#wip: a lifetime of adventures

[lifeofkaze]

Asking… pitch, note, and/or hum!

I didn't think WSI could offer them all, but lo and behold:

Somewhere in the distance, a lone firework went off. Its light hung in the pitch-black sky, burning in the darkness like a star. All the other stars were veiled but this one was prevailing, burning brightly all on its own.

The first notes of their intro sounded, in time with the beating of her heart, and suddenly, she found it easy to step away from Leon.

“Duly noted,” Neil hummed. He looked like he wanted to add something, but ultimately didn’t. 

and also, as a little fanfic extra:

Selene made a humming noise, scratching some lichen from the stone. She stopped when she realised that her nails had gone all dirty and dusty. She hid them in the folds of her dress. 

[emry-stars-art]

Keep an eye? 🌊🌊

Maybe something soft of Whalemack and Andrew ? or whalemack and Neil 🥺🥺

Hi Odd 🥰 of COURSE, I don’t have anything specific for the boys in this scene but also just Whalemack being his usual dadmack is something I hold near and dear to my heart. JellyNeil and Whalemack tho! I might eventually be back with another ask for that hehe

20 sep 2023 [wip Wednesday game]

Andrew’s look turned incredulous.

“Are you sure you’re not seeing things, old man?”

“Oh, I saw something,” Wymack said. “It let me come right up to it. A little cut up and nervous, but it wasn’t scared at least. I don’t think it can talk. When you take off today, do me a favor and keep an eye out for it.”

Andrew made a small noise of mock disappointment. “I know you like to use me as your errand boy, but I regret to inform you I’m not as good of a sniffer shark.”

“If the thing’s bleeding, then you’d better find it before some other shark.”

Andrew rolled his eyes. He’d go look, of course.

Wymack spoke both their thoughts. “You know how rare they are. I want to figure out where it came from. How many folk do you think can say they’ve talked with a jellyfish?”

“None,” said Andrew. “Jellyfish can’t actually talk.”

[sekhmetswrath-if]

The Wrath of Sekhmet is based on the 1999 film ‘The Mummy’ and follows the original story of Sekhmet to the best of my research abilities, but also includes highly fictionalised elements.

DEMO (01.09.23) | CHARACTER APPEARANCES

As the archivist of the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo, you’ve collected a lot of knowledge over the thirteen years you’ve worked there. Yet, there has been nothing that fascinated you more than the story of Sekhmet.

A goddess of love turned goddess of war with a bloodlust so deadly that her father, the sun god Ra, was forced to fashion a necklace that Hathor could wear in order to contain Sekhmet.

The necklace glittered with gold and diamonds, but it was the single ruby that sat nestled at her throat that was the real treasure.

Said to contain a drop of Ra’s blood, it was a gem so powerful that it could grant lesser creatures invulnerability when the necklace was worn.

And now, your brother thinks he’s found the legendary Temple of Sekhmet. A temple that was supposedly built to house the necklace.

This could be the adventure of a lifetime and you refuse to be left behind.

This is an 18+ wip due to violence, depictions of blood and gore, optional sexual content, death, elements of body horror, and abduction.

FEATURES

✧ Play as a female, male, or nonbinary mc with cis and trans options. Choose your pronouns and titles separately.

✧ Romance the suave archaeologist, the stoic leader, the bubbly best friend, or the calculating adventurer. Poly routes are available.

✧ Personality stats: sarcastic/genuine, stoic/emotional, reckless/cautious, grumpy/jovial, kind/indifferent, shy/bold.

✧ Skill stats: intelligence, charm, sword fighting, and agility.

✧ Set features of the mc: they’re at least half egyptian and as an archivist, mc is intelligent, studious, and knowledgable about history. While they can be grumpy and indifferent, there will not be the option to be unnecessarily cruel.

CHARACTERS OF INTEREST

Maddox [M]

The bane of your life and one of the only people you trust to always have your back. He’s more of a lover than a fighter and has a silver tongue that could get him out of any situation, but don’t underestimate his protectiveness over you. Older brother prerogative and all that.

Elijah/Elodie Caddel [M/F] [RO]

El is charismatic, quick-witted, and familiar with the temple of Sekhmet making them the perfect companion on your quest. However, for all their charm, they are notorious for keeping everyone but Aksel at a distance, so it is a surprise to all when they quickly seem to develop a deep fondness for you. As well as a wicked protective streak.

Menna Bakir [M/F/NB] [RO]

As a Medjai Chieftain, Menna is responsible for the lives of many. For that reason, they have learnt to show little emotion, although it is noted that they soften around animals and now it seems, you. Once their trust has been earned and they become more comfortable with your group, you’ll see a much more relaxed and even teasing side to them.

Nakia/Nubia Hassan [M/F] [RO]

N can be utterly ruthless when it comes to getting what they want for the museum, but with you they're almost always very bubbly and friendly. They're your childhood best friend and your biggest supporter, and without them, you wouldn't be taking this trip across the desert to discover the secrets that lie in wait.

Aksel Madsen [NB] [RO]

While they seem lazy and unbothered, it doesn’t take long for you to realise that there’s something not quite right about them. They’re too observant, too intelligent, and too calculating. Despite this, you wouldn’t class them as a bad person, especially not when you’ve seen the way they look out for El and, on occasion, you.

Poly routes

N/Aksel | El/Menna

[wangxianficfinder]

Ghost WangXian

~*~

Intertwined by Tsukimiko_san (T, 4k, wangxian, hualian, major character death, Crossover, Canon Divergence, No Ressurrection AU, Reincarnation, Red String of Fate, Post-Canon (for hualian), Sad with a Happy Ending, hualian are the deities of love send tweet, silver haired lwj, catboy hc, MCD is for wwx and lwj but both reincarnate and meet again, Ghost LWJ, Ghost WWX)

Lan Wangji Sees Dead People by MountainRain898 (E, 42k, WangXian, Reincarnation, Soulmates, Past Lives, Ghosts, Abandoned hospital setting, Ghosts, Fake Kidnapping, or maybe accidental kidnapping is a better way of putting it, WWX and LWJ are both dead in this fic, They ARE Ghosts, A little bit of gore, Comedy Horror, Getting Together, Kissing, First Time, in this lifetime at least, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, two seconds of accidental public sex, also sex getting interrupted by someone for a sec)

Gently Haunted by LusBeatha (T, 19k, WangXian, Character Death, Sentient Burial Mounds, Autistic LWJ, Shutdowns, Canon Divergence, Ghosts, Child LSZ, Oblivious WWX, Getting Together, Ghost Marriage, ghost parenting, Grief/Mourning, but only for ghosts that are still present, Golden Core Reveal, Soup, Happy Ending)

The Ghostly Adventures of Wen Yuan by Llamamomo (Not Rated, 13k, WangXian, Ghost WWX, Ghost LWJ, Established Relationship, Married Couple, Supernatural Elements, Modern AU, Murder Mystery, Haunted Houses)

~*~

Ghost WWX

🔒 A Shade Watches by DC_Derringer (T, 1k, wangxian, Canonical WWX death, Angst with a Happy Ending, brief mention of masturbation, Canon Divergence)

🔒 Response by Aki_no_hikari (G, 12k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Family Feels, Love Confessions)

the moon, grown full by Deinde (T, 22k, LSZ & WWX, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Spirits, Identity Reveal, discussion of war crimes, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Hopeful Ending, Homecoming, reclaiming your name and identity, Names, Families of Choice)

The Intervening Years by roserocksrapidly (G, 11k, LSZ & WWX, LSZ & LWJ, WangXian, Canon Divergence, LSZ centric, Parent-Child Relationship, Wangxian is background, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, LSZ's childhood and all that entails)

🧡 Ghosts Shouldn’t by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 15k, WangXian, Grief/Mourning, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending)

You still sound like a song by Moominmammashandbag (M, 64k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Ghost!WWX, Mystery, LWJ plays inquiry, AU from after the Wens came to Lotus Pier, Most people lived, not everybody died, Angst with a Happy Ending, river spirit!WWX, Angst and Feels, description of murder, imminent smut, Execution, Dogs, Poisons, Discussion of Attempted Murder, BAMF WWX, Family Feels)

Ghost of Mine by SasukiMimochi (E, 127k, WIP, LSZ & WWX, WangXian, Golden Core Reveal, Canon Temporary Character Death, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Post-First Siege of the Burial Mounds, Romance, Domestic Fluff, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Alternate Canon)

ghost in your arms by DizziDreams (T, 11k, WangXian, NieLan, Kidfic, baby a-yuan, dad!lwj, Ghost!WWX, Haunting, Poltergeist, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Fluff and Angst, Domestic Fluff, Light Angst, Pining, LWJ's bad choices about love, Paranormal, Modern AU, Ghosts, age gap, America, [Podfic of] ghost in your arms by dreamhazer)

one good thing by Yuu_chi (T, 26k, WangXian, Modern AU, Ghost WWX, Angst and Humor, Angst with a Happy Ending, I swear there really is a happy ending, And an alarming amount of rabbits, [Podfic] One Good Thing by jellyfishfire)

🧡 Meet Me At The Corner After Dark by Omen1991 (M, 21k, WangXian, Modern AU, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Character Death, but he's already dead, Injury, Concerns about self-harm, no actual self-harm, Panic Attacks, Office, Tears, Sad with a Happy Ending, Reincarnation, kind of mild romance, POV LWJ, Ghost!WWX, Neurodivergent LWJ, Amnesiac WWX, Autistic LWJ)

Lan Sizhui Sees Dead People series by darkbrokenreaper (T, 30k, wangxian, fluff, angst)

Day 4: Ghost!Xian by UseMyMuse (T, 5k, WangXian, Ghost wwx, Altered ages for side characters, Murder, Death, MCD KIND OF (Wei Ying is dead but he's a ghost through the whole story))

Stolen Midnights by See_You_Next_Tuesday (E, 34k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Canon Divergence, pre-canon timeline, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Miscommunication, Dreams, Graphic Descriptions of Injuries, Eventual Smut, Voyeurism, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex, mild bondage, Body Worship, Marking, Biting)

eyes closed for you by soultana (E, 36k, WangXian, Modern AU, MDZS Characters Cultivate in a Modern Setting, POV LWJ, Cultivator LWJ, WWX is a spirit/yao, Dreams vs. Reality, basically WWX haunts LWJ's dreams (lovingly), Sexual Tension, Pining, Yiling Laozu is misunderstood, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Masturbation, WWX is a Tease, Getting Together, Supportive LXC, LQR Is So Done)

🔒 Can we skip to the Good Part? by pink-lotus-pods (kkomaism) (T, 107k, HuaLian, WangXian, Canon-Typical Violence, Crossover, YLLZ WWX, HuaLian are in Love, Married HuaLian, Slow Build, Canon Temporary Character Death, Ghost WWX, Fix-It of Sorts, Canon Divergence, Blood and Violence, Character Study, Panic Attacks, WWX Has a Mental Breakdown, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, MXY Deserves Better, unbearable amounts of sexual tension, Suicidal Thoughts, mild but it's still there!, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Genius WWX)

the fair and the brave and the good must die by Lise (T, 12k, WangXian, Ghost WWX, Sad Ending, Angst, Grief/Mourning, POV LWJ, Not A Fix-It, Canon Divergences, Moral Dilemmas, Character Turned Into a Ghost, Ambiguous/Open Ending)

of ghosts and graveyards by DiRoxy (T, 10k, WangXian, Pre-Relationship, Pokemon, Case Fic, ghost!WWX, Happy Ending, LWJ and JC Work Together, Depictions of Science Experiments on Pokemon, Shadow Pokemon, Clone Pokemon)

🔒 From the beyond series by apathyinreverie (T, 11k, wangxian, LSZ & LWJ, LSZ & WWX, Cultivation World Critical, LWJ being pissed and WWX watching delightedly from the sidelines, Fix-It of sorts, Canon Divergence, lwj takes a-yuan and leaves the cultivation world, Some angst, Fluff, Ghost WWX, BAMF WWX, Domestic wangxian, rogue cultivators wangxian, Ghostly Sunshine Husbands: A Guide on Accidental Sect Creation by Hanguang-Jun, Oblivious WWX, Smitten LWJ, everyone adores wwx, Time Skips)

Yiling Poltergeist by jaemyun (G, 16k, WangXian, Modern AU, Mention of canon history, Ghost! Wwx, Past Lives, Reincarnation, Humor, Fluff)

~*~

Ghost LWJ

囍 | a ghost wedding by sweetlolixo (E, 11k, Wangxian, Arranged Marriage, Ghost wedding, Pining LWJ, Ghost Groom LWJ, Corpsefucking in the most romantic way possible, Angst with a Happy Ending, Non-Explicit Sex, Love at First Sight)

ghost stories for lost souls by queenklu (M, 17k, WangXian, Character Turned Into a Ghost, Body Horror, (of the ghostly variety - hey number of limbs are hard), child death (not explicitly described), Ghost Hunting, Spirit Box, Juice Box, Reincarnation)

Red Is Just Black Remembering by Zizzani (E, 41k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff and Angst, Homophobia, Necromancy, Ghosts, Modern AU, all my modern fics are set in Canada just fyi, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sharing a Bed, this is really just very sweet and kinda sad, [Podfic] Red Is Just Black Remembering by Rionaa)

lovers be lost (but love shall not) by la_muerta (T, 13k, WangXian, Arranged Marriage, 1910s, Case Fic, Ghosts, Happy Ending, Background Relationships, Ghost Marriage)

~*~

[ladykailitha]

Can I get some more Metal band au please!

WIP Wednesday! Make me write.

Other asks here, here, here.

Snippet

Fuck did that sound perfect. No band, no obligations, just him and Eddie and an adventure of a lifetime.

“Sure thing, rockstar,” he whispered. “Let’s do that. Plan a trip of Europe or whatever and just see the sights for a change. And not just the sites that would be good publicity either. The wacky museums, the weird curio shops, five hundred year old bars.”

Eddie sat up and looked him in the eye. “Wait, what? You’d really be interested in doing that? I mean, I’d love that. But none the guys like that shit. Not like I do and you’d want to do that kind of stuff with me?”

“Of course I would,” Steve said and then kissed him deeply. “I love that kind of shit too. And yeah maybe I didn’t always, but Robin has been a very good influence on me.”

[darekasama]

Writeblr Interview Tag

Thank you for the tag, @sableglass!

Short stories, novels, or poems?

To read, all of the above. To write, I’m very good with journal articles and short stories but if left unchecked some of them might turn into giant novels.

What genre do you prefer reading?

Fantasy, romance, adventure, but really anything that brings me into a world different from ours. Also I have a weakness for dragons and animals in general, so anything that tangentially involves them is on my radar.

Are you a planner or a “write as I go” kind of person?

I am trying really hard to be a planner! My first big story project crashed because I tried to write as I go, resulting in a mess of scenes with the same ideas in five different pages at the same time (including the backside of hundreds of drawings) and too many re-starts to count. Lots of re-writing that didn’t fix the core issues, and ultimately more material added to the chaos. It did not work out.

My current WIP, Project TL, is going at a slower pace, but this time I made sure to organise everything from the start so it’s actually pretty neat and I have no trouble navigating my files or editing!

What music do you listen to while writing?

Sometimes it’s a song, sometimes just music, sometimes ambient sounds. Genre doesn’t matter either, as long as it is appropriate to the scene. In general terms, if the song/music reminds me of good memories, then it is on my list.

For a while I listened to BTS, then to a piano cover of Heaven Official’s Blessing, then to the  lo-fi hip-hop radio. It really, really varies.

Favorite books/movies?

I love all of Licia Troisi’s books, but especially the Chronicles of the Emerged World trilogy. I grew up with her books!

As for movies I think the LOTR movies could be my favourite.

Any current WIPs?

One! In short, Project TL is about dudes, drama and dinosaurs.

What happens if the mentor isn’t there to guide the young noble boy? Very avoidable teenage adventures of course! From getting his nose into the local drama to exploring dangerous forests, all while trying to find some great treasure to bring home. Also, a possible romance with his roommate (who can shapeshift into a dinosaur for reasons you’ll have to read later to know)...

If someone were to make a cartoon out of you what would your standard outfit be?

^ Something of the sort, I suppose. My wardrobe is very basic.

Create a character description of yourself: 

I'm shy! My drawings are all you'll get :P

Do you like incorporating actual people you know into your writing?

Not really. Some aspects of people yes, but the people themselves are a big no-no. I prefer detaching the real person from the behaviour of a fictional character. I don’t even like to use names of people I know in stories.

Are you kill happy with your characters?

Sometimes I put them in very dangerous situations, but I actually prefer when they get out of them. Killing my darlings feels very bad. I want them to live happily, or to at least get a happy ending. They do deserve it.

Coffee or Tea while writing?

In the winter, tea! This year I found a very nice tea shop and got many different flavours to try. Some were a hit and some less so, but I'm pretty excited to start drinking again hot stuff once summer is over!

In any season other that winter, water and fruit juice. This girl does not have what it takes to drink sparkly water.

Slow or fast writer?

Slooooooow! I like to edit a lot. Althought English is not my first language, I feel like I got the grasp on ho to make a sentence flow well.

Where/who/what do you draw inspiration from?

A lot comes from knowledge I acquired over the course of my life. Often I ask myself how a situation could go differently, or why things have to be a certain way. Then boom, a story is born. Most of them last a short few minutes while others make it to the end of the day. Only a handful stay with me for a lifetime, and those I hold very dearly.

If you were in a fantasy world, what would you be?

Let me be a cat! They have the perfect life literally in any world. Eat fancy (or not), lounge in the sun for hours, strut around the town, climb high places and even get loved for just meowing. I wish my life was like that.

Most fav book cliche:

Saving the damsell in distress. Does not have to be literal, but I love it when someone in trouble gets a helping hand!

Least favorite cliche:

Miscommunication. Please just talk to each other!!!!

Favorite scene to write?

Quiet moments together. Comfortable in each other’s presence, maybe joking a little, maybe opening up about what they really think… So many possibilities in a simple stress-free interaction.

Also cuddles and physical closeness in general.

Reason for writing?

I must release my visions into this world.

Tag list (because I think you are all cool people):

@mr-orion @glitched-dawn @silentstaresfanficandfanart @theverumproject @uraniumwriting @princefluph @xenascribbles @wordsandwordsbyme @shenaniganssketched @creative-author @thedeerwight

[jenerousjenocide]

Familiar Face

Fifty years had passed since the Netherbrain was defeated; it took Astarion five years after to become the lord of Baldur’s Gate. Within that timespan his old companions departed from the city, following new adventures in quiet hope their paths would never cross again. Only one agreement was made among them, set by the leader themselves that carried the entire team on her back single handily.

“Keep it within Baldur’s Gate.”

A warning, no less, a boundary they set to ensure the entire realm wouldn’t be overrun by vampires, although Astarion would be lying to say the thought didn’t cross his mind every other day or so.

The temptation was always there, and it would be so easy.

As much as Astarion would never admit it, he did respect his dear old friend more than he let on. A/N Nobody asked for this, but here it is I'm back on my BS. Also this is basically a WIP, its eventually going to be sexy. It'll be fine. Feedback is encouraged, I have written anything in eight years and it probably shows. AO3 Mirror - Next

Baldur’s Gate, once a city of innovation and progress, stood as the capital of Faerun. For centuries it was built up from the ground with those in power struggling with balance between right and wrong, the noble and the peasants and ensuring the Upper City and Lower City remained as separate as can be in terms of gold and assistance from guards or authorities.

It was no longer the case after so many decades of building it up, only for it to come crashing down one evening.

Citizens had believed their troubles were over the moment the Netherbrain was defeated, in fact they did have a few months of peace, and all seemed so bright and hopeful for the future. Festivals and parades crowded the streets for days, cheering on the heroes that rescued the city from destruction and the lives of all the innocents threatened by the damage caused.

Strangers worked together to rebuild, fix each others homes and offer food, aid or supplies to anyone in need. Nobles made large donations to better assist the poor struggling to get by and for a while it all seemed too good to be true.

Something in the shadows was lurking, bigger than anyone could have imagined and somehow the true secrets were kept hidden from the citizens for years.

Authority figures began stepping down from their roles seemingly without an explanation, providing vague answers for those with questions that one could only deem reasonable. This continued until only one remained, a new figure that seemed to have risen to power overnight yet was able to make his name and reputation known as one of the heroes that saved Baldur’s Gate all those years before.

Lord Astarion Ancunín.

It was a slow transition at first, but it felt as though his coronation as Lord was the shifting point in which everything seemed to come together. For his benefit, at least.

It began with smooth talking his way into meetings, debunking rumours spread among residents that he was a vampire spawn because why or how would a feeble vampire be able to walk among the living so freely? He saved Baldur’s Gate from disaster; it was easy to gain the trust of majority of the population.

The plan really kicked into gear after inviting each noble he could come across to a private dinner. A bite to eat with life altering consequences, and they soon became his loyal subjects one by one.

Like a puppet master stringing together a performance of a lifetime, they obeyed his every command and retreated to his palace to no longer serve as the nobles they once were, but as servants and spawns as Astarion deemed fit.

Just as the city was changing under his thumb, the palace once owned by Cazador Szarr also changed. The gaudy paintings taken down and replaced with marble statues or fine antiques. Some of which found by servants during their evening hunts for more followers to fall under their master’s spell.

Astarion swore he was nothing like Cazador, the wretched bastard was cruel and unforgiving, embarrassing and torturing those he turned for his own cruel entertainment and ensuring he was able to strike fear into every one of them. No, Astarion didn’t punish his servants for no reason, and he didn’t force them to feed on vermin the way he did for two centuries.

That isn’t to say he didn’t have his rules, and when punishment was due it was carried out carefully and with a message along with it. If the punishments were met with resistance, Astarion wasn’t above himself to deal the final blow, ending the insubordination in it’s tracks before it can pick up traction and spread through his coven like a filthy disease.

He knew they would never be able to overpower him if they somehow managed to lapse free from his command, but keeping the peace was within everyone’s best interest to keep invasive thoughts and memories from clouding his mind.

Fifty years had passed since the Netherbrain was defeated; it took Astarion five years after to become the lord of Baldur’s Gate. Within that timespan his old companions departed from the city, following new adventures in quiet hope their paths would never cross again. Only one agreement was made among them, set by the leader themselves that carried the entire team on her back single handily.

“Keep it within Baldur’s Gate.”

A warning, no less, a boundary they set to ensure the entire realm wouldn’t be overrun by vampires, although Astarion would be lying to say the thought didn’t cross his mind every other day or so.

The temptation was always there, and it would be so easy.

As much as Astarion would never admit it, he did respect his dear old friend more than he let on.

She picked him up from the side of the road after he pulled a knife on her, didn’t immediately drive a stake through his heart when he attempted to bite her while she slept. She listened to him prattle and complain about his troubles and concerns, his trauma and story behind the ugly scars that adorned his back.

She promised to stand by his side and help him take down his cruel master in the place he called home. She fought battles that weren’t even hers to fight and with obvious hesitance helped Astarion ascend into the powerful lord he was. Even within his power drunk mind that day, he knew the dynamic of their relationship changed completely and would never be the same again.

He could see it in her eyes when they would speak following the ritual. A look that once projected adoration and love now turned fearful, pleading and cold.

With an offer of immortal life by his side, their relationship ended completely.

Of course, he was insulted by her rejection, but he had no real need for her any longer if he were to become as powerful as he needed to be to bring the city to its knees. He thought she was in it for the long run, but he ended up getting exactly what he wanted in the end.

Perhaps his initial plan of seducing her to ensure she never turned on him worked too well, but with the consequences of their actions it was obvious that becoming a vampire spawn was not a life she wanted to live. Even if it meant being by his side for all of eternity until the world came crashing down around them.

It didn’t hurt entirely, but the sting was still there as he pondered what could have been had she said yes.

Nonetheless it was too far gone in the past to even bring it up anymore, the golden days were long gone and so were his companions. Astarion couldn’t spend his time pondering what everyone else was up to, they wouldn’t dare return to Baldur’s Gate, and he decided to keep things slow and steady while building his coven from the ground up.  

It had been so long, surely she was old or dead by now, judging by human lifespans.

The idea of it was enough to make his usually composed expression cringe with a slight pang of his dead heart. She could have lived forever young, but the possibility she was long gone did bring up a familiar sting.

Not that she was his anymore, he internally scolded himself for allowing himself to linger on the memories and possibilities for too long.

There were more pressing matters to focus on, especially with his ascension anniversary coming up and the grand extravaganza he did annually for the mortal citizens of the city to commemorate the day he gained true freedom and power.

The preparations were going smoothly, his spawn working endlessly to ensure everything was perfect down to the last detail. Roaming the halls, Astarion could only give his directions and opinions regarding where things should be, he wouldn’t dare lift a finger to help decorate.

The sound of his footsteps echoes through the ballroom hall, vampire strung about doing their job to get the preparations completed and keep their dear master content with their efforts. He pretended not to notice how a few of them wince when he walked closer, chalking it up to pure respect and that a little reminder of who’s in charge doesn’t hurt.

Everything was falling into place; the stage was set and soon the ballroom will be filled with people immortal and mortal alike. A subtle feast for those less fortunate to be cast under his vampire spawn’s charms, but a night to remember for the remaining attendees to keep face as lord of the city everyone loved once before.

-------

The Golden City stands before you, imposing and tall like all those photos and stories you’ve heard before. It didn’t quite live up to expectations, a menacing storm overhead unmoving, as if warning those trying to enter to turn away and never return.

There had been no news of Baldur’s Gate for years. Everyone you spoke to mentioned it was still populated and ruled over by one man, a man who helped saved the city from destruction long ago, but regarding progression or innovation there had been little word. You always dreamed of seeing the city with your own two eyes, but as you stand before it you can’t help but feel a sense of dread tug at your heart.

You draw in a deep breath, as if preparing to hold it in your lungs to avoid any toxic fumes the air might have lingered around. Despite the darkness, you do see citizens wandering about and going on with their daily business.

Perhaps you spend too much time reading and listening silly fairy tales.

You travelled a good way to get here, fleeing from your home in Waterdeep and avoiding any questions regarding your adventure. You’re positive nobody witnessed your escape due to the lack of yelling and restraint being placed on you.

For the moment you’re free to explore, get your fix of the city and get back home before anyone is the wiser.

The first step into the city was easy, navigating was a whole other ball game.

One big difference between your hometown and the city is how big it makes you feel. Waterdeep was familiar, you had your family and friends and somehow everyone knew everyone’s business at some point or another- In the City it’s the complete opposite, the feeling of being so small and insignificant imposing itself on you until it feels like it’s the only thing you do know.

Maybe it wouldn’t be such an awful idea to turn back.

 “Don’t forget the Palace doors open at sundown! Our Lord would be honored to have any and all citizens come join the festivities taking place. A night of dancing, drinking and mingling with Baldur’s Gate’s finest.”

The voice was coming from the center of town, a well-dressed man standing in the middle handing out invitations to residents walking by. The practiced smile on his face greeted everyone who made eye contact with him, he was charming to say the least.

Before you even realized your feet were already moving you towards the center, reaching out as the young man offered a warm smile and the invitation. Noting the smile didn’t reach his eyes, you take the invitation and read the contents.

Midnight Masquerade Come one, come all! Lord Astarion invites you to a night of dancing, drinking and dining.

It couldn’t hurt to have at least one night in the city, in fact you were taught that it was rude to decline invitations. You could pop in for a little food and wine and leave before the night was even over.

You tuck the invitation into your pack and adjust it steadily on your back. You needed to find an outfit to fit in, and quickly before the party was ready to start.

[innocentlymacabre]

NOW THEY CALL ME THE PLAGUE ⤳ a wip intro

As the fright death sweeps the land, leaving a trail of lifeless sacrifices, a Dream desperately claws their way back to the Dreaming, having spent eternity trapped in the conscious realm. The infestation’s merciless wake piques Trance’s macabre curiosity, spurred forth by his discovery of a ship that sails across the tumultuous currents of Nightmares and Dreams. They drag Eda, their retired-from-the-seas best friend, along with them as they set sail on the adventures of multiple lifetimes, unwittingly getting themselves irreversibly entwined with fates and forces far beyond their comprehension. Now They Call me the Plague is gothic historical fiction set against the backdrop of the golden age of piracy. All that remains to be seen is how many more will fall at the altar of an unforgiving death.

STATUS: drafting

GENRE: horror / historical fiction / fantasy / queernormative world

MEDIUM: novel

WARNINGS: substance (ab)use, alcohol, sexual activity (implied), swearing (moderate to heavy), mental health issues, death (will be modified as necessary)

LINKS: WIP tag (x) | Trance (x) | Eda (x)

CHARACTERS:

Eda Harp (she/her). Refuses to call coffee anything other than “bean juice”. Secretly has a soft spot for just about everything in the world, but is very careful about who she reveals that to.

Tahir Das (he/they). Was given the half-mocking nickname “Trance” by Eda due to his affinity for zoning out at a moment's notice, but they liked it and decided to go by it, much to the former’s annoyance.

Dee (she/they). Theoretically has a last name, but is just as cryptic about that as they are about what goes in their blends of spices and custom rum.

Tyler Mayne (she/her). Owns Smokey’s, the tavern at which Eda works, and, although will never admit to it, has something of a soft spot for her.

Joe Pines (he/him). Tyler’s husband and bartender at their tavern. The closest thing to psychic when it comes to predicting your drink order (it helps that pirates typically want rum).

Maya Lancali (she/her). Short for Shanaya, but use her full name, and whether she’s got a sword in her pants or is just happy to see you will become plenty clear.

general taglist (ask to be added/removed!): @caspersgraveyard @zephsthings @mrunmione @iftitah @cloudofbutterflies @impossible-ozzie-deactivated202 @kissitoff @jacquesfindswritingandadvice // newsletter

picture credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

any boosting would be much appreciated!

[look-i-love-u]

Tag Game Wednesday

Gone full week and arrived at Wednesday again. Oops.

This is totally last week's one.

thank you for tagging me: @vintagelacerosette, @jrooc, @shippergirl121fic, @energievie, @ian-galagher, @blue-disco-lights @michellemisfit

Name and A03 handle: Vey, miss_snowwhitepink

Current Location: on the couch, sipping water, trying to get better hydrated

Favourite picrew:

What's one thing you want in a picrew? more body types, more fantasy, more pets

Favourite thing you’ve created (or seen created) for the fandom?

Fuck-U-Up Mug

Why is it your favourite?

Painted this mug for the first gallacrafts theme and I still love it and use it almost daily. It's still looking as good as day one. And it made me write a little one-shot to go with

Did it come easily or was it hard to create?

It was the first time I tried to draw a lily. So that was a bit of an adventure. The baking of the mug to fix the colour was a bit nerve-wrecking too as I feared it would break in the oven. But it all worked out just fine :)

Last ao3 fic you commented on? It's been a while since I read ffs. I've been on a "sports guys hooking up and finding love" binge read lately, so I've read about ten books or so in the last few months and not a single ff. O.o

The last comment I wrote that got a reply was Evie's "When you say nothing at all"

Biggest WIP heartache you’ve ever experienced? I don't really read WIPs since my early fandom days and getting burned by them. But that's about half my lifetime ago and I can't remember a specific story.

So I'll say all the WIPs in my doc drafts and especially the three collabs that I was super excited about my writing partner(s) weren't and they never even took off or got abandoned quite early on.

Favourite trope or head cannon you like included in a fanfic?

Oh, so many! Any and all AUs - as I love to see them find each other in every universe.

Soulmate!Aus especially. Hurt/Comfort. Pining! Long burn! Yes! Give me all the delayed gratification and the good stomach tingles from it!

Least favourite? Break-Up/Second chance fics, probably. I'm all about them getting together the first time and then hopefully living their happily ever after.

Also sick!fics and character deaths. Real life got enough of that. I don't want to read it in my escape media as well.

Secret or surprising kink or trope?

From hand holding to monsterfuckery - I'm a pretty open book when it comes to my kinks, I think. No secrets to uncover here.

Describe how you feel after you’ve created something new?

Elated. Happy. Nervously excited. Eager to share it.

Top hype man you have that always helps you get across the finish line:

Time pressure and a sense of responsibility.

Works for my work writing, works for fun writing. It's also probably the only reason I still remember to write a Galladrabble each week. XD

And getting a good response to what I did. Serotonine works wonders for my motivation and creativity.

It's been a bad day, you turn to the fandom and you _____? Scroll through tumblr. Look at amazing pretty art and send my faves to people who I know share my love for it.

[lifeofkaze]

Can I ask for the WIP game:

Fanfic: sun or mood and food (any type)

Original work: love and mistake

Ooooh, let's see what we have, shall we?

The sun had slowly begun to set, its golden rays making the red metal of the Hogwarts Express gleam and glisten as it came into view.

Seeing as I don't have as much fanfic stored in my vaults anymore... all I can offer you atm on that front. But have a little more the og one as recompense...

“Can I get you a drink?” Leon asked when it became clear that Jaz wouldn’t answer his question anymore. “Looks like we might be here a while.” Eager to have something other to do than not look at Leon, Jaz nodded. ”I’d love that.” ”The usual, then?” Her usual consisted of a margarita with copious amounts of cherry syrup. The thought made her stomach churn.  “Anything but.” When Leon raised an eyebrow in question, she added, “You won’t be seeing me drinking tequila ever again.” A smile flashed across Leon’s face, one that made one corner of his mouth rise higher than the other. Jaz had used to love this smile on him and the somersaulting feeling in her stomach increased. “I can’t remember how often I’ve heard you say that.”

“Not all dreams can come true. That’s a lesson everyone has to learn eventually,” she said gently, surprised at the way her words seemed to get stuck in her throat. “Remember what you always tell us before we go on stage?” “Focus and don’t fuck up?” “The other thing,” she laughed, playfully swatting him. She was glad to see him laughing, too. “Not to dwell on mistakes. What’s done is done. What counts is now.

[shadowthestoryteller]

Health Hiatus Announcement

This is gonna be a long post, but a necessary one that has quite a bit of important info relating to the future of my creative works concerning the Adventures!AU series. First, look at this lovely new cover art for Off to a Great Start I had done by my bud Arven92 on DA. The title has changed to The Adventure Begins, but the main story within is the same. 

The light reveals their true Alphian form (symbolic only, not a lore aspect) while their shadow shows their ultimate fate as a member of Clone Force 99/Bad Batch. The bookshelves are a key location (library), but the merge into woods represents how they're entering into a very real adventure that isn't just a fantasy they write into books. Really happy how it turned out ^^

Onto the main post! 

TLDR: Adventures!AU is being drastically shortened for my sanity and physical health into two arcs (six books each) but most likely will cease full chapter uploads after arc one as I am tired af, I don’t want to be doing this series into my 50s, and I want to turn my focus back to my originals eventually. Next year will see postings of the series prologue, Anachronism, as well as hopefully the Remaster of Off to a Great Start/The Adventure Begins. I will still be very active on my discord, where some chapters of next year's stories have already been posted. But for my other story posting sites (aka Wattpad) all new Star Wars content is on hiatus until 2026.

Been wanting to make a big post for a while for the people who aren’t a part of the discord, especially since I’ve more or less dropped off the face of tumblr after it became unhealthy due to comparison eating me alive. If you like my work, you’re welcome to join the server which is dedicated to my works. I’m active in there a few times a week, and even post bi-weekly updates as to what I’ve been working on. And I’ve posted six chapters of remastered Off to a Great Start/The Adventure Begins complete with new scenes, new povs, and even more snark! Just message me for the link, I'm still wary of a stalker finding me again.

Now, for the meat of this update. 

Y’all. I am just… dog dead tired. And stressed beyond belief. Some of it isn’t related to the Adventures!AU itself (job hunt, burnout from completing my Masters in May, ect), but a lot of it admittedly is. Considering I’ve written almost 500k words in just under 5 years, it’s no surprise. Some people don’t write that in a lifetime, and I’m out here doing that on top of college. Proud of myself for that. 

What I’m not proud of, however, is ignoring my body’s warning signals and pushing myself past my limits not once, but twice. Once in 2022, and now again in 2024. Nothing major or genuinely life-altering, but when I say my health anxiety went off the rails. Been a rough few weeks lol. 

But that leads me to now. 

Adventures!AU. My series following the adventures of my self-insert as they become a member of Clone Force 99 back when it was just four members, with the added twist of it being in an alternate universe where the Star Wars universe has crossed over with my original stories. It’s not as big as non-self insert series, but Over the River and Through the Woods (which sits at a whopping 66 chapters and 200k+ words) once got #19 out of 60k in the ocs tag. The series has been going since April 2020, seeing four completed stories of various lengths and one WIP that sits at 21 chapters and 93k words. 

Aside from the recently completed Fallen Not Forgotten, it’s been on hiatus since Dec of 2023. At least as far as chapter uploads go. It’s certainly not been collecting dust. To say it underwent some intense restructuring in July is an understatement. A big understatement. 

I originally had seventeen books planned for the series as of three months ago, sectioned into four arcs with Anachronism kinda being a “prologue” to the main Adventures!AU series. Before this timeline is banished to the dream graveyard, I’m sharing it so y’all can at least see where it was gonna go. The four arcs would have had four books each, and were structured thus:

Bonds Forged Through Fire and Storm

Off to a Great Start (25 chapters)

Over the River and Through the Woods (66 chapters)

To the Far Reaches (66 chapters)

Welcome to War Games (25 chapters)

Into the Light Through Acts in the Dark

Commander, Meet the Cat (Remastered, 20 chapters)

Fallen Not Forgotten (Remastered, 20 chapters)

Risk vs Reward (20 chapters)

Bane of My Existence (20 chapters)

Wars of the Realms

Call of the Wild (20 chapters)

Convergence Hijinks (20 chapters)

Let’s See What You’re Really Made Of (20 chapters)

Anachronistic Adventures (20 chapters)

Decaying Dreams and Deadly Dances

Shadow in the Dark (40 chapters)

Murder Uncle Mayhem (40 chapters)

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished (40 chapters)

A Legacy in Question(40 chapters)

The plans I had for this series were intricate, deep, and would push many characters to their limits. 

But turns out, it wasn’t just the characters pushed to their breaking point. 

I got sick. A rather severe case of acid reflux that landed me in the docs office for the second time in two years. That started in mid-July, and I’m still dealing with it. Will probably be dealing with the sickness afterward for another month at least. But leading up to all that, I’ve been reflecting on the series as a whole and where exactly I want it to go, how I want it to end, and all that jazz. 

Then I did a scheduling test in Excel using the above chapter load plus the 30 I had planned for Anachronism. Assuming two chapters a month with minimal breaks here and there, this series would finally end in 2050. That is by no means sustainable, and while I have had a lot of fun with this series and daydreaming about the different plotlines is a comfort activity, I can’t see myself writing these books for that long. I really want to publish my original stories some day, but I also won’t pretend that I’m not a bit tired of the series. At least, tired of pushing myself to work on stories that just don’t give the same rush of dopamine they used to. It’s almost a chore now to work on them, at least in the case of FNF. 

Full disclosure, that story has been a problem child since day one. Actually, I’m pretty sure the stress of that story is what pushed me over the edge and caused the health issues in 2022 that sent me to the doc with acid reflux the first time. Messing with canon and trying to keep the timeline continuous (with timetravel in the mix too) was nothing short of infuriating. The trajectory changed so many times as I wrote it, which I sadly feel is evident in the story. It really seems like a disjointed mess. I’m just so disappointed how it turned out, but I was determined to at least finish it and not leave everyone on a cliffhanger. And I’m proud of myself for at least finishing it, even if I cut out at least four threads from the ending. It just wasn’t healthy to keep going. 

Nor was it going to be healthy if I kept the series structured like I had it. 

So, I took the steps to fix that. 

Seventeen stories became twelve, four arcs became two. Some storylines were combined into one book (ex: Risk vs Reward and Bane of My Existence) while others (ex: Adventures!AU Batch meeting canon batch in Convergence Hijinks) were cut completely. I hated to lose some, but I’ve always been one to appreciate quality over quantity. Combining books and plotlines will help streamline things and make it more manageable. Some books also get new titles.

Arc one keeps its name, and will cover six books; Four main books then a prologue and epilogue of sorts. Anachronism, The Adventure Begins, Over the River and Through the Woods, To the Far Reaches, Welcome to War Games, and Moving Back to Look Forward. This arc covers Shadow’s initial fandom jump into the Tintin 2011 movie, their first mission with the Bad Batch, and them meeting the sailors again this time with the Batchers. Arc two will also keep its name and cover the entirety of the group’s interference of Star Wars the Clone Wars canon (rescuing Domino to taking down Palps), with a similar set up to arc one. Fallen Not Forgotten, Risk vs Reward, Level Up, Shadow in the Dark, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished, and A Legacy in Question. 

But I know that even the shortening isn’t drastic enough. I feel only dread thinking about the series now, and that won’t do. So, though it kills me, Arc One will probably be the only arc that gets an official posting. Once Moving Back to Look Forward ends in 2030 (barring any major complications), that will be it for official full length postings of Adventures!AU. I’ll still post snippets and segments from arc two on Discord (like I do now occasionally), but MBtLF will end in a way that wraps everything up nicely. I’ll be sure to craft it so it can remain open ended to their adventures, but the current trajectory will see the “main” storyline with Shadow and the Batch, plus the Tintin sailors, close in arc one. 

That’s the long term goal. So what’s short term? 

Next year I plan to at least partially post Anachronism. That story has remained in the drafts for long enough. Yes, that means To the Far Reaches is backed up another year for posting (2026). That story has a lot of emotional moments, a lot of dealing with past trauma and relationship issues, and I just don’t have the spoons for that right now. For those intense moments, I have to crack myself open a bit and let my heart bleed onto the page. I’m not in a position to do that right now. Anachronism lacked that depth, being a bit more surface level than the stories with the Batchers. It’s got its own emotional moments, but it’s not nearly as taxing. Additionally, I’m going back through what was Off to a Great Start (now The Adventure Begins) and bringing it up to the standards I try to hold OtRaTtW and TtFR to. But I learned my lesson posting stories out of order so I’m going to get Anachronism finished so there’s no continuity issues. 

That brings me to my next point; Adventures!AU canon. 

I’ve already announced that the posted C,MtC and FNF are both non-canon and should not be taken as fact. You can still enjoy them (best you can with the crack-writing) but any continuity issues should be ignored as they are from an earlier draft of the Adventures!AU. Well, that decanonization treatment is extending beyond those two. The Adventure Begins, Over the River and Through the Woods, and To the Far Reaches aren’t non-canon per se, but rather some elements of the remastered versions may contradict the original postings. Going forward, the “truest” version will be those depicted in the works posted to Adventures!AU Remastered on Wattpad. The first story (The Adventure Begins) won’t drop there until at least November 2025 but you’re free to watch it in the meantime. It’ll sit dormant for quite a bit longer though. Nothing major will change in the stories, but I plan to add some extra scenes and tweak some minor details (the Batchers time in the galaxy is one big thing I’m looking at tweaking). 

Let’s see. checks notes Yep, I think that covers everything! At least for now lol. I always have stuff to say, but this will probably be the last long update post for quite some time. 

Thanks for hanging around, and for reading this long post lol.

[wangxianficrecs]

Follower Recs

~*~

Sending a follower rec for WIP week! It's a star wars au where the author writes each chapter as if it's the next installment in a saga. It's got a lot of angst and worldbuilding and if you like star wars or sci-fi in general I would highly recommend it!

Duel of the Twins

by Theladyofravenclaw

T, WIP, 71k, Wangxian

Summary: A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... After growing up together at the Jedi temple on Coruscant Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng venture out on their own for the adventure of a lifetime. However, when an unknown threat and raging war looms overhead, the paths that they must take to protect those that they love will change the course of the galaxy forever. A tale of two brothers, bound by fate, to discover who they are and what destiny awaits. (or the "Wei Wuxian as a sith lord" fic that I've been craving for a while.)

@theladyofravenclaw

~*~

Hi. I would like to Follower Rec two stories for WIP week. The first is the unfished fourth story in a wonderful series. Glitterbombshell does an incredible job with characterisation and I who doesn't love teacher!WWX? @immoralq

Youth Is Sweet and They Are Growing

by Glitterbombshell

Not rated, WIP, 4k, Wangxian

Summary: It is not the first discussion conference that has been held since Jin Guangyao’s downfall, but it is the largest so far. And the first one since Wei Wuxian officially started teaching the Lan clan’s novices. In an effort to encourage inter-sect alliances and friendships among even the youngest disciples,a series of friendly skill demonstrations and competitions are held, with events for all ages to participate in. To the surprise of literally no one, the Jin sect children seem to come out of the womb puffed up on pride and thinking they’re at least a little bit better than everyone. Their novice disciples are no exception. The Jin novices’ first mistake was underestimating the Lan class because most of them are a few years younger than them. Their worst mistake was making disparaging remarks about their beloved Master Wei where Lan Xin could hear them.

~*~

This is the second rec. I love the idea of LWJ being forced into seclustion and then being rescued by A-Yuan, and it's written so well. Thank you! @immoralq

flower of justice

by neoncoin

T, WIP, 18k, Wangxian

Summary: Convinced his brother won't survive the punishment for disobeying the elders after Nightless City, Lan Xichen intervenes, and pleads insanity on Lan Wangji's behalf. A few years later, little A-Yuan makes friends with a strange man who lives in the Gentian House. (And a few years after that, Sizhui helps plot an escape attempt.)

~*~

One of time travel fic that i like. I like the interaction between WWX and other character and how WWX managed to make a new talisman by accident when he is blind

The Darkness Before Dawn

by PsycheStellata707

M, WIP, 113k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Ying remembers falling and a voice. “The price of seeing the future Is the ability to see the present” ... Or, another time travel-fix it where Wei Ying is given another chance to change destinies; but nothing comes free.

~*~

Also!

Modern Cultivation AU. Wei Ying gets tossed out of the Jiang sect after a night hunt goes bad. Cue Yu Ziyuan's terrible decisions. He lands with the Wen who of course are like ... No wait. Shit. He's a fucking genius!!

It's still in the ramp up but it has so much potential and I love a Meet Ugly. This has some top quality high grade LWJ sass, and classic WY and his absolute inability to see his own value.

The modern AU translation feels very plausible as well. Of course there'd be social channels dedicated to the wild stuff cultivators can do.

Anyway. Highly recommend! [I second this rec! It's a 💙 ~Mod Kay.]

Truth Will Out (when caught on video)

by KizuKatana

E, WIP, 63k, Wangxian

Summary: A night-hunt goes wrong, and Wei Wuxian is scapegoated for the death of the Jiang Sect Leader and the destroyed core of the Jiang Sect Heir. As punishment, his core is taken and given to Jiang Cheng, and he is stripped of his cultivation credentials and expelled from the sect. What everyone forgot was that Wei Wuxian was wearing the standard issue body camera that each cultivator wore on training missions and high-risk night-hunts. Struggling to make ends meet, Wei Wuxian finds his way to Caiyi Town with the doctor who performed the surgery, a partial core still secretly in place. His application to work at Cloud Recesses is summarily rejected by the hard-edged Second Jade of Lan after an unfortunate initial encounter. But things change when someone hacks into the Jiang systems and releases the footage of what happened. [First part of the title is a quote from Shakespeare, but this story is not based on that one!]

@kizukatana

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories)

[sunnyrosewritesstuff]

Poll 3- Past Teases

This poll is for which fic you want to see updated on July 15th as part of my 7 day birthday gifts to the fans! If you are unfamiliar with my works or need a reminder, check out the links and summaries below the “read more” before you vote. Other poll information for this week can be found here.

And any fics that don’t win but still collect a substantial amount of votes are eligible for a Redemption Vote on June 6th! Otherwise, thank you for your participation! 😍😁

For the Love of My Husband- Conman Bilbo; Bilbo is a thief and a conman who has tricked Thorin, Crown Prince of Erebor, to marry him as an escape from a tight spot. He thought their marriage was happily enough, but Thorin feels a disconnect from the hobbit he’s married. To appease his family and strengthen their bond, Thorin asks Bilbo to take the Trial of Souls with him. Problem is, Bilbo doesn’t want Thorin to know anything about him because they are most assuredly not Ones. And if Thorin learns the truth, Bilbo will find himself back in the streets or worse…

I Married an Assassin- True Lies AU; Twelve years ago, Bilbo fell for a charming man who saved his life in his university library. While he loves his husband and their son, he finds his life to be a bit…dull. So when he comes across the adventure of a lifetime, he has to take it! Only this particular adventure has the potential to crash his life around him considering his boring accountant husband might actually be an assassin who’s been doing his best to keep him out of the eyes of a terrorist organization due to a clue left behind by his mother.

Outdated Version

Erebor’s Monster- Merman AU; Bilbo is investigating ‘Erebor’s Monster’ in secret trying to discovery the nature of all the mysterious disappearances the town has suffered. However, Bilbo soon finds himself on a discovery that will shake his core belief system completely if he is to help Mayor Thorin Oakenshield recover that which was lost and defeat an ancient evil for good.

Heart of the Mountain- Evil Arkenstone AU; What if Thror wasn’t mad like everyone thought? What if the Arkenstone was truly at fault? Questions Bilbo and Thorin will have to answer together after Bilbo is swallowed by the gem. Bilbo and Thorin must work together to conquer the magic of the Arkenstone while Bilbo is invisible and forgotten by the others without making Thorin look as insane as his grandfather. Also, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to maybe work out why exactly the Arkenstone considered Bilbo, Thorin’s heart as well.

Bedding Burglars and Chasing Dragons- Mafia/Detective AU; When Thorin Oakenshield transferred to Ered Luin PD, there was really only one thing on his mind: finally catch the monster that destroyed his family. However, he quickly learns Ered Luin lives under the rule of the local mafia and figures the only way to catch Smaug is to pretend to be a dirty cop and make nice with the supposed crime boss known only as “The Burglar”.

Outdated Version 1 | Outdated Version 2 (chances are I’ll still use the scenes but role reverse between Bilbo and Thorin)

Bonded- Hobbits are Dragon Herders AU; The Naming Ceremony where a hobbit bonds with his dragon for the first time is supposed to be a blessing, Bilbo’s came as more of a curse when he was chosen as the Alpha-Bond. Bilbo and Smaug have never gotten along, but after a Naming Ceremony goes wrong and Smaug is fleeing the Shire, Bilbo knows he will stop at nothing until he sees their Alpha safely home.

From the Seed of a Sunflower- Thumbelina AU; Thorin assures Bilbo he will be fine on his mission to return the Arkenstone to the heart of the mountain, but Bilbo still worries for his Raven Rider. When Frerin is attacked before Bilbo's very eyes, Bilbo takes up the stone and joins the others on a journey where he will discover he is more than just a boy born from a sunflower seed.

A Storm is Coming- Time Travel AU; Bilbo made a wish on the Arkenstone to spare Thorin's life. Later Thorin makes a careless wish in return, and Bilbo ends up in a different time with the memories of before.

Oakenshield's Fourteen- Heist AU; After being framed and imprisoned for embezzlement, Thorin is out for revenge. He's going to need a crew if he's going to pull off this heist though, and he's not so sure about Gandalf's fourteenth man.

Other- Is there another fic I’ve teased that you are nuts about? Choose other and put it in the tags or in a comment!

[stories-from-the-sword-coast]

Fanfic Recommendation!

Title: In Fathoms Below Author: @mumms-the-word Rating:  T Length: 1 Chapter - 3,264 Complete or WIP?: WIP Pairings: n/a Warnings: n/a (so far)

Excerpt: 

'He took a deep breath through his nose, scenting the salty air and wondering if today would be his last day breathing in fresh air for a while. Where he was bound to go, there would be no sun nor sky for some time, no wind to lift the hair from his neck, and no guarantee that he would make it back. But this was a chance in a lifetime. If he didn’t take it, he’d never get another opportunity to sate his curiosity.'

Why you love it: 

I've been a huge fan of adventure stories, and a crossover between Atlantis and BG3 is such a great idea! It doesn't feel crowbarred into a new setting, this feels like an adventure well-suited to Gale and I can't wait to see where it goes.

Link to Fic:

[drowninginredink]

WIP List

I always like it when people talk about their WIPs. I live for that. So it's my turn. But I am a one-shot writer at heart with way, way too many ideas, so here is a list of everything I'm toying with. For the record, some of these don't even have a single word written yet, and none are that far along, so don't get your hopes up too high.

Smosh One-Shots

"Feelings are so fragile" — Platonic Shaymien thing where I project really hard onto Damien. (Yes it's for the aro collection)

"Most euphoric I've ever been" — A spetney fic based the fact that yes, they're technically a m/f couple... But like, no. Put them together, you've got nonbinary lesbian vibes. Sorry Spencer, you're getting your gender transed because there's no way you and Courtney are straight.

"But what's a home?" — A Damian QPR fic. Damien/Ian is already such an interesting rarepair and then you make it a QPR and it's like... They end up living together just temporarily because Damien's housing falls through and turns out they both really miss when they used to be living with their best friends and look I know everyone likes romance but do you know how good QPR fics can be? I love the idea of them as a QPR so much?

A thing for @aro-soulmates-fest about Anthony getting all his tattoos to hide the fact that he doesn't have a soulmate one.

A murderverse one shot about Arasha because God I fucking love gang AU!Arasha

A vampire!Spencer fic where Shayne plays the role of Johnathan Harker

"And I lie like the right thing to do" — me taking @generaltrashshecox 's whole "Anthony sleeping with Damien to cope with unrequited feelings for Ian thing that I love so much and just doing my own version of it where I lean into the angst so hard. With permission from bun, don't worry

A (platonic) nintendogs fic where I decide to do a little bit of own voices stuff on the fact that The Chosen is suuuuuuuuper schizo-coded

I bought a new ray and it's time to use it. Let's make Ian aplatonic this time.

"Then it's done." Killing off Spencer. Very one-sided Spommy.

A lil smut based on Anthony asking Tommy to choke him.

Hey @generaltrashshecox infected me again and now aro4aro Antmien needs to exist

This post into a real fic

Smosh not a one shot but also kind of a one shot?

14. "Once in twenty lifetimes" — A no smosh AU that's going to go through all the different ways Ian and Anthony could have ended, choose-your-own-adventure style. And as the title suggests, only one of them is the reunion. Most are things falling apart. And also to fit the title, it's going to be in twenty chapters (although that does not mean 20 endings. I don't hate myself.). So it's multichapter, but also it'll all be posted at once so it'll basically be a one-shot. It's going to end up as kind of an epic and God I hope it turns out as good as it is in my head. Inspiration for the good endings is "Cardigan" by Taylor Swift, and for the bad endings and a lot along the way is "San Cristobal" by Mal Blum.

15. Partners (in crime) — my Changela QPR fic that was supposed to be a one-shot right up until I wrote the thing, and actually wrote a chapter one. Not sure how long that's going to be, but I like it so far.

Smosh Multichapter

(The fact that my very one-shot oriented self has multiple of these is such a problem)

16. "Puppy Love" — I don't need to say anything about this. There are already 5 chapters on AO3. Either it's extremely your shit or you're wondering what the hell I'm doing and why I'm writing this extremely specific concept. If you're wondering why I still haven't posted chapter 6, it's because that has sex in it and I fucking hate writing sex scenes so I'm procrastinating really hard.

17. "I'll use you as a warning sign" (aka the evil fic, so named because chu-tea thinks I'm evil for coming up with the plot) — yeah so what I planned for PL was just a straightforward kind of fluffy ianthony piece. And then a certain friend of mine (*cough* chu *cough*) accidentally inspired me to think of a different ending that is such hardcore angst and hurt that I absolutely needed to make it happen and have been obsessed. It's interesting when you've already made the bad decision to start a long project and then oops, now you just really want the next 6 chapters to be done already so you can write the alternate ending. This one will *really* not be everyone's shit because I will rip your heart out in 6 different ways. But God I'm obsessed. Anyway, if you want details... I'll just say "major character death" and leave it at that. Oh and rarepair.

18. "I've come back changed and I can feel it in my bones" — an AU where "what if Anthony left because he got psychosis." Basically very hardcore projection on my part. This is on the back burner for a while because obviously when I have projects that aren't going to be emotionally gutting to write, I'd much rather work on them.

Non Smosh Stuff

(I'll be honest, I'm so deep in the smosh obsession that you should not get too excited about any of these. I know myself, so I know the smosh flame will eventually burn out but these are based on things I will be obsessed with until I die. So I know they'll happen. But not for a long time)

19. A Phantom of the Opera one-shot for @aro-soulmates-fest. This is the one thing I will actually write within a reasonable amount of time, because it's due March 17.

20. "Baby, please don't bore me" — A Series of Unfortunate Events — Sunny (well, Sorrel in this version because oops I transed their gender) teams up with Olaf to find their siblings after years of separation. I find them to be a very interesting chaotic, morally gray, bantery duo.

21. "Because the same night awaits us all" — ASOUE — A Klaus/Lemony fic that I swear I will write someday. Very morally gray, very much a codependent relationship, very leaning into the age gap. Basically they're together because they do not have anyone else in the world. It's just so delicious a dynamic that I will explore I swear.

22. ASOUE — I'm still not entirely convinced I'll ever be bothered to actually write this one, but I might do a Kit/Fernald FWB thing. I'm not sure where on earth the idea of that came from, but it's been living in my head for a long time now. Long enough that there's an early one-shot version of it that I don't really like anymore on *gasp* fanfiction.net

If anyone actually bothered to read all the way to the end of this long-ass post, you deserve a medal.

[bellemorte180]

WIP Wednesday ~ 300 Miles of Good Road Sneak Peak

The English Gazette

October 3rd, 1813

My Dear Readers,

What is spontaneity? Is it really the devil sitting on your shoulder and whispering temptation in your ear? Or is it something else? The church and society would have you believe that wants and desires of any kind were horrid and blasphemous. I disagree. Spontaneity is a gift. It is the chance at happiness, reaching and taking it. 

Pushing down those desires and following the trend, always doing what you’re told leads to nothing but misery. It's a lifetime of dancing to the tune that others set but all of that can be changed simply by making a choice. Happiness isn’t found in money or status, its found in those you love and surround yourself with. 

Happiness is found in moments of spontaneity. 

My advice, dear readers, is that when you have a moment to take a leap of faith and into the unexpected, do it. Cast aside the judgements of the Ton and fall into whatever unexpected adventure awaits you. 

Sincerely, 

Lady Davina Claire 

It was late as Klaus hurried through his home, hoping to not wake Rebekah and Enzo. Part of him hoped that they were not at his townhouse at all, having retired to their own home but he was not surprised that they had come home from some event and dined without him. So, as Klaus packed his trunk, throwing all his belongings in half haphazardly, he tried to be as silent as he could. He winced each time the floorboard creaked or silently cursed when he dropped a book to the ground. 

His heart was hammering in his chest, adrenaline pumping through his veins at an hour that should have found him in his bed. He paused for a moment, peering around his bedchamber with realization that this was the last time he would be in it for some time and the next time he slept there, he wouldn’t be alone. The reality of it did not feel real, part of him was still shocked at the turn the night had taken. Noting the way his bedding was perfectly made, his maid had done it for him and wondered if Caroline would allow them to continue doing it. He imagined it would be an argument they would have.

Klaus could not wait. 

He couldn’t help but imagine her sleeping in his bed, her long blonde hair spread out among the pillows as her head rested against his chest. He couldn’t fathom the concept of them sleeping apart. She was so close now, that once he fully had her, he did not know if he could part from her, even for the night.  A thousand daydreams fluttered in his mind as he looked around the room, peering at the curtains to the paintings to the book he had resting by his morning chair. Even now, Caroline was etching herself into every fraction of his home.

Wonder what she will want to change? Or should we live somewhere else? The unknown didn’t bother him like it had merely hours prior. Months had passed without her, a bleak image of a life alone; growing old and wondering what could have been. There wouldn’t have been anyone else. Only Caroline. A world where Elijah had gotten his wish, Caroline banished from his life and society all together, was something worse than hell.

“Mother would have a fit if she saw the state of that trunk, she would have words with you.” Klaus whipped around, seeing Rebekah standing in his doorway, a silk robe wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair was down, hanging around her shoulders and in the candlelight, Klaus could see the sleep in her eyes. 

“Mother? I believe you’re confusing her with our governess. She taught us how to pack a trunk.” Klaus countered as Rebekah stepped into his room. She looked down at the trunk, bending down to pull one of his waist coasts that had been tossed in. The worry was evident on her face, making him feel guilty for his plan to slip away without a word to her or Enzo. He silently cursed himself, the struggle to be better was always far more difficult that he had realized. “It will wrinkle but I don’t mind. It's just a coat.” 

“Where are you going?”

“North.”

“You were going to go to Leeds without telling me?” There was a pitch to her tone that made Klaus wince. The weeks she had spent caring for him, ensuring that he did not fall further into the pit of depression had been living in for the majority of the season had been forgotten, as was the pain he knew he put her through. “Why? What happened? Is it Elijah-”

“No. Elijah has nothing to do with this and I said North, not Leeds. I’m not going home.” The confusion on Rebekah’s features was like an open book, it was easy to see every suspicion passing through her mind. “I saw Caroline tonight, after Stefan and Elena’s wedding.” There was a flicker of understanding but the conclusion was just out of reach. “She is coming with me. Tonight.”

“North? How far north?”

“Scotland.” Rebekah’s eyes widened and her lips parted in surprise. Words failed her but she could not look away from him. She reached for his hand and gave a squeeze before pulling him into a tight embrace. It lasted only a moment and when she pulled back, Klaus noted the smile that had overtaken her lips. “We want to leave quickly, without suspicion and get married before Elijah can get wind of anything. By the time he learns of it, it will be to late.”

“Let me wake Enzo. We’ll go with you.” Rebekah turned, moved to rush out of the room but Klaus gripped her wrist gently, spinning her back around to face him. He knew that she meant well, that it would be a privilege to have his sister there, watching him utter the vows he so desperately wanted to since the moment he laid eyes on Caroline. “Nik-”

“No. I need you and Enzo to stay here. If we all leave London at once, people will notice. No one will think twice that I left for Leeds and no one realized that Caroline had returned. I need you to remain, for a week or two at most.” He could see that Rebekah wanted to fight him, to tell him that she was coming with him whether he liked it or not; but he knew that he couldn’t risk it. “Please.”

“You’ll write to me immediately once it is done?”

“Absolutely. The second I take my vows I will pull out a quill and-” Rebekah pinched his side, causing him to laugh. She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him, playfully shaking her head. “Yes. I will write to you and let you know what our plans are. I don’t know that yet. Just that we are leaving tonight. Now actually.” 

“Where is Caroline?”

“Downstairs.”

“Downstairs?!”

“We already packed her things and it wouldn’ have been-” Rebekah did not let him finish before turning around and racing out of his bedchamber. His shoulders slumped and he shook his head, feeling even more pressed to finish packing. He gathered the last remaining pieces of clothing he could shove into the trunk and shut it. Gripping the handles, he began dragging the trunk down the hall, no longer caring if he woke anyone as he was sure Enzo would know of his departure soon enough. 

Once he reached the top of the stairs, Lucian who had been waiting patiently at the bottom sprung into action, raced up the stairs to take the trunk the rest of the way. At the doorway, he could see both Rebekah and Caroline deep in conversation, the former arms were crossed while Caroline simply nodded, wearing an enduring smile on her lips.