Daniel Craig as James Bond, filming a subsequently-deleted scene in Spectre (2015)

for the writing ask:

18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.

Oh, what a great question from the Fun Meta Asks for Writers meme! I want to talk about Off the Books Chapters 12 & 13 here. Content-warning for a passing description of 00Q dub-con:

When I first started planning Off the Books, I could immediately see the beginning and the final destination. Over the next month, I wrote a scene-by-scene outline, mapping out the investigation plot and the relationship arc. But after a few months of refining and tweaking the full outline, I decided I needed to change Bond’s characterization and the planned blocking for the first two “intimate” scenes (Chapters 12 & 13). 

In my original outline of these chapters, Bond was more manipulative, treating Q like a mark instead of as an equal. When Bond decided in Chapter 12 that Q needed to overcome his touch-aversion now-now-now, I had Bond pushing Q to be intimate on Bond’s schedule. That meant an orgasm on the couch in Chapter 12, and Bond dragging a reluctant Q into the shower in Chapter 13, not particularly concerned with whether Q might be crying under the stream of water as Q was forced to confront his touch-aversion too quickly. 

But I realized that degree of high-handedness would undermine the long-term relationship I was building for 00Q. So I changed both scenes to show Bond wanting to push, but each time pulling back and instead inviting Q to come to him, letting it be Q’s brave choice to address his touch aversion head-on. This change also opened up space in Bond’s characterization for him to yearn, to crave a more emotional connection than mere physical seduction, which let me develop the romance earlier in the fic, and made those first scenes of intimacy more emotionally vulnerable for my narrative character. Wins all around!

More 00Q

The Best Policy

Just as he was brushing the crumbs from his fingers, however, Q burst into the room. “Shit, shit, shit,” he was saying, dropping the stack of folders he was carrying with an alarming lack of care, spilling their contents onto the counter. “Surely he wasn’t such an idiot as to—ROBRECHTS!!!” Q shouted. “R, go find Robrechts, now. I think the bloody idiot left his drugged brownies out, and Bond’s just eaten one.”

(Or, James Bond accidentally eats experimental Q Branch brownies, and Q has to pick up the pieces.)

Hello, friends! Chapter One of The Best Policy is now up on ao3! There will be two chapters after this one, for reasons that will hopefully become clearer as the story progresses. More to come soon, but the first chapter features a regrettable lack of adherence to workplace safety regulations, Q's cats being adorable, not actually unrequited love, and James Bond attempting to subvert his feelings with documentaries on naval disasters (who hasn't though, really).

I had an absurd amount of fun writing this one, and I hope it brings you some joy as well. 💜

Sometimes you just gotta roll around on the grass with your best friend

He keeps up though

Uther: Um.. Whatcha got there Son?

Arthur: Some twink called Merlin.

Arthur, through tears and shaking like a chihuahua: "This better not awaken anything in me"

the 00q tag on ao3 is wild but once in a while you find a real gem

arthur: this is a mistake.

merlin, enthusiastically: a mistake we’re going to laugh about someday!

arthur: but not today.

merlin, still enthusiastic: oh, no. today’s going to be a mess!

kate’s thirty, flirty and thriving results

top 30 television male characters

13.) arthur pendragon (merlin)

Arthur: Let me guess.

Arthur: you have a perfectly good explanation for … all of this?

Merlin: Yes.

Merlin: *begins to ramble off a perfectly terrible lie explanation that’s utter nonsense*

Arthur: (what the fuck is he even saying?)

Merlin: (what the fuck am I even saying?)

Chapters: 9/9 Fandom: James Bond (Craig Movies), Sherlock (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James Bond/Q Characters: James Bond, Q (James Bond), Alec Trevelyan, Vesper Lynd, Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Q (James Bond) is a Holmes, pre-MI6!Q, Past Relationship(s), Past Abuse, Phobias, Abusive Relationships, but not between James and Q, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Character Bashing, Vesper bashing, Explicit Sexual Content, Family Dynamics, Bad Family Dynamics, this all started with James trying to update the security system at Skyfall Lodge Summary:

When M tells James to take a vacation and make something for himself to go home to other than alcohol and sex, 007 is not enthused.  The closest thing he had to a home was Skyfall Lodge, and even he had to admit that it was incredibly old and needed updating for it to be livable and safe. When Trevelyan steps in to say that he knows a bloke who can rig up security systems, however - and is discreet besides - James decides to accept some professional help.

But despite being an MI6 assassin-spy who’s seen just about everything, James isn’t prepared for the distrustful, aloof boffin who turns up on his doorstep, full of exactly the sort of thing agents couldn’t get enough of: secrets and surprises. Q isn’t a mission, though, so it will be up to James to figure out how to deal with (and maybe, just maybe, get close to) this posh young man without hurting him worse than he already is.

Would love to know your thoughts on #22 and #25 :)

Hi @nervous-bean. That's a wonderful url by the way! Can relate. Thanks for sending in some questions!

22. Are there certain types of writing you won’t do? (style, pov, genre, tropes, etc)

I'm pretty open-minded, and I'm afraid of very little genre-wise.

That said, I feel like I would never write one of those dead-dove-do-not-eat violent whump/torture stories. I just don't have it in me to do it. I've read some incredible ones, so that's no shade to the trope or genre. I just don't have any interest in writing one myself.

Same with horror. Specifically, body horror or gore. I wouldn't mind having a crack at something that tends more towards the gothic subgenre. Basically, I'm a Shirley Jackson and Mary Shelley girl.

25. What fic do you wish you got more of a response on?

Honestly, I'm lucky enough to get quite a bit of engagement on my fics. Even on stuff like dispatches from the division, which I thought about two people would be interested in, given it was 90% OCs. Like, I'm genuinely so fortunate to be getting the numbers I do. It's very flattering and I know plenty of writers in this fandom who don't get nearly the attention they deserve. So I'm very grateful.

My poetry tends to be the thing the fewest number of people engage with, but I totally understand that poetry isn't everyone's bag. Same with the couple of rarepairs I've written for - James/Vesper and James/Moneypenny. It can be disappointing, but writing poetry and rarepair fic is more of a creative exercise for me than anything, so I don't mind.

Thanks again for the questions!

King Charles III is coronated, if now’s not the time for King Arthur’s return, I don’t know when is

Arthur is not just a king. He is the Once and Future King. Take heart, for when Albion's need is greatest: Arthur will rise again

Canonically Arthur Pendragon walks around Infront of Merlin absolutely starkers, not at care at all. But not with anyone else