#but i had no idea how they'd work character driven stories like that into an action packed season

[sgxena16]

I just binge watched all 9 volumes of RWBY and I've found my newest obsession.

#and my newest ship #rwby #Yang is my favorite #why did it take me so long to watch this show? i remember it being all over my dash at some point #i was like 'who's the blonde and cat girl'? #which yes can refer to more than one show #and i love both ships #i want to hug all 4 members of team rwby #especially after v9 with all the emotional stuff that went on #haven't checked to see people's thoughts but im impressed they took an entire season to explore everyone's emotional state #to allow the characters to reflect on their choices and what's happened and what they should do next #or more who they want to be going forward #i was thinking i wanted stuff like this once they got to atlas and everything got even more intense #but i had no idea how they'd work character driven stories like that into an action packed season #love that they decided to put the plot on hold and allow the characters' stories to take center stage #the way this show could make me scream and cry and laugh every season #it's going in the vault

[comicaurora]

How much training/learning/practice did it take for you to develop your ability to break pieces of media down analytically? I'm always reading literary breakdowns of various pieces of media floating around online and all the details people note about theming and word choice or framing and coloring is mind-blowing and always something I never even considered once ever.

This is a really interesting question, because honestly I keep forgetting this is an actual skill and not just a thing I do. Like most people I had literary analysis classes in high school and college, but it didn't really click for me until I discovered TVtropes and went on a six month long wikiwalk bender devouring every page that looked even halfway interesting. The idea of looking for patterns across different stories was very enticing for my brain, and I took to it pretty quickly. I then consumed a lot of media by using different trope page example lists as a handily curated rec list, and got in the habit of trying to unpack what writing decisions underpinned key narrative choices and what patterns were present.

Pieces of media would sometimes hit me unusually hard and almost demand to be unpacked before they'd let me think about anything else (what I did not yet know was a hyperfixation) - a specific character or moment would be oddly intriguing and I'd find myself mulling it over almost constantly, sometimes even redrawing it or experimentally trying to write key scenes from the perspective of one of the characters that wasn't explored in-canon. This is the same fandom instinct that I think drives a lot of fanart and fanfic, but for me it manifested in analysis. I wanted to completely understand it, to digest it so it'd get unstuck from my brain and let me do literally anything else.

It was also driven by my personal desire to become a better writer and avoid known pitfalls wherever I could. I wanted to know what made the stories I liked work and what made the parts that I didn't like fail, and that meant taking the story apart on a deeper level to see what hit me emotionally and what fell flat. I spent a lot of time wondering why I liked certain stories or characters as much as I did, and trying to find the answer to that question drew me farther down the various storytelling rabbit holes. With a core framework of trope analysis, looking for patterns across different stories and spaces, I could identify what specific plots or components of different genres or archetypical characters I actually liked and what parts weren't working for me. And I could see what made specific characters uniquely effective past the parameters of their tropey archetypes - what moments hit hard because of the specific traits and themes at play that couldn't be immediately recreated by other characters with similar tropes.

I guess basically I just really like understanding how things work, and I like knowing why I react to certain things in certain ways, and those impulses combined to form a school of analysis that boils down to "liking the story isn't enough, I need to Eat It"

#asks #writing stuff

[quelsentiment]

helloo happy spring my sweet!! if u want answer me these: 15, 30, 32 muac

Thanks friend <33

15. Do you write in the margins of your books? Dog-ear your pages? Read in the bath? Why or why not? Do you judge people who do these things? Can we still be friends?

Most of the books I read these days are library books, so no to these. I don't mind dog-earring pages though, and I went through a phase where I would write in books quite a lot, so no judgment for people who do that

Also I have to say that I'm a shower gal through and through, but the idea of reading in the bath feels way too dangerous to me anyway. Maybe it's because I'm clumsy though

30. Talk to me about the role dreams play in your writing life. Have you ever used material from your dreams in your writing? Have you ever written in a dream? Did you remember it when you woke up?

Hmm interesting... I wish I had some wild story to share, but I don't think I ever drew inspiration from a dream. Maybe I should explore that! And as far as I can remember, I've never even dreamt that I was writing, nor have I dreamt of my stories/characters—which is actually wild because I spend so much time thinking about them so you'd think they'd follow me in my sleep 🤔 I will say that I do a lot of 'writing in my head' when I'm in bed, though, and sometimes I'm like half-asleep if that counts 😅

Also I think there's quite a few of my fics that involve the recounting of dreams, because it's an obvious and easy way to get access to a character's subconscious

32. What is a line from a poem/novel/fanfic etc that you return to from time and time again? How did you find it? What does it mean to you?

Not sure if I'm supposed to share a line I wrote or that belongs to someone else so I'll do both, and I think they're connected in a way.

“I want to grow up with you, idiot. I want to get a shitty job and a shittier house and live.”

How badly he wants to promise George the entire world, promise him his leaky studio with a double bed they have to keep a secret. How badly he wants to give him a band of silver nobody can know about, gentle kisses in the shower, skin sliding with hot water, grocery lists stuck to the fridge and hands joined under the covers. Autumn rain pressing against the windows. Snow petals drifting into their hair when spring comes. Maybe then he wouldn’t be so terrified of the future, eyes filling with primal fear every time he thinks about getting older.

This is from katabasis, which I've read a few days ago and has haunted me ever since (as has every work from this author tbh). This paragraph in particular made me stop and look out the bus window and be like 'Damn... That's insane dude' (especially in the context of that fic, the angst is just up there. Anyway)

I think there's something about writing intimacy by turning very specific and mundane details into something more that really appeals to me. I don't always know how to write intimacy, and I'm also not a description/setting-driven writer (it's all about the dialogues and conflict for me), so when I do manage/remember to do it, I always end up feeling like it's my best writing. An example of it that I think of quite often is this line from Somewhere Only We Know:

Sometimes they both reach out at the same time and end up kissing each other slowly for hours, while all they can hear is the low buzzing of the fridge coming from the kitchen. 

writer asks

#🌸🌸 for you #asks #sof 😌

[neroli9]

✨

Give you and your writing a compliment. Go on now. You know you deserve it. 😉

In my discord, we all had a very good conversation recently about feeling like it's dangerous somehow to be immodest about one's work. I've gotten better about not criticizing myself to the point of paralysis in the past few years, but it is still really hard for me to compliment myself in public like this! 😅

I think one thing I'm really good at is writing on two levels. First, there's an intuitive level, where I make decisions because they feel right, I let interactions between characters unfold naturally and just follow them, and I set a point in the future and work towards it, knowing I can figure out the details and make it all gel together as I go. Second, there's a conscious level, where I edit for maximum emotional impact, work on how the sentences sound and feel, make the story flow together better, and whip all of the loosey-goosey details into shape so that they make sense and fit together. APJFM as a whole is an intuitively driven story, but it all makes sense because of how much conscious work I put into it.

I am always impressed with myself when some damn thing that simply felt right at the time turns out to be important. For example, in one of the recent chapters with the Dreemurs I set up a minor cult called the Brotherhood of Flesh, which, unsurprisingly, makes trouble later on. But actually, I first wrote about them in the chapter where Sans and Reader have dinner with the Dreemurs -- and I cut the conversation, because at the time I had no idea where they'd fit in later on, and I didn't want to set it up then drop it entirely. Now I'm kicking myself for not trusting my intuition, because I love setting up details really early that pay off much later. As if I'm saying 'look, see what a long game I'm playing!' 😂

Ask me a question, here’s the list!

#fanfic writer emoji ask #october 2022 neroli questions

[sunnydaydevs]

PINNED POST 🌻

Hey, I'm Sunny and I am a slowly budding indie game developer and long time tumblrite - though most of my time on Tumblr has been spent in Fandom places, of course my works here may be influenced by games I have played and novels I have read (aren't we all?) but they will be 100% original in as much as anything can be.

The blog is still WIP as far as hard coding things in; real life is a bit of a trial at times but I'm working around it as best I can.

If you want an in depth run down of my current works, you can check it out here, and if you'd like a quick overview to know what I'm about feel free to click the read more below or hop into my askbox or messages. I can be slow to respond, but always eager! Can't wait to get to know some more people who share my interest.

(And now, a little bit about my current projects -- this may change over time.)

Twine IF: All the Queen's Men

My main project, currently getting a ground-up overhaul to implement more details and ideas as well as futher fleshing out characters. It's going to be a lengthy project but I'm really invested in writing it. All the Queen's Men sits where a dating sim meets strategy rpg, (If any of them become a VN, it will be this one.) The premise is that a war has been dragging on for years and the Queen of Etheria (player character) was widowed without an heir not so long ago. The royal council sees this as an opportunity for her to remarry not just for an heir, but to strengthen Etheria's position in the war. The choices made by the player Queen will have global influence, but she will also have to live with it personally. What is the price of peace? How many paths could lead there?

Twine IF: The Crown Will Fall

Formerly laid out as an RPG Maker game, The Crown Will Fall quickly became something I realized needed more description and detail than I could properly provide with RMMV. The story remains a fantasy rpg, character driven and of course strongly dependent on player choice. The premise is that the once kind and just ruler of the kingdom [player] lives in has grown cold hearted, cruel and dangerous in his paranoid assumptions, and started turning against his own people. In the grief-stricken aftermath of the destruction of your hometown, you make a vow to see justice once more. Whatever that means in the end.

Twine IF: Rewind

Rewind is a story I almost wrote as a novel before realizing what I really wanted to do with it was explore the reader's decisions and choices - something I'm seeking out now with Twine, though it's currently down the line on priority. You play an amnesiac, nonbinary person who has only the barest snatches of potentially unreliable memories and a slew of notes with no context. But with undeniable power under your skin and a world in crisis, it looks like you're going to have to take a chance.

RMMV: Homesteader

Homesteader might well be the prelude to a larger game down the road but it does stand alone. The difference being that Homesteader by itself is more of a farming / crafting sim and the full thing would be RPG meets strategy game. As it stands, your parents have been called out of retirement to aid the king once more. As your training is incomplete, you're left to finish it when they drop you off at an old fortress they'd served at. Being given the land they had left behind, it quickly becomes clear that there are going to have to be a lot of renovations and hard work to pay them off while spending time on your training, in hopes of reaching full knighthood under the guildmaster's guiding hand within three years.

Pixel Art: Farm Assets

So I am a huge fan of the farm sim genre. I've been playing Harvest Moon games since the days of the Gamecube and GBA (my favorite remains the GBA's A New Beginning though MFOMT gets a shoutout for nostalgia and DS Cute is really good) and I have logged... a lot of time on Stardew Valley, even more since I discovered mods. So I decided I would make some assets for people to enjoy, They may or may not go up on Itch depending on how happy I am with them and if I make a cohesive set.

Godot 4:

No project here -- yet! Still working on learning the program. I'd like to do some basic stuff first? minigame type things, puzzles, things that test the logic of the system against the logic of my brain.

#sunnydaydevs #about me #my work #twine if #rpg maker mv #aseprite #godot 4 #ren'py #tools of the trade #twine interactive fiction #rpg games #pixel art #visual novel #all the queen's men if #the crown will fall if #rewind if #homesteader rmmv #pixel art assets

[theflyingfeeling]

Uh-uh, what are your ideas on bank heist au (or not bank, but you know, the genre)?

Ohh, great choice 👌 You don't mind if I allow myself to get inspired by Six of Crows, do you? A modern-day adaption, if you will!

Joel ("Dirtyhands") is the leader of the team (the Underdogs), a gloomy man with a tragic past, driven by the will to avenge the fall of his family's business, caused by a money-greedy entrepreneur who's stealing everyone's customers with his monopoly

Niko is Joel's right hand, the sneaky spy ("the Wraith") who hears and knows everything. He goes undercover to said entrepreneur's closest circle and provides the team with valuable information. Although he sure gets close enough to do some serious damage (by, for example, slipping a little something in the Big Boss' drink), his worldview doesn't allow such immoralities, no matter how much they'd deserve it

Enter Joonas ("the Sharpshooter"). "Immoral" is his second name, and he has no problem ruining the lives of his enemies 💅 A bullet to the toe for blackmailing, nudes leaked, a little homewrecking...you name it (I'll leave it to your imagination to figure out where he got his nickname from)

But while Joonas sticks to more practical methods, Olli ("the Heartrender") is much more subtle with his beguiling. His job is to disctract any security guard or clerk that might be standing in the way of the heist, and not many of them can resist his bedroom eyes

..much to the distress of Tommi ("the Convict"), who knows what the people they're dealing with are capable of. He used to work for the business they're planning the heist against, but was framed for a fraud and put in jail, from where he is rescued by the Underdogs in the beginning of the story. He knows all the flaws in the business's security system and is willing to cooperate, but he can't help but feel like his promised freedom after the heist is over is not one of Joel's priorities. He decides not gonna tell anyone he's planning on asking Olli to come with him once it's all over..

On the night before they start the heist, Joel is idling at the night club he owns when a curious character catches his eye. Looking a little out of place with his blond hair and colourful clothes, he awakens something in Joel and he goes to tell the boy to sod off before he gets himself hurt (he's a softie at heart). However, the boy's actually looking for Joel, and he has an offer Joel finds impossible to turn down. Aleksi ("the Runaway") joins the group and completes their team as the ultimate Trojan horse: the Big Boss's son

The heist is schemed by Joel and put into effect by his team, but not without troubles: Joonas almost blows his and Niko's cover by letting his dick do most of the thinking for him, Tommi's protectiveness is frustrating Olli to no end, and Joel had promised himself he wouldn't let his feelings get in the way of business again. It all escalates when Aleksi is kidnapped, and sacrifices must be made for his rescue..

(Send me a random AU + a fandom (=BC) and I'll reply with a summary of the plot)

🐱‍👤

#blind channel #blind channel rpf #yes i love ending these with something ominous 😂 #and i love the fact there's a ninja cat emoji

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: The Atlas Six (The Atlas #1) by Olivie Blake

SUMMARY

“I am not good,” Dalton told her, rasping it into her mouth. “No one here is good. Knowledge is carnage. You can’t have it without sacrifice.” Now, THIS is how you do adult fantasy! It's dark academia meets magical excellence meets scientific mind twisters meets character-driven competitiveness and teamwork. Thank you so much to my ACOTAR anon here on Tumblr for getting me to stop pushing it off on my tbr, where it'd likely sit for years, and convincing me to just read it already. This book featured a layered and elaborate magic system with six distinct alternating perspectives: two physicists, one naturalist, a telepath, an empath, and a sees-through-everything illusionist of sorts. I usually don't care for books with so many POV's but it works here. They're all so different in voice, personality, and motivation, you can't help but be drawn in. Every one of the characters had their own gray psychologies, their own strengths and flaws, and whenever I thought I knew what decision or discovery or emotion they'd arrive at next, they'd surprise me. Callum, the empath, is probably the one I disliked and distrusted most, but I'd argue he's framed that way on purpose. He's that devil standing on your shoulder whispering sweet, philosophical misleading nothings in your ear. He will manipulate everything and everyone without blinking. He wouldn't even consider it a problem let alone deceitful. He doesn't care. He doesn't care about anything...except Tristan. (Why? You've got me! Call him his soft spot, I don't know.) Libby is the hero-aimed purehearted underdog who is constantly battling her feelings of inadequacy. The poor thing. Somebody give her a hug, please! Tristan is the one who thinks things through and feels everything deeply, so I rooted for them the hardest. Her powers are physical whereas his are more mental. More abstract. Untouchable, so to speak. I think that combination makes for an intriguing contrast. A yin and yang, perhaps? Possibly! They have a bit of a heady unspoken dynamic that blossoms from his initial dislike. I still don't know what they are or what they will be to each other in the future but there's an electric zing! under the surface. In short, I'm intrigued to see where it all leads. Parisa is intimidating as hell. But in a bodacious, unapologetic way you can't help but applaud then shrink back from in fear. Her looks are a weapon. She may look like Aphrodite - soft, curvaceous, eye-stopping - but she will suck the sense, the thoughts, right out of people like a siren and use them to further her own agenda. It always seems like she's winning, but is she? Is she really? That's the question. Reina is an untapped powerhouse, a lockbox in tune with nature, who seems content to observe. To learn all she can. There's a threatening undercurrent to her overall silence, though, like she could be prone to detonating (lethally) under the right circumstances. I'd argue her powers are among the most mysterious of them all because she rarely rises to the bait of showing or talking about them. She makes sure as hell to catalogue everyone else's, though. A student to the core--she studies, she scrutinizes, she's careful about forging alliances. Readers learn so much about the other characters through her eyes. And Nico...Nico is arrogant and brazen and lippy, at least where his binary star, Libby, is concerned. I swear, his favorite pastime is to rile her. I still don't know what binds those two together, or how/why they're connected in physical magic, but there's something indefinable charged between them. Is it simply magic? Is it more? Again, I don't know! He also can transverse dimensions - dreams realms - where one of his roommates (possible love interest?) dwells for his own safety - which makes for a cool fantasy/science fusion. I'm looking forward to that being explored more in the sequel.

"Six students, only five available slots" is the main (yet vague) plot point of the story as well as the main mystery surrounding the induction into the Alexandrian Society itself. That seems basic on the surface, I know, perhaps a bit bland for a fantasy, but I can assure you it isn't. Somehow the vagueness of precisely what the characters are competing against each other to join, and the question of how that "extra" candidate will be eliminated, is what keeps the whole story aloft, giving it depth and density--especially since all the characters have to compete yet work together to become full members, anyway. It all makes for such riveting convolution! Just one character twist after another! I have no idea what time or dimension this story will land in next, but wherever it is, I can promise you I'll be one of the first ones there.

4/5 stars

**Follow me on Goodreads

#ashlee bree's book reviews #the atlas six #olivie blake #fantasy #adult fantasy #lgbtq #lgbtq representation #recs: ashlee approved! #read july 2021 #bookblr #book reviews

[3wisellamas]

Primes! And if any require a specific fic, pick your favorite. >:)

1. What’s your favorite character(s) to write for?

Honestly, you can just look at my AO3 and pick them out -- I tend to fixate on and make tons of headcanons about a few specific characters for each fandom, particularly ones that didn't get a ton of development in canon, since I can develop them to my heart's content instead. ;v; Currently it's Sweet Cap'n Cakes, since they're just wonderful, but I also really love all the Boxbots (Logic included) and, surprisingly, Professor Venomous? He might not have actually been my favorite character on OK KO, or one that canon didn't develop, but he was fun as hell to write.

2. What character(s) do you find the most difficult to write for? Why?

Weirdly enough, main characters, or whoever's the most popular in their specific fandom -- if there's high expectations and a ton of other conflicting ideas about them, it's tougher for me to come up with my own headcanons and write them!

3. Do you have a favorite scene you’ve written from [Fanfic Name] story/chapter? 

Using...uh...Well, I've used Shades of Gray too much for these, let's go with a new favorite, Odd One Out.

I just really like the intro to this one, that scene with Sweet watching the other two on the couch and thinking about how he doesn't yet know them all that well since they'd just met, and I even got to do a little worldbuilding describing the weather in Cyber World. It's one of those scenes I just saw in my head and HAD to write, and the rest of the fic came from there. ;v;

5. Do you listen to music when writing? 

All the damn time. I actually have tons of character-specific playlists, that are really personal and weird since my taste in music is really weird, so don't ask to see them.

7. What story/headcanons do you feel the proudest of? 

...Oof, there's a lot ^^; Deltarune-wise probably all the ones I'm working off of for how the Dark Worlds work, as well as SCC's weirdly-detailed backstory, and on the OK KO side I REALLY love the ideas I came up with for the episode OK AU, and the other swapped hero/robot characters I got to write in that one fic!

11. How would you describe your style? (Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

I really like writing in a more action-driven style; I don't really do a ton of description or metaphor, and go instead for really matter-of-fact stuff, and if I want to develop a character or make the reader feel something I'll do that via actions and dialogue.

Even when there's a ton of dialogue going on I'll still have the characters doing something in the background, both to break up the chunks of text and to keep things from grinding to a halt!

13. When did you start writing fanfic? 

*Points to the astonishingly-accurate question number*

I was on FFN in the early 2000s, the days of random humor and script fics. Those were some dark times.

17. What fanfic tropes do you gravitate to writing for? 

I really really really like fluffy everyday / domestic stuff, as well as fics that are straight-up just bonus "episodes" of canon, where I try to be as 100% compliant as possible.

Also, I'm an absolute sucker for hurt/comfort and sickfics, with emphasis on the comfort part, though I refrain from writing a ton of these for...reasons. ^^;

19. What words do you think you tend to use the most? 

Honestly, I really just tend to overuse a ton of words, usually adverbs, and it's actually a very very bad habit.

23. How much do you stick to canon? 

I actually tend to stick exclusively to canon! Or, something really close to it, that'd fit seamlessly in there -- I like worldbuilding and expanding on canon, in ways that feel like they would be in the original work! OCs and AUs are...actually very difficult for me. ^^;

29. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? (Brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc) 

Making up a fuckton of headcanons about the characters/setting beforehand, and letting the stories just form naturally from those. I guess that counts as brainstorming?

31. What was the development process of [Fanfic Name] like? 

(Again, using Odd One Out)

I just kind of came up with a bunch of really weirdly-detailed backstory headcanons for SCC early on, and really wanted to do something with them. ^^; I knew I couldn't fit ALL of them into one fic (...though I may or may not actually be attempting that for real right now), but I still just started writing that first Sweet scene based off of them, and went from there.

Also, there was a lot of screaming about it as I went, both with @the-golden-ghost and on the Treble Rebels Discord server. XD Screaming about your writing is the most important step!

37. Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story? 

I'd definitely be open to it!

#(sorry for formatting weirdness i'm kind of stuck on mobile ^^; )

[renegadeontherunn]

FIONA!!!! MY LOVE!!!! 7, 11 and 29 for the fanfic asks!

KATIE MY LOVE!!!!! OF COURSE THANK YOU!!!

from these asks

7. What story/headcanons do you feel the proudest of?

hmmm I answered a similar question in this ask and I can’t think of any headcanons I’ve thought of akdjjdjak but some of my favorite headcanons are that Obi-Wan taught Ahsoka Jar’Kai (at least he had a big part in it), Ahsoka for sure has fangs, and Obi-Wan is renowned for being one of the sluttiest Jedi among the public (also: that thing about Jedi romances and like the list of hottest Jedi: yeah that exists akdjjsjdkakkdja)

oh also! not sure if this could count as my headcanon, but I’m inclined to think that Obi-Wan saw Ahsoka after she was expelled from the Order, either like right after or at just some point before the Mandalore arc. idk I just get that vibe akdjjdjskkda and I think it’d be a SUPER interesting thing if it did happen

11. How would you describe your style? (Character/emotion/action-driven, etc)

definitely not action-driven, I would say most of my works are pretty emotion-based and/or introspective! I also prefer writing dialogue over action/description so that definitely comes out in the final product

29. What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most? (Brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, etc)

I think my favorite part is actually writing, though I really like editing too hmmm I might actually go with editing bc it can be sometimes frustrating to write if I don't really have any ideas/don't know how to put down into words the perfect image that a scene is in my head but editing is pretty easy & fun and I like going back and rereading stuff I've written. ahhhh but I really do love the writing part too!!! finding like the perfect word or description for something or writing a line and thinking oh man they'd totally say that or just like getting to vent through words and characters!!!! getting to actually see your idea and vision come to life through your own hands is pretty damn cool too

so ajdskdasadskl yeah my answer is either writing or editing

#fiona speaks #hmm having many lovely feelings about writing tonight #:'))) #no bc it's actually such a wonderful thing and like. the feeling of going back and rereading something you've written and just!!! #being proud of it!!! or just straight up liking what you've written is so :'))) #that's why i'm a big advocate for 'write something you'd want to read' which is probably something super obvious but #idk. it just makes me happy when i like reading something i've written. and i love seeing other people love what they write too!!!! #oh my god that is the BEST i literally feel so warm inside like. FOR THEM akldjkasdkl but yeah #be proud of your writing!!!! and whatever part of the process you like best enjoy it and be proud of yourself and your work!!!! #and be proud OF the process itself not just the final product which is definitely something i'm still working on #but yeah. YEAH :') #thank you for the ask katie!!!! #answered #katie tag! #on writing

[ebonysolcum-two]

Ranking the Masters:

This is a bit tricky because there's my favourite and my least favourite, but everything in between can easily shift around depending on my mood.

This is my own personal opinion and I try to respect everyone's opinion, even if it doesn't match mine.

1. Missy

2. Delgado

3. Simm

4. Jacobi

5. Ainley

6. Pratt

7. Beevers

8. Roberts

9. Dhawan

Reasons:

1. Missy is fantastic. She's chaotic, she's evil, but she's really just trying to get her childhood friend back. I love her accent, as well as the various other accents she slips into from time to time. I also love the fact that she looks like Mary Poppins. Somehow, it just fits. Then there's her redemption arc. I love that they gave her that story line and we see how she changes to the point where she murders her past self so that he can become her and start on the journey that would allow her to stand with the Doctor. Of course, her past self is so horrified by this that he murders her. This would have been the perfect end to the character. Having them kill one another is the only way they'd really die and having her die for the Doctor, her best friend, would have been perfect.

2. I mean, Delgado's the original. He worked so well with the Third Doctor and I loved all his stories, even though they all went the same way. a) Teams up with a dangerous alien species. b) Invades the Earth. c) Tells the Doctor he intends to double-cross the alien species. d) Gets double-crossed by the alien species. e) Is surprised (Even though it happens every time). f) Teams up with the Doctor to defeat the alien species. g) Abandons the Doctor.

3. I really like Simm's Master. He was my first Master since Jacobi didn't really count. He was wonderfully mad and chaotic and I loved the idea that he was being driven mad by the drumming the Time Lords had placed in his head as a child. I loved seeing a calmer, but still chaotic version of him in Series 10 and he really worked well along side Missy.

4. I like Derrick Jacobi and seeing him as the Master is great. He didn't have much screen time but I've listened to one Big Finish audio with him and I really enjoyed it. I'd love to hear more, especially about his involvement in the Time War because he is the War Master.

5. Ainley is another great one. He had the longest run as the master and we got to see him fight against three versions of the Doctor, as well as One, Two, and Three in "The Five Doctors". He's quite similar to Delgado in many respects, but he's even more desperate to survive.

6. I've put Pratt next because . . . well, I'm not sure. I really liked him and I thought he had a great story. He's very creepy and it really works.

7. I've put Beevers after Pratt because I think that, as a Crispy Master, Pratt just looks better. However, Beevers also had a great story and I've heard a Big Finish audio that he was in end enjoyed that too.

8. I originally had Roberts above the Crispy Masters but I moved them after watching their episode again. I thought Roberts was a bit creepy and over the top, but it worked. He really worked well against Eight and I've heard a Big Finish audio he was in too. Even though I prefer a British accent to an American one, I think having him American really works.

9. Ah, Dhawan . . . He's the only Master I don't like. And I really don't like him. For one thing, he shouldn't exist. As I said above, Missy's death was the perfect end to the character. I don't mind the fact that there's no explanation as to how he's alive because we all know he has a habit of coming back from certain death, but I would like to know what happened with Missy's redemption arc. It should have at least been mentioned. I mean, the Doctor wasn't even shocked to find him evil again. Also, he was too evil and too mad. He's more insane than Simm's Master and that bothers me. The Master isn't insane. He's mad, but not insane. The only reason Simm!Master was insane was because of the drumming in his head. When we see him without it, he's not insane. But Dhawan!Master is and there's no reason for it so it just doesn't fit for his character.

Also, I don't like the fact that he destroyed Gallifrey for no reason since we already know the Time Lords are a bunch of liars, but I've already written a whole thing on why I think Gallifrey shouldn't have been destroyed again.

See my Doctor ranking.

#doctor who #classic who #the master #missy #gomez!master #ranking #personal opinion

[iwillgetridofyourangerforyou]

Please elaborate your opinion more about Saitama/Genos and Garou/Metal Bat! ❤ Saigenos was my 1st ship in OPM, a bit iffy about age gap thing but I love their relationship either as platonic or romantic. So many memories about shipping them. Batarou is my current OTP, knew this ship existence from fandom influence. I think they'd have interesting potential relationship based on how they've interacted. Also, their fanarts are lovely! I've met many awesome people who are fellow Batarou shippers.

Oh no. How could you ask me to elaborate on BOTH Genosai and Batarou in one ask. Anon, that’s just cruel. lol

Garou/Metal Bat

There isn’t really very many braincells in this ship for me so my answer will be relatively disappointing. 

I’m glad you mentioned the Batarou shippers because they’re a big reason I even consider this ship at all. So many of the fans of this ship I’ve been watching across the fandom seem like genuinely cool people with some dope ideas about the story in general. I like how genuine and wholesome some of the Batarou content they make is and that’s really helped me to enjoy the ship in general. 

On the fluffier end of what I like about this ship, I think they could have really cool ‘dads’ energy in their relationship. They both have a soft spot for children and they’re very caring and supportive but the express it differently. I feel like they would be really powerful foster parents together helping troubled kids (like smol Garou) or strong-willed non-conforming kids (like smol Metal Bat) find their strength and their voice in society. 

On the more aesthetic end of this ship, they’re both very attractive men. I’ve already drooled over Garou out-loud on this blog before, but Metal Bat is also very attractive. Each of their aesthetics is different enough to be interesting and complementary together. Their fight was pretty cool and I’ve mentioned before in a previous post (https://iwillgetridofyourangerforyou.tumblr.com/post/624219627188338688/unpopular-opinion-batarou-shippers-are-the-ones) that fight scenes between characters can often have an unintended (or intended) eroticism to them. A fight can be a lot like a dance, which can be a lot like... well, you know. People tend to enjoy shipping people together who’ve had good fights together, especially when that fight ends on ambiguous terms. It’s so common in the rivals to lovers, or enemies to lovers tropes. 

At the end of the day I don’t really know how these two would be together or why, but hey, I’ve been enjoying watching this ship from a distance. 

Saitama/Genos

This is tacky, even cringe, but it is what it is. This couple, is the closest fictional couple I’ve ever found to the relationship I have with my Partner. It’s obviously not a perfect representation and I don’t want or expect it to be. I’m just aware that the similarities are the things that endear me to the ship so strongly. 

Where I am up-tight, driven, serious to a fault, an a bit... intense. My Partner is relaxed, he takes life as it comes, he doesn’t take things too seriously, and he’s really comfortable with who he is and where he’s at. 

When I met him I’d been in a manipulative relationship for a while, I had changed myself as much as I could to make my X happy but in the end it just left us both miserable. After I ended that relationship I knew if I wanted another relationship it would have to be with someone I could really be myself with. When I started dating my Partner I still tried to change myself to make him happy in a variety of ways but he was usually mostly oblivious to the changes I was making he was always happy with me regardless, however I was, and it’s one of the things I value the most about our relationship. 

My partner is so comfortable being himself. He has simple tastes. Enjoys life’s simple pleasures. One of the things I’ve never really understood is how much he likes to do ‘nothing’, literally Nothing. It’s actually a little unnerving. Like how can you just SIT there? You’re happy that way?? He likes playing video games with friends but his few friends are much better at video games than he is (but he can beat me any time I play). We watch a lot of tv and anime together and talk about them. 

He’s really perceptive of other people even though you’d never guess it. He’s also really good at whatever he sets his mind to (for example, he started a new job last year at entry level and moved up twice within the year to regional manager). 

One of the biggest struggles in our relationship has been that he was a bit oblivious to how much I craved feedback, attention, and validation from him. I used to do a lot of extra things around the house to make him happy to the point where he didn’t notice how much I’d been doing till after a period of time I got really depressed and basically didn’t help with anything. 

Together we’re really chill and domestic. We like buying cheap food, cooking our own meals, taking care of our pets, going for walks, etc. We few hobbies that we actually do together but we still spend a lot of time together when we're not working. We’re really un-dramatic and hardly ever fight. I’ve had to learn how to be more assertive about what I want at times. 

We’re not perfect, we still have a variety of insecurities and issues. Those are private. I am very grateful for my partner, I’m devoted to him and I really like things that remind me of our relationship. 

Saigenos isn’t a perfect representation of my partner and my relationship and sometimes the ship itself in the fandom kind of annoys me, but I still really like it. 

#asks #ask #anon #personal #shipping crap

[punkscowardschampions]

James & Ava

James: [let's say he puts up an insta of those bubs playing with those torts for her to see] Ava: 🥰 So happy they like 'em, I would've tried to get a real one but they were not fitting in the hand-luggage and apparently that's illegal 🤷 James: [ages later like] James: picking you up from A&E is one thing, a holding cell is quite another Ava: I understand, there's fast and then there's that Ava: thank GOD my Dad will front my bail 😏 James: & your brother's practically a lawyer so there's that Ava: If it weren't him I'd raise questions about having a 'basically' lawyer take my case but yeah Ava: do the torts have names yet? Ava: keep me posted tah James: they do James: Clover & Dandy Ava: 👏 Ava: very creative, very cute Ava: must take after you James: Matty's suggestions were all rejected for being too confusing, which in my opinion was slightly brutal of Jay, but I do also see her point Ava: 😂 Ava: They can have some confusing but adorable nicknames Ava: I couldn't say either my brother or sister's names for the longest time Ava: stuck being 'Uster and 'Ancy James: & yet if the roles were reversed they'd have had such an easy time James: yet more evidence you're a 😇 Ava: and very easy to spell when I got to School, thanks mum and dad Ava: you were alright, 'til it gets to your surname, bit unfair that James: I used to just do a J James: ironic now but I didn't like writing much when I was younger James: added the a & y later when everyone started calling me it Ava: It must've been something, to get to pass that on James: she did it without asking me James: but I know she could have fared a lot worse Ava: Oh, really Ava: I guess that's a thoughtful gesture on her part James: from an outsiders perspective, yes, but I understand why she actually did it Ava: Why? James: because she wanted me to step up & it was the most obvious way there is to say that she's mine & I had to Ava: Ah, that makes sense Ava: in that case, thoughtful as in well thought out but not beyond that Ava: she took your name from you that's James: I'm happy for Jay to have it now though, she'd hate a 'girly' name James: I would have had to find a nickname she could bear to be called in that instance Ava: Yes, at least she's the one who actually has the name, that's never gonna feel bad James: I don't remember where Matilda's came from, we were barely speaking then James: so that does feel worse Ava: at least there's an excellent book and character waiting James: very true James: & she had terrible parents Ava: You won't be getting a hat glued to your head any time soon James: today I won't, we've all learned so many 🐢 facts Ava: Go for esio trot first James: I will, I haven't read it before James: thank you, Ava Ava: You'll like it, and for Roald Dahl, it's pretty sweet Ava: no bad ideas before bed time, like James: does it have a happy ending? Ava: It does Ava: for humans and 🐢 alike James: I've missed you Ava: I've missed you Ava: Obviously couldn't commit the cliche of meeting me off the plane, but when can I see you? James: what are you doing tomorrow? Ava: Avoiding unpacking Ava: I think I've got a brunch date but beyond that, I'm free James: my dad is out of the office all day if you'd like to come & visit me Ava: I'd like that a lot Ava: I definitely will Ava: that'll be okay, right James: she's not going to also decide to visit me James: or talk to anyone that could see you doing so Ava: okay good Ava: Obviously you've thought it through but got a 😇 rep to protect James: I'll never be reckless when your halo is at stake, I assure you James: it's very important to me Ava: What about my 😈 Ava: You can do something about them too, yeah? James: absolutely James: those horns need to stay sharp, of course Ava: God you're hot James Ava: I've missed you so much you have no idea because I lack the words to explain it in any way that would convey just how hard it's been being so far away from you Ava: but I am very much ready to show you tomorrow Ava: and I'm not just talking about the holiday snaps that were not suitable for public display James: It's vital that the protagonist of my 1st novel is very multifaceted 😇 & 😈 which is why I wouldn't write it about just anyone James: I'll show you tomorrow, why it has to be you Ava: I'm so glad that it's me Ava: fuck James: I've lost hours thinking about the tan lines you potentially do or don't have, I'm very invested Ava: I have a strict no spoilers policy Ava: all will be revealed James: but I need to know Ava: 😏 Ava: It does seem cruel and unusual to make you wait when you've already been waiting so long Ava: too 😈 perhaps James: but sending gifts was very 😇 James: what decision are you going to make? Ava: It was just a little something Ava: if I had to get something every time I thought about you, we're talking grains of sand on the beach level Ava: I can't send you pictures, can I James: no, she has an app that restores any pictures I delete Ava: Hmm James: that said, you don't have any tattoos or anything clearly identifying Ava: that's true Ava: can she see the account of who's sent the pictures Ava: because it doesn't have to be me who sends them, or anyone else that actually exists to hunt down James: how many times are you going to go above & beyond to prove to me that you're too smart for King's? James: I believed you on the 1st tour Ava: I can be smart as long as we need to be smart Ava: and I had to make sure you wanted to talk to me after the 1st tour, of course James: I wanted to talk to you before the 1st tour, you know that Ava: I know Ava: Can I ask you something, if you promise to be honest James: yes Ava: Did you think badly of me for trying to pursue you when I knew you were married Ava: or what did you think of me, I guess James: I was too busy being glad that you wanted to James: but of course I wondered why James: I still wonder what it is that you could ever be interested in about me Ava: I can't profess to giving it particular or cohesive prior thought myself Ava: we both allowed some recklessness that day, clearly Ava: and I know you do, I'll write you a book one day Ava: but it'll take me a while to get down everything I find interesting and worthwhile about you James: I can wait Ava: Good Ava: One job at a time Ava: and this profile is looking pretty realistic and is as close to untraceable as is possible Ava: but I'm assuming she doesn't moonlight for MI5 James: do you? James: because you perhaps should Ava: 😏 Ava: Only to write my award-winning, world-changing exposé James: you're going to be a spectacular journalist Ava: Thank you 😊 Ava: I'll spare waxing lyrical about the vitality of a free press, don't think the readers will be about it when we could be talking more about my tan lines James: please do continue James: on whatever subject you feel the most passionate Ava: [a message request from this fake profile moment] James: [immediately accepts and immediately dies] James: oh Ava: you said passionate James: I did Ava: You're a subject I can get really worked up about, like James: I can see that James: & feel it Ava: Good Ava: Are you allowed to send photos to a fake girl or no? James: I don't care if the fake girl gets discovered James: she means nothing to me Ava: Poor fake girl Ava: still, can't be all bad James: it's not James: because now I can show you how much you mean James: [and does because FINALLY can send each other whatever they want] Ava: [what a glorious moment also over here like don't say ily don't say ily] Ava: OH James: Thrilled as I am to be behind a locked door, I'd be even gladder if you were here too Ava: yeah I Ava: feel that Ava: really feel it James: it's my turn to ask you a question James: do you want to hear the story of what would happen if we currently had all the time we could possibly want to really delve into 2 weeks of thoughts, dreams & wish fulfilment or do you want a narrative that's more realistically framed, so unfortunately there's not much opportunity for description or dialogue but instead every second is intensely action driven because we don't have a single one to waste? Ava: The latter Ava: I know the story, as the protagonist I've been living it with you Ava: Call mystery girl, she'll be as quiet as she can James: [does of course] Ava: Well James: I'm speechless James: but still here Ava: Please stay Ava: I hope you can stay James: I'll try Ava: Remember I told you this is different James: yes Ava: I really haven't felt like this before Ava: is what I'm saying Ava: I'm even more sure this is entirely new now James: understood James: I know you understand that it's the same for me Ava: I do James: Ava James: please stay too Ava: I will Ava: Literally nowhere else I'd rather be Ava: or no one else James: I'll try to understand that Ava: I'll try to make it clearer Ava: long as that may take Ava: not a quitter James: you've also never been unclear Ava: But you should know by now Ava: you know James: that's my error, not yours Ava: Shh James: I can't because Ava: Why? James: none of the blame for what I don't know rests on you Ava: but Ava: yeah, that's true Ava: but there's more ways I could show you Ava: tell you James: are there? Ava: yeah Ava: but you know Ava: scary James: that I do know for definite Ava: You don't think I'm 🙀 James: I think you're brave James: but you recognise when to be cautious Ava: I recognize it Ava: I rarely want to be cautious though James: we wouldn't have a story if you did Ava: 😏 okay Ava: I feel less bad James: don't feel bad at all James: please Ava: okay Ava: I'll try Ava: if you do James: you shake Frank's paw & I'll shake a 🐢's James: arm? whatever they have Ava: 🥰 you are so fucking cute Ava: and it's a deal James: [sends her a pic of him doing it because he can now #nerd] Ava: [send a video of Frank mugging her off like get away from me mother] James: 😂 Ava: I still agree to the terms and conditions Ava: he's just a diva and thinks I'm trying to give him an unwanted manipedi James: I can relate to the dread of an unwanted makeover James: tell him I apologise for laughing Ava: Dad duties? James: the reality of a very controlling wife Ava: 😑 Ava: Well we'll go shopping, one day James: only if Jay can come too, nobody hates having no influence over their own wardrobe more than she does Ava: Of course Ava: she's got to meet Frank James: she would love to, you honestly have no idea Ava: One day soon Ava: I can handle bumping into you at the park without being too 😍 James: I don't know whether to be happy or sad that you can apparently handle that Ava: I'm nothing if not over-ambitious Ava: and over-confident James: I like both of those things about you Ava: There's nothing I don't like about you James: I got it really wrong, you're not trying to age me, you're trying to kill me Ava: Never Ava: What would I do without you? James: you'd survive, as you're always saying Ava: 🥺 Ava: no James: it's okay, we don't have to find out James: I want you with me, not without me Ava: I need you James: Ava James: I haven't got in it me to walk away again, I mean it Ava: Then don't Ava: it isn't what I want Ava: but as well, I really don't think it's right, for you or for anyone, me included Ava: It wouldn't be easy, at all, but if I thought this was wrong, I wouldn't do it, I'd have to stop, somehow James: I know Ava: I'm not a bad person Ava: and neither are you James: you're a good person James: & being with you isn't what makes me a bad one Ava: You're a good one Ava: one of my favourites James: no, but you make me want to be better at being a person James: because you're one of my favourites too Ava: We're all just trying to get better at being people, yeah James: most of us Ava: The rest are gonna wake up and realize they wasted a lot of time pretending they had it all figured out, too late James: I'm so happy I met you Ava: That is definitely very mutual James: even if this all goes wrong again tomorrow or any time before how long we want it to last, I want you to know I won't be sorry about the start or the middle Ava: That means more than that phrase can convey James: & I want to emphasise I'm not only saying so because everything else in my life is going horribly James: if I was happy I'd want to share that with you too Ava: I love you James: Ava Ava: I couldn't not say it anymore, I'm sorry James: I don't want you to be sorry if you're not Ava: I'm not sorry that I mean it, or feel it Ava: but I am if I crossed a boundary James: you can say anything to me Ava: Well Ava: there it is James: what are we going to do about it? Ava: Up to you really Ava: we don't have to do anything Ava: do we? James: but that wouldn't be right James: things shouldn't go on as they are Ava: Sometimes they have to though Ava: anyway, does it even count as a declaration of love if I don't run to your house in the pouring rain in something made of white silk, like James: it counts that you're the 1st adult who has honestly said that to me Ava: Then I'll say it again Ava: I love you, James James: Then we need to find a way to be together properly Ava: Yeah? James: yes James: you can't be this important & the other most important person in my life not know that you exist James: or never have woken up next to me James: I still have no idea how beautiful you look when you're asleep Ava: We'll work it out Ava: be together properly James: I promise James: because I have no intention of breaking it Ava: I'm thinking maybe you want me dead too James: not even hypothetically James: I need you too much Ava: My legs feel like they ache from not being allowed to come run and find you right now James: I keep accidentally hurting you, don't I? James: Frank has no skills as a masseur I assume? James: IOU Ava: I'm holding you to that one like it's a bonafide promise too James: good James: because while I don't technically have any skills of my own, I'm confident you'll let me know if you like my attempts or not Ava: fake girl might be quiet as a mouse but that's not my style unless absolutely necessary James: that's why you're my favourite & she's my scapegoat Ava: 🥰😏 I can only be so sorry James: well, it's fine because apologies aren't what I wanna hear Ava: All I wanna hear is my alarm so it means I get to see you today James: almost looking forward to going to the office myself James: how unusual Ava: They're so welcome for the boost in morale, like James: if I could keep you on my desk all day, I would Ava: When the novel is ready and you're ready to be fired, then we can do that James: okay James: I'll pull a few more all-nighters James: see if I can't get these chapters finished Ava: I'll nap beside you Ava: at my most inspiring when I 😴 James: I find it hard to believe you'd be anything other than distracting Ava: Who, me? 😇 James: yes, you James: you're very beautiful, you know Ava: 😊 Ava: You're lovely James: it's true, you make me wish I knew how to paint Ava: You make me wish a lot of things, I get that James: tell me one day Ava: Every wish? James: yes Ava: Okay Ava: we can count how many have come true James: until they all have Ava: Happily ever after James: it would be over ambitious & over confident of me to suggest I'm capable of giving you anything close & I'm not anything close to being either Ava: You're just less talk, more make it happen Ava: you've shown that plenty already Ava: I believe in you, I always tell you James: I can always feel how sincere you're being when you do Ava: Good 'cos I don't lie Ava: even to be nice James: I like that about you most of all Ava: If I wasn't conceited before 😂 James: you weren't, it's fine Ava: Well Ava: 🤏 Ava: but it is fine Ava: not not fine enough to warrant stopping you complimenting me James: you couldn't stop me, darling Ava: is that so? James: of course James: even if you made me speechless again, compliments don't have to be spoken Ava: 🤤 Ava: can we put that to the test James: give me a minute James: [a dramatic pause that's longer than either of them would like] Ava: James? James: okay, test me Ava: How though? James: how do you think you can 😶? Ava: Oh, that's easy Ava: I just need the help of a friend James: it's easy to give you compliments Ava: I know, that's why I've gotta go hard over here Ava: bear with James: take all the time you need Ava: I won't need that long Ava: don't like wasting time with you ever James: are you saying you think you've already lost? Ava: Um, no Ava: I'm saying it won't be long until you can see the finished product and be 😶 Ava: how rude of you 😏 James: then it couldn't possibly be a waste of time Ava: [sends him a video on the fake profile] Ava: might wanna turn your sound way down James: well, now I want to turn it up Ava: do so at your own risk Ava: I'm very much alone rn so I could be as loud as is necessary James: [sends her a pic so she knows how into that video he was because worth a thousand words] Ava: Now that is a compliment James: like I said, it's easy to be complimentary towards you Ava: I can see that 🤭 James: I need to see you James: why the fuck isn't it tomorrow yet? Ava: It's actually so unfair Ava: dunno if we can claim starcrossed but you know James: it'll feel less tragic once I get in the shower & can actually turn the volume up Ava: You're really gonna inspire a sequel that easily, huh James: a saga James: longer than Twilight Ava: would just about see us through 'til morning Ava: me @ brunch 🥴 James: I'm wide awake if you are Ava: Of course Ava: new challenge Ava: make you speechless and get you to 💤 pass out, like James: I'm not sure if it's an advantage or disadvantage that I haven't slept well for the last 6 years Ava: We'll work that out together Ava: but wait Ava: say night now so I don't miss it later James: it'll definitely prove helpful in the morning since we have a habit of leaving cups of coffee untouched when we're together James: Oh Ava, you're so sweet James: goodnight for later, my darling Ava: True Ava: and Edward is so jealous Ava: you can't help being more interesting Ava: or better at sweet talk James: we'll make everyone jealous, one day James: when you're my girlfriend Ava: I can't wait Ava: legitimately James: me either Ava: Did you have many girlfriends before Ava: or just do hookups James: I didn't have any girlfriends before Ava: suppose you didn't have much time, nah Ava: not for serious ones James: I didn't want a serious one in school & my parents absolutely didn't want me to have one either, for all the good that did Ava: Makes sense Ava: parents rarely get what they want though, like you said James: I was having too much fun not being serious about anything, until I wasn't any more Ava: That's a lot of people Ava: if there's a time for it James: that's everyone I knew then & a lot of different people I also know now Ava: Yeah, it is a bit like they typecast this entire area most of the time James: I'll make every attempt to avoid it when I set the scene in my novel Ava: like you said too, fun 'til it ain't Ava: I always leave before then James: I always did too, until I got to rehab & leaving was no longer an option James: kind of its unique selling point Ava: How long ago was that? James: it's been years Ava: What did you go in for, if you don't mind me asking James: do you remember that expensive drug habit I mentioned as being one of the only things I used to care about? it honestly was Ava: I was just worried you were meant to be sober Ava: 'cos that would've been really awkward Ava: that's amazing though Ava: well done James: I'm mostly sober but sometimes I fuck that up, which is awkward, you're right Ava: I'm sorry Ava: that night was totally my idea, I steamrolled you so hard James: it was my bad idea to get drunk, that's not your fault James: it's also not your fault that I did something I shouldn't to try & stop myself from doing something else that I'd convinced myself that I shouldn't James: because I'm well aware of how well that doesn't work Ava: Alright Ava: but I'll be more supportive now I know, for the record Ava: though I see your logic there, even if it didn't exactly go to plan James: it went according to an even better plan James: because here we are James: & I don't want to spoil your fun, Ava Ava: I can't even claim it as my plan, sadly Ava: 'cos I couldn't even imagine we'd get here Ava: and you won't, you don't Ava: there's more than one way to have fun Ava: every time I've met up with you has been fun and I was only drinking one of those times so safe to say it isn't required, like James: tomorrow won't be any different, I promise James: despite the fact my office has never been fun before Ava: yeah but I've never been there before Ava: obviously the issue James: the main issue, absolutely Ava: having your dad as a co-worker is probably a fair 2nd James: technically he's my boss & how often he likes to make that known is the 3rd Ava: ick Ava: 🙄 Ava: he's not getting in the book James: I'll put him in the acknowledgements for spurring me on in getting the chapters done quickly Ava: 😂 A subtle dig is the best kind James: 🖋 vs ⚔ Ava: your 🤓 brain is sexy James: I'll happily say again that everything about you is Ava: I'll be even happier when I can hear you actually say it tomorrow James: you can hear me say it now James: I'll bring you into the 🚿 with me Ava: I love you James: [okay we skipping to tomorrow for my evil cockblocking deeds] James: Teddy's here Ava: Oh Ava: to visit or put in hours? James: the latter apparently, which he has wisely decided to do when my dad isn't here to supervise him Ava: Well, good for him Ava: right, what's the plan then James: I'm gonna go get Matty, she might as well here too since you can't be James: maybe she'll annoy him enough that he'll leave earlier than he's currently planning to Ava: Cross my fingers, like Ava: she's pretty sweet overall though James: Teddy really doesn't like children though Ava: I can't imagine him interacting with one tbf Ava: keep me posted then, I guess James: he dropped Jay when she was a bit older than Matty, it can't have helped matters James: if nothing else I'll try & leave earlier than I actually need to when I go to pick her up James: it won't give us long but it's the best I can do Ava: Kids are made of sturdy stuff, if my fam has taught me anything Ava: bless him Ava: that's cool Ava: the girls were going on to the shops so I'll just join them James: okay Ava: can't be helped, can it James: not yet James: but I'm still sorry Ava: not your fault James: [sends her all the deets because he's booked her a massage since he can't give her one & she's now got loads of spare time, like ILY babe] Ava: You didn't have to do that Ava: but as far as 2nd best options go Ava: I've lucked out there, thank you James: I'm aware how frustrating all of this is, in every possible aspect of the word James: so hopefully this will help Ava: It is Ava: but you're worth it to me so I'm in if you are Ava: though probably warn me beforehand if it's that kind of massage, otherwise it could get awkward James: 😂 I have heard she's very good but I can't personally vouch for whether or not that's why she's as highly recommended as she is James: you'll have to let me know Ava: 😏 I'll let you know if your friends are shameless perverts or not, yeah James: thank you James: it would be useful information to have because both my parents have separately been there Ava: 😬 Ava: do you reckon that's ever happened Ava: having an affair with the same person by accident James: it must have at some point Ava: I mean, a thruple is the last resort of every middle-aged couple wanting to reignite things so give it a go James: thank god I'm not yet middle aged & my marriage is dead in the water James: it was strange enough when a friend made a pass at me at a party who I know had slept with her previously without seeking us it out Ava: as much as it pains me you aren't, babe Ava: she's not my type either sorry James: understandable, he wasn't mine Ava: you straight? James: shocking, I know Ava: Again, tragically not but I thought I better check 😉 James: as much as she'd probably love that to be the reason I want to leave her, it's not Ava: That cliche really is played out though James: agreed, it's not one of my preferred cliches Ava: Fine, fine, I WON'T sleep with the masseuse, you don't have to beg James: if you could not sleep with anyone else, regardless of their profession, that'd be a relief Ava: 'Course I won't Ava: I love you, there'd be no point James: I miss you so much Ava: I know, I miss you too Ava: not just because all my friends seem to have got new boyfriends at once that they all had to talk about James: two fake profiles would be a step too far, right? Ava: 🤏 just Ava: anyway, fake girl means nothing Ava: I don't wanna claim fake boy either, just you James: maybe you should come to the office & let Teddy see you, it would get everything out in the open Ava: I don't think you're ready for that, are you James: there is no way to ready myself for it though, is there? Ava: There's some ways Ava: even if you know your wife is obviously gonna be a nightmare regardless Ava: can ease everyone else in Ava: maybe mention you've met someone to him? see how he is with that first James: I don't really want to involve him to such a dramatic degree, yours is a much better idea Ava: Believe me, I wanna be there as much as you want me there Ava: but I don't wanna fuck it up James: me either, it's gotten so bad with her James: as bad as it's ever been Ava: What are you going to do? James: I don't know, I tried to leave when...after I left you & James: well, I'm still there, aren't I? Ava: It's really fucking complicated Ava: and that's an understatement Ava: it will probably be worse after, when you do leave Ava: but then, when she can't follow through with her threats, 'cos it's all bullshit, what can she do, you know what I mean James: she's said things that mean I can't risk leaving her alone with the children at all now James: not that I particularly did before but there were things I believed she'd do then & things I didn't actually Ava: You'd have to take them with you Ava: so that means you need to keep your place Ava: but I assume the chances of her leaving are slim to none Ava: unless Ava: hmm James: she's said she wants to go, start over, but that means nothing James: I know she'd refuse to just to spite me Ava: Appearance is everything with her, yeah? James: it is Ava: you need to do something that will make her leave then, feel like she's made the decision Ava: like if you were gay, something that she can't make go away on the socials James: we can't have a baby just so she'll fuck off Ava: No, I can't even have news of a fake baby getting back to my parents Ava: but seriously Ava: if we did out us, show people we were Ava: would she find a way to hack that or no? James: she'd find a way to destroy your entire life Ava: No she wouldn't Ava: she's doing that to yours, has been for too long James: she would, Ava James: she's done it before, to your sister, to any other girls she's found out about James: & I didn't even care about them the way I do about you Ava: What could she possibly say about me? Ava: I'm a homewrecker? If she wants everyone to know how unhappily married she is Ava: Everyone knows all about my weird family, I've dealt with that for years Ava: Anything she could say, I'd own up to or I'd prove wrong, she doesn't control my narrative James: even if you are right, she still controls mine James: my children's James: I'm not allowed to just take them, am I? She'll have me arrested or something Ava: Only mentally Ava: you can break that, you will Ava: 'cos she doesn't provide any finances, she doesn't look after the kids, what does she offer, like Ava: there is no hold over you but her mental one Ava: Your name is on their birth certificates too, you're as entitled to be with them Ava: anyway, you don't have to go anywhere, who owns your flat, like? James: my dad owns everything Ava: Yeah, your dad Ava: He's not going to put his grandkids out, even if he doesn't side with you Ava: and if it comes to it, he'll have to have you both out whilst you sort out the divorce Ava: there's no way she's automatically entitled to that flat, it isn't either of yours Ava: and she's not automatically entitled to the kids, especially with all the worrying things she's said, yeah James: but I'm not either, I'm an addict Ava: Recovered, literally went to rehab Ava: and let's be honest, half this town is on it to that degree but they're not owning up and calling it a problem Ava: you did that and you sorted it out James: what if they aren't actually mine? James: she's cheated as much as I have Ava: Oh, James Ava: I don't know Ava: you could find out Ava: if you were ready for that but Ava: I see the appeal of not knowing Ava: she probably does though, if she's thought to use it against you before, it's at least crossed her mind too James: as much as she's said it, I've never actually believed her James: but what if I find out that they aren't, it'll be the end, nothing else that we've just said would even have any relevance James: I can't lose them, Ava, I'd rather stay with her forever than let that happen Ava: Of course Ava: they're yours, you raised them Ava: does she Ava: stupid question but does she actually want them? James: no James: she told me she never did, either of them Ava: I don't Ava: as spiteful as she is Ava: would she keep two kids she doesn't love or want Ava: what about her parents, what do they think? James: they're both at their wits end Ava: They'd back you, then James: they know they can't back her James: too much has happened that her mum knows about Ava: If you have proof and people backing you that she's unfit to be the sole provider, then she'd have to sort out visitation and work with you Ava: and I can't see her bothering, if she means all she's said Ava: but Ava: I don't know Ava: it's scary James: if she knows it's you I'm with, I honestly couldn't guarantee anything with regards to what she would or wouldn't do James: her strange obsession with your siblings is something I've never quite understood Ava: None of this is about me, or my wellbeing Ava: I don't care, there's nothing she can do to me Ava: if that was all we were worried about I'd move myself in today but it ain't James: but what I'm saying is, she could go further than we're thinking she would with regards to the children because she doesn't want me to be happy with you specifically James: not just because she doesn't want me to be happy ever Ava: Okay, I get it Ava: So you'll either stay, forever Ava: or she'll take the kids and you'll have to battle in the courts to see them James: that's how it appears James: & if they aren't mine, she just takes them if I don't stay forever Ava: That's why if you do decide to leave Ava: you need to know that first James: I'm scared to know it Ava: That's understandable Ava: there's few things scarier that I can think of James: Matty wouldn't remember if I disappeared from her life now but Jay needs me Ava: You aren't going to just disappear Ava: whatever you decide, whatever happens, we won't let it be that James: can you forget everything I said about trying to be sober, please, I really need a drink James: lots of drinks actually Ava: Tell whoever you need to that you need to go home, okay Ava: then come meet me Ava: I shouldn't have started this conversation right now, I'm so sorry Ava: come be with me James: I can't, you've got a massage to get to & that's the least of what's expected of me James: not leaving Ava: Okay, have you got Matty? Ava: Because go do that then, spend some time with her James: I don't think I should, she'll pick up on how I feel & then nobody'll get any work done Ava: Alright, are you sure you want to stay, you'll be alright? James: I'll be fine Ava: I'll leave you to it then Ava: try to distract yourself, sure Teddy will help you James: I'll talk to you later Ava: Sure, no worries James: [later] James: I'm sorry Ava: I totally get it Ava: well, I don't, but I totally get that too Ava: I'm sorry as well James: everything is indescribably terrible Ava: Yeah Ava: it's bad James: I'm so sorry, Ava Ava: You don't have to say sorry to me Ava: I chose what I chose Ava: you didn't know what you were signing up for, how could you James: now you know what you're signing up for, if you don't want to be any more, I understand Ava: Don't say that James: I have to say it Ava: Now you have then but I'm ignoring you James: please don't Ava: I could never, you know how I feel Ava: that's not changing, it can't James: I know & you know I don't want it to Ava: I just wish there was something I could do Ava: to actually help James: you do help James: more than I can find words to express Ava: I'm not gonna bring it all up again but Ava: all I can think is we have two spare rooms at mine, alright Ava: if you ever need them James: what about your parents? Ava: I could talk to them Ava: and both rooms have bathrooms, and it's only me on that floor as well so the girls wouldn't have to feel like they've got to meet loads of new people James: but what could you possibly say? Ava: As much of the truth as they need to know Ava: Don't worry about that, they're easier to sort than any of the rest of this, yeah James: I'm fairly certain that'd be the whole truth & that wouldn't be easy Ava: They're big rooms, the girls could share or you could have one with Matty Ava: I'm saying, we don't have to say you could as easily share mine James: I wouldn't want someone as fucked up as me going out with either of my daughters Ava: You aren't Ava: it'll just be the age gap but they'll get over that Ava: anyway, the space is there, that's about all I've come up with since earlier James: thank you James: for even trying to come up with anything while I've just been James: again, I don't know what the word is, or could be Ava: You needed to stop Ava: as much as you ever can James: & now I need to see you but it can never just be that simple Ava: Does Jay have anything on tonight, like a club or a lesson or? James: ballet, so I have to stay because she hates it Ava: Fair enough Ava: Is lunch tomorrow an option or? James: I'll make sure it is Ava: Okay, I'll see you then Ava: could you do a phonecall during ballet, even for five minutes Ava: just so I can hear your voice, tell you all the things I wanna James: no promises Ava: of course James: aren't you glad you came back from holiday to all this Ava: I wasn't planning to stay there forever regardless Ava: you know how much I missed you Ava: still do James: tell me about it, or the massage, or your friends' boyfriends, anything that isn't the subject of my misery Ava: It was a good massage Ava: though the way my shoulders killed, you wouldn't think I'd just been on holiday Ava: you definitely need to try it yourself James: I'll book us in together next time Ava: That'll be perfect James: but before I do, did she try & seduce you? Ava: 😂 Ava: not enough to convince me I need to go back every fortnight 💔 James: did you not tell her I've got a best selling novel to write? Ava: Of course Ava: doing the hard sell on everyone for you, babe James: I appreciate it, very much Ava: I appreciate you Ava: What time will you be back, I'll uber eats you something for dinner Ava: you must be exhausted James: only if you order the same thing, it'll almost be like having dinner together Ava: You have the best ideas James: [a time that he'll be back] Ava: It's a date James: I'll dress up for you James: get out of these work clothes Ava: 😳 'scuse you Ava: warn me before you're gonna be that hot please James: if you were warned, you'd be less likely to 😳 Ava: I'll always blush for you Ava: like it or not James: you know how much I like it Ava: I seriously wish you were here Ava: such a waste of pink James: I wish you were here Ava: Gutted my ballet days are behind me James: she doesn't want to go, is there anywhere we actually could meet? Ava: With the kids? Ava: I hear that new soft play does a good coffee James: okay Ava: It's one place adults are actually encouraged to chat to each other so it won't be weird to Jay James: as soon as I tell her she doesn't have to put her tutu on, that's all she'll care about Ava: Bless her James: not to mention the bun, that's a war I'm happy to call a ceasefire on Ava: I'll put my hair down Ava: not trigger her 😂 James: just me then 😍 Ava: it's still a date, like Ava: got to keep you on your toes James: can we draw the line at a pirouette though please? I'm very tired Ava: alright, another time 😏 James: tomorrow maybe Ava: you'll feel up to it then? Ava: planning on a 💤 night of sleep James: you said the coffee's good James: if I actually manage to drink it, who knows Ava: Don't you know you're too big for the ball pit? James: that's an outrageous thing to say! after the day I've had, I couldn't deserve a ball pit more James: you've really devastated me there Ava: Okay, okay, I'm sorry Ava: sneaky hold my hand under the balls? Ava: please James: regardless of your apology, I'm gonna have to throw you in James: so yes Ava: 😱 Ava: now that's actually outrageous James: 😏 Ava: 😈 Ava: how you play James: with you Ava: so inappropriate to make me 😳 in soft play James: oh, so you want best behaviour? James: I can do that too Ava: No Ava: never said that Ava: I might like inappropriate James: I also think you might, let's find out Ava: 🥰 Ava: Let's James: Ava James: I seriously don't know what I would do without you James: no, that's wrong actually, I do. I'd be in such a state right now, really drunk or worse James: because it's not talking about it that's the problem James: we have to keep talking about it, okay? James: I have to figure out what I'm going to do Ava: I love you, James Ava: of course we can keep talking, I'm not going to leave you Ava: whatever you need means just that Ava: you will figure it out Ava: You will not lose them, okay, whatever that takes James: but what you need is just as important & if that's ever taking a step back, not talking about it or whatever else, do it Ava: Of course Ava: I will, I'll try James: good, I've already dragged you into this & I refuse to also drag you down Ava: You'll see how hard it is to do that in the ball pit James: 😂 Ava: Not without a fight, ever James: if they don't use that as the film tagline, such a waste Ava: They might want you as lead for that Ava: negotiations are ongoing James: you're the face, it's non-negotiable Ava: 🥺 I wanna kiss your face James: I want to press my lips against every single bit of your skin, all the time Ava: Oh James: there's never enough hours for everything I want to do with you Ava: Making up for all that lost time should be very, very good James: we're going to need days, weeks, months James: I want to give you that Ava: You can promise James: can I? Ava: Yeah Ava: we'll find a way, right? James: I promise you Ava: 💙 Ava: I promise you it'll get better James: of course, there's no crying in the ballpit Ava: not even when I beat you James: hypothetically not even then, but you won't so it's no problem Ava: 😏 that's fighting talk James: yes, it very much is Ava: Don't try to swoon your way to victory Ava: I'm definitely not that easy, nope James: I'm not Mr Darcy James: we can both do better than that James: that said, I am wearing a white shirt Ava: Shame there's not a good lake around James: but we should still go swimming some time Ava: Only if you pick the bikini Ava: tradition now James: of course, I'd hate to break tradition Ava: take you off the alumnus James: & then how would I meet girls Ava: 😲 Ava: Cheek James: that's all it is, I assure you Ava: not a threat then? James: no James: I'm not planning to lose you in the ball pit Ava: Good luck Ava: take more than a subtle hint to get rid of me, babe James: it'd be very bad luck Ava: 🍀 James: how soon can you be there? Ava: it isn't far, is it Ava: 15-20 minutes James: okay Ava: You better show up first so I can tell 'em I'm meeting you Ava: convincing a not-bothered 6-year-old I have an imaginary child is one thing Ava: reception will just be getting 🚨 James: I'll let you know when we do Ava: 👍 Ava: I'm looking forward to it Ava: even if it'll be odd to leave it at a kiss on the cheek James: & very odd for you & Jay to finally be in the same place Ava: Yeah, you sure you're alright with it? Ava: No doubt she'll totally blank me, who wouldn't when faced with the joy of soft play James: obviously it's far from ideal for me or you but Ava: I just wanna see you Ava: I'm fine with it James: I know I should probably care more but I swear, if this day ends without seeing you James: I will actually lose my mind Ava: We're not doing anything wrong Ava: you can't help it if random women talk to you at soft play Ava: have to keep you literally locked up to avoid that so James: It does happen a lot & yet I've so far avoided being chained to the wall Ava: Exactly Ava: not even anything noteworthy Ava: and I'm not gonna like Ava: overstep or be too much with either of the girls, you don't need to worry Ava: I wouldn't do that, or anything you weren't comfortable with James: I'm not worried about that James: I'd never have brought Matty over to your house if I thought it was going to make either of us feel uncomfortable Ava: 'Course Ava: you're a good dad James: but if you do feel anything close to it, with Jay or with anything, just tell me Ava: I will Ava: You're doing this well, you know James: I'm trying to Ava: And if she ever says, you know Ava: she doesn't like me or whatever Ava: then you can tell me and we won't meet when you have to be with them Ava: take it slower Ava: I know it would make it harder but I know they come first and I'm totally cool with that James: you're doing this really well too Ava: I hope so Ava: it's new territory for both of us, all of us Ava: we'll work this out too James: I trust you, Ava Ava: Thank you Ava: you can Ava: I'm not gonna let you down James: but you can, like you said, we're all just trying to get better at being people, aren't we Ava: Yeah, okay Ava: Too cocky? Ava: I'll try really, really hard not to let you down, but no promises Ava: How's that? James: I don't want you to think that me thinking you're perfect means you have to be James: 😇 & 😈 remember, mistakes are what rewrites exist for & I already made mine in trying to let you go James: you're allowed to get it wrong too Ava: I just really don't want to hurt you James: I don't want to hurt you either Ava: as long as we know that, even if we do by accident or whatever Ava: that's better, isn't it Ava: than me leaving you alone James: anything would be better than that James: but yes, especially if we know what we want & don't want James: I'd let you hurt me over & over again if it meant you didn't leave but I know that isn't what you want Ava: Never ever Ava: even thinking about it is making me hurt James: so we're not going to let it happen even hypothetically Ava: only fun hypotheticals James: like the traffic not being horrendous so I get to soft play before the children start a riot James: because we're finally ready to go Ava: That's so hypothetical it borders on a pipe dream but maybe the universe will play fair after the day you've had 🙏🤞 James: so much so that I'm hypothetically considering walking Ava: how many hypothetical stops would you have to make 'cos she wants to look at something or pick something up she shouldn't Ava: Frank can make a ten minute walk take a good thirty, easy James: enough that I could hypothetically catch my breath after all the cigarette breaks I've had today & I might not hypothetically pass out Ava: Just thinking of your health, clearly James: I should quit, again Ava: How long did you manage? James: which time? Ava: 😏 most successful time then James: 6 months maybe Ava: Not to be sniffed at Ava: longer than I've gone and I'm a shameless 'social' smoker as if that's alright James: how long have you managed? Ava: However long between whenever I've been offered one Ava: I've not tried really James: do you want me to not offer you any? Ava: Sounds like you need to catch your breath Ava: take that as you will James: okay Ava: 😊 Ava: Tell me when I need to leave James: [a long enough pause] James: you can leave now, if you'd like Ava: On my way Ava: how strict is your sweet policy? James: arguably not as strict as it should be, but I don't share that hypothetical opinion Ava: I'll stop in the shop on the way Ava: now, do I guess and see how my choice rates or do I cheat and ask you what the faves are Ava: 🤔 James: you heard me say I trust you, right? Ava: Okay, I got this James: I believe it & in you, darling Ava: 😍 you could say that again Ava: if you liked James: I've got no end of faith in you, Ava Ava: Ugh, bye Ava: I've melted James: what I'm hearing is that I'm going to have to pour you into the ball pit? Ava: If you can pick me up off the floor, yes Ava: also what I'm hearing is you want a treat too, noted James: of course I'll pick you up Ava: Actually trying to kill me Ava: I'm trying to walk, like James: if I could carry you over the threshold of this soft play centre, I would Ava: Babe 😩 James: not the time nor the place, understood Ava: Sadly not James: when the filmmaker takes certain liberties with the source material, we'll attempt it then Ava: Directors cut, yeah James: yes Ava: right, 'scuse me whilst I focus Ava: 🍭🍫🍬 important decisions to be made James: you're sweeter than any of it Ava: James James: sorry, you need to concentrate 😶 Ava: 😈 you Ava: but 😇 at the same time Ava: how do you do it? James: how do you? Ava: Touche Ava: maybe we're a good match James: I think we are Ava: What a coincidence Ava: Me too James: 🍀 Ava: [do we wanna end it here and just work out how it goes?] James: [yeah we can do] Ava: [I'm saying she went animal-themed and got her like percy pigs and an animal bar and the animal biscuits etc and got Matty some rusks or something soz baby snacks aren't as fun and then got him some candy cigarettes] James: [we all know that'd go down amazingly well done babe & I'm saying the baby made the loudest sound when she saw her again like oh hey girl] Ava: [that would be so cute] James: [we all know they already like each other] Ava: [lbr you haven't got any competition in Chloe, all you need to do is not be a massive bitch] James: [mhhmmm I'm also saying he let Jay decide what she wanted to wear because she deserves that thank you] Ava: [when you're busy living your best life so I assume you'll be alright even if you're like hello stranger?] James: [she'd be in such a good mood thankfully] Ava: [we all deserve this to be a moment, lads] James: [even if it can't be as much of a moment as you'd both like, keep it sneaky lads] Ava: [🐍[ James: [the self control required after the day they've had and how highkey their emotions are rn] Ava: [truly, at least no adults are there to pick up on what is way more than the vibe] James: [the receptionist been knew but who's she telling] Ava: [lmao imagine the amount of people conducting sneaky affairs she stay in her lane] James: [I bet they would cos their kids could not be more distracted] Ava: [its perfect tbh] James: [100% am throwing her in the ballpit excuse us children] Ava: [must be done] James: [let him be young goddamn it, he was robbed] Ava: [be young and have fun] James: [Jau just talking about soft play constantly for the foreseeable but Chloe none the wiser lol] Ava: [gonna steal your kids and your man 'cos you don't want 'em James: [they gotta come back because not only is it a great cover it'd be a really swag soft play like better than the one Louise always goes to even because posh people] Ava: [remember on scummymummies they said that one did booze lol they've got so fancy] James: [you're missing out Chlo, soz not soz] Ava: [literally no one is soz, not even your baby] James: [the baby should have her tort with her because feels] Ava: [awh yas] James: [no other kids steal it thank you] Ava: [baby fight lmao] James: [I hope not because the mum would be so judgey cos he's young & Ava's even younger] James: [not sorry we all serving looks & living our best lives at this soft play] Ava: [no one shall bring them down rn or I'll brawl] James: [but I do hope Jay's hair is the messiest it's ever been because fuck you chloe] Ava: [i always wonder what chloe is actually doing 'cos like, nothing ever is the tea] James: [truly how much shopping can you do girl] Ava: [waiting for your fairytale in your sham of a life, like] James: [ooh Ava should do something with Jay's hair that she actually likes cos maybe she's getting annoyed at it while she's trying to play & live her best life and James is like pikachu meme what is this witchcraft but she thinks he's like 😧 how dare you for the hottest of secs] Ava: [a mood just like lowkey how dare you but also how teach me lmao] James: [just falling more in love with the bae by the second over here] Ava: [queen of understated and simple shoutout to your mother for that one] James: [yas I've always loved that about Bea] Ava: [the levels of fuss Chloe is is not a mood for anyone] James: [one of many reasons Jay hates you babe] Ava: [those poor kids she ends up having like rip] James: [I hope she only dresses James now when they are going out because lord] Ava: [poor boy not a mood] James: [especially now you got the hottest bae ever] Ava: [nothing you can do to cockblock this honey] James: [she should obvs find the fake profile like immediately though] Ava: [we can do that next] James: [& if she messages it Ava will be able to see what she's like] Ava: [the delight that is, okay letgo]

[yndigot]

4, 14, 23 and 30?

4. Do you have any OCs? Do you have a story for them?

I do occasionally write non-fic stuff, so I have stories for those OCs. I have very few major OCs for fic except sometimes for children of characters that exist in canon. I love a kid!fic.

In RP, I had a Downton OC named Christopher who existed before the movie introduced Chris Webster. He was a man from Thomas's past that he had spent a few years casually sleeping with on the rare occasions they could arrange to see each other. At the point of Thomas's life the RP was set in (post series 6), Christopher was living with someone else and hadn't slept with Thomas in several years, but was still sort of ... casually on the periphery of Thomas's life, vaguely aware from occasional letters that Thomas had been depressed and struggling with finding a stable work situation, but unaware how bad things had got before Carson retired and Thomas ended up back at Downton. His storyline was mostly just a contrast to Thomas, though, who was going through all sorts of contortions to hide a new relationship while Christopher was able to live ... somewhat more openly. (In the sense that he lived in Leeds, not at a rural estate, and had more regular contact with a queer community than Thomas could possibly have, and also Christopher was living with his partner while the whole premise of the RP was Tom and Thomas sneaking about.) Anyway, I was amused when Thomas flirted with a guy named Chris.

14. Write and share the first sentence of a new fic. Just that.

To David's credit, they talk about her before they get married, although much later than Patrick thinks is warranted considering how upset David had been to find out about Rachel when they'd only been dating for four months.

23. Dialogue or description? Why is the other one so hard?

I'm very, very dialogue driven in my writing. My issue is that I can hear the whole conversation in my head, but then I have to fill in the description around those conversations enough that the characters aren't just floating talking heads, and putting them in a physical space is a struggle. Usually it's because what they're saying is a lot more interesting to me than what they're physically doing. I like snappy dialogue in what I read as well and sometimes my eyes start to gloss over a lot of description, so it's just a matter of what holds my interest personally.

30. Describe a fic that almost happened, but then it didn't.

Most of my ideas are things I low key think I might still circle back to at some point? Maybe? These two are way down the list, though, and unlikely ever to come to anything.

I made a bunch of notes for an MCU story where Harley Keener and Peter Parker get sent to the same Wiz Kid Tech Summer Camp courtesy of Tony Stark and then Parent Trap Steve and Tony into getting together.

I also made a bunch of notes for a story where Steve and Bucky are growing up in the '00s instead of the '30s/'40s, Obergefell v. Hodges happens while they're in high school, and they get married like ... right at 18 so that Steve, with all his health problems, can get on Bucky's army medical insurance and Bucky can get that BAH.

Both of those has the same problem -- I liked the premise, but I wasn't really able to make an interesting story out of them. The premise was more fun than the follow thorough, so I kind of abandoned them.

#ask meme #thank you this was enormously satisfying

[a-skirmish-of-wit-and-lit]

Book Review: The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

SUMMARY

The Guilt Trip is a book about three couples who attend a destination wedding together in Portugal. With forced proximity being the name of the game, marriages come to be tested, established friendships are called into question, and a bevy of secrets, cheating, and betrayals spill out to poison the celebration - as well as the characters' relationships with one another. It's a wedding overflowing with disaster. I had a good time with this one! It was fast-paced, psychological, and engaging. I tore through it in no time, curious to know what emotional fallout or calamities lay ahead for this collection of characters, who, by all appearances, were good friends with no bad blood between them but, in reality, had a lot of skeletons buried under the surface that required unearthing. From jealousy to suspicion, and from manipulation to infidelity, nothing was off-limits. It was all there. Hidden secrets were ripe for discovery! The six friends were all connected somehow, too. (Think: six degrees of separation.) Jack and Will were brothers. Rachel and Noah were best friends, and had been for years, but just so happened to be married to other people who wondered if they'd "always" been platonic. Paige and Rachel were gal pals. Ali and Will were the soon-to-be-newlyweds. Ali worked for Jack in the past, etc. The story is told almost exclusively in third person, from Rachel's perspective, so there's a real sense of living through her "who or what should I believe" turmoil vicariously. There's lots of irony at work in this novel. Duplicity, as well. Even though everyone seems happy and close-knit at the beginning, it isn't long before you start wondering who's innocent of something nefarious and who's guilty. You both trust and side-eye Jack. You seek comfort and consolation from Paige, wish for her zeal. Your heart breaks for Will, roils with envy and suspicion and doubts about Ali. You subdue the stirrings you feel for Noah, quashing them down, washing them away. You stew with anger, insecurity, pain, and disbelief at all that is happening. I couldn't help but be invested in the uncertainty, the secrets, surrounding all the characters. Suspense was formed and maintained because of that. I do admit I had expected this to be more like The Guest List by Lucy Foley, though. That novel left me on "who's the murderous scumbag" tenterhooks the whole time, but I liked how this one ended up being more of a suspicion-riddled, character-driven drama than a whodunnit thriller. Some might not care for that. They might find the summary misleading in that respect. Personally, I didn't mind it. I preferred the focus on the characters and their relationships because I love sordid conflict, backstabbing, and hidden agendas in fiction. It's fun witnessing people at their most manipulative, their most petty, watching them scrape away at the cruelties and jealousies they try to conceal. (Not sure what that says about me exactly, but hey, I'm only human.) The lies that existed, and then were slowly revealed, between friends/lovers in addition to the idea that the people you love might not always be who/what they seem--that was the driving force of the novel. Mind you, there is a Something Awful Happened™️ subplot but it's relegated to the background. The plot careens toward that event at the end, marking it as the climax, which then concludes in an abrupt fashion, so for that reason I would classify this book more as a diet domestic thriller than anything. That said, there's still lots inside to thrill and entertain readers so buckle up! With secrets and revelations existing around every turn, you best watch where you walk. Make sure your wedding shoes are strapped on tight, y'all, because this one's bound to trip you up in a boatload of interpersonal drama and deception! Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

4/5 stars

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#ashlee bree's book reviews #the guilt trip #sandie jones #arcs #mystery/thriller #recs: ashlee approved! #read april 2021 #coming august 2021 #boobklr #book reviews