (I think I snipped out something and consequentially sound like a maniac in that post above. SORRY. She is not me, I wish I had that kind of confidence.)" [source, two]

User, on behalf of their friend: "Well, spontaneously I'd be interested if she can say any more about Emmrich's past romances. Was there someone really serious among them, or all just fun and casual? I'm also curious how the whole mage training works in Nevarra. Are some trained from the start by the Mourn Watch or does everyone go to the Mortalitasi equivalent of a Circle first?" / Sylvia: "1. I think there was probably a mix of more serious romances and more casual ones over Emmrich's life. The serious ones just never panned out. (Until Rook, if you're romancing him.) 2. I pictured the MW taking in promising members from other circles, but I left their selection criteria vague on purpose, in case we needed to define it later. Of course, there's also exceptions. We've seen they take in some orphans or foundlings (MW Rook and Emmrich, for example) when fate, chance, or pity allows it. (I had an idea spirits might sometimes nudge MWers to take in someone, but that's not in the game, so it remains, I suppose now, my own head canon.)" [source, two, three, four]

User: "Emmrich is every bit the warm and kind academic that I looked up to in my undergrad/postgrad days, and I have taken time in the game just to wander the Grand Necropolis and take everything in." / Sylvia: "My pleasure, and thanks very much for saying so. (Props to all my teammates, it took a lot of people to bring those characters and places to life, and they were all so enthusiastic about our weird gothy corner of Thedas.)" [source]

User, on Emmrich's dream: "One of few cases where writers don't go for "actually immortality is lame" lesson to appease the audience for whom immortality is unattainable. Refreshing to have a character who wants to live forever, can do it, and it isn't treated as a mistake. One of the boldest bits of writing in the game." / Sylvia: "Thanks Mary - that was one of my aims, because so many times in stories, immortality is a fool's errand. I wanted it to have its rules, and its price, but not something disastrous or out of reach." [source]

User: "The MW as a whole was beautifully done and the way they handle life and death was deeply healing and aided tremendously in my own personal journey with grief." / Sylvia: "I'm very glad meeting Emmrich and the Watchers helped even a little, that means a lot to hear." [source]

User: "Amazing work in veilguard and inquisition honestly and the flame eternal was such a fun read! Unless it’s been answered before my query is where do the Mourn watchers live/sleep? Is it a case of they live in the higher parts of the Necropolis or do they live in the city and commute?" / Sylvia: "Flame Eternal was a fun one, hadn't written a story that short before but I enjoyed introducing Johanna and Emmrich's dynamic back in their good old days... As to your question, there's one line of banter between Emmrich and Neve that talks about this (so, very easy to miss.) The Mourn Watchers live and sleep in the upper (safer) levels of the Necropolis." [source, two]

User: "does mortal!Emmrich return to the Necropolis or spend more time in the world first? He plays detective with Neve & camps in Ferelden with Harding feels like he’d want to experience more of the world before returning home." / Sylvia: "Impossible for me to say what the future will hold with certainty, but I think Emmrich's enjoying exploring the world too much to go back to living in the Necropolis full time just yet. He'd certainly want to keep visiting regularly, but there's so much more to see." [source]

Sylvia: "The Watchers have a special place in my heart." [source]

User: "I just wanted to say how much I love Emmrich" / Sylvia: "Thank you very much! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed getting to know him." [source]

at this point tumblr stopped letting me add to this post !

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

WIP Weekend

Weekly WIP Update

Hoping to finish ch 9 of Saltwater Symphony this weekend, so things are looking good for an update next week. The new chapter will be extra long and juicy, and I quite like how it turned out. ❤️

The birthday fic I was working on is done and posting next week, so now I'm actually scrambling to get the Get Lucky bonus card for the Steddie Bingo completed. 🍀

I also started working on my @steddiebbang fic. 🥳 Any snippets from this one will need to be redacted until claims, but feel free to bully me about it anyways. 😉

Send me an emoji, and I'll write and share three sentences for that project.

🏰 The King's Gift 🦭 Saltwater Symphony 🎲 Steddie Bingo ❓ Steddie Big Bang Fic

Snippet from 🎲 (CW: omegaverse; nudity; bondage)

Eddie is already there when Steve walks into the room. On the bed as usual, wrists already cuffed to the sturdy steel bar mounted to the wall in place of a headboard, muted lights caressing his naked skin and bringing out the lines of his tattoos. 

“Hey, big boy,” he smiles, stretching as well as the restraints will allow. “You’re back early. Thought you weren’t due for another heat for at least- … ow, shit, rough month?” 

“You have no idea,” Steve mutters, pulling off his shirt and tossing it in the direction of the armchair in the corner, not bothering to check where it lands. His joggers and boxers go next, carelessly discarded in a heap on the carpet as he crosses the room and climbs into the bed, straddling Eddie’s legs. He’s hard and good to go already, a condom rolled snugly over his flushed cock, and Steve feels the familiar, hot wetness of his own slick leak from between his thighs. “It’s okay,” Eddie says, and he realizes with a sharp jolt of humiliation that he must’ve made a sound. “Just take what you need. That’s what I’m here for, right?” 

Something in the empty pit of Steve’s stomach stirs, and for a moment or two, he thinks that today’s the day he’s gonna spit out the question that has been burning at the back of his throat for months. 

Why?

[fanfic-lover-girl]

Another disappointment in PJO fanfiction

I love Percy - love him to bits - but after a while "Percy being the bestest ever to live who can make the gods bow their heads like guilty kids" fics get boring after a while. OP characters in general get boring after a while.

Anyway, somehow I ended up reading this dark Luke & Hermes fic during Christmas. I never thought I would like it but I read it as it was being updated and it was so good. It's now completed so here's the link if anyone wants to read it.

And it started my craving for Luke & Hermes fics! The problem is that it's so hard to find good fics! Which is insane given that Luke's broken relationship with Hermes is a main catalyst for his character's tragedy. It's probably even more important in my opinion than Percy's relationship with Poseidon! SO WHERE ARE THE LUKE & HERMES FICS?!!

Look at this:

Almost twice the number of fics for Percy & Hermes! Listen I love fics where Percy and Hermes (and Apollo) are close cousins. I love reading Tumblr posts about so Hermes and Percy's supposed friendship (which does not seem to be in HOO??). I like seeing them with their shared Luke angst (even better if Annabeth is not involved). I know Percy is the fav protag. But come on, Luke was the main antagonist who felt wronged by Hermes. There is so much to explore and unpack here!

I need more fics where or having:

Hermes caught Luke instead of Ares (havent seen one yet, only this desire expressed by someone else on Tumblr)

Luke and Hermes closure. I read parts of the last chapters of the TLO and its tragic that none of the Castellan group has any closure. More of Hermes escorting Luke to the underworld please.

Luke being reborn as a Hermes legacy, child or some random mortal and Hermes seeing this as a second chance with the son he failed

Hermes saving Luke from himself.

Hermes and Luke seeing each other again in Elysium

What ifs with Hermes being present in Luke's life

Etc!

I love seafam fics as much as the next woman but PJO fandom is truly dropping the ball with Luke & Hermes. I have reached the point where I am ready to scour the pjo wiki and read every book snippet I can get so I can try to write my own blasted fic!

[fenrelmercar]

Dreadrook Solstice Revelry 2025 - Fanfic Edition

Here I go sharing my fanfic recommendations from our beautiful community and sharing so much-needed love to the creators. Thank you to my home and my loved ones at @thelighthouse-server for this event and the opportunity to chat about my favourite people without sounding like a weirdo!

The Bingo Cards to play with are here

This is for the creators and fanwork edition card!

A1 - Has written a one-shot

The one-shot I haven't stopped thinking about since Dreadrook Week is The Blighted Path by @the-scarlet-rot. The premise! The premise!!! The haunting note found atop the Lighthouse, Rook being thrown into a reality where they lost and blighted, possessive Solas. Everyone should give this a go!

C2 - Has written more than 50k

With writing so much, I do fail at starting long fics, but this summer I have promised myself to read at least 3, and I started today! Wish me luck.

This one can also fall under new discoveries, I have just added it to my list and am eager to delve further into the story. Finished reading the first chapter of Dread Rook from the Dread Rook series by @julie-spirit-finn

Next on my list is Depending on the Story by @laughingnell. What I witnessed of her writing during sprints, I have always been amazed by the talent, and I know I will be losing sleep over this fic.

Also just added to the list i'm a waking hell and the gods grow tired by @amellderiva .

Since I have been rambling for a moment, I'll drop myself here too, for my own fic, The Dread and The Flame, is currently over 130k words, projected to reach anywhere between 250-300k, so if you're searching for a long ride, here it is.

B3 - Under-rated writer

A Tense Exchange by Scarlett_Anna (@smol-and-smad)

It's a freshly posted fic, but I need everyone to go and give it a shot. Lush writing, incredible Solas' inner monologue and the ending??? I need more.

A4 - Writing a WIP

Do you want to read Solstice Revelry set in ancient Arlathan after some unfortunate events land Rook in the past, her path leading to young, hot-blooded and cocky Solas? Well, say no more, for @idunnaldwir is working on one and is sharing snippets on her blog. Little birdie told me that the story is coming out soon (whatever that means in writer terms)

C4 - New discovery

the death of a peace of mind by @amellderiva. The way she writes Solas' inner monologue is so delicious! The premise is fun, pre-DATV, the writing style reminds me a lot of my favourite authors - it's catchy, biting and immersive. Calypso De Riva has quickly taken hold of my heart, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into her other works.

C5 - Has written more than 10k

Another one stuck in my head since Dreadrook Week.

the rhythm of eternity by phoenixhowl

Haunting, dark, decrepit, Nosferatu-like Solas, Mourn Watch Rook, writing that gets under your skin and draws you to the darkness.

[abalonetea]

My recent poll made me realize that a lot of people haven't actually been around my blog since the Ol' Days. So, I thought it was about time that I did a little reintroduction!

I'm Katie! You can find me on Amazon as K. E. Koontz; it's right here! You should totally consider checking out my books! I have sea creatures, I've got werewolves, I've got demonic possessions and haunting ghost stories and characters like you wouldn't believe!

I've also got a mailing list, right here!

I'm a bit of a hot mess, but I'm trying! I used to raise and train showjumpers for a living, worked at an animal sanctuary, lost half my vision and switched gears to being a full-time writer!

I'm the primary source of income for my family, which includes my mother and my sister, and all of your support is greatly appreciated! Don't want to buy one of my books? No worries! Consider checking out my patreon, my kofi, or my wishlist!

Anyway, I write a lot of horror, I love werewolves, and I'm very much interested in creating characters that have a heavy, devotional cadence to them. You can also find crime thrillers and fantasy pieces in my collection!

Penny Posting is the tag I use for the romance pieces that will eventually go under my penname, so feel free to block or follow that as you see fit, and keep an eye on the 'my writing' tag for snippets and excerpts!

I just finished getting a full trilogy set-up for preorder and I am soooo exhausted now, but I do still have other projects in the works!

Shed

Devil Mine

Cryptid Hearts

They Looked Like People

How To Date A Werewolf

Gorehound: An Alaskan Horror Story

I host the @writeblrsummerfest every year, have been on writeblr for a very long time, am a professional ghostwriter and dev/con editor, and constantly tell myself 'next month, I'll get my act together.'

My big dream is to get to a point where I can start taking my mother traveling some, and if my username seems vaguely familiar, it may be from that one time I briefly went viral on Tumblr for pulling a litter of two day old kittens out of a very, very deep storm pipe (we still have one of them)!

Anyway, it's great to see you around!

[lukeiamnotyourfatherlol]

Ok SO, Arcane ending got me so fucked up I started writing Jayvik fanfic (never written fanfic in my life btw) so here I am lol. I keep getting distracted by writing random scenes to maybe include instead of actually getting the Plot down and stuff so here’s a lil snippet of a scene I had fun with! It’s gonna be a post-canon fix-it, but what’s Jayvik without some hurt/comfort? Lmk if it’s cool or also if it’s trash idk.

…

No. No, this can’t be right. Not again.

Viktor feels his chest tighten and he takes fast, shallow breaths, struggling to breathe.

He’s vaguely aware of Jayce’s concerned voice as he talks with the doctor, hand never leaving Viktor’s shoulder. Their voices seem muffled against the sound of Viktor’s pounding heartbeat.

No, please it isn’t fair.

“… not many treatments available…”

“…a few months at most…”

“… keep him comfortable…”

It’s not fair!

“… anything more we can do? We’ll try anything!”

It’s not fair.

“… please…”

“I’m sorry…”

Viktor feels the hand leave his shoulder and the muffled voices become more agitated. He can’t seem to do anything other than focus on breathing. He sits frozen on the edge of the bed and hears the sound of a door closing and footsteps pacing back and forth a short distance away. Viktor manages to lift his head up and focuses on where Jayce walks back and forth with his head buried in his hands. He stops after a moment and just leans against the wall, taking a few deep breaths before lifting his head up, hands running through his hair. Red rimmed eyes meet Viktor’s far away gaze and Jayce gives a weak smile before walking back over to Viktor’s side. He sits down next to him and faces forward, both of them staring at the wall in front of them.

“Viktor, I-“ Jayce’s voice breaks and Viktor sees him lift a hand up to his eyes.

“I didn’t expect it to come back” Viktor croaks, throat sore from coughing earlier. “I thought- I don’t know, I just- hadn’t considered it a possibility”

Jayce turns to face him fully, grabbing onto his shoulders. “We’re going to find a cure. You’re going to get better. We’ll figure this out, ok?” His expression is full of pained desperation, eyes searching Viktor’s face for reassurance.

Viktor just nods and looks away. He sighs and feels tears burn at the back of his eyes. He squeezes them shut, hoping to stop them from falling. “I don’t want to die, Jayce” he says softly. His voice feels smaller than he’s ever heard it.

“You’re not going to, Viktor. I won’t let it happen. I’m not going to lose you again.”

Viktor opens his eyes to Jayce’s determined expression. He can’t help a small smile at that look. It’s the same look Jayce would get in the lab when he refused to give up on a failing project, determined to see it through. Viktor wonders how many more times he’ll get to see it. He reaches up and places a hand on Jayce’s cheek. Jayce sighs and leans into the touch, closing his eyes. He places a hand over Viktor’s and then reaches his other arm over and pulls Viktor close. They rest their foreheads together, leaning onto each other for support. It feels like they can overcome anything this way, the two of them against the world. As partners.

[crakcoon]

Hi guys, So um I've been kinda high key obsessed with Arcane lately, more specifically JayVik so I've decided to try writing my first ever fanfic

I will be updating the tags as the story progresses bc so far I don't really have a plan.

Also, I think it's only fair to put a warning saying that I have no idea how often I will be posting new chapters cuz my writing process is a bit chaotic 😅

Anyway, here is a little snippet from chapter one:

Another day, the same routine. This time around it felt like he wasn't alone, seeing shadows move around him. Upon his 10th or maybe 30th failed climbing attempt he turned around to see none other than Viktor sitting next to him. No, it couldn't be. Viktor left him, he wasn't here, Jayce was alone.  "No, Jayce, I did not leave you. I died, remember?" a sad smile pulled at his partner's lips.  He was going insane, it must be the hunger. Right? Viktor couldn't be there, he couldn't, right? Jayce shook his head, when he turned around Viktor was gone. His hands were trembling. He decided to busy himself with building a new fire. It proved kind of difficult not to dwell on things considering his situation. After all, none of this would have happened if Jayce didn't chase after his impossible dream. But then again how could he not, he saw what magic can do, how it can help people. How beautiful it was. Magic saved his life. His mother's life. "Perhaps it's time for the era of magic." Mel's voice echoed in the cave.

[m00neroni]

hellooo can you tell us about right on time pls? <3

Hiiii!!! @brinkworth has also asked about this one so I'm gonna reply to both of you in this post!

It was my mpreg Christmas fic! But shit happened and I didn't manage to post it on time so right now it's on hold until next December. Which is exciting, I don't have to think about my Christmas fic this year as I already have one in the making (a win is a win.)

The idea came to me after @alwaysyouuuuuu sent me an amazing scenario! Basically, Remus and Sirius visit Hope and Lyall for Christmas Break and... Well, Remus is very pregnant. Like. Due date in a few days. And neither Hope nor Lyall knew anything about it. At first it was going to be them visiting and Remus getting pregnant while being there. This still happens, but in the past!

It's from Hope's POV, and I'm honestly having the time of my life writing it. It might be a bit controversial (yknow, mpreg, all that jazz) but, come on, it's my content. I can't lie. They are also quite young. Legal adults, yes, but definitely still a teen pregnancy. Poor things.

I debated with myself if I should post it whenever even if it happens during Christmas, but I decided against because I have lots of on-going projects and I love writing seasonal fics. So, well, spoiler, expect it later this year!

Here's a silly snippet! Thank you for asking❤️

But then her curious eyes roam lower his body, still assessing possible injuries or unnoticed new marks, and she sees it. There. A belly. A very round and very pregnant and very perfectly built belly covering the middle of her son's body. Her very young son's body. Hope blinks, eyes darting everywhere as she tries to process what on Earth is going on, because that belly has never been there, and it's a complete new addition she can't fully comprehend.

She looks back up, staring into his son's eyes again, and it clicks. It makes sense, the way Remus glows like the Sun and looks healthier than ever. The time stops as everything comes together quickly, unexpectedly. Her whole life turns upside down once again in just a moment.

The same moment it takes for her to drop unconscious in the middle of her lounge room.

[replicabetweenblogs]

FIRST POST-HIATUS WRITING UPDATE WOOHOOO. ALSO I NEED Y'ALLS HELP.

30.12.2024 // this is not a chapter update yet! As promised before, an update to reveal what I have been up to regarding RBU.

;-; catching up on age old asks that got thrown into my inbox while I was away on hiatus and. Yes- always made me smile reading those, but also made me quite sad for leaving the story at such a cliffhanger.

All the people hoping for a happy ending with the ROs do make me giggle- all those people pointing out all the angst make me feel quite evil for the stuff I have written down in chapter 9 already. ANYWAY!! the update!

A few lill snippets because why not.

over the past years of total and utter silence with this project gone through a never-ending hiatus, I have gotten alotta more confident(yay) yet no-where to put these skills of mine into, as my struggle in real life right now is the fact that I can’t find a proper game design job where I can flourish - I decided to try and keep said skills sharp and fresh by writing stories. so here we are again. I have been quite busy rewriting and re-defining the overarching story, and I cannot wait to have everyone see the eventual endings.

Kept it all hush hush not wanting to come back with nothing- hence the ask compilation above c:<

the chapter is going to be a BIG one. I am at 91k words, fully written out and basically done aside from one (1) path remaining. WOOHOOOO NEARLY THERE :D running towards the finish line, hence the teaser. Anyway --

FEEDBACK FORM, TEASER, REQUEST FOR EDITOR UNDER CUT!

***Feedback form! Help me reach the finish line!!***

I need your help c: for anyone who still has their saves or new players who have reached the end of chapter 8, I like to know what your stats are! I require this for proper balancing in chapter 9 as this is the chapter where the story gets split into many paths depending on some of those questions. Thank you in advance!!

what can you expect from the next update, coming up SOON?

91k wordcount so far (total, all branches, excluding code)

19k words for one single run

Romance lock-ins with Ash and Ha

consequences of your past major decisions/Character personality traits starting to finally catch up by taking the players onto whole different branches and locations altogether.

trigger warnings: implied mental and physical torture, determined character deaths

Some additional flashback sequences across chapters 6, 7 and 8 to some see things from companions' povs

The story of RBU is dark. this game has a dozen "bad" endings planned, only having one "good" ending for each individual Character/MC and main story in general. It's not for just the sake of drama and shock value, as I want this game to reach a very specific "lesson" which effect will be taken away if everything ended in a too-good-to-be-true way. Just a gentle warning!

main story lock-in!! Coded out some branches already for the next chapters. Chapter 10 will be the end of part 2, and part 3 will be more of a 2-chapter endgame with a chapter dedicated to an epilogue afterward. So we are really getting close to the end if I keep this up, and will stop updating the public link once reaching part 3. Will be making an announcement for private betas by then probably, but that'd be like... when I am on my deathbed at the age of 92, most likely.

I really hope you guys will be enjoying the absurdly long chapter. Did a few bold moves regarding the direction the story is going towards which I had been planning and iterating for since the very start of RBU regarding final revelations, hoping some puzzle pieces will be satisfyingly falling into place.

RBU is really about regret and acceptance regarding our decisions and mistakes, and how different types of people deal with it (badly).. so there are no "good" or "bad" endings or choices, really. BUT there is always a "worse" and "worst" so uh. Beware :')

Looking for a paid/voluntary editor!!

To help with the reconstruction of weird sentences, taking out grammar mistakes, eliminating the bad spelling, and bonking teenage-firefly on the head for her bad storytelling. plus points if you could help with the phasing even, perhaps like some kind of a beta reader- yet not too focused on it right now, as I'm just wanting to make the old chapters flow nicer.

shoot me a message if you are wanting to help out! Either on the forums, over here, or shoot me a DM! as I am @fireflyy on the official COG discord server.

For the sake of consistency, I am hoping to get help from one available editor for now. so please do let me know of your experiences if you are wanting to help out!!

You shall be credited within RBU's main screen

See you all soon <3 and a happy new year!!

[zariahthechocolatecookie]

Alright, first weekly writing update! Let's get started!

So, first off, my Arcane fic is finally in the works! Hooray! For those of you who don't know what it's about, it takes place in the alternate universe from episode 7 and is centered around the idea of Caitlyn & Vi meeting before Vi dies. Because of her connection to Vi, Caitlyn reaches out to & eventually bonds with Powder in the years after Vi's death. My primary goal for this fic is to explore the narrative parallels between Caitlyn and Jinx/Powder, because there's a lot, and also explain how the alternate universe got to be how it is when we see it. If that makes sense.

The fic is going to be titled "The Change That Comes From Loss" and I expect the first chapter will be posted sometime in early February! In the meantime, here's a little snippet of what I've got so far:

Other important update, chapter 3 of Discovery is in the works and is coming along nicely! Discovery is my HTTYD fanfic and the first two chapters can be found on ao3 HERE.

Like the Arcane fic, I expect the next chapter will come out in late January / early February, depending on how quickly I can write. In the meantime, enjoy a little snippet!

That about wraps everything up! These are probably going to be my only major projects for a while, though there are some other ideas floating around in my mind for oneshots and longer fanfictions. Send asks about them if you want to know more! I love love love talking about my ideas so don't hesitate to reach out!

The next update will be coming next Friday!

[tkwritesdumbassassins]

Shameless Self-promo Sunday

Thank you to the lovely @rookinthecrownest for the tag 💕

The idea: We make a post and show off, what cool stuff we created over the past week. Art, Screenshots, writing (anything from a questionnaire about your OC to the 100K epos...) anything we do is worth to be seen and to be promoted. And by tagging people, commenting, and reblogging, we share the love and boost ourselve's and other's confidence. No matter what form you choose, whether you reblog your initial post, or create a new one with teasers, you decide!

Let's see, what did I do for this week? Well, thanks to a great and much needed vacation, I wrote a LOT for Caveat's next chapter, and knocked out some of the more troubling scenes beating me up. I still haven't finished the chapter I intended to finish *insert it's over 9000 meme here* (but hey! I wrote things! Small miracles.)

Good news is: I managed to knock out the entire beginning! I am SUPER excited at how this is coming along. Although, keep in mind it may need some editing haha

I no-pressure tag @hedwigoprah, @redhairedmuses, @dell-amor-te @novarunestone @ttrevelyan @poetikat @hannahmationstudios @jammerific and anyone who wants to show off

Happy Sunday and Easter for those who celebrate! 💐🌸

And please enjoy the snippet!

The man who sat opposite of Nonna wasn't exactly what Isotta would imagine when she had been informed at breakfast a Crow would be coming to visit. Not like the fanciful (and often blood-stained) stories the other children would spin about the infamous guild's assassins. Sure, he wore fancy dark clothes made of imported silks with silver crow skulls as cuff links and polished black boots, but beyond those, he seemed...typical. Normal, if not painfully so. Just another face amongst many in an evening crowd.

His wavy dark brown hair had been cut short and slicked back in typical Antivan fashion. He had recently shaved—she could smell the thick and cloying aftershave from the other side of the room. Even his nails were smooth and well-maintained as he set his tea cup down, folding them politely in front of him. However, Isotta spied something dark on his left ring finger before it disappeared out of view: a black and gold ring molded to look like a corvid skull intertwined with that of a glittering red-eyed snake.

The domestica behind Isotta quietly announced her presence, and then immediately departed. The door to the salottino shutting behind her with a click that sounded louder than a death knell.

It was the stranger who moved first with poise and precision. Pale eyes—the exact shade as her own she realized—pinned her where she stood, Not unlike the butterflies presented behind glass that her father used to collect. The same ones that had been consumed by flames not three months ago.

Three months since her mother and It had burned with them.

Isotta's chest constricted, but the hands hiding behind her back balled into fists. Her thumbnails pressed against skin so tight she wondered briefly about the possibility of the skin breaking. Yet she did not avert her gaze for her great-grandfather used to say, "A drake does not shy away from a wyvern."

"My condolences for your own loss, messere," Nonna consoled, bringing the man's attention back to her, and finally, Isotta felt safe to let out the breath she had been holding. She blinked rapidly to offset the sudden dryness in her eyes before switching to the other person in the room: her grandmother.

Dolores Belmonte was a woman barely in her fifties, and already her carefully styled pale hair had adopted the sheen of woven silver. Up until this exact moment, they had passed like ships in the night with most of Isotta's interactions being her grandmother's requests projected through her domestica's mouth. The grief too great an abyss to find a way across let alone share words. "Do not take it too hard, signorina,"Ada had once said, escorting her to the extravagant yet soulless room that had been prepared for her. "Your mother's loss has affected us all. Some more than others."

Now, they were in the same room together, and the tension descended heavier than any theater curtain in an opera house. It surrounded Isotta, thick and choking, as Nonna set aside her plate of crumbs. Her words had carried no true sincerity within them for they were an expected formality as hollow as her mother's empty urn that sat on the mantle. In fact, they carried a chipped yet still sharp edge to them. Isotta didn't have to add two and two together to realize she had walked into the cindering aftermath of a scathing argument. Her grandmother's face was drawn so tight to the point of her lips becoming nonexistent.

And yet, a single black manicured nail tapped against her porcelain cup as Nonna expanded: "Losing not only your children but your wife as well—"

The Crow said nothing, only sipping from his tea again. His only real acknowledgment of the sympathy a slight incline of his head. The man's ethereal eyes flicked her way again, and Isotta resisted the urge to shudder. She had looked into the literal eyes of madness, and yet an unnamed cold fear coiled itself around her throat, nearly choking her when he looked over—no, inspected—her. "How old is she?"

"I'm twelve," Isotta interjected, already not liking the man. Not when a sneaking suspicion wormed itself into her mind. She ignored Nonna's withering stare as she jutted out her chin in quiet defiance. "…Ser," she tactfully added, remembering her spoon-taught manners at the last minute.

But the Crow remained unmoved, unoffended. In fact, a corner of his lip ticked up before he sipped from his cup. "I see she's got spirit. That's good."

"A trait she shares with her late mother," Nonna remarked quietly, a subtle note of fondness flavoring her words before she shut it down again. Propriety and custom demanded for it after all. She smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in her sable shawl as she murmured, "Maker rest her soul."

She then straightened, beckoning for Isotta to come closer. Which she did, coming to a stop just shy of the small coffee table, its wood having recently been polished to the point she could see her drawn reflection. "This is Nicolò of House de Riva. He has come all the way from Salle to give his…" Her eyes flicked then, and a scathing fire enveloped them as they landed on the man. "Respects."

Isotta's lips pursed, but obediently responded with a respectable curtsy. "You are my father," she remarked upon straightening.

A break in his carefully crafted façade showed muted surprise. "And just like her mother: sharp, too. But yes, I am." His mask slipped back as he folded his hands together and leaned forward, pale eyes narrowing. "And do you know why I'm also here?"

"Now?" Nonna suddenly hissed, hands gripping her cup so tight, Isotta was sure she would shatter it. "You wish to do this now? The girl has lost not only her mother but the only home she's ever known has burned—"

A dangerous glance cut her off, and Nonna sat back in her chair, although her face had a sharpness to it that could cut glass.

"I am taking her home," Nicolò replied coolly. "To Salle." He cocked his head, those eyes becoming icy daggers as they narrowed. "Should I remind you of the details to our agreement again?"

"No," came the curt reply as she raised her cup. "You do not."

[wolfjackle-creates]

It's finally posting week! The DPxDC Ghosts&Ghouls Bang is complete!

I've been working on this fic since March. Before I broke my wrist. And I've poured my heart and soul into it. It might be the best thing I've ever written, not even exaggerating. (And anyone who's been here for a hot minute knows I'm not shy about loving my own writing.)

This fic is a bit different from anything I've written before. So I'm just going to share snippets for the next few days to hopefully pique your curiosity about the fic.

Summary

Jazz is in love with Dick. He’s kind, considerate, and caring. Far and away the nicest person she’s ever dated. But she’s lying to him. About so, so much. And he’ll hate her once he learns the truth. Assuming he doesn't get tired of her canceling all their dates first. When Danny and Ellie go missing, the latest in a series of ghostly disappearances, she's forced to cancel another date. Going to Elmerton to meet up with Tucker and Sam, she will get Danny and Ellie back from the GIW no matter what it takes. Only…they aren't the only ones breaking in.

Chapter 1 is 8k. (There will be 5 chapters total and the final word count is about 32k.)

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“Surprise!” called a voice behind her.

Jazz grinned as she stood and spun to face her boyfriend. “Dick! What are you doing here?”

Dick, still in his police uniform, stood in the entrance to her cubicle. He raised the take-out bag he was holding higher and grimaced. “I’m here with a preemptive apology.”

Her stomach sank; she’d been looking forward to their date. “You have to cancel tonight?”

Dick stepped in closer so he could kiss the corner of her mouth. “Family thing came up. I’m needed back in Gotham as soon as my shift is over.”

She sighed, but gave a half-smile of understanding. “Well, I suppose it’ll give me a chance to catch up on work.” She looked over the mess her desk had become and collected all the scattered papers into piles. The mess had even spread to the floor; Danny wouldn’t believe his eyes if he could see it.

Dick sat down on a freshly cleaned corner and grimaced. “Well, it’s not just our date? I’ve a favor to ask of you, too, I’m afraid. Which is why I got you your favorites from that diner you like to make up for it!”

Jazz narrowed her eyes. “Starview diner is an hour away at this time of day. This is going to be a huge favor, isn’t it.”

“’Fraid so. So, some of the other guys brought in this suspect, right? He got dragged into a scheme by fish far bigger than him. I’m pretty sure he’s just their fall guy and knows nothing. I’m working on figuring out who the ring leaders are. But, well, he’s a meta. And things look really, really bad. I want you to be his caseworker. You’re the only one I trust to make sure he doesn’t wind up dead or trafficked before the week’s out.”

Jazz sighed and ran a hand down her face. And she’d thought that once she got out of Amity, life would get easy. Eighteen-year-old Jazz had been so naive. “Right. Let’s take this to a conference room where we can have some privacy.”

Dick grinned and jumped to his feet. He pulled her into a quick kiss. “You’re the best, Jazz. Love you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” But she couldn’t hold back the smile. Or keep herself from entwining their fingers as they walked to the conference room.

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Follow the link if you want to know what sort of trouble Dick got Jazz into!

As always, I do lock my fics on AO3 to users only, but I've got a few invites in my back pocket if anyone still doesn't have an account and wants to skip the wait list.

Thanks to the mods at @dpxdcbigbang for running this event. It's been a complete blast.

[bibookdemon]

Feeling a burnout approaching, gonna get some self-care going and then back to it!

The Hanahaki isn't gonna write itself!!!!

I'm just over 1000 words from my goal

At which point I will have met

Drum rolllllll pleaseeeee

30k!

[In-depth of the structure + spoilers below]

Original expected word count: 2-3,000

Current word count: 28,725

Expected word count: 50-75,000

Scenes I've already completed:

-LQG gay panic (idiot)

-LQG initial infection (Hanahaki)

-Symptoms showing up

-Various scenes going more in-depth with his symptoms

-Stages 1-2 complete, currently on Stage 3 of Hanahaki disease

-The big reveal that he has to die to save SQQ and future victims (he doesn't have to die tho...he just refuses to inflict this shit on the person he loves the most)

Scenes I have to initiate before timeskips:

-LQG not wanting SQQ anywhere near him to protect him (he doesn't want SQQ to find out about the Hanahaki and his crush because well, it's complicated. I'll attach some snippets below.)

-SQQ's pov of having LQG blow up at him and tell him they were never actually friends (or whatever lie he comes up with to hurt SQQ enough that he leaves and never comes back to visit)

Between time-skips:

-Stage four will initiate at least two days worth of in-depth description with timeskips in between and random blurbs here and there about how LQG is feeling

-Stage five will initiate a constant excruciating pain that he will remain coherent for the course of one day, after which he will become incoherent and a timeskip will be conducted

-Stage six will mostly be timeskipped with random blurbs in between, up to the point where LQG leaves for the woods to die

Timeskips will stop at this point because everything will happen very quickly over the next several scenes

-Switch to SQQ pov and have him go to the woods after somehow dragging the info out of the healer

-Near-death scene

-SQQ saving LQG (LQG pov)

-SQQ saving LQG (SQQ pov) + confession scene

-Switch back to LQG, initiate the confession scene

Extras:

-Glimpse into domestic life together(?)

-Visit to SQH to see if he wrote a cure for Hanahaki

-Proposal(?) (Would be absolutely adorable, potentially look into more Hanahaki aspects? - Marriage not included, I am NOT writing that shit)

-Potential papapa scene as A) separate chapter B) separate fic (most likely will not be included)

Snippy snips below!!!!

⚠️Snippets may contain graphic descriptions of pain, blood, vomiting, etc.⚠️

Italics scene: A dream caused by the Hanahaki

Editing this bastard is gonna be absolute hell LMAO

Also, I will break this up into chapters which will be posted weekly or twice-weekly (depending on how long each chapter is.)

In between each chapter I will work on my smaller projects + depending on how bad my burnout is after this (it's gonna be BADDDD) I will begin work on another large project.

Then again, hopefully I have a job by then so I might have less time to work on another large project XD

[kidspawn]

Fic Snippet for this absolute monster of a TRC AU that gradually took my life by the throat and threw it like a ragdoll. I've been scribbling and editing and annotating and just scrounging whatever I can and it's kind of coming together and I jut wanted to share a little piece of it.

Been a minute since I posted any writing beyond some goofy snippets. I've got chapter two almost done, and a few loose threads to weave. But here's what I've got in my back pocket.

I may or may not have poured some of my detestation of group projects into this one.

Adam cursed under his breath and tucked his phone in his backpack. He didn’t have a spare charger to waste on social media today, nor to answer whichever one of his group mates were trying to shuck extra work on his shoulders two days before their paper was due. There was enough of a chance they were trying to negotiate less of a word count for their section, or for Adam to just “look it over”, and he'd bet on it were he a betting man. But he wasn't, so muting their chat seemed to be the best option. Saved him the headache and the realization he was the only person in his course with half a brain cell. It was a sobering and dismal thought. 

Last time he did a “collaborative paper” - he’d fight it harder next time. This project would’ve been easier on his own. 

He pulled his phone back out, opened the group chat, and typed,

Please have your section done by tonight. I’ll look over it at about ten. We can do final edits tomorrow. Am not available any sooner.

He paused to frown down at his calendar, with its streaks of blue and red, and green dictating the next semester to the very last second. Or, at least, how their syllabus dictated. Their current project, which his residual Psychology credit hinged on, was slated to take up the next three days. He would not be extending the deadline. 

If you don’t send it in, I will email the teacher that you did not participate. 

Thanks.

Swiping out the chat, tapping Do Not Disturb (just as several messages fired in with responses, all ranging in their outrage), and slipping the phone back in his bag, Adam made his way up the stairs, a meticulous one, two. He was on edge, he knew, all prickled and poised for venom in the absence of sufficient sleep. There wasn’t much to do about that, nor much to fix his disposition. Turning his phone off and keeping his mouth shut served only as damage control. 

He turned his focus, instead, to the one treat he allowed each alternating week - his upper levels Latin course, a superfluous addition for his workload, though he justified it as necessary to his wellbeing. Latin did not come easy, but it did come with joy, and oftentimes he forgot to separate the two - the challenge of it was enthralling despite his intrinsic need for success.

Aglionby had offered Latin courses, a crucial element of their graduation requirements. Adam, though he had not attended, had carried a torch for the prospect years later. One day, he’d intoned, when he caught that stiff blue blazer in the corner of his eye, sinking its hooks in his deepest resentments. One day, I will do this for fun. With my luxury of time. He’d repeated the mantra when the inevitable came, when finances had become too oppressive an issue to accommodate. When he’d been given the opportunity, he’d seized it despite advising to the contrary. 

“It’s a wholly unnecessary course. You’ve already got the art credit for graduation.” His academic advisor had said, sighing as she pushed her glasses up her nose. She was a kindly woman, crinkles in her eyes that spoke to her warmer nature. Adam had felt his anxieties melt from his shoulders at the curl of her welcoming approval. There was an inclination towards compliments, unnecessary but wringing a pleasant warmth under his collar all the same. 

“It counts with my history credit, doesn’t it?” Adam asked, “Or at least as an elective.”

She’d pursed her lips, glaring through her lenses. It was a tepid narrow of eyes. She had a soft spot for him, mainly because he actually scheduled and fulfilled his appointments over the semester. 

“I’ll see what we can do.” She’d said. “But you’ll burn yourself out.”

“Not with this.”

Adam had not burnt out, not once in his life. He teetered on the edge, pulled himself back by the bootstraps, buckled down, and got his shit done. He didn’t plan on it now, much less with the one luxury he’d allotted himself. It was the closest to a happy place he’d found in recent years. Burning out was not an option. Checked off the list of possibilities, a practiced behavior that restricted all possibility of failure. 

It had gotten him this far, and it’d drag him further over the finish line, even if he was broken and bloody at the final crawl.