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zkfanworkweek · 4 years

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ZFAW Fan Content Creator Interviews: HayleyNFoster

Hey everyone! We hope you’re all excited for ZFAW, and to honor (ha!) ZFAW’s commitment to supporting and celebrating fan content creators in the Zutara fandom, we’re going to be rolling out a series of interviews with well-known and widely-beloved content creators over the next few weeks. We’ve got artists and fanfiction authors, some names you recognize as well as a few phenomenal up-and-coming talents, and we can’t wait for you to meet them all!

For the second interview in this cycle, we have our best propaganda creator and this fandom’s hottest new artist/undisputed queen of the animatic, @hayleynfoster!

1. Tell us about how you came to ship Zutara. What does this ship mean to you?

When I was around 14 or 15 and caught Avatar: The Last Airbender on television, I was drawn in by the art style, the humor, and the wonderful characters. I caught the episodes out of order, and the first one I saw and wasn’t prepared to be sucked in by was The Waterbending Scroll. It intrigued me at that age, and the line “I’ll save you from the pirates” combined with the tension between Katara and Zuko in that whole scene was electrifying. I remember my teenage self thinking these two have so much chemistry! And when I saw a commercial on Nickelodeon that featured fanart submitted by fellow Avatar fans, I realized that I could do that to! So I set about making Zutara fanart for myself. I stumbled onto Youtube, practically in its infancy, and discovered that people set clips of Zuko and Katara set to music (And this was still in season 1 days… so people who made these amvs were the real mvps because they were able to make compelling narratives in their amvs with like practically nothing to work with!). The AMVs really spurred my interest in this couple, I remember distinctly one Zutara AMV using the Dido song White Flag utterly capturing my imagination. I found fandom shortly after, getting into deviantart and forums. But the ship really began to mean something to me when, as I was working on my drawings in the computer lab at school, a buoyant presence hovered over my shoulder noticing my Zutara art on the computer screen. The girl was someone I had never really talked to and had only seen from afar but she immediately started excitedly saying she shipped Zuko and Katara too! In this simple shared obsession, I made one of the best friends I’ve ever had and we’re still friends to this day. We would theorize and fangirl over Avatar like it was nobody’s business; we poured over bootleg San Diego Comic Con footage that showed spoilers for season 2 before it aired; we lost our freaking minds when we finally saw The Crossroads of Destiny. We had watch parties every week as Season 3 of A:TLA aired, and comforted each other when the show ended as it did (much ranting was shared). Those are some of my happiest memories from high school… all because this one pairing from this wonderful show. Even though Zutara didn’t happen, we still chat every now and then about it. Zutara will probably be a lifelong obsession, always bubbling under the surface. And without it, I would have never realized that animation was a viable career path. It really did inspire everything including the work I’m doing to this day in the animation industry. I owe a lot to this ship and to Avatar: the Last Airbender.

2. What inspires you to create zutara fanworks?

The resurgence of Avatar: The Last Airbender this year really helped sort of spark that dormant love I had for Zutara. The show’s ending still disappointed me on the rewatch, but Zuko and Katara’s relationship arc was as captivating as ever, so I turned to some fanfiction and looking at people’s pretty Zutara art and AMVs to just revel in fanon instead of getting to hung up on the actual ending of the show. But then I realized, with quarantine and my work load being pretty light, I had time to actually make all new Zutara art for myself, art I was never fully capable of making as a kid, but now could do with my 7 years of industry experience and just… life experience. And I was inspired to do some corrective animatics to satisfy my own desire for a different ending. I just really like exploring these two characters, doing different and interesting things with them, and frankly I’m inspired to make cute, fluffy, romantic art simply by virtue of living in a really sad and depressing world. Things are so crazy right now, creating art about two characters I love being in love, is comforting. And it helps to have inspiring music and amazing Zutara amvs to just sort of stir up my emotions and imagery in my head to make into animatics and art.

3. Be selfish - if you could request one fanwork based on your own art/fanfic, what would it be? What would you absolutely love to see someone create?

Ohhhh… Well, It’s always nice to have people write fanfiction that puts words to my animatics. I am not that great at coming up with dialog myself, so I’ve just chosen to indulge in visuals and emotions for my boards. But when I read things like RideBoldlyRide’s take on my Reunion Animatic, it makes me pretty giddy. (They finally have voices!) :) And this is the MOST selfish thing I could request, but I’m not shy about saying how much I love well done amvs, so I will literally kill for someone to make Zutara AMVs to songs I like… Like, most of AURORA’s songs but especially Exist for Love, Sunseeker by The Naked and Famous, Promises or Take Me by Aly & AJ, Adore You by Harry Styles, Human Enough by ONR, Never Let Me Go by Florence + The Machine, and/or Almost (Sweet Music) by Hozier just… I can see the AMVs so clearly to any of these songs in my head, but I don’t have the tools or skill set at my disposal to make a compelling fan video. When I was in high school, I originally thought I wanted to go into video editing simply because I loved making very crappy AMVs (they were so bad you guys), but I figured out being a storyboard artist was more in my wheelhouse. haha

4. Any words for people who are new to the fandom and/or nervous about sharing their work for the first time?

If you’re new to the Zutara fandom, just have a good time! Don’t waste too much time arguing with people over your shipping preferences. I wasted so much of my teen years having pointless shipping wars with people on DeviantArt, and I’m just so much happier nowadays because I’m just making Zutara art in my little corner of the internet, and honestly, in the politest of ways, I don’t give a shit if people don’t like my art or Zutara. haha I think that’s sort of a key thing for people thinking of posting creative works here in the fandom, just make art for yourself, satisfy your own desires for the pairing, get your creative sparks flying, and create just for the joy of creating. It’s always nice to get comments and such, but simply making the art should be what spurs you on, not the external validation. And have a good time, don’t worry too much - I say as someone who worries about EVERYTHING. But honestly, making art for A:TLA is some of the most relaxed I’ve been because I make it just for me. I’m lucky others seem to like it too!

5. What’s an idea for a fanwork that you have but haven't gotten around to making?

I have an idea for a second generation storyline with my Zutara kids that involves Kya (the eldest firebending daughter) falling in love with an airbender boy (tentatively named Gora in my headcanon who’s a bit of a rabble rouser and one of Aang’s kids he had with a Kyoshi Warrior), and then they start a socialist revolution in the Fire Nation in order to dismantle all of the hierarchical societies across the Avatar world… Together Kya and Gora Fan the Flames of revolution… ehhhhh... Get it?? Oh! Oh, and then Katara, who had put in legit liberal reforms in her time as Fire Lady listens to her daughter after resisting in the first part of the story, but then realizes she can actually play a part in the dissolution of the royalty and is also active in the revolution realizing that moderate liberal reforms are no substitute for a society free of serving royalty (which she had always been uncomfortable with but had rationalized with herself that she was doing good in her capacity as Fire Lady.) I just feel like there’s a lot of cool potential for discussing these ideas and also having some aspirational change in the Avatar world. lol For aesthetics and just happy fluffy times, I can indulge in Fire Lady and Fire Lord Zuko stuff, but really at the end of the day, I take issue with the structures in a society that have to exist for monarchies to exist. Soooo, I kind of want to do my own corrective story for that… if I ever have the time or guts. On a less ambitious note, I would love to do a Zutara sparring animatic to practice doing action, but I need a good story; I am not good at doing fights just for fighting’s sake. Those are just some things I have rattling around in my head.

6. Are you participating in ZFAW? If so want to give us a hint as to your plans?

Yes! The most I can say is I have one animatic almost finished and one that’s still being thumbnailed. The rest are probably going to be comics or emotive single pieces based on the fanfics I really like right now. :)

#interviews #zutara fanworks appreciation week #zfaw #hayleynfoster #zutara

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spnfanficpond · 3 years

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Pond Diving - Katelynw93

Welcome to today’s Pond Diving Spotlight! We hope that you enjoy this little insight to our members and perhaps even find some useful tips for your own writing. Happy reading!

Want to volunteer, send us an ask! We’re looking forward to learning more about all of you! Not sure what PD is, you can learn more here.

“Don’t Be Koi About It” - All About You

Name: Katelyn, but most people call me Kate, Katie or sometimes even Kat.

Age: 27

Location: Originally from Kansas, but have been located in Upstate NY for the last six years.

URL: @katelynw93

Why did you choose your URL: It’s usually the username that I use for everything and if I’m being honest, I’m not very creative when it comes to titles or names. Lol. I’ve been meaning to change it; I just need to decide on what.

What inspired you to become a writer: Well, when I was in middle school (maybe seventh or eighth grade), my best friend and I decided to write a story together and post it on a fanfiction site (Can’t remember the site name, though.) And I just loved it. We never did finish that story. Lol. But eventually I started branching out and found some roleplay writing sites.

How long have you been writing: Started writing in middle school (2006/2007), but really got into it in 2009 with RP. However, September of this year (2020) was the first year I started really writing fics by myself and opening posting them.

What do you do when you are not writing i.e. Job/Hobbies etc? I work a lot, usually an average of 40+ hours a week; I am a manager at a popular food chain restaurant and on the weekends, a cashier at a gas station to provide a little extra cash for my family. When I’m not working, my time is spent with my two kids; Alekzander (Zander) who just turned five this past November and Lincoln (Link) who will be two in February. Outside of work and my family, I’m usually writing. Sometimes if I’m feeling extra creative or inspired, I’ll create a few crackships for couples I really enjoy. Lol.

How long have you been in the SPN Fandom? I actually found Supernatural around the same time I started writing, so back in ninth grade, so 2008/2009. It was honestly an accident too, because I was searching for Smallville episodes (I have an unhealthy addiction to Superman and DC/Marvel.) and stumbled upon an ad for Supernatural. Was instantly intrigued and fell in love. Seasons 1 - 5 (the Kripke era) are my favorite.

Are you in any other fandoms and do you write for them? Oh yea, I love TV shows and movies, and as I’ve already stated above, I love DC and Marvel. I’ve also written for Grey’s Anatomy and am willing to write for more, but SPN, DC and Grey’s are currently the only ones I’ve written for. I love The Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill, Private Practice, Station 19, 9-1-1, Game of Thrones, The Witcher, Merlin, Dexter, Psych, and so, so many more. There are too many to list. Lol.

Do you do any writing outside of fanfiction? If so, tell us about it? Other than RPing, not really. I mean, I did try to do an original story with my friend when I was younger, but it never went anywhere. But I am willing to try someday.

Favorite published author: Other than the really big authors like; J.K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin, Jim Butcher, Nicholas Sparks, Suszanne Collins, I really like (and maybe it’s cliche) Stephenie Meyer. The Twilight Saga made me fall in love with reading and eventually, that love led me to writing. Those books hold a special place in my heart.

Have you ever read a book that made an impact on your life? Which one and why?: Well, I guess I sort of answered that one already. But there truly are so many amazing books out there and still so many more to discover.

Favorite genre of fanfic (smut, angst, fluff, crack, rpf, etc): Oh man, I’m not gonna lie, a majority of what I read is probably smut. But I am particularly fond of angst. I want you to make me cry. Really dig and stab into my emotions. Lol. And then come back in with some fluff. Haha.

Favorite piece of your own writing: Well, that would have to be Sweet Cherry Pie because it was really the first piece I’ve ever finished and published online. It was inspired by an RP that I am currently involved in and they are my favorite couple in said RP. It got so much positive feedback after I shared it that it inspired me to keep writing. I was so nervous about posting it, but I am glad I did.

Most underrated fic you have written: Oh I’m not sure. Maybe Love Bites. I am a sucker for Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries crossovers. I really loved writing this fic and am eager to write more.

Story of yours that you’d most like to see turned into a movie/tv show: Oh damn, um, it’d be cool to see any of them like that. But maybe Sweet Cherry Pie or Out of the Fire (my firefighter!Dean series).

Favorite Tumblr Writer(s): There are so many, but I usually find myself reading work from; @impala-dreamer, @katehuntington @deanwanddamons, @muchamusedaboutnothing.

Favorite Fic from another writer: This one is tough because there are so many amazing fics out there, especially ones that I adddddore; but if forced to choose, one story that will always stick with me would have to be Treacherous by @idkhaylijah OR The Sullivan Series by Kate Huntington

Favorite character to write: Dean Winchester. I adore Dean and he’s probably the easiest for me to write. I have written the most fics with him and I portray him often in the RPs that I do.

Favorite Pairing to write: Dean with anyone, but my favorite would be Dean x Caroline.

Least favorite character to write (and why): That’s a tough one, cause there’s not really any that I’m uncomfortable with or dislike writing. Maybe characters with accents, because I don’t really know how to capture that in writing yet? I’m pretty open with my writing and am willing to try mostly anything.

Do you have anyone you consider a mentor? Oh definitely. When I first started RPing, there was another girl (Jocelyn) that I used to write with and she influenced a lot of my writing. She was older than me and had more experience and gave me a lot of tips on how to get better. She is an amazing writer and had the potential of going far with it, but life happens and unfortunately, she doesn’t write anymore. But she is booming on Youtube, so that’s pretty impressive. It’s pretty cool to see how far she’s come.

Do you have any aspirations involving your writing? I used to want to be a journalist when I was younger, but other than that, not really. I just want to have fun with it and write something meaningful for someone, and always improve and get better.

How many work-in-progress stories do you have: I have a few ideas jotted down, maybe ten, but I haven’t actually started any of them. I have so many bingo cards I need to finish, but with my work schedule, it’s been pretty crazy.

What are you currently working on? My main project is Out of the Fire.

“Pond Diving” - All About The Writing

What/who has had the biggest influence on your writing? Definitely the RPing that I’ve done and am currently doing. My friend Alesha has been the longest RP partner that I’ve had and her writing is phenomenal - and it helps a lot too when your mind's work in similar ways; her and I always seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to writing. I love it. But like me, she has a very busy schedule and writing is limited.

Best writing advice you've been given: Have fun with it, write what you want to write and always be open to helpful criticism. And don’t stress about it, either. Write in your own time. It’s meant to be fun, not stressful.

Biggest obstacle you’ve faced in your writing: Just finding the time to write and getting over being so self conscious about my writing. I don’t let anyone in my real life read what I write.

What aspects of writing do you find difficult when you write fanfiction? Just capturing the personalities of the canon characters sometimes; if it’s a character I’m not used to writing, I worry about portraying them the right way. And I have trouble individualizing the characters (separating them from myself/my own personality), like when I create an OC for an RP, sometimes when I have too many, their personalities all become the same in ways (if that makes sense?). And accents. I have trouble with accents. Oh, and fight/action scenes. They take me a bit.

Is there anything you want to write but are afraid to (and why): I am always going to be afraid, no matter what it is that I’m writing, because I worry about it succeeding. I want to write for other fandoms though, I guess, but like I said, I worry about capturing the characters right and having a decent storyline that is unique.

What inspires/motivates you to write: Honestly, positive feedback. I love hearing what people think about my writing and it motivates me to continue.

How do you deal with self-doubt: That’s a tough one. I guess I just look towards my writing friends or beta’s for reassurance or I go back and read the positive comments and likes on the fics I’ve already shared. It encourages me to continue.

How do you deal with writer's block: I usually listen to music and I’ll look up gifs of my favorite characters, create stories in my head with those gifs or I’ll create gif sets of specific scenes. If that doesn’t work, I’ll take a break and watch one of my favorite TV shows for inspiration.

Do you plan/outline your story before you start: For my RPs, I have a group chat with those I’m writing with and we usually shoot ideas back and forth, but mostly we wing it. For my fics, I normally just wing it, but with Out of the Fire, I have a rough idea of what I want from each part. With that said, my ideas or plans often change as I’m writing. These characters have a mind of their own sometimes. Lol.

Do you have any weird writing habits: I don’t know about any weird habits, but I always have music on and I guess I have to do it in spurts. I’ll write a few paragraphs or sentences, pause and scroll tumblr or facebook or gifs, and then go back, reread what I wrote and then write a few more. Rise and repeat.

Have you ever received hateful comments on your fic and how do you deal with it? So far, no I haven’t, and I hope I don’t ever have to deal with that. But I know it’s bound to happen. I guess if I were to ever encounter that, I’d like to say that I’ll take it as a learning experience but I honestly don’t know I’d feel about that.

Conversely: what’s been some of your favorite feedback on your fanfic? Oh man, I guess my favorite would have to be ellewritesfix05 reaction to the secret santa fic I wrote for her; Dean Fucking Winchester. And all the positive feedback I’ve gotten for Out of the Fire.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new and/or struggling writer, what would it be? Have fun with it. Write what you want and what you’re comfortable with. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism and most importantly, don’t stress. Writing is fun.

#pond diving #pond diving: katelynw93 #spnfanficpond

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moderndayportia · 4 years

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What do you do when you have writer's block?

Thanks for the ask. I’m by no means an expert- hell, I’ve been blocked for about 2 years- but I will share some of the things I do that help me in hopes that maybe they can help you and others?

1. Ask for prompts:

Writing short, low-stakes, no-pressure stories has really helped me reconnect with my writing and my readers recently. It also helps that the fandom is so wildly encouraging. I feel so motivated to do more for them.

2. Read:

And I don’t mean fanfiction. This is my biggest source of inspiration for writing. I read novels, short stories, poems, memoirs- anything that will create space in my mind for new ideas to spark. This is probably highly personal for every writer, but Haruki Murakami is my go-to: he is prolific, so there’s always another book to dive into, and his novels create these spaces and images in my mind that I carry around with me and just think about. Suddenly there are two moons in the sky, or 30 chapters in to a normal plot a cat can speak, or it starts raining fish at a bus stop, or you are walking through an underground tunnel system surrounded by mysterious creatures, or there is a man on a mountain dressed as a sheep. Find stories that are steroids for your imagination and give them space to inspire you.

3. Read out loud:

Hearing can trigger new ideas in a way that reading can’t. Sometimes when I’m trying to work on the next part or chapter of a story and I feel stuck, I go back and read the previous part out loud. Sometimes I take a walk and have my iPhone read it to me. Being passive and listening may open some doors that you aren’t able to force open by being active through reading.

4. Collect images and language:

If I was a more organized person, I would tell you to write them down, but for me I just keep them in my head. I can sometimes build a whole story from one image or expression. For example, I’ve been thinking about an unmoored rowboat by a dock since I read a Mary Oliver poem years and years ago. I was recently able to use it in a drabble and it really was the point of that drabble- everything I wrote lead up to that. There are other things I carry around in my head from my own experiences: a woman standing alone on a subway platform as a yellow train pulls away; my bicycle basket filled with cherry blossom petals outside the elementary school; a lonely nighttime walk up a dark mountain road bordered by towering hyacinth bushes; a fox eyeing me warily at 2am in the middle of a London sidewalk; a bartender chiseling an ice cube into a perfect square; a fire escape up a building I couldn’t help but climb. These may never make it into a story, or they may become a part of a story, or they may become a whole story. I think everyone has these kinds of experiences but it’s just a matter of observing them while they are happening and remembering what makes them special. And then dipping into that well and letting them inform and inspire your writing when the time is right (and when you need them).

5. Find your theme:

This is where I often get the most stuck. Establishing what idea you want to explore should inform every other part of your story, from the pacing, to the plot points to the figurative language. Even in my smut, I try to explore some kind of theme, e.g, ‘In this story, I want to examine trust while in this one I want to play around with ideas of privacy and the public eye.’ If you can set that as your point A before you even start concepting a plot, you may find it easier write something that feels...substantive? I’m not sure if that’s the right word. Meaningful? Fulfilling? Name your poison.

6. Don’t compare yourself to others:

This might be controversial, but when I’m trying to get in creative mode I don’t read other fanfiction from the fandom I’m writing for. I found that I personally can’t stop comparing myself to other, better writers, and then I feel bad and just stop producing. So while I support all the wonderful authors in the KS fandom in spirit, I have to take a break from reading their works while I’m working on my own.

7. Make space and time for your writing:

This is by far the hardest part for me. My work tends to siphon all of the creative energy, so I have to make a concerted effort to carve out a time when I have both energy and inspiration to write. Rituals can help define the time- I light some incense, pour a glass of yerba mate, put on some cello music, and dim the the lights. That’s my routine that tells my mind and body, okay, now is the time we do what we need for our creative fulfillment.

8. Don’t aim for perfect from the start:

Everyone has their own way of writing, but what works for me is writing in layers. My first pass is essentially just a sloppy, sketchy, un-punctucated mess. Sometimes that’s enough and I call it a day (or a month or a year). Then I start going over it again and again, refining with each pass. I take lots of breaks so that I can come back with fresh eyes. I don’t strive for perfection at any stage. Eventually I will have built up all of the layers and the story will be just how it should be, but the process can be messy and wild along the way. And that’s perfectly fine.

9. Alcohol (and sometimes weed)

------------------- So those are the tools I have in my arsenal for uncorking writers block. Does anyone else have good tips for OP (and me)? Please share!

#asks #portia writes #portiawrites #naplunamod #long post

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atlinmerrick · 5 months

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Spark: How Fanfiction and Fandom Can Set Your Creativity On Fire

Y'know, sometimes you have to wait longer than expected to receive the books you're publishing so pardon my all caps screaming:

THEY ARRIVED! EEEEEE! ORDER NOW! 20% OFF SALE ENDS END OF DAY TOMORROW (21 November 2023)!

Spark: How Fanfiction and Fandom Can Set Your Creativity On Fire hopes to help you believe that your fandom writing, drawing, podficcing – whatever you're creating right now – is, was, and ever shall be legitimate, important, and a fantastic way to expand your community, develop your skills, and above all help you find your voice in the world.

Spark's more than forty essays and interviews from best-selling writers Anne Jamison, Claire O'Dell, Diane Duane, Henry Jenkins, KJ Charles, Lyndsay Faye, Sara Dobie Bauer and many others discuss, encourage, and shout about how fic and fandom in all their glories can absolutely inspire you, set your creativity on fire – and change your world.

Click through to see the entire table of contents — who's in the book and the wonders about which they've written in Spark!

#Spark: How Fanfiction and Fandom Can Set Your Creativity On Fire #Fandom #Fanfiction #Improbable Press #Atlin Merrick

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obsidianarchives · 5 years

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Black Wizard History Month 2019 Round Table

Every February at Black Girls Create we celebrate Black Wizard History Month, a celebration of the Black characters of Harry Potter, Black Potterheads in fandom, and magical Black folks everywhere. This year our month-long turn up included live tweets, a live show of our #WizardTeam podcast, and fanfiction hosted through our Hogwarts BSU project.

Fanfiction is a large part of fandom, and in many cases can be a place for marginalized fans to see and write themselves into the stories they love. Hogwarts BSU is a project specifically for Black writers and artists to write stories centered around Black characters, history, and magic in the wizarding world. As a way to wrap up a jam-packed month, we decided to host a round table with a few of the writers of the pieces that came out during this year’s Black Wizard History Month.

How did you get into Harry Potter?

Bianca Ramos: When I was in 7th grade, my younger cousin was assigned books 1-3 in school. It was during the conservative Christian outrage and my family asked me to pre-read them for him since I was a "reader." I knocked them out quickly and was hooked.

Delia Gallegos: Growing up, the books always peaked my interest in the library, even though I was only 5 or 6 years old. Our household was pretty religious, so my mom was wary about letting me read them. One summer, my cousin lent me Sorcerer’s Stone while we were at my grandma’s. I only got a chapter in but I knew I HAD to read it. After a lot of begging on my part, my mom relented and agreed to let me read it under the condition that she could read the first one out loud to me. The rest was history!

Constance Gibbs: I started reading Harry Potter when I was in sixth grade and someone was reading Chamber of Secrets. I can’t remember if I read that one first or if I went to Sorcerer’s Stone, but I read all three that were out at the time and had my grandma take me to pre-order Goblet of Fire, which was about to come out. I’ve been hooked ever since.

Porshèa Patterson: In 6th grade, my then-bestie told me about the series but had already lent the first book out. That summer I picked up the books from the library after learning I'd never see this bestie again due to me changing schools. Thus, Harry Potter became my new best friend.

Have you read fanfiction before? What draws you to it? Or what kept you away from it?

Bianca: I didn't read fanfiction before getting into everything going on here at Black Girls Create. I don't know why. I guess I just never found myself on that side of the internet. Now I think I’m more open to it.

Delia: I’m a long-time fanfiction reader. I first started after the 5th book came out. At the time, it was just a matter of Harry Potter sparking my imagination and there being no material to satisfy it. So, I turned to the internet. Now, engaging with Harry Potter and the fandom in a creative way is almost second nature to me.

Connie: I didn’t start reading Harry Potter fanfiction until sometime after the series was over because I didn’t want to spoil the series as it was coming out. I think I tried in 2007, when the series first ended, but it didn’t stick. But a few years later, I read a few post-series stories. Usually shippery ones involving Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione, but I went through a big Lily/James Marauders Era phase and I occasionally read Remus/Tonks. For the romantic stories, as we discuss on #WizardTeam often, there wasn’t a lot in the text, so it’s nice to see others’ varying but often similar interpretations on how the canon relationships could have gone with more effort put into developing them. Plus I’m a fuzzy Hufflepuff.

Porshèa: I'd started reading fanfic during the lapse between books 4 and 5, began integrating them into canon thanks to some very vivid dreams, then promptly stopped reading because there were too many books to go for me to have those problems.

What made you want to start writing fanfiction?

Bianca: I was inspired by revisiting Harry Potter through #Wizard Team, by the short stories on the site, and the complete gas up I received when I shared my ideas in the Slack. The team is a wonderful place to bounce around ideas and everyone is really supportive.

Delia: I was really young (probably too young, admittedly) when I started reading fanfiction. I started writing it on a whim. It was very much, “Hey I want to do that, too!” so I did. Being that young, you really don’t care that you don’t know how to plot a story or that you haven’t even really finished learning about grammar. You just do it because it seems fun.

Connie: I’d never written fanfiction before Hogwarts BSU/#Wizard Team. I was content to lurk in whatever fandoms I was reading fic for. I think wanted to give it a try because of something Robyn and Bayana said on #WizardTeam, and that’s where my first fic, Do Black Wizards Nod, came from. The idea of whether the Black students give each other the nod and how they would deal with that. Then I kept getting prompts or fic bunnies and it feels so much easier than when I try to write original works.

Porshèa: I've recently taken to writing fanfic because I want to fill in the holes within the fandoms I love. I'm empowered to do so because of the community that BGC has curated, the validation of headcanons, and understanding that we're the best at crafting stories from our individual lenses.

What was your inspiration for your piece?

Bianca: The complete ball drop that was History of Magic in North America and J.K. Rowling ignoring valid criticism. Like most American fans, I was excited to see the wizarding world expand to include us. However, the fact that racism — RACISM — something that plays a major part in the development of the three largest countries here, isn't even recognized on a small scale is insulting to readers. You can't tell me that a country with a history as bloody and messed up as the U.S. has wizards of every racial background being besties. It's not realistic. I also understand that maybe J.K. Rowling felt unqualified to talk about it, but I believe it can be done in a way that is both careful and makes sense.

Delia: I’ve been preaching the good word of Deanmione since February 2018. Since coming aboard the ship, I’ve been surprised to find that I am pretty much the only person sailing on it. The existing fanfic of the pairing is sparse. So when To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before came out on Netflix, I fell in love again with the story (I had read the book) and the gears in my head started turning. Then, when #WizardTeam started on Half-Blood Prince, I realized that was the perfect fit.

Connie: I’ve written a few things now, but I like thinking about the Black students forming a group and watching out for each other. I was never part of a BSU, but in high school and college I went to predominantly white schools and found myself most comfortable around my peers of color. In high school it was just natural, gravity, but I think in college I sought it out more deliberately. So I could relate to Blaise’s desire to find/start a group to help him feel less alone on campus. I remember that feeling, though I can’t say I consciously channeled it when I wrote Umoja. Other inspiration included the idea of honoring Kwanzaa in a way that helped me connect with the holiday more than I do in real life, and finding a creative way to use each principal to tell a story. And further inspiration comes from Delia and the rest of the team being instigators.

"...if you want something written about Black wizards learning within the wizarding world to be done well, you've gotta roll up your sleeves and do it yourself." -- Porshèa Patterson

Porshèa: The inspiration for my piece comes from the wandless magic conversations throughout the books — specifically when it comes to powerful wizards and house-elves — the disappointment that is Magic in North America, and Uagadou. All of the missing elements in these spurred me into writing, because obviously if you want something written about Black wizards learning within the wizarding world to be done well, you've gotta roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.

What are some things in Harry Potter canon that you would like to explore or fix?

Bianca: As mentioned before, we can fix History of Magic in North America. I think that exploring the wizarding world here could be pretty awesome. I'd love to see stories of Indigenous wizards, Mexican wizards, or a story of Japanese American wizards and wizard immigrants (especially if they are written by someone in that community). Why did they decide to come here and what have they experienced and endured since? Also, we need to get rid of that "Cursed" play and Dumbledore and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day prequels.

Delia: I started as a Harmony shipper, believe it or not. I read others, but that was my OTP. I was just so underwhelmed by the romance in the books. Since the series finished, my biggest sore spot has been the Epilogue. They went through so much trauma. How did they work through it to get to that happy ending? How on EARTH did Hermione end up with emotionally stunted Ron (sorry Ronmione shippers, it’s all love)? Why is Harry not the DADA professor? I'd also love to fix Leta's story. I wish she could have a fully fledged story that isn’t based in tragedy. A story where she lives and is happy. She deserved better.

Connie: Like Bianca said, the global wizarding community is one thing I wish we could fix in canon. Jo did such a poor job of thinking of anywhere outside of Europe and it really hinders the story when considering how global both the fans and the Muggle world, even in Britain, are. I also wish we could remove Fantastic Beasts and Cursed Child from existence. I wish Fantastic Beasts starred an actor of color for Newt and that it was romps in the jungle searching for beasts and perhaps treasure. I wish they were adventure stories set in the ‘20s a la Indiana Jones or the Mummy franchise and not…what it is.

Porshèa: While there's a lot that needs to be fixed — see everyone else's answers — I think I only have the patience to 'fix' the ways in which Black American communities practice magic, the integration of magic and modern tech — because there are too many Muggle-borns for this to NOT be a thing — and wizarding higher education.

Are there Black characters in other media you would want to write fanfiction for?

Bianca: As of right now, no.

Delia: I don’t really see myself writing outside of my own original work and Harry Potter fanfiction. Potter is the only world besides those of my own creation that I know well enough to write in. But who knows!

Connie: There have been so few Black characters that I relate to, and I find myself not reading fanfic leading them very often. I’ve read only a few characters that were Black in other fandoms, Abigail Mills from Sleepy Hollow and Chidi from The Good Place more recently. I think I also read some fic starring Tucker from Danny Phantom (throwback!) who the fans thought had good chemistry with Danny’s sister Jazz. But there are few characters in other properties I feel drawn to enough to write, which really makes me sad. Hopefully I get more characters to want to play with and can expand my fic reading beyond shiny white people problems (or anime characters, as was my fanfiction beginnings). Perhaps some day I’ll be drawn to Doctor Who fic for those Black characters, but it hasn’t quite happened yet.

Porshèa: There is a character from the A Song of Ice and Fire series that I relate to heavily, though we know very little about her. My goal is to start on a fanfic for her after completing the Founding Home series.

Do you think Black characters get enough love in fan spaces? Why or why not?

Bianca: It depends on who the story was written for. In predominantly white stories with white main characters, Black characters are usually thrown in as an afterthought, and it shows. The same goes with color blind casting and not adjusting the story to make sense for a person of color. On the other hand, you get stories written for Black characters and characters of color like in Scandal or Pose and there is this level of care that is woven into it that changes how the characters are viewed. Fans can't help but fall in love with a fully fleshed out character.

Delia: You can read Mel’s Critical Companion piece from this month for the long answer. The short answer is, no. At best, in fandom, Black characters are often overlooked, save for when they serve a headcanon for a white character. At worst, they are overly harshly scrutinized or rejected, even though they are often one character of color out of dozens of white ones.

"At best, in fandom, Black characters are often overlooked, save for when they serve a headcanon for a white character." -- Delia Gallegos

Connie: Definitely not. I get sad when I think about how I perhaps perpetuate this lack of love by not talking about those characters enough or, more to the point here, not reading fic starring them. But also, those characters only have a few stories on the fanfic websites or don’t get as much screen time or development to work with. Or perhaps they’re not put in situations I want to think on too often, leading me to not even go looking for “fix-it” fic where writers fix whatever bad thing happens to them. And I think the stories I like with predominantly Black characters are in recurring works where I’m waiting to see where the actual author takes them. There may be something to the idea of me just being happy they exist and not wanting to mess with them too much. Two book series I think of are the Shadowshaper Cypher by Daniel José Older and Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. The worlds are so new and I’m just so happy to get these great characters that I’m not looking for anyone else’s take on them just yet, but maybe that will come down the line. In more established franchises, I definitely think Black characters don’t get enough love in the fandom nor by the writers/producers.

Porshèa: What they said. I do love that the actors who portray the token Black faces call out the Black fan appreciation they get, especially when Luke Youngblood and Alfie Enoch pointed out that they'd realized that the Black fans made a point to seek them out within the films during BGC-led panels at LeakyCon.

What is a character or theme in Harry Potter that you want to write about or explore in the future?

Bianca: I have a list of things that I would like to write about in Harry Potter, and it seems to grow everyday. New schools, founders, and histories. I'd also like to flesh out some characters like Mrs. Zabini.

Delia: I think even after To All the Wizards I’ve Considered Before is finished, there will still be more to be told of Dean and Hermione.

Connie: I’m interested in exploring more Blaise/Desiree as a flourishing Black couple in the wizarding world and what challenges in their relationship they may have to overcome. Also just showing Black love cuteness. I think beyond the BSUverse, Robyn and I keep trying to come up with some post-First War detective story, perhaps involving an original character or Kingsley.

Porshèa: After Founding Home, I'm going to (someday) flesh out my Parvati, Lavender, and others boss witch writers story, and my Dumbledore and Prince ‘90s fashion-off story. More after that, maybe?

Make sure to read our guests and other writers’ pieces on our Hogwarts BSU page. If you have fic you would like published, or if you would like to participate in Black Wizard History Month in the future, feel free to check out our submission guidelines or hit us up at [email protected]. Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you next February and all the months in between!

#Black Wizard History Month #Hogwarts BSU #Harry Potter #fandom

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blaqqkat · 7 years

Text

Honey, Honey

Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction

Read it on AO3 here

A/N: This fandom has eaten me whole. I am trash. Send help.

It is no simple task for an artist to find their muse. The first time Nathanael had ever found his, he was fifteen and her eyes were so, so blue. Marinette was delicate and sugar-sweet, and he only ever wanted to shield her from the world. Of course, turning into a villain that so cruelly paralleled the heroic version of himself he’d crafted was the worst way to do so. He’d stopped drawing her after that. After all, how could you spend all of your time drawing someone you couldn’t bear to look at?

It’s been two years since then, and Nath still struggles to find something that resonates with him quite the way Marinette once had. Not for lack of trying, of course! But no matter how many times he strolled around Paris with a sketchbook in hand, nothing inspired him. He was just waiting for that spark. That jolt of electricity, that-

Nathanael didn’t even get time to process the flash of bold color in his peripheral before he was knocked to the ground. When he came to, he realized two things. The first thing he noticed when he looked up was that the city was in chaos. How did he not notice that before? The curse of being an artist, he supposed. He sort of had a one-track mind when it came to inspiration, and-

The second thing Nathanael noticed was that he had a superheroine on top of him. The same one he’s seen all over the news, saving the world in that bug-themed suit of hers. And wow, she really was as beautiful as everyone says.

“What,” she begins. “Are you doing? This whole block is supposed to be evacuated! It’s so typical for you to have your head in the clouds, Na- I mean, you naive artist.”

As much as he would’ve liked to say that he was listening to her, all he could focus on was the way her mouth formed the words. Was his face getting hot? A quick brush of his palm to his cheek confirmed that, yes, it was. After a moment of analyzing his face with narrowed eyes, she clamored off of him and extended a hand. He stared at it for a moment before the gears in his brain began to move and he realized that she was offering to help him up. Nathanael put his hand in hers, blood boiling as she pulled him to his feet.

“I would offer to get you to safety, but I don’t have time,” she said haughtily, cocking a hip. “I trust that you can find your own way?”

“Yes,” Nathanael rushed to say. “I’ll be fine.”

“And you promise not to get caught in the line of fire or snatched up by the akuma?”

Her eyes were fierce, as if she was daring him to answer to the contrary. Something in him was a little frightened at her intensity, but the rest of him was… flattered? She was looking at him like his safety was vital. Like he’d better not dare put himself in harm’s way. Would this be a weird time to swoon?

“I, uh, yes. I promise, ma’am.”

She nodded and turned to rejoin the fight. At the last minute, however, she glanced back over her shoulder. Her serious demeanor melted into something almost playful as her eyes met his, and Nathanael felt something in his stomach twist and flutter.

“You know,” she drawled, rolling her eyes and giving a cavalier flip her hair. “Most people just call me Queen Bee.”

Nathanael doesn’t know how long he stands there after she flies away, jaw dropped and heart pounding. When he finally snaps out of it, he realizes two things. First is that he probably should take cover. Queen Bee really had been serious about him getting out of there, and he didn’t exactly feel like falling victim to the akuma of the week. But the second thing he realized was how tightly his fingers were clenching his sketchbook. Seeing her had lit up a part of himself that had been in the dark for so long. It was like he’d touched a live wire. Like he’d just received a defibrillator to the chest.

Like he’d just been struck by lightning.

Walking into class the next day felt like trying to move with a lead anchor wrapped around his ankle. Nathanael had spent the entire night drawing her. And he still couldn’t seem to stop himself. As soon as he sat at his desk and set his bag on the floor, he was already taking out his sketchbook to flesh out an outline he’d started after waking up. Nath just couldn’t seem to get her eyes right. They were big, but they didn’t look young. They were fierce, but they weren’t angry. They were sexy, but not flirtatious-

“What are you drawing?”

Nathanael sighed at the familiar voice without even bothering to look up.

“Nothing, Chloe.”

“What’s with the attitude?” she whined, coming closer. “I’m just curious! I never see you draw during class.”

“And whose fault do you think that is?” he grumbled. Chloe huffed and hopped up to sit on his desk, but Nathanael only hissed and shielded his sketchbook from her prying eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re implying, but if I did then I would say whoever you’re talking about is a changed person and might mildly regret that one time she showed your drawings of Marinette to everyone. But I really don’t know what you’re implying.”

“Don’t you?” Nathanael asked flatly.

“I really don’t,” Chloe insisted. “Now show me.”

“No.”

“The more you hide it, the more I want to know.”

“It’s good to want things, Chloe.”

“Nathanael, I’m not going to ask again.”

“Good, because it would be annoying to say ‘no’ again.”

“Just let me see what you’re drawing!” Chloe demanded, hopping off the desk and stomping her foot. She reached for the sketchbook, but Nathanael stood up to get it out of reach in time. Which, of course, only made her louder and more persistent.

“Come on! I just want to see what’s so important that it’s got you drawing again-”

“It’s not a big deal,” Nath defended. “Just let it go, Chloe.”

“It’s probably some stupid girl again-”

“She’s not stupid!”

And suddenly the whole class was staring, and Chloe was gaping like a fish. Great. Nathanael sat back down and put a fist over his mouth, wishing for probably the millionth time in his short life that he could make himself invisible.

“Who’s not stupid?” Alya asked with narrowed eyes, her gaze darting back and forth between Chloe and Nathanael.

“Uh,” Nathanael stammered, face burning from the attention. “I, um-”

“Frida Kahlo,” Chloe interrupted blithely. “I said that she was stupid for depicting herself as less attractive than she really was in her self portraits. Nathanael was just saying that she was intentionally doing it to depict her inner turmoil and deep-seeded issues with her low self-esteem.”

“Huh,” Alya exhaled, obviously not expecting that answer. “That’s… interesting. He’s right, though. And anyone who’d call Frida Kahlo stupid is obviously overcompensating for their own lack of artistic creativity.”

“Bite me, Césaire,” Chloe hissed.

“The only one my girlfriend will be biting is me,” Nino joked, butting in with an easy smile. Alya whacked the back of his head but gave a girlish giggle as she did so.

“You so bad,” she fake-hissed.

Nathanael watched as Chloe gagged at the couple’s antics and refocused her eyes on him. He felt annoyed at the flood of gratitude that washed over him, seeing as the unwanted attention was Chloe’s fault in the first place.

“I didn’t know you were so well-versed in Frida Kahlo,” Nathanael murmured, glancing up to catch Chloe staring intently at some fixed point in space before turning her attention to him.

“I may not be good at making art, but I dominate in art history. Just like I do in my many other talents.”

Nathanael rolled his eyes.

“Color me impressed.”

“Is that an art pun?”

“Um, should it be?”

“God, no,” Chloe breathed, leaning against his desk. “I’ve been spending more and more time with this coworker of mine who puns constantly. Honestly, I don’t know how his partner puts up with it.”

“You have a job?” Nathanael asked, trying to imagine Chloe working a day in her life.

“Not for money, obviously,” Chloe sniffed. “It’s just some volunteer work I do a couple times a week. Making the world a better place and all that.”

“Somehow, I highly doubt that.”

“Well, I definitely saved your ass just now.”

“I guess you did,” Nathanael admitted. “Even though it was your fault-”

“No need to thank me,” Chloe interrupted, completely ignoring what Nath was about to say. “Showing me your drawings of the girl that’s got your panties in a twist will be thanks enough.”

“You’re really not gonna let go of this, are you?”

“Nope.”

After all these years, Nathanael really should’ve known better than to try to beat Chloe Bourgeois in a glaring contest. But no more than one minute later he was handing over his sketchbook with eyes that stung and watered from the effort of matching Chloe’s unblinking rage. She gave a little chuckle that screamed of superiority as she flipped through his old sketches to find his new muse.

“You’ve got me curious to see who she is,” she murmured, flipping through old drawings of Nath’s pets and recreations of famous portraits he had seen around the Louvre.

“Curiosity killed the cat,” Nathanael sighed.

“If only,” Chloe muttered cryptically. “I just want to see this mystery girl. Whoever she is, I bet she’s not as cool as…”

Chloe trailed off, clearly having reached the pages with Nath’s drawings of Queen Bee. He watched, embarrassed, as she gently ran her fingers along the silhouette of the blonde superheroine mid-flight.

“Me,” Chloe breathed, the uncertainty of her tone making it sound more like a question than her finally finishing her sentence.

Nathanael watched as she flipped through the pages slowly, her eyes lingering over every detail. He couldn’t bear to see her expression as she found more and more drawings, nervously looking around the room for a distraction. Adrien Agreste had just come in, so maybe he could get Chloe’s attention? Honestly, anything that would get Chloe off his back before she started judging him would be great. He worried that he looked like a creepy, Queen Bee-obsessed fanboy. It was completely normal to fill ten pages (front and back) with drawings of the same person in a single night, right? He couldn’t help it. The end result had never quite looked right. They never did her justice. Anyone could look at the drawings and plainly see-

“Is she really this pretty?”

Chloe’s voice was quiet for once, as if she’d been speaking to herself. Still, Nathanael couldn’t help but feel a little indignant on Queen Bee’s behalf. Honestly, he felt borderline offended at the implication.

“No,” he griped, reaching for the sketchbook only for Chloe to block him. “She’s much prettier. I’m too shitty an artist to capture just how beautiful she is.”

Was Chloe Bourgeois blushing? His eyes must be deceiving him.

“You’re not a shitty artist. These drawings are… amazing,” she gushed. Nathanael just about fell out of his seat. Was this the Twilight Zone? Had Nath wandered into an alternate dimension? Chloe noticed his stunned silence and cleared her throat.

“For an amateur, that is,” Chloe quickly added.

“Ah, thanks. I guess.”

“I suppose it helps that you have an acceptable muse,” Chloe noted, finally handing back Nath’s sketchbook. “I heard Queen Bee is quite impressive.”

“That’s an understatement,” Nathanael declared. “I actually met her yesterday.”

“Oh really,” Chloe asked, seemingly disinterested as she glanced down at her nails. “What’s she like?”

Nathanael answered with the first word that came to mind.

“Bold. Like she’d take down anyone who gets in her way. And confident, like she knew she’d win.”

“She probably would,” Chloe shrugged. “I heard she’s a badass.”

“I believe it,” Nathanael sighed. “She’s so intense.”

“Of course she is!” Chloe agreed. “I mean, she’s best friends with Ladybug, right?”

“Excuse me,” Alya butted in. “I’m pretty sure Volpina is Ladybug’s favorite.”

“That’s cute, babe,” Nino laughed. “But I think we all know that Ladybug and Jade Turtle are the two wisest. Which definitely makes them tighter than the rest of the squad.”

“Are you guys insane?” Adrien hissed, turning in his seat to glare at the three of them. “Chat Noir is obviously Ladybug’s closest companion in the entire world! They’re yin and yang! Creation and destruction! Good luck and bad! Besides, the two of them were partners before all these other heroes showed up out of nowhere-”

“What,” Chloe gasped, indignant. “I adore you, Adrikins, but how could you even-”

“Dear God,” Marinette groaned, walking into class late (as per usual). “It is too early in the morning for this bickering.”

“Good morning, Marinette,” Nathanael waved, hoping that she might be the one to break up all this talk of superheroes.

“Salut, Nathanael,” she smiled. But as Marinette edged towards her seat, her eyes trailed over to Adrien (as they always did) and Nath knew it was a lost cause.

“So, what exactly is the problem?”

“Reason with these savages, Marinette,” Alya begged. “Ladybug’s favorite is obviously-”

“Her entire team, because she loves them equally and only third graders pick favorite friends,” Marinette finished flatly, sitting down and pulling out her tablet.

“But who do you think she’d save first if they were all stuck in a burning building?” Nino insisted.

“The answer is obvious,” Marinette groused. “Queen Bee has wings, so she can fly out herself. Jade Turtle’s shell is pretty much indestructible, so he would just take cover. And he’d definitely shield Volpina while he was at it because they obviously have a thing going on-”

“They so do not,” Alya interrupted defensively. “Volpina said in an interview that she had a boyfriend, and she definitely wouldn’t betray his trust to run off with Donatello-”

“Jade Turtle is definitely Leonardo,” Nino defended. “But Alya is right. He wouldn’t cheat on the beautiful girlfriend I’m sure he has for some vixen-”

“But you think Volpina’s cute, right?” Alya asked, looking strangely self-conscious. Nino sputtered.

“Well, duh, but not as cute as you-”

“Anyways,” Adrien interrupted. “What Marinette was getting at was that Chat is undoubtedly the one Ladybug would save from a fire, which makes him Ladybug’s dearest teammate. Meaning that Marinette is clearly the only one here with common sense. Case closed.”

Marinette flushed.

“I didn’t say that! You make it sound like Ladybug and Chat Noir are an item.”

“I mean,” Adrien blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Couldn’t they be?”

“I, um, that is,” Marinette stammered. “Maybe they could be if she weren’t in love with someone else-”

“What,” Adrien gasped, visibly upset. “Where did you hear that Ladybug was in love with someone?”

“Well, I-”

Nathanael stopped listening around then, glad that everyone was riled up enough to pay him no mind. He pulled his sketchbook out again and tried to capture the sultry sweep of Queen Bee’s eyelashes, frowning when her heavy lids made her look more tired than seductive. He erased and redrew, quickly getting lost in his work and forgetting the world around him. It was more convincing, this way, to pretend that he couldn’t feel Chloe’s eyes on him. It was easier ignore the fact that she kept darting her gaze back to him and his sketchbook with an interest that she’d never quite seemed to think he was worthy of before.

But most of all, it was better that he keep head down and act like her unwavering attention didn’t have Nath’s heart ready to beat out of his chest.

It was a few months later, when Queen Bee had saved him from danger for the third time that week alone, that she started to crack.

“Now, what are you going to do next time there’s an akuma attack?” she asked shrilly.

“Run away,” Nathanael droned blandly, the same rehearsed lie he’d been forced to give the last dozen times they’d had this conversation.

“And what are you not going to do the next time there’s an akuma attack?”

Nathanael blushed and muttered under his breath.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“I’m not gonna try to take reference photos of the akuma for my graphic novel,” he grumbled, cheeks burning.

“And you’re actually going to keep your word next time,” Queen Bee insisted with narrowed eyes. “Right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Be honest,” she demanded, definitely picking up on the nervous flit of Nathanael’s eyes as she crossed her arms.

“Don’t you mean bee honest?”

Nath watched as Queen Bee spun around to glare daggers at one of Paris’s favorite superheroes. He felt a little small as Chat Noir sauntered over, oozing confidence and charm. It struck him as odd, suddenly, when he realized that he’d never seen Queen Bee interacting with another member of her team outside of crime fighting. If the sudden stiffness of her posture and the clench of her jaw were indicators, Nath might be under the impression that not every superhero in Paris got along with the others as well as Ladybug and Chat Noir did.

“If I hear one more pun from you today, Chat Noir, I will personally make sure that you wind up as puréed cat food before the week is through.”

“Hey,” Chat said, throwing his hands up in defense with a good-natured grin. “I just wanted to let you know that Volpina and I took care of things. Bug is cleansing the akuma as we speak. But if you’re busy-”

“I am, thank you very much. I have to make sure this civilian is safe-”

“He looks safe to me,” Chat Noir frowned. “You safe, pal?”

“Yeah, I’m safe,” Nath reassured, surprise flooding him when Bee turned to shoot him a look of betrayal.

“Then come on, Bee. The press is wanting a conference with all five of us.”

And then Nathanael saw something he thought he’d never see in his entire life. Queen Bee- graceful, sophisticated, polished- stamped her foot and had a tantrum. Like a small child told to pick up her toys.

“I don’t wanna,” she whined, crossing her arms. “The press is stupid! They only ever focus on dumb old Hawkmoth, Volpina and Jade Turtle’s sexual tension, and you and LB wanting to kiss each other’s faces off-”

“What,” Chat spluttered.

“So I’m going to stay here with this civilian,” Bee pressed on. “Because he’s obviously shaken and in need of emotional support.”

Nathanael started to protest but was quickly met with a sharp elbow to his side.

“Yep,” he winced. “I’m holding back the tears as we speak.”

“So if you could kindly buzz off,” Queen Bee seethed at Chat Noir. “It would be appreciated.”

“I believe buzzing off would be your forte,” Chat snarked back.

“Okay, that’s it-”

“Oh!” Nathanael feigned, fed up with their bickering. “The crippling emotional trauma!”

Bee looked at him liked he’d grown a second head before catching on. She feigned concern, pressing a comforting hand to Nath’s back and stepping in closer. She was so near that Nathanael could count her eyelashes if his overactive mind didn’t tend to lose track so easily. Thunder erupted in his chest. That definitely wasn’t the sound of his heart doing the Paso Doble against his ribcage. Nope. No siree.

“I should get you somewhere quieter,” she played along. “As in somewhere where this loudmouth is not.”

“Hey-”

“Enjoy your boring press junket, Cat Boy!”

And with that, Queen Bee scooped Nath up and flew off. In the back of his mind, Nath wondered when he got so comfortable with a girl smaller than he was carrying him princess style. It was likely around the time that he found himself getting personally cornered by an akuma every other week. Should he feel emasculated? Because all he felt was a honey-sweet warmth pooling in his veins as her ponytail brushed against his fingers where they gripped her shoulder and her perfume wafted between them. Whatever the scent was, it smelled nice. And expensive. Nathanael added ‘wears expensive perfume’ to the short list of things he knew about Queen Bee.

“Thank you,” he murmured as they flew through the night. “For always saving me.”

“It’s my job,” she muttered, not quite accepting the compliment as she usually did. “Someone has to make sure you don’t get squashed every time there’s an akuma, after all.”

“Still,” Nath insisted. “I appreciate it. You’re… you’re amazing.”

Nathanael about had a heart attack when they suddenly fell about ten feet out of the air before continuing on course. Startled, he looked over to see Bee grimacing.

“Forget how to fly much?” he teased, boldened.

“I will drop you,” she threatened.

“But then you’ll lose your number one fan,” he laughed.

“I’m pretty sure Sabrina Raincomprix holds that title,” she grumbled back.

Nath wheezed in response. She was probably right on that one. When Alya’s LadyBlog fizzled out (Alya had suddenly become too busy during akuma battles to get any footage, for some reason), Sabrina had been inspired to start a blog of her own: QueenMeme. It was awful, really. The whole thing was a slew of fan memes depicting how wonderful Queen Bee is.

“She worships you,” Nath managed to say between bouts of laughter.

“Well, for good reason,” Bee snarked. “I’m the greatest superhero Paris has ever seen.”

“You might be right,” he hummed in response.

The next time her wings faltered, Nathanael just laughed.

To say he was surprised when Queen Bee landed on the roof of his apartment complex would have been the most obscene understatement. It was disorienting, like having a dream where reality and fiction were so intertwined that he could make head or tails of neither. After all, this was his home but-

“How did you know where I live?”

Queen Bee had the sense to look embarrassed. Another wave of surprise washed over Nath as she looked down at her feet, kicking at the nonexistent dirt on the gravel rooftop. “Bashful” was a color he’d never seen painted on her before, and Nath’s head was reeling from all these new sides of Bee he was seeing tonight.

“I, um,” she stammered, the way she nervously gripped her elbow making Nathanael’s head spin. “I was, you know, patrolling around here a couple weeks ago, and I saw you go inside. I was late, and you didn’t come out so I just assumed- I mean, unless you have a girlfriend or-”

Queen Bee abruptly cut herself off with a groan and swiped her palms down her face. Nathanael watched in awe as she took a moment to recollect herself, his mouth gaping as he himself tried to formulate some sort of words. He was still reeling when Bee pieced herself together enough to send him a deadly serious look.

“Do you live here or not?” she asked hotly, crossing her arms.

“I, uh, yeah?”

He didn’t mean to make his words sound like a question, but she seemed to find the answer satisfactory enough as she plowed on.

“And what’s the deal with the whole girlfriend situation?” She demanded, expression fierce despite the deep crimson in her cheeks,

“What?” Nathanael gaped, head spinning as she leaned in closer.

“Do you have a girlfriend,” she grit out, repeating her words slowly. “Or not?”

“Not,” he rushed to say. “I mean, no, I don’t.”

Her eyes scanned his face, as if trying find a lie in his flushing cheeks or the nervous crease between his brows. And without fanfare or ceremony, she darted in for a kiss. It was brief, but he still had time to process the slick rub of her lipgloss and the warmth of her skin and the rubbery honeycomb texture of her gloved hand where it brushed his jaw. The smack of their lips pulling apart would’ve been deafeningly loud if his own heartbeat wasn’t frantic enough to cover the sound. She looked up at him after pulling away, those piercing eyes of hers not looking through him like usual, but into him? He wondered what she saw there. Could she see the jittery shake of his body? Or the way his skin was practically thrumming with electricity?

“I’m glad you don’t have a girlfriend,” she finally murmured, voice low and secretive. “I would’ve stolen you from her anyways, but it’s a bother to deal with competition.”

Nath let out a shaky breath, unsure of what to say next. Speechlessness was a problem he continually dealt with, and he was used to people getting frustrated with his silence. But not her. He didn’t want her to look down on him. Speak, he hissed at himself. Say something. Anything.

Before he could work up his nerve, a loud beep chirped between them. Nathanael watched as disappointment flooded Bee’s face, and his heart clenched.

“I have to go,” she sighed. “I’m about to de-transform.”

“Oh,” he breathed, feeling like he’d missed some sort of opportunity just then. “I guess I’ll see you later?”

She nodded and backed away, and the space between them suddenly felt cold. He watched, dazed, as she stepped onto the ledge and slipped him a final “goodnight” from over her shoulder before flying away. He tried making sense of what had just happened. Did a superhero really want to be his girlfriend? Every logical part of his brain told him it was impossible, but he couldn’t deny the fact that she’d kissed him. She’d kissed him! It took a while to snap out of his stupor, and a little while longer to realize that he had no way to enter his apartment building from the closed-off roof. Meaning he would have to go down the old, creaky fire escape to enter through the building’s front entrance. Great.

As Nathanael went down, he thought about everything that had happened that night. Once again, his mind snagged on the details of The Kiss, and he bit his lip. Absentmindedly, Nath noted that now his own lips now tasted like cherries.

It wasn’t until a week later, during a picnic at the park his classmates had thrown together to celebrate the end of the school year, that Nathanael had realized he was in deep shit. It was honestly one of the better afternoons he’d had in a long time. The weather was perfect, everyone was laughing and having a great time, and even Chloe seemed to be playing nice. But then Alya had to go and speak.

“Attention fellow classmates,” she called out, pulling a champagne flute out of literally nowhere and tapping the rim with a piece of silverware. “I have an announcement!”

The group quieted, Marinette and Nino rolling their eyes while others looked on expectantly. Alya cleared her throat dramatically before pulling out an honest to God speech to read from.

“Today, we are all gathered here to celebrate our temporary release from the prison we all call ‘school’,” she began, grinning when the group cheered in agreement. “Today was meant to be a time of laughter! A time of peace! A time of trust! But, alas, it is difficult for me to bask in the glow of our friendship when I know there’s a traitor in our midst.”

A niggling feeling pressed at the back of Nath’s mind as Rose and Mylene made sounds of confusion and Max whispered something to Kim. But Alya pressed on.

“Someone here today has committed a most heinous crime in the past week. I caught them in the act without their knowing, and have given them ample time to confess their sin. But they have not come forward or even shown any signs of remorse! In fact-”

“Alya,” Nino murmured, nudging her side. “Is there a point to this?”

“Hold on, babe,” she hissed. “I’m getting to the good part.”

Alya cleared her throat again before speaking.

“In fact, this friend of ours has continued with business as usual, which leads me to believe that this crime isn’t their first offense! Exactly what is this crime, you may ask. Well, I’ll tell you!”

Alya paused dramatically, looking around at everyone’s faces. Nathanael could’ve sworn her eyes snagged on him. Was it in his head? It might’ve been, because even Nino was starting to look nervous at this point.

“Without telling me, superhero aficionado, someone has been having a heated affair with one of Paris’s finest! I only found out last week after catching this person in the arms of a superhero, sharing a late-night kiss on their rooftop.”

Nathanael’s stomach dropped as his classmates broke out into gasps and accusations amongst themselves. He didn’t like having his private life for the world to see, and now-

“What exactly are you trying to say, Alya,” Chloe hissed, bad mood emerging for the first time that day.

Her eyes were narrowed and ferocious, daring Alya to finish her claim. Nath wondered what had her so defensive, and surprise shot through him like a bullet when her eyes darted to his face. The glance was quick enough to make him think he’d imagined it. And maybe he did? Maybe-

“What I’m trying to say is that I’m about to expose one of our peers for what they are,” Alya cried out.

This was it. Nathanael’s heart was pounding, and-

“Tell me the nature of your secret rendevouz with Chat Noir, Marinette Dupain-Cheng!”

Nathanael gaped as Marinette, now a blushing, stuttering mess, stammered out denials. Their classmates were scandalized, of course. Even Adrien Agreste was obviously flushed from the shock of the sweetest girl in their class having a torrid romance with a superhero after dark. He felt for Marinette, he really did. But Nath couldn’t deny his relief about not being the star of Alya’s accusations.

It was while the class was distracted with the drama of Marinette’s love life (“It just happened, I swear!”) someone tugged Nath up by the arm and dragged him away from the group. He was too startled to do anything but follow his kidnapper, eyes wide at the swing of her blonde ponytail as she took him somewhere more secluded. Only when they were shrouded by trees did she turn back to look at him.

“You got lucky,” she finally grumbled. “What are the odds that Marinette is also hooking up with a superhero?”

“Also,” Nath choked. “What are you-”

“I know, Nath,” Chloe grumbled. “About you and Bee. It’s a wonder that no one else does, honestly. She’s always saving you, and you draw her all the time-”

“You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?” he whispered.

“Of course not,” she hissed. “But this nonsense with Marinette made me realize something.”

“And what is that?” he asked, brows furrowing.

“It’s not safe for you to be dating a superhero. That idiot, Chat Noir, is going to get Marinette in trouble. A relationship with Queen Bee would just put you in danger.”

And what kind of nerve did Chloe Bourgeois have telling Nathanael who he could or couldn’t date? Especially when all Bee had ever done was keep him safe! For the first time in ages, the heat in Nath’s cheeks wasn’t from embarrassment or lovestruck wonder.

It was from rage.

“I can do what I want,” Nathanael bit back defensively. “You’re not my boss, Chloe.”

“I don’t care what you say,” Chloe growled back. “You’re not going to date Queen Bee!”

“So what,” Nathanael spat, throwing his hands in the air. “You’re gonna break us up?”

“What, are you dating now?” Chloe groused, crossing her arms and shooting him an unreadable expression.

“I- Maybe? I don’t know,” Nath muttered, shrinking back a little. Chloe looked at him a long moment before stepping closer.

“I don’t care either way,” Chloe grumbled, darting a glance at his mouth. “If you are, then I’ll just steal you away from her.”

“You,” Nathanael spluttered. “What?”

“You heard me,” she replied haughtily despite the pretty pink brushing her cheeks. “I don’t want you to like Queen Bee. I want you to like me.”

And then that thing happened where Nathanael couldn’t speak. Because this was the part where he was supposed to tell Chloe that he wouldn’t fall for her in a thousand years. That he liked Queen Bee, and there was no way Chloe of all people could sway his affection. But instead he was left with goosebumps as her eyes languorously swept over his face.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” she murmured, voice softer than he’d ever heard it before. “And you’d better kiss me back this time.”

Nath’s head was such a mess that any attempts to think past ‘kiss me back’ were like trying to swim through a lake of molasses. He’d barely made any sense of her words at all before Chloe was grabbing his collar and pulling him down to meet her mouth.

This kiss was not brief. It was slow and heated enough to have his bones melting at the joints. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him in closer, and he followed mindlessly as he gripped her waist in turn. He felt the strangest buzzing where his chest and stomach and thighs pressed against hers, and no one ever told him kissing was quite like this. Who knew that Chloe Bourgeois had the power to make him come apart at the seams?

When she finally pulled away to breathe, he almost chased her mouth for more. But this was Chloe Bourgeois. She was a bully in middle school. She was a rich brat. She was looking up at him with eyes gentler than he’d ever seen before and making him feel like the world was drenched in honey.

“Prepare yourself,” she whispered before slipping away to rejoin the picnic.

If Nath’s mind wasn’t a whirlwind, he might’ve been able to piece together the bits of déjà vu that swirled around his head. He might’ve picked up on how familiar the swing of blond hair on a retreating figure was or how strange it was that she, too, tasted like cherry lipgloss. But the only place the cyclone of his thoughts seemed to touch down on was the ache in his hand for a pencil and paper. And, of course, that he’d never noticed Chloe’s eyes were so, so blue.

A/N: Not gonna lie, this was HEAVILY inspired by @siderealsandman‘s The Perils of Fake-Dating a Superheroine. If you like this pairing and haven’t read it, please check it out because it’s 10000% better than this garbage.

#miraculous ladybug #oneshot #one shot #nathanael kurtzberg #chloe bourgeois #queen bee #fanfic #fan fiction #is there even a ship name for this #idk #even in a Chloe X Nath one shot I must hit at least ¾ of the love square #send help #what even is this #my fic

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