How about c!Redd, c!Guts, or c!Krow for the character bingo if you’d like! Or Branzy or Zam if you wanna do some lifestealers instead!

i love a challenge and am now gonna do all of them :3

(done with the utmost love, i'm very fond of all of these characters actually <3 i just honed it to base opinions)

in order: c!krow, c!red, c!guts, branzy, zam

((i will say that i haven't watched c!red or c!guts' povs, which is why i lack opinions on them. i've been meaning to and then i got dragged into being hopelessly fixated on lifesteal pfvdfnjk; and for the fact like 98% of what i've written recently have been branzy-centric fics that actually include zam a Lot. so. you've handed me my blorbos on a platter and asked for opinions pdfvfndjk))

OOOOOH SHIP ASK GAME oakshipping, assuming this one hasn't been sent to you yet lol- but if it has, how about appeal?

I'll answer both!! I ship both of these!!

Oak:

What made you ship it?

I took an interest in their dynamic around 2021, because their contrast is so fun. It was @essence0fsilence who really sold me on the ship though, when I stumbled upon their fic Secrets Kept and curiosity led me to read it. I can pinpoint the exact moment in this fic where the ship really took hold of my heart (it was in chapter 12) and as you can see, I kind of lost my mind about it.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

Gary and Tracey are such good foils to each other--there's a fun contrast between them, but they also have quite a few things in common. I think that helps with how they have the potential to bring out the best in each other, and how their influence on each other could help them grow as people--Gary inspiring more confidence and boldness in Tracey, and Tracey in turn bringing out a gentler side of Gary.

And I've talked about this before, but I love how flexible the dynamic of how they get together is depending on how much tension and drama you want in the narrative--it can be a very smooth and natural friends to lovers transition, or you can use the riskiness of it being a workplace romance with higher stakes because they both live there, and have them both acutely aware of how much they stand to lose if they pursue a relationship and things end badly somewhere down the line. The latter also gives you the opportunity to show Gary's growth as a person from someone pretty self-centered to really seeing how much Tracey in particular would be risking (because while Gary was born into his place in Pallet and the Oak residence, Tracey had to work for his place there, and who even knows if he has another home to go back to) and putting that over his own feelings. I primarily lean towards low-stakes fluff, but when I write them pre-relationship you'll still see me lean into that sometimes, and have Gary putting the choice in Tracey's hands because he's aware that Tracey is risking more.

Also on a less deep note, coming from writing ships where I had to come up with a Reason for the characters to be in the same place or do exercises in Implications for how they even know each other in the first place, writing this ship is like a million times easier. They literally live under the same roof. Gary comes home sometimes, Professor Oak leaves sometimes and I can use that if I want the boys to have some alone time, or the boys can be taking a research trip together or something. It's so easy! And then I can just focus on the stuff I want to write!!

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

There's like 12 people who ship it and most of us do because of each other, so I don't think popular/unpopular opinions for it really exist dftdh.

Appeal:

What made you ship it?

I am a sucker for rivals in love, and Dawn and Zoey are so cute. What's not to like about them?

What are your favorite things about the ship?

Rivals to lovers is a consistent banger, and while I love the banter and tension in Pallet and Contest as much as the next guy with taste, it's a nice change of pace that Zoey is at most just kind of blunt and doesn't even use the facade of antagonism to hide that she cares about Dawn and wants to help her improve.

Also fuck yeah lesbians

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

I can't think of anything! I'm a very casual AppealShipper and the fanworks I've seen for them are consistently just Good.

🥺🛒 ❌ 🏆 🎯 🤗🧠✅

Listen... You already know I'm a huge fan of your work by the way I'll ramble on about everything with you. However I'm realizing eight might be excessive, so feel free to pick and choose <3

Fanfic Writer Emoji Ask game!

🥺 - Is there a certain type of moment or common interaction between your characters that never fails to put you in your feels?

LETTING THEM PLAY WITH KIDDOS. OR HAVING KIDDO VERSIONS OF THEM BEING KIDDOS. THEY ARE SO CUTE IT'S CUTENESS OVERLOAD I LOVE IT.

🛒 - What are some common things you incorporate in your fics? Themes, feels, scenes, imagery, etc.

The curse of immortality. Redemption arcs. Immortals falling in love with mortals (or ancient beings falling in love with less. ancient. beings. (this is not about Cian; this is about Luisa and the Fox)). Mental illness. Queer characters. SO much backstory trauma. SO MUCH BACKSTORY TRAUMA. Apparently also discussions of the use of sex and consent and vulnerability, which is a shocker to me, too, honest. Metaphorical masks and monsters. Usually also a kiddo scene, as mentioned above.

❌ - What's a trope you will never write?

Probably anything that requires sexual intricacies to fully flesh out. But also I'm hesitant to say never because I've found that even tropes I don't like (love triangles, i HATE you SO MUCH) I. still write, on occasion (looking at you, TNOS). So I'm not sure I can say there's a trope I will never write. ...unless it's something that is really triggering for me. But I've also written stuff that would be triggering for me if I were reading it, so like. This is not a good or helpful answer, Skylar, I'm sorry.

🏆 - What's your most popular fic?

AO3: It's a toss up between Finding Family (hits; comment threads) and What Dreams May Come (bookmarks, subscriptions, kudos). Tumblr: The Nature of Soulmates. It consistently has higher notes (even with prompts) than most of my other stuff (with the exception of Christmas Traditions and the very first Agave Stuff one-shot, which surpass or equal a couple of the lower ones).

🎯 - Have any of your readers accurately guessed major plot points? Care to share which?

Yes. I'm fairly certain - particularly with Finding Family - that someone (or multiple someones) did. I also think you have maybe at least once. But I don't remember...what exactly...those were...to tell you which.

🤗 - What advice would you give to new fanfic writers that are just getting started?

Write what you are most excited about writing. Don't worry about being perfectly in character or having amazing prose or making everything neat and tidy. Get messy. Write a bunch. Write just for you, just what you want. Post when you're ready, and ignore everyone who gives you shit for it. Fanfic is about the community. It's about having fun with characters you love. Keep having fun and focus on that.

🧠 - Pick a character, and I'll tell you my favorite headcanon for them.

skylar you have to pick a character friendo You said Eve, so. Favorite headcanon for Eve! Probably that, despite her fervent desire to see the best in everyone (and her flaw of blaming herself for things when she...shouldn't, sometimes), Eve does have a line and it can be crossed (looking at you, Ted). For all that she loves people, she does have a boundary. But also that - if Ted had wanted to be forgiven, Eve would have forgiven him. If Ted had wanted to be reconciled, Eve would have allowed that. I think the point of this isn't just that Eve has self-respect and boundaries - she does - but also that she respects the boundaries other people put in place, too. If Ted doesn't want to be forgiven, then why should she put in the work to forgive him? Etc.

✅ - What's something that appears in your fics over and over and over again, even if you don't mean to?

So many characters in a lot of my most recent fics - not just Agatha, but I've caught Wanda saying it, too, and it's probably been more than just them - very clearly ask their partner Is this what you want? and then act accordingly. It's less about that last bit - it's more about that very specific line popping up fairly frequently recently. Sometimes multiple times within the same scene, that constant checking in (or pressing for an answer). Unintentional! But very much there.

Hello I've got 2 questions: The first one was if you could do a directors cut of toms chapter from grass crown? The second one was if you have any tips for writers, specifically dealing with criticism? I'm not great with constructive criticism and have a hard time putting my work out there and I was wondering how you deal with it?

I like how chapter 10 of Grass Crown is now just known as ‘Tom’s chapter’ haha it sounds so foreboding. I was both very nervous and very excited to write Chapter 10 because I’d never attempted to write from Tom’s POV before, despite being tempted a few times during Barbed Wire. I know I discussed that chapter pretty heavily in the comment section so I’ll try to avoid repeating anything I said there. the chapter begins with Tom waking from a dream because I think it speaks to his nature- he has a lot of dreams for his future (most of them good for him, bad for others) and it could be correctly said that he is, in many ways, delusional. but he’a also got a pretty good track record with making his dreams (thus far) into reality, through a combination of smarts, cunning, blackmail/intimidation/threats, and networking.  Amy has mentioned before, because nothing is really ‘off limits’ to Tom, he very rarely doubts that he can achieve something; he’s like that meme of ‘everyone should have the confidence of a mediocre white guy walking into an interview he’s unqualified for’ haha. He’s used to getting his way, either sooner or later. the only ‘thing’ he’s ever dreamed of that he failed to materialize was a life with Amy in it. It was also important to me that everything in his house be described as modern and new and top of the line and carefully selected by him or Lydia. it’s really his version of a ‘fuck you!’ to his childhood at Wool’s, where he had very little control over his surroundings. now he has all the control.  we then go into the intro of the pensieve, which I knew pretty much from the start I wanted/needed to include, given the constant flashbacks and references to the past in this fic. Tom using a pensieve was a smoother transition to the memory than him just brooding on it for an hour straight.

what’s also interesting is the memory he’s chosen to ‘replay’ over and over again; yes, it is his and Amy’s ‘first time’ but his interest in watching this doesn’t really seem to be pornographic- he acknowledges that he’s not even interested in watching the act of sex itself over and over again- but what precedes and follows it. that level of vulnerability and intimacy which he had once and has never had again. I think it both intrigues and repulses him, the idea of ever opening himself up like that to anyone again. he mocks Amy’s appearance and his younger self’s devotion to her because that’s easier than confronting the pain of losing all that. he pretends to focus on the fact that sex just isn’t super exciting or even interesting to him anymore to avoid dwelling too much on the fact that being with Amy made him feel appreciated, not just in the physical sense for his looks, but appreciated and accepted as a flawed person, not for any other reason. we then get the creepy segue that A. Tom hasn’t been celibate since then, unsurprisingly or not and B. the one sex worker he frequents bears a passing resemblance to Amy. that sort of speaks for itself. Tom looks for her in the people around him, especially the women, and is both infuriated and pleased when they either live up to the standard she set... or miss it entirely. we then jump back into the memory and see Tom and Amy joking with each other after the fact and having a playful argument. this is obviously very painful for Tom, but he masks that by acting shocked and appalled that he ever let someone speak to him like that or mock him to his face like that. the lack of agenda or manipulation in his younger self at that point disturbs him, for all that the relationship between the two was already damaged at the time. we then see Tom head into work, which is pretty straightforward until the infamous interrogation with Jaime. Jaime is pretty much Tom’s opposite; referred to as a ‘conman’ and a ‘common thug’ and known for moving in the same circles as a lot of organized crime, he’s essentially the blue collar outlaw to Tom’s white collar, just-under-the-surface corruption and deceit. Jaime might not be trustworthy, but he doesn’t pretend to be, either.  Tom is so dismissive and derisive of him that he is enraged when his usual tactics don’t work, and Jaime fails to immediately turn on Amy, as Tom had expected him to do so. the idea of a ‘common criminal’ having some kind of code or honor or even loyalty to anyone but themselves both perplexes and angers Tom. he pivots to assaulting Jaime’s mind in an attempt to get the info on her by force, and is further incensed when Jaime’s memories of Amy conjure up feelings of warmth and affection. the idea of her even having a friendly relationship with Jaime Isola clearly does not sit well with him. unfortunately for Tom, his attempts to then imperius Jaime our cut short... and we see the transition to home again and the anxious wait for the election results. his conversation with Lydia is always interesting for me to write because they are both very calculated but trying to play it off as casual and innocent, and both always think they’ve got the upper hand at the moment. Tom suspects Lydia is not nearly as pure of mind and heart as she pretends to be, but is ambivalent about this, content to wait until they’re married to pry much deeper, and acknowledges her intelligence and charisma in the sense that it will be an asset to his career. he ‘scolds’ her a little by bringing up the fact that he knows about her visit to MESP, but is surprisingly unfazed by her lack of cowering or subservience when she gives a clearly overacted apology. she still, of course, demonstrates plenty of deferral to him in other ways, fixing him a drink and getting his mail.  also, of course, the note that Tom seems to like her best when she acts in a more ‘Amy-esque’ manner; he’s thrilled by her verbal approval of him and not nearly as put off as he usually might be by her open display of affection when she hugs him.  re: dealing with criticism: this is something I continue to struggle with, although I do my best not to get into sparring matches in the comment sections and I try to ‘see the best’ in every comment and not get derailed into a pointless argument over semantics or fixate on someone’s wording. I’m a sensitive person (I think a lot of writers are) and I think it’s okay to feel upset or hurt by someone’s criticism without feeling like you are being arrogant or selfish. sometimes constructive criticism can be delivered unkindly or in a convoluted manner, especially when it’s mixed in with more minor critiques or compliments, and sometimes criticism isn’t really criticism and is just someone expressing their frustration in the comment section. I know a lot of writers choose to moderate comments or disable non-ao3-user comments for this reason. I don’t do this because I want people to be able to read my comments and get an accurate sense of how readers felt right when the chapter was posted. even when the comments are embarrassing to me or make me feel bad about my writing. this is a personal choice and I’m not saying you should or must do this.  mostly I deal with it by trying to wait a little to respond; it’s easy to get upset and type out a snarky reply but sometimes if you wait a little you can get a better perspective on how the reader might have felt or what confused or annoyed or felt incongruous to them about your writing. when I do respond I try to just address things very point by point and straightforward, and I also generally do thank people for commenting unless they’re being a blatant troll and just looking for a rise from me.  overall I feel like it’s just something you have to get exposed to over and over again. I’m much better now about not taking comments too seriously or letting them direct my writing than I used to be. when you gain confidence as a writer you can sort of develop a better filter for what critique is useful to you and what isn’t. just because someone has raised a valid point in the comment doesn’t mean they necessarily have the best solution for said problem.  sometimes it is really just a matter of interpretation of a character. it also heavily depends on the fandom (if you are writing fic). in my experience the ASOIAF fandom, as much as I love it, tends to come in swinging a lot harder than the HP fandom, which I think is a little more chill and mellow and more ‘you do you’. if I mess up a worldbuilding detail or don’t explain myself properly in an ASOIAF fic, especially if it involves popular characters or plot points, I know I’m going to get heat for it in the comment section from someone. overall, I would say try to come at it from the commenter’s perspective, but also don’t let yourself obsess over it. it’s hard to remember but most fics do have a silent majority, and there are so many people who are just going to read it and enjoy it and who just don’t leave a comment because that’s not how they roll. if moderating comments and being able to approve them before they go up will make you feel more in-control and secure, then you should do that. I do find that if you reply to comments, a lot of times people might seem less abrasive or intimidating on comment #2 than #1, mostly because they’re not expecting to get a reply from the writer. you shouldn’t be afraid to go ‘actually, I agree with you regarding *insert*’ or ‘well, in my view, *character* is acting this way because...’ it’s good practice to be able to calmly state your opinion or defend your work without it turning into an online brawl, and it’s not a mark of weakness to agree with someone’s critique or acknowledge that you could have done something better. plus, you have to write a lot of crappy fics before you can write a good fic. I try to remember that when I look at my old works. nothing’s set in stone and you can absolutely continue to improve and adapt your writing as you go along.