#first line game
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Opening Lines
Thank for the tag @nodirectionhome-ao3 @blitheringmcgonagall and @annabtg! this looks fun
Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (or however many you have) posted fics and see if there's a pattern!
Going with the last 10 on AO3, so excluding some microfics that are only on tumblr.
To Bring Down a Kingdom
James had never lived in a world not torn apart by war.
2. Mind Games
The last thing she remembered before everything went dark was a bright light, a sharp crack, and then a sudden pain shooting down the side of her head.
3. Don't Look Back in Anger
Lily was running late.
4. A Different Kind of Love Story
“This is all your fault.”
5. And Then the Symphony Starts
Lily Evans doesn’t think about love much.
6. Up in Arms
Mary truly was a bad influence.
7. The Reckless Now
She doesn’t normally do this.
8. Shameless
February was bleak in the year nineteen seventy-seven.
9. to keep a promise
The last of autumn’s brown leaves kicked around her feet as she walked.
10. giving her away
He had loved Lily Evans from the moment he understood what love was.
Definitely a trend of short, sweet, and scene-setting. 🙃 Guess I should try for some variety in the future, no?
Tagging, if they fancy: @possessingtheproperspirit @wearingaberetinparis @thejilyship @petals2fish @practicecourts @kay-elle-cee @chierafied @jfleamont
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First line game:
"What is it now?" Thranduil said with exhaustion, peeling his eyes from the boring, but critical, reports piled high on his desk to give his hyperactive boy the attention he seemed to need.
Legolas shuffled his soft leather boots and stared at his feet. He honestly tried to occupy himself most days, but his Ada never seemed to have time for him, and he was lonely. “Gelennil says I’m getting better with my groupings. I can hit the second-farthest target now.” He winced, as it felt foolish to restate what the archery master had likely already told his father; Thranduil hummed and glanced sideways at his reports again. “I’m very proud of you, little leaf; why don’t you come here and tell me about it?”
thanks anon!
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writing patterns tag game
rules: list the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there's a pattern!
tagged by: @tawnyontumblr
I only have eight posted fics so far, so this is going to be a bit of a shorter list! All of these are Good Omens Aziraphale/Crowley fics.
"Aziraphale couldn’t sleep." Civil War AU part 2, After the Fight
“Crowley, my dear boy, what on earth are you doing?” Kitchen sex ficlet, Dough
“Thank you for stopping by, my dear boy. I’ll have your tintype ready to send to your sweetheart by the end of the day!” Civil War AU part 1, Coming into Focus
“Thank you very much! You’ve been a wonderful audience!” Renaissance Faire AU, Of Fire and Falcons
"Crowley was late." Stuck in an elevator AU, Hold the Lift
"It was a typical Saturday night party at the theater house, deep into rehearsals for the spring musical." College theater kids AU, Beyond the Barricade
"It was a sunny day in May, and Azira Fell hurried down the Via delle Quattro Fontane." Ineffable Wives as 19th century sculptors AU, Catching the Light
"It was late in the afternoon, nearly the darkest day of the year, and a gray chill seeped through the streets of London." Christmas Carol AU, Christmas is Definitely Not a Humbug
So my pattern seems to be either scene-setting statements or throwing people right into the deep end of the dialogue!
Tagging @brahms4thrackett @adverbian @voluptatiscausa @nosferatini
#good omens#good omens fanfiction#good omens fic#wip game#first line game#good omens fic recs#writers of after dark
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Nicky was not prepared for Joe to open the door on Halloween in a full-length Dracula cape with expertly drawn-on bite marks on the tempting tendons of his throat, nor was he expecting Joe to greet him with the words, "I vant to suck your blood!"
Largely this is because Nicky has not yet told Joe he's actually a vampire, and also because Nicky is an idiot.
Nicky was not prepared for Joe to open the door on Halloween in a full-length Dracula cape with expertly drawn-on bite marks on the tempting tendons of his throat, nor was he expecting Joe to greet him with the words, "I vant to suck your blood!"
Largely this is because Nicky has not yet told Joe he's actually a vampire, and also because Nicky is an idiot.
'Nicky,' Joe sighs, speaking awkwardly around the plastic fangs in his mouth. 'You were supposed to come in costume. What are you supposed to be?'
Nicky finally looks away from the twin puckers of what he (irrationally, because what else would it be?) hopes is liquid latex and fake blood on Joe's neck, and looks down at himself.
In his defence, he was on night-shift all week (it's a weak defence given he's always on night-shift, for fairly obvious reasons, but it's what he's got) and he forgot Halloween even existed by the end of his last shift.
It doesn't make the disappointment on Joe's face any easier to cope with, so in a burst of either genius or absolute stupidity, Nicky holds one hand up wait, and runs the other down from his nose, over his mouth, letting his fangs fall as he does.
'Tadah,' he says, smiling awkwardly and trying not to cringe at the sensation of baring his fangs at Joe while he has blood on his neck.
'Ve match!' Joe says, disappointment turned to delight. 'Your fangs look so good! So lifelike, did you make them in work?'
'Somefink like that,' says Nicky, resigning himself to an evening of pretending to struggle with speaking around fangs. At least he would be able to explain away staring at Joe's neck the way he usually explained away staring at Joe: Joe is very hot and Nicky is very weak for him.
killing myself at joe going full cliché vamp in front of nicky. hit me up with more first lines here
#ask me anything my dudes#joe and his vampire kink are about to have a GREAT halloween thank you for asking#first line game
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Writing Pattern Game
I was tagged by @zepskies and @kaleldobrev ♥️
Rules: Share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able and see if there are any patterns!
First Lines
Love to Hate You - Soldier Boy x F Supe!Reader.
‘His strength was phenomenal’
Undercover- Prologue - Detective Dean AU
Dean had woken with a start. A sheen of sweat covered his body, his limbs tangled in the sheets.
Undercover - Chapter One - Detective Dean AU
Dean walked through the winding streets of Pasadena, Los Angeles, making his way towards the precinct where he would now be working.
Undercover - Chapter Two - Detective Dean AU
Dean and Benny entered the abandoned warehouse, their Glock 19’s drawn, the flashlights that were tucked up beside the muzzle providing only a small amount of illumination through the dense shadows.
Invisible - Dean x F!Reader (eventual)
Y/N was Bobby’s niece.
Who Ya Gonna Call? - Jensen Ackles x Makeup Artist Reader
“You're going where?” Y/N asked, lightly brushing her thumb over Jensen's skin in order to blend the foundation she was applying to his face.
Right In Front Of Your Eyes - Barista!Dean x Barista!Reader
“How about this photo?”
Down on Dean - Dean Winchester x Female Reader
Hearing the distinct slam of the Impala’s door, Y/N was excited that her boyfriend, Dean, was home from his most recent hunt. She had been waiting in the crow's nest for him, bouncing on the balls of her feet impatiently, knowing what she had planned.
The Sheriff and the Painted Lady - Cowboy!Dean x F!Reader (Kind of)
Y/N stared at her reflection in the mirror. How had her life ended up like this?
No One Will Notice - Demon!Dean Winchester x Y/N
You hoped he would be back. The devilishly handsome man who, when you had first met him, had scared the hell out of you.
Patterns
Personally, I haven’t really noticed any patterns. Sometimes I start with dialogue, other times it’s descriptive 🤷🏻♀️
If anyone else notices something I don't, please point it out to me! ❤️
No pressure tags: @waywardbaby @iprobablyshipit91 @waynes-multiverse @wayward-dreamer @justagirlinafandomworld @princessmisery666 @pink-sparkly-witch @dean-winchester-is-a-warrior and anyone else who wants to join in.
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First Line Game
I was just thinking that I haven't seen one of these floating about in a while, so decided to start one. These are the general rules but I think people should play fast and loose with this - take part however you want and please tag me, as the last time we did this as a fandom, I found loads of brilliant fics to read and was reminded of many more I had already read! Here are mine: all Drarry except one Dron.
List the first lines of your last 10 stories (if you have fewer than 10, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 people!
Howl (M, 9k, werewolf Drarry): Draco woke up on a Friday morning in a field hospital in Grasmere, without a single memory of how he had got there.
Take the Moon (M, 15k, dad Draco, stepdad Harry, also werewolf Harry lmao): “I’ll do it, of course I’ll fucking do it,” Draco was saying, which didn’t make any sense, because he was supposed to be at work; maybe Harry was hallucinating him.
The Edge of Something (M, 1.5k, ghost sex which was basically the very reason i wrote the fic): “Well, the good news is that I’m not dead,” Malfoy said, the voice so very much his that it brought Harry out of bed and to his knees.
Far Side (M, 1k, werewolf Harry yet again and also good dad Draco yet again, what can i say i'm in a loop): Harry has a photo on his desk; he says it’s his favourite.
Snow on Snow (T, 1.1k, fake dating turned into safe house shenanigans): On the first night in the safe house, Harry was woken every hour by church bells.
Dreaming Skies (Dron, E, 20k, dragon tamer Ron and Draco who has nowhere else to go): Everything tasted better after working so hard all day that your palms bled.
Countdown to a Life (E, 3.5k, little moments in the first year of their relationship): Night-time, all the lights of London laid out in front of them from the balcony of Dean Thomas’s mum’s flat, the week before Christmas.
A Little Death Never Hurt Anyone (E, 4.2k, Master of Death Harry who is going through the Veil to try to raise the dead to help him defeat Voldemort): Draco was the only one awake when Harry got back.
Relic Radiation (M, 1k, Draco goes into space): “At least he waited until now. For Scorp's sake, I mean.”
Mortal Frame (M, 6.6k, Bellatrix left a Horcrux and Draco and Harry must track it down): The pub is called the Red Lion, and Harry thinks Draco might have chosen it on purpose, just for the name.
Hmm, I will admit that I don't think any of these are absolute bangers if I'm honest. Howl was supposed to start with "Something was burning" which I loved, but I had to switch things around so that's now further on in the fic. That said, I think my writing is better now than it used to be, even if the first lines don't necessarily reflect that. I have no patterns, clearly, though I was surprised to see myself starting with dialogue in quite a few of those, as I don't usually think of myself as a good dialogue writer.
My favourite of these is probably Countdown - I'm weak for a long run-on stream-of-consciousness sentence. Or maybe Edge as that would make me as a reader want to know what is happening (why might Draco have been dead??), or Snow because that gives a nice bit of set-up without feeling too heavy.
I did also cheat as the line from Dreaming Skies isn't the first line of the fic, it's the first line of the bit I wrote - @sweet-s0rr0w no doubt did start with a banger but it didn't feel right to nab that as my own.
I would really love to read everyone's so do please tag me if you do it!
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First Line Game
Tagged by @lexa-griffins and @talktomeinclexa
rules: don't reblog the first one, make a new post! look at the first lines of the last ten (10) stories you published. look to see any patterns you notice yourself, and see if anyone else notices any!
Whims/Winds of Fate/Destiny
"Fate is a funny thing. Just when you think you have your life planned out, destiny sweeps in and fucks it up. And the worst part? You're helpless to stop it."
hearts aren't always red, they're black and blue
"Here she comes, Heda. Just like Nate said," Bellamy offered with a bright smile as he nodded at the approaching railroad.
City of Light and Shadow
Copper eyes spanned the horizon, taking in the city below. From her perch atop a skyscraper, Anya could see everything. It was beautiful.
Wicked Game
There was a time when Clarke believed the ground was a magical place, full of beauty and wonder. From the Ark, it seemed so quiet and peaceful.
A Tale of Two Queens
"Alexandria, are you even listening to me?" Her mother's voice was annoyed when she pulled the brunette's focus from the two adults and blonde girl in the courtyard.
Wolfy-shit
"Thanks for walking with me," Clarke offered as they turned the corner leading to Howl and the brunette smiled.
Into the Woods
"Leksa? What happened?" Indra's brown eyes were wide with astonishment when she opened her door, and Lexa could only imagine how it might look to the Mage.
Skaikrasha
"Why the hell hasn't the Sky Princess been executed yet?!" Costia demanded as she entered the apartment, tossing her purse and jacket at her assistant, Raja, then waving her off. The assistant hurried away, knowing this was a conversation she didn't wish to hear.
Echoes of You (Within me)
"Klark…" Lexa's words came out as barely a murmur as the blonde alpha pulled her body flush against her own and grazed her teeth over the omega's pulse point.
Lost in Translation
"Please, don't do this!!" Clarke begged. This wasn't happening. There had to be a mistake, he wouldn't abandon her. Not like this.
Tagging @sandyrook77 @mozz14
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Rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there’s a pattern!
Fun!!!
My Girl
“He heard the screaming coming from inside the house before he even reached the door.”
Heat
“She really wasn’t dressed for this.”
To Win
“It wasn’t like it was uncommon for her to make her way into his ‘repertoire’ pretty much on the regular these days.”
Crystalline
“It wasn’t an especially long drive, considering they left before rush hour.”
The Innocent Man
“The worst part of it was the time.”
A (Finger) Painted House
“They like you.”
A Time For Mercy
“Rhea parked out front right by the house as she came to pick up Marcus.”
Rough Night
“Beth was drunk.”
Patterns?: These self critiques are so funny, because all this time we spend overthinking our own works, we never think to actually appreciate our own “style.” I’m loving seeing everyone lay out their own patterns. It becomes so apparent how each of us likes to communicate. I think I like to begin each work with matter-of-fact statements. Just blatant realities of whatever universe I would like to eventually reveal to the reader. They are intended to feel even a little shocking sometimes. Taken on their own, they’re sometimes a little too honest. And then I like to temper them with more muddied descriptions of whatever is going on in the moment, making it harder to remember just how absurd the given situation actually is.
Tagging: Everyone please do this! It’s really fun to self-assess and to allow us all to see your voice when you write. I think everyone is already tagged. So please just take this as another tag and try it out. It’s a fun exercise.
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Writing Pattern Game 11/15/23
Thank you for tagging me @zepskies, @deanwanddamons, @deanwinchesterswitch <3 I enjoyed reading your first lines and encourage others to check them out here, here, and here respectively.
Rules: Share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able and see if there are any patterns!
Slow Fire Burn // Dean W. x Reader
We know how this is going to end.
I Never Told You // Bucky B. x Reader
You gazed unseeingly at the placid bay that glittered from the light of the setting sun.
I Close My Eyes and All I See Is You // Dean W. x Reader
Dean stilled, the drink halfway to his lips, once he noticed the song playing through the speakers of the jukebox.
Forever Yours // Bradley B. x Reader
You had barely made it into the driveway, shifting the vehicle into park before Bradley was pushing your seat back, already hard from your playful hands on the drive.
Promise Me // Dean W. x Reader
The sunlight filtered in through the smudged glass of the motel room window, splashing the white sheets in warmth.
I'm Driving // Dean W. x Reader
“How did you get to me?” It came out as a growl as you rolled your eyes to the ceiling.
The Reason, The Answer // Bucky B. x Reader
He was cracked earth; the years lost to Hydra depleting his soil of everything good.
You Should'a Kissed Me // Bucky B. x Reader
Bucky shut off the engine and for a moment it was his frustrated breath, the crickets and creaking of the trees in the still night air.
What You Gave Me // Sam Wilson x Reader
“If I have paint on my face, you can just tell me,” you dead-panned.
Bravery in the Depths // Dean W. x Reader
You cinched the strap tighter around the meat of your thigh, pulled against the buckles of the harness.
So all of these were in June and July and man am I reminded of how much fun I had writing over the summer. But let's see, is there a pattern? Perhaps there is a preference to setting the scene over beginning with dialogue. Nature is included more than once (I'm including references to sun and sunlight in this).
Feel free to point something out if you see a pattern that I don't!
No Pressure Tags: @princessmisery666 @firefly-in-darkness @gone-to-fight-the-fairies @cocoamoonmalfoy @indyluckycharlie @writingsoftheloser @lost-between-letters and anyone else who wants to play!
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I was tagged by the absolutely superb @justhere4thevibez to play this one! 😘
Rules: List the first line of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern. Here’s mine, minus any dates or song lyrics… click the emoji for a link to the story!
👩🏻❤️👨🏻 Hawkins General Hospital had the same cold, antiseptic smell as the tank room at the NINA facility.
🕷️ The phone rang while they were eating dinner, which was one of Hopper’s particular pet peeves.
🎶 Will’s nose and lip are both still bleeding a little when Lucas spots him outside the gym locker room.
👨🏻🍼 “Uncle Wayne, where’s my dad?”
😭 Please don’t leave me he begs.
📫 Once again, it begins with a letter.
📨 The letter arrives on an otherwise perfectly ordinary Wednesday afternoon.
💪🏻 Max Mayfield has faced a lot of scary shit in her life, and she’s always won.
📝 Dear Chrissy, I’m horrible at writing letters, but I promised you I’d keep in touch, so here you go.
🫶 On a chilly afternoon in early spring, Joyce answers an unexpected knock on her door to find Eddie on the front steps.
I guess the only pattern I can see, developing in the later fics, is to start right in the middle of things (or in medias res, as my high school creative writing teacher would say). And that for whatever reason I don’t usually start with dialogue. 🤔 interesting.
Tagging 🫵 you, if you want to play!
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Rules: Post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to ao3. if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics.
Tagged by @shortsighted-owl @jobairdxx @alyxmastershipper @spaceprincessem @thekristen999 @rogerzsteven You all light up my life. 💕
No Place The dizziness is overwhelming for a moment, it builds and build until it’s so intense he thinks he might be sick, with his vision blurred like it is it’s impossible to make out where he is.
Will be finished tomorrow but first parts onAO3 now, coma Buck meets the people he loves, some of them know Evan but nobody knows Buck, and Eddie’s nowhere to be found.
Good Knight Sweet Prince Prince Evan is almost 16 years old when he meets the love of his life for the first time, of course he doesn’t know that and won’t really understand fully for another decade.
My beloved wip 5 chapters out Prince Buck and his knight Eddie.
Just Another Minute“Hey Buck, it’s me.” He doesn’t want to hold his hand yet.
Buck’s in a coma Eddie waits.
This Must Be Love The living room table is all set up and ready, Buck’s stash of pens, pencils and various school based items has increased ten fold over the last few years.
Valentines day fluff pea included.
Who You Gonna Call? Silence fills the room as soon as Eddie hangs up the phone.
A series of phone calls between Buck and Eddie lead to love.
Could Have Should Have Would Have “I love you.” Three words, that’s all, just three and they hang in the air surrounded by the heaviest silence Buck’s ever felt.
Eddie’s been dating a guy for 3 months which is obviously when Buck decides to say I love you.
Home Wanted “Christopher! Come on! Bucks waiting.”
Established Buddie, Chris wants a pet
Reach For Me and I'll Reach For You It shouldn’t be so easy, Eddie thinks blinking up at the ceiling, to recognise that you’ve been involved in an explosion.
Whump!Buck hurt/comfort /team work the boys get trapped and Buck’s more hurt than he’s saying.
Sweater Number 23 It’s December, Eddie knows that because he has a kid and the countdown to Christmas is a big event in any child’s calendar.
24 Christmas sweaters lead to love
Ripples Buck loves visiting with Maddie, his love for his sister is endless and now he has a niece to dote on as well his visits to the Buckley-Han household are even more fun.
(Sequel to Alone with your thoughts) Buck tells Maddie who he saw when he was dying.
Tagging @monsterrae1 @the-likesofus @like-the-rest-of-la @ajunerose @dickley-buddie @hippolotamus @elvensorceress @bekkachaos @jacksadventuresinwriting @sibylsleaves @fiona-fififi @lostinabuddiehaze @swiftiediaz @loveyourownsmiilee @buddierights and anyone else I’ve missed who would like to share
#first line game#tag games#spotty scribbles#911 fic#911 on fox#buddie fic#buddie#eddie diaz#evan buckley#911fic#buddie fanfic
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writing pattern game
Rules: Share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able and see if there are any patterns! (from most recent to least recent, starting from the top)
tagged by @spicedrobot💖 This was such a fun one, thanks! I've chosen to limit how many of each fandom I show, or else it'd be 90% avatar 5 worders.
A Friend In Need (Arcane, Jinx & Viktor)
Jinx and Viktor make it to the safety of her lair just as he loses consciousness.
All The Pieces Of Your Soul (Star Wars, Tarkin & Ahsoka)
'No, I wish I were joking, but I'm not.'
A River In Egypt (Barbie, Ken & others)
At first, the loneliness was crushing.
Five Is An Awful Number (Avatar, OC & Miles Quaritch)
Five is an awful number.
A Future In The Stars (Star Wars, Taron Malicos & others)
Taron Malicos is having a bad day, at the tail end of a bad few years, when the Jedi comes.
A Little Luck (Avatar, Mansk & Tuk)
Z-dog is dead at Mansk's feet—dead beyond the need to even check for a pulse.
Mocha In A Bowl (TMA, You & Elias Bouchard)
You're a barista.
A Growing Ache (Elden Ring, You & Gurranq)
It starts with an ache—it always does, doesn't it?
I'll Make It Worth Your While (Star Wars, OC & Cad Bane)
It all started with a bit of food.
Ambition (LoL, You & Jericho Swain)
You have no idea why you're guiding a Noxian general through the southern jungles of Navori.
Pattern? I seem to find 5-6 words to be the sweet spot. Other fics I browsed confirmed this. I prefer cold opens in media res, few words... Worst offender is a regency era Arcane AU that opens with
Also a lot of 'this is how it started' statements for works with more narrative voices, I guess?
Tagging @skierunner, @bucky-yes @zkyfall @spaceprincessleia @pinkytoothlesso11 @calyxgold @kitepiper @ashcroft-writes @sluttysuperheroes
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For the first sentence ask...
Turgon entered his private chambers with all the careless confidence of one who deems himself utterly alone--he was, however, woefully mistaken.
It was unfortunate, really, as he had ardently planned on sipping a glass of warm wine while reading missives-the first snow in Nevarast never ceased to bring a bone-deep chill that seeped into his bones and brought about shallowly buried memories of creaking and splitting ice. Anxious shuffling and rustling drew his attention to heavy, jacquard silk curtains; curtains that he was confident had been neatly tied back with golden sashes that morning. One of the curtains giggled and then gasped as if startled before going silent once more. Turgon approached the stiff fabric, making himself as conspicuous as possible, and the material fairly vibrated. He drew back the drapery with an expression of mock horror, and out leapt a golden whirlwind, fetchingly draped in the missing sashes.
“I scared you!” Idril exclaimed with no small amount of pride.
thank you for the lovely prompt @i-did-not-mean-to
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tagged by @hardly-an-escape in the first line game- thanks!
(I only have three finished fics for The Sandman, so I'm gonna blatantly copy @hardly-an-escape and include the first lines of some WIPs)
Safe in the Palm of Your Hands
Morpheus, King of Dreams and Nightmares, Dream of the Endless.
Lord Shaper.
2. Body and Soul
Dream doesn’t believe in miracles the way humans do. But, he thinks, there must be some sort of magic responsible for the way he is currently being kissed passionately by Hob Gadling.
3. Now I Lay Me
It’s getting late.
While Hob’s appointments with Dream have become far more frequent than once a century, he still finds himself stretching each meeting as long as he can, reluctant to let his friend leave.
(and some WIPs cause yolo)
(Someday I'll finished something)
4. Endless, Not Everything
It’s unsurprising in hindsight that the first to make the decision is Delight.
5. 100 Years of Drowning
The first problem is obvious.
“You are aware,” Dream drawls, “that I can simply become clean if I will it.”
6. Faulty Foundations
Dream tries not to think about it too much, because it makes something in his heart ache when he does.
How he was made wrong.
7. With Intention
The past two months have been a whirlwind for Hob Gadling in the best way possible.
8. (untitled "Dream doesn't understand consent" story)
It's jarring, uncomfortable, painful. The idea that the realm where Dream ruled was where he felt the least control.
9. Erase the Scoreboard
The problem, Hob thinks, is that Dream ultimately struggles with balance. Left to his own devices, he is a pendulum swinging back and forth, never managing to settle in a comfortable middle. It is endearing, and frustrating, and heartbreaking, and so very sweet, but Dream simply tries much too hard.
10. Come Morning Light
Dream has nightmares too.
Not quite the way humans do. Sleep is different for him, takes him to a different place in the Dreaming than mortals. Sometimes, when exhaustion overwhelms him and he closes his eyes just a moment too long, whether in the Dreaming or the Waking, he will find himself drawn into the deepest depths of the Dreaming. Cold and vast and barren, the inside of a mirror that reflects his own wants and fears.
I'll tag @cuubism, @omgcinnamoncakes, @wordsinhaled, and @yourlocal-charlatan
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somehow, nicky was just positive, this was andy's fault
Somehow, Nicky was just positive, this was Andy's fault. It had her fingerprints all over it.
'... The crown jewel of our summer season,' says the programme director of the Royal Albert Hall, an obsequious man Nicky usually avoided at all costs. 'We can't wait to see what your partnership will bring to our stage.'
He leaves after another round of gladhanding and assurances that contracts and details were already with their respective agents just waiting for their signatures.
Summer sessions of modern classics. Always a crowd pleaser, but not particularly Nicky's favourite works to perform. Without fail they'd want him to play Interstellar on the organ. Worse still, it meant a year of working with Joe when you added in all the rehearsal time they'd need, and negotiating setlists and promotion and all the minutiae that he usually tried to escape. Nicky was in this for the music, but somehow that ended up being the smallest part of his job.
'Well,' says Joe, smiling awkwardly, 'That's that then. I look forward to working with you.'
'And you, also,' Nicky says, short and to the point, already wondering how little he can get away with spending time with Joe.
'I hope we can be professional,' Joe continues, and it's like a firework in Nicky's brain, anger and wounded pride trailing noisily after the rocket of Joe's words.
'Really,' Nicky snaps, rearing back. 'You're saying that to me?'
Joe looks stricken, straight away, hands up and frantic.
'No—that's not—I didn't mean—fuck!'
Nicky flinches a little at the vehemence in Joe's voice as he bites off the curse and shuts his eyes, squeezing the bridge of his nose like he has a headache.
'I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry,' Joe says, still with his eyes closed. 'I just don't know where to go from here without apologising, and you clearly don't want that, which is fine, but I don't want to be walking on eggshells with you for the next year.'
'I don't want your apology because it's not for me,' Nicky says, before his brain gets a chance to voice an opinion.
Joe opens his eyes just wide enough to squint at him.
'What?'
In for a penny.
'You don't want to apologise to me because you think it'll make up for the things you said to me,' Nicky says, looking Joe dead in the eyes. 'You want to apologise because you feel guilty, and you want that feeling to go away. I don't want your apology, and I still don't want your pity.'
Joe gapes at him, face slack with shock.
'That's—' he stutters after a second. 'That's not true, that's not—'
'Fair?' Nicky offers, hopping up to sit on the director's desk. If he has to have this conversation, he might as well be comfortable. 'I think it's plenty fair, myself. Am I wrong?'
'Yes!' cries Joe, throwing his hands up, before he seems to shrink into himself a little, his hands coming to rest in his hair. 'Or no. Not completely, maybe. I don't expect you to instantly forgive me, but how would you feel to be constantly remembered only for the worst thing you ever did? Something you did as a shitty, jealous, petty teenager, that you regretted as soon as you did it?'
There's a lot to unpack there. Nicky blinks at Joe, and can see the earnestness in his eyes, the genuine regret and apology.
But that moment crystallised something in Nicky; made some part of him hard and cold and impenetrable.
'Funny,' Nicky says. 'I just remember the first boy I ever thought I loved telling me he hated me, and that we had never even been friends. I didn't think about how difficult a moment that must have been for you.'
Joe closes his eyes again, his jaw so tense Nicky can see it tick even through his beard.
'Professional,' Nicky says, sliding back off the desk. 'I can be professional. We're not children anymore. I'm sure you can do the same.'
'We're not children anymore, no,' says Joe, very quietly. 'But I can still be sorry for what I did as a child, and I can still hope to make amends. I threw your friendship in your face once, and I've regretted it ever since. If a professional relationship is all you want, then I respect that, and I understand. But I hope we can try friendship again, one day.'
Nicky stares at him, fifteen years of resentment and hurt choking him. It must show on his face, because Joe looks painfully, terribly sad.
'I'd like to be your friend,' says Joe, so quietly Nicky almost struggles to hear him. 'But I know what I said to you, and how I treated you was wrong. I'm not seventeen anymore though. I'm not the same person you knew.'
Part one
Part two
Part three
Send first line prompts here
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First Lines
Rules: Share the first line of your last ten published works or as many as you are able to and see if there are any patterns!
I was tagged by @between-thepages, thank you :)
"Counting secret taxes again, Roche?" (From Novigrad Tales: In Our Winter City, The Rain Cries A Little Pity)
"Your Majesty, the minstrels are here." (From The Forgotten Tales, Chapter 28, The high and mighty show up, the king is in doubts)
The trip to Toussaint was a disaster from the start. (From The Script For My Requiem, Road of No Release Part VII)
The palace’s air was suffocating. (From Lavender)
"You want me to do what?" (From A Sacrificial Rite To Render Truth)
Of all the complicated lovers Geralt ever had, Emhyr var Emreis was the worst. (From Find Me Naked In My Virgin Misery)
The bed squeaked ominously as the feline nudged him onto it with a smooth movement. Lambert's heartbeat throbbed in his ear. (From Our Sick Story (Thus Far))
It all started with a game of chess. (From A Symptom Of Being Human)
The ford was still partially flooded when Lambert crossed the Pontar. Heavy summer rains had resulted in the floodwaters rolling downriver in a brown mass, making the river nearly impassable. The ferry at the village two days from here had sunk at the beginning of the flood, which had forced Lambert to ride several days upriver to reach the ford. Normally he would have managed the ride in half the time, if he rode hard, not sparing the horse and forgoing sleep. But he had been too tired for that, the slower pace upriver had allowed for a welcome break to recover from his latest contract. (From The Unforgiven)
Blue-gray was the world, both shrunk and gigantic equally. (From "Across The Waves")
It's interesting for me to see how often I started with a one-liner in this last ten fics. Also, I started with a dialog three times out of ten. Six out of those ten are Emralt stories, the other are Emhyr/Impera Officer, Emhyr/Regis, Lambert/Aiden and one is a gen story. Cool! Oh, and technically, the lines from "The Unforgiven" aren't even mine, I think. Maybe all of this was written by @valandhirwriter.
I'm gonna tag @valandhirwriter, @regis-favorite-raven, @gleamingsilence, @jayofolympus, @definitely-not-iorveth and @beardedladyqueen AND, as I always forget people, YOU reading this. Have fun.
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