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universe-friday · 2 days

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EXCERPT #28:

Hello. I hope somebody is listening.

[...]

I haven’t seen her since I last spoke to you, old sport. It’s been harder to wander the streets of the City these days. It’s been harder to get up and get the day started. Thalia and I were so close… We went from spending all our time with each other, to not speaking for days at a time.

What possible reason could she have…? For someone who cares the same way, she certainly doesn’t enjoy showing it.

It is so hard to read her mind. She doesn’t give me much to base any guesses on… If only she would talk to me. Have a conversation with me. One that doesn’t lead to her deflecting, or running away.

Every time I think we’re so close, but then the tide just goes back in again. And when that wave comes crashing back into shore, are we ever able to ebb and flow the way we once did?

Or am I back to drowning, waves crashing into my lungs I am no longer able to scream…? Did she ever hear me? Can she hear me?

I suppose I never recalled walking to the beach in the first place, old sport. But I found comfort in the waves. I found myself in the waves.

[A small and distant knock is heard in the background. Equipment rattles. Radio stutters in astonishment.]

Hello…?

THALIA: Can I come in…?

[Beat.]

THALIA: Please, Radio. Can we talk?

RADIO: …Okay. Come in.

[Door squeaks open, footsteps approach.]

RADIO: Hold on. Let me just mute this call quickly.

[A button is pressed, but sound continues to play. A chair squeaks and footsteps get further away. A conversation begins from afar, distant and quiet.]

THALIA: Radio, I… I am so sorry.

RADIO: I know. You say this every time… Do you want to get to a point?

THALIA: I want to be with you. But… I can’t.

RADIO: What do you mean, Thalia? What do you mean, ‘you can’t’?

THALIA: I mean that I can’t. I care for you… So much. I have never met anyone else like you. But, I just can’t be with you.

RADIO: I don’t understand… That makes zero sense, Thalia.

THALIA: I know. And I’m sorry. I can’t… I can’t explain it very well. I just- I have other commitments-

RADIO: Other commitments?

THALIA: In the City. And I-

RADIO: What can even be meant by ‘other commitments’? There’s someone else?

THALIA: No, Radio. There’s no one else. I just… I can’t be with you.

RADIO: We’re in the City… What possible- What do you mean… I… How could you have other commitments? You don’t have time? How is it possible to have that problem here, Thalia? I run out of things to keep myself occupied, stuck here. And with you gone, even fewer things. And I just have to be stuck here while you go and do other stuff? Leave me, even though I love you?

[Silence. A quiet, but suppressed sob is heard as it breaks past Radio’s boundaries.]

THALIA: It’ll pass…

RADIO: But what if-

THALIA: I love you too. And it’ll pass.

[A much louder sob is heard. It comes from both Radio and Thalia, this time.]

RADIO: [Quietly, through tears] Will I ever see you again…?

[Beat.]

THALIA: I think… that wouldn’t be good for either of us.

[The conversation fades into radio static. After a while, this fades to silence. Until a melody softly begins to play.]

♪ There’s nothing left for us anymore Why aren’t you listening? Why aren’t you listening to me? There’s nothing left. ♪

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friday-answers · 3 months

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EXCERPT #16 (BTS)

welcome to the first and potentially last behind the scenes of a @universe-friday excerpt...!

if anyone was curious about the prompts from @februaryfridayevents tied into this week's excerpt, you've come to the right place!

here are my original notes for excerpt #16, before and after i wrote the excerpt itself (apologies in advance for the handwriting)

and then here are the digital notes i made from the paper ones (which always start to fade into me just writing the excerpt because i truly cannot help myself)

long notes.... real long notes. they are so blurry because i had to zoom out SO FAR.

but these notes then lead to the excerpt itself, usually with just a few more details added and grammar and spelling corrected!! which, of course, you can read here!

once again, thank you for the support! and see you next week!

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daughter-of-inklings · 10 months

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word count: 735 excerpt: general lore

She remembers it was cold. And dark. The deafening silence of eternity loomed around her, over her, threatening to swallow her whole- an extension of herself in this emptiness she was brought into. She was slow to wake and slower to rise from beneath the shroud of night, turning to face this way and that, straining to see an end to herself. This was, after all, the whole of her form…right? Infinite, dark, cold, and… Alone, no matter where she looked.

She wandered aimlessly for a time, unsure of where to go. In the same directions she’d started in, she supposed, until she grew bored and turned another. Hoping to find any semblance of something unlike herself. She drew her arms around her form- not infinite, then- more to feel and remember where she ended, and the void began than for any warmth. There were no others here; no other creatures, or strange beings, or emotions, or anything beyond the never-ending emptiness she’d been born into.

Time didn’t pass, as it yet to have means to, and so she continued to wander about in all directions until her feet ached. She didn’t know parts of her could ache, nor anything else about herself other than she was the only one of herself here. She sat herself on the ground, looking at the golden flecks formed like flower petals along her arms, thinking that it’d be nice to have another there with her. She found that though her mouth could move to wish it so, no sounds came out. Or perhaps they did, and the darkness had simply swallowed them as it had all else that came before.

The feathered tips of the petals’ edges grazed the tips of her fingers, drawing her attention. They shimmered and shone a bright color reminiscent of a lover’s sunset against the unruly night of her hands, which tried to devour them whole. She plucked one, brow furrowed at the small sting it caused, letting the iridescent golden blood flow as it pleased. Where it stained all that it touched, small buds began to grow, maturing into more flower-scales that spread further and further along her sides.

The petal gave, yielding to her fingertips as she smoothed, curved, carved, and pushed into it, plucking more and more petal-scales from herself until gold flowed freely down her sides and back. Another being, one made in her likeness, held her gaze as she withdrew, hands smeared honey grazing the statue’s waist. Two arms and two legs, a high cheeked and set skeletal face covered by a mask of the same golden scale, with four pointed ends adorned by chains, and two sets of eyes with which to see through to the end of all that there had been, was, and would ever be.

She stepped back and admired her company’s likeness, finding a certain lightheadedness in it, as if the air had been taken from her lungs. A sensation, not all together unpleasant, began to settle at the pit of her stomach, of someone finding what they hadn’t yet known they lost. Her fingertips lightly grazed the sculpture’s lips, trembling, afraid that she’d ruin them with a harsher touch. Where her fingers touched the statue’s lips yielded, fitting to the small nearly invisible grooves along them, giving them a textured look and feel. With her free hand she mirrored the motion on her own lips, feeling the same softness along them. She marbled at the sensation, gaze lingering over the beauty of the figure’s form.

Without thinking she closed the distance between them, kissing the figure fully on the leaps; longing for company and wishing her companion would move and be as she was. She pulled back and blinked, surprised, as the figure began to tremble and quiver under her touch, moving all its own to reciprocate the kiss it’d been dealt. Its fingers cupped her cheek, the gold film peeling from them and replacing the cold of their touch with- … warmth?

The film began to fall from the rest of the sculpture, swept away into the darkness as a fine powder that dusted the inky black far away with stars. The being that emerged was bright and warm, and the most beautiful creature she had or would see. They fell into her arms laughing, unused to their legs, bringing with them sound to the world and color to her cheeks.

#ink’s scribbles #ink’s writing #writeblr #fantasy writeblr #writing #fantasy writing #writers on tumblr #writing wip #world build friday #world building lore #writing excerpt #basically all the worlds exist because of lesbians #because the very first lesbian was alone and wanted another #which is a beautiful way to start a universe isn't it?#with love at its center #everything in the world exists as a direct consequence of one's love for another #*chefs kiss*#overworld lore

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ckret2 · 10 months

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Masterpost for Bill "Goldilocks" Cipher fic

If you're new here, this is one of those fics where Bill comes back in a human body and is imprisoned in the Mystery Shack until the Pines & friends can figure out how to kill him (which they won't, because this is also a "Bill's redeemed through the power of improbable friendship" fic). The "Goldilocks" is because the Pines need a code name other than "Bill Cipher" to call their prisoner, and Bill liked Mabel's suggestion best.

For all my fic, art, doodles, upcoming scene excerpts, and posts about characterization & plot plans, see my #bill goldilocks cipher tag.

New chapter every Friday!

For just the fic itself, here are all the current chapters:

⛓️ 1. Bill returns, in a bedsheet toga.

⛓️ 2. Bill tries to murder the Stans and Soos (with time travel).

⛓️ 3. Dipper and Mabel save the day (with time travel).

⛓️ 4. A tense evening as the Pines prepare to get rid of Bill.

⛓️ 5. Plot twist: the Pines physically can't get rid of Bill.

⛓️ 6. The gang goes to a diner at 3 a.m. for hostage negotiations.

⛓️ 7. "How'd Bill get here" flashback; plus, entering his new prison.

💇‍♀️ 8. Bill gives himself a haircut and depression.

💇‍♀️ 9. Bill & Ford grudgingly have a sincere conversation; regret it.

💇‍♀️ 10. The kids decide Bill won't ruin their summer. Also: Pacifica!

🧚 11. Mabel gives Bill the most beautiful makeover ever. (It's not.)

🧚 12. Pacifica advertises Harry's Hairy Fairy Formula. Bill wants it.

🧚 13. Pacifica refuses to share; the twins discover its side effects.

🧚 14. Mabel wins Bill's eternal friendship with arts & crafts.

💭 15. Bill, Ford, and Dipper have nightmares that are Bill's fault.

💎 16. Ford has a fun day with Mabel but everything goes wrong.

💎 17. The day goes right again thanks to healthy communication.

🐿️ 18. Mabel's Guide To Local Animals, co-starring Bill Cipher.

🧊 19. Wendy snoops into the weird things happening in the shack.

🧊 20. Wendy meets the weird thing (it's Bill).

🎂 21. Stan & Ford's birthday party! Bill gives evil gifts.

💭 22. Bill "helps" Dipper's nightmares; no one knows his motive.

👁️ 23. Bill's ex is back in town and nobody's happy about it.

👁️ 24. Everyone's even less happy to learn Bill has a sex life.

🧿 25. Mabel and Bill make friendship bracelets! :)

🧿 26. The Pines take Bill to the mall. He wears terrible things.

🧿 27. Bill breaks Mabel's heart (and panics to fix it).

🏳️‍🌈 28. Bill talks his way into going with Wendy to Rainbow Club.

🎃 29. Bill contacts the Henchmaniacs on Summerween morning.

🎃 30. Costume making. Mabel pries into Bill's past, with crayons.

🎃 31. The Trickster's pals trick-or-treat; and Bill terrifies Dipper.

🪮 32. Dipper & Mabel make a poppet to control Bill.

🦷 33. Stan takes Bill to the dentist. In handcuffs.

🦷 34. Dentist & tooth fairy attack. Stan & Bill are still handcuffed.

🦷 35. Bill & Stan reach a painful understanding and stop the fairy.

🛁 36. Anime night; and Mabel makes Bill do community service.

🛁 37. Bill plots escape and runs into Wendy. Dipper panics.

🛁 38. Bill has the worst and stupidest day of his afterlife.

🌅 39. A cultist finds Bill; Bill tries to re-recruit Ford.

🚙 40. Gideon broadcasts car commercials; invokes Bill's wrath.

🚙 41. Bill apologizes for bullying Gideon. lol no he blackmails him.

🌕 42. Bill tells Dipper secrets of the universe; predicts an eclipse.

🌖 43. Gravity is disappearing; Ford and Fiddleford investigate.

🌗 44. Ford & Dipper drag Bill hiking; Bill faces his death.

🌘 45. Ford demands answers Bill can't give as totality looms.

🌑 46. Totality. Bill decides whether Ford lives or dies.

🌒 47. Bill feels rotten but finally explains the eclipse.

🌓 48. Bill has a complete mental breakdown.

🌔 49. The gang limps home. (Plus: a second dimensional eclipse.)

COMING SOON:

50. Bill finally processes that mental breakdown.

This fic will start crossposting to Ao3 after The Book Of Bill comes out, because I have my fingers crossed that I'll be able to make it TBOB-compatible with light edits but won't know til then. Until then, read it here!

This post was last updated April 27, 2024! If you're seeing this post as a reblog and it's been a while since then, check back on the original post to see if more's been added!

#bill cipher #human bill cipher #gravity falls #gravity falls fic #about my writing #my writing #bill goldilocks cipher #reference

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pan-de-queer · 7 months

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excerpts of the wips to make it easy for y'all to choose:

three words said through a million more

Kara ended the call and turned to grab her suit, instantly freezing at the sight that met her. Memories of the night before started coming back to her at the sight of one Lena Luthor rubbing sleepily at the corner of her eye.

Kara had invited Lena over for a movie night, arguing that it was a Friday and Lena didn't need to go into L-Corp early (or at all) the next day so they could marathon a trilogy before she went home. They'd ordered from Kara's favorite Chinese takeout place and Lena had brought dessert before they'd sat down and watched the Terminator movies, Kara's own pick of the week after her friend had shared how she'd never watched a "robot movie" before. Suffice to say, Lena did not go home.

2. hanahaki au

The first time Lena thought Kara might be able to love her back was when Maggie had arrested her.

While she was used to false accusations and surname-biased condemnation, she was not used to anyone standing up for her.

Lena’s spent her entire life having to fight for herself. From the moment she left Ireland to the day she lost Lex, Lena’s learned the hard way to never rely on anyone but herself.

Even when Kara seemed like she was fishing for answers, she’d stopped all her grilling just to defend Lena’s integrity.

It’s one of the things Lena first learned to appreciate about Kara—how she was willing to set aside tough conversations and disagreements to put their friendship first. To put Lena first.

She’s never had anyone put her first.

3. soulmate au

In the darkness and difficulty of being raised in the Luthor household, there were very few things Lena could rely on.

She had her wits. Her brain was one of the few things she could always trust. It’s why she worked so hard on keeping her thoughts sharp and ready—always waiting for the next problem she’d need to fix or person she’d need to impress (or not disappoint, in Lillian’s case).

She had Lex. Her brother loved her. He was a constant in the ever-changing sea of Lena’s life. She knew that if there was ever a problem she couldn’t solve, Lex would be there to teach her or encourage her to keep trying. She never had to impress Lex because he always reminded her that someday, she could be the best of them.

And when those two things didn’t help, well, she had her soul mark.

The two little promises wrapped comfortingly around her right hip.

Promises of a future where she wasn’t lonely or used. A future with someone who’d stand beside her and protect her from all the darkness being a Luthor has let into her life.

Two promises she swore to return once she finally met her soulmate.

4. ph uni au

Alex called her stupid.

More accurately, she called her a bobong baby bakla. And though Kara argued that she was actually using a great deal of scientific method in her approach, Alex didn't care. All her sister found both amusing and furstrating was the lengths Kara's decided to go through to find her "mystery girl." A woman who wasn't even really a mystery! Kara knew her name was Lena, she was an international student from the USA, her ID showed that she was from DLSU, and she was leaving campus on a Friday. That narrows down her search by quite a bit, thank you very much, Alex! Now, she just needed to put her deduction skills to use and see if she could find her.

bobong baby bakla = stupid baby gay

#supercorp #lena luthor #kara danvers #my writing #queer bread writes #polls for my writing #maus was right i need to decide this weekkkkk 😭#for my sanity and for anything to move forward

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perhaps-in-anotherdream · 9 months

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[CN] Victor’s Carbon Pen and Glass Bead Event (Day 6)

⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for content yet to be released on the global server! ⌚

✦ thursday || friday || saturday || sunday || monday || tuesday || wednesday

【High School Affiliated to Loveland University Second Year (Section 1) Semester Schedule - Tuesday】

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈

[MATH]:

Beginning with the morning self-study session, Old Gao naturally walks into the classroom, naturally hands out an impromptu quiz, and naturally starts grading the papers.

“Where’s Empress Dowager Hu? Has Old Gao ‘usurped the throne’?”

Victor remains as immovable as a mountain. After coming up with a tentative answer to the questions in his heart, he immediately takes out the exercise books for the other subjects–– realizing that if he doesn’t start now, he won’t have any opportunity to write throughout the day.

“Our Vic seems to be working hard. He’s even expanding into other subjects in the morning math study session.”

Old Gao unfolds the exam papers with a bright smile, “Children, your homeroom teacher is on leave today, so you’re all mine.”

“And of course, the evening self-study session also belongs to me.”

—

[MATH]:

Observing Old Gao’s extraordinarily casual explanation of the complex question and his naturally upturned lips, Victor very cautiously and deliberately marks this question—

There’s an 80% chance it will appear in the end-of-month exam.

—

[SPORTS]:

Strange Tales of Loveland High School Five (V):

Upon the completion of the weekly one-kilometer fitness test, the running track would give rise to peculiar species contorted in various poses.

Pale and gasping for air, they would be in desperate need of water. Yet, among them would be rare individuals with handsome and exquisite appearances who would continue to carry themselves with grace.

“Whew, still alive.”

The next second, Victor’s face turns slightly pale. He notices the PE teacher bringing out the sit-and-reach apparatus.

—

[PHYSICS]:

After enduring an exceptionally dreadful “knowledge oppression,” Victor decides to broadcast some relaxing content during today’s lunchtime radio session.

In harmony with the melodious Symphony No. 41 in C Major, he begins reading excerpts from the Homeric epics.

—

[CHEMISTRY]:

“A and B might have an innate tendency to react when brought together, although the time for their reaction differs. C and D will never yield any results no matter how long they’re together, and E needs to be catalyzed to have any connection with F.

Many things in the world are like this, and in reality, human connections follow the same principle. You require a significant amount of destiny to have that serendipity with someone.”

Hearing the teacher say this, Victor’s mind is filled with a distant silhouette.

—

[CHINESE]:

“Sir Vic, do you really think the world will end in 2012?”

“What do you think the apocalypse would look like?”

Victor doesn’t say anything. He simply reaches into his desk and takes out a math book in a very natural manner.

Amidst a chorus of agonized groans, that man walks in once again.

If the apocalypse were to happen, it would probably be a day filled with eight consecutive math classes.

—

[ENGLISH]:

A comforting listening test.

Brother Ying, in a rare feat, has managed to secure the computer lab, so he assigns something practical for everyone to do.

—

[BIOLOGY]:

The power that erupts from silence should not be underestimated.

— After the teacher’s first burst of anger, the biology class has a 100% attendance rate.

—

──────

✧ next stop: Wednesday

─────────

#HHHHH “SERENDIPITY” HHHH REMEMBERING THE VERY FIRST THING HE TELLS YOU ABOUT WHEN YOU START THE GAME AS A NEW PLAYER😭#haha i kid you not when i tell you THE ENTIRE SCHOOL GUSHES OVER HOW HANDSOME THIS LITTLE GUY IS -you’ll find out tomorrow what i mean lol-#I MEAN WHO COULD BLAME THEM AKSJSJSDGFG LITERAL PERFECTION IN ONE PACKAGE FROM LOOKS DOWN TO THE SKILLS 🫠🫠#also why are these teachers such bully LOL like literal evil aksjsjsdgfg (⁠ ⁠≧⁠Д⁠≦⁠)#mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlqc #mr love victor #mr love queen's choice #李泽言 #恋与制作人 #love and producer #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc translations

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wangxianficrecs · 7 months

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waiting for us by sunflowersfield

waiting for us

by sunflowersfield

T, 3k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Ying is in the middle of cooking dinner when Lan Zhan walks into the apartment on Friday night. As soon as the door opens, Wei Ying drops his knife onto the counter with a clatter, abandoning his recipe so that he can throw his arms around Lan Zhan and pull him close. “You’re here!” he exclaims, grinning when he feels Lan Zhan’s arms curl around his waist. “I am here,” Lan Zhan replies in his steady, calming voice, and Wei Ying’s smile grows wider. Or: Wei Ying and Lan Zhan attend different colleges, but they spend every weekend together. Kay's comments: This story is just so soft and full of fluff and goodness! Absolutely lovely. In which Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are childhood friends that now go to different universities but still visit each other every weekend. I really loved Wei Ying's view on falling in love and his slow and gentle realization. Excerpt: “I know I say it every time you’re here. But I can’t imagine this sofa bed is very comfortable. You know you can just sleep in my bed, right?” “I do not wish to crowd you,” Lan Zhan responds, and he seems to realize, at that moment, that he is still gripping Wei Ying’s hand. He lets go. Wei Ying frowns. He doesn’t know how to explain that it would be impossible for Lan Zhan to crowd him. Even when he embraces Lan Zhan, it still feels as though he is too far away. He doesn’t know how to describe the emptiness that he feels as he tries to fall asleep in his own bed, knowing that Lan Zhan is fast asleep in the next room. It is very late, and he does not have the words, so he pats Lan Zhan on the arm and says goodnight. For now, that will have to be enough.

pov wei wuxian, modern setting, modern no powers, college/university, childhood friends, falling in love, mutual pining, developing relationship, sharing a bed, neurodiversity, friends to lovers, getting together, happy ending, long-distance friendship, first kiss, domestic fluff, short & sweet

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.

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brigittttoo · 2 months

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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!

Thanks for the tag @goddammitjim ! I can't remember when I've last done something like this but hopefully I've created at least 10 new fics since then

"Ben silently watches Cody read." - Feast, my 2nd edwardian wlw codywan

"Cody’s hands are sweating inside his gloves." - Tending Towards Silence, a sombre cody retrospective

" . . . Thus [the Clone Soldier Facility Language] is arguably a pidgin, despite its novel morphology and phonology formulated under isolated conditions." - Abstand and Ausbau, an in-universe media fic for an unelaborated xmen au codywan

"[Typed blue header text: Writing Module.] [In pencil:] Today me and fives and rRex got to punch the big bags [Evidence 03.53.11] to see if we are strong now and I moved it 3 inchs!" - Tunneling, the sequel-ish to Abstand and Ausbau xmen au with a confusing piece of annotated in-universe media at the beginning that tripped me up while doing this tag game

"Ovens these days are such untrustworthy things." - Milk, Sugar, Cocoa, a The Old Guard codywan where they make brownies

"One day, a swan-maiden lands on an imprisoned isle." - Monday: Fairy Tale/Mythology, a wlw codywan au for @order63

"Excerpt from elle.com/culture/celebrities, Aug, 2022. The perfect phrase to describe Cody Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi as a couple is ‘stage presence’." - Tuesday: Arts Professions, a wlw codywan au for Order 63 with stage actress obi-wan and glam rocker cody that also has in-universe media why do I do this to myself

"Cody understands why they call it a snowstorm, when your TV is full of white noise, an endless, blurry white and grey." - Wednesday: Alt Prompt Snowstorm, a wlw codywan au for Order 63, there's a video store

"They’ve been sharing the lodge for the past couple days, a perfect example of genial skiing sports relations." - Thursday: Sports, a wlw codywan au for Order 63, with wintersports

"In Florence, they share a suite that looks out over the high, sharp tower of the Santa Croce Basilica, but the view that truly arrests Ben is the one from the top staircase window." - Friday: Historical, a wlw codywan au for Order 63, and we're back where this list started with edwardian ladies!

Patterns? I think my first lines have gotten shorter over the years maybe, and there's a lot of in-universe media excerpts cluttering up the place lol. I like finding characters mid-way through actions just as much as I like describing a setting, apparently!

I'm not sure who's been tagged, so I'll go with @cabezadeperro and @lttrsfrmlnrrgby and @elwenyere and @adiduck ? I'm sure I'm crossing over into lore's tagged people now so mwah goodnight <3

#my fic #star wars #codywan #tag game

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sunsafewriting · 1 year

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Do A Flip, chapter 6 excerpt: at last (i)

Whoever decided that dancing should be on the phys ed curriculum obviously hated ten-year-olds. Maybe they were attacked by a group of ten-year-olds once, and swore they’d get their revenge. Or maybe they were just born evil. Both options seem equally likely.

Diego has his phys ed last on a Friday, which is normally awesome, because it means he ends the week playing capture the flag or soccer. Today was a betrayal of mammoth proportions, and he might never recover.

He complains almost the whole walk from school to the apartment, which is maybe a little whiny of him, but he figures he’s earned it, after tripping over his own feet and being forced to awkwardly hold hands with eight different people.

“It’s the worst,” he tells Ava. “And I’m the worst at it. Do you know how bad that is? I’m the most embarrassing person at the most embarrassing thing.”

Ava grimaces sympathetically. “Yikes. At least it’s only for a few weeks, though, right? Then you’ll be onto a new unit.”

“Weeks, Ava. That’s forever. I fell over. And everyone saw.”

It’s not like Ava doesn’t fall over — more often than he does, really — but Ava can just laugh it off. And while Diego doesn’t mind accidentally doing dumb stuff around Ava or Beatrice, it’s another thing entirely to do something dumb in front of his whole class. Laughing it off is simply not an option.

“Do you think Mother Superion would write me a sick note to get out of it?”

Ava pats him on the shoulder. “Not in a million years, bud.”

Diego groans.

“Maybe we can help you practice, though? I missed that unit — I can only do cool dancing. But Beatrice was made to do all that fancy shit when she was growing up. She could totally teach both of us if we ask nicely.”

He doesn’t want to practice, or ever dance again for as long as he lives.

He also doesn’t want to fall over in public for a second time, though, so he nods.

An hour later, when Beatrice gets back from university, they push the couch and beanbag to the side and clear an area in the living room.

“I used to really hate dancing too,” Beatrice admits, after he sighs a bit tragically at the prospect of trying again.

“You did?”

Even now, it’s rare for Beatrice to mention her childhood; he hardly knows anything about what she was like at his age, and it’s impossible to picture — he can’t imagine Beatrice as being any different than she is.

But that’s not true, really, is it? Beatrice is very Beatrice, but she’s still changed so much since he met her.

“Every second of it,” she says. “I didn’t like having to be that close to people I didn’t know, and I always felt like everyone was looking at me and waiting for me to mess it up.”

The only thing he’s ever seen Beatrice actually mess up is hot chocolate, and that’s because they have differing opinions about how much chocolate powder is required.

“Did you ever mess up?” he asks.

“Lots. But it was okay,” she promises. “And it got easier once I stopped thinking of it as a performance and started thinking of it more as a pattern. It’s like aikido that way. They’re just different kinds of movement.”

Diego stands on one side of Beatrice and Ava stands on the other and together they slowly step through the footwork for the dance he has to do for class. It’s much less stressful without his teacher and his classmates there.

Plus, he’s better than Ava at it, so that doesn’t hurt.

They run it through a bunch of times, until it feels like it’s slid from the front of his mind to the back, and he doesn’t have to whisper-count or struggle to remember what comes next.

“There you go,” Beatrice says. “You’ve got it.”

He preens, pleased with himself, and flops onto the couch. That’s more than enough learning for one day, especially now that he’s good at it.

It leaves him watching Ava struggle, until eventually Beatrice adjusts her approach, and switches around so Ava is in front of her. She sets Ava’s hands on her shoulders.

“Just like a mirror,” Beatrice tells her.

Ava improves almost suspiciously quickly, her smile bright as she moves when Beatrice moves.

It’s kind of pretty, actually; the patterns Beatrice was talking about are easier to see from the outside. They’re not particularly smooth, but both of them are laughing, and he supposes that being smooth isn’t the point.

“Why did you have to learn dancing?” he asks.

“My mother wanted me to,” Beatrice says. ��She felt it would — she was hoping it would make me more — well, it was important to her, so I went. I haven’t done this kind of dancing in a long time.”

“How long?”

“Years and years.” Another step, another step, another step: a new pattern. “It’s nice to try it again.”

Ava spins herself in a twirl that is definitely not part of the dance, but Beatrice goes along with it anyway before gently pulling her back in.

#ok so the whole chapter got longer and now it's not going to be up until probably tomorrow #but i did promise sunday night so here is a little slice from the chapter #despite allegedly being half a chapter it is now over 10k #sunsafewriting #avatrice #avatrice fanfic #avatrice fic #beatrice x ava

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endlesstwanted · 2 months

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Boyfriend’s Spider-Sense

Fic inspired by @fluffbruary, day 1 — downy and @februaryficletchallenge, day 11 — Just in time.

Fandom: Spider-Man: Spider-Verse (Sony Animated Movies)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Pairing: Hobie Brown/Miles Morales

Tags: Developing Relationship, Kissing, Love Confessions

Summary: Miles pays Hobie a visit when he feels he’s not feeling alright.

Wordcount: 683

Also created for: @multifandom-flash, R2 card #2004 — Caught the Heart on His Sleeve + New Year Resolution — Ease Stress with Kindness / @fnafbingo — “Don’t get distracted!” / @thebo3bingo — “Being in love is not a weakness, you know?” / @lyricalescape — “Mesmerized I’m caught by the sunlight.” / @seasonaldelightsbingo — The Most Beautiful [insert] That They've Ever Seen

Excerpt:

“Isn’t it school night today?” Hobie asked, backing up a few inches to look Miles in the eyes, so he would know if Miles tried to get away with an innocent lie. He even raised a brow for dramatic effect, which made Miles avoid his stare.

“It is,” Miles mumbled.

“So what are you doing here? I thought you visited on Friday, and that’s two days away.” Hobie was more curious than concerned by then, tapping with his fingers both sides of Miles where Hobie kept him over his thighs.

“Oh, you know,” Miles shrugged. “I can travel through universes and all that, so I can visit my boyfriend and kiss him all I want. Whenever I want.”

Continue reading on Ao3!

#across the spiderverse #spiderverse fanfic #hobie brown #miles morales #multifandom-flash #fnaf bingo #seasonaldelightsbingo #Bo3 #winterwonderlandbingo #fluffbruary 2024 #FFC 2024

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benschwartzcinematicuniverse · 4 months

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📰 Pretty Man Holds Camera, more at 11 🗞️

One of the things I miss about strike Friday photoshoot posts is going spelunking through interviews. I don’t know how I missed this one. There is joy and heartbreak and just a plethora of cool shit. There’s a snippet below, but take some time and read the whole thing. It’s from Cracked, March 2023 - just before Renfield released and right before the strike. Ben’s clearly got a good head on his shoulders and a great support system. He talks about failure and keeping his head up as well as some amazing wins he’s had along the way 💙

Excerpt:

Dealing with rejection, dealing with Hollywood, you seem completely unjaded. How have you not gotten jaded?

Define jaded.

The complete opposite of how you carry yourself.

There are moments of cynicism. But I’m still thrilled. Listen, there’s a lot of failure in this, but there’s been so much success.

There are times when I’m not doing exactly what I want to be doing, and I’ll feel that — I’ll feel the anxiety. But I’m pretty good at centering myself. I’m a very humble, humble guy. Someone (asked) me once about what it’s like to be on stage in front of 3,000 people and get a standing ovation: In that moment, everybody’s clapping, and you’re the center of attention for a second, and you feel like you’re the most important thing in the universe. You have to realize that it’s just that moment in just that place. If you cut to me 60 minutes after a show, I’m in my hotel eating a cheeseburger (watching) ESPN or on Twitter. I’m by myself.

You have to be able to make sure that you understand what’s real life. That moment (when everybody’s clapping), I think people can get lost in that. People can get lost in Twitter just pressing the @ button and seeing what people are talking about them all day and just believing everything in there. It’s just so much easier to just be real and understand (performing) is very fun — but this is for this moment. If I go two blocks away from the venue, nobody will care that I just got a standing (ovation). Doesn’t matter.

I have parents. Everybody grounds me. Nobody treats me different than anybody else. It just seems like common sense. But I feel like there are people that need that feeling of feeling that important and that beloved at all times — I think that can get dangerous. I’m very happy that I’m able to see the whole span of things and to connect with the people I love instead of living in a fantasy world. I’m not that guy on stage getting a standing ovation every second of my day.

#ben schwartz #cracked #screenshots lifted from Ben’s post

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universe-friday · 16 days

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EXCERPT #26:

Hello. I hope somebody is listening.

[…]

Thalia has been very friendly lately, old sport.

And I mean literally friendly…

Call me crazy, but how can someone kiss me and listen to me speak so highly of them just to go back to calling me ‘bro’ and ‘dude’... Huh? That’s not normal, right?

I wouldn’t know! I… haven’t really done this before…

Old sport, I know she likes me. You’d expect me to start doubting it now, right?

But I know... Have you ever just known? The way they act around you, maybe even by the way they initiated a kiss… I am many things, old sport, but I am not oblivious.

Why are they trying to push it away… push me away? Am I dangerous? Repulsive? Do the times we spent together mean nothing to her, despite meaning everything to me?

I just can’t think straight right now, old sport. Maybe I’ll just have to wait for this rollercoaster to inevitably stop.

I want to fight for it - I’m willing to fight for it. But I don’t even know who my enemy is yet. Is it her? Or is it myself…?

[…]

I was wondering around late last night, February. I found myself at the mouth of this tunnel. The entrance is illuminated by street lamps, yet, look any further and complete darkness stares right back at you. I was always afraid of the dark.

I was looking for that light, the one they always talk about, at the end of the tunnel. You were always that light, February. I even tried to call out to you.

For a moment, I could’ve sworn I heard you call back.

Perhaps, you, February, finally answer, but how can one be sure it's not just an echo? The voice responds, copying and mocking your own words and pleas. If you're shouting back, February, you have to be louder than that.

The definition of love is so old-fashioned. In every language, I'll shout from the mountain tops how much I am in love with you, truly. If only people would know what I really meant by it. If only you really knew what I meant by it.

If you're shouting back, February, don't let it be dismissive. I am being clearer than I ever have been. You have to understand that I'm serious. I need you to understand.

I need you to understand this is why I do everything I do. I do it for you. The calls, these letters… At this point, I know there’s no escaping the City. But you’re my escape from reality, February. If you ever do answer, I’m free. But for now, I am restricted to merely shouting to a void and calling it by your name.

You must wonder too what to do with that information. I know. But you could at least show me you’re listening. That you hear my pleas. If you are trying to move on with your life, tell me, because I will remain here until I do. How could I ever move on if I didn’t find out if it was you in that tunnel?

Besides, how could I know it was you? After all, we are in Universe City. The sound could have easily been another one of those dreaded cyborgs.

If it’s you, February, I am willing to hear you out, always. But you must emerge from the shadows and take a step into my light. You have to show me.

Perhaps if I cannot see you, I should stop trying to contact you. Am I latching onto a rotting idea that I should just let die? Is that what we are?

How am I ever supposed to get over this if I continue talking to you? I wake up in dread and heartache every day, knowing you’re not here. And, although the City is not a great alternative, I either live my life here or continue to do so with that ache… That dread.

This is no way to live. Any level-headed person would agree… If I can’t hear from you, February, perhaps you shouldn’t hear from me.

[...]

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friday-answers · 3 months

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stay tuned for the longest universe friday excerpt to date...... coming within the next hour...... see you soon :)

#radio silence #universe city #aled last #alice oseman #osemanverse #frances janvier #carys last #february friday #original fiction #universe friday excerpts #universe city podcast

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wolfspurr · 1 year

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Stupid Over You (10461 words) by Wolfspurr

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski Characters: Derek Hale, Stiles Stilinski, Sheriff Stilinski, Talia Hale, Laura Hale, Cora Hale, Scott McCall (Teen Wolf) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - High School, Alternate Universe - No Hale Fire (Teen Wolf), The Hale Family, Meet the Family, Family Dinners, Oblivious Derek, Oblivious Stiles Stilinski, Popular Derek Hale, Mutual Pining, Scott McCall & Stiles Stilinski Friendship, Derek Hale Bakes, Derek Hale is Bad at Feelings, Fluff and Humor, Making Out, First Kiss, First Dates, Getting Together, House Party

Summary: It's a Friday night, and instead of enjoying any of the numerous things he'd rather be doing, Stiles has been roped into dinner with his Dad at the Hale's. On the plus side, Derek Hale will be there. On the minus side, Derek Hale will be there, and Stiles already has a hard enough time not making an ass of himself in front of the hottest guy in school. There's no way this can end well.

Excerpt: “Remind me again why we have to go to the Hale’s for dinner?” It’s a Friday night, and by all rights Stiles should be out at a party, or on a hot date, or, more realistically, sat at home knee deep in cheetos playing video games with Scott. Instead, he’s sat in the passenger seat of his Dad’s cruiser, surreptitiously trying to undo the top few buttons of his shirt without his Dad noticing.

“Because Talia Hale very kindly invited us over to thank me for sorting out that business with those hunters in the preserve, and it would’ve been rude to say no,” his Dad reaches out to swat at his hand. “Stop that. I let you wear flannel instead of a proper shirt and tie, the least you can do is keep the damn thing buttoned up.”

“Yes, but why do I have to come? I might’ve had plans!” Stiles huffs and starts fiddling with his cuffs instead.

“Because the invitation was for both of us and you know full well that your only plans were playing games and gorging yourself on junk food with Scott, just like every other night,” his dad flicks the indicator, turning onto the track that leads into the preserve. “You never know, it might be fun. One of the Hale kids is in your year right? Cora? And one of the boys is on the lacrosse team with you. You’ll have people to talk to.”

“If they’re even there. I’m pretty sure the captain of the lacrosse team has better things to do on a Friday night than stay home for family dinner with the local law enforcement and his dweeb son,” Stiles grumbles, rolling up his shirtsleeves. “And even if they are there, the most interaction I’ve ever had with Cora is her looking at me like she wants to disembowel me with a rusty spoon for daring to exist in her vicinity. And Derek’s a senior. And popular. I’m a benchwarmer with a grand total of one friend. We don’t really run in the same crowds.”

“Well then, maybe tonight will be a good chance to get to know them better,” his Dad gives an exasperated sigh but doesn’t mention the sleeves, so Stiles gives his top couple of buttons another go. “And if not you’ll just have to talk to the adults. Or sit there in polite silence and enjoy your food; it’s not like you’re getting out of it now.”

Keep reading

#teen wolf #sterek #stiles stilinski #derek hale #fic #my writing #high school au #fanfic #ao3 link #sterek fic #sterek exchange #sterek au #sterek is eternal #sterek fanfic #my fic #eternalsterek #moodboard

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theotherbuckley · 8 months

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Fuck it Friday

Once again it is Saturday morning but nobody needs to know that. Here’s another excerpt from the “Eddie is in hospital and Buck tries not to break down” fic

Tagged by: @wikiangela <3 <3

Buck is a firm believer in the universe. That there’s this ineffable and inevitable fate that loves to scream at him and fuck with his life plans. Sometimes he also believes in ghosts and sometimes he also believes in love and soulmates, but that’s a different story. The thing is, Buck believes in the universe and Eddie very much does not. So Buck has decided that everything bad that happens to Eddie is somehow the universe punishing him instead. Because, quite frankly, Buck knows that he feels like he’s been hit by a bus when Eddie gets hurt, which is somehow a much worse feeling than if Buck were to actually get hit by a bus himself.

It’s short, but I don’t want to share the entire thing before it’s finished which I’m so tempted to do.

Tagging some mutals: @housewifebuck @crowleywasagryffindor@eddiediaztho and anyone else who wants to share :)

#fuck it friday #911 abc #911 buddie #911 fandom #buddie #911 fic #911 fanfic #evan buck buckley #eddie diaz #buck x eddie

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thorst · 1 month

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The End of the World and Junk

Thor Odinson & Darcy Lewis • Earth 616/MCU canon compliant • General: No warnings • Fix-it of sorts, Post Avengers: Infinity War, Pre Avengers: Endgame, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Friendship fic • ~1200 words, ongoing

Summary: All work and no play makes Darcy a dull girl. But after the Snap, what else is there to do? Go and help a friend in need, it turns out. One the newspapers are tearing to shreds after the battle that fractured the universe. One who had always seemed so indomitable that even after the end of the world, nobody thought to check in on.

Excerpt:

Nothing had prepared Darcy for how boring the apocalypse would be. Most everything else, she'd expected. Loneliness was a given, the fear came and went, the sadness unavoidable. But all of these things had always seemed a natural part of the end of the world. Not jarring, but expected. This was the third day running she'd knocked off from work, made her way home, and proceeded to spend a full five minutes stood frozen in her doorway, keys in hand, realising she had nothing to do and no one to see. For all that it was Friday night, she may as well have stayed at work. She'd never felt more like Jane. And there was the sadness again.

Read the full work on AO3

#Darcy Lewis & Thor Odinson #Darcy Lewis fic #Thor Odinson fic #MCU fanfiction #Darcy lewis fanfiction #Thor Odinson fanfiction #my writing #idk tagging is hard please find somehow and read

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