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whispering-about-the-tmnt · 2 months

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Current list of my TMNT Fanfics!

The Bone Garden

You gathered up old papers, old photos… and you flipped through them, one by one, remembering…

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, grief, gen

Chapters: 1/1 (complete)

Word count: 400

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Warnings: Mentions of death

Notes: Originally written on Halloween, 2007 for the 2k3 episode, Same As It Never Was, but now I feel that it applies to The Last Ronin, as well... or really, any story where one Turtle remained after the others had passed on.

A Cup Of Good Cheer

April is afraid that she got Donnie the wrong Christmas gift this year, but Leo tries to convince her otherwise.

Rating / Genre: G / Holiday, family, gen

Chapters: 1/1 (complete)

Word count: ~3,400

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Notes: Autistic Donnie vibes

Displaced

An unprepared Donatello ends up on a Greyhound Bus to Springfield, Massachusetts

Rating / Genre: soft T / Mild drama, road trip, gen

Chapters: 6/6 (complete)

Word count: ~18,500

TMNT Version: TMNT 1987 / Archie run

Warnings: Blood, guns, mild peril

Notes: This was my first TMNT fic, which I originally posted some 25 years ago. It was written even earlier, though, for my father right after the 1990s movies came out.

Fleeting Thoughts

A collection of 100-word TMNT drabbles

Rating / Genre: G / Various, gen

Chapters: 9/?

Word count: 900 (so far)

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Notes: I know it is hotly debated what the length of a drabble should be, but I was always firmly in the 100-word camp.

Midnight On The High Bridge

The High Bridge between Manhattan and the Bronx has always been one of Michelangelo's favorite places to go for a late night ride on his board; but on this cloudy evening, he finds more than just fresh air and freedom high above the Harlem River.

Rating / Genre: G / M/F, Meet-cute

Chapters: 3/3 (complete)

Word count: ~8,100

TMNT Version: 2007, TMNT Adventures

Notes: Brings Oyuki Mashimi into the 2007 universe; takes place a year after the events of the movie

Passage

Leonardo has an appointment with death.

Rating / Genre: T / Drama, supernatural

Chapters: 5/? (in-progress)

Word count: ~6,300 (so far)

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Warnings: Death and dying, gore, blood

Notes: Written back in the early 00s…

Requiescat

Leonardo died today.

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, grief, poetry, gen

Chapters: 1/1 (complete)

Word count: 180

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Warnings: Mentions of death and dying

Notes: Written a couple decades ago...

The Scent Of Violets

Donnie and Mike are trapped underground with a memory

Rating / Genre: T / Drama, gen

Chapters: 1/1 (complete)

Word count: ~1,800

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Warnings: Blood, severe injury

Notes: Another one written in the late 90s, early 2000s (even I can't remember at this point)

Second Time Around

Two years after the defeat and banishment of Krang and Shredder, the Turtles and their human friends now have different, more personal challenges to overcome -- challenges that are made all the more difficult to deal with when Baxter Stockman and Karai pull them into a conflict that involves disentangling the complexities time itself.

Rating / Genre: T / Script, gen

Chapters: 19/? (in-progress)

Word count: ~28,000 (so far)

TMNT Version: Bayverse (2014-2016)

Warnings: Character death mentioned

Notes: A script/screenplay for a third Bayverse movie.

Something Wicked

He felt movement all around him; something like the wind, though the air was dead still. He backed against the curved sewer wall… holding his breath as his eyes scanned the pitch blackness. The feeling grew closer, touching him… a whisper against his damp skin…

Rating / Genre: M / Horror, suspense, gen

Chapters: 17/? (in-progress)

Word count: 50,400 (so far)

TMNT Version: Undetermined -- originally written for the 87 series/Archie run, but this new version is its own continuity

Warnings: Blood, gore, possible character death, whump, etc. Best suited for people that have no problem with slasher movies.

Notes: Originally written and posted a couple decades ago, now being put under an extensive rewrite

Still Waters

They say I'm the quiet one…

Rating / Genre: G / Introspective, poetry, gen

Chapters: 1/1 (complete)

Word count: ~200

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Notes: Also from over twenty years ago. A Donatello introspective.

Under The Influence

Leo is under the influence of… something

Rating / Genre: G / humor, gen

Chapters: 4/4 (complete)

Word count: 400

TMNT Version: Various / Any

Notes: Just a silly little four-drabble story I wrote when I wasn't feeling so well a bunch of years back...

When She Loved Me

She always said that I had his eyes. I don't know if I ever really believed her… after all, I never knew him. But I suppose they must be his. Her own eyes were deep and dark, almost black… reflective like mirrors. Mine are blue… light blue, like the sky. I think that sometimes she hated looking into them, because it was like she was looking at him again… like she was looking at my father.

Rating / Genre: G / Drama, gen

Chapters: 1/1 (complete)

Word count: 2,500

TMNT Version: TMNTA, the Archie run

Warnings: Parental abandonment

Notes: This is Oyuki's backstory as I see it. It was originally written and posted at FFnet back around 2000, though the fic is contemporary with the TMNTA Comics, setting its year at 1992.

#tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #ninja turtles #tmnt fanfic #tmnt bayverse #tmnt 2k3 #tmnt 2007 #tmnt 2003 #rottmnt #tottmnt #tmnt mm #tmnt mutant mayhem #tmnt 2012 #tmnt 1987 #writers on tumblr

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soaringthroughthegalaxy · 5 months

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Prompt: someone is mean to wrecker and the rest of the batch either chooses violence or chooses to comfort wrecker

Hello there!

I saw this as an opportunity to write about the Batch as cadets, and I RAN with it. Though I broke my own heart having to write a few mean things about Wrecker 😭 They’re sweet babies, and I want to give them the galaxy 🥹

No reader in this, just the boys. Hope it's okay!

Art by @alligatorpie1945 - go check out her awesome art! I kept her 'Through the Ages' series on my screen while writing to help get me in the headspace. All her art is gorgeous!

Brotherly Bonds

The holonet can be a wonderful yet vicious place. When Wrecker’s feelings are hurt, and he questions his place in the squad, his brothers rally together to fix it and comfort him.

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: Bit of whump, Wrecker being cyber-bullied by a Reg, caring brothers, protective brothers, bully gets called out, conflict is resolved, comfort and reassurance, happy ending.

The light of his datapad casts a blue glow over his face as he reads. It’s late, their barracks dimly lit by the moonlight, but Wrecker can’t sleep. His eyes trace the words repeatedly. Slow. Clumsy. Idiot. Each one feels like a vibroknife between his ribs.

It started a few days ago after a training drill with his brothers and a handful of Regs, who had seen him struggling with hand signals and tripping over his feet. It wasn’t his fault he was bigger than everyone else and that hand signals all looked similar to him from a distance. He’d been made this way. He was trying his best with what he’d been given. One day, he’d grow into his size and understand the signals. He was sure of it.

Wrecker sighs softly, turning onto his side to face the wall of his bunk. He pulls Lula closer, tucking her under his chin as he continues to read. He knows he should stop, that he’s only making himself feel worse by continuing, but he wants to know what everyone’s thinking and doesn’t want to walk into the mess hall tomorrow and be caught off guard.

The mean comments continue in the thread posted to the cadet chat boards. He and his brothers frequently ignore them, not caring for gossip, but Wrecker had heard things whispered under a Reg’s breath at mealtime – a Reg who hadn’t been part of their earlier drill. Other than hearing it through the grapevine, the boards would be the only other place.

Wrecker’s fingers tighten around the edges of his datapad, the cold metal digging into his palms. He takes a deep breath, trying to shake off the hurtful words. Despite his tough exterior, the comments on the chat boards have chipped away at his confidence. The camaraderie he shares with his brothers shields him from most insults, but the online world has found a crack in his armour.

As he scrolls through the thread, Wrecker can’t help but notice the lack of empathy in the words of his fellow cadets. The faceless avatars behind the comments don’t understand his challenges, trying to fit in a world where he doesn’t – metaphorically and literally. He wonders if they’d say the same things to his face or if the anonymity of the virtual space emboldens them.

Lula provides some comfort amid his turmoil, a reminder that his brothers care and love him, the stuffed tooka being a present from them. He squeezes her a little tighter as he contemplates shutting down the datapad, shutting out the negativity, but a stubborn curiosity keeps him scrolling. It’s as if he’s searching for that one comment that might offer understanding or support, even though he knows the likelihood is slim.

Wrecker’s brow furrows as he reads a particularly cutting comment. ‘Idiot can’t even understand signals. How'd he even make it out the tube? The rest of them are carrying him.’ The words sting, and Wrecker feels a surge of anger, but beneath it lies a more profound, more insidious emotion—doubt.

He glances at the sleeping forms of his brothers in the dimly lit barracks. They trust and depend on him, yet the doubts the Regs have planted in his mind start to take root. Wrecker wonders if he’s genuinely holding the team back. Maybe his brothers would be better off without him in the squad, with someone more agile and quick-witted in his place.

Lula’s stitched eyes seem to gaze at him with understanding, and Wrecker can almost hear Tech’s voice in his head, rattling off statistics and probabilities to prove that their team is more robust with him in it. But those voices are drowned out by the relentless comments scrolling on his datapad.

In the solitude of the night, Wrecker quietly shuts off his datapad and gets up, careful not to wake his brothers. He steps outside into the bright corridor and starts walking, going until he reaches one of the many bridges connecting different parts of Tipoca City. It’s cool out, but the earlier stormy weather has passed.

Leaning against the railing, Wrecker looks up at the stars. The vastness of the galaxy puts his problems into perspective. But the doubts linger. As he contemplates his place in the squad, he wonders if he should ask to be transferred. He doesn’t want to be the weak link, not when his brother’s lives are on the line.

A voice startles him. “Hey, Wreck, having trouble sleeping?” It’s Hunter, concern etched on his face as he reaches him, standing at his side at the railing.

Wrecker tries to shrug off the unease. “Nah, just needin’ some air.” He slaps on a grin. “Was hopin’ to see that big ol’ creature they say lives out here.” His gut rolls with the lie as he gestures to the choppy sea surrounding them, not wanting Hunter to worry. Although they were still cadets, he knew his older brother was already carrying a heavy weight, and he was being primed to lead them once they were old enough to fight.

Hunter studies Wrecker for a moment, his sharp senses missing very little. He sees beyond the forced grin and recognizes the turmoil in Wrecker’s eyes. Without saying a word, Hunter leans on the railing beside him. “Yeah, I heard about that creature too.” He says with a faint smile as he plays into his brother’s lie. “But I think it’s just a story to keep cadets like us from wandering too far.” He adds on. Silence lingers for a second before he speaks up again. “You doing okay, Wreck? You seem a bit off tonight.”

Wrecker hesitates, then sighs, the weight of the words on the datapad still lingering in his mind. “Just... things people are saying. About me. On those chat boards.”

Hunter’s expression tightens as he glances at Wrecker. “You shouldn’t let those get to you. People don’t know what it’s like for us.”

Wrecker nods, but the doubt remains evident in his eyes. “I know, but sometimes I wonder if they’re right. If I’m really holding the squad back.”

Hunter turns fully towards Wrecker, his gaze unwavering. “Wrecker, you’re an essential part of this squad. Don’t let some unfounded comments make you question that. We’re not just soldiers; we’re brothers. And brothers stick together. You’re not holding us back; you’re lifting us up with your strength, both in training and out of it.” His tone leaves no room for doubt.

Wrecker looks at Hunter, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty in his eyes. “You really think so?”

Hunter reaches out, placing a hand on Wrecker’s shoulder. “I know so. Who else could toss droids across the room like you do? Who else could diffuse a bomb so quickly without breaking into a sweat? We need your strength and steady hands, Wrecker, and more importantly, we need you. We wouldn’t be the Bad Batch without you.”

Wrecker’s tense shoulders gradually relax under Hunter’s reassuring touch. The doubt in his eyes begins to fade. He takes a deep breath, absorbing Hunter’s words.

“Thanks, Hunter. I appreciate it.” Wrecker says, a genuine smile breaking through his earlier turmoil.

Hunter nods, squeezing Wrecker’s shoulder before letting go. “Anytime, vod. Remember, the opinions of others don’t define you. We know your worth, and that’s what matters.”

Hunter’s words gradually sink in, pushing back against the doubts that had taken root in Wrecker’s mind. As they head back to the barracks together, Wrecker can’t help but feel grateful for the unwavering support.

The following day, as Wrecker takes his turn in the fresher, Hunter slips across to Tech’s bunk, gesturing with a hand for Crosshair to join them. The three boys gather, and Hunter shares what happened last night. Before he’s finished the story, Tech reaches for his datapad and other equipment strewn around his bunk area, fingers flying over the screen as he starts to pinpoint who started the thread and the names of every cadet who’d commented.

Crosshair’s expression darkens as he listens, his hawkish eyes narrowing on the information on Tech’s datapad. “We’re going to have a little chat with this individual.” He hisses, anger curling through his body that Regs were daring to pick on his brother. None of them deserved to be tormented, especially not Wrecker – he was the softest.

Tech nods in agreement, his fingers working efficiently on the datapad. “I’ve already gathered enough evidence to expose them.”

The day progresses as usual for the squad, with their training and drills occupying most of their time. Though still carrying the weight of the hurtful comments, Wrecker finds solace in his brothers’ unwavering support. Hunter keeps a watchful eye on him, and Tech and Crosshair discreetly work on their plan to confront the Reg who had started the thread.

As night approaches, the boys gather in their barracks after dinner. The atmosphere is tense, a mix of anticipation and determination. Wrecker can sense something is brewing, but his brothers maintain their usual poker faces. He decides not to pry, trusting in their brotherly bond.

They settle in for bed, comfortable in their bunks. Hunter, Tech, and Crosshair wait until they hear the familiar sounds of Wrecker’s light snores before they move, pushing back the flimsy sheets to put their plan into action.

The trio slip out of their bunks with practised stealth, moving like shadows through the dimly lit room. As they exit the room, the hallways of Tipoca City are eerily silent at this hour. Tech guides them towards the quarters of the cadet responsible for starting the thread.

They arrive at the designated quarters, one of many identical doors in the sterile corridor. Hunter knocks firmly, and a moment later, the door slides open to reveal a surprised cadet dressed for sleep.

“Hell do you want?” the cadet asks, eyeing the trio suspiciously.

Without a word, Crosshair steps forward, scowl firmly in place, making the cadet uncomfortable. Tech, meanwhile, holds up his datapad, displaying the evidence of the derogatory comments. Hunter’s gaze is stern.

“Axel, right? We need to talk.” Hunter says calmly, but there’s an undeniable edge to his voice.

Axel stammers, realizing the gravity of the situation. The brothers are not here for idle chit-chat. The door to the next room opens slightly, curious faces peeking out to see the commotion.

“Your comments about Wrecker end now.” Crosshair declares, his tone cold and uncompromising. “And we’re making sure everyone knows the consequences of targeting one of our own.”

Tech steps forward, his datapad at the ready. “We have evidence of every comment you made and the names of those who joined in. You can either stop this now and publicly apologize, or we can take this to General Ti and let her handle it.”

Axel, now visibly nervous, stumbles over his words. “I... I didn’t think it would get this serious. It was just banter, y’know?”

Hunter narrows his eyes. “Banter or not, it stops. Now.”

Axel nods quickly, realizing he’s caught in a situation he hadn’t anticipated. “Okay, okay. I’ll delete the comments, and I’ll apologize. Just... don’t involve General Ti, please.”

Crosshair leans in, his eyes piercing. “You mess with one of us; you mess with all of us. Remember that.”

The trio leaves Axel’s quarters, their message delivered. As they walk back to their own barracks, Tech speaks up. “I’ve ensured that the evidence is backed up in multiple locations. If they try anything again, we have leverage.”

Hunter nods in approval. “Good. Hopefully, this won’t happen again. We’re a team, and we protect our own.”

The three brothers slip back into their bunks in their barracks with the same practised stealth. Wrecker stirs slightly, arms tightening around Lula, but he remains blissfully unaware of the nocturnal mission his brothers had just undertaken on his behalf.

In the morning, as Wrecker and his brothers assemble for training drills again with the Regs, there’s a noticeable shift in the air. Although he’s still feeling a lingering sting from the chat boards, Wrecker picks up on the change. Only when they pause for a break, and he’s approached, does he start to piece together bits of the puzzle.

Axel approaches Wrecker with a hesitant expression. His eyes avoid direct contact, and there’s a nervous shuffle in his stance. The other cadets nearby glance between them, sensing that something is about to unfold.

“Wrecker.” Axel begins, his voice a mixture of discomfort and reluctance. “I... I wanted to apologize. I started the chat board thread, and what I said was out of line. I didn’t realize how much it would affect you. It was just stupid banter, and I didn’t think about the consequences.”

Wrecker looks at Axel with a mixture of surprise and scepticism. He wasn’t expecting an apology, and part of him wondered if this was just another act. Hunter, Tech, and Crosshair watch from a distance, ready to step in if needed.

Axel continues. “I deleted the comments, and I’m sorry for any hurt I caused. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Wrecker studies him for a moment, then nods. “Apology accepted.” He says, surprising not just Axel but also himself. Despite the hurtful words, Wrecker knows that people can make mistakes, and perhaps this is an opportunity for growth.

Axel visibly relaxes, a mix of relief and gratitude on his face. The tension in the air began dissipating, and the other cadets exchanged glances, unsure what to make of this unexpected turn of events. Wrecker, however, feels a strange sense of closure, as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

“Thanks.” Axel mumbles, still avoiding direct eye contact.

Wrecker grins, clapping a hand on Axel’s shoulder, being careful not to jostle him. “No hard feelings. Just remember, we’re all in this together.”

Axel nods, and with that, he retreats to his group, who shoot curious glances in Wrecker’s direction. The training drills resume, but the atmosphere has shifted. Wrecker notices a few glances exchanged among the cadets and the odd appreciative smile as he uses his strength to help them, but this time, he holds his head high.

Later that day, as he and his brothers gathered in their barracks, Wrecker couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards them. They hadn’t said anything, but he knew they’d played a part in Axel’s apology. Hunter, Tech, and Crosshair may not have erased the pain caused by the hurtful comments, but they’ve shown him that he’s not alone. They’ve stood by him, defended him.

As the evening progresses, the solidarity among the brothers remains strong. They fall into their usual cuddle pile, sharing laughter and snacks salvaged from the mess hall, reinforcing their unbreakable bond.

Wrecker reflects on the events of the past few days in the quiet moments before sleep claims them. The weight of doubt and hurt that had burdened his shoulders has been replaced by a newfound resilience. His brothers, the pillars of strength in his life, have reassured him of his worth and taken action to protect him.

As Wrecker drifts into slumber, he clings to the knowledge that, no matter what challenges they might face, he’s part of a united family. In the moonlit barracks, the Bad Batch rests, stronger than ever, ready to face whatever the galaxy throws their way.

Tag list: @clonethirstingisreal

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manicr · 5 months

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Fic Priority Polling

Hiya! I'm emerging from pneumonia, last day on antibiotics, and I'm wanting to get back the the saddle. So, I have four active WIPs, and a graveyard of many more and plot bunnies multiplying, and I want to know what there's interest for. So vote! Comment!

Links to the works on AO3:

OTP Challenge Daken/Bullseye (29/30 finished) Misc works, the latter more plotty but all nsfw.

The Way You Shake and Shiver (1/?) Fake-Dating after sadistic punishment gone wrong, they work together to undermine Osborn. Team dynamics and base in the Dark Avengers arc.

Doing the Work (1/?) Est. Relationship post DA, working with and against the Kingpin. Feelings happen and conflicts are created.

What's Owed to us as the World Ends (8/?) Crossbones and Bullseye navigate the King in Black event and their feelings. Very H/C and villain relationship.

#marvel #bullseye #daken #bullsnikt #perils of writing #poll #bullbones #manicr writes

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bettsfic · 7 months

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This may be a stupid question but how do you get comfortable with wrecking your protagonists?

i don't think you should ever get comfortable wrecking your protagonists. i think if you're totally unaffected by the struggle or even suffering of your characters, something's not right. when your characters are at their lowest is when the audience can most plainly see the integrity in the work.

but it's tough, because you want your audience to know you love and respect your characters, but you also have to honor the story you're trying to tell. and sometimes those things conflict with one another. when that happens, you have to stop and assess as many possibilities as you can.

around this time last year i tasked myself with not writing antagonists anymore. i have no beef with antagonists; i think they're a necessary storytelling tool. you have a protagonist who moves the story forward and an antagonist to get in their way. but i wanted to challenge myself to see what opposing forces would arise in my work if i removed all antagonists.

the first thing i noticed was that it made everything much harder to write. like, what's a plot when you take away opposition? how do you develop interpersonal conflict when your characters are well-meaning, perfectly reasonable people? and to your point--what trials must a character go through and why should they go through them?

i know i cite these shows a lot, but breaking bad and better call saul are both phenomenal examples of well-wrecked protagonists. every character has individual motivations and they guide themselves through their story. their flaws steer them to their ends. in breaking bad, what i find phenomenal is that at no point is walter white boxed into a corner. he always has the choice to step away from making meth with no consequence whatsoever. but he never does, and that defines his character, and it creates his ending. jesse is another fully wrecked protagonist, except he's (somewhat) innocent, and yet he still determines his own fate. both brba and bcs are shows about tragic characters who make their own fate.

on the opposite end, the example i always turn to is the book a little life, which to me is the definition of torture porn. jude is a wrecked protagonist whose destruction is so egregious we can see the authorial strings pulling him. on one hand we're asked to perceive the story as realism (see: intricate if excessive legal details), but also we're supposed to believe that no one would have involuntarily committed him, intervened in his overt self-harm, or put him in front of a therapist ever in his life. from my perspective, a little life is a story of whump told without integrity or respect for the characters.

sorry to go on a little rant there but my answer is that to really put your characters through it, you have to know them really well--how do they put themselves in these situations and what do they do once they're in them? how will their faults lead to their tragedies, or how will their strengths lead to their success? what are all possible roads in front of them, and why might they choose the worst one?

this answer kind of got away from me but i hope it offered at least a little insight!

#writing advice #character #conflict

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newbornwhumperfly · 9 months

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@whumpmasinjuly day 19! (list your favorite whump blogs)

@haro-whumps - their villains strike true fear into my heart and i absolutely adore the way they don’t shy away from the harsher, nastier sides of any of their characters (including the heroes), making whump that feels deeply complex and conflicting! i love their broken whumpees and sadistic whumpers and deeply human caretakers so much. galo and the group whumpee family are my first beloved whumpee ocs & ren lives rent free in my head as an all-time scary bastard! your ocs have such distinct personalities and struggles and you find such a way to make every single depiction of fear and anguish utterly unique, so every new whumpee feels fresh and exciting!

@much-ado-about-whumping - my goodness, what a fucking exquisite grasp of prose he has! i fell deeply in love with déomas from the moment i met the poor boy (as well your wonderful boy andreas) and every day am envious and admiring of bel’s skill at portraying complicated survivors! i love how you write aftermath as well, with the non-linear healing and gut-punch of lasting trauma making your whump work so unique to me! and god, if there is a mastery of non-con whump (and the realism and thrill and ache of all requisite traumas) you’ve truly grasped it with both utter sensitivity and delightful darkness (and also a profound rethinking of sexual trauma survivors for me in a very real way).

@whump-tr0pes - god, athena, so many books and every one of them rocked me to my core? your characters fucking challenge me so deeply and i love it, and your master of character development and change and growth and regression and everything is just…beautifully broken and incredible. your writing makes me uncomfortable in the best way possible and at the same time satisfied with every little arc - it’s such a gift!

@whumpthisway - first ever whump blog i followed three years ago, has been both a gateway to excellent creators and is very generous with tagging, something i deeply appreciate!

@whumpzone - cerys, your passion for engaging with your audience really warmed my heart when i started following you and i adore how engaged you made your audience feel to participate in your storytelling! you also have one of my favorite caretakers of all time in the wonderful linden! both your series are beloved rereads forever and ever, both of their storytelling progressing and developing so beautifully to natural endings. it’s so goooood.

@ashintheairlikesnow - a titan of this community, i am overawed by the sprawling scope and detail of her worldbuilding. her writing has reminded me again and again how good stories can be when you let your characters influence the world! your depictions of trauma and institutional abuse have impacted me and my thinking quite a lot, no joke, and you have a scary-good ability to capture banal evil.

@secretwhumplair - has an exquisite ability to capture fear, truly enviable how bone-deep their written terror strikes me!

@whumpster-dumpster - keeps churning out creative and inspiring prompts after all this time, i’ve gotten so many good story ideas from red!

@whumping-every-day - though absent for so long, i still absolutely adore her writing & her vampire whump (ash and callum) is absolutely top of the line in visceral brutality!

@whump-me-all-night-long - has such a good ability to balance casts of characters in her stories (my personal favorite being the jewelry box) with distinctive personalities and a wonderful imagination for new ideas!

@wolfeyedwitch - perhaps my personal favorite at writing superhero/villain whump and has such a great ability to capture the trope of team vs. outsider angst!

just a short list of the blogs that i bow in admiration and delight of every day!!! you all are so incredibly talented & i love you! 💖

#all of you get me through the goddamn day with your enthusiasm and excellence and kindness 🥰💖🥰#whump community #not whump #wij23day19 #whumpmasinjuly2023

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whumpsday · 2 months

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With the Ides of March coming up, March is the perfect month to get into a whumpy mood! Here's some events to help with that!

March events starting today:

🏃 March Trope-A-Thon (@amonthofwhump), prompts here, a 7-day whump event (starts March 15!)

🎭 Whump: The Musical (@whumpthemusical), prompts here, a 31-day musical-themed whump event

📜 The Whumps of March (@storyweaverofgondor), prompts here, a 31-day literature-themed whump event

🌲 Wollemi Whump Event (@merriam-whumpster), prompts here, a month-long, 15-prompt whump event

🌵 March of Pain (@marchofpain), prompts here, a 31-day whump event

April events starting next month:

🩹 Whumpril (@whumpril), prompts here, a 30-day whump event

🎂 WoW's Birthday Whump Event (@whumperofworlds), prompts here, a 15-day whump event

🌧️ Angstpril (@chaos-company), prompts here, a 30-day angst event

🫀 Whump Wars (@folieadeuxserver), info here, a 10-day points-based Hannibal fandom whump event

In addition, I've made a whump event myself for the first time, though it's not seasonal: the Conflict Whump Challenge has 3-9 prompts depending on how you play it.

Have fun and enjoy the coming spring!

Full list of whump events here

#whump community

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starry-mist · 2 months

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General mid-s6 thoughts (because I haven’t had time to actually rewatch 609 yet to do a full post yet):

I love that the show is fun to watch again. I’m actually looking forward to it rather than dreading whatever bullshit they were pulling in the early part of the season.

I’m back from my attempt at being a casual fan (hah, we all knew I would fail) to full-on obsessed. I like it here.

With a little more context now, it seems that this season is very much about Charlie, which I initially disliked, but at this point I can kind of envision where they’re going with it. While the show has always been about the characters’ relationships with each other, there’s a real focus this season on how he’s grown as a character as well as how he copes with new challenges but also resolves some lingering issues, and maybe let’s go of some old baggage (like his conflict with his dad.)

I’m still not 100% convinced there will be entirely smooth sailing on the Charah front. It’s really hard to say given it’s this fucking show (affectionate,) they could go either way. There’s a chance they just continue to be strong and supportive of each other, and I love that for them. I’m just still hanging onto the parallel of Sarah being in school with Julia leaving Charlie to go back to school. I’d be fine with temporary conflict, by the way. Because regardless of if her studies become an issue in her relationship with Charlie (and again, that could go either way, it could just be that added profiler aspect for the team like that one press release said, or it could shake things up a little bit) I do foresee them working out. They’ve always been endgame, it’s just a matter of how they get there.

And in terms of the ending for Charah: I predict a season 7 renewal (there have already been hints,) so I feel like there’s a possibility that they “officially” move in together (excuse me while I roll my eyes at the idea of them not technically living together yet after it was heavily implied in s5) or there’s a proposal. I’m trying to keep my hopes super low so I’ll settle for another on-screen kiss or “I love you.”

Also, this is usually the past of the season where they start dropping more intense episodes, which I think we’re getting a hint of with the (spoiler) upcoming Rex whump and Rex disappearance back to back. I’m dying to know what led them back to filming in Hamilton too. The fact that there’s been the tiniest hint of continuity and mention of Trina has me curious. Not that she’d be specifically based there as CSIS (I honestly don’t know how CSIS works) but it’s where my mind goes when I think of reasons for them to have filmed there again. (My other theory is that Sarah’s sister is getting married there and someone gets murdered. My brain is a very strange place.)

Crap, this got long. I should be channeling this energy into fic.

#hudson & rex #starry speculates #season 6

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tired-of-being-nice · 2 months

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the american dream is killing me - masterlist

hello and welcome! this story is what's currently holding my brain in a vice grip. if you like dystopian society, brainwashed people and their ex-best-friends who are trying not to miss them, really sad guys hanging out in alleyways, and no one getting any sleep, then oh BOY are you in the right place!

title is a placeholder (unless i end up liking it)- it's a reference to the green day song of the same name :)

milo uses they/them, coren uses they/it, & ray uses he/him and she/her!

chronological story (with numbers indicating order of writing, and emojis indicating pov! 💚 is milo, 💙 is coren, 💛 is ray. stories connected by commas are directly following each other)

flashback/backstory:

first meeting (#16, 💚)

blood-stained tiles (#6, day 14 of febuwhump, 💚), who did this to you (#7, day 15, 💚), & came back wrong (#8, day 16, 💚)

current arc

man vs. society (#11, conflict whump challenge, 💚)

helpless (#1, day 1 of febuwhump, 💚)

solitary confinement (#2, day 2, 💙)

obedience (#3, day 4, 💙)

hide and seek (#4, day 7, 💙)

semi-conscious (#5, day 12, 💙)

too weak to move (#9, day 18, 💙) & please don't (#10, day 19, 💙)

weapon (#12, 💙), "because i care about you" (#13, day 24, 💚), "help them" (#14, day 26, 💛), not allowed to die (#15, day 29, 💚), rude awakening (#17, 💙)

#PHEW ok #october's whump #oc: milo #oc: coren #oc: ray #story: tadikm #tadikm...

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whump-me · 6 months

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Conquest, Chapter 14: Negotiations

Chapter 14 of Conquest, a novel-length fantasy whump story about a timid royal clerk captured by the disgraced prince who needs their help to rule their newly conquered country. This series is best read in order. Masterpost here.

Contains: fantasy setting, nonbinary whumpee, male whumper, cooperative whumpee, defiant whumpee, multiple whumpees, multiple whumpers, royal whumper, conflicted whumper, threats of death, threats to innocents, threats to children, fantasy politics

---

Miranelis

Talking with the servant had given Miranelis a brief taste of the way life used to be when he had never seen the Wolves in person, when he had known Kyollen Naskor only from tense diplomatic meetings and dusty language textbooks. Now Kezul’s shoulders looked even broader, his hair even wilder, his furs even more out of place. And his face, unlike the others’, was far from impassive. Miranelis, who had spent these past several weeks studying the man, knew that look for a desperate determination. But they knew the two in front of them would read it as fury—not only that, but childish fury, a toddler’s tantrum. If they didn’t run in fear from what Kezul’s wrath might bring, they would look on the ruler with contempt, as someone unfit to deal with as an equal.

“Wait,” Miranelis said desperately to Kezul, as if what they had begun weren’t already undone. “I need just a few more moments to explain…”

“How long does it take to request an audience?” Kezul stopped with his arms crossed over chest. And as if it hadn’t been bad enough already, all four Wolves followed a few paces behind him, their hands on the hilts of their swords.

Perhaps Miranelis could still salvage this. They hastily turned to Perajeon. “On behalf of the throne of Danelor, may I present—”

“No need,” Perajeon interrupted. “I know who this is.” To Kezul, his face would most likely have appeared to be a blank mask. But Miranelis could see the shocking depths of the anger there, and hear it resonating in the man’s deep voice.

“Please,” Miranelis said, their desperation showing through in their voice, all hints of propriety abandoned in an instant. “If you hear us out—”

“I know who you are.” Perajeon spoke past Miranelis to Kezul now, the fury in his voice no doubt even plain to Kezul and his Wolves. Yes, the Wolves definitely heard it, because their hands tightened around their weapons. But Perajeon either didn’t notice, or didn’t care. “You’re the one who sits on the throne while its wood is stained red with the blood of our queen. You’re the reason we starve while our farms burn. You dare to set foot in my gardens? You dare to send one of the queen’s own people to speak on your behalf?” At that, Miranelis cringed back at the naked scorn in the man’s voice. But even though he was talking about Miranelis, none of it seemed directed at them. It was as if Miranelis wasn’t there anymore.

Miranelis doubted Kezul could understand more than half of what Perajeon had said. His Wolves, of course, would understand none of it. But even the Wolves could surely read enough from his tone to know what kind of welcome they were receiving.

Before Miranelis could call out a word of warning, the Wolves surged ahead of Kezul. Two grasped the man by his arms, another forced him to his knees, and the fourth placed the tip of his sword to the man’s throat. “What would you like done with this creature?” the one holding the sword asked. It was clear what he hoped the answer would be.

Miranelis felt the absurd urge to laugh as the horrible scene played out. They had been afraid this would go badly. They had known, in fact, that failure was the most likely result. But even in their darkest imaginings, they hadn’t imagined it would go quite this badly. All that was missing was the flames.

There was something else in the Wolf’s tone, something Miranelis didn’t understand. Some kind of challenge, a look in his eyes and in the way he held himself. It intensified when his glance went to Miranelis, then to Kezul again. And… was he looking Kezul in the eye? Miranelis had come to notice, over the course of the past few weeks, that Kezul’s Wolves were reluctant to look at him directly. Most of the time. But today, this one wasn’t.

Kezul saw the challenge, too. Miranelis was sure of it. He tensed, those nerves Miranelis had seen in him back in full force—and then some. The nerves turned to raw anger—real or feigned, Miranelis didn’t know. They didn’t think it mattered. Either way, any good they could have accomplished here was over and done with.

At this point, the best Miranelis could hope for was to survive it themselves.

And at this point, with Miranelis’s best chance at saving their people coming to the room in front of them, they weren’t sure they wanted to survive it. After all, hadn’t they agreed to this so that they could help their people?

“Hang him up and gut him,” Kezul ordered, his voice dark and thrumming like the first tremors of an earthquake. “Leave him on display here in front of his house. Him and all his family.”

The servant tried to run. One of the Wolves caught him by the arm, flung him viciously to the ground, and kicked him in the stomach. The servant curled into a quivering ball. When he looked up again, he was staring at the tip of the Wolf’s sword. He didn’t try to move again.

When Miranelis looked back on this moment later, they wouldn’t know where they had found the courage to speak. They didn’t even have it in them to try to run like the servant—their limbs felt as if they had turned to water. They were surprised they were still standing, with a liquid spine balanced on top of liquid legs. But somehow, they heard their own voice, sharp and clear. “You can’t do this.”

Kezul turned to him abruptly—him and all his Wolves. His eyes burned with an anger deeper than Miranelis had ever seen in him before. Anger and—fear?

“I can do whatever I please,” said Kezul, in that same terrifying voice. “This is my country now, and its people are mine to rule as I see fit. You do not give the orders here.”

“But the stakes—everything we talked about—you know what he can offer you—” Why was Miranelis bothering? It didn’t matter. This plan had never been never going to work. They didn’t know how they had fooled themselves into thinking otherwise. Well, yes, they did—they had talked themselves into it because they, deep down, didn’t want to make a principled stand. They wanted to live. They had wanted to believe, against all logic, that the selfish choice was also the noble one. That they could save their people.

They had chosen the wrong side. They had chosen the conquerors who had killed their queen, who had caused Havedrial’s death, who had made the halls of the palace run red with blood. They had known from the start what Kezul and his Wolves had done—they had been the one to scrub the blood from the floor.

Now there would be more blood. Because of Miranelis. Because Miranelis had led them here. And the rest of Danelor would still starve.

Perajeon was talking again, even with the sword to his throat. “What were you thinking, bringing him here? Are you a traitor, or simply a coward?”

“Only a coward,” Miranelis whispered miserably. It was what they had always been. They spoke so quietly they didn’t think anyone heard.

The Wolves dragged Perajeon to one of the trees with the white leaves, and bound his wrists to an overhanging branch with his own sash. The man looked like he had a lot more to say, but it seemed he had finally figured out it made more sense not to say it. That might have had something to do with the fact that he also looked like if he opened his mouth, he might well vomit on the ground. His eyes were locked on the dark metal of the Wolves’ swords.

With him secured in place, the Wolves pushed into his house, hurrying past the servant curled miserably on the grass. A moment later, they came out with bloody swords—so much for the house guards—and prodding the rest of the household ahead of them. Two more servants, a round-faced woman who had to be Perajeon’s wife, and their two children. One of the children was about the age Miranelis had been when they had taken the palace service exam. The other was too young to have lost the last of her baby roundness.

The older child marched along white-faced, hands clenched at his sides, plainly dreaming dreams of vengeance. The younger stumbled behind with tear-streaked cheeks, making small noises of fear that made her mother wince as if each were a physical blow.

When Miranelis saw the children, they thought they might throw up. They were grateful they hadn’t eaten in hours, although from the roiling in their stomach, they weren’t sure it would matter. Miranelis had done this. Miranelis had brought the Wolves to them. Because Miranelis had wanted to live.

Miranelis could dress it up however they liked. They could talk about how they had wanted to save Danelor from starvation. In the end, they had wanted to live. And Kezul had given them a way to justify their own survival to themselves.

“If you do this,” Miranelis said desperately, trying to catch Kezul’s eye, “no one in Danelor will ever sit down at the table with you again. In Danelor or outside of it. The people will turn against you, and the more than you kill, the fewer there will be to grow the next harvest. Faraille will have the excuse they need to tear up their treaty. The only option you’ll have left is more blood and death and fire.”

In their talks over the past few weeks, Miranelis had come into believe—or at least hope—that Kezul truly didn’t want that. But Kezul didn’t look at them now. So maybe they had always been wrong. Maybe they had only ever seen what they had wanted to see—the excuse they needed to save their own skin.

“They’re children.” The words burst from Miranelis’s throat, even though they knew he was pointless to speak. What was the use in expecting human feeling from the son of Vorhullin the Unmaker?

One of the Wolves cuffed Miranelis viciously upside the head. Miranelis’s ears rang. “Quiet,” the Wolf growled. “Unless you want to join them.”

That made Kezul look over at them, his eyes still burning. “I thought I made it clear my prisoner wasn’t to be harmed.”

“Your prisoner has said too much already.” There was something underneath the Wolf’s words, something Miranelis didn’t understand but Kezul clearly did.

Perajeon shouted and raged and cursed. Miranelis hadn’t taught Kezul any of those words, but they were certain he understood—some things needed no translation. Kezul motioned to one of the Wolves. The Wolf took a position in front of Perajeon. He wiped his sword clean, sheathed it, and took his knife into his hand instead.

Perajeon’s furious tirade turned into broken, angry sobs. He stared at the weapon. He stared at his family, who all had tears of their own streaming down their faces.

“If you don’t care about the children,” Miranelis said, “then remember why you’re doing this. There’s a reason you asked for my help. It would have been easier to kill me. But you convinced me to work with you instead. You didn’t go to all that trouble just throw away this chance.”

Their words were meaningless. There was no chance, not anymore. Perajeon would never work with Kezul now, would never trust their conquerors—and why should he? Miranelis had been a fool to trust them. A fool to believe, even for a second, Kezul might have their best interests at heart.

The Wolf raised his knife.

“Wait.” Kezul’s voice was a crack of thunder.

The Wolf froze. The man’s babble cut off. Even the children paused in their sobbing.

Kezul stepped between the Wolf and Perajeon. He took hold of Perajeon’s chin. “I hear you have diplomatic resources,” he said. “Is that true?” Or at least, that was what Miranelis assumed he had meant to say. His pronunciation was atrocious, the word he used for resources was more properly applied to food rations, and he had put the words all out of order.

But Perajeon seemed to understand enough to get the impression. “What does it matter?” he spat. “I won’t offer anything of mine to you except this.” With that, spit in Kezul’s face.

Kezul froze. Slowly, as the Wolves gripped their weapons tighter, he wiped the spittle from his face.

“What would make you reconsider?” he asked. Miranelis didn’t know which surprised them more—that he had understood what Perajeon had said well enough to respond, that he had used the proper word for reconsider, or that the man had spit in his face and Kezul hadn’t slit his throat on the spot.

Perajeon lifted his chin, wrenching it from Kezul’s grip. “I won’t respond to threats.” His reddened eyes were wild. Apparently he had decided that if he and everyone he loved was going to die anyway, and there was nothing he could do about it, he might as well thoroughly earn his death.

“I’m not threatening.” Kezul stood, hands at his sides, and regarded the man with those dark, burning eyes. “What price would make you reconsider?”

For a moment, the man just stared at him. So did the Wolves. So did his family members, who looked like they didn’t understand a word of what was happening. Miranelis couldn’t blame them. What must the man be thinking? He was tied to a tree, inches from having his guts spilled on the ground, and now Kezul was saying he wasn’t making threats?

Finally, Perajeon graced him with a savage smile. “An end to your rule. Remove your army from the Danelor and put one of our own back on the throne. Leave this place and never come back. That is my price.” He spat again—on the ground this time.

“That, as you know, is not an option. The conquest is over and done with.” Kezul’s response indicated that he had understood at least most of that—another surprise. A greater surprise was the fact that Kezul still didn’t gut the man, or order his Wolves to finish this. “Given that, I ask you again—what is your price?”

It took Perajeon a long moment to speak. “My family’s freedom.” His voice shook. He was clearly reluctant to speak the words aloud, obviously afraid Kezul would laugh in his face and tell him this was a game he had invented to entertain his Wolves. Miranelis wasn’t so sure that wasn’t the case. It wouldn’t be the first time Kezul had played this kind of game. Miranelis still had the scars.

“And?” Kezul asked.

The man blinked at him. “I don’t understand.”

“You said you don’t respond to threats,” Kezul said. “And threatening is a poor way to open a negotiation, I’m told. I have behaved… rashly. I wish to begin again. To have a real negotiation, and not promises extracted at the point of a blade. Considering that, take your family’s survival as a given. If we were sitting at a negotiation table, if your family’s life were not on the line, what would you ask for?”

Perajeon gave a short, harsh laugh. “You destroyed our countryside, burned our crops. You held a blade to my children’s throats. I’m hanging here in front of you, waiting to die. And I’m supposed to believe you’ve… changed your mind?”

Kezul jerked a hand toward the Wolves holding Perajeon’s family and the servants at swordpoint. “Let them go,” he ordered in his own language.

They looked at him. Then they looked at Miranelis. There was something in that look. That same something that they had sensed earlier. It was an undercurrent running through this entire chaotic exchange, a thrumming note of tension vibrating underneath the fury and terror that permeated the air. Miranelis might not have sensed it at all—it was a subtle thing, and there was little room here for subtlety—if not for the fact that it always seemed strongest when someone was looking at them.

“Let them go,” Kezul repeated. This time, his voice was a crack of thunder, loud enough and deep enough to make his Wolves step back involuntarily. “I won’t ask again. Or do you need a reminder of what happens to those who displease a son of the Unmaker?” He gave the man’s bindings a pointed look. “This man will not die here today. But that doesn’t mean no one will.”

The Wolves’ hands shifted on their weapons. For one brief, confusing moment, they looked as if they might turn those swords on Kezul. But then they lowered the weapons and stepped back. They waved the woman and children, and the two servants, toward the back garden.

None of them needed to be asked twice. The woman took the children’s hands and pulled them away with her, with one last glance toward her husband. The servants quickly followed. The servant on the ground, encouraged by a kick from one of the Wolves, crawled the first few steps, then got up and managed a hobbling jog.

Kezul reached up and undid Perajeon’s bindings. “Well? Is that enough of a show of good faith for you?”

The man, for once, had nothing to say. He stared at Kezul like he didn’t recognize him anymore, like he was trying to figure out who this man was. Miranelis felt much the same.

“What is your price?” Kezul asked.

Perajeon glanced over his shoulder toward where the rest of his household had disappeared, as if he was considering joining them.

“Go, if that is your choice,” said Kezul. “I won’t harm you. But if you go now, you lose your chance at whatever you might have asked of me.”

The man looked toward the waiting Wolves. With a gesture of his hand, Kezul called the Wolves back to him. It did not escape Miranelis’s notice that the Wolves were slower than usual to respond to his direction.

“I want nothing from you,” Perajeon spat, finding room for a last bit of defiance.

“Is that true?” Kezul asked. “Are the people in your valley that well off after the war? Do they truly want for nothing?”

“And whose fault is it that they want for so much? Can you give back the crops your armies burned? The houses? Can you raise the dead?”

“My father’s army,” Kezul said. “Not mine.”

“Is there a difference?”

“You tell me,” said Kezul. “Are you alive right now? Are your children? Is your home still standing? My father would have had no patience for this conversation.” His speech was slow and stilted, but surprisingly coherent. He really did have a mind for languages.

“I’m surprised you do.”

Kezul glanced at Miranelis. “Perhaps I’m growing used to your people. Whether that is good or bad is anyone’s guess.” He held Perajeon’s gaze until the man squirmed. “Now. Your price. Or are we finished?”

“Enough food to feed everyone in this valley for the next three years,” the man said, holding Kezul’s gaze steadily instead of looking away. “That’s how long it will take to begin to recover from your father’s army’s destruction.”

“And how much would that be?”

The man listed off amounts that made Miranelis’s eyebrows jerk to the sky and their chest tighten. It would have been impossible under normal circumstances. And right now, all of Danelor was starving.

“We don’t have that to give,” said Kezul. “But we can, with your help.”

Perajeon blinked. It looked as though he hadn’t expected to be taken seriously. “And in exchange?”

“Convince the other noble houses to work with me,” said Kezul. “I hear you have the combined resources to convince neighboring countries to work with us. Use them.”

“To work with you?” The man shook his head. “Our resources are not unlimited. We have many useful friendships, yes, under the blessing of our queen. But our queen is dead. Your blessing is… forgiving my bluntness…” He glanced at the Wolves’ swords. “Less of a recommendation.”

The Wolves, sensing an insult, began to step forward. Kezul waved them back.

“Without those resources, I cannot meet your price,” said Kezul, using the wrong word for resources again. “With them, perhaps I can. Will you try?”

“And what guarantee do I have that you will honor your word?” Perajeon asked.

“You’re alive,” said Kezul, “when it would have been simpler for me to kill you.” There was that undertone of subtle tension again, as Kezul looked to his Wolves and the Wolves looked back instead of dropping their gazes. “I need what you can offer. You need what I can offer. I cannot give my word, but I can say that if you make it possible for me to give you what you ask, then I will.”

“And if I say no?”

Miranelis held their breath.

“Then you may go.” With another wave of his hand, Kezul motioned to the Wolves back another two paces. They moved slowly, reluctantly. But they did move.

“I can also make no promises,” the man finally said. “But I will do my best.”

Kezul nodded to the man. “Then the next time you speak my name,” he said, “remember that I spared you. Remember that we both want this country and its people to live.” This time, the sharp wave of his hand was directed at Miranelis. “Mir, I think we’re done here,” he said, still in Miranelis’s language. “Let’s go.”

As Miranelis hurried to follow him, they felt Perajeon’s curious eyes on the back of their neck. Maybe Perajeon was wondering what he was doing with Kezul. Maybe he was simply confused at the name. The people of Danelor did not shorten their names.

They had the absurd impulse to call back over their shoulder, to say they hadn’t chosen it. But after all, it had been a long time since they had raised an objection to what Kezul chose to call them.

---

Tagged: @suspicious-whumping-egg @halloiambored @whump-in-the-closet @whump-cravings @sunshiline-writes @annablogsposts @whither-wander-whump @seaweed-is-cool @bloodinkandashes @sonder35 @cakeinthevoid

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#whump #whump writing #whump story #whump novel #my writing #my writing: Conquest #fantasy whump #royal whump #nonbinary whumpee

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rosalind-hawkins · 15 days

Note

A, E, and L for the fanfic ask game

Ask game link here if anyone else wants to send in an ask!

Apologizing ahead of time for me going on too long on the first one.

A: Of the fanfic you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?

This is really hard to answer because I've written a lot, and a lot of it is old and not good quality anymore. Even older stories I like a lot despite thinking they're bad.

My very first Mumbleshipping fic, just called "Mumbleshipping" and only existing on FFN, is one of my fics that I reread the most, not because it's good, but because the process of writing that story brought me so much happiness. I was learning a lot and used that fic as a sandbox for a lot of headcanons and scenarios and indulgent drama. It was pure fun.

My Joukai fic "Booty Call" is one that I love and reread a lot too. It's a story told out of order on purpose, and that's so fun to me, and I would love to read a story like that that I didn't write myself: snapshots of a relationship/conflict in many different stages, out of chronological order. I'm still mostly proud of that one.

And "Rock Bottom" is my favorite AU of course, though not my favorite fic. Season Zero needs to be completely rewritten, along with most of Season One and the waterfront duel in Season Two. But however bad and overdramatic the premise and the first fic is, this AU and these versions of the characters are so close to my heart. I've carried this AU with me for years, dedicated notebooks to it, charted out tournaments, created decks, WRITTEN ENTIRE DUELS IN DETAIL. And yeah, I skipped over Monster World the first time because I was intimidated, but I will go back and fix that eventually. This is my baby as much as it makes me cringe, and the day I stop loving it is the day I stop writing.

E: What character do you identify with most? Is there a certain fic of yours that captures these qualities particularly well?

Probably Ryou, especially when I had more anxiety issues since I've always headcanoned him as, but I project onto Kaiba a weird amount given how unalike we actually are. I don't know that there's a specific fic that best captures that, though in the Minorshipping fic Missing/Food of Love, I did go so far as to give him my eating disorder, which is a very early example of my Duke Devlin cooking headcanons, and the beginning of Duke becoming a comfort character for me.

L: Which of your fanfics was the most emotionally challenging to write?

Oof, that's a tricky one, because I write a lot of whump/angst, which is not easy for me as an empath, but I do specifically remember Desperate Measures being a rough one to write. It was inspired by a similarly dark Protectshipping/Tendershipping fic, except theirs was so dark that I actually had to stop reading it for the sake of my own mental health. The other difference is that my fic steals an NCIS episode plotline and adapts it to Yugioh characters, because I'm really weird like that.

#answered ask #ask game #thanks for asking!#sorry for the long answer #i will absolutely talk your ear off if you ask the right kind of question bc i was never allowed to talk about my interests to my family :/

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dragimal · 10 months

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Fave Long Fics

good ol' @arahir is asking for everyone's fave long fics, so here are mine!

sorry if the rambling is a bit long, I just want to express my love <3

🌟: denotes a fic that belongs in the literary equivalent of the Louvre-- a stunning piece of writing even outside of its contribution to the fandom

JJBA

🌟 scheherazade -- shylittleghost; Josuke/Okuyasu-centric, but multiple POVs; canon-compliant prequel/sequel to part 4, necessary to read/watch part 4 to understand

this is one of those fics that not only elevates the original work in several ways, but it's a stunning piece of writing as a whole. the flow and tone of the piece is so unique and difficult to describe, with a fitting balance between mystery/horror and deadpan humor, and uses the narrating voice to play with the 4th wall in a really fun and satisfying way. oh, and one of the last chapters is a little RPG game, adding a bit little multimedia twist <3

BEASTARS

🌟 Mongrels and Strays series (mainly Mongrels and Lockjaw)-- HassouToby; technically Mongrels' primary ships are Legosi/Haru and Louis/Juno, but it's more genfic with multiple POVs. Lockjaw is Pina/Riz-centric; canon divergence from ch 156 of the manga, so it's necessary to read at least that far to understand

I have a complicated love/hate relationship with Beastars, but this fic honestly retroactively makes Beastars a better experience, imo. it not only enhances the source material, but engages and challenges its implications in ways that I frankly think Beastars itself failed to, introducing a new final antagonist, new thematic tension, and new challenges for the main characters to face. more than anything though, Mongrels feels like what the end of Beastars should have been. this fic isn’t afraid to up the stakes and have actual consequences, making the central conflict feel like a real threat to both individual characters and society as a whole. this fic is intense and brutal, and it’s not afraid to make the characters you love hurt

Homestuck

🌟 Detective Pony -- sonnetstuck; Dirk-centric(??); it's an extension of a one-off joke in the comic, but it's not necessary to know HS to read it (but it's def more satisfying if you're at least familiar with the Alpha kids)

does this fic even need to be stated, for any HS fan? this is a classic of classics, the best rec any HS fan could give. a fic that starts off with a goofy joke from the original comic (a Pony Pals kid's book that Dirk has edited with silly commentary), which gradually snowballs into a much deeper story. a stunning piece of writing, I rank it among the best works of metafiction literature of all time. this fic does an incredible job of imitating Hussie's writing style (specifically Dirk's voice) and the multi-media presentation of HS, it almost feels like it popped straight out of the comic

Endangered -- Mortior; Dirk/Hal, Dirk-centric; robot-apocalypse AU, not necessary to know anything about HS

rly fun au, and one of my fave whump fics, for any whump fans out there. it's also one of my favorite depictions of an AI personality, like the approach to relationships and perceptions feels believable

The Magnus Archives

🌟 Two Ships Passing -- pyrites; Gerry Keay/Jon Sims-centric; a canon-divergent au starting before canon which slightly shifts the flow of the original story, so it's not strictly necessary to be familiar with TMA, but it helps

I must admit I never got around to finishing this one after it finished updating (😭), but trust me when I say this fic is stunning. some scenes still grip me 'round the throat to this day even just thinking about them. and the additional lore/background-building for certain characters is so so fitting and satisfying, it adds so much depth

To The Moon and Back series (main fic is Banned Book Week) -- verboseDescription; several different POVs, though BBB is Gerry/Tim-centric; the main fic diverges from canon after season 3, so I suppose knowledge up to that point is fine

another one I need to get around to finishing someday (idk why I dropped off a bunch of TMA fics specifically...), but this one introduces some interesting new character dynamics, and additional lore-building for many of the characters that adds fun new depth. also a few OCs whom I simply adore <3

What Belongs to the Sea -- TwoDrunkenCelestials, WhyNotFly; starts Elias/Jon, with Jon/Martin endgame, Jon-centric; "Jon is a selkie" au, and the fic implies/explains the rest of canon well enough to read without being familiar with TMA imo

this fic approaches canon worldbuilding from the direction of a different species, giving a unique new perspective on established truths of the setting. I also love the way Jon's character is so different, but still fundamentally the same kinda guy-- "fuck around and find out"-ass man lmao. not to mention Elias' fucked-up dynamic with Jon is ramped up here in a really delicious way, it rly puts their canon dynamic into perspective

Danny Phantom

🌟 Phantom of Truth / Shadow of a Doubt -- HaiJu; Danny Fenton & Maddie Fenton-centric; "what if" scenario divergence from an unspecific point in canon, would prolly be best to be familiar with the show but u can prolly get away with some wiki skimming

this one's a classic, and one of the big contributors to the "dissection/vivisection" genre of whump in the DP fandom, haha. it's such an intimate analysis of Danny's relationship with his mom, and it refuses to pull punches on Danny's situation and resulting trauma. I think it also does an excellent job challenging Maddie's perception/ethics in genuine and fundamental ways

Rise of the Guardians (movie)

🌟 Shadows and Light series -- not_poignant; Jack Frost/Pitch Black, Jack-centric; canon-compliant sequel to the movie (can't speak for book canon), u can prolly get away with reading a wiki summary if u don't wanna watch the movie

one of my fave fics for a decade now, I absolutely LOVE what this fic does for ROTG worldbuilding. so much thought is put into the politics of the fae community, and how magic functions both practically and thematically. and it introduces a ton of cool fae ocs, many of which now have their own stories, as the author has used their fae world here in other original stories as well (would also recommend!!). and the relationship between Pitch/Jack is excellent of course, with a lot of interesting BDSM elements to their dynamic (a common trend in this author's other writing as well)

Mob Psycho 100

🌟 A Breach of Trust -- Phantomrose96; Ritsu, Mob, & Reigen-centric, but multiple other POVs as well; diverges from canon before the start of the canon story, so knowing MP100 isn't necessary

this is a really fun "what if Reigen and Mob didn't meet when they were supposed to?" canon-divergent au. it pushes basically every character to their worst, most self-destructive ends, and it makes me want to throttle some of them (affectionate <3). the fic isn't done yet (as of posting this), but it promises to end satisfyingly-- it just has to put everyone through the wringer first lmao

Welcome to Night Vale

🌟 run, run, fast as you-- -- (orphaned); Cecil/Carlos, Carlos-centric; compliant with early NV lore, mostly diverges in some of Carlos' background and motivations moving to Night Vale. familiarity with s1 would be useful, but not strictly necessary

really really stunning fic, I love the additional lore-building for Carlos and Cecil here, so much is added to their characters. since this is such an old fic, some of the lore here ends up being retroactively false, as the podcast introduced different lore later on. but I almost wish some of the lore here was canon b/c it's just that good (like Cecil's whole thing with the orphanage, and how the orphanage even functions OUGH!)

The Devil Went Down To Georgia (you heard that right, the country song)

🌟 The Devil Went Down to Georgia (And Then Went Down on Johnny) series -- notbecauseofvictories; Johnny/The Devil, Johnny-centric; I guess a modern take on canon, kinda treated like an original story tbh, but like. you can also just listen to the song beforehand

the author clearly has a deep knowledge and passion for music-- especially country music-- and it rly shines through in this fic. the celebration of music and community and country culture here is just. idk, it's like being invited to the table, somehow, I love it. this whole fic is poetry and it makes me ache

Portal

Blue Sky -- wafflestories; Wheatley/Chell-centric; canon-compliant sequel to the second game, necessary to know the games to understand

I must admit it's been several years since I've read this one, so my memory of it isn't quite as strong. but I remember it being a very loving rehabilitation of Wheatley and Chell's relationship, and I believe it's considered a classic by the ship's fans.

How To Train Your Dragon (movie)

I Hear Him Scream -- Rift-Raft; Toothless & Hiccup-centric; diverges from canon at the point when Hiccup downs Toothless with the net at the beginning of the movie, so watching the movie isn't super necessary, tho I imagine most of us have seen it (as we should!!)

I don't know that I would call this one particularly well-written-- it can get kinda awkward and jarring at points, and the end of the story kinda goes off the rails for me. but the premise and worldbuilding make up for it, imo. but I admit I love xenofiction, so I love seeing the deep lore about dragon culture/society this fic presents

Kekkai Sensen

Fleißiger Junge -- TheLennyBunny; Klaus/Leo, Leo-centric; demon/angel au, not necessary to know KKSS

I really love the demon/angel worldbuilding in this one, with a delicious twist of horror that's so fitting to canon /chef's kiss/. and the way Leo's family is characterized (with several OC characters) is so so fun and charming. good eating for the starving Klaus/Leo fans out there 😭

RWBY

🌟 Teaching Qrow -- ByronNightshade; Qrow-centric; a canon-compliant prequel to the canon story, a bit of knowledge about the setting and Qrow's backstory are kinda necessary

I fucking love what this fic does for Qrow's character, it treats him with way more nuance and understanding than canon ever has (tho tbf, most Qrow fans do, lol). and all the additional OCs and building on the subtle implications of RWBY lore... AUGH it's good

My Hero Academia

Hero Class Civil Warfare -- RogueDruid; genfic with multiple POVs; "what if" scenario divergence from an unspecific point in canon, prolly necessary to at least be familiar with the world/characters to a point

really fun "what if this class exercise got got a bit too intense, haha~" au. it introduces a ton of fun new dynamics between the characters, and lets Izuku shine as a badass, chessmaster "villain"

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint

Imaginary Truths -- Mythril; Kim Dokja/Yoo Joonghyuk-centric; actor au, not necessary to know ORV

this fic does an excellent job translating the canon relationships/dynamics to this setting, and keeps the core of the story/themes intact in rly interesting ways.

new game (+) -- illusionedwhite; Kim Dokja/Yoo Joonghyuk, Yoo Joonghyuk-centric; role-reversal au, and since it starts from the beginning where where canon would have started, I guess it's not technically necessary to read ORV first? but ORV provides more context

this fic is rly careful about the particular way Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk switch roles-- it's very much about their story roles. their core characters/themes remain intact, they're just interpreted through a new lens here. this is for the fans that read ORV and thought, "what if I want to read ORV again, but slightly to the left?"

Genshin Impact

🌟 Begin Anew, O Lost Child -- DarthPeezy; Childe/Zhongli/Guizhong, Childe-centric; a time-travel au that diverges from canon at the battle with Osial in the Liyue chapter, so familiarity up to that point is necessary

there's something about circularity and connection, here. about reaching across expanses of time to connect with those you love, and those you lost. about the horror of fate, and the hope for a future in spite of it. idk, this fic did something to me

we were lovers -- ThirteenSocks; Kazuha/his unnamed friend, Kazuha-centric; "Kazuha loses his vision" au, with a few twists. this fic doesn't really touch canon involving the traveler, but familiarity with Inazuma is necessary, so at least up through that chapter in-game.

what else can I say except this fic is beautiful-- it has the same melodic quality that I associate with Kazuha himself, so it feels perfectly appropriate.

To Be or Not To Be (Human With You) -- lilbittofmatcha; Aether/Scaramouche, Aether-centric; diverges after the end of the whole Sumeru chapter, familiarity up to that point is necessary

I really really love Traveler fics that acknowledge that the Traveler is essentially an otherworldy alien being, and was perhaps even godlike(??) before landing in Teyvat. I especially love Aether's characterization here, and the obvious comparisons to be made with Scara's situation

Sinking Ships in Liyue Harbor -- whereherbonesareburied; Diluc/Kaeya, Diluc-centric; a "what if Kaeya left" divergence from canon sometime after the events of the Mondstadt chapter. it's necessary to be familiar with Kaeya and Diluc's relationship, so reading up on their lore is best, though familiarity up through the Liyue chapter will help with this one

something about the pacing and framing of this fic really charms me. like, Diluc's journey to find Kaeya is kinda framed as a series meetings with several new people, like snapshots from a photo album? it's fun to see so many different, brief impressions of characters through his eyes

Osomatsu-san

Dissociation Disease -- PyrrhicFiend; Karamatsu-centric; technically features multiple AUs, but the core story is show canon. not strictly necessary to be familiar with the show

a fic I never ended up finishing (someday..), but I remember it being incredibly trippy and bizarre in the best of ways. though it may not be the best fic to read dealing with dissociation themself, because it grapples a lot with warped perception and hallucinations

🌟 Frater, Ave Atque Vale -- (orphaned); Karamatsu/Osomatsu, Osomatsu-centric; fantasy AU, not necessary to know the show

this one's perhaps on the razor's edge of not being long enough for this list, but I'm counting it anyways. there's something about 'brief' writing styles that often captures me, like parsing a scene down to its bare essentials makes the tone/emotion land more powerfully. this fic is probably my favorite example of this style

Voltron: VLD

The Rites of Courtship -- calibratingentropy; Keith/Thace, Keith-centric; canon-divergence from the end of s1 ep12, and it's kinda necessary to be familiar at least to that point, though u might be able to skim the wiki

a rarepair I never woulda considered if a friend hadn't recced this fic to me way back, haha. this fic features some of my favorite alien worldbuilding, with a lot of thought and care put into Galran culture and biology, I think about it a lot as a specevo creator myself

The Favored Champion -- sugarapplesweet; Sendak/Shiro, Shiro-centric; canon-divergence before canon, while Shiro is still a coliseum fighter

real fucked-up Stockholm Syndrome abusive relationship, Shiro goes thru the wringer </3. I love the way the relationship with the Lions is depicted here too, the chapter where Shiro basically screams at the Black Lion grips me by the throat. another great example of cool Galra worldbuilding too, not as heavy on the bio side as the last one but fun to see either way!

Tokyo Mew Mew

The Deal -- RizuOnceAgain; Ichigo/Quiche, Ichigo-centric; canon-divergent from an unspecified(?) point in canon, and I um. I've never watched TMM and know very little beyond TMM's basic premise and main characters? so take that as you will

I don't often read fics from things I'm not familiar with, but I trust my friend's recs with my life, and this one did not disappoint. I can't speak on how faithful it is to the original, but Ichigo/Quiche's dynamic here makes me go crazy nutso bonkers!! it has me banging on the walls and chewing furniture, oh my god!! it almost makes me wanna watch the show even tho I know I won't like it nearly as much as this fic 😭.

#there are still a few fics I can't in good faith rec here simply b/c of the source material #sigh. they still live in me heart tho. and my AO3 <3 #shut up ashley #I may end up updating this as I please #fic recs

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