#every chapter i write is another layer to the mystery of the story

[m1ckeyb3rry]

i can’t stop thinking about hurricanes / hummingbirds i can’t stop updating it i literally forgot i have other wips because kashimo and Y/N have taken over my mind

#i was thinking to myself ‘wow it’s so nice to only have one wip rn’ #pomegranate ink icoamd SitH rn: 🤨😒 #but like h / h is different idk how to put it #there’s just so much happening and so many plot twists and reveals to come #every chapter i write is another layer to the mystery of the story #also it’s not even unhappy but there’s just a layer of like. impending doom surrounding the fic #like you know everything is going to end so tragically for the characters #IDK I JUST LOVE KASHIMO AND Y/N SO MUCH #the tension between them…unbelievable #sorry to the readers of my other stories i promise they’re (probably) not abandoned #in the meantime read h / h ik it’s for such random character (hence the like two readers it has) #but it’s seriously one of the best stories i’ve written i think #hurricanes / hummingbirds #m’s thoughts

[annawayne]

TOP 10 favourite AA fanfics?

Hello!

Thank you for asking me too, since I saw the answers from the dear comrades in AA fandom, and I'm very touched you also asked me. Thank you!

As for TOP, it's going to be my subjective taste and, sorry, more than 10, so without further do, in no particular order:

The whole AruAni in Fort Salta, with the leading role of Village By The End of The World by @moonspirit. The true treasure for the AruAni fandom, but, in my opinion, even for the whole AoT fandom as an incredible and impressive post-canon tale.

Phenomenally written with complex, layered narration and excellent character analysis and exploration of various topics - outside and inside, past and present, and the sheer beauty of human lives with all the struggles, traumas and nightmares, tangled with the incredible moments of mundane and peaceful life. This story makes you love this life and see the beauty in the smallest of things - both the characters and the readers.

(but honestly, read all Moon's works)

Black Water and the whole collection by @distortedclouds

A very precise dive into Annie's (and Armin's) relationships through the lens of the family - Annie's father and the one Armin and Annie try to build on their own. It's a fresh and solid exploration with a fantastic character analysis without any restrictions - raw and honest, in all glory. Fantastic style, impressive depths, and a story that leaves a huge impact.

Little Bird by @aquietjune is, perhaps, one of the best Annie-centric fics ever written with a unique post-canon setting and a very sharp, in the most wonderful ways, writing style, that immediately steals you away from this world, and you're caught hostage by June's imagination and mysteries.

Legends by @mimiwrites2000 is an impressive, emotional rollercoaster of canon-divergence with heart-wrenching twists and a beautiful writing style that makes you feel longing for something that you don't even know a name. I would describe this fic as "bittersweet nostalgia".

(just like with Clouds and Moon, go and read everything, honestly)

By Each Crime and Kindness (I'm bound to you) by @aruanimess, in my opinion, is one of the best Cadets AruAni stories I've ever read - the story holds the tense melancholy of the canon with the bittersweet moments of adolescence which was forced to live and to love in their cruel world. But the world is also beautiful, and, I suppose, this is exactly what this story is about.

on the path that led me to you by @the-last-thread-of-my-sanity is another perfect example of one of the best Cadest AruAni fics, in my opinion. Very honest, and fragile, just like the first love and the first leaves in the spring, story, that, however, holds a very deep analysis of AruAni moments during their time as Cadets - and what lies beneath the surface.

The Difference Between Us by @/BreakingSanity - maybe, the most unique AruAni fic ever written. I mean, where else would you find Human!Annie and... Tiny!Annie 4 inches tall romance with unique, complex story-building and universe, plot twists and a lot, a lot of emotions? The story hooked you just from the very first chapter.

Wait By The Ocean by @/SirCookieton is absolutely stellar exploration of the grief and denial, love and hope, that is already doomed from the start, but the sheer longing, the raw emotions that etched every word through the course of the story, leave huge scars in your heart as a reminder that, sometimes, the most difficult part is accepting the inevitable.

Nothing Sweeter Than You, A Perfect Love by @dude-why-3 are my personal favourites and the stories that are very dear to my heart. This is a magical tale of star-crossed lovers in a Romanian village, set in the 1950's, and these stories are a wonderful example of how to write romance stories in general. But let me also mention Who painted the sky? - a story that granted me an experience I never had, but it's so well-written, that it feels like I experienced something like this. It feels like a memory from a summer.

A Force To Be Reckoned by @luciensdefenseattorney a solid historical AU, with mysteries, tension and great background stories! And as for the similar vibe, I would also mention The Viscount and His Silent Ballerina by @/cherriesinmoonlight

These City Lights by @annieleonhardt was one of the first AruAni fics I ever read, and it's still one of my favourites, even if it's not finished. Silent movie director Armin and silent movie actress Annie, set in the early 1920's? Yes, please.

Tater Tots & Heavy Thoughts by Anonymous is still one of the most honest, of the most delicate stories I've ever read, written with a lot of care, attention and love for the details. This story had a huge impact on me, and it still has, so if you want to dive into a fantastic character study through the perspective of some very heavy topics which are explored with a lot of care - this story is exactly for this.

Coveted by @/honeyriot is a majestically written exploration of intimacy and how two ruined souls find solace in each other embrace. 11 chapters of sensuality, honesty, bravery and vulnerability.

On freer seas by @/astralcrow is a very solid Pirate AU, with incredible and stunning world-building, great character analysis and development, and the tension that don't leave you several weeks after you finish this mind-blowing story.

And, some incredible oneshots I really liked a lot:

Tangerine Skies and Muffled Cries by @midnightraine131

A River, An Ocean by @yourmaejesty

Dawn by @/aikrm

okay by @lunamoon1233

Deep Cuts by @dude-why-3

A glimpse of us. by @/Decoii

invisible strings by @diam-etrical

If our love is tragedy why are you my remedy? by @aruxani

But let me summarize that eveyone who creates in AA fandom is incredible, and I'm forever grateful for all the content we have in fandom.

You all are wonderful and thank you a lot!

#aruani #aruani fanfiction #aruani fanfic #aruani fic #arminarlert #annie leonhardt #annie leonhart #armin x annie #answered ask #ask

[number1morihater]

I have found the inspiration within me to pursue in writing fanfictions so have a drabble ;)

Dazai x reader I guess

No warnings

Fluff ofc

————————————

Serendipity

You never expected your ordinary day at the Armed Detective Agency to take such a turn when Dazai walked into the room, a mischievous glint in his eyes. As he approached you, his usual aura of mystery and charm enveloped you, leaving you unable to tear your gaze away.

"Dazai, what brings you here today?" you inquired, trying to keep your voice steady despite the fluttering in your chest.

"Ah, just thought I'd drop by to see how my favorite colleague is doing," he replied with a playful grin, his words dripping with effortless charisma.(kicking my feet rn)

Little did you know, this encounter would mark the beginning of a series of unexpected adventures and heart-fluttering moments shared with the enigmatic Dazai. From solving cases together to late-night conversations filled with laughter and secrets, you found yourself drawn to him in ways you couldn't quite comprehend.

As your bond deepened, you discovered layers to Dazai beyond his facade of nonchalance – vulnerabilities he only showed to you, making you feel special and cherished in his presence.

Yet, amidst the chaos and danger that surrounded your lives as detectives, you found solace in each other's company, each moment spent together adding another chapter to your intertwined story.

In the end, you realized that fate had brought you together, and despite the uncertainties of the future, you were grateful for every stolen moment of serendipity shared with the suicidal brunette.

Kicking my feet giggling like a schoolgirl rn I feel so chair I am so chair I am happy Samsung refrigerator

#bsd #bungou stray dogs #dazai bsd #armed detective agency #bsd anime #bsd chuuya #bungo stray dogs dazai #bsd x reader #dazai x reader

[jumpstreamer]

MASK MONDAYS: EPISODE 1

I have a habit of getting caught up in consuming content on social media rather than producing it, so as challenge to myself, every Monday I will be making a post examining a different headgear-adorned fictional character. Hopefully, this exercise will help spread awareness of the nuance that masks, helmets, and similar accessories provide to a story's characterization and themes, but are also that they are extremely hot.

I want to be lazy starting out, so the character we're examining this week is the Violence Fiend, a deuteragonist from part 1 of Chainsaw Man (spoilers, obviously). Don't expect any allusions to philosophical treatises or peer-reviewed articles for this one. He's pretty simple.

We're introduced to Violence in Chainsaw Man chapter 34, and on even the very first panel we hear his name, he's already adding nuance to how masks rhetorically function. It's easy to assume that the mask, symbolically, represents a mystery: This character's face is obscured, therefore something about it is worth seeing. Not so in the case of Violence. His introduction definitively states not only why he wears the mask, but also that his identity is defined by the item, not what's underneath.

Violence's maskless design is cool, but he's not a character we know about or who is vital to the plot. Instead, his big "face reveal" happens upon his introduction: You assume he's just another human, but then he turns around, and is retroactively defined by the MASK. The morbid imagery evoked by the stylized plague doctor mask is obvious, but there is a second layer beneath the surface. Namely, instead protecting him from disease (plague doctor masks didn't exactly work, but that's besides the point), Violence's mask inflicts it upon him, preventing him from functioning at full capacity. One might expect the guy to be pretty cheesed about that, especially considering how all the other fiends have acted so far. But in another subversion, he's totally chill! Having one of the kindest characters in the manga be the living personification of interpersonal harm is nothing short of charming, and ties in with CSM's greater message about the importance of social relationships and understanding.

Speaking of, while Violence is cool on his own, his primary role is to further Kobeni's personal arc, and honestly, good for her. It's easy to write CSM off as a nihilistic manga about how all everything ends in suffering and that all resistance will only foster pain. Even more nuanced interpretations often fall into the trap of labeling it absurdist or Camus-inspired, but that's hardly true! One of Chainsaw Man's most powerful messages is that despite the reality of suffering, happiness CAN exist, and pursuing it is the source of true meaning. Even Kobeni, after spending the first half of the manga in constant suffering, hits it off with Violence during the Reze arc and is implied to have entered a relationship with him by the time of International Assassins. As a side note, check out Kobeni's reactions to getting ice cream during both of her famous "dates:"

If Kobeni, Fujimoto argues, can survive in an unjust world by forming equal relationships with others, then the reader can do it, too. Violence, in turn, has made a conscious choice to overcome his status as a harbinger of pain and death, instead choosing to pursue a greater meaning that he ultimately dies for. His mask may define the identity thrust upon him, but it has no bearing on his soul.

Lastly, from an aesthetic standpoint, boys in hoodies are great. There's a lot of talk on this website about how great casually-dressed women are (and I wholeheartedly approve), but anyone can pull off the look, and the "mask inside a hoodie inside a suit" aesthetic is one of the most unique fits CSM has. I could see myself walking around like this save for the fact I'd get kicked out of every convenience store on sight.

Anyway, that's it for this week. There's a lot more on Violence to be said (his fight with Reze's a highlight), but this post is getting pretty long already. Tune in next week for Samus or Undyne or Gabriel Ultrakill or whatever else crosses my mind. Hope you have a good one!

#Chainsaw Man #chainsaw man spoilers #manga #mask mondays #violence fiend #long post

[alls-fair-in-pride-and-prejudice]

Interlude - Friendly Advice

Part 5 of Weaving Constellations, a Gale x Tav fic, continued from here

(A/N: This one is a bit longer, and Gale isn't even in this chapter! I figured that almost all the companions would clock that something is weird about Lyra dating her patron, so they're all going to be curious. Please please please ask me about the significance of what they all bring up to her/take note of it yourself! It is important and I was super proud of it. Also this was quite the exercise in writing different character voices - each character has a distinct way of speaking after all. I hope I did them all justice!)

“Well at least I know why you turned me down. Even a perfect mortal body cannot compare to the sordid delights of the fey, I hear,” Astarion needles Lyra later in the evening, “I do hope you will regale me with the dirty details. I’ve always wondered what sex with an archfey is like.”

Lyra scrunches up her face as if to fight off the rising heat in her cheeks. “I honestly cannot tell if you’re being sincere or not.” She smirks in challenge, “If you’re just trying to get a rise out of me, I could tell you some stories that might even make you speechless.”

“Me? Insincere?” Astarion puts on an exaggerated affect of astonishment. “I have no idea where you would have gotten the idea.” There’s a moment where he seems to be calculating his next words in his head. “I am wondering though… is the whole contract thing part of the kink? The possessive ‘no one can touch you but me’ sort of dynamic they write about in those cheap smut novels? I’ve never seen the appeal, personally.”

“Our romantic relationship isn’t part of the contract at all. I’m not bound to him that way.”

There’s the slightest bit of relaxation in the curve of Astarion’s mouth, which quickly turns into a sly smirk. “So you’re saying you’re available? You’ve wounded me with your rejection all over again.”

“I don’t need a contract to stay loyal to my lover,” Lyra smiles in return, sliding back into their easy banter. “You’re not nearly as tempting as you think you are.”

Astarion laughs, “I will have you know I am a consummate lover. It’s a shame you had to miss out, darling.”

Lyra laughs and shakes her head. “Keep talking like that and I won’t share the wine I snagged from that abandoned apothecary.”

“Alright alright, you have silenced my silver tongue. Give it here, and I was serious. I want all the details.”

The next day, Lyra’s magic has returned. She can feel it, but Midnight is still silent, perhaps another layer to her punishment. She focuses her energies into getting out of camp and exploring -  they have just taken out some phase spiders when Wyll mentions off-handed: “You know, Lyra, your magic really does look different from mine; it stands out in the low light here. I’ve been curious how fey pacts differ from fiends. Perhaps you’d share what details you are permitted?”

That evening Lyra summons her copy of the pact with Wyll. He seems rather surprised that she has one available, and scans through it with a careful eye. “I have not had many opportunities to look over my own contract, but even I can tell the legal language is quite different. Where fiends seek to close every available loophole in strenuous detail, archfey, or yours at least, are annoyingly vague. It could serve as a boon just as easily as a hidden dagger.”

Lyra laughs. “Oh, he talks like that, too. I can never be entirely sure what he’s saying half the time. There is a comfort that he never lies, but I’ve never been able to keep up with him.”

“Is that not difficult? Perhaps I’m an old-fashioned romantic, but there has always been something about truly understanding your partner that has appealed to me. The love that blossoms from that depth of seeing each other at your best and worst.”

Lyra’s smile is strained just slightly. “There’s beauty in mystery, too. And… I cannot truly fault him when I have never been skilled at reading people. We’re very different, and that’s the beauty of it.”

Wyll purses his lips and tilts his head, as if giving Lyra that point. “Regardless, should you ever need to leave this pact, I do believe I could help.”

She shakes her head. “I appreciate it Wyll, but it’s not like that.”

He holds his hands up. “I know, I know, but I would be remiss if I did not offer my aid, just in case.”

“Hey, Twinkles, what are the Fey Wilds like?” Karlach asks as they trudge through the mud of the swamp, avoiding redcaps who seem to think they are sheep. “Much as I appreciate the change in scenery from Avernus… they’ve got to be better than this.”

“I’m sure it is. I’ve certainly read of the wonders of the fey wilds… but I’ve never actually been.” Lyra responds, hopping over a rotten log.

“What? You’re dating an archfey and you’ve never been to the fey wilds? What’s up with that?” 

“Well, Midnight came to me on my plane. I’ve certainly wanted to, but it’s… never been the right time.”

“I mean, the Fey Wilds aren’t really friendly to mortals. I’d understand if you’d rather avoid it. Think your fey lover will move to the Sword Coast for you?”

Lyra scoffs. “Certainly not. He’d hate it here. Long term is… difficult to think about, what with him being immortal, but time flows differently for the fey. Hopefully he’ll bring me over before I lose my youthful good looks.”

Karlach pulls Lyra in for a sideways hug. “Come on, after this is all over, I’ll take you to see your boyfriend. I get to see the wonders of the universe, you get to have a little visit, and then I bring you back safe and sound to Sword Coast soil! Win-win!”

“We would have to find a portal first.”

“Just no deals with a hag. We’ve had enough of that lot.”

Lyra is reading at camp when a blade is tossed at her feet. “I wish to spar, ready your stance,” Lae’zel commands, standing above her.

“I’m not really the weapons type…” Lyra hedges, leaving the blade on the ground for now. Sure, she’ll use a crossbow or her staff in a pinch, but she much prefers her magic.

“That is precisely why you must train. Pick it up.”

Her tone brokers no argument, so Lyra marks her page and picks up the sword. “I’ll make a terrible sparring partner. Wouldn’t you rather go to Karlach?”

“To instruct is to sharpen one’s own knowledge. Widen your stance.”

Lyra does as asked, and Lae’zel kicks her legs to adjust her position further. “And… why me?”

“Wyll has honed his skills with a blade, despite the pact he holds, because he knows he must be able to rely on his own strength. Chk, you have left your left flank completely exposed, ready your blade at the defensive.”

“So this is because I’m a warlock,” Lyra guesses. Or perhaps because she went without her powers for a day. She hates that Lae’zel is right. She was useless until her punishment was up. “Just because I’m not athletic, it doesn’t mean I’m weak.”

Lae’zel tests Lyra’s blocking. “On the contrary, your will is strong, and your wit sharp. It is clear you possess innate power within. It is no wonder your patron seeks to keep it on a leash.” Another strike, Lyra stumbles back from the weight behind it. “You lack the musculature to beat an opponent in a strength match. Adapt and move with their attacks instead to weaken the blow.” Another one, and Lyra attempts to put the advice into practice. The blow doesn’t send the same shockwaves through her arms.

“Your body is not nearly as disciplined as your mind. Again.” Lyra stands her ground, frustrated by the exercise she very much did not ask for, then takes an opportunity to swing on the offensive. Lae’zel sends her blade flying out of her hands and into the dirt. “Perhaps I spoke too soon, and your mind lacks discipline as well.”

“What the fuck, Lae’zel? You come over here to swing a sword at me and insult me the whole time?”

“Chk. Those were not insults, ishtik. They were warnings. Your emotions cloud your judgment, your loyalty to a patron that would leave you powerless. You are not. Behave as such.”

Lae’zel decides that has been enough training apparently, and goes to sharpen her blades. Lyra sits back down, stunned and unsure if she should be angry or flattered.

“Seems like your love affair is the talk of the camp," Shadowheart remarks not long after Lae'zel’s sparring. “Even Lae'zel has taken an interest in your love life." 

Now that Shadowheart mentions it, it does seem that the others have taken more interest in her pact since her confession. “I've no idea why, when Gale made love to the goddess of magic. One would think that would be more interesting to gossip about.”

“Yes but he's not anymore. Usually patrons couldn't care less for their warlocks, except for how a warlock serves them. Now we may have to contend with a very angry Archfey should you come to harm.”

“I'm sure he would understand," the false words sound hollow even to Lyra. But more importantly, she wonders if he would mourn her. Surely he would, but after what he said about mortals…

"Call me curious, but I don't really see what you get out of the arrangement.”

Lyra furrows her brow and tilts her head. "What do you mean?”

"Well obviously he gets a pretty human to bring him shiny magical trinkets, that much is clear. But…if you're so in love, if you don't need a pact to be together, why have the pact at all?”

Lyra fiddles with the hem of her blouse. “Well, he grants me magic power, but I suppose that does not count in your eyes?”

Shadowheart waves that off. "You were already studying magic, you would have had that anyway.”

"It’s… complicated.”

Shadowheart purses her lips, giving Lyra a once-over. “Yes, I suppose it is…” She turns away from Lyra to look up at the sky, a companionable silence stretching between them for a moment. “Far be it from me to pry into someone’s past, but did you even want to get into a pact with him? When you stole the artifact?”

Lyra debates for a moment if she should tell the truth. Evading the question would be answer enough, and she does not want to lie to a friend. “...no. I did not realize how fey pacts worked. Once I got that artifact for him, that was a trade, and such a thing is binding with the fey. I had to enter into one or risk losing him forever. I couldn’t let that happen. I loved him.”

“Past tense?”

“Hm?”

“You said you loved him.”

“I do. I love him. Present tense.”

Shadowheart arches a brow, as if skeptical of Lyra’s answer. “Alright. Slip of the tongue then.”

Lyra sighs and looks up to the stars with her. They have always been a comfort.

“I’ve always loved the night, as long as I can remember… which admittedly isn’t much.”

“Me too. The lights in Baldur’s Gate wash out the dark. You can really see the stars out here.”

“I cannot tell what came first, my love for Lady Shar, or my love of the night. I like to think it’s the latter, that I was always destined for her.”

“It’s how I feel about Midnight. He looks as if he was taken from a tapestry of stars themselves. My love of the stars, of the cosmos, of magic… it was always leading me to him. We were meant for each other.”

“Or perhaps we’re both a little too caught up on destiny.”

“...maybe.”

#alls fair creations #weaving constellations #oc lyra #gale x tav #bg3 tav #bg3 oc #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 fanfiction #bg3 companions

[feraltuxedo]

Point of View in Good Omens Fanfiction

Most Good Omens fanfic I read is written from a dual point of view. It makes sense, for stories based on a book in which the angel and the demon take up an equal part of the plot, playing off each all throughout the story.

The show translates that to the screen beautifully with double leads and a more focused narrative that manages to perfectly balance their roles. They are both played by well beloved and all around excellent actors, and the viewer never feels that one of them is of greater importance than the other.

So it's no surprise that the vast majority of fanfic I read is told through a dual POV, switching back and forth throughout the story. Most of the time, it works really well. It's particularly enjoyable when a writer really knows how to play with voice for each of them.

But I was interested to see what the overall preference is in those few stories that stick to a single point of view. So I had a little play around with the Ao3 tags.

These are the results when selecting the 'POV - Aziraphale (Good Omens)' tag and filtering out the 'POV - Crowley (Good Omens)' one:

And the other way around, looking at stories that are tagged POV Crowley, filtering out any that are also tagged POV Aziraphake, we get:

This methodology is far from perfect, because of course there are many single POV stories that are not tagged as such. And that's not taking into consideration the stories that are told from another character's point of view altogether. But taking this search as a rough indicator, we can assume that there are slightly more POV Crowley fics out there than POV Aziraphale.

Perhaps, for the majority of writers, Crowley is the more relatable of the two. Or perhaps Aziraphale makes for a more compelling love interest. Either way, it's interesting to see that, while there is a difference in search results, it really is comparatively small.

As a writer, I have a strong preference for single POV. 4 out of my 11 stories so far are written from Aziraphale's POV, 6 from Crowley's, and just one with it switching every chapter. But even though I've written slightly more stories from Crowley's POV, they tend to be much shorter, ranging from oneshots to 7 chapters at most, whereas my fics in which Aziraphale is the protagonist and POV character are a lot more wordy, the shortest one being 7 chapters long and the longest 21 chapters. Overall, going by word count rather than story count, I have written much more from Aziraphale's POV:

POV Crowley: 58901 words POV Aziraphale: 164998 words

I find it easier to write with Aziraphale as the protagonist. We are more alike in disposition and I enjoy exploring his personality, his flaws. Crowley, on the other hand, presents a fun challenge for me, but I would find it draining to be inside his head for the amount of time it takes to write a longer story. Who knows, perhaps one day.

As a reader, I have a very slight preference for single POV over dual, though I enjoy both Crowley and Aziraphale as the protagonist equally. It's fascinating to see what writers make of their characters when they explore them over the course of a whole story. When they take a deep dive into their head and really bring out their voice in the prose.

I love it when writers use POV to selectively reveal aspects of the characters or their backstory. It adds an air of mystery to even the fluffiest of romances or the smuttiest of porn, an extra layer that shrouds the plot in intrigue, no matter how simple it is underneath. And it's extra delicious when we as readers figure something out before the POV character does, as is the bread-and-butter of every good fic with the tag 'mutual pining.'

Whatever you go for as a writer, whether single or dual POV, it's interesting to think about the potential of each of these options. And it's also fun to have a little look at the stories you enjoy reading, see if there is a POV you're particularly drawn to as a reader, and figure out why.

#good omens fanfiction #good omens #good omens fic #overthinking fanfiction for the hell of it

[lostnlucky]

I want to see your webcomic rec list 👀

Thank you for indulging me here's the masterlist of recs, if you're looking for something with queer/trans characters you've come to the right place:

(All links lead to the the first page of the comic, to avoid spoilers!)

Note: many of these comics deal with really heavy topics, and I recommend you check out the CWs (usually on the about page) before you read! If you have concerns about anything, hmu I'm happy to help Modern / Historical Comics:

2 Slices -- Cute queer romcom about two teenaged boys who keep getting mistaken for one another and form a very begrudging friendship when trying to disentangle themselves from each other's lives. The art style is really cute, it has some good twists and terms, all around a great time. I cannot recommend this enough. (Complete!)

Freakshow -- Set in historical France, the comic follows a series of murders surrounding a failing carnival/"freakshow." This is the most wild murder mystery I've ever read, because you're fairly sure you know the murderer since page 1. The twists are fantastic, the layers of character relationships are amazing. Every single update to this comic makes you reread the entire comic, searching for the hidden things you missed. Wonderful foreshadowing, wonderfully written.

Fantasy:

White Noise -- The monstrous and fantastical nation of Aetheri has come out of hiding, and there's a war brewing as humans and monsters begin to collides. The comic switches between the POVs of Hawk, a half-human traveling neighboring countries searching for his sister, and Liya, his sister who thinks he's dead. Absolutely fantastic and well-paced, with a lot of queer and trans character front-and-center (a major storyline revolves around transitioning!). (If there is ever a time to catch up on White Noise, it is right now. The moment they've been building to for 10 years is literally the next page!)

Tiger, Tiger -- A noblewoman in an alternate historical period steals her brother's identity, ship, and first mate and sets off for a distant country to study sea sponges (and gods). Has a really cool and interesting mythological system, and the entire comic is drawn in pencil! It's gorgeous

Daughter of the Lilies -- Great for fans of DnD! Follows the newest addition to a group of up-and-coming mercenaries, who refuses to show her new friends her face. Also has a cool magic system and really solid world-building. The twist with the main character is really good, trust me.

Shaderunners -- Thousands of years ago, all the color in the world faded to grey. Now, color is reemerging: bottled and sold to the highest bidder. The comic follows a group of bootleggers who have banded together to steal color from the rich in the greatest heist ever. Has a slow start, but the writing is fantastic, and the setting is very in depth and interesting.

Sleepless Domain -- Magical girls, except they're a commodified child soldier industry. I can't give any more detail than that, because the very premise of the comic spoils the massive plot twist at the end of the first chapter, but please trust me. This comic is an absolutely amazing breakdown of grief and industry, and it's fantastic. I have never watched a magical girl anime, and this is one of my favorite comics of all time.

Recoil -- The main character discovers he has superpowers after a horrible accident and is snatched up by a government agency designed to keep superpowers a secret. The art style took me a little to get used to, but the story is fantastic. There are so many good, horrifying plot twists, you'll be on the edge of your seat the entire time you're reading. The sort of comic where you reread it and notice 5 more things that you never noticed before. (Please read the CWs before starting this comic!)

Inhibit -- In a world where superpowers are common, there also exists facilities for teenagers whose powers are out of control. Main character gets wrapped up in uncovering a massive conspiracy embedded in the institutions who employ superpowered people. Fun plot twists and interesting relationships and dynamics between characters

Post-Apocalyptic:

Countdown to Countdown -- Humans with superhuman abilities are captured and butchered for magical body parts. The main character is housed in a "correctional facility" for superhumans, where he's safe from the terrors outside. Everything changes when someone breaks into the facility. I've been following CtC since early into its first iteration, and it's really fun! The powers are cool, and I love the art style.

No End -- Very much a slice-of-life comic about a group of people trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic society, traveling between different safe zones. Fun characters, kickass world building, a really interesting and nuanced take on how people deal with the zombie apocalypse (and how society would re-evolve)

Sci-Fi:

Saint for Rent -- Time travel is a tourism industry in this comic, with "inns" spread throughout time serving as way-points for travelers to duck in and out of. Saint runs one of these inns and has to watch his friends (and family) rush around him as he stays still in time. I am being completely honest when I say that this is the best time travel plot I have ever read. Definitely a brain twister, and you'll appreciate a reread to try and piece together characters' individual timelines, but absolutely fantastic and very sweet.

#im sure i'll remember something i missed the moment i hit send #ava's demon gets an honorable mention i just haven't kept up with it in years #rambles #have fun !!! hope you find something you like !!! #(lmk if u do i'd kill to chat about some of these)

[aniron48]

Yay, so glad you’re playing the Fun Meta Asks game! 16 & 23, pls!

Thank you for these asks, Sam! I think these meta asks have been some of my favorite to do, ever, and I've loved reading yours and others' answers to them as well--what an incredible and creative group of people we have here!

16. Tried anything new with your writing lately? (style, POV, genre, fandom?)

Yes, actually! I'm trying a couple new things, now. I'm writing my first AU where another show is the basis for the AU--in this case, a 00q AU based on the show "The Last of Us." It's something I never envisioned doing before, to be honest, but the idea of Bond and Q carving out something like a happy, quiet life for themselves in the midst of what is basically a zombie apocalypse grabbed hold of me and would not let go, and so it's in progress!

And I'm also trying to actually, really, seriously PLOT a thing, which is new! 😁 @anyawen won my Fandom Trumps Hate auction, and I'm working on a fic for her that involves a significant mystery at its center. It's really important to me to make sure that all the different threads and the little treats I'm weaving in come through in a believable way, so I'm trying to plan this whole thing out in advance. And there may even be multiple chapters, which would make it an elusive longfic, for me. Time to grow as a writer, I guess? 😁

23. What’s the story idea you’ve had in your head for the longest?

I have to say it's probably my WIP "If It Weren't for Second Chances (We'd All be Alone)," which has come up in almost every single WIP ask game I've done and about which people are probably thoroughly sick of hearing. And I relate to that, because I, too, wish I could just Write the Thing. But it's the fic where Bond and Q are in an existing relationship, and Bond retires, and on its face, it's a 5+1 fic about hobbies Bond tries out to fill his time in retirement. But the second layer to it is that Bond is then smacked in the face with all the trauma he repressed during his time at MI6, and has to learn how to deal with that in ways that enable both him and his relationship to survive. If I'm honest, I think one of the reasons it's so hard to write is that I deal with a fair amount of (mostly secondary, though very occasionally primary) trauma in my own job, and so it's a personal story, in a way, and I need some space to write it that I don't yet have. But at the same time, I can't seem to give it up, either--it means too much to me. So, someday! 🤞🏼

Thanks again for these, friend! 💜

#meta asks #ask box answers #my fic #if it weren't for second chances (we'd all be alone)

[prettylittlepoutymouth]

17/18/51 for the ask game. Bonus for 51 if it’s about chapter 24 of part 3 in virgin-verse 👀

Hi, Anon! 17. what is your favorite line you’ve ever written? This is a tough one. I think that maybe it's actually rather simple line of dialogue that nonetheless lands as a gut punch, but context is important. It's in Part 4 (AKA Sam & Cat's Super Rockin' Funtime Love Story (featuring Carly Shay)) of the Virgin Verse series (AKA touch me and gimme that rush), when Cat is explaining to her therapist that her parents live in Idaho with her brother, because he needs them. The reply is: “Do you need them?” Dr. Penny asked. I think about the impact of this moment for Cat a lot. 18. what is your most and least favorite part of writing?

I enjoy most of the writing process, honestly. I especially love collaborative writing, and the joy of talking through plot points and story beats and figuring out the timeline. As for the act of writing itself, I really enjoy finding the flow and getting deep into a group scene, like a party, and juggling the participants, the physical space, and the dialogue, and just having multiple characters to play with in a situation. Even if I know how the scene is going to play out, with that many characters, something extra and fun almost always develops organically. My least favorite part is maybe working within large and complex universes and having to keep details straight. Especially with life stuff getting in the way of being able to basically live in a project every day (though we have not stopped working on the Kinky Virgin Verse), it means we have to put in the time and the work to refresh ourselves on specific details, which puts us more behind. On the other hand, working within the complex story we've created has also allowed us to tell some really fun, unique and rewarding stories, so there are benefits even to this added layer of complexity. 51. share the synopsis of a story you work on that you haven’t published yet As requested, I will let you know what's next for Chapter 24 of Part 3 (AKA Tori Vega is a Kinky Top Who Drives a Subaru). -- Tori and Jade put in the work to talk intimately about difficult things, and Jade gains some new insight about herself -- Tori needs some stress relief -- Tori sees a ghost -- Jade receives an email from a mysterious stranger that could change everything -- Jade has to make an important choice I also want to mention that I've been working on the (two) sequel(s) to You Be The Moon, I'll Be The Earth, which involve: -- Sam and Cat finding a new understanding of one another -- Sam's struggle to leave her past behind -- Conflict between Tori and Sam -- Building found family -- What happens when Sam's past comes back to haunt her -- What are the limits of love?

#anonymous #asks #thanks anon this was fun #my works

[nova-is-in-your-attic]

On and Off to the Stars

Story background: Yiyoung is employed by Kang Dae Hyung, an enigmatic figure who presides over the enigmatic hotel known as "Stargaze." As Yiyoung delves deeper into his role, he uncovers the hidden depths of Dae Hyung's soul, discovering a charming personality and kind-heartedness that sets him apart. With determination, Yiyoung and his friends embark on a quest to enhance the services provided to the ethereal guests, creating an app that grants spirits solace. Through this union, the worlds of love, despair, and supernatural encounters meld into a mesmerizing narrative that transcends salvation and torment in equal measure. P.S.: This was derived from the Lezhin bl manhwa named "on or off", I found the manhwa through the author on Twitter, and it was really cute so I decided to write a chapter. Oh, it was also inspired by Hotel del Luna...I kind of found them both together . . I kind of wrote this at midnight after 2 days of not sleeping so pardon me for any problems and incoherent lines (this is only my first publication) Word count: 6.4k Chapter 1

The city streets, bathed in the ethereal glow of streetlights, seemed to hold secrets whispered in the wind as I made my way to my new workplace. Shadows stretched and danced in a mysterious waltz, their elongated forms swaying to an unseen melody. A tingling sensation prickled my skin as if the very air hummed with enchantment.

Tonight, destiny had woven a thread that led me to the threshold of the extraordinary—a place where the mundane and the magical intertwined. The Stargaze Hotel stood tall and enigmatic, its façade imbued with a captivating charm that seemed to beckon me closer. Its windows shimmered with an inner light, casting a soft, inviting glow that whispered promises of marvellous encounters.

Approaching the entrance, the door handle greeted my touch with a gentle creak, as if it were a sentient being awakening from a deep slumber. A rush of cool air greeted me, carrying the scent of ancient books and forgotten tales. The corridor unfolded before me, bathed in a soft luminescence that emanated from the walls themselves, hinting at the hidden wonders that lay within.

As I ventured further, the atmosphere grew thick with enchantment, each step I took revealing another layer of the extraordinary. The air seemed to hum with echoes of forgotten spells and the laughter of mischievous spirits. Shadows whispered secrets as they flitted past, their voices carried on the breeze, tickling my ears with their ancient wisdom.

The walls of the Stargaze Hotel exuded an aura of quiet wisdom as if they had witnessed the ebb and flow of countless lives. Paintings adorned the walls, their subjects shifting and stirring in their frames as though yearning to escape into our realm. Curiosities filled every nook and cranny, their presence hinting at tales yet untold.

With each step, I felt my own spirit intertwining with the hotel's essence, drawn deeper into a realm where dreams and reality danced hand in hand. The Stargaze Hotel was more than just a place of lodging; it was a sanctuary for souls both living and departed—a tapestry of magic, compassion, and the yearning for connection.

As I embarked on this enchanting journey, I knew that my fate would become entwined with the whims and wonders of this extraordinary place. The Stargaze Hotel, with its secrets and spectres, held the key to unlocking a realm of endless possibilities, where love and courage could rewrite destinies, and where the ordinary was infused with a touch of the extraordinary. A portal to a world I had never even dreamed existed. But what awaited me beyond its gates? Would I be able to face the challenges that lay ahead? Or would I find myself consumed by a terrible loneliness, left alone once more to wander aimlessly through a land without hope?

And so, as I continued forward, the doors of the Stargaze Hotel slowly closed behind me with a whisper that echoed throughout the corridors, sealing away any further adventures in search of knowledge. With a click of the lock, the last remaining sign of the outside world seemed to have vanished.

And thus, I was left in the dark. No longer did I see the flickering lights of the city. No longer did I hear the chatter of strangers. No longer did I feel the warmth of sunlight on my skin. Darkness surrounded me, its embrace a promise that offered no safety but only uncertainty. I was trapped inside a strange land, and I was all alone. But then, out of nowhere, a voice spoke to me. It was a voice that I recognized instantly, one that had haunted my dreams since childhood. “Hello,” it said. “Welcome to the Stargaze Hotel.”

My heart leapt into my throat. For there in front of me stood a man, standing not three paces away. His form glowed like fire, burning brighter than all the candles in the building, and his eyes gleamed in the dimness. As he gazed back at me, it felt as if I stood in the centre of the Milky Way itself, staring into infinity. His enigmatic figure stood with an air of quiet authority, exuding an aura that seemed to transcend the realms of the living dead. His sharp penetrative gaze held an impenetrable depth. In those tense moments, I caught a glimpse of the enigma that was Kang Daehuyng, a man whose allure and mystery were destined to intertwine with my own journey within the Stargaze Hotel.

As I navigate my role in Stargaze, I come across a perplexing challenge that requires Kang Daehyung's expertise. With a mix of apprehension and determination, I decided to approach Daehyung directly, knowing that his input could make a significant difference in resolving the issue at hand. Heart pounding, I waited for the opportune moment to strike up a conversation with Daehyung, finding the courage to initiate a dialogue that could potentially forge a new connection between them.

"Mr Kang," I called out, my voice carrying a mixture of trepidation and determination. Kang Daehyung turned his gaze towards me, eyes glinting with suspicion.

"And what are you doing here? Were you so desperate that you followed me all the way here", Daehyung responded coolly, his tone laced with scepticism.

I paused for a moment, gathering my thoughts, before continuing in a steady voice, "I have an idea that could elevate our guest services… I've brought the report with me, could you please look it over?"

Daehyung's eyebrow arched sceptically, his arms crossed as a barrier. "Did Secretary Cha send you here?" he retorted, his expression guarded. "Or did you go through my calendar?", he added.

All the colour in my face flushed, and I felt my hands getting cold- ironically as if a ghost had taken over me. A smirk suddenly escapes from Daehyung's face. "Are you even willing to offer sexual favours?", he asks, amusement lacing his tone. "Huh?", I replied, shocked and honestly confused by Daehyung's offer. Contrast to what had felt a few seconds before his face flushed with embarrassment, unable to maintain eye contact. "Usually, I don't go for men. But with a face like yours, why wouldn't I?" Kang pauses, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Sure, I'll do it.", Yiyoung pauses, "I can do it with men too."

"Good", Kang responds curtly, turning around to walk toward his office. "Mr Kang!", Yiyoung says, catching up to him, stopping him short. "If you even want a chance to present follow me", says Kang Daehyung.

As I follow behind this greek God of a man, he notices his clean-cut appearance, much unlike his crude and unsavoury behaviour. Why did I follow him?

#lgbtq #gay #story #fanfic #onoroff #idontknowwhy #hotel del luna #on or off #narrative? #might turn 18+ #I dont know where im going with this #yiyoung #kang daehyun #bl? #greek god of a man #stargaze #stargaze hotel

[twwpress]

Creator Spotlight #14: fleurfemme

Welcome back to the TWW Author Spotlight! For every spotlight, we’ll ask each featured author the same ten questions (as well as questions you submitted on Twitter!). This week we’re pleased to be chatting with abby (@jenniferjolie on Twitter and fleurfemme on AO3)!

1) What are your top 5 desert island fics by other authors? 

1) kiss me and crucify me (by crossingdelancey)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32800243 

I feel like I have this fic permanently open in a tab on my phone's browser. Cjtoby hate sex — hot and passionate and angsty.

 2) Salomé (by crossingdelancey) 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/41530527 

Another fic by my fave author :') This cjandy hate sex fic was a gift for me. It's a little more intense; I love when CJ gets to be fiery ♥️

 3) Lather. Rinse. Repeat. (by Michelle K.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37590034  

This Donna-centric fic has a little of everything. It's a wonderful taste of early-2000s charm that only fics of the time can capture. So many layers, so many women.

 4) Stuck in the Middle with You (by JediAnnieScrambler)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34346431 

A cjtobyandy kinktober oneshot ♥️

 5) something else (by jazzjo)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43045845 

A sweet little CjDonna fic Eli gifted me after I made a CjDonna tropes edit ♥️♥️ so cute 

 2) Do you have a favorite character to write? Favorite ship(s) to write? Are there characters or ships you'd like to write more of? 

I think Margaret might be be my favorite character to write. I don't write Margaret centric stories, but the second I bring her in to any scene, I can't stop giggling. Jed and Donna are also really fun to write dialogue for.

So far, when it comes to ships, I've had the most fun writing Ellie Bartlet x Sidney Prescott in my crossover fics. Also AmyDonna! Donna is just the sweetest woman and she deserves all the love in the world.

I plan to write more CJ fics in the future and look forward to it!

 3) Tell us about your writing process (setup/location? Night or day? Snacks/beverages? Computer/phone/notebook? Music or silence? Anything else you want to share is welcome!) 

I’ll write on my phone on the train at 6:30am or on my laptop while lying in bed at 2am. I’m very chill when it comes to a routine; I like to keep it loose so I can get into a good creative flow. 

 4) What writing advice do you have for others who may be reading this? 

Don't be afraid to write outside of what's popular! Don't create pointless rules for yourself as a way to stop yourself from writing.

 5) From where do you usually draw your inspiration? (Other forms of media, music, tropes, etc?) 

My ideas are most often based on what area of a given relationship (romantic or platonic) I'm interested in exploring.

 6) What is the fic you've written that you're most proud of and why? 

Probably Red, White, and Boo! (https://archiveofourown.org/works/41606586/chapters/104361426) Completed for Halloween, it’s a campy horror-comedy/whodunnit, and a crossover with the Scream trilogy. Combining the worlds of some of my all time favorite characters (in a way that made sense for folks who've never seen Scream), two styles of humor, and the stakes of a horror with TWW's dramedy tone was a huge challenge, but I'm so proud looking back at it. I had a blast writing it and getting to hear reactions to the drama and elements of the mystery has been so rewarding.

 7) What's the fic trope/concept/AU you'd read 1000 of? What's the fic trope/concept/AU you'd write 1000 of? 

I love reading fics about hotel room hook-ups during the campaign.

I'll write a thousand soft and awkward and giggly smut fics ♥️♥️ I also never get tired of using scars during intimacy scenes 

 8) Is there anything you'd like to try writing-wise that you haven't yet? 

I've never written an au for tww, but I've been thinking about a girl band au! CJ on bass, Andy lead vocals, Amy on drums, Abbey as the band's manager. We'll see if I get around to it!

 9) What's your go-to Starbucks/coffee shop/other drink order? 

I don’t drink coffee but I do enjoy a double chocolate chip frap from Starbucks!

 10) Do you have any current projects you'd like to promote or anything upcoming you'd like to tell us about?

My first CJ x Joey Lucas fic is currently in progress, so stay tuned for that!

Submitted questions: 

From @S4MWILS0N:

fave season & ep? season 3, Dead Irish Writers!

fave character and ship? Characters: Toby, CJ, Amy, Abbey Ships: AndyToby as an endgame ship, but I love CJToby, AmyDonna, and CJDonna

most underrated character and ship? CJDonna!!! Also JoshJoey - not as an endgame thing, just a little treat

what was ur fave part of writing rwb? the humor and the girl bossery

two ships to have a double date? AndyToby and CJDonna

fave and least fave plot arc? I looove CJ’s season one arc of being treated like shit to being respected. Also love her arc at the end of s3! I hate the leak arc but I’ve only watched 80% of seasons 6-7 because I’m not really a fan of the election plots in general

funniest canon one liner? everything Toby Ziegler has ever said tbh

fave detail in one of ur fics? in RWB when Margaret says she can't count sheep before bed because her dreams take place prior to the domestication of sheep

draft snippet that never became anything? a JoshDonna fic based on the line about him looking good in a collar. Maybe I'll finish it... we shall see

From @claudiasjeans: ABBY MY LOVE what is your favorite ship that you’ve never written? what got you into tww?

cjtobyandy probably! I started watching TWW when I was like 14 because I was a huge Kristin Chenoweth fan!!

 From @kennysroys: What inspired you to take the risk of writing Red, White and Boo? What was your favorite part? The hardest part? What motivated you to write this AU?

A joke Alyssa (@abbeybartlet) made about Danny and Will being Ghostface inspired RWB! I'd also already written a 20k+ word tww/scream crossover, so I knew how well the characters worked together. My favorite part was having the girlies from both canons interact... CJ/Gale is such an interesting dynamic, Amy/Jennifer are chaotic bffs, and Ellie/Sidney make such a good couple. I love them sm.

The hardest part was balancing such a large ensemble. While the story focuses largely on the story of CJ, Donna, and Gale Weathers as their support, I wrote scenes centered on Mandy, Zoey, Ainsley, Josh, Ellie, Amy, and more. Such a whirlwind, but I had a great time.

I stayed motivated thanks to the handful of readers leaving encouraging comments after every chapter. Couldn't have done it without that ♥️

 From @kennysroys: Since you’re such a big Amy fan what would you ask or say to Mary Louise Parker about her if given the chance?

I'd love to ask her about Amy's dynamic with various characters—specifically Abbey and Donna. I'd also be curious to hear her perspective on playing a supporting character who represents such a large group's voice on the show... How did she approach the responsibility? Also, how did she shape her performance to fit into a show that was already on its third season? Things like that ♥️

 From @kennysroys: Favorite TWW fan content to consume (fancams, edits, fics)?

I love gifs and silly screenshots

From @donnamossburner: If you could rewrite an episode - what episode would you write and what would you change?

I would add Ellie to Dead Irish Writers. Let her drink on the couch with Abbey and Amy and drunkenly ramble about her mother as a Doctor and call her father a jackass <3

 From @donnamossburner: What is your present day head canon for the characters?

TobyAndy endgame, Andy runs for President, CJ becomes a professor and marries a beautiful and charming woman, Donna works for a non-profit with Amy.

 From @sameschtick:

Which minor character(s) do you wish we got to see more of and why? On my knees begging for more Andy Wyatt.

Favourite post-canon hcs? CJ (and Donna) take a six-month long trip to Europe for a tour of hot romantic conquests. 

One detail of canon you’d like scrubbed from the record? Ellie's marriage... They truly set her up as a relatable sad lesbian and then 5 seasons later made a joke about how she's actually not a lesbian and made her marry a man... 0/10 stars

Thanks again to abby for participating in the spotlight, and thanks to everyone who contributed questions! If you’d like to be featured in a future spotlight, drop us a DM here or on Twitter (@twwpress), or email us at [email protected].

xx, What’s next?

#the west wing #west wing #tww #tww fandom #tww fic rec #cj cregg #andy wyatt #toby ziegler #amy gardner #cjandy #cjtoby #scream fandom #donna moss #ellie bartlet #abbey bartlett #amydonna #cjdonna #creator spotlight

[makeste]

my biggest worry about the UA traitor is that it won’t feel significant as the major characters suspected in being it don’t play a big role in the story leading up to now.. like aoyama yes he might cause shock but hagakure?? she doesn’t done much imo but i do think she is the traitor i just wish hori given her some spotlight early on to lead to the moment and the suspense yk

fwiw, you're not alone, anon; I see this concern crop up pretty much every single time there's a U.A. traitor discussion. but the thing is, there's an underlying assumption here that the sole purpose of a plot twist is to shock people. and I would argue that's not true. imo, a well-written plot twist serves many purposes, and shocking the audience is only one of them, and far from the most important one. (in fact, I'd argue that it's not even strictly necessary.) here are four that I can think of right off the top of my head.

they catch and hold the audience's attention. this isn't the case for all plot twists, but it's certainly true for ones which the author chooses to deliberately dangle before the audience, as Horikoshi chose to do with the U.A. traitor plot. if he really wanted to shock people with the reveal, it would have been better for him not to call attention to it in the first place. there was no need whatsoever to have Present Mic bring it up back in chapter 83. but he chose to go that route because he wanted the readers to notice, and he wanted them to start thinking about it and to start speculating about the traitor's identity. it gets the audience excited, and it gives them an incentive to keep reading to see how the story will play out.

they encourage the audience to engage more with the story. the U.A. traitor plot is easily one of the most talked-about elements in the entire story. at this point I don't think there's a single teacher or student character who hasn't been the target of suspicion at some point or other. and again, this was a conscious trade-off on Horikoshi's part, because it would have been much easier to blindside readers with the eventual reveal if they weren't out here forming all of these exhaustive theories. announcing that There Is A Traitor pretty much guarantees that no matter who it ends up being, someone will have predicted it ahead of time. but the trade-off is that fans are paying closer attention to the story, and continuing to think about the plot even when they're not reading the manga, and engaging in more discussion with their fellow fans. and all of that is more than worth the loss of the shock element imo.

they add new layers and depth to the story. this is the hallmark of all of the most iconic plot twists. anyone can write a story and tag on some sort of half-assed unpredictable heel turn at the end in order to try and surprise people and make themselves look smart. but the best plot twists are the ones which actually make sense, and which have foreshadowing sprinkled in throughout the story, so that when you go back and look at everything a second time it makes you go, "ohhh, that's why." a good plot twist should be just as enjoyable to read the second and third time around, even after the shock value has expired, because the satisfaction of seeing a well-planned and executed plot development is still there. and with the very best twists, the story is actually even more enjoyable to go back and reread afterwards, because the knowledge of the twist adds new insight and context and perspective to all of the previous scenes.

and last but not least, they add suspense. there are plenty of ways to keep your readers on their toes that don't necessarily involve surprises coming out of left-field. and this is another thing that the author gains when they make that calculated sacrifice of announcing a plot twist ahead of time. the reader is no longer going to be shocked, because they're now anticipating it -- but that anticipation is a great consolation prize in and of itself. and so with this particular plot, for instance, there's more to the U.A. Traitor Mystery than just the question of who it is. there's also the questions of why, and most important of all, the question of what will happen when everyone finds out? and those questions add a ton of suspense to the story. when will AFO call on Hagakure again? what will he ask her to do? what's going to happen if and when she finally gets caught? how exactly is Aoyama involved in all this? and how will the other members of class A react?? each of these questions has enough inherent suspense that you could make a separate cliffhanger out of each and every one of them if you wanted to.

the thing that everyone always seems to overlook is that the reveal isn't the point. the reveal, when it happens, is going to be a one-time thing which will only be in play for a single chapter at most, after which the plot needs to still be able to stand on all of its other merits. so for instance, suppose that Horikoshi does go for shock over substance, and decides to go with someone "unexpected" like Ochako. sure, you get the shock value, because no one seriously expects it to be her. and maybe to some people it would feel more impactful, because she has a closer connection to Deku and the other characters. but the trade-off is that a twist like that would make absolutely no sense. it completely lacks the careful foreshadowing of the Hagakure/Aoyama twist. and it would detract from Ochako's character development, rather than adding on to it, because it would completely undo so much of what her character journey has been about up until now. all of that sacrificed just for the sake of a one-time twist, which a good chunk of readers would be spoiled for in advance thanks to the weekly spoiler leak cycle. ymmv, but to me that would absolutely not be worth it, and would be a huge waste of both Ochako's character, and of all the careful work that Horikoshi has done to weave this whole plot together.

on the other hand, the fact that Hagakure has had next to no spotlight up till now is exactly what makes her the perfect candidate. with her there's no need to worry about undoing years of carefully planned character development. there's no need to worry about the twist not making sense, or not holding up to the scrutiny of hindsight, because all of Hagakure's interactions with the other characters have always been curiously superficial. we know next to nothing about her family or history or motivations. her character is pretty much a blank slate, which makes her pretty much the only person in 1-A whose betrayal wouldn't feel awkward and forced and completely unnatural.

and as for everyone who's already made up their minds that her betrayal would lack any impact, I think they're both underestimating the amount of impact that any betrayal from one of class A's own would have, and also underestimating Horikoshi's ability to deliver when it comes to ninth-inning backstories. Dabi's backstory came pretty late in the game as well for instance, and that didn't take away from its impact at all. and the same goes for Hawks as well. just because Hagakure doesn't have any backstory yet doesn't mean she's not going to get one. and if you think Horikoshi doesn't have something good cooked up after all this time, then I don't know what else to tell you, except just, "wait and see."

anyway so yeah. and also just a reminder once again that even though fandom sometimes gets bogged down in this kind of discussion involving our personal opinions as to who would be the best traitor candidate, or the most shocking or meaningful or unexpected, etc., at the end of the day the actual evidence we have all points to Hagakure. I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but yeah lol.

#hagakure tooru #u.a. traitor #hagakure traitor theory #bnha #boku no hero academia #bnha meta #bnha theory #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha manga spoilers #makeste reads bnha #asks #anon asks #long post

[the-huntress]

Little Moth - Chapter 3 - Rebirth

[Thank you so much to everyone that has read my story so far and thank you again for liking and sharing the chapters and master-list, it means so much to me and spurs me on to write more]

Masterlist

Y/N Protagonist, female. Reader X Karl Heisenberg. [18+]

Summary: What happened during the attack leaves you with questions for the ever-enigmatic Duke. You took down a beast that was like nothing you’ve ever seen before, but what lies beyond now that you’ve reached your destination?

Trigger Warnings: Chronic joint-pain, menstruation, nudity & genitalia.

Soundscapes Ambience Suggestions: Forest

It made sense to stick with your newfound comrade for the remainder of the journey, for it wasn’t long until you approached the sight of lights in the distance. Night soon fell after the attack, and now, at the edge of the forest, atop a sudden drop you could see the golden glow of candlelight scattered around the village. Though it was not full, the moon’s light helped to pick out the odd detail here and there, and you could see it looked not to dissimilar to many villages that you had seen before from afar, but yet in closer detail it looked somehow as though it was stuck in time. In the distance you recognised it now from Leon’s photographs, the castle or mansion, you weren’t quite sure which.

“Are you sure I can’t escort you directly into the Village, maybe find you an Inn, somewhere at least a little less exposed and safer than out here?” The Duke, for that was how he had now introduced himself to you, asked politely.

“Not today.” You replied. You needed to be alone, and despite the dangers, out here in the forest you were beginning to feel more like yourself than you had ever felt before.

You stopped for a moment, eyes looking down, and then across to the bow that you held still in your hand. “Back there, in the forest, what happened? Who was that?” You asked, turning to look up at the Duke. He looked down at you, fondness masked a little behind mystery, “A friend.” He replied.

“But who?” You demanded, taking a step towards him without meaning to.

The Duke began to turn his carriage, now patched up as best as it could be for the remainder of his journey, and he turned his head to face you one last time.

“It is a very dangerous thing to know one’s friends.” He smiled, but something else lay behind the smile, some knowing. “Keep the bow, it is a gift. When one wields a bow, it can feel as though it becomes a part of you.” He paused, “There is more to you than meets the eye, you bring your own darkness to this place; but promise me this little moth, you know where I am should I be of any use to your crusade.” You nodded silently and watched him until he was all the way out of sight. Your attention was caught by something where the carriage had been stood; your small luggage bag. How?

You pulled it up and threw it over your shoulder. Arghhh! Tears welled at your eyes which darted back down to your knee and you drew a sharp breath through your teeth. After all that and it’s my knee that’s causing me to howl. You could feel it, at some point the joint had slid, the cartilage had pinched the softer tissues. It had happened before during dislocations. This was not the right time for this. At the very moment as these thoughts a sharp pain then hit your lower abdomen and more tears welled in your eyes. A mixture of cramps and the pain from where the arrows had made their mark made you feel weak. I need to find a place to rest. You dragged yourself back into the forest, deep enough to feel alone until you found a place that at least had some shelter from the elements.

A very small clearing between a tangle of thick tree roots, forgotten by time. You found a couple of long, sturdy sticks to hold up a small tarpaulin that you’d had folded away into your bag and pulled out a thin sleeping bag to put under it. It was a risk to make a fire for warmth, but a risk that at this point you were willing to make, and created a small circle of stones, filling the centre with a turret of dried wood and kindling inside, lighting this quickly with your lighter. It finally dawned on you to check your wounds; despite it all you weren’t too bad, the obvious scrapes and cuts here and there; arm, knee, cheek. Those would heal. You pulled up your layers to expose your stomach to the cool air of the forest, cool now becoming icy with the moisture that hung in the air. You winced, hissing. It stung, it stung bad, but it would be ok once you cleaned it. You set to work; water from a hip flask, antiseptic from the medi-kit. You considered the stitches, but you knew that you could heal this without that, it would be slower, there would be very obvious scarring, but you had a feeling those stitches might be more of a necessity further into your mission.

“’Cause the Red Storm hits me today.” You mumbled to yourself, hand back over your abdomen and closing your eyes against the pain, wishing for a hot water bottle. You ate a little; dried meats and fruits from packets that you’d brought with you, and then you took to sitting beside the fire, poking it with another stick to keep it going, and lighting yourself a cigarette. The night was full of many sounds, the sounds of owls and small mammals were sounds that you had missed from your childhood. You’d grown up in a house sat next to a field, beyond that a vast woodland, not too different from this. Then there were the sounds that unsettled you; blood curdling screams and wailing. Although all in the distance, each one sent a ripple of fear through your entire body. You weren’t too sure what else to expect from this place, how long you would be here or what else you would face, but you kept reminding yourself of what you and Leon had faced together not so long ago in Racoon City, and why you were here in the first place. With every scream that filled the air, you listened close to see if it sounded like him.

“So, the light bringer has arrived.” The words made you jump out of your skin and you turned to see an old woman now perched besides you, learning forwards against a large stick, which was adorned with small trinkets and bones.

You didn’t say anything but just stared at her, a knot in your stomach. “Come now child.” She cackled softly, a warm smile on her all-knowing face. “Enlighten your elder, what do you seek on your travels?”

“I’m looking for a friend, if you must know.” It wasn’t like you to be this blunt, especially to the elderly, but it had been a rough day and this woman was making you feel uneasy to say the least.

“Perhaps the friend that you have come to find, is not the one that you think you seek.” She replied without hesitation. You raised an eyebrow at her, surely, she didn’t mean herself?

“Who are you?” You asked, looking her straight in the eyes, one of which you noticed was frosted over. Her face fell slowly, turning to look into the fire, before she began to pull herself back up to standing with her stick, the little beads clinking as she did so.

“I am everyone, and I am no one. They see me, and then they don’t. I know all, and yet I know nothing.” Her voice already seemed to start disappearing, things seemed to somehow grow a little hazier, was it the smoke from the fire? “He goes north, and he goes south, he can push as hard as you feel his pull. He can take many forms, you will know him when you seem him, but heed my words; the gravity between destined souls is a dangerous one, and can crush you with the force of nature.”

Everything went black and you passed out.

Song Suggestion: ‘Chimera’ by Hana

The night is silent, and you are forever alone in the forest’s green pasture deep, dark and timeless. In a trance like state, you stand, slowly but nimble, the night air cool against your bare flesh, for you are fully exposed in your natural form and beauty. You know not what guides you, but you find yourself back at the clearing where the beast that you had slain fell, it’s body intact, but a heap of blood and muscle circled up now into the foetal position. Lifting its head up towards you, out from under the big paw he’d held over it in his eternal slumber, you give him a new face; a mask. The skull from a giant deer, with antlers wildly big, adorned with beads, and bone and warning.

You take a fragment of slate from the ground and cut your palms, squeezing them, with pain, and yet with a hidden joy too, over the body. You feel the forest hum around you and bristle. Opening your eyes, still glassy with fog you see swirls and cascades of moths now, flying up from both yourself and the beast. The body stirs and then trembles, you reach out and take its hand, guiding it with you through both the crunch of snow and the moist welcome of the moss.

You come to a clearing, slightly larger than the one where you’d made the conscious decision earlier to set up camp. Here the ground was completely covered with different mosses, surrounded by ancient trees, their roots gnarly, like a wooded fortress around you. You could feel the innocent eyes of small woodland creatures watching you with curiosity, as you lead your beast down the moss-covered rocks towards a natural spring. He did as he was told and waited besides the pool and you descended further down the natural steps, the cool water climbing up your legs and meeting the warmth that was dripping ever so slowly from your womanhood. You let go, sinking your entire body into the cold waters, up to your neck, letting yourself lean back enough to see snatches of the starry sky through the trees. Your beast sat on his haunches, arms over his knees, leaning forward, drinking you up hungrily, thirsting for you, saliva dripping from the deer’s skull, his member tense and swollen from the mere sight of your hardened nipples breaking the surface of the water. But he wasn’t the only pair of eyes drinking you in this way. You floated in the black pool, the mirror of stars holding up your heavenly body as the water between your legs bloomed crimson and then you submerged yourself fully, completely disappearing. Your creature turned his head to the side and lurched forwards unsure for your safety, the life of the forest bristled in anticipation.

Not one crown broke the surface but two; Your hair wet and plastered to your face as you gasped for air, your eyes fully glazed now, entranced by the form in front of you. Somehow you couldn’t take in all the details of his face, but his godly size, the brawn of his shoulders, the lust he was trying so hard to hold back rising in his broad chest, keeping his face down turned, but his cold gold-silver eyes looking at you through a tangle of silvered black hair. You held each other’s gaze, seeming like forever, like your world could end in the blink of an eye. You raised your hands to touch him, and he for you, both knowing somehow that it was not fully possible, not believing that what you were seeing and feeling could be real, and yet; your hands found his, palm to palm, fingers lacing together, fire and lightning burning and sparking between the two of you.

#resident evil #resident evil fanfic #resident evil smut #resident evil 8 #resident evil 2 #resident evil village #Karl Heisenberg #karl heisenberg fanfic #karl heisenberg fluff #karl heisenburg x reader #karl heisenberg smut #resident evil heisenberg #karl heisenberg resident evil #resident evil reader #mother miranda

[haleigh-sloth]

I put together some final thoughts on the past arc, cuz now that it's pretty much over and we can look at the past 20-ish chapters as a whole, I have some.

Apologies in advance cuz this turned out long.

I feel like with the appearance of Stain and Aizawa, the mention of Kurogiri, the callback to Toga, and the end of Dek's solo adventures, it is finally safe to give some final thoughts on the past arc. Specifically talking about the chapters ranging from 306-324.

I want to iterate that I am completely in understanding of the fact that the author is very much overworked, and that if he had been able to take a proper break after the war arc, (or a proper break in general) this past arc would have been better. This is not a jab at the author's abilities, because the man can tell a story. We've seen him do it. He's capable of it, especially when his heart is in it. Which, for the record, I don't think his heart was in this past arc at all--not like it was for the war arc and the very few chapters following up to 305. I think he was forcing these chapters out because he had to. Anyway.

Hardly any progress was made in the plot this past arc. Almost every chapter was boring. Like, we usually get HYPE when spoilers drop! Notice how that hype has completely died down. I will say that chapter 314 lit a bit of a spark in the fandom, but that spark died immediately when we got the three completely useless explosions (All Might's car, Nagant, the mansion in the forest), and when we kept seeing Endeavor and Hawks--two characters in desperate, desperate need of some serious development--remain completely stagnant and hollow.

Yes, some moments were worth being excited about! Toga came to Ochacko's mind, Midoriya has thought of Shigaraki several times--as well as thought back to specific lines from his (very important) speech--Shouto went off on his dad in front of UA, and Bakugo and Midoriya finally had a moment of clarity and unification. Those things were all nice. But beyond that....

I think my biggest issue is how Hawks is being handled right now. Other bloggers have said it before, but Hawks feels really retconned and it seems like Hori is backing out on kicking Hawks's ass in-story. Twice's death feels as if it didn't even happen. Which, I'm still holding out hope that that is going to change at some point down the line. BUT--the fact of the matter is that the writing has reduced Hawks to this extremely flat, 2-D character who only is constantly accompanied by/associated with Endeavor and cannot seem to exist in-story otherwise, not thinking a single thought about the fact that Endeavor is a grim reminder of his abusive past, not struggling or regretting even a little bit about the fact that he murdered someone who was running away crying, and suddenly has all these optimistic lines that really don't belong with his character. So after waiting all this time for his character to have the same substance he used to during the war arc and before, it's going to feel extremely jarring for him to suddenly be as important as he potentially could have been to the end game, and suddenly go back to being as complex and intriguing as he used to be out of fucking nowhere. I mean I'm holding out hope still, because Twice deserves better. And Hawks being made into a flat Endeavor worshipper is pretty cringe. There is still time for change though 🙏🏼, for now. Hawks is on thin ass ice.

Endeavor....ugh. Stagnant, plot-wise. But his character is fine, for now. His arc is pretty straight forward, but there's concern it'll just be....lightly painted over with a completely uncalled-for layer of optimism. Like, it's already optimistic and hopeful that his family is going to be together in the end. Nothing story-wise has changed that ending to come. If anything, because of the ridiculous happy-go-lucky last few chapters (sans 325-326), I'd say it's even more solidified. The question at this point is how dark and serious will it get on the journey to that ending. Will there be any stakes, any losses, etc. Endeavor should not get to remain a hero in the end. He shouldn't, and as of now I still think he's gonna lose his hero status in the end. But....heroes and civilians alike do not seem to give a single shit that he abused his family. They only yell at him because of what Touya did. Not because of what he did to his family as a whole, or the fact that he's still considered a fucking hero in the eyes of society. It's very...disappointing, and raises the possibility that nothing will actually be addressed with him and he'll still be a "hero". Nothing has called him out, except for Shouto! But Shouto has hardly had ANY screen time in so long, that it doesn't feel as heavy watching him (rightfully) bitch out his dad. That's another issue that would result in a way longer post than this already is, but Shouto needs his arc back. He still hasn't gotten it back, still. Yes, the kids are back on screen, but it's obvious which kids are gonna be saving some villains, so it'd be nice to put some focus on them and their inner struggles and their arcs, instead of pandering to everyone ELSE pointlessly if they're not going to carry the plot further (Endeavor and Hawks I'm looking at you).

Other smaller complaints:

I can't get over how there were three chapters dedicated to Ochacko and that megaphone. We got Toga out of it, but at what cost..

The villains were established to be central to the remainder of the main kids' arcs, but hardly any mention of them at all. It felt to me like the plot was literally dancing around that topic. Just trying to put it off for as long as possible.

I don't really have complaints about 325 and 326. They could have been better if everything leading up to them was...worth getting excited over, but ultimately they're okay. They at least gave us mystery (Stain and All Might) and suspense (Aizawa and Kurogiri) to look forward to. I hope Hori can enjoy himself more in the remaining parts of the story. It seems like when the happenings in the story are actually interesting, the story-telling is significantly better and the author seems to have more of a solid idea of where he's going.

He deserves a break too.

He has talent, I want to see that talent carry out the story to its end!

Anyway, here's to better chapters to come 🍻 🍻 🍻

#long post #bnha #boku no hero academia #idk if i'm aggressive in this but be cautioned I guess #rants #bnha rant #bnha critical #mha #my hero academia #bnha league of villains #bnha 325 #bnha 326

[not-close-to-straight]

Silence was just amazing!!!! I loved it so so much!!! Beautiful and sad and touching and Howard being horrible!! Tony being gone for 21 days and then I assume after Howard said no is when they went to kill him! Just horrible!!!! I wanna hug them both!!! And Poor Baby Bucky!!!!!!!

So I was telling Alyssa (xkissmeimirish) that I purposely wrote the fic from Tony's POV only so it was super disjointed and sort of skippy and honestly it was very fun to write like that. A single hectic POV is something that gets annoying/difficult to read after a few thousand words so I never get to use it for anything other than the occasional angsty chapter in my longer fics but I thought for this story specifically, it would keep us fully immersed in Tony's thought pattern and really really drive the vulnerability of moment at the end where he steps into the shower with WS!Bucky and holds him.

And yes, after Howard said 'no' is when the kill order went out on Tony, so the (unwritten) idea that Howard and Maria went another couple weeks before Tony was returned home and didn't know either way if their son was alive or not??

Fucking yikes

One of my least favorite tropes is when a TV episode shows the plot from three distinct POV's, like we see the even through one POV, then commercial break and we're right back at "24 hours earlier" with a different POV, then commercial break and we're right back at "24 hours earlier" with another POV? I honestly just skip those ones, for whatever reason when a show starts with a BANG and then "24 hours earlier"'s me, I just check right out.

HOWEVER it is an absolute valid way to tell a compelling story and especially in terms of a mystery, it adds a layer of tension wtih every retelling and THIS fic is the first time I ever wrote one and thought "ah, I understand the three different POV's trope now" because this story would be INTENSE from Bucky's POV and then really heartbreakingly intense from Howard and Maria's POV too, right??

[harryanthus]

comfort fics ‘20!!

these are the fics i read and reread a bunch of times to feel again. i’m incredibly tired and my mind only allowed me these fics (i’m sorry there are more fics from various authors but i literally cannot talk so i’ll just make another post tomorrow. please don’t take any offense.)

💥 Event Horizon by writing_practice @mercurial-madhouse

i am a sucker for soulmates and magical realism. combine those and give it a flair of darkness, a peek into the uglier side of love and healing and what you get is this brilliant fic. m’s writing is a favourite of mine. A+ pacing, stellar dialogue that will hit you right in the feels, the atmosphere it creates, the flawed characters that tug at your heartstrings— it’s mind-blowing in every aspect. to take a happy, cheery, and sometimes angsty trope and tinker with it without taking away the charm of it is a difficult task but it’s pulled off brilliantly in this fic. 

💥 and it gets colder and colder by theankletattoo / @hadestyles

 i adore rori’s writing style, the way each sentence is carefully crafted to pack emotion is beautiful. it reads like a pwp and you are almost convinced that it is just that but the ending catches you by surprise. and even if you didn’t see that coming, it doesn’t feel unnatural for the story to progress. the setting and mood remind me of a gloomy day and the fic warms me right to the core. the characters make me yearn to know more. an eternal favourite.

💥 every universe but ours by 28finelines / @28finelines

the love of my life. this is my comfort fic. i literally read it every single time i’m down. there is something so comforting in the stable relationship that spans over the chapters. i have a weakness for the together in every universe and together in all seven lives fics and this feeds me. it includes all my favourite things and i’m not sure how to explain it but it is safe to get lost in.

💥 somewhere in between by soldouthaz / @soldouthaz

this fic overwhelms me. sarah’s fics hold a simplicity that touches you. i’ve read my fair share of d/s fics but none of them rival this. often the fics are smut heavy which is not a bad thing at all but sometimes you take out the porn aspect of it and find a hollow story. that is definitely not the case in regards to this story. the characters are written with so much care and love. a very unique take on d/s elements. every scene is just as lovely as the last and it leaves you with a warm feeling.

💥 just a flicker in the dark by falsegoodnight / @falsegoodnight

what i wouldn’t give for this to be a movie *sigh* the best supernatural story i’ve read all year and i say this after binge reading a LOT of fantasy and elemental books. this one takes the crown. the characters are so well layered, the mystery is slow and the angst is simpering. the slow progress in their relationship and the uptaken case had me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, trying to solve the mystery. absolutely love this.

💥 Three Days In February by writing_practice

if you haven’t read it please don’t come near me. the finest of wines. am exquisite dance with shadows and words. this transports you into a whole new universe and i loved being there, surrounded by the best characters ever. the banter in this is unmatchable. honestly the secret/mystery drives you crazy until you realise it — it took me a long while to get it (mostly because i read it in one sitting after giving an exam. so worth it) the imagery and the magical realism in this makes me swoon! it needs to be a classic, god. 

#hljournal #hlcreators #mine #my post #fic recs #comfort fics 2020