#the few minor projects that are more developed past the one line summary I might just include under the major ones

[szkicel]

I’m working on a pinned post, where I want to include a short description for each of my major project so it’ll be easier to navigate my characters, bc a big shock - I also have projects that aren’t about bugs lol (tho you know damm well that I will try to implement them somehow anyway jhbdjhbd)

I thought about also mentioning minor projects that I have in the background and which aren’t that well developed yet, but ngl the list is literally like „a hamster metroidvania” or „dystopian central europe” bc they’re THAT underdeveloped, so I decided I’m not gonna bother unless you ppl will ask me to talk about it lol

[anincompletelist]

Back to ask many things my love

- hello a/b/o au please tell me more

- anything morsel for type one Alex

- also boxer Alex not even a snippet but just fun lore!!!

BEAS! :D

ok ok omg so --

I have dropped some lore on the a/b/o au here, here, and here! it's book canon verse with a few minor plot changes and I'm excited to explore some tropes that I haven't worked with before and do a little bit of world building of my own along the way!

DIABETIC ALEX MY BELOVED! I talked about him here and here but here's the summary for the fic as of right now hehehe

The entire world has it on video, Alex stumbling forward, straight into Henry’s shoulder, knocking him back into the table and then crumbling to the ground, the cake falling on top of them. Everyone thinks Alex was drunk, or that he hates him, or that he’s immature or unfit for his title, but none of it’s the truth. Everyone’s acting like it’s the end of the world regardless.  And maybe, for Alex, it kind of is.

he's based on my own journey with type one and it's been both really intimidating and also unbelievably cathartic to get all of it down onto a page and read it back to myself. it is a passion project for sure, and I can't wait to share it and hopefully relate to anyone else that may have type one or another chronic illness, and/or educate others on what it can be like!

AND HMM LETS SEE BOXER ALEX LORE ....... it might be the filthiest thing I have ever written ksjdhkshd. y'all know I love to use smut as a plot device and an avenue for character' development and growth and therefore it will make up a good probably 80% of this fic ksjhdksjhd. it's half-canon, so henry is still a prince but alex is not famous in this one (not as the FSOTUS, anyway). I'll give you the first line to ruminate on hehehehe:

It’s past midnight and snowing in Brooklyn when Henry learns how to breathe again. 

+

[send me an ask about my wips!]

[bluerosesonata]

A Window to the Soul: Game Mechanics and Characters in Ai: the Somnium Files

Spoiler-free!

Ai: The Somnium Files is an adventure game/visual novel for PC, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch by Spike Chunsoft in September 2019. Written and directed by Kotaro Uchikoshi, known for his Zero Escape Trilogy (999: Nine Persons, Nine Hours, Nine Doors (DS), Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward (DS), and Zero Time Dilemma (DS, PS Vita, PC), also available as the Zero Escape Trilogy on Steam and PS4), this game once again displays Uchikoshi’s signature combination of suspense, humor, and ludonarrative harmony that fans of his previous games are familiar with, alongside a cast of complex, compelling characters you’ll absolutely fall in love with.

For all my fellow Zero Escape fans, you probably remember the issues the series faced with financing, which ultimately lead to Uchikoshi helping to establish Spike Chunsoft and the eventual release of Zero Time Dilemma. In AitSF, more than ever, the fruits of that partnership are apparent. It feels we finally get to see a complete picture of Uchikoshi’s vision; Featuring fully animated 3d models, fully voiced dialogue, and some incredibly goofy and self-indulgent dance sequences, this murder mystery (and yes, it is a murder mystery) is absolutely worth it’s full price and your time.

The game has multiple endings (About 5, without checking), all leading up to and feeding into the true ending. One notable feature is that the timeline allows you to jump into previous played sections at any point of the chapter, and even provides summaries of the events that happened in each “node,” so unlike in the original 999,  you don’t need to replay through every scene of dialogue to get to each ending.

Rather than spend time analyzing the story itself- something that can’t be done to a satisfying level without spoiling the whole thing- I’ll just say that the way Uchikoshi literally has us get inside the heads of characters by “syncing” with them is a great story device, and is realized extremely well in the gameplay. For me, the Sync was used in all the right places to push me into genuinely caring about some characters, that, without the sync, I would be sympathetic to, but not feel a real sense of attachment towards.

What follows is a breakdown and analysis of how well the gameplay is designed, and some non-spoilery discussion of characterization and character design:

Mechanics:

The core gameplay loop can be broken into two parts: dialogue and investigation, and “syncing.”

The investigation portion of the game is similar to most adventure visual novels- investigating crime scenes, talking to NPCs to advance the story, examining your surroundings, and in my case, clicking on scenery over and over again to get funny flavor dialogue.

The flavor dialogue does not disappoint- and for me, the best minor feature included in the game ties to this. When you click on an object, you get an initial string of dialogue- but the indicator with the name of the object will only get grayed out once you’ve seen all the text related to that object. For some people, this might ruin the “fun” of clicking over and over again- like in 999, where some bits of dialogue would only display on the 9th time examining an object- but for me, it was a godsend, because I didn’t spend any time wondering if I missed anything funny.

The Sync gameplay loop is also mechanically brilliant. Part of the in-universe rules, which are emphasized over and over, is that the main character, Date, can only spend 6 minutes within the subject’s “Somnium”- the internal dreamscape of their mind- and that staying any longer could result in disastrous consequences. As such, each Somnium loop attempt can (hypothetically) be experienced in chunks of about 8-10 minutes. This set time frame makes it a breeze to play the game in small sections at a time and let your mind breathe a bit. The time limitation is challenging, but never infuriating; even when I messed up horribly and knew I had to restart a sync from the beginning, I would just use the time I had remaining to try out the goofier actions available to try out as puzzle solutions.

Somnium Files’ adaptability to being played in long sittings or in short bursts, while still maintaining an engaging, tense narrative is an incredible strength that not all games can boast of. Not a single part of the game felt like a slog or a chore to me, unlike a few puzzles in Zero Time Dilemma, where I ran into the perennial adventure game issue of  “okay, so I have this item, but where do I use it?”, “how the hell do I even solve this puzzle without a guide” (I didn’t), and “what do I need to do to unlock the next sequence?”

Characters

So let’s talk about these good characters. Some of you probably recognized the art style for the game’s key visual as the work of Yusuke Kozaki, best known by many as the head artist and character designer for Fire Emblem: Awakening and Fire Emblem: Fates. Even in his work for the Fire Emblem franchise, you can tell he doesn’t care much for drawing armor- which puts him in the same club as literally every artist I know who draws Fire Emblem fan art. His designs really shine in a contemporary setting, with modern clothing, and really give the cast a unified, unique aesthetic. Moreover, the designs are beautifully translated into 3D as well.

For a game that was most likely well underway in development several years prior to the boom of the subgenre, the design for A-set, (AKA Iris), an in-game internet idol and streamer, is incredibly in line with those of many successful “Virtual Youtubers”- for that alone it deserves some accolades. Fittingly, as part of online promotion for the game, Chunsoft posted a series of video blogs starring  A-set, as if she were posting to her own channel. (I missed all of these, and that’s a real shame, because I think they would have gotten me excited for the game if I had been paying attention.)

Despite Iris’ obvious and engineered marketability, I think my favorite design of the game is Aiba, the AI partner of the main character, whose human form only appears in Somnium and in the realm world as an AR projection imposed in Date’s cybernetic eye. The way her arms fade into glowing, electronic “nerves” at her arms is a subtle reminder of her artificiality, but her design also doesn’t make her more playful and goofy behaviors jarring in the least.

As far as personalities go, I would say that Date, our protagonist, manages to hit the perfect median- maybe even fusion- between the past male protagonists in the Zero Escape trilogy. Junpei, Sigma, and Carlos were all likable in their own ways, as the narrative character, but all had a level of blandness to them. To me, they served more as vehicles for us to participate in the Nonary Games.

In contrast, Date feels very much like his own, established person, and that’s not only a huge strength, but central to the overall narrative. (For all non-ZE fans reading this review- I apologize for the heavy use of ZE comparisons here.) Like Sigma, Date is a bit of a perv, but unlike Sigma in Virtue’s Last Reward, I didn’t feel squicked out by his behavior; Like Carlos, he cares immensely for the people important to him, and puts their wellbeing first; Like Junpei, he’s, also, a loveable moron.

There are other characters- Mizuki in particular- whom I can’t speak too much about without spoiling some of the enjoyment of their character arcs, but all of them have incredibly good and complicated interpersonal relationships both with and outside of Date.

Lastly, there’s Aiba. A good companion character is worth their weight in gold. After all, most of the time, they’re who you spend most of your time with, and for that reason, the more “annoying” ones always catch more flac for being so. For me, Aiba easily slides into my top 10 favorite companion characters of all time, along such members as Maya Fey in the original Ace Attorney trilogy and Midna from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Most of the goofiest sequences in the game are instigated by her, and every time she’s on screen there’s bound to be something fun to do, not to mention the fact she’s our avatar used within Somnium. Combine that and her telepathic banter with Date, and you got a recipe for a dynamic duo.

In closing, every aspect of AitSF is absolutely delightful; It has tightly woven narrative gameplay, wonderful and complex characters, a storyline that, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t unravel the details of before they were revealed- and I didn’t even get into how great the voice acting is. If you’re looking for an enjoyable, self-contained game that you can beat in under 35 hours, Ai: The Somnium Files can’t be beat.

[aquilaofarkham]

title: asclepius rating: teen and up (medical procedures, childbirth, brief mentions of animal death) summary: After spending some time alone, Alucard decides to continue his mother’s work and becomes a local doctor—a choice that eventually brings unexpected consequences.

AO3

Alucard doesn’t need to look at a mirror to know the kind of sordid state he’s in: red watery eyes, sniffled nose flushed pink and disheveled locks of hair falling over his face after being tightly bunched up in his fists. It’s surprising how much crying can put certain things into perspective. With a trembling hand, he uses the end of his sleeve as a handkerchief. 

He hasn’t cried this much since childhood. It feels... liberating. He was always so concerned with maintaining his composure while in the presence of others. Hide your softness; keep a guard around your exposed heart. Always be the cold spot in the room.

They say if you walk through one of those cold spots especially in an empty room, it means you have just brushed shoulders with a ghost. Not necessarily the worst thing to be. This castle might once again feel like home—or some semblance of home—should Alucard become more akin to a ghost. He would fit in better with its occupants that come and go, down staircases and across open doorways as fleeting visions of past memories.

Alucard places both palms upon his wet cheeks, trying to cool them. No more of those thoughts. In an hour or so, he will be fine. What he needs is distraction and there is plenty of that. He could continue wandering the corridors, inspecting whatever damage he missed during his first walkthrough. Make his favourite rooms more presentable and allow the sun to brighten up this dreary, death filled citadel, no longer to be hidden in shadows.

Standing up, Alucard sets off down the hallway. Cleaning, like crying, should help unclutter his mind. He starts by brushing aside larger pieces of rubble, stone, and splintered wood before realizing he needs a broom—and perhaps a shovel. There’s a substantial storage room in one of the neighbouring halls. Alucard recalls visiting it many times after accidentally breaking an entire set of Lisa’s vials or toppling over a row of candelabras when his powers were still new and difficult to control. 

He hopes to feel some sweet nostalgia walking throughout the castle. A sense that he has returned to a past that kept him safe, gave him knowledge, and comforted him despite its bloodied history. A past that he loved.

There’s always the Belmont Hold should Alucard need it; the very thought causes him to stifle a chuckle. His relationship with that museum is certainly an interesting one. There was hatred, suspicion, even jealousy. All of which he made sure to voice very plainly to its sole heir. Alucard regrets those particular words, along with others that escaped.

You were right in calling me a bastard. Another memory that tugs at the corners of his lips. These days, he can’t help but respect those archives and their contents. He should, now that the Hold is his to own. Though the vampire skulls in their glass cases will have to be thrown out.

Tick, tick, tick. Alucard stops in the middle of another stone hallway. He almost moves on, thinking he misheard, until it occurs again. A few steps forward and the sound grows in volume. He follows and arrives at a closed door. Strange; he always remembered this to be one of many empty rooms. Most likely a stray cat or bat trying to claw its way out. Alucard grabs the doorknob. Might as well set it free else the noise echoing off the walls will drive him mad.

He’s right about it being a trapped animal, yet the reveal still surprises. Alucard backs away while a cat and what he thinks is a fox scamper out in a panicked dash. A few birds, including an owl, follow close behind. He doesn’t question where they came from or how they managed to get inside the castle yet; he’s more intrigued by the contents of the room. Nearly identical to his father’s workshops and studies with a large table erected in the centre. The only differences are the animal cages lining the walls. Curiosity develops into wariness when Alucard comes across splatters of red gracing the wood, too old and too dried to be washed away.

There’s another unexpected noise; a subtle, high-pitched whimpering that seems very close. Alucard searches around before looking under the table. Nestled in the farthest corner he sees a small black shape curled in on itself, shaking. He edges closer, noticing a tail and two folded ears.

“Where did you come from?” At the sound of his voice, the dog turns around only to cower even further away. Despite its bright blue eye, wrinkly face, and tongue that perpetually sticks out, its demeanour is one of debilitating fear. Alucard decides not to be concerned with the missing eye and exposed bone; Castle Dracula will always be home to a whole manner of colourful creatures.

“It’s alright. There’s no reason to be scared.” He holds out his hand, but the dog refuses to move. He needs to earn its trust in a different way—a palm full of food or stick as a plaything.

Something lying on the floor catches Alucard’s eye. A broken piece of bone, red as the stains across the table, should do just fine. Crawling back, he stretches his arm and offers it to the dog. Still shaking, but now with a slightly less apprehensive look in its eye. Ears and head perk up; its tail might even be wagging.

“Here. This is for you.”

The dog stands up, showing how small it really is. Nails tap against the stone floor as it walks forward. Its tongue flicks against the bone before opening its mouth to gently accept it. He relaxes, watching in delight as the creature happily gnaws on its new toy. It even allows him to reach over and pat the top of its head. Fingertips brush along its skull, but Alucard doesn’t flinch. He realizes how it might have come into existence.

Necromancy, alchemy, transmutation—these are not unknown concepts. Dracula dabbled in everything, including the sciences that fed a young dhampir’s insatiable curiosity. Or the medicinal practices he learned while sitting on his mother’s lap. No area of study was taboo in their household. Admittedly, the sight of a reanimated dog playing, panting, and barking like all others in the world (with their skin intact) isn’t that much of a shock to him.

Alucard had many pets; most humans would have called them unsavoury beings. He never cared then, so he doesn’t care now. He’s charmed by this little black dog. Picking it up, it drops the bone and starts licking his cheek, squirming excitedly. The castle doesn’t feel so empty anymore.

“Now what should I call you?” Nothing comes to mind, but a visit to one of the libraries might help instill some imagination into it. The dhampir prince leaves the room with his new friend, who had managed to calm down. “Let’s go find you one, shall we?”

--

A copper gear clicks into place, fitting with the others like the final piece in an elaborate puzzle. With a couple flips and switches, Alucard changes his multi-lensed glasses to the highest magnified setting. He makes a minor adjustment, wielding the needle-think pick between steady fingers. Satisfied, he picks up the polished cover, his own golden eyes shining in its reflection, and carefully presses it into place.

Alucard takes a well-deserved breath. The glasses weigh heavy on the bridge of his nose. He looks over his stagnant creation with its sleek body hiding an inside filled with gears and springs that in theory should work together in tandem. There’s only one more step, then he can at last call this project finished. Using a pair of pincers, he takes a ball of coal and delicately hovers it over a nearby candle. Not enough to light it ablaze, but enough to ignite a few embers. He then places the ball within his device through a hole in its back before closing it. All that’s left to do is wait in anticipation while thin billows of smoke drift out of every crack.

There’s one click. Then another, and another, coupled with a few whirs. Metallic eyes blink followed by a tail swaying from side to side. The fox with shining gold and silver in place of red fur exhales steam, stretching out its limbs one by one. A little janky at first but after getting used to how its mechanisms work, each movement becomes much smoother. Alucard removes his glasses, pleased at how his creation hops off the table to join the other fox with its exposed muscle.

If his father were here, he might call his animatronics frivolous (in a well-meaning tone). Mere toys showcasing spectacle and little else. True, they are for his own amusement and there’s not much brand-new knowledge Alucard can gain from them. He already knows how machinery operates. But it’s a nice feeing to create something for pleasure rather than defensive purposes.

“Would you like a companion for yourself, Agrippa?” He leans down to see a small black dog sleeping under his chair, no doubt having worn himself out from the hours he spent running around the laboratory. The name Agrippa comes from the author of three ancient books based on the subject of occult philosophy. Alucard found them by chance while rummaging through untouched shelves down in the Belmont Hold—it seemed the best fit for a creature of similar origins.

“No, I didn’t think so.” He doesn’t need a companion. He seems content enough to be on his own, free to run up and down the castle hallways until passing out on the middle of the carpet. Then early in the morning, before the sun has the chance to rise, he’ll jump onto Alucard’s pillow and wake him by nuzzling his face. Or tug and paw at the hem of his master’s pant leg while he’s at his workstation if he’s that starved for attention. But Agrippa never gets lonely.

Neither does Alucard—he tells himself this every day. He’s not lonely or bored. He needed distraction, he found it, and it’s been serving him well. Seldom spending his nights in bed, more so in the laboratory and libraries. His hours are filled with the sound of electricity sparking, liquids bubbling, and gears clanking.

Until he steps outside into the rest of the castle and it’s quiet again. Without Agrippa for company (and conversation), all that’s left are his footsteps and heartbeat. Not even the ghosts disguised as memories come to visit as often as they used to. Soon, his mind goes quiet as well. Quiet and slow. He stops walking and sits at the bottom of a stairwell, scraping some excess grime off his fingertips. The two foxes, both reanimated in different ways, bound across the corridor, their snouts rubbing against each other, before they run off, soft paws racing against hard ones. Such a marvel. What might they say if they saw what...

They. Alucard’s thoughts become clear. It’s been weeks since their shared farewells—or has it been a month? Time seems to pass differently for him. Before he can wonder how they’re faring or where they’ve gone to, Alucard realizes that he already has his answers. He always does whenever the need strikes. Making his way up the spine of the castle, he heads straight for the main study. All the paintings have been restored to their hanging positions; all the glass has been cleared away. That is until Alucard enters the room and the jagged shards spring to life, hovering gracefully in the air, mismatched and in disarray. He beckons one forward and uses an elongated nail to inscribe the first rune onto its smooth surface.

Sounding off a gentle chime, the shards twist and dance, forming a mirror. A few more ticks of his nails, a few more runes sink into the water-like glass. Alucard’s reflection dissipates, replaced by grass, trees, and the colours of dawn. The scene before him is humble, a small campsite with a familiar canvas covered wagon. Yet his eyes are immediately drawn to the extinguished fire pit where two travelers sleep side by side. This sight isn’t shocking; it’s still quite early in the day after all. What does surprise Alucard are their clothes. Sypha’s robes have been immaculately repaired while Trevor at long last got himself out of that old tunic and into something which brings out his better physical qualities. 

Sypha lies comfortably with her head on his chest and arm pulling her closer. Alucard smiles softly, the sound of glass upon glass ringing in his ears. He raises a hand after debating with himself. This is a transmission mirror. 400 years old with the ability to push through solid matter—including flesh and blood. Easy as stepping through an open doorway. He could join them. Ask about their travels, their adventures, and how often they managed to get into trouble. He could enjoy their company one more time. He could...

Alucard’s fingers touch the glass, sending ripples across its surface. They stay. He stays. There’s nothing wrong with the mirror, not even as Trevor and Sypha fade away. He stares at his reflection, a combination of dejection and acceptance. He won’t forcibly insert himself into the life they now lead. It would be awkward reuniting with them this way. Give it time, they’ll see each other again somehow. Alucard recalls the advice he gave himself, about guarding his heart and the cold spot in the room.

Warm sunlight pours across the floorboards, the same that greeted his friends. He’s always been wary about leaving both the castle and Belmont ruins for too long. Short woodland walks with Agrippa bounding excitably by his feet have been the extent of his outings. But today the nearest village is hosting a market, and Lisa always wanted him to try existing among the same humans she cared for.

--

It’s strange walking down the roads that lead away from the Belmont grounds. Plenty of things feel strange now. There’s no worry of bumping into the night hoards that once plagued these roads. They’ve been left empty for some time, save for animals in the underbrush.

Alucard used to look out his window every evening, certain he would see carriages bearing emblems from across the continent, pulled along by rotting horse corpses. Up towards the steps of the castle they would arrive, letting out vampires dressed in silk redder than freshly spilled blood. One by one, their heads held high like a meticulous procession. Here on the resting place of a mad lord, after spitting upon the ruins of their oldest enemy, they would try removing Dracula’s bastard son from a nonexistent throne.

He hasn’t seen those carriages, the horse corpses, or the finely dressed vampires—not yet. Alucard can’t even bother viewing himself as a ruler to be dethroned. He takes after his mother in that aspect, preferring simpler things. She would be pleased to see him strolling through the gates of a lively hamlet, mingling with his other half.

Alucard wants nothing more than to continue honouring the memory of Lisa (perhaps now through less violent or patricidal means). Though his visit to the market is also for personal benefits. It’s good to see faces apart from his own in the Carpathian mirror. Despite how awkwardly he puts one foot in front of the other while wringing the leather strap of his shoulder bag, unsure of how to present himself to a world outside the castle. Trevor and Sypha would be so much better at this.

“Rabbit, wolf, and bear pelts!” Shouts one merchant with as much hair on his forearms as there is on his chin. Alucard avoids him.

“Fancy some cured and dried meats, sir?” A different one inquires.

“Not for me.”

Farther and further he explores. Soon the marketplace and its contents start blurring together. Food, clothing, daily tools to make the average Wallachian’s life a little easier. There are a few stand out vendors such as a woman selling jewelry that sparkles in the sunlight, the daughter of a blacksmith perfecting her skills in exchange for a few generous coins, and a pair of young men manipulating half-melted glass after heating it over an open flame while spectators watch in awe.

“Stunning, isn’t it?” Asks a voice just behind him. Alucard spins around, wondering if the question was meant for him or someone else. He faces a man and a younger woman, one stocky and well-tanned, the other frail with pronounced cheekbones. Bushels of dried herbs coupled with root vegetables and jars of wild berry jam line their vendor table. “They’re brothers from Bucharesti but were raised in Constantinople. That’s where they learned their trade. Like magicians, those two. I could watch them work all day.”

“You’ll have to excuse my father.” Alucard steps forward and sees the wisps of thin hair beneath the girl’s multicoloured headscarf. The closer he looks, the more her weight—or lack thereof—worries him. “He likes to converse with anyone who happens to pass by, whether they wish to or not.”

“It is a rather fascinating sight.” One that Alucard has seen performed through magic many times before. Nonetheless, he cannot help but show his own amusement, even admiration at what human hands can achieve and create. The very same sensation he feels when Sypha bends the elements to her will or when Trevor wields the Morningstar with such ease and, dare he admit it, grace.

Humanity is violent, cruel, and more often than not operates solely on its own warped superstitions and self-preservation. Yet there are lights that can be found within it—a hunter who rose up and realized his true potential. The most powerful, fearsome, brilliant magician Alucard has ever had the pleasure of knowing. A marketplace where its residents no longer have to fear what might be lurking outside their gates. A doctor and mother who thought only the best of her own kin.

“Do you live in the village?”

“Close enough. My wife, this not so little one, and I live further out in the woods. Not a lot of land to call our own, but there’s no shortage of plants and berries. Plenty of game passes through too, boding well for us whenever we need meat and pelts.”

“And we’re about to be blessed with another little one.” The daughter speaks in a breathy tone, as though exhausted from nothing.

“Yes, of course! My wife’s heavy with our second child.”

“Congratulations.”

“I see you’ve got your eyes set on the jams.”

Alucard’s head perks up at the comment. He never had much of an enduring sweet tooth, at least not for the usual pastries and candies. As a child, he would sneak into the kitchen in the hopes of finding a few biscuits before bedtime. After growing out of that habit, what he craved instead were sweet marmalades and jams.

“Oh, right. I will take... those two.” He points to a bright red and dark blue jar.

“Would you like those wrapped?”

“Yes, thank you.”

While Alucard readies his payment, he notices how the young woman struggles to wrap two jars in a simple piece of brown parchment. Her thin lips chapped beyond remedy and her mouth seems incredibly dry. She hands him his purchase with trembling hands, unable to say much else. Alucard turns to her father, their expressions matched in concern.

“Everything alright, Daniela?” He asks, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“... I’m fine. I just need water... anything to drink, really. I’m going to the square to find something. I will return soon.” As she leaves, Daniela gives Alucard a friendly but weak smile. “Thank you, sir.”

An uncomfortable silence grows between the two men. Alucard thinks about walking away. Leaving this brief encounter as just that—an encounter, nothing more. It’s what he should do, it’s what anyone else in the market would do. Yet the image of Daniela, still young but carrying herself like an elderly woman, tugs at the impulse to know more.

“Your daughter seems very frail.”

“So you’ve noticed. Daniela wasn’t always that thin or weak. She used to be healthier than either myself or her mother. Then... I’m not really sure what happened.”

“Has she been eating?”

“Morning, middle of the day, and night. But nothing sticks to her bones. It’s like all that food just... goes right through and disappears. Every time she takes a bite, she starts complaining about chest aches. Drinks plenty, though. Enough to drown a fully-grown man.”

“How long has she been like this?”

The man furrows his brows. “You ask a lot of personal questions.”

Alucard feels his stomach drop. Spoke too soon, spoke too much. Will he ever learn? “It’s just that I know a fair bit about medicine and what causes illnesses.”

“Medicine? Like leeches and boiled pig fat?”

“No, nothing like that. Forgive me, but I was only concerned for your daughter.”

He crosses his arms, sizing Alucard from top to bottom. “Well, you’re an odd mister, but somehow I can tell you have good intentions. Name’s Mihai, by the way. If you’re really concerned for Daniela and you want to put that medicine of yours to use, you’re welcome to visit our cabin and see how she’s faring. Just follow one of the paths due east from here and you’ll find it.”

“I shall consider the offer.”

“In the meantime, enjoy that jam.”

Alucard nods before taking his leave. He meanders through the rest of the village, but not for long. Too much is on his mind and the market has become suffocating. This is no place to think about the condition of a sick girl who may need his help.

--

Metal paws clink against the stone floor, followed by the ever familiar, ever present sound of working gears and steam whistling like a kettle. The other fox, the one remade from dead flesh and bone, playfully pounces on its gold and silver mate as the two creatures run about in the kitchen. Alucard pays them no mind, nor does he pay much attention to his plate of stale biscuits, let alone the half-eaten piece still in his hand. Mihai was right about enjoying the jam; it’s the only enjoyable thing about his sad excuse for a meal.

His cup of wine remains untouched. All Alucard can focus on is the text in front of him, handwritten on pages of thick journal paper. One of the many notebooks Lisa thankfully kept in the castle as opposed to her clinic. Thoughtful eyes narrow as his teeth slowly grind down another uncaring bite. A fingertip traces down a list of symptoms he recognizes—constant dehydration, short of breath, weakness, and a dangerous lack of weight despite an increased appetite.

When he returned home and began searching for the right book, he hoped to prove his original predictions wrong. Daniela is merely a victim of stress; what woman her age and social stature wouldn’t be? Feeble thoughts driven out the moment Alucard opened the front cover. It’s an unsuspecting, insidious illness, like all the others. Commonly occurs in human bodies regardless of age or health and due to its long-term effects on sugars in the bloodstream, Lisa labelled it in her notes as “the sweet death”.

Alucard turns the page to a detailed diagram of an internal organ curved at its end. Beside the drawing with all its minuscule descriptions is a paragraph titled “insulin and its properties”. Accompanying it are instructions that fill up the entire opposite page. It will take time and there can be no error. Already Alucard feels overwhelmed even as he looks over the complicated procedure. All the more reason to get started. Closing the book, Alucard tosses away the rest of his biscuit and leaves whatever he didn’t touch for the foxes.

He stops just before reaching the doorway. The notebook tucked under his arm suddenly feels heavy. A voice that had always been locked in the back of his mind crawls forward like a near death cadaver digging its way towards the surface. This isn’t any of your business.

No, it isn’t. Just as it wasn’t any of Lisa’s. She had no obligation to seek out true medical knowledge all because she hated the notion of resorting to leeches and bloodletting. No one asked her to do what they considered to be the unthinkable, the unholy. Those patients from Lupu, Targoviste, even all the way from Bucharesti, would have gone about their daily lives had they never met her. They would have also died far too early. It was her life’s calling to help these people.

And look at what it brought her in the end.

Alucard’s thoughts push his conscience in opposing directions. There’s too much of his mother in him, no enough of his father. And yet he cannot forget what they did to her, how those strangers repaid her countless good deeds. Should this family discover the truth, will they repay him in the same way?

His sheer stubbornness undermines any lingering apprehensiveness. Damn his guarded heart as it begins to soften. Of course he wants to help Daniela; he’s the only one who can. Heading towards the laboratory, Alucard says a silent prayer for Lisa. I will be careful, mother. I promise.

--

He works nearly a full week before enough vials are made, filled to the brim with clear liquid. They should last Daniela for a month if not more. Along with a needle and syringe fashioned by himself, Alucard places each one into a bag. The glass vials gently clink together with every subtle movement, but he makes sure to secure them. At least until he arrives at the cottage.

Alucard waits until dark, patting Agrippa’s head as a goodbye (and for good luck). It’s a clear night, clear and quiet. Once reaching the roads most traveled, he slips into the forest, following the same route he took towards the village. It’s safer this way—no sightings, no questions, no suspicions. When the gates come into view, he follows Mihai’s directions, vague as they were. Go east along the paths, search for a cabin. Alucard holds the bag steady after hearing another round of clinking glass.

He thanks his eyes for possessing a keen nature and sharpness not found in mortal humans. There in the distance nestled between the trees with a thin stream of smoke wafting out of its chimney sits a small cottage made from wood and stone. Candlelight shines dimly through its windows. Alucard takes note of the wild berry bushes surrounding this humble plot of land. Walking up to the front facade, he raps his knuckles against the door and waits. His stomach feels heavy and there’s a sledgehammer banging away in his ears and in his heart. But it’s far too late to turn back; not after the work he’s done, not after the promise he made.

The door opens, revealing a surprised Mihai. “Oh, it’s you. I… I didn’t really think you’d actually come.”

“I wanted to come sooner, but—”

“Who is that, love?” A different voice calls out.

“The man from the market, the one I was telling you about.” Footsteps can be heard from within the house. After more waiting, a woman dressed in a thick handknit shawl appears by Mihai’s side. Alucard’s eyes are quickly drawn to her pregnant stomach hiding beneath layers of clothing. It tells him enough of her condition.

“This is my wife, Tobi.”

“Good to meet you, sir. Mihai tells me you bought some of our jams. And that you’re a doctor of sorts.”

“I do have the knowledge. I’m here f—”

“You came to see our daughter.” Tobi interjects, one hand around Mihai’s arm while the other rests on her swollen belly. “I’m not usually one to let strangers into our home. But our poor girl is on the verge of desperation... along with us. If you can tell us what’s wrong with her, that’ll be enough.”

“I can do more than simply tell you what ails Daniela; I made something that can help her.” He holds up his bag and reveals its contents. Mihai and Tobi stare inside with cautious interest. “Can I see her?”

The two turn to each other for assurance, contemplating their options (what little they have). Eventually, it’s Mihai who opens the door wider. “Come in.”

It’s a quaint home, warm and inviting. Better than most other woodland cottages Alucard has been welcomed into. There’s a well-fed fireplace and the smell of food cooked with heart; small enough to house three persons along with a fourth on their way, but no more. Hanging off the walls are rows upon rows of dried herbs and meats, tapestries of a hard-working family.

“She’s resting in there.” Tobi leads him through the main living space and points towards an open doorway. Alucard looks inside; a single, wavering flame lights the room, revealing a stool where the candle sits collecting drops of fresh and dried wax. Everything else is covered in shadows. A young woman lies on a narrow bed with her back turned towards the entrance, shoulders rising and falling at a laboured pace.

“Daniela…” The figure’s head turns around as she adjusts her position upon the creaking bed frame.

“You again. This is a surprise.” Daniela replies, trying her best to sound as welcoming as she did at the market. It’s difficult to greet her in this state—her cheeks look even more hollow and her neck thinner after only a week. “What brings you to our home?”

“Your father told me of your condition and I—”

“He told you?” She wants to sound angry but in her weakened state, it only comes off as mere annoyance. Daniela rests her scalp against the sweat stained, well-used pillow. “Thank you for the concern, but you shouldn’t have troubled yourself. It’s really nothing. I’m tired, that’s all.”

“What you’re afflicted with is far more serious than mere exhaustion.” He glances at Mihai and Tobi, who are just behind him standing in the doorframe. “You two should hear this as well.” They join Alucard by the bed; four persons crowded into a single claustrophobic room. He contemplates his next words, which ones would be better to use in order to describe this particular illness. How can he make this easy for them to understand?

“The reason why this is happening to you is because inside of your body, there is an organ that has stopped working properly. While your lungs help you breathe and your heart pumps blood, this one helps you ingest food and keep you as healthy as possible.” Alucard pauses to ensure that Daniela is still attentive. Her expression has grown considerably more anxious, but she doesn’t ask any questions yet. “However, because it no longer functions, the food you eat doesn’t get properly ingested. No matter how much you consume, you continue to lose weight and grow weaker.”

“I... I have something... dead inside of me?”

“I wouldn’t necessarily call it dead.”

“Is it the plague?” Daniela’s eyes grow wide with distress until Alucard quickly takes her hand to calm her.

“No, no. It’s not the plague at all. There’s no real term for it yet. Here...” He pulls out one of the vials and holds it up against the candlelight yet far enough as to not burn the clear liquid. Mihai and Tobi draw in closer, trying to get a better glimpse. “This will help. It acts as a substitution for the organ. You have to take a certain amount every time you eat a meal. The more often you do, the better you will start to feel.”

“Do I drink it?”

“Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.” Now comes the most difficult part. His hand slips back inside the bag and retrieves a needle. Daniela begins to squirm at the sight of it; Alucard had the same reaction the first time Lisa showed him. His reluctant cries could be heard throughout every inch of the castle even before the tip punctured his skin. Fortunately, the initial act felt far less painful than he anticipated, and it was only beneficial for his health over the years, but he was a child. Daniela has most likely never seen anything like this before. Alucard won’t chastise her.

“You will need to fill this device with the liquid—not all of it, but enough—then insert the tip either through your arm, abdomen, or leg. I’ll do it first, so you know how it is done.”

The tension in the air remains steady as Daniela goes silent. Water pools up around the curve of her eyes, ready to break into tears running down her cheeks the moment she blinks. She bites her lip; she’s scared but all she wants is for this to end. So that she can stop feigning strength and indifference.

“... please make it quick.”

“It will be. Hold out your arm.” Trembling, she does just that. Alucard takes it in his gloved hand, his other one holding the needle after it’s been filled and prepared. He can feel her shaking, struggling to hold still. “Have you ever been stung by a hornet, Daniela?”

“Y-yes... it was awful.”

“Well, this will be considerably less painful.”

Daniela holds her breath, clutching the sheets in her fists, yet musters enough bravery to not look away even as the needle enters her upper arm. Though the same cannot be said of her parents who turn their heads. At least she now knows how to inject herself. With care, Alucard pushes the liquid forward and empties the container before removing the needle. Daniela will need more than the usual amount, only to get her through until the next morning. After so many hours of constant work, sleepless nights, and days gone without a proper meal, after all that fretting from both parties, the deed is done.

“That was it?” Mihai and Tobi nearly ask the same thing.

“How did that feel?”

“... felt like nothing. Now what happens?”

“It will take some time. But you need to continue taking the medicine.”

“For how long?”

“As long as possible. It will be hard, but this isn’t something that disappears after a few remedies. Although with enough work it can be made liveable.”

Daniela pauses, then nods. “I’ve been through harder times... I’ll do my best.”

“You did well tonight.” He shows her the rest of the vials along with the needle and what she’ll need to keep it clean. “Remember, take some before every meal and at night to be safe. Don’t empty the entire thing. Now rest, you’ve earned it.”

As Daniela lets relief and exhaustion overtake her, Alucard hands the bag off to Mihai and Tobi, who have both remained shockingly quiet throughout this entire ordeal. He at least expected some words of protest or disbelief. “The remainder should last for a month. I’ll return after that time with more. Try to keep these somewhere cold so that the liquid stays potent.”

Tobi speaks up, unsure if her response is what he wants to hear. “The ground sometimes freezes over during the nights.”

“That will do. Put these in the dirt until she needs them again.”

“When you said you knew about medicine, this was the last thing I expected.” Mihai speaks softly. He and Tobi exchange a glance—they know what the other is thinking. “We cannot thank you enough for this, sir. Would you mind sitting down with us for a moment?”

Alucard thinks about how late it is but traveling in the dead of night as never been a problem for him before. He follows them to the fireplace and seats himself.

“Do you have your own practice somewhere? A clinic, or something like it?”

“No. I wouldn’t call myself a doctor.”

“You should,” Tobi states. “People around here need one, especially someone with your knowledge and skills.”

“There was one people always kept talking about when we lived near Targoviste.”

Alucard leans forward after hearing the name of that forsaken city. “You used to live there... when did you leave?”

“Over a year ago. Long before all the... killing and dying started.”

“We never had to visit her, but a few of our friends did and sometimes we tagged along just to see what all the fuss was about. She turned out to be the best of them. Better, actually.” Mihai turns to Alucard, his eyes inquisitive yet serious—an expression even the dhampir has difficulty reading. “While I watched you help Daniela, I could have sworn I saw her again. The way you spoke, worked, and the sort of tools you used, it was like she had come back from the dead. What was her name, love?”

“Lisa, I believe. Can’t recall her last name. Did you know of her?”

A sharpness cuts through Alucard’s chest then down into his gut. This is what he feared most coming out here only because he wanted to help. He could lie, say he never knew this doctor named Lisa. His previous actions coupled with a current panicked expression across his still face betray him. “I did.”

“Did you study under her?”

No answer, but Alucard holds his tongue as Mihai raises a hand. “Not to worry, sir. No matter how you knew her, we won’t tell a soul either way. We never believed the horrid things they accused her of.”

“Even when...” Even when Dracula promised vengeance and kept that promise to the bitter, blood-soaked end.

“We always thought that what came after her burning was a sort of punishment, not from above but from below... ask me and I’ll say some of them deserved it.” Tobi refuses to waver from her comment, even when her husband turns in shock.

“You don’t mean that.”

“Course I do. Those people and their leaders were daft for staying in the first place. What sort of fool stands up to the Devil and challenges him?”

Alucard unwittingly scratches at the centre of his chest. What sort of fool indeed? Instead, he gives an obvious response. “It’s late. Your family has been through enough tonight. I should leave.”

Mihai stops him before he can take another step. “Let us give you your pay first.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Just wait here, I won’t be long—”

“I said no,” Alucard repeats with the right amount of force in his tone. Mihai and Tobi stare at him, baffled.

“You saved our daughter’s life. We only wish we could do more to repay you.”

“Make sure she takes her medicine just as I instructed until I return in a month and take care of each other. That’s all I ask of you.”

They barter some more, but Alucard refuses to change his stance. Mihai lets out a huff. “Odd as ever. Safe travels and remember we’re still in your debt.”

“Thank you, sir. And bless you.”

Much like his farewell at the market, Alucard nods courteously. His eyes linger on Tobi’s stomach for a second longer before exiting the cottage. She must be due soon.

He leaves the same way he arrived with much to think about. The looks of pure, unbridled relief and gratitude on the faces of all three family members linger in his mind. They knew Lisa, but what of others? How long have they gone without seeing a proper doctor to receive real medicine? He shouldn’t forgo the lives of innocent people only because a much larger existential threat has been eliminated. It’s not what Lisa would have done.

That voice, the one crawling and scratching about, returns as the cottage begins to shrink in the distance. You promised you would be careful. And he will.

--

Alucard is nothing if not observant. He attributes it to his natural born heightened senses—whether a blessing or curse, he hasn’t decided yet. For now however, he is grateful. It allows him to slip in and out of villages, including the one that played host to the market. He listens to people’s woes without making himself noticed; rumours, gossip, words of concern for friends and neighbours.

“The widow’s baby is sick. Refuses to eat or even cry.”

“My son can’t go outside. The chill in the air will kill him. Stays in bed all day.”

“It’s getting worse. He can barely speak without coughing.”

That’s all Alucard needs to hear. Day after day he makes his routine excursions then returns to the castle laboratory with enough work to keep his hands and thoughts busy. At night, he quickly goes from house to house, leaving an odd assortment of gifts for these people on their doorsteps. Tonics, powders, bottles filled with caplets; sometimes they find a handwritten note detailing instructions on how to take these remedies.

Others have started talking, of course. Alucard now hears the name “good Samaritan” whenever he visits these communities. Word hasn’t reached any church official, but it will. He’s certain of that. There’s some small comfort to be found in the constant reassurance that they won’t find him, not while Mihai, Tobi, and Daniela keep their promise. Only they know the truth and Alucard prefers it stay that way.

He hasn’t forgotten about them or their daughter’s plight. The stress and worry while he creates more insulin has significantly lessened now that time is on his side. Although it doesn’t stop Alucard from making a premature delivery before the month even ends. His impatience gets the better of him for two reasons: he wants to see how Daniela is faring and he needs to check on her mother’s pregnancy. His previous insistence of “not calling himself a doctor” is starting to hold less and less weight.

Alucard takes a familiar route, leisurely and unperturbed until he arrives at the family cottage, a stream of smoke still drifting from the top of their chimney. It’s not quite dark outside, but late enough for the skies to turn shades of red, orange, and gold. He barely gets in a few knocks before the door opens. A pleasant yet relieving surprise greets him; not Mihai, but the happy expression of Daniela. In the weeks since they met, she’s already gained a small amount of weight, filling out her once baggy dress, and there’s a light in her eyes that was missing before.

“Hello,” she exclaims. “Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“I thought I’d pay you and your family an early visit. How have the injections been treating you?”

“Well enough. I had some trouble getting used to it, but I feel much better. And I can do it myself. Whatever you gave me worked like a miracle.”

“It’s no miracle, only medicine. I brought more, so you won’t need to worry for the next while. How is your mother?”

“The baby’s been giving her more trouble recently.”

“How so?”

“She’s a lot more tired now and keeps complaining about backaches.”

“Do they occur often?”

“They come and go all day. She’s not in any great pain, at least that’s what she keeps telling us. Would you like to come in? We’re getting supper ready, you should join us.”

“Actually, I’m only here for a short visit. I won’t inconvenience you.”

“Nonsense. Come in, it’s the least we can do after all you’ve done for us.”

“That’s very kind of you to offer, but it isn’t necess—” But Daniela doesn’t give Alucard much of an option when she starts pulling him into the cottage. All the while, he thinks about Tobi. Perhaps he spoke too soon; perhaps he should stay longer.

“Mother! Look who’s come back.”

Tobi stands by the fireplace over a large black pot, stirring a wooden spoon in what looks to be meat stew with vegetables. She stands up straight (or as straight as she can) and turns around. “Welcome!” She smiles, wiping her hands on an apron. “Have you come with more medicine? Or just to say hello?”

“Both.” Alucard replies, a little meekly. He places another bag filled with new vials off to the side.  “How are you?”

“Tired, but well. My husband’s off hunting for rabbit.”

“We already have some meat, but mother insisted he go find more.”

Tobi side-glances in Daniela’s direction. “Careful with that tone, my dear. It won’t get easier when there’s four mouths to feed instead of three.”

“You should sit down.” Without much resistance, she allows Alucard to gently guide her into a chair. Daniela tries to keep an eye on the pot and stew, but her attention is drawn elsewhere. “Your daughter tells me you’ve been experiencing terrible back pain.”

“It’s not terrible. Annoying is more like it, no worse than when the baby starts kicking.” She rubs her stomach, speaking between every breath as they grow heavier and more laboured.

“When did it begin?”

“A few days ago... it’s fine. I remember something like this before Daniela was born.” Tobi winces, sucking air through a row of gritted teeth, and Alucard feels a sting of worry. He read Lisa’s notebooks on pregnancy and childbirth but only as a precaution. These contractions that Tobi feels everyday—they’re normal during the later stages. Expected, even. Yet they are a sign of what is to come very soon.

“Rest, mother. I’ll prepare supper.”

“Have you spoken to any midwives?”

“The closest one lives in Arges—”

“And you’re in no condition to make that journey,” Daniela interrupts.

“No more worrying from you. We’ll send word to her when the baby decides for themselves.”

“The baby?” Alucard inquires.

“In the end, it’s not our decision to make. They’ll join this family when they’re good and ready to.”

The hint of a smile tugs at the corners of Alucard’s mouth. He lets Tobi rest and joins Daniela by the fireplace. Time passes, the aroma of spice of herb fills the cottage, yet there’s no sign of Mihai. Alucard listens carefully to Tobi’s breathing, arduous but steady.

Until they turn into groans, which then turn into shouts. Her hands fumble about, unsure whether she should rest them on her belly or the arms of the chair, so tight her nails might dig right into the wood. Blood drains from Daniela’s face.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening? Mama!”

“I, I don’t know, I just—” Her words are cut off by another cry of pain. “It, it hurts so much now...”

Alucard wretches himself out of a near frozen state and rushes to Tobi’s side. The immediate sight of her wet stockings coupled with faint splotches of red confirms his suspicions. She was right; newborn babes come when they’re good and ready, but most are impatient.

Arges is miles away. He’ll have to act in place of its midwife.

“Daniela, I need you to bring me a basin full of warm water and as many blankets as you can carry.”

“Is she going to be aright?” Her frantic tone betrays what little composure she’s desperately trying to hold onto.

“She and your sibling will be fine if you do exactly as I say. Now go, quickly!”

While Daniela runs off, he helps Tobi out of the chair. Before she can try walking on her own, Alucard has already scooped her up into his arms. It’s easier this way, and he has the strength to do so. He doesn’t care if it reveals the truth about himself—in this moment, he doesn’t care about anything that isn’t the safety of Tobi and her unborn child.

Alucard takes her into the bedroom, stripping off any excess clothing until there’s nothing except a simple, light underdress. Her skin feels hot, close to a fever. Daniela arrives with exactly what he asked for. “Lie down. Careful now...” He says after laying a blanket on the bed. Tobi struggles, her teeth grinding together, hand tightly grasped in Alucard’s, but she achieves this one small goal. As if by pure instinct, she spreads her sweat-drenched legs and bends them.

It’s alright. Everything will be alright. A mantra more for Alucard than anyone else. He removes his coat, gloves, and rolls up his sleeves before tying back his long hair. People give birth in their homes every day. Hands dip into the water basin. My mother must have assisted with over a hundred. I know what to do.

Tobi lets out another scream followed by a series of curses, loud enough to shred her vocal cords.

“Don’t push so fast!”

“Something’s tearing, I can feel it!”

“Nothing is tearing. You and your baby are both alright.” Daniela takes a step back, eyes watery and lower lip trembling, but she stands firmly by her mother’s side. Alucard is proud of her, of them both. “I need you to keep breathing and push when I tell you to.”

The air in the room, barely big enough for three persons, turns thick. Everything becomes sodden; wet with sweat, blood, and other fluids. All over the bed, Tobi’s legs, her dress, and Alucard’s hands. But she breathes and pushes when told to. There’s a glimpse of the baby’s head before it disappears.

“Push again. You’re doing well. Take a deep breath... and...”

This continues, push after push after push. Too many to keep count of. Daniela holds onto her mother’s hand, unsure of whose grip is closer to crushing the other. There’s the blood again—more than there should be. Yet the only thing Alucard sees is the top of the head until it vanishes for the umpteenth time. He hears crying, not the sort that would give him hope. It might be coming from Daniela or Tobi or both.

“I don’t understand...” But he does. His lowered tone does nothing to hide the panic rising up. This is unfortunately another common occurrence with pregnancies and just as dangerous for the parent as it is for the child. There is a solution—the thought of which sends Alucard’s mind and heartbeat into a frenzy. It will be worse when he has to tell Daniela and Tobi. What would Lisa say if she saw him in this state?

Calm yourself. You’ve been forced to do worse. You can take lives easy enough, but now you can save two.

He swallows hard, glancing down at his bloodstained hands. There will be more to come should he put this plan into action. “Tobi... can you still hear me?”

“Y-yes...”

“Listen to me very carefully. Something’s gone wrong, but I can make it right. I’ll need to cut open your stomach—” Shock. Horror. Angry silence from Daniela most of all. Just as Alucard expected, yet he explains further. “Right now, it’s the only option left. I promise to make it quick and painless...”

Daniela grabs his slippery wrist. “You’re not touching my mother again! You’ll kill her!”

“I won’t.” He doesn’t try to match the volume of her voice, nor does he wrench out of her grasp with more force than necessary. There’s no need for her to fear yet another thing. “You have to trust me.”

“She just needs to keep pushing!”

“Your mother has done all she can and it’s putting her life at risk.”

In the midst of their arguing, Tobi chokes out her decision. “Do it.” Tears mingle with the sweat upon her reddened cheeks. “If you have to save one of us... save my baby.”

Now you can save two. “Both of you are going to live. I swear that on my mother’s grave.”

Alucard instructs Tobi to lie back completely and for Daniela to stay by her side but not to look no matter what happens. Slipping a hand underneath her waist, he whispers something in an ancient language; dead to most Wallachians, alive and well in the Tepes castle hold. Only to help numb Tobi’s body from her abdomen to the bottoms of her feet. Lisa had her ice baths, Alucard has his father’s spells.

No more easy steps from now on. Using a sharpened nail, Alucard cuts a perfect line across the abdominal wall. A knife would have done the job just as well, but he fears what could happen if he leaves for the briefest moment. Eyes turn upwards to Tobi’s chest—still moving. No screams of pain or bloody murder. Alucard holds onto his composure, his need to be the cold spot in the room with a desperate grip as he makes another rupture along the uterus, cutting open the internal sac surrounding the baby.

The baby. There they are. One moment still inside their mother, the next in his arms, feeble limbs kicking and toothless mouth wailing. Smaller than Alucard expected, but healthy and loud.

“What is that? Is that my baby? Is my baby alright?!”

Alucard is speechless, not even able to muster a single “yes”. He cuts the umbilical cord, removes the placenta, and cleans the baby before handing them to Tobi. She holds their wriggling body against her chest, shedding tears of her own. Uttering the words “thank you god, thank you god, thank you god”.

The final step is quick. Alucard’s hands are deft at closing the uterus and abdomen (using a smear of his own blood to assist in the healing process). Still no words; he’s out of breath, out of strength both physical and mental. His shirt is ruined, and he couldn’t care less. He only stops himself from collapsing when Daniela suddenly embraces him. She buries her tear drenched face into his shoulder.

“Our saviour... you’re our saviour...”

Alucard stares at Tobi as she holds her newborn child with such tenderness. He raises a hand and places it on Daniela’s back. The other follows.

--

Mihai returns home to his wife and two children. Alucard watches him drop his bountiful game to the floor and run to Tobi, weeping over the baby. Did his own father ever weep? Did blood flow from his eyes at the sight of Lisa carrying their son for the first time? Alucard has difficulty keeping his thoughts comprehensive, stuck in a daze. It takes a moment to answer Mihai’s question of why he was forced to commit such an act on his wife.

“There are many reasons. Age, unexpected complications with the body itself. She needs to stay in bed and let the wound heal on its own.”

“What you did... for my wife and daughter... you work miracles, sir.”

Alucard lingers on that word again: miracle. The first time he argued with its use in an effort to seem humble and rational. Now, he’s too exhausted to further dispute its importance. This is not a family that uses “miracle” and “saviour” in a light manner.

“I’m sorry for screaming at you. I was a fool... I should have let you work...”

Alucard’s expression softens as he looks at Daniela. “There’s no need for apologies. You were only protecting your mother.”

Daniela wipes away another tear before it has a chance to escape her eye. After much convincing, Alucard leaves the cottage wearing a new shirt gifted by Mihai once they threw his old, blood-soaked one into the fire. They made him swear that he would visit again, not as their doctor but as their friend. It wasn’t hard for Alucard to agree.

He trudges down the path with the moon and stars lighting his way. They haven’t name the child yet; it’s a tradition within their family to name a baby at least seven days after they’ve been born. But Tobi said she liked the sound of Adrian. Alucard likes it as well. It’s a good name for someone who might hopefully grow up to do good things.

The castle is dark, illuminated by only a few sparse candelabras burning the night away. They turn the grand hall into a hazy smoke-filled chamber. Nothing has changed in his absence, just as empty and quiet as it’s always been. A strangely comforting thing to return to. Alucard’s first immediate stop is the kitchen and its pantry. He pulls out a bottle of red wine and pours himself a glass, then another right after downing it in a single gulp. It won’t do much—to him, alcohol is barely stronger than water—but temporary release is better than none at all.

Alucard doesn’t reach his bedroom. Instead he finds the nearest study and collapses onto a lush lounge chair, his body sinking into the cushions. The ceiling tiles begin to blur and mesh together the heavier his eyes become. Something tickles at his fingertips. He sees Agrippa licking his hand, waiting patiently to be picked up and placed on his chest. Like the castle, he hasn’t changed.

“Sorry for neglecting you all this time.” Without sitting up, Alucard grabs the dog and holds him close. Reverting to when he was a child, lying in bed, holding that old wolf doll as though it were his third guardian. He allows himself the luxury of sleep, deep and peaceful.

--

“He’s not in here either.” Another door closes as the repeated sound echoes down the corridor. The two travelers have searched the entire ground floor with little success. Outside, sitting at the foot of the castle steps, is a familiar canvas covered wagon that has seen much better days. There it will remain for the next few days while its owners reacquaint themselves with the very place their respective families always taught them to fear.

“Do you think he changed his mind?” Asks Sypha.

“About what?”

“About returning to his vault in Gresit.”

Trevor ponders for a moment, his face framed by the white fur of his new cloak. All that somber talk about going back to sleep, about the castle becoming his grave; the dhampir is just dramatic enough to let everything turn into a reality. He doesn’t say it out loud, but the possibility worries Trevor. He didn’t gift his childhood home for nothing.

“If he did, the castle wouldn’t be in the shape it is now.”

Sypha stares up at the vaulted ceilings and towering walls, still impressed by such an architectural marvel. Trevor is right, the structure would have fallen into ruin had Alucard not stayed. They move onto the second floor and its countless hallways hoping to have more luck in finding their strange friend.

“You think we’re lost?”

Sypha tsks loud enough for Trevor to hear. “Speakers do not get lost.”

“Right. Just like how they don’t break things.”

“I thought we already had this conversation.”

They have, but Trevor brings up the topic every so often just for a bit of fun without putting in too much effort. Their playful banter is cut short when Sypha absentmindedly opens a door and a small black object suddenly rushes past them. Trevor instinctively reaches for the Morningstar, starved for blood after weeks of hanging off his hip as mere decoration, until he realizes whatever that was poses no threat. However, the encounter leaves him no less confused.

“Was... was that a dog?”

“Shh! Keep your voice down.”

The two of them enter the room and Trevor sees why Sypha was so quick to shush him. Alucard lies passed out upon a full-length chair, breathing gently. Not unlike the first meeting between him, Trevor, and Sypha.

“I’ve never seen him out cold like this,” Trevor murmurs as they lean over him.

“Is he alright?”

“He’s fine. Just sleeping.”

Sypha continues to stare until she catches Trevor hovering the handle of his whip directly above Alucard’s forehead. “What are you doing?!” She whispers harshly.

“I’m waking him up.” His plan was to give him a careful tap on his skull, but Sypha has a much better idea in mind.

“Let him rest for a bit longer. We should make breakfast so that he has something to look forward to when he wakes.”

“Do dhampirs even eat real food? Or should we prepare him a nice banquet of pig and cow blood?”

Sypha decides to ignore Trevor’s sense of humour, even if he didn’t mean for it to sound so terrible. “Come on, you.”

She turns around and leaves, her blue robes trailing behind. Before Trevor can follow, he’s struck with a thought. Despite how he jests, he’s happy that Alucard seems to be taking care of himself. Even happier to be greeted with a few gentle snores rather than a middle finger to the face. Removing his cloak, now smelling of pine and smokewood, Trevor places it over Alucard’s body.

It seems he’ll always be there, offering dusty blankets to those he cares for.

[maiji]

Thoughts on Grasses of Remembrance (The Tale of Genji through its poetry)

Finally had some time this weekend to sit down with A Waka Anthology, Volume 2: Grasses of Remembrance Part B by Edwin A. Cranston. This book is the last in an impressive and intimidating collection translating a number of major classical poetry anthologies. It’s basically a speedrun through Tale of Genji (if such a thing were possible) filtered through all 795 waka poems written or uttered by the characters over the course of the novel.

Poetry was a Really Big Deal during the Heian era. If you were an aristocrat, not only were you expected to compose decent poetry, you had to be able to do it off-the-cuff appropriate to the occasion. AND to do this properly, you were expected to be able to recognize and respond cleverly to references to a ton of other existing classic poems from memory that people would just mention casually in conversation or writing (kinda like how people quote the Simpsons today lol). This was a prime marker of how intelligent/competent and - no joke - how sexy you were. So not surprisingly, these poems are extremely important to the development of character interactions and themes in the Tale of Genji which has a lot of romance and relationship plotlines. 

However. Translating Heian era Japanese into modern Japanese is already challenging. Rendering Heian era Japanese waka poetry into modern English is, as you might imagine, harder for a bunch of reasons. Considering how dense the actual novel already is, it’s super easy to gloss over the poetry, and some modern translations simply integrate the basic intent of the poems right into the main text/dialogue.

I was really interested in finding something specifically focusing on and analyzing the poetry, and this book appeared to fit the bill.

Short review: IT TOTALLY DOES. If you’re into Tale of Genji, Heian era, classical Japanese history, classical Japanese literature, Japanese poetry, or just love reading translators articulating eloquently while sassing characters or flailing through linguistic complexities, I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK

Long review: blah blah blah thoughts follows, including some quotes/poem for reference.

The book starts with a quick 2 page intro setting the context of the Tale of Genji, then goes straight into the poems. TBH I personally found it more flowery and redundant than necessary (it repeats a few poems that are then explained later). But it’s only 2 pages, we’ll live.

Then, the poems. For every poem (or poems, in the case of an exchange - sometimes a flurry of them with multiple characters speaking or dashing letters off to each other) there’s an intro and summary of context followed by an analysis, including notes on meaning, narrator and character intent, structure, symbols and wordplay. The original Japanese is included in romaji alongside the English translation. The commentary also flags known references to other classic poems (WITH those poems in-line! This is awesome because I don’t have the rest of these books!), and even mentions poem and folk song quotations from the rest of the novel where the characters have not composed new poetry, but are reciting other existing known pieces.

Overall, I have only three real “warnings” about Grasses of Remembrance Vol 2b:

1) It’s very academic and flowery in tone. If you’re not used to it, it can be hard to read. But then again, if you’re not willing to get past that, how are you reading Tale of Genji? lol. In any case, I personally thought the commentary was a lot of fun. Cranston definitely has opinions and can get pretty sarcastic in places, which I found hilarious. Here are a few sample quotes:

“Tamakazura has remarked to herself how superior the Emperor [Reizei] was in looks to all the courtiers in his train (It is a principle with this author that superior people be dashingly handsome or ravishingly beautiful).” 

“The ruefully witty poems exchanged between Yugiri and To no Naishi [Koremitsu’s daughter, the Gosechi Dancer] are rather more to my taste than the soggy ones Yugiri and Kumoi no Kari exchanged on their wedding night. Might it be the case that a totally sanctioned relationship is literarily uninspiring?”

“The old lady reaches for the melodramatic ultimate and dies just as Yugiri’s letter arrives.”

The overall effect is like an exceedingly well-educated, gossipy and sassy ride through the entire novel hahaha. 

2) Minor typos. I noticed some speckled throughout the text every so often (e.g., Tamakazura being rendered Takakazura, Akashi as Asashi, instances of accidental extra letters, etc.). It was pretty clear what the correct spelling was supposed to be, and TBH considering this is the last of a huge-ass series of over 1300 pages I think it’s forgiveable. Maybe a few that spell-check should have caught, but oh well.

3) This book is NOT CHEAP. As I mentioned in a previous post, not only did I not buy the entire collection, I didn’t even buy a complete Volume 2 - I only bought the last half of the second volume lmao. And the Tale of Genji translations are only HALF of this half of a book. The rest is actually the footnotes, appendices, notes to poems, glossary, bibliography and indices (including indices for every poem by author and by first line) for this beast of a translation/compilation project. This includes a lot of additional commentary and other poems and makes for pretty interesting reading itself, even without the rest of the volumes/parts. The price can definitely be scary and an issue for a lot of people, so if you’re interested in it, I suggest try checking it out at your library or on Google Books first. (In fact, Google Books is how I learned of this book in the first place.)

For me, the depth of insight for the poems was fantastic. It gave me a lot more appreciation for the scenes, including the mental state of the characters, plus a million more symbols, metaphors and ideas for my own creative works like the Genjimonogatari illustration series, North Bound and other original stuff. 

It also clarified several fuzzy translation questions I had that relied on specific knowledge of Heian culture and history/evolution of the use of the language and wasn’t easily found in Google searches or online language resources. And even if you’re already familiar with common allusions, metaphors and puns/homophones in Japanese poetry, it’s still helpful to see them all summarized. And sometimes lamented by the book’s author too. SO MANY PONIES EATING GRASS. SO MANY PINES. Especially the pines. (It IS an amazing pun though, especially because it works in both English and Japanese. Pine [tree] -> to pine, matsu/pine tree -> matsu/to wait)

In term of the actual translations themselves, you may still find them coming off a bit roundabout in some cases when comparing to the original Japanese. But overall I find Cranston’s translations more direct/flavourful than how they were rendered in the Tyler translation, partly because of how Tyler chose to juggle his set of translator’s challenges for rendering not only meaning but also more technical aspects of the poetic form. So the imagery ends up being, to me, a lot more vivid. The overall effect usually ends up more colourful, more emotional, more erotic, more cutting, more entertaining, and whatnot. 

For example, Kashiwagi’s suitor’s poem in the Kocho/Butterflies chapter. When reading the novel, I was like, uh-huh, yah, OK. When I read it here, I was like whoa, dude, that’s a little intense lol. Cranston’s translation amps up the connotation of the heat of the water based on the rest of the line. For comparison:

(The original non-romaji Japanese in the samples following are thanks to the Japanese Text Initiative from the University of Virginia Library Etext Centre and the University of Pittsburgh East Asian Library. Their Tale of Genji page has a FREAKING AMAZING side-by-side comparison of the novel in original Japanese, modern Japanese and romaji. Bless them and the people who had to organize and wrangle that text together.)

Original Japanese: 思ふとも君は知らじなわきかへり 岩漏る水に色し見えねば Omou to mo / Kimi wa shiraji na / Wakikaeri Iwa moru misu ni / Iro shi mieneba

Tyler version: You can hardly know that my thoughts are all of you, for the stealthy spring welling from the rocks leaves no colour to be seen.

Cranston version: Hardly can you know / Of the longing that I feel, / For the boiling wave / Is merely colorless water / As it drains away from the rock.

Here’s another example. Oigimi (Agemaki in the book, as Cranston used Wayley’s names for the sisters) telling Kaoru that he’s the only one who’s been actually visiting them and Kaoru is like all riiiight :Db! From Shii ga Moto / Beneath the Oak chapter:

Oigimi’s poem 雪深き山のかけはし君ならで またふみかよふ跡を見ぬかな Yuki fukaki / Yama no kakehashi / Kimi narade Mata fumikayou / Ato o minu kana

Tyler: No brush but your own has marked the steep mountain trails buried deep in snow / with footprints, while back and forth letters go across the hills.

Cranston: Over the bridges / Clinging to the cliffs along / Our deep-snow mountains / No letter-bearer leaves his trace: / Those footprints are yours alone.

Kaoru’s reply つららとぢ駒ふみしだく山川を しるべしがてらまづや渡らむ Tsurara toji / Koma fumishidaku / Yamakawa o Shirube shigatera / Mazu ya wataramu

Tyler: Then let it be I who firsts ride across these hills, though on his mission, / where ice under my horse’s hooves crackles along frozen streams.

Cranston: In the sheets of ice / Covering the mountain streams / My steed crushes / Such letters as form my reason, / My first, to cross as a guide.

In other examples, Genji’s “*throws hands in the air* I give up” poetic reply to Suetsumuhana about how she keeps using Robes of Cathay/Chinese cloak imagery in her poems in the original Japanese alongside the translation cracked me up even more. And one of my favourites is a pair of poems between the future Akashi Empress (as a child) and her birth-mother the Akashi lady. It’s really sad, sweet and cute all at the same time and completely flew under my radar when I read the novel originally.

The poetry analysis for the Uji chapters is especially intriguing. The plot pointedly pits Niou against Kaoru as opposing personalities with particular similarities and contrasts that drive their relationship with each other and with the woman they’re competing for. Especially in the latter half of the story, a lot of their poems, even ones written independently (i.e., to Ukifune), are specifically composed to highlight those attributes and play off of each other.

Finally, it’s also super interesting to see my experience with the narrative changes through the lens of the poems. Obviously, as I mentioned, some things I easily missed without paying as much attention to the poems in between the rest of the story. But also, some prominent characters have very few poems, so the narrative shifts away from them. Meanwhile, a number of otherwise very minor or usually overlooked characters stand out even more, thanks to the fineness, loveliness, resonance, and sometimes just sheer consistent presence of their poetry. This book definitely gave me a lot of additional perspective on the Tale of Genji, and enhanced my appreciation of the novel and the skill behind its crafting!

[calligraphist-artemisia]

I’ll Take Her Place (Chapter 11)

Summary:  AU. When Allura breaks the news that she is to wed Prince Lotor in order to continue the peaceful relationship between Altea and Daibazaal, Pidge knows that she has to do something to change that. And so, with a little help, she comes up with a new plan. A better plan

Pairings: Keith/Pidge (main) ; Shiro/Allura (minor), Hunk/Lance (minor) ; Lotor/Allura (one-sided)

Chapter 1 - Previous - Masterpost

Also posted on AO3 and fanfiction.net

It’s been a few days past my goal of two weeks, but I’m okay with that. (It’s better than taking a whole month.) And this chapter still ended up being almost double that of chapter 10??? It took me all day with just a few breaks to type this up, but it was worth it. 

Enjoy!

Chapter 11

Pidge hummed as she pulled up the coding for Rover's artificial intelligence, her keen eyes scanning over it for any clue about her beloved robot's continued instability. It was an insult to her programming skills that she'd been unable to solve such a simple problem.

Maybe it wasn't the programming. Maybe there was some crucial piece (or pieces) missing. The sentry had been pretty trashed when she picked it up, but she'd been so sure that she'd gathered everything she needed to complete her pet project. Pidge may have to put in a word to her suppliers and see if they had anything.

She was contemplating accessing their secure line to see if they were in the area, when the door to the Green Lion's hangar slid open and Allura and Lance stepped inside looking positively giddy. Pidge's eyes were drawn to the simple brown package in Lance's and she raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“It's finished already?” she asked, turning away from her desk.

Lance nodded, hurrying over to her in his eagerness to hand over his gift. “I gave Nilani the design a while ago, but couldn't find a good reason to get her to make it for you. Now, I do!” He held it out to her as Allura caught up to him.

Pidge accepted the package and slowly peeled away the tape, knowing the anticipation was killing her friends.

After several days of deliberation and looking at the work of several of the royal tailors and dressmakers, Pidge found herself gravitating towards the work of Lance's personal favorite – a half-Altean girl named Nilani, who'd developed a fascination with Earth culture and welcomed the challenge of designing for them. The parcel Lance had brought her was the first finished example of her work and Pidge didn't have the faintest clue how it was going to look.

While Lance squirmed, Allura stood with a beaming smile and her hands clasped in front of her, a sure sign that the princess was struggling to maintain her calm and cool appearance.

Pidge raised her eyes to meet Lance's as she leisurely lifted up the first layer of wrapping.

“You are a cruel friend,” Lance informed her.

Pidge laughed and finally ripped the paper away, eager to see it for herself. She saw the rich purple first – not too dark, but not too pink either. As she held it up, her attention was down to the wide panel of white down the center of the dress. The fabric itself flowed smoothly and was just the right thickness that it would drape nicely over her body.

“You liked the one I found at Space Mall, so I picked a style similar to that. The sleeves are longer, because I thought that might be more comfortable for you, and I think the skirt is shorter, so if you don't like it-”

“Lance,” Pidge interrupted because he could get too carried away. She couldn't tear her eyes away from her new dress, so similar to the one she'd worn for Matt's graduation, just before he and their dad left on the Kerberos mission. “I... I love it. It's like having a piece of home.”

(A piece of her old self. Of Katie, the girl who dreamed of being a pilot and finding out for herself what the stars had to teach her.)

Lance looked relieved.

Pidge stood and tried to hold the dress against herself so they could get a better look, but doing so with one arm proved a bigger challenge than she expected. She messily tucked the left side beneath the sling to hold it in place and then didn't dare move or risk it slipping free.

“It's beautiful,” Allura complimented. “Though it may cause a bit of a stir if people see you wearing Prince Keithir's colors so soon.”

Pidge wasn't really sure how she felt about that. A few weeks ago and she likely would have set the dress aside, burying it somewhere deep within her closet until she was sure she could look at it without feeling uncomfortable. However, after everything they'd been through, after the very nice evenings she'd spent in his company the past few days, she found she didn't mind so much.

“Speaking of Prince Keithir, how are things going with him?” Allura asked, genuinely curious.

“Good, I think,” Pidge said. “We're actually talking to each other now.” She folded up her new dress to the best of her ability and put it on the corner of her desk where she was sure to remember to pick it up and take it back to her room later.

“Does that mean you'll stop glaring at the floor whenever someone mentions wedding stuff?” Lance asked.

“I don't-! I didn't!” Pidge sputtered in protest.

“You did,” Allura and Lance said in unison. They looked at each other and grinned.

Pidge slumped in her chair as she sat back down. “Ugh, I did, didn't I?” she asked rhetorically.

As much as she wanted to blame being in pain for her dour mood towards anything wedding related, it had honestly started before her injury. She was learned hard and fast that just because she'd voluntarily offered herself up in Allura's place, it didn't mean a part of her wasn't still resentful for that.

“It's not too late, you know,” Allura reminded her, her voice soft. “Empress Honerva bought you three months for an official courtship. If either of you decides it isn't something you can go through with, no one would fault you for breaking it off.”

“But then you'd have to marry Lotor,” Lance said before Pidge had a chance to find the words.

Allura closed her eyes. She breathed in deeply and then slowly let it out. “Yes, I would.”

“That's not going to happen,” Pidge said with steel in her voice. She twisted her chair around so she was facing her computer screen, which meant she completely missed the twin expressions of surprise from Allura and Lance. “I won't let that happen to you, Allura. Besides, Keithir isn't so bad. I could be... content with him.”

Content.

She could see having a fantastic friendship with him, even with their rocky start, but that didn't mean they would fall in love and live happily ever after. They were two very different people, with just enough in common that they could get along and work well together, but that was all she saw.

Allura and Lance left soon after, giving Pidge more time alone with her thoughts.

Pidge worked until her stomach rumbled so loudly that she could no longer ignore it. She saved her progress and shut down her equipment before stretching carefully to release some of the stiffness in her back that had built up from sitting still for so long. Before leaving, she made sure to grab her dress and stuff it into a bag alongside a file of blueprints to work on back in her room, and then she was off to Hunk's kitchen.

When she arrived, she found Shiro dressed in full armor, calmly leaving instructions with the others. Hunk and Lance were notably not wearing their armor.

“What's going on?” Pidge asked.

Hunk looked as though he was struggling not to laugh. “Uh, someone mentioned bringing Slav in to look at the cryo-pods. Kolivan just came and told us that he's agreed to fly over here, but only if Shiro's the one to pick him up.”

Pidge chanced a quick glance at Shiro's face and had to hide her grin when she saw his eye twitch at the mention of Slav's name. As much as the crazy genius drove all of them up the wall, no one handled it worse than Shiro. There was something about Slav that pushed every single one of his buttons in the worst way. What made it better (to everyone else) was how much Slav loved the Black Paladin, probably because he was the only one willing to go above and beyond to fulfill his ridiculous conditions.

“I'll be gone for a few days, but that doesn't mean you three can slack off,” Shiro said sternly. “Allura will oversee your training while I'm away. Even yours, Pidge. You're still capable of running laps.”

Suddenly Pidge wished she was still confined to a bed. Training under Allura's guidance was bound to be a hellish experience. Even after three years of working together, the princess still forgot that their stamina and strength wasn't equal to that of Alteans and would push them until they couldn't stand.

Lance groaned, vocalizing everyone's thoughts on the matter. “Are you sure we can't take a tiny break? A few days wouldn't hurt, right?”

His question at least make Shiro smile and Pidge wondered for a moment if it was his way of getting revenge for their obvious delight that he was the one going to get Slav. She pushed the thought away. Shiro wasn't that petty.

(Yes. Yes he was.)

Pidge's stomach chose that moment to gurgle loudly, reminding her of the reason why she'd let her hangar. She blushed as everyone turned to look at her.

“Hunk, you're in charge of making sure everyone eats properly,” Shiro said, sounding mildly amused.

That was an instruction the Yellow Paladin was happy to agree to.

It wasn't uncommon for conversation to come to an abrupt stop when Keithir walked into a room, whether he was in the royal palace on Daibazaal or at home in the Blade headquarters. So when he exited his room and Thace and Kolivan went silent as they turned to regard his arrival, he wasn't surprised.

“You should hear this,” Kolivan told him.

Keithir had been fully prepared to step out for a few minutes to let them wrap up, so he was pleasantly surprised by their invitation to learn more about what was happening. Even if it turned out to have nothing to do with the assassination attempt, it was still nice to be involved in something after being shut out for most of the week. He joined them, trying not to seem overeager.

“Part of my mission was meeting with an informant who has news from someone close to Lotor,” Thace explained. “According to him, Lotor returned straight home to Daibazaal after leaving Altea. There have been no noteworthy changes to his behavior and he hasn't met with anyone unusual. By all appearances, he had nothing to do with the attempt on your life.”

“But who else could it be?” Keithir's question came out as a demand. He flicked his ears back and looked away, waiting for the reprimand about keeping a level head.

“We doubt Lotor is innocent in this matter, which is why we will continue to investigate him. It is much more likely that this has been planned for some time, but certain events have caused him to act hastily,” Kolivan explained, crossing his arms over his chest.

Thace shifted uneasily. “What worries me is how quickly his plans have adapted to the currant situation. Ulaz is certain that Lotor is behind the malfunctioning cryo-pods. It cannot be coincidence that it happened the same day you agreed to marry Pidge, though it seems unlike him to make such an obvious move. I believe the two of you have taken him by surprise more than anyone expected,” he said, sounding a little proud. “This is the best opportunity we've had in years.”

“It has also become clear that Lotor is not working alone. We've suspected as much, but the sniper confirms it. Furthermore, the ease in which they avoided being caught suggests that it was the work of two people, rather than one. If he truly hasn't been seen meeting with anyone, they are far more than hired goons given the task of killing you. They have his trust,” Kolivan said.

The clear worry in his voice struck Keithir with vivid shock.

“You and Lady Katherine must remain vigilant.”

Keithir's stomach churned at the thought of it. It was one thing for his life to be in danger, but the reminder that Katie was just as big of a target as he was made him feel ill.

Logically, he knew she was fully capable of taking care of herself. He'd heard stories of the Green Paladin's courage and ingenuity in the face of adversity and had seen a spark of that for himself. In a fight, there was no question that she could hold her ground and come out the winner in the end.

But Lotor was a different battle. He was clever and didn't pull his punches, striking wherever he found a weakness to exploit. He had strategy and finesse on his side, as well as years of experience thanks to careful training. (He was raised to be the future Emperor, after all.) Keithir had never met anyone who was able to out-think his brother, and even with her quick thinking and brilliant mind, he wasn't sure even Katie had a chance.

“We've sent for Slav,” Kolivan told him. “He'll arrive soon to see what he can do about the healing pods and then we'll have one less thing to worry about. That leaves us with two more days of vulnerability. If Lotor has anything else planned for us, he'll strike before then.”

Pidge stealthily made her way through the halls, ducking out of sight whenever she was about to encounter a guard or one of the Blade. It was unlikely that anyone would stop her, but if word got back to her friends that she was leaving the Castle to go down to port on her own, without any additional protection and her wound still healing, they'd probably lock her up until Shiro returned. (Admittedly, that wouldn't be too long, as Shiro was due to return that evening, but she'd still rather avoid it.)

Just a little further and she would be free.

“What are you doing?”

Pidge barely withheld a shriek of surprise, spinning around to find the source of the voice. She spotted them quickly, tucked away in one of the small alcoves which seemed to serve no purpose except to break up the monotony of the otherwise straight corridor.

“Keith,” she breathed in relief.

He pushed his hood back and deactivated his mask. “It's dangerous to go out on your own.”

Her relief at seeing her friend quickly shifted to frustration. She was so tired of everyone trying to baby her and tell her what she could or couldn't do. She was a Paladin! There was always danger waiting for her, but that didn't mean she had to cower in her room out of fear!

Pidge turned away from him and kept walking. “I'm just going to see some friends. I won't be long.”

Swift footsteps followed behind her. Keith made no effort to hide the fact that he was following her.

“I don't need a baby-sitter, Keith!” she snapped.

Keith caught her by the arm, tugging her to a stop. “Are you insane? You have no idea how dangerous Lotor is! He's not going to pull any punches just because you're injured! You can't go out there by yourself!”

Pidge ripped her arm from his hold, frustration mounting to rage. “You can't tell me what to do!” Her voice echoed down the hall, much louder than she intended. Her face reddened slightly, but she held her ground.

Keith, it seemed, wasn't going to back down either. (Pidge wondered later if it was because he was used to dealing with an equally stubborn prince.) “Just listen to me! Lotor is done playing games. He's going to use every advantage he can take and you going out there by yourself is playing directly into his hands! You're going to get yourself killed, Katie!”

His use of her real name made her feel as though she'd been doused in cold water. So few people called her by that name anymore – Keithir was the only one, actually – and it was enough to make her stop and think.

“Please don't go by yourself,” he said, his voice a little softer. “It doesn't have to be me, but don't go alone.”

Pidge closed her eyes and took a moment to breath and calm herself. She wouldn't let herself be ruled by anger. It had a horrible way of getting her to yell at people who didn't deserve it and muddying her normally logical thought process.

“I guess having backup wouldn't be so bad... Just stay close and try not to draw attention to yourself,” Pidge told him, eyeing his dark uniform. They had little hope of not standing out, but if they acted natural, no one would watch them closely.

Keith fell into step next to her as they left the Castle. A heavy and strained silence stretched between them, hanging on by a fragile thread that neither of them was ready to break.

Pidge was still steamed about how he tried to order her around, as though she was a child who needed to be coddled and protected because she couldn't do it herself. It didn't matter how much time had passed. It didn't matter that she was considered an adult by most cultures, on Earth or otherwise. She doubted she would ever shake the paranoia of others treating her like she was too young.

“Who's this friend you're risking your life to see?” Keith asked.

“Friends,” Pidge corrected, ignoring the obvious jab. “They're kind of my suppliers for unusual tech that I re-purpose for my own use. Sometimes they bring me interesting news.”

Keith looked impressed. “They're your informants?”

“In a way. They're able to fly under the radar, so they pick up on tidbits no one else hears about. Sometimes it's useful. Sometimes it's just rumor. It's easy to pick out which is which when the rumors are usually something like Commander Sendak being spotted vacationing at the spa on Traxia's twelfth moon.”

Keith chuckled. “That does sound unlike him.”

“Yeah, I always figured he was the sort to enjoy fighting more than anything else. If anything, a spa day would be like torture to him,” Pidge said jokingly.

The two fell quiet again as they reached a more crowded area. Keith moved a little closer to her, his sharp eyes watching out for anyone who looked suspicious. Pidge pressed on, knowing exactly where she was going as she led the way through the winding streets packed with people.

They walked for some time, but eventually she spotted the old junker parked on the edge of port. Grinning, she strode forward to greet the blue-skinned alien who was moving boxes off of the ship.

“For a while I was afraid I'd have to come bail you out of trouble again,” Pidge called out.

The alien stood up straight and lazily smirked in her direction. “I'd be flattered if I didn't know the real reason you'd come to our rescue. Beezer's helping Nyma with a few things inside right now.” His gaze slid to Keith, who stood rigidly at Pidge's side. He raised an eyebrow. “Who's your shadow?”

“This is Keith. Keith, this is Rolo,” Pidge introduced. “So, you said you found something for me?”

“Straight to business, as usual,” Rolo teased. “But yeah, we picked p those parts you asked for the last time we were here and I think Nyma has some spare pieces for your sentry. You two come on in and I'll find them for you.”

Keith's gaze flickered to Pidge, who followed Rolo onto the ship with a bounce in her step, wrapped up in the delight of finally getting to start the projects she'd been postponing due to lack of materials. (Sure, she could ask Allura for all of the Altean tech she could dream of, and had done so more than once, but there was something infinitely more fulfilling about salvaging stuff that anyone else would declare garbage.)

“Keith, are you coming?”

He finally moved, unsure about walking onto an unfamiliar cargo ship, but willing to trust that Pidge wouldn't deliberately lead him into a trap.

“Nyma, Pidge is here!” Rolo called towards the front. At his words, a faint barrier built itself across the ramp of the ship, cutting them off from the outside world.

Keith's hand immediately went to his dagger as he slid into a defensive position, fully prepared to fight his way out.

Rolo caught sight of the movement and raised an eyebrow. “Twitchy, isn't he?” he remarked to Pidge.

She looked back, her eyes going soft when she saw him. “Keith, it's fine. The barrier just prevents anyone from listening in to what we're saying. It's not keeping us stuck inside. See?” She stuck her hand through it to prove her point.

Keith relaxed at her demonstration, a little embarrassed by his reaction, and let his arms rest back at his sides.

“You obviously have more than parts for me today,” Pidge said as she walked over to stand next to Keith. “What's going on?”

Rolo leaned back against a wall before he started talking. “We've started to hear talk about rebellion in the Outer Reaches. Seems there's a couple of planets willing to band together and 'take back what's rightfully theirs'. Mostly we figure they're talking about the colony planets and stations held by Altea and Daibazaal. They've never been fond of either spreading their influences that far, but this is the first time anyone has dared rally against them.”

Keith frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “You're talking about the Napamku Quadrant.”

Rolo nodded.

“That's Lotor's territory. The Galra colony and two outposts are under his control, to help him prepare for ruling the empire,” Keith quietly told Pidge. “The Blade's picked up whispers of unease for years, but nothing like this.” He directed his attention back to Rolo and raised his voice so the other could hear him clearly. “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn't be telling Pidge if I didn't think it was serious.”

“Kolivan and Shiro need to hear this,” Pidge murmured.

Keith agreed, silently vowing to find Kolivan the moment they returned to the Castle. His sharp eyes were soon drawn to movement behind Rolo and he watched as a female alien joined them with a sealed crate and a small robot at her side.

The robot beeped in excitement when it noticed Pidge and she squealed in response, dropping to her knees as it rolled over to her and playfully bumped against her side until she enveloped it in a one-armed hug.

“It's good to see you too, Beezer! How's the best robot in the whole universe?”

Beezer gave a series of different toned beeps in response.

Nyma watched on with amusement. “Sometimes I think the salvage is just an excuse to see him.”

Pidge was too busy holding a conversation with the robot, though Keith couldn't help bu wonder if she actually understood the little guy or if it was entirely one-sided.

Rolo cleared his throat in an attempt to get her attention. “That's not the only rumor we've heard, though the next one have been dismissed as too far-fetched so far. Nyma overheard this one during our stopover at the Fripping Bulgogian. Seems a couple of Galra had a bit too much to drink.”

“They say you've agreed to marry the Galra prince to fully establish ties between Daibazaal and Voltron,” Nyma said, sounding surprisingly uneasy with the idea. “It's not true, is it, Pidge?”

Pidge looked away and that was all the confirmation Nyma needed.

“Be careful, okay? Prince Keithir is said to be kinder than his brother, but that doesn't mean you aren't treading dangerous waters. Getting between them is risky.”

Pidge's shoulder throbbed painfully, as if echoing Nyma's concerns. “Yeah, I know. I'll be careful.” She gave Beezer one last affectionate pat and then stood up. “Anything I can do for you two while you're here?”

“If you could, ask Hunk to come down and help me give this baby a look over,” Rolo requested. “I think she's overdue for a tune up.”

“Sure,” Pidge responded, stepping forward to retrieve the crate of parts from Nyma. She hesitated upon realizing she didn't have a good way to carry it back to the Castle by herself.  She could feel her cheeks heating up as she looked to Keith for help. “Could you...?”

Keith looked a little startled at being asked, but walked over and picked up the crate with ease.

After that, they said their goodbyes and began the long trek back to the Castle.

“Thanks for carrying that for me,” Pidge said after several minutes had passed.

“You're welcome. How were you planning on getting it back by yourself, anyway?” he asked.

“I, uh, didn't really think about that, I guess,” she responded, unable to look at him. “Normally they don't have this much for me and I can just carry it back in my pockets or in a small bag.”

Keith hummed and didn't say anything else for a few minutes until another question struck him. “What's all of this for?”

Pidge instantly brightened at being asked about her projects, something few people dared to bring up anymore. “Some of it's so I can finish my repairs on Rover! Oh, Rover's this Galra sentry that I found and decided to rebuild. He's going to help me around the hangar and keep Hunk from borrowing my things without permission. I've just about got him working properly, but he's not quite there yet. Last time I turned him on he chased Hunk around the room until I told him to stop!” She laughed at the memory. “The rest is for a miniature anti-gravity machine! Ages ago, I found these cute little fuzzy aliens floating around in a scrapyard and brought a few of them back to the Castle with me. The problem is, I can't turn off the gravity in my room, which means all they can do now is crawl around. But, if I can generate an energy field  small enough that it won't interfere with anything else...”

Keith was content to listen to her babble on about her plans, enjoying the way her face lit up as she spoke. He'd been a little taken aback at first. He hadn't expected her to dive right in and explain it with such eagerness. Not to him.

It was clear her tech was something she was very passionate about and in a small way it reminded him of his mother.

Pidge talked the entire way back to the Castle, and while most of it went right over his head, Keith managed to think of a few relevant questions to ask along the way. It was for that reason that Pidge invited him inside of her hangar instead of having him drop it off just inside the door.

“Want to meet Rover?” Pidge asked, already heading towards her workbench.

Keith heard her question, but stood just inside the room, frozen in place at the sight of the Green Lion. He knew the Lions were massive, but to actually see one in person...

Golden eyes seemed to bore straight into his blue-violet ones, almost as if the Lion could see directly into his soul. He shuddered at the thought.

“Greenie, behave,” Pidge called out.

The staring lessened somewhat and Keith willed his legs to move. He carried the crate to the desk and put it down where Pidge told him to, but before he could excuse himself to try and get away from the Green Lion, a pyramid-shaped object flew into his arm and beeped indignantly. And then it repeated the process.

“Like I said,” Pidge said, grabbing Rover before he could carry on. “It's a work-in-progress. I'll have him working perfectly soon.”

Keith watched her gently caress the tiny drone before shutting it down and he couldn't help but smile at her treatment of it. It seemed there was more to her than he'd imagined.

“I found the perfect place to practice!” Allura happily said to Lance, before dragging him from the comfort of the couch and the middle of a huge boss battle.

“But my high score!” he yelped, fumbling with the controller. His head drooped in defeat when it fell from his hands and clattered to the floor.

Lance let Allura drag him down the hall and into a room that was no longer in use. He and Pidge had once tried to turn it into a yoga studio for a bit of lighter exercise, but it didn't last longer than a week.

“So what are we practicing?”

Allura let go of him and gracefully spun around, her hair flowing around her like a rippling silver river. “Dancing, of course! You did say you'd help me so I can properly teach Pidge, remember?”

The memory was coming back to him and Lance grinned as his excitement rose to match hers.

“I know Coran is a little busy today, preparing for Slav's arrival, but I thought we could at least get started with the basics. Once you've got that down, it will be easier to understand what Coran is telling you to do,” Allura said. She held her hands out to Lance, inviting him closer. “Shiro once taught me your Earth 'waltz' and I've found it quite similar to the Galran akríg, so we'll start there.”

Lance hesitantly got into place, his nervousness bleeding from every movement he made. “Like this?”

Allura hummed and adjusted his hand on her waist before beaming up at him. “Perfect! Now, if I remember correctly, you lead.”

“O-oh, right,” Lance stammered, taking another moment before guiding Allura in small, cautious steps. “I think it's like this? Sorry, it's been a while.”

“You're doing fine,” Allura told him.

Emboldened by her confidence in him, Lance relaxed, his movements growing more confident with every minute that passed. Soon, they were gliding around the room, both smiling and carrying on a conversation about how well they thought Shiro was handling getting stuck transporting Slav by himself.

“I feel like he's cooking up a horrific training exercise for us at this very moment,” Lance said with a shiver.

“Only if he hasn't thrown himself out of the Black Lion to escape,” Allura joked.

“You should've gone with him,” Lance told her. “You could've spared him from such a horrible fate and gotten to spend an entire day alone with him in the cockpit, just the two of you.” He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Romantic.”

Allura rolled her eyes, a dark blush settling over her cheeks at the insinuation. She made no attempt to deny his words as she normally would. “I had considered...” She stopped herself with a shake of her head. “It wouldn't be appropriate. This is for the best, at least for now. Perhaps after the wedding.”

“Do you really want to wait that long?” Lance asked, all trace of playful banter gone. He swallowed a wave of bitterness at the reminder of the situation Pidge had gotten into. “Pidge got you two a second chance. You can't throw that away. You and Shiro... you two are perfect for each other. It's the sort of relationship that people dream about having. So to see you two dance around it, knowing that you both feel the same, it's hard to watch.

“There's always a risk with dating. It... It changes everything and if it doesn't work out, it never goes back to exactly the way it was before. But if you don't take that risk, you might miss out on something wonderful,” Lance said, his voice low. “I was petrified when I realized I was in love with Hunk – in love with my best friend. It could have ruined everything. I was so sure of it. And then... and then that mission happened and all I could think was that I never had the chance to tell him how I really feel and it almost killed me inside.

“So don't wait, Allura. Don't wait until it's almost too late.”

The healing pods were fixed and the twitch in Shiro's right eye promised retribution to his fellow Paladins. Pidge chose to abscond the moment Ulaz proclaimed her shoulder fully healed, abandoning her leader before he could convince her to remain with him while Slav went on about proper pod maintenance and potential improvements.

She would usually be tempted to stick around longer. As crazy as he was, Slav had one of the most brilliant minds she had ever come across and when he actually stayed on topic, talking to him was enjoyable. But she had other plans. Plans she had set into motion earlier that day and was actually kind of excited about.

Up until that point, Keithir had been the one to invite her on their dates. First had been the dinner disaster and then there was the garden stroll, which started out decently, but ended worse than the first. They'd spent several evenings talking in his quarters under the watchful eyes of Thace, but she wasn't counting those as proper dates.

“Third time's the charm,” she said to herself as she walked into the kitchen.

Predictably, Hunk was there, putting the finishing touches on the food she'd asked for. He looked up when she entered and broke out into a huge smile. “You're healed!”

She playfully flexed her left arm, taking delight in the freedom she'd regained. She swore she would never take the cryo-pods for granted again.

“I'm one-hundred percent back to normal!” Pidge said as she joined him at the counter. She breathed in deeply, melting at the delicious smells. “Have I mentioned that you're the best friend ever? Because this is incredible, Hunk.”

Hunk blushed at the praise. “It is pretty great, isn't it,” he said, looking over his hard work with pride. “I hope you don't mind, but I'm borrowing your dinner idea for me and Lance. I found this really cute spot in the southeastern part of the gardens where you get a good view of sunfall and I'm going to surprise him.”

“Aww, that's so sweet!” Pidge said sincerely.

Together the pair packed two picnic baskets, carefully arranging the food inside so nothing would get crushed. Some of it was left behind for Allura and Shiro to enjoy, just in case they decided against joining the King and Queen for dinner.

While Hunk went to track down Lance and whisk him away for a surprise romantic dinner, Pidge gathered up her courage and headed to the room Keithir had been given.

He was waiting for her outside the door, quietly talking to the Blade who was there to protect him. He looked annoyed by something, his ears flicked back as he crossed his arms over his chest, but the moment he caught sight of her, that all went away and an expression of pure awe took its place.

Pidge shoved aside her impulse to look down. She'd worn her new dress knowing the sort of reaction it might bring. Maybe she should have listened to Allura's warning and saved it to wear another time.

The masked Blade roughly nudged Keithir when he continued to stare, knocking the prince from his stupor.

“You, um, look nice,” Keithir said awkwardly.

“Thanks,” Pidge said. She wanted to scream at herself for being so nervous about talking to him. What was it about calling it a date that always rendered them unable to function properly? She ducked her head as she felt her cheeks start to heat up and had to shift the basket from one hand to another as her palms started to sweat.

The simple movement spurred Keithir into action, years of training kicking in. “Here, may I?” he asked, gesturing to the basket.

Pidge almost insisted on carrying it herself, but something about the way he asked, so uncertain, left her feeling okay about handing it over to him.

It wasn't about strength or weakness. It was an offering to help, if she wanted it.

If Keithir thought he'd been nervous before, both of their previous dates paled in comparison to Katie leading him down to her hangar, where the Green Lion silently sat. The great beast made him unexpectedly anxious, as he doubted it would take kindly to his unintended double life and Keith and Keithir.

Katie, luckily, didn't pick up on his inner turmoil, and in fact looked wrapped up in her own thoughts as she nibbled on her lower lip.

It wasn't just the Green Lion that had his stomach twisted in knots. Seeing Pidge in that beautiful shade of deep purple (Daibazaal's royal color), it suddenly struck home that in a few short months he would be married to that clever, brilliant woman. She would be the one he would spend the rest of his life with.

They entered the hangar and, as before, Keithir's body froze up the moment he set eyes on the Green Lion. He could hear the whisper of a question in his head – an utterly foreign and bizarre feeling – but it was gone before he could rationalize it.

“Keithir, are you okay?” Katie asked.

Keithir tore his gaze away from the Lion, glad to find he could move once again. “I'm fine.”

She studied him closely for a moment and then let go of whatever question she had building in her mind. “I know it's not the most traditional picnic, but after last time I thought this might be safer. I tried to make it as comfortable as I could. Allura helped.” She turned and gestured to the floor behind her, where a green-and-white checkered blanket had been spread out over a mat.

It was simple. Relaxed. The exact opposite of how he'd been taught a proper date should be when wooing a lady.

Keithir loved it.

“It's perfect,” he told her and was rewarded with one of her bright smiles.

The two made themselves comfortable on the cushioned blanket and Katie started unpacking the basket, handing things to Keithir to arrange between them.

“Sorry about Regris,” he apologized. “Kolivan still has him on guard duty, just in case.”

Katie sat up as she removed the plates from the bottom of the basket and handed one of them to him. “Your safety is important, especially since we still don't know how the sniper got in or out of the Castle. At least you don't have to be within sight of him at all times when you're inside, right?”

“True,” Keithir agreed, thankful that his friend could be reasoned with. He doubted Regris really wanted to stand by and watch them on their date, no matter how much the older Galra liked to tease him about doing so.

He waited until Pidge opened the first container and began spooning out food for herself and then picked a box of tiny breads stuffed with what he thought might be meat of some kind.

Their conversation continued along those lines, as they compared notes on what they'd been told of the new security measures. From there, they moved onto the planets they missed visiting the most, but would be unlikely to see again for some time.

As the last bit of food was eaten, their simple date started to wind down and Keithir helped her clean up whatever he could.

“Can I ask you something?” Katie asked, out of the blue. “I've been wondering for a while now, but... why did you agree to this? I did it so Allura wouldn't marry Lotor, because she deserves to be with someone who makes her happy and I... Well, I could do something to make sure that would happen, so I did it. But you...”

Keithir took a moment to collect his thoughts. He had been wondering when she would ask and had been so sure that he was prepared for it, but all of his good excuses fled his mind as she looked at him with those big brown eyes. “Lotor and I got along once, but that was a long time ago. At some point, he decided I would be a hindrance to his plans, whatever they are, which makes me expendable.

“So I decided to do everything I can to get in his way,” Keithir admitted. “I'm sorry you got mixed up in this, Katie. I never meant for anyone else to get involved.”

He wasn't sure how she would take it.

Thace and Ulaz had lectured him about needlessly endangering himself when he told them. Regris had (affectionately, in a way) called him an idiot. Kolivan's response had been to push him even harder in training, determined to see his youngest Blade thrive.

Katie huffed in amusement and reached fr her half-full glass of juice, lifting it in his direction. “Here's to getting involved in dangerous situations most people try to avoid.”

Keithir gently clinked his glass against hers.

Upon reflection, several months later, he would realize that was the moment he started to fall for her.

Lotor was less than pleased with the way his plans were turning out.

After months of subtly influencing members of his father's council, he'd finally had Allura within his grasp, only to have her snatched away thanks to his so-called brother and that annoyingly clever Green Paladin.

He'd hoped to settle the matter and get his plans back on track by taking Keithir out of the picture, but once again that child got in his way. His only consolation was that Ezor had managed to successfully sabotage the healing pods for long enough that the paladin had to suffer the pain of her injury.

Perhaps he'd acted too rashly, allowing his rage to swallow him for a brief time. He would do better in the future.

Lotor silently watched his team of elite fighters banter with each other, all of them feeling the stress of the past few weeks. With Acxa's failure to kill Keithir and being spotted by the Altean guards while helping her escape (forcing her and Ezor to take care of the guards so they could never speak of what they saw), they were all waiting for the inevitable punishment.

It wouldn't come.

The two of them, as well as Narti and Zethrid, were completely loyal to him and him alone. Criticism would be enough to inspire them to do better.

“Zethrid, I have a mission for you,” Lotor said, a slow smirk curving across his face. A success would do well for morale and he had the perfect idea. “I think you'll enjoy this one.”

NEXT

[ladypjmoon]

BTS FF Reads for July...

Greetings Readers!!!

Sorry this is a few days late—I like to post my reviews during the first week of each month—but it’s summer and I’ve been spending time with friends and family...while enjoying the sun and beautiful weather!  

So, without further delay...here’s my BTS FanFiction recommended reading list for July!!!

Summertime was made for reading and these are some fantastically amazing stories I’ve had the pleasure to read—and, of course, cheerzzz to all these talented writers...and Thank You for sharing your beautiful works of art with the fandom!

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01)   Title: Pull Me Closer

Ship:  Yoonmin

Author:  by Willow_Odessa2333

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/11002941

Summary: College!AU where Jimin can’t sleep without listening to a *certain someone’s* channel, and then hears someone in the library that sounds JUST like him, but brushes it off until..... Or in which Jimin meets Yoongi, the voice behind the anonymous live stream host he kind of fell in love with.

My Review: I’m starting you out with a sugary delight that’s so sweet it’ll give you cavities—so remember to brush after reading, lol!  But seriously, this is Yoonmin at their most romantic—full of fluff and feels galore—and it’s sure to bring a smile to your face...so, enjoy!  

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02)   Title: Butterfingers

Ship:  Yoonmin

Author:  by ohdizzy

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7848391

Summary:  Jimin's life is no fairytale.  But if it was, it'd go something like this.  (Or: the AU in which Jimin is cursed to drop whatever he’s holding every time he sees the person he loves)

My Review: Here’s another Yoonmin gem where Jimin’s lost his creative edge and has a painting project due.  Taehyung decides he needs a muse—enter barista Min Yoongi, covered in tattoos.  The plot is pure love, the twist is Jimin’s cursed by the gods to drop things around the person he loves because he hates love and the friends to lovers ending is predictably cliché but beautifully done!    

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03)   Title: Come First

Ship:  Yoonjin

Author:  by jinified

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/10155545

Summary:  “You could go in there, you know.” Hoseok suggests offhandedly.  “No,” Seokjin says immediately with a dismissive shake of his head, “he told me to never interrupt him when he’s in there.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m serious! We have an established boundary zone because—”

“Please don’t.”

“—we’re roommates.”

or: Yoongi has been in the studio too long and Seokjin tries to persuade him to leave. It doesn't go quite according to plan.

My Review: This shorty is pure Yoonjin smut and fun while the simplistic plot only adds to the air of humor and believability—I can actually see this happening...oh yes!          

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04)   Title: Dahlia

Ship:  Yoonseok | Sope

Author:  by signifying_nothing

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8726908

Summary:  witchchild jeongguk accidentally summons a pair of demons

My Review: I find the summary on this fic a little misleading because it’s actually quite a soulful piece of work.  There’s a lot of meat to this one so don’t be surprised by the plot depth and fully developed characters.  Make sure you’re heart, mind and soul are open when you read this one because there’s a fuckton of good questions that are sparked by this basic angel-demon theme.  I loved this story a lot and those of you who like to read unusual story lines will too!!!

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05)   Title:  Daily Smoothies

Ship:  Taekook | Vkook

Author:  by Missmozzie

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8291000

Summary:  Taehyung likes smoothies, and so does Jeongguk.

My Review: I love awkward Taekook and this is a really cute college au with an added Yoonmin flare...enjoy!

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06)   Title: Eternal

Ship:  Jikook

Author:  by staycute1234

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/6228838

Summary:  Jungkook has been chasing Jimin for centuries.

My Review: This story spans a few hundred centuries following the vampire, Jungkook, as he waits for his soulmate, Jimin, to be continually reborn so they can be together for another human lifetime. There is blood and smut in this story but it’s sensual and not gore—however, if you’re the squeamish sort you might want to refrain from reading this one.  For all you vamp-lovers, this is a fabulous story and a great read!  

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07)   Title: Finally

Ship:  Vmin

Author:  by rosiex

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/10577745

Summary:  In which Jimin and Taehyung finally share their first kiss.

My Review: I adore this story—it’s quick but thorough!  We follow Jimin’s thought process surrounding his first kiss with Taehyung...which is also his first time kissing a boy.  Jimin’s mental dialog is genuine and detailed as he leads the reader through the physical and mental aspects that change his relationship status of his best friend from friend to lover.  This is a great little story with a big emotional footprint!          

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08)   Title: Homefront

Ship:  Namji | Minjoon

Author:  by ACatWhoWrites

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7998787

Summary:  There were times Jimin felt a lot and didn't feel at all. Times before he was a dad that he'd rather never forget and times he'd rather never think of again. Times when he was alone and choking on ash and slipping in mud made of blood and exposed dirt. Times before dancing with his daughter to animated guitar music and planning dates to pick flowers in the park.

My Review: I don’t normally read fictions that portray BTS members are parents (not my thing) but this one grabbed my heart. This is a multi-layered piece that surrounds a soldier (Jimin) who’s past and military obligations overlap with his life as a single father.  I love the underlying theme of finding love when and where you least expect it...because it reminds the reader there’s always hope!

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09)   Title: Insanity (in G minor)

Ship: Yoonmin

Author:  by neatospiffy

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/9575978

Summary:  Yoongi is a pianist who runs a music shop in a small town. Jimin is his unlikely studentroommate?  the music!au that nobody asked for tbqh heavily inspired by Yoongi's First Love, the piano version of Butterfly, and several Yoonmin fics I've read in the past.

My Review: I have a hard time reading plots about or with child abuse—however, since it was implied, not graphically depicted, I got through it fine.  Most of the fiction revolves around how Jimin comes to live with his piano instructor and how their bond forms over a love of music...eventually, they fall into a romantic relationship.  This is a very touching Yoonmin story that deserves your attention and will reward you with a happy heart in the end!

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10)   Title: Meet The Parents

Ship:  Yoonjin

Author:  by rosiex

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7851541

Summary:  Yoongi predicts that meeting Seokjin's parents will be a disaster.  He was right.

My Review: An honest and cringe-worthy account of meeting your partner’s parents and knowing they instantly hate you.  I found this story both funny and sad as I suffered through second-hand embarrassment and dreaded the ride home and ensuing fight that had the potential to rip them apart, but doesn’t—with an ending that’s pure Yoongi...at least in my mind.

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11)   Title: Never Judge a Book by its Cover

Ship:  Jikook

Author:  by whenIseeUsmile

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/9841067

Summary:  Thanks to Jungkook's idiot best friend, he drowned the books he borrowed from the library. Now, he has to work there to work off his debt. He doesn't really like the job but that one boy that always has his nose buried in his books makes his days much better.  Or in which Jungkook meets bookworm Jimin and falls harder than he thought he would.

My Review: This story is fabulous!  It has a generous amount of fluff and feels along with a well-structured plot that flows easily, making it a great read—and it doesn’t hurt to that there’s a healthy dose of side Taegi either...can I get an Hell Yeah!

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12)   Title: Passengers

Ship:  Yoonmin

Author:  by unclassified_senpai

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/9180250

Summary:  The spacecraft Starship Avalon is traveling to a distant colony planet, Homestead II, a journey that will take 120 years to complete. The colonists and the entire crew are in Hibernation Pods, but a malfunction awakens one passenger, mechanical engineer Min Yoongi, 90 years too soon.  A YoonMin PassengersAU.

My Review: You all know I’m Yoonmin trash (she said proudly) and this is Yoonmin in epic proportion!  This is a must read!!!  And, if you’re a stalker (like me) you can go read the comments I made throughout the story however, here’s a section of my last comment...

“Seriously, you did a spectacular job on this story and the research you put into it (behind-the-scenes) shows immensely! I love Yoonmin but in this setting...I don't know, there was just something so beautifully quiet and peaceful about the Yoonmin ship that I haven't found in any of my other reading travels. The characters were so truthful and exactly how I see them in my own mind, including all their pain and insecurities--somehow you managed to keep this same quiet echo through the entire series...which is a feat in and of itself. And Namjoon killed me--every chapter watching his body fade and fail was done with honest and painful simplicity...I cried more for Joonie than I did when Yoonmin separated after their misunderstanding.”

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13)   Title: The 8 by 8 Rule

Ship:  Taekook | Vkook

Author:  by Rix

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7344526

Summary:   Jungkook drinks a lot of water. Taehyung's into it.

My Review: This is another story that won’t be to everyone’s liking so READ the TAGS!  I laughed and blushed my way through this one because Rix’s sex scenes are off the MF hook!  I enjoyed reading this one—but again, I love me some bottom Jungkookie so yeah...don’t read this one in church, lmfao!

__________ 

14)   Title: sidereal

Ship:  Vmin

Author:  by darling

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8029858

Summary:  Here we observe the Earth and the Sun in their natural habitat: each other.

My Review: This story is another with the theme of domestic abuse—it’s heart-wrenching and bittersweet—with a happy ending but I caution you all to READ the TAGS for triggers!  Darling is one of my favorite authors because of the unique perspective, style and voice...so I highly encourage you to read this or any other piece by this fantastic writer!    

__________

15)   Title: you have 1 new message

Ship:  Namjin

Author:  by bazooka

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/7481172

Summary:  

r u n c h r a n d a.

fuck, this is going to sound like the weirdest shit. okay look i used ur selcas to catfish and this older dude is gonna buy me stuff but i have to send him a selca with a peace sign

~ * ~ pingkeu jin ~ * ~

hahahahahahaha wtf

My Review: This is a long one however, don’t be afraid—it’s written in a texting format so it’s a very fast-paced read.  It’s Namjin centric with the other members contributing here and there but the plot spirals into a suspenseful thriller and has a great ending...that’s sure to put a dimple in your smile! ;)    

__________ 

16)   Title: Figuring It Out as We Go

Ship:  Jikook

Author:  by peppermint_wind

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/6078801

Summary:  Jungkook never thought this would happen to him; eighteen years old and questioning everything he used to know. Staying up late watching gay music videos with wide-eyes, phone tucked to his chest, probably isn't helping him much, either, but what is he supposed to do when he realizes seeing two men together makes his whole body ache?

**Based off of Jungkook covering Troye Sivan's, "Fools."

"Jimin’s breathing begins to even, and Jungkook watches his chest rise and fall, steady and slow, like how waves wash up on Busan beaches."

My Review: A very sweet coming about Jungkook discovering and accepting that he’s gay and has feelings for Jimin.  The feels in this story are deep and intense—it’ll make your heart beat faster, ngl!      

__________ 

17)   Title: breathing underwater

Ship:  Taekook | Vkook

Author:  by parallels

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/3604374

Summary:  Taehyung meets Jungkook on an impromptu summer road trip to Busan.

My Review: This is an odd little gem that I really love—it’s very poetic and beautiful.  I will mention that Taehyung almost drowns and Jungkook saves him so if this is a trigger for you please be careful as drowning is described with great feeling.    

__________

18)   Title: describe your ideal type here

Ship:  Sugakookie

Author:  by fruitily

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/11229873

Summary:  he means well. this is what jungkook tells himself when taehyung shoves a sheet of paper in his face at eight in the morning when he’s mechanically shoveling cereal into his mouth at the kitchen table in sort of a dissociative state. TAEHYUNG’S MATCHMAKING SERVICES, it reads at the top in taehyung’s glaring handwriting. jungkook doesn’t even want to read the rest of it.  or: taehyung makes a business out of matchmaking. yoongi smiles at jungkook at a coffee shop and it's really a downwards spiral from there on. both jungkook and yoongi probably need new roommates.

My Review: This story is wonderful!  Sugakookie done well is always a good time but honestly, I absolutely loved Vmin in this one.  The fact that you never know for sure if Vmin is a couple through the entire story is delightful and fun! Definitely read this one!!!    

__________

19)   Title: Good Job (with a G and a J)

Ship:  Namseok

Author:  by taetaetiger (sexyvanillatiger)

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/8045644

Summary:  “Good, Hoseok," Namjoon says. "That’s exactly right. Very good.” Oh. Oh, Hoseok thinks. Oh, he feels crawling down his spine. Oh, he sits higher in his seat. Oh, he tightens his legs together and feels a rush through his stomach, through the insides of his thighs, through his groin. Oh.

My Review: A college au story with brilliant Namjoon tutoring Hoseok at Seokjin’s request.  This story is cute, funny and all-around a good read so add it to your summer reading list!    

__________

20)   Title: when the lights go out (run away with me)

Ship:  Sugamon

Author:  by JemKay

Link:  http://download.archiveofourown.org/works/5690152

Summary:  Yoongi’s soft when he’s tipsy, softer when he’s cold, and softest when Namjoon says “I

love you.”

My Review: God this story is “Chick-flick-central” and so worth your time an effort—Namjoon is precious and Yoongi is his spitfire-self that melts in Joonie’s hands—this is a beautiful love story...so check it out!  

__________

Alright, that wraps up my listing for July—it’s a long one because it’s summer and most of you have extra free time on your hands...I know I do!!!  So, hope these keep a smile on your face during daylight hours by the pool, lake or beach!

As always, let me know if you’ve fallen in love with a certain story and send me the link so I can check it out!!!

Happy Reading and see you all next month!  

^___^  PJ

[amorremanet]

@apolloniae Okay, first: skffghfk, omg wow, thank you!! That means a lot, especially since this passage is all still early-ish in the writing process for me (like… it’s not as early as the borderline stream of consciousness first-person POV stuff that I was writing with this project last summer, but it’s still fairly early), and I consider it pretty rough still

THAT SAID. omg, dialogue is actually something I both love and dread writing, because I never feel like I have the best gauge on how much is enough or if I’m shoving in too much exposition with it or what, but! I have a couple things I rely on

Not-so-fun secret first: that particular section might be a pretty early draft, but I’ve still revised it something like four times, from jotting the initial idea down longhand, through the different typed versions of this scene that I’ve written (which have gotten changed around pretty significantly), and revisions help a lot with dialogue, in my experience. They can be anything from small stuff like figuring out a better word order but mostly keeping things the same, to taking a really sketchy outline (e.g., “A says something about B’s shoes, B thinks A is being rude and what is up with that, and C is just happy to be here, why can’t we all get along” or full on snatches of dialogue, but written in a way that doesn’t fit the characters) and building the scene up from there. Either way, revisions are a writer’s friend.

But, okay. Speaking more generally: the best place to start is just getting familiar with dialogue, both in real life and in fiction. You really do need both of these influences to write dialogue, because getting more familiar with how people speak IRL can help your dialogue feel realistic — and in some cases, it can be really important to have that verisimilitude, e.g. when you’re writing a bilingual or multilingual character and don’t want to fall into some of the more tired, unrealistic tropes of how multilingualism can manifest in people’s speech; and when you’re writing a deaf character (disclaimer that I’m not deaf, and this fic isn’t the be-all and end-all of how to do this well, but I really like the portrayals of Steve and Clint in, “Trump Diet” by caloriebomb on AO3, and they’re pretty well-researched and well-written portrayals of deaf characters).

On the other hand, though, only listening to how people talk IRL isn’t enough. You can learn a lot from that, for sure — especially when it comes to things like how people present themselves from situation to situation, and how their speech patterns or word choices can change in different contexts (from full-fledged code-switching, to more simple things like swapping in child-friendly substitutes for swear words when you’re with your godkids/younger sibling/grandma/whoever) — but you also need to look at how different techniques for writing dialogue work or don’t in order to figure out how to best present the dialogue so that it helps tell your story.

Different writers also have different strengths that you can learn from, e.g. JKR is really good at blending summaries of things the audience already knows into new scenes (like Harry witnessing the, “Snape brings Remus his Wolfsbane Potion” scene, then immediately running and telling Ron and Hermione), vs. Neil Gaiman’s ability to make dialogue read as realistic and natural even while his characters are talking about patently non-realistic things like magic and whatnot (which I think especially comes out in American Gods, but I’m biased because I’ve been rereading it in honor of the TV series starting), vs. the way that the late, great Terry Pratchett had of really making the dialects, accents, and so on a part of his characters, rather than something pasted on (JKR can also be good at that, but sometimes she goes a bit overboard). So, reading as much as you can is good, and paying attention to how the different writers use dialogue will help you write your own.

Unfortunately, a lot of dialogue-writing ends up being a, “play it by ear” sort of thing. You can easily overdo it with flowery dialogue tags, or repeating, “said” too much. Having too much action between bits of dialogue can bog down the scene, but not having enough can make it feel like nothing’s happening while these people talk (plus, what characters do or not during a conversation can help characterize them as much as, or arguably more than, what they say and how they say it).

One of the biggest pitfalls for a lot of writers is that we put too much dialogue in, usually focusing on the parts of conversations that don’t do anything to help show who the characters are or tell the story. Like, unless your characters have a particularly unique way of saying, “hello” (and showing that to the audience helps establish the characters for us), or there’s something important about how they answer questions like, “Nice day, isn’t it?” (e.g., the, “Wonderful weather this morning” / “Yes, but I always carry an umbrella” exchange from CATFA, because it’s not actually about the weather, but is the password into the secret SSR laboratory), or, “How’re you doing?” (e.g., your character is someone who doesn’t actually respond to that question with some variation on, “Fine, and you?”), then there’s a lot of dialogue that you can probably skip.

However, it can sometimes be difficult to tell where the too much/not enough line is, once you get past that — which really just goes back to the, “Revisions are your friend and you shouldn’t be afraid of them. They don’t mean you’re a bad writer; they’re a part of making your work stronger and telling your stories in the best ways for them” point.

Finally, though, the best rule of thumb is just knowing your characters. Knowing at least a few baseline things about where your characters come from and how they present themselves are helpful for finding their voices and keeping true to it in different scenarios. A character who excessively tries to mold themself according to what other people want them to be, or who unconsciously mirrors those around them, probably won’t have the same speech patterns as a character who doesn’t give a fuck what other people think of them, or who might give a fuck but is too tired/upset/intoxicated/whatever to censor themself effectively. Characters’ upbringings and backgrounds can also come out in their dialogue, so being (more or less) clear on them can be helpful.

One pretty classic example of these ideas is the trope where someone who’s going about in unfamiliar circles may be able to emulate other people’s behaviors, pick up the common speech patterns, verbal tropes, and lingo pretty well, and so on…… but still has a particular verbal tic or cadence to their speech that they can’t shake.

For instance, my Sebastian, from that passage, grew up in a wealthy family that would be minor nobility if the U.S. acknowledged that we totally have a de facto system of nobility (and his paternal grandparents often make a big deal out of how they’re descended from a legit, “Our ancestors earned their title as knights in the service of the King of France before certain well-to-do members of the Third Estate started buying their way up into our ranks, back before the glorious Ancien Régime was even a Thing” noblesse d’épée bloodline). He’s been around folks from a mix of different backgrounds during his time in school, and more so in his adult life, which has involved a lot of hijinks in places that would make his Grandparents go, “Good Heavens, why are you slumming it with the lower classes” before focusing on the actual issues like,, “Why on Earth were you dating an ecoterrorist” and, “Oh dear, our grandson who wanted to join the priesthood when he was a boy seems to have developed a serious problem with opiates”

Like, real talk? Roland and Cecile love their grandchildren, they really do. But when Sebastian went to rehab, they tried to push for sending him to a ridiculously expensive inpatient clinic in California with a huge, pedigreed list of celebrity clients because they thought of it as Rich People Rehab. The explanation, “No, okay? If I’m doing this, then I’m going to this place in Minnesota that exclusively hosts LGBTQ clients because I really don’t feel like I’ll be helped by potentially being around homophobic fellow patients and/or staff”…… was mostly met with blank stares that were the human equivalent of the, “buffering… buffering…” spinning wheel of doom, and the response, “…But going there will put you in treatment with the common rabble, why on Earth would you want that.”

Thankfully, Abe and Marceline, Seb’s parents, were nowhere near this bad — but that classism and the emphasis on how We Are From A Distinguished, Noble Bloodline, So Act Like It were still part of the atmosphere that Seb and his siblings were raised in. Their experiences in schooling moderated it a bit (though less so for, say, eldest brother Max, who went to Posh Boarding School for all four years of high school, then did his undergrad at Columbia and grad school at Harvard), and Seb got a lot of moderation by learning the hard way that sounding too posh in a decidedly not-posh environment is a dead giveaway that you don’t belong there and might get you mistaken for a Federal agent. But it’s hard to completely shake that posh upbringing, and it comes out sometimes in his phrasing, his word choices, etc.

On the other hand, though, Seb is also a human disaster in ways that affect his speech (…and he’s multilingual, but that doesn’t fall under the heading of, “human disaster things”). The trick with those parts of him — like his anxiety and how it kicks into overdrive in certain situations (like, when he’s talking to Stephen, his sponsor’s curatorial assistant, who Seb is crushing on) — is finding a balance where it’s part of his characterization but also doesn’t get completely impossible to read (like the mistake that some people make when writing characters with stutters, where they overdo it to the point that you can’t tell what the characters are saying, but because the writers didn’t do this on purpose, you’re expected to know what’s being said).

Anyway, I’m sorry this got kind of long, but I hope it helps a bit! Dialogue can be tough to work on, but you can learn a lot from experimenting with different ideas and techniques, and just continuing to work on it, even when you hate what you’re writing. ❤️

[oliverpdaniel]

Advent of Code 2020: Reflection on Days 8-14

A really exciting week, with a good variety of challenges and relative difficulties. Something tells me that this year, being one where people are waking up later and staying at home all day, the problems have been specifically adapted to be more engaging and interesting to those of us working from home. Now that we've run the gamut of traditional AoC/competitve-programming challenges, I'm excited to see what the last 10 days have in store!

First things first, I have started posting my solutions to GitHub. I hope you find them useful, or at least not too nauseating to look at.

Day 8: To me, this is the quintessential AoC problem: you have a sequence of code-like instructions, along with some metadata the programmer has to keep track of, and there's some minor snit with the (usually non-deterministic) execution you have to identify. Some people in the subreddit feared this problem, thinking it a harbinger of Intcode 2.0. (Just look at that first line... somebody wasn't happy.)

Effectively, I got my struggles with this kind of problem out of the way several years ago: the first couple days of Intcode were my How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The While Loop, so this problem was a breeze. It also helps that I've been living and breathing assembly instructions these past few weeks, owing to a course project. I truly must learn, though, to start these problems after I finish my morning coffee, lest I wonder why my code was never executing the "jump" instruction...

Luckily, from here on out, there will be no more coffee-free mornings for me! Part of my partner's Christmas present this year was a proper coffee setup, so as to liberate them from the clutches of instant coffee. I'm not a coffee snob – or, at least, that's what I tell myself – but I was one more half-undrinkable cup of instant coffee away from madness.

Day 9: Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and full of fresh-ground and French-pressed coffee, I tackled today's problem on the sofa, between bites of a toasted homemade bagel.

This is a competitive programmer's problem. Or, at least, it would have been, if the dataset was a few orders of magnitude bigger. As of writing, every problem thus far has had even the most naïve solution, so long as it did not contain some massive bottleneck to performance, run in under a second. At first, I complained about this to my roommate, as I felt that the problem setters were being too lenient to solutions without any significant forethought or insight. But, after some thinking, I've changed my tune. Not everything in competitive programming[1] has to be punitive of imperfections in order to be enjoyable. The challenges so far have been fun and interesting, and getting the right answer is just as satisfying if you get it first try or fiftieth.

First off, if I really find myself languishing from boring data, I can always try to make the day more challenging by trying it in an unfamiliar language, or by microprofiling my code and trying to make it as efficient as possible. For example, I'm interested in finding a deterministic, graph theory-based solution to Day 7, such that I don't just search every kind of bag to see which kind leads to the target (i.e., brute-forcing). Maybe I'll give it a shot on the weekend, once MIPS and MARS is just a distant memory. A distant, horrible memory.

Second, even I – a grizzled, if not decorated, competitive and professional programming veteran – have been learning new concepts and facts about my own languages from these easy days. For example, did you know that set membership requests run in O(1) time in Python? That's crazy fast! And here I was, making dictionaries with values like {'a': True} just to check for visitation.

Part 1 was pretty pish-posh. Sure, in worst-case it ran in O(n^2), but when you have a constant search factor of 25 (and not, say, 10^25), that's really not a big deal.

Part 2 is what made me think that today's problem was made for competitive programmers. Whenever a problem mentions sums of contiguous subsets, my brain goes straight for the prefix sum array. They're dead simple to implement: I don't think I've so much as thought about PSAs in years, and I was able to throw mine together without blinking. I did have to use Google to jog my memory as to how to query for non-head values (i.e., looking at running sums not starting from index 0), but the fact that I knew that they could be queried that way at all probably saved me a lot of dev time. Overall complexity was O(nlogn) or thereabouts, and I'm sure that I could have done some strange dynamic programming limbo to determine the answer while I was constructing the PSA, but this is fine. I get the satisfaction of knowing to use a purpose-built data structure (the PSA), and of knowing that my solution probably runs a bit faster than the ultra-naive O(n^3)-type solutions that novice programmers might have come up with, even if both would dispatch the input quickly.

Faffing around on the AoC subreddit between classes, I found a lovely image that I think is going to occupy space in my head for a while. It's certainly easy to get stuck in the mindset of the first diagram, and it's important to centre myself and realize that the second is closer to reality.

Day 10: FML. Path-like problems like this are my bread and butter. Part 1 was easy enough: I found the key insight, that the values had to monotonically increase and thus the list ought to be sorted, pretty quickly, and the only implementation trick was keeping track of the different deltas.

Part 2, on the other hand, finally caught me on my Day 9 hubris: the naïve DFS, after ten minutes and chewing through all of my early-2014 MacBook's RAM, I still didn't have an answer. I tried being creative with optimizing call times; I considered using an adjacency matrix instead of a dictionary-based lookup; and I even considered switching to a recursion-first language like Haskell to boost performance. Ultimately, I stumbled onto the path of

spoilermemoization using `@functools.cache`

,

which frankly should have been my first bet. After some stupid typo problems (like, ahem, commenting out the function decorator), I was slightly embarrassed by just how instantly things ran after that.

As we enter the double-digits, my faith in the problem-setters has been duly restored: just a measly 108-line input was enough to trigger a Heat Death of the Universe execution time without some intelligent intervention. Well done, team!

Day 11: Good ol' Game of Life-style state transition problem. As per usual, I've sweated this type of problem out before, so for the actual implementation, I decided to go for Good Code as the real challenge. I ended up developing – and then refactoring – a single, pure state-transition function, which took in a current state, a neighbour-counting function, and a tolerance for the one element that changes between Parts 1 and 2 (you'll see for yourself), then outputting a tuple of the grid, and whether or not it had changed in the transition. As a result, my method code for Parts 1 and 2 ended up being identical, save for replacing some of the inputs to that state function.

Despite my roommate's protestations, I'm quite proud of my neighbour-counting functions. Sure, one of them uses a next(filter()) shorthand[2] – and both make heavy (ab)use of Python's new walrus operator, but they do a pretty good job making it obvious exactly what conditions they're looking for, while also taking full advantage of logical short-circuiting for conciseness.

Part 2 spoilers My Part 2 neighbour counter was largely inspired by my summertime fascination with constraint-satisfaction problems such as the [N-Queens problem](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29795516/solving-n-queens-using-python-constraint-resolver). Since I realized that "looking for a seat" in the 8 semi-orthogonal directions was effectively equivalent to a queen's move, I knew that what I was really looking for was a delta value – how far in some [Manhattan-distance](https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Taxicab_geometry) direction I had to travel to find a non-aisle cell. If such a number didn't exist, I knew not to bother looking in that direction.

My simulations, whether due to poor algorithmic design or just on account of it being Python, ran a tad slowly. On the full input, Part 1 runs in about 4 seconds, and Part 2 takes a whopping 17 seconds to run fully. I'll be sure to check the subreddit in the coming hours for the beautiful, linear-algebraic or something-or-other solution that runs in constant time. A programmer I have been for many years; a computer scientist I have yet to become.

Day 12: Not terribly much to say on this one. Only that, if you're going to solve problems, it may be beneficial to read the instructions, lest

spoilers You cause your ship to turn clockwise by 90º... 90 times.

The second part was a fresh take on a relatively tired instruction-sequence problem. The worst part was the feeling of dread I felt while solving, knowing that my roommate – who consistently solves the problems at midnight, whereas I solve them in the morning – was going to awaken another Eldritch beast of Numpy and linear algebra for at least Part 2. Eugh.

Day 13: This was not my problem. I'm going to wrap my entire discussion of the day in spoilers, since I heavily recommend you try to at least stare at this problem for a while before looking at solutions.

spoilers The first part was... fine. The only real trick was figuring out how to represent the concept of "the bus arrives at a certain time" (i.e., modulo), and just compare that to some offset relative to your input departure time. Simulation works perfectly fine as a lazy solution, since your smallest input value is likely to be something like 13 (and thus your simulation time is bounded). The second part? Not so much. I knew that I was cutting corners on the first solution, since this problem was just *screaming* to look more mathy than code-y. And, turns out I was right: the problem could be solved on pen-and-paper if you were so inclined. If you look around on the subreddit and other comparable programmer spaces, you'll see everyone and their mother crying for the [Chinese Remainder Theorem](https://www.dave4math.com/mathematics/chinese-remainder-theorem/) and, since I have to establish boundaries around my time and energy lest I nerd-snipe myself into academic probation, I had to "give up" relatively quickly and learn how to use the algorithm. My roommate was able to come up with a solution on his lonesome, which actually relies on a fact I was also able to come up with before giving in. If you use a simple for-loop search to find numbers which satisfy any **two** of the modulo requirements, you'll quickly realize that the gap between any two succesive numbers is always equal to the product of those two numbers. (Well, technically, their LCM, but the bus routes are prime for a reason.) So, you can pretty quickly conclude that by the end of it, you'll be searching over the naturals with a step of ∏(buses), and the only trick left is to figure out what starting point you need. I think my roommate was at a bit of an advantage, though, owing to his confidence. He's definitely a lot better at math that I am, so he could dive into hunches headlong with a confidence that I lack. I found myself unable to follow hunches due to worry that I was either a) completely missing the point, or b) would accidentally make some critical arithmetic mistake early on that throws off all of my findings. In hindsight, I absolutely *should* have figured out that final Giant Step (hue), and then worked it backwards from the given answer to see what starting points made reasonable sense. But, again, I balked a bit at the sheer enormity of how much I didn't know about this kind of algebra, so I ended up needing a little more Google than brainpower. I'm chalking this problem up as a learning experience, as I truly had never heard of the CRT. I'm sure "linear systems of residue classes" will pop up again in a similar problem, and it's certainly a hell of a lot faster to compute than using sieves or similar algorithms. Also, I learned that Python 3.8 programmers had a distinct advantage over lesser-versioned Pythonistas, owing to the new functionality that was recently added to the `pow` builtin. In short, `pow` can now solve modular inverses, which is a massive timesave over implementing it yourself. I didn't know about this builtin at all, so I've continued to accomplish my goal of better understanding the standard library.

Day 14: The last day of this week! I really enjoyed today's challenge: it was tough, yet accessible from multiple approaches if you weren't a well-learned expert on bitwise masking.

Part 1 was just getting you acquainted with the world of bitmasking and the general workflow of the problem: number in, pass through mask, number out, store in memory. As usual, the formatted text made my Regex Lobe go off, and for once I gave in: it actually made extracting those integers a little easier, as I realized the addresses were of very variable length.

Part 2 was a perfect level of challenge for a Monday morning, methinks. It served me a proper punishment for not reading the updated challenge text appropriately, and I had to think about some clever modifications to my code from Part 1 to make Part 2 work effectively. My final solution wasn't all too efficient, but both parts run in a little under two seconds.

Part 2 spoilers I'm quite proud of my usage of `'0'` to denote a "soft" zero (i.e., the mask does nothing to this bit) and `'Z'` to denote a "hard" zero (i.e., the mask sets this bit to zero). I suppose I could have also inverted the entire mask – setting all `0`s to `X`s and all `X`s to `0`s – to make the old parse function work normally, but this worked just as well and didn't require completely rejigging the masks to make them work a particular way.

[1]: I keep having to stop myself from using the acronym with which I'm familiar, lest I get in trouble with Tumblr's new puritan filters. I wonder if the similar acronym for dynamic programming would be of issue.

[2] If you're unfamiliar, this is a common competitive-programming idiom in Python for "the first element that satisfies..." JavaScript, unfortunately, takes the cake here, as it has a native Array#find method that works much better.

[restateagnt17101]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG

[mortlend40507]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG

[ramonlindsay050]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG

[realestate63141]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG

[repmrkting17042]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG

[vidmrkting75038]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG

[personalinjurylawyer93555]

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields

Gutenberg for WordPress and Compatibility with Advanced Custom Fields Introduction to Gutenberg for WordPress

Gutenberg is a new page builder being added as an integral part of the new WordPress version 5.0. In a nutshell, rather than using shortcodes and HTML to customize page and post content within the editor, Gutenberg provides an easy-to-use interface that helps newer or less technical users to create custom layouts more easily. The purpose of this post is to give you insight into some of the changes that are taking place, specifically focusing on integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields. Advanced Custom Fields is an extremely useful and widely used plugin that allows you to add extra content fields to your WordPress instance. Its core purpose, similar to Gutenberg, is to allow you to build sites more quickly and efficiently.

Opinions on Gutenberg’s potential from a content standpoint

At the heart of Gutenberg is a desire to make writing a content-rich blog post much easier, and without the need to add a page builder like Visual Composer or Divi to assist with formatting. You’ll also be able to bypass the current visual editor which we all know can be a little (ahem) challenging for precise formatting. Gutenberg is not a front-end builder per se, but it visually helps you see where things will line up on a page or post right from the back-end of WordPress.

Integrating Gutenberg with Advanced Custom Fields

Okay, so why is the integration between Gutenberg and ACF such a big deal? Again, Advanced Custom Fields, often simply referred to as “Custom Fields,” is one of the most broadly used plug-ins in the WordPress repository today. It gives you the ability to extend your WordPress site by adding custom functionality, fields, and much more.

Since the new Gutenberg page builder lands this Summer if you’re already using ACF you need to be prepared for what could happen to the custom fields on your site already. Even if you’re not using ACF today, but your job is impacted by the ability to customize a WordPress-based site, this is well-worth understanding.

For most, the native WYSIWYG editor in WordPress has been sufficient to produce a quality website and to add clean, visually rich content. However, with Squarespace, Wix, and other even simpler “drag and drop” style website builders grabbing an increasing share of the web, WordPress contributors rightly saw a need for a more intuitive, component or “block-based” builder. One that would allow more users an opportunity to see visually how a webpage will lay out while editing, without significant effort or additional plug-ins.

But again, what does this do to our past hard work to get the right custom functionality built into our sites via ACF?

My experience testing Gutenberg for WordPress

Like any new technology, Gutenberg warrants significant testing to understand how it will impact your configuration, especially if and as you’ve customized WordPress.

I personally found that IF you are on the latest version of Advanced Custom Fields, there were no issues using the plugin. It works the same way that it did with the more familiar WYSIWYG editor. If you’re worried about what might happen to your site, it would be worthwhile to go to WordPress.org and download the Gutenberg beta plugin from the repository.

I found that Gutenberg integrates quite well so far, and I currently have no issues building out my Custom Fields. ACF was in widespread use the entire time that Gutenberg was in dev, which means the team was very likely aware of the developer community’s concerns around compatibility and integration with existing sites. In following the Gutenberg and WordPress blogs, I can tell you they’re doing everything they can to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible.

My strongest advice to webmasters at this point is to make sure your site is up to date with the current version of Advanced Custom Fields, which will surely be the most likely to integrate seamlessly.

And while we’re on the topic:

A few tips when updating to WordPress version 5.0

Make sure all plugins are updated before you update to WordPress 5.0

Test your site by downloading the Gutenberg plugin that is available on the WP Plugin Repository

View the Changelog/reviews for the Gutenberg plugin

Repeat for any other plugins that are core to your WordPress configuration

All of this will give you the best possible insight into the current issues people are running into, and let you see how the developers are responding or working around specific challenges.

Gutenberg Compatibility – Q&A – A great interview from the ACF Blog

Eric Karkovac recently interviewed ACF developer Elliott Condon about progress in integrating the two technologies. The interview originally appeared on the ACF blog, which you can read in its entirety here, but there are a few especially useful bits we wanted to highlight. (Eric’s questions are in bold, with Elliot’s responses in blockquote.)

[How has testing gone so far] with ACF and the new WordPress Gutenberg editor?

“Testing ACF with Gutenberg is going great. I’m happy to see how well Custom Meta Boxes are being supported in this new JS powered edit screen – everything seems to be working out of the box! The only issues are due to changed actions and filters, which will require some minor compatibility patches. As the Gutenberg project continues to develop, we will continue to test and roll out updates.”

Gutenberg is really changing the way Custom Meta Boxes are displayed on the WordPress Edit Screen. How will ACF adjust to this new UI?

Visually, the new editor is very different, but the relationship between ACF and “Post Content” has remained the same.

Field groups will continue to sit below (and around) the “Post Content” area in a similar fashion. They’ll require only a few minor CSS tweaks to integrate with Gutenberg’s minimal style.

What are the plans for the free versions of ACF when it comes to Gutenberg – will they be compatible?

Yes, both free versions will be made compatible with Gutenberg – which is the reason behind our slow release date and Early Access program.

We plan to release our major version a few months after WordPress 5.0 comes out, ensuring that all websites powered by ACF continue to work 100% with the new editor.

— Elliot Condon

Summary

We believe Gutenberg is going to be a great addition to WordPress, and at this point, I don’t believe devs need to worry excessively about interoperability. But as always, you should make testing this with your site a priority sooner rather than later. WordPress contributors wouldn’t push something to core that was going to break everyone’s site. With WordPress 5.0 you’ll continue to have the option to use the classic editor, or you can elect to jump up to Gutenberg. Heck, your content teams may already be asking for this.

As of this original writing, there are three planned implementations, which may change over time. The first is intended to be part of the WordPress core update version 5.0, focused on the post & page editing experience, as well as the use of a block or componentized base. Ultimately this will help users present their content in a more engaging, visual, and direct way. Eventually, in phases 2 and 3, you’ll be able to go above and beyond the editor by allowing for full site customization. Think page templates, post types, etc.

And as far as Advanced Custom Fields go there are still over 1 million active installs for this plugin, and I’d expect that number to keep growing. ACF will still have a significant part in extending the functionality of your WordPress site, and as long as you stay up to date, you should see pretty clear sailing.

Let us know in the comments if you do run into issues with Gutenberg, WordPress 5.0, and ACF. We’re always eager to hear how this is playing out for others responsible for the upkeep of multiple major sites.

https://ift.tt/2LnRTxG