#idk i felt like they fit too much into the OC cliche and i already loved them and was so worried you guys wouldn't

[sharkneto]

the last post you reblogged about not being able to predict reader's reactions--how would you say shifting together has faired in terms of how you expected readers would react versus reality

My uncertainty with sharing Shifting Together was I did not know how they'd be received with how OC heavy it is. I was not expecting the Rob Love. Or Sarah love, but especially not the Rob love.

A thing that stopped me from sharing those fics for a long time was-- well, primarily that I needed to get orsumfenix's blessing to do so because they're very blatantly based on their fic. But after that was because they are OC heavy, especially JT. There's something much more vulnerable about sharing OCs rather than fic with just established characters. We already know we like the established characters - it's why we're reading fanfic in the first place, to get more of them and their dynamics and relationships. OC's throw homemade blorbos into the mix and they do have a bit of a stigma; an unfair one, I think, but a stigma nonetheless for being self-inserts and Mary Sues and generally disruptive to the characters and dynamics fic is being read for in the first place.

What I expected from readers was... a tolerance. An understanding of what I was doing with my OC's to use them as an outside POV for a specific lens with which to look at and explore our Hargreeves. I love outside POV for bringing attention to weird shit we've gotten used to, and then their step away from the Main Plot let us have a different angle on characters, what was happening, and the plot in general. I started with HIT specifically to minimize OC presence. We have our Hargreeves and we start in their (Allison's) POV, rather than diving straight in with Walters' POV, like JT does. I was hoping dipping readers toes into Rob and Sarah with HIT would get you guys to like them enough to be willing to read much more of them in JT to see what Number was doing the two and a half years prior to HIT.

What I didn't expect was the pretty immediate love and thirst for Rob and the warming to Sarah that happened in HIT. I will say - I get the Rob love. I adore Rob, he's my special little Just A Guy. And he really gets more of a chance to shine in HIT than Sarah does because of his relationship he develops with Five. JT is Sarah's show. So, in retrospect, I Get It. But it's also just Very Special that you guys embraced Rob and Sarah, and Number to a lesser extent, so much that there are people who want to write fic with them, who have drawn fanart of them, who think about them on their own. Those are my guys! I made them up! And yet! They're off existing in your guys' heads! Wild!

In general, I wasn't expecting Shifting Together to be as big as it feels like it is. I didn't expect there to be a community around it. Hoped, obviously, as I've spent over two years writing it all, but didn't expect it. It felt too a little too niche, being an AU fic of an AU fic, and, with JT, too... unstructured? with it being slice-of-life.

It was strategic that I shared HIT first and JT became a prequel rather than the first in the series as I had originally written it. It was strategic that I shared the first three chapters of HIT within a week. I was desperate to hook you guys. See? Allison and Luther are here! See? Five is here and he has a big fight! I'm teasing that we'll get Other Five later! Just begging and hoping you guys would tolerate my OCs enough to hang around and see this story I'd written and was very proud of.

Over a year later and almost finished with JT, I see now I didn't have to be that nervous and desperate about it.

Thanks for the love, everyone <3

#more generally i didn't expect the /response/ to HIT #i hadn't really written fic before i originally started writing JT and HIT and had only dabbled with sharing multi-chapter fics #i didn't expect you guys to talk to me about it - which i /love/ doing #in the ao3 comments and on tumblr #it's very very special to me and i'm very soft about it all if i think about it too hard #i don't think i can stress enough how nervous i was about sharing rob and sarah #as they'd started from a Just For Me fic project (JT) to fill time in the pandemic #''here's my super smart physics professor who works with five in her lab!'' #''here's my psychiatrist who is blatantly here so i can ramble about five's psyche!'' #idk i felt like they fit too much into the OC cliche and i already loved them and was so worried you guys wouldn't #so thank you for loving them! #hit #jt #i should have a rob tag #sarah #thanks for asking and i hope you don't mind a ramble! #ask response

[sporadic-writer]

What's in a name? part 3

Bucky Barnes x OC

Warnings: swearing, alochol, weed, maybe other stuff? Idk fir sure but stop reading if you don't like something.

Summary: Avengers & X-Men together, Bucky and E get rebellious, some deja vu happens, and Bucky visits the home of the famous mutants. (I'm bad at summaries..)

Part 1 here

Part 2 here

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E continued to chat with the Avengers at the end of the bar. Light chatter and friendly conversation flowed easily and freely. The whole time Bucky's arm stayed around her and her's around him. They paired easily together, it felt right and E appreciated that he rolled with it. His vibe with her's meshed very well, and the others noticed. Never before had Bucky been so casual and comfortable.

Eventually, people went to their seats when a light dinner began to be served. E sat at her respective table and as she sat she subtly looked for where Bucky was seated. With a quick glance, her eyes met his. He was already looking at her and the solider kept sneaking looks at the mutant throughout the whole meal. Following dinner, the auction winners were announced. There were a few trips she bid on, but sadly won nothing. Bucky laughed sofly to himself when her saw her mouth "fuckin hell" after a trip to Japan went to someone not her. He laughed because she comes from on of the most powerful teams on the planet and could travel anywhere at any moment. But he minded his own for the rest of the prize winners.

Towards the end of the light meal and prize announcements, he glaced at E and truly took note of her. Her hair looked like silver silk, shiny and beautiful. She twirled her wrist and her drink stirred. Suddenly, he was hit with a sense of deja vu. It hit him hard and he almost thought it would trigger a memory. Rather, he was hit with a feeling of comfort towards the woman. A sense of familiarity. As if he had witness and experienced her doing that sime action before. It threw him off, but Bucky has had crazier, and worse things, happen to him so he brushed it off. Although he made a mental note potentially bring it up to someone.

Once that was over, people began to move around and socialize again. His gaze went towards E's direction, but he frowned when she was gone. After searching a bit, and some help from Sharon, he found himself heading towards the empty patio area outside. The sight he was met with was not expected. E sat on a table, hair pushed over one shoulder, and took no notice to the rest of the world. What shocked him was her reaching into her bra and pulling out a joint. He was curious as to where the lighter was. However, he saw her snap her fingers and a flame appeared. Never before had he witness something like that. Based off how he was raised, a lady's cigaret was lit by the nearest gentleman. She brought it to her lips and lit up, free and independent. There was no hesitation or nervousness to be in trouble. Before he had a chance to speak up, she beat him to it.

"James, if it bothers you, I'm not leaving. I was here first." Her voice was firm, but not harsh. The playfulness was still present.

"No.. Just wasn't expecting it. How did you know I was out here?" At this point he came and stood next to her. The smell became stronger and he wondered what Steve would say if he saw this moment.

She took a hit and ashed it against the table. "I can feel vibrations through the ground. Certain people have distinct footsteps that I can tell easier than others. Your's is light but still heavy. If that makes any sense..?" She laughed at how odd her own sentence sounded. "Maybe this hit harder than I thought?"

"Nah I get what you mean. Any reason for that? If you don't mind me asking."

She tooked to him and exhaled through her nose. "Got too stuffy in there. The big wigs at my table kept getting serious during this fun event. I wanted to come out here and get out of that mood." She shrugged her shoulders in a casually. Then she pinched the joint between her fingers and held it to him in an offering manner. "Want a hit?"

His eyes must have shown some amusing panic because E giggled and told him he didn't have to.

"I- I just never have. I don't even know if it'd effect me. I can barely get drunk."

Her expression went to thought. "Huh.. I never thought about that. Makes sense though. I mean.. I cannot easily either, but this is strong shit. It works for me."

"Yeah. But I never said I am opposed to trying." He pinched it and he took a super soldier sized puff. She told him to truly inhale it like a cigaret. He followed her instructions and found himself in a coughing fit. Silver hair falled to the front of her face as she leaned forward and laughed.

"Ahh hahaha deep breaths solider! It'll be fine." Her laugh filled the small patio and he glared and coughed again lightly. Her hand on his back easily helped calm down. Her touch was soft and he felt better again.

"Oh hush. We all cannot be stoners like you."

"I've been doing this for decades. You just gotta keep up." She offered another hit but he declined. Then she finished it. "Think you are alright to head back inside?"

He nodded. "I don't think it did anything. Now I just smell."

She stood up and got closer to him. His breath hitched as she pulled him closer and fixed his tie. Smooth he thought. "Trust me Sarge. You're fine." The silkiness that was her voice almost made his knees give out. He stood dumbly as she walked back inside. The sound of the door snapped him out of the trance.

By the time he caught up, E was already back in the main room. He could smell her perfume strongly, indicating she put a bit more on. This woman was nothing he had ever experienced before. Coming over to her, she smiled and kept conversing with Thor. His arm went around her waist just as it has before dinner. In his mind, no other pose felt more natural. She fit at his side perfectly. Then the two stayed close until the party eventually ended.

"I have to head back. I'm getting tired. Not that this hasn't been fun. My bed it just better right now to me." E hugged and said goodbye to the Avengers. Her hug with Bucky being the last and longest hug. He ended up walking her out and waited for her car to arrive.

"I had fun tonight. And I have you to thank for that." A blush appeared on her face at Bucky's words. "This didn't feel like an obligation with you shaking things up."

Her heels clicked as she walked up to him real close for the second time that night. "If ya want, you can swing by the school tomorrow. Come check it out? See how us X-Men live. Then things can keep shaking up for you."

"I'd like that doll." She inhaled sharply and tried to hide a quick laugh. "Something funny?"

Her eyes met his. "No no I just didn't expect you to call me that. I liked it but thought it was too cliche considering your age. So I just got amused for a second. Plus no one has called me that since the 50s."

"I forget your almost as old as me. But get used to it. It suits you." He got some courage and pushed some hair behind her ear. Her hair was soft and silky in his fingers. He wanted nothing more but to see how soft her full lips were. But life has other plans because her car drove up. Her purple eyes turned to look at the black town car.

"Yeah but I haven't hit a century yet. You and Steve have me beat there. But I have to go. Come by tomorrow?" There was hope in her voice. She wanted to see him again.

His hand fell to her shoulder. "I wanna see how you mutants live. I'll be there in the afternoon. Around 3?"

She nodded and leaned up to kiss his cheek. "That works for me." Her voice was soft in his ear. "Goodnight James." Her smile was the last thing he saw before her car went off and out of the city.

"Goodnight doll."

THE NEXT DAY

Bucky Barnes was not as bold as he used to be, but he also wasn't as timid as some assumed. Joining the Avengers helped with that. However, walking into the mansion that house the X-Men, both new and old, was a humbling and somewhat nerve enducing moment for him. These people had powers and could crush him with their minds. So when a blue, hairy man with glasses approached as various people walked around, he didn't know what to expect.

"Can I help you?" He asked Bucky. Who simply looked shocked at what he was seeing, as a young kid who looked to be made of marble passed by. He was sure he had seen everything know.

Quickly, he gained his composure and responded. "Um yeah. I am here to meet E. She said to meet her inside right up front, but I am a little out of my element here."

The man chuckled, "It can be a lot to take in at first, but I have seen your group with the Hulk, not much different than us. But follow me, E got held up outside. I'm Hank by the way." They began walking and Bucky introduced himself. Passing to a doorway outside, he saw a picture of you, Hank, a blue woman, and a couple others in yellow suits. Your hair was a little shorter, slightly wavier. You all looked offical and like a true team.

Next thing he knew, he was outside and saw groups of people all about. There was a white haired woman teaching a class of students, Wade seemingly playing lawn darts with a short haired young lady and another with pinkish hair, also there was a man with narrow glasses talking to a woman with wings. It was a sight.

"I have to go back inside, class to teach, but she is over by the pond. And welcome to the school for gifted youth Bucky." With that he walked away and scanned the pond. He was completely caught up with the sight before him.

Now Bucky expected her to be at the edge of the pond. He did not expect E to be sliding on the water's surface running to catch something. A woman with an afro threw something out and she ran on the water more then puffed some air from her feet and she flew up a bit to catch it, and landly softly to top it off. It looked as easy as walking to her. The woman who threw, what he noticed was a football, saw him staring.

"Hey E we have a fan club." Her head turned and Bucky waved. Still standing on the pond, you smiled brightly and waved back. Then yelled for him to come over. He got closer and her hair flowed in the wind, it shined in the sun like his arm did.

"THAT was incredible." He looked her up and down as she walked off the water onto the land as if they were the same things. She blushed and looked down a little.

"Thanks, I get caught up here. We all do when it comes to using our powers. After all we got them, might as well use them."

"It's a bit more impressive than that doll." He was about to hug and give her a proper hello but the woman she was with came over.

Tossing the ball to E she said, "I am gonna kick Wade's butt in lawn darts. While you give him the grand tour, you can put the ball away. Later!" She smiled at Bucky before she trotted towards the activity he was pretty sure was illegal.

"That was Neena, aka Domino. She wanted to see how her luck would play out if I lit the ball on fire and stuff for her to catch. Or she would close her eyes or throw the ball ridiculously." Holding the ball up, he noted the slight small scortch marks. "But she ruined my grand surprise of your tour! Come on I'll show you around. She grabbed his hand and the same feeling washed over him as it did last night. He felt as if he had lived a moment like this before, maybe a little different, but surely it had happened in some fashion. She caught note of his change and checked on him. But he insisted he was fine. And he was. The feeling went as soon as it came. As she became somewhat convinced, she gave a cool tour. She showed him the mansion and eventually they ended up eating some lunch in her room.

Looking around while you got something to drink, he saw a similar picture as the one in the main area to go outside. This time it was the same group lined up outside of a bunker. All of you smiled. On her dresser there was another one of her with a blond man, same as the yellow suit group. But this was a candid photo of a couple, he could tell. Something stirred inside him and he couldn't place the feeling other than unpleasant and confused. The pair were by a pinball machine. E was playing and he was behind her with his hands at her sides. His face was close to her ear and they both smiled brightly. The only things he could tell was that the clothes matched something more from the 60s, and it looked like an old part of the mansion he saw.

A quiet voice that belonged to the woman im the photo made him turn around quickly. "His name was Alex. I am assuming you have questions?"

"I am assuming he isn't around anymore so I don't if it makes you uncomfortable." She nodded not tentitivly and he continued. "Then yeah kinda. Who is he? Because he doesn't seem like a friend and he has been in three photos now. Is he as old as the rest of you?"

E sat on her bed as she spoke, "If it weren't for us, we would have gone through nuclear warfare with the Russians and evil mutants."

Looking back at the pictures and back to E he connected the dots. "You were at the Cuban Missile Crisis? You and that group stopped this nation from becoming a nuclear wasteland?" She nodded yes. "Wow.."

"I am a founding member. Me, Hank/ Beast, Raven/ Mystique, Charles/ Professor X, Sean/ Banshee, Erik/ Magneto, then Alex/ Havok. There were a couple others too, but they aren't around anymore." As E spoke she pointed to each member. "A woman named Moira took the photos for us. She was a human CIA agent." E smiled fondly as she remembered the people she once knew.

Looking back to the pinball picture he asked the question burning his brain. "So what happened? You and him seem close."

She smirked, "Jealous much?" The smirk fell when she saw his face. "Sorry... The group of us were recruited and trained together. We started all of this. We were Charles's first students. Eventually, Alex and I became close. After the events on the beach we stayed here together. We, we were very close."

"How close? And what happened?" Bucky tried to not pry, but he wanted to know about every detail of her past for some reason.

"Maybe we should hold off on the rest of this conversation. It's a deep topic for me and my private life is heavily guarded. Everything online was approved by me. You don't even know my name for God's sake." In her heart, E wanted to tell him everything for some reason. She wanted to pour out her whole past. Hell, she wanted to tell him her name.

"But you just told me about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Plus I keep having these feelings that I already know you. I can't explain it. It's like deja vu but 100 times more." His heart was racing. He sat next to her on her bed. Her eyes were full of thought and past troubles, different to the playfulness typically there.

She sighed. "It feels weird for me too. Almost like I want to tell you. But.. My past is dark. I was a lab rat, and a victim of Hydra and the Nazi's torture. You, me, and Erik are all in the same boat. But my is worse than yours if that's not hard to believe. I was a mess before Charles found me in 1963. Listen, I will tell you in time. I promise. But can we please go back to a happier mood?" She grabbed his hand and her eyes pleaded for him to understand.

He squeezed her hand and nodded. She sighed in relief. "Just answer me one question?" She nodded. "Do you still have that suit? Because that is almost sexier than the outfit you had on last night." You lightly splashed him with water you summonded from your glass as both of you laughed. He groaned as he laughed and you pulled back the water and made sure he was dry.

"You are incorrigable James Barnes." As she spoke she got closer to his face and lightly kissed him. His lips were soft against E's full ones. The metal of his hand was smoith against her hip. The soldier hummed as they kissed. In her heart and mind she knew she would probably end up telling him everything. And that only terrified the woman a teeny bit.

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I know this isn't my most popular fic, but for those who do read, I hope you enjoy. Same goes for new readers. As always, like and reblog!

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