#lolaland writes

[welcometololaland]

(sorry, it's not sunday and there are way more than seven sentences here, so I couldn't even pretend. this is a little play on canon but in europe).

“Did that man just say ‘sweat drop down my balls?’” Henry asks, mouth agape as he stands completely still.  “Hell yeah,” Alex yells back. “But you’re not gonna get sweaty at all if you stand still!” Henry gives him a very forced smile and starts to bob up and down and Alex wants to scream. He knows Henry can do better than this. Such a sexy, sexy man can't be that bad at dancing.

“He really doesn’t dance, does he?” Siobhan giggles in his ear a minute later as she, Fiadh and Saoirse pass them, hands in the air as they dig their way deeper into the throng. Over their heads, he sees Maeve pretending to slap Freya’s ass as she twerks, two hands on her knees.  “He’ll get there!” Alex yells back with renewed confidence. “Come on, Henry, loosen up.” “It’s a bit hard to loosen up when you—” “Three, six, nine, damn you’re fine!” Alex sings, along with sixty other people in the club. Henry looks at him like he’s grown an extra head, which makes Alex wonder what Henry would have done if he’d yelled out the iconic lyrics to Azealia Banks’ '212', which had been playing when they first walked in. In response, Alex pulls him towards the floor. “It’s telling you to get low!” “My knees aren’t eighteen anymore, Alex!” Alex, who has obediently dropped down in accordance with the lyrics, stares up at Henry from dick-height. “Are you saying you wouldn’t get on your knees for me?”

OPEN TAG! (plus some emotional support tags and targeted attacks below) - I'm super late lol

tagging my eurotrip emotional support people + others who have suffered through me writing this fic for like 3 years @celeritas2997 @rmd-writes @indomitable-love @clottedcreamfudge @everwitch-magiks @dustratcentral @three-drink-amy @athousandrooms @the-amber-fox @villiageidiot just to prove im still DOING IT.

also thank you for the tags @chicgeekgirl89 @suseagull04 @strandnreyes @freneticfloetry @lemonlyman-dotcom @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @orchidscript @agame-writes @three-drink-amy @carlos-in-glasses @sznofthesticks @kiwiana-writes and @heartstringsduet

targeted attack for @dumbpeachjuice @treluna4 @affectionatelyrs @bitbybitwrites @inexplicablymine @liminalmemories21 @louis-ii-reyes-strand @reyesstrand and @theghostofashton just because i felt like it <3 (sorry if im too late for you!)

#eurotrip #eurotrip snippet #red white and royal blue #rwrb #firstprince #henry fox mountchristen windsor #alex claremont diaz #seven sentence sunday #lolaland writes #except this is definitely not seven #sorry for that

[whimsymanaged]

1 Sad Fic and 10 Happy Ones

My latest fic, a new WIP called A Burst of Daylight, has Henry really going through it. (Please mind the tags, which include past-SA and past violence, both of which are not inflicted by any of the characters from RWRB.) You can read the first chapter here.

To heal your heart after reading the first chapter, I’ve compiled 10 of my favorite happy RWRB fics. My first rec list! Fic descriptions written by yours truly.

1. in bloom by stutteringpeach | G

About: It’s V Day. Henry’s a florist. Alex asks for a last minute bouquet for SOMEONE. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Very mysterious.

2. An Amateur’s Guide to Piping That Cream and Beating That Meat by @firenati0n | T

About: Henry is stressed trying to make something for his pal Alex's Thanksgiving dinner. Luckily, he finds a hot dude on TikTok who teaches how to make various recipes. TikTok user whimsy makes an appearance. She’s very famous.

3. you’ve ruined my life (by not being mine) by coffeecatsme | T

About: Alex is drunk and thinks he's sneaky. (He's not.)

4. Shoot Your Shot by @roseharpermaxwell | M

About: Alex goes on a talk show and confesses that his first celebrity crush was Prince Henry. He’s out there manifesting hard.

5. Confidential Memorandum by sherrivalli | T

About: Alex is Henry’s assistant. His biggest task is constantly fielding calls from Henry’s adorable child. Hard life.

6. Cursed is a State of Mind by ifyoustay and LolaLand | E

About: Alex drinks coffee in various cursed states. Very educational and inspirational.

7. Risotto + Melanzane + Dolce (a love story) by villageidiot | M

About: Alex is a terrible server. You will laugh your butt off reading this.

8. Dil(Do) It Yourself by @happiness-of-the-pursuit | E

About: Alex and Nora go to a workshop to make dildos. Henry helps.

9. Feel your hands in my hair and you whisper my name by @kiwiana-writes | E

About: Alex’s pick-up lines could use some work. The one he uses on Henry is, well, direct, if nothing else.

10. 5 Times Alex Made a Disney Movie Reference + 1 Time Henry Did by @hgejfmw-hgejhsf | T

About: Alex watches too many Disney movies and Henry pays the price.

#firstprince #rwrb fanfic #red white and royal blue #RWRB rec list #happy fics #and one sad one

[rmd-writes]

I just finished reading RWRB and was sad because its going to be forever (2 weeks) till the movie comes out until I realized YOU write for that fandom!! I know you from your Tarlos fics and love every single one of them. So thank you in advance for making the indomitable trial known as "waiting" so much more tolerable 💜💜💜!! Also, in case of the very real chance that I will chew through all your fics and be left bereft of purpose in life, what authors would you recommend to fill the void??

oh nonnie, this is so sweet of you! I'm so glad you like my Tarlos fics and am so very excited to hear that you've also fallen in love with RWRB!

honestly, there is SO MUCH good RWRB fic out there, I'd be here all day if I listed all of the fic authors/fics I recommend, but my tag with RWRB fic recs is here and I'm going to point you in the direction of the excellent @rwrbficrecs blog for curated lists of fic recs as well.

Some of my personal favourite RWRB fic authors are (and this is a very biased list, they are my friends, I've beta read for them all but for the most part I loved their writing before I "met" them so there is some level of objectivity here):

@indomitable-love (indomitablelove) and in particular, her post-canon universe - no one makes me sob (in a good way) like she does

@clottedcreamfudge (clottedcreamfudge) for her very specific brand of humor, feelings and sex

@everwitch-magiks (everwitch) and her incredible AUs

@three-drink-amy (allmylovesatonce) for Feelings TM of the angst flavour but always with the pay off of a very happy ending (she also writes Tarlos fic, so you may have read some of hers?)

@athousandrooms (athousandrooms) for fluffy feelings and so much love

and if you're familiar with my Tarlos writing, you are probably also familiar with @welcometololaland (lolaland) who has some stellar RWRB AUs with the same combination of snappy banter and feels that her Tarlos fics have

happy reading! 💖

PS. you should also check out @cha-melodius @stutteringpeach @sherryvalli for some great recent RWRB fics!

#rmd answers #rwrb fic rec

[rwrbficrecs]

Hi I’m the characterization anon and I was thinking fics that stay true to their personalities.

Hi Anon! I’ll be honest – this was a really hard ask for us to respond to, just because there are so many fics that we think have great characterization. In general, I (personally) think that all of the fics that I’ve included in the “main” lists more or less stay true to their personalities. (I don’t want to make that statement about all the fics recommended in the asks just because I haven’t read them all myself!). You can find all the main lists in the Tag Catalogue ❤️ It’s also quite subjective – and without getting too into it, I think we do all perceive characters differently so what feels “in character” to me might actually feel out of character to others. 

Sorry I know that’s not exactly helpful but here’s a few authors who I think write their personalities really well, and also just have really amazing fics in general. Just a disclaimer that this is not a definitive list. There are so many authors out there who have done an amazing job with Alex & Henry’s characterization but this is just a quick list off the top of my head. If anyone would like to add other authors that they feel have great characterization, please feel free to add in the comments because I have definitely missed a lot!! ❤️

14carrotgold @14carrotghoul allmylovesatonce @three-drink-amy bleedingballroomfloor  chamel @cha-melodius clottedcreamfudge @clottedcreamfudge coffeecatsme @coffeecatsme cmere @omgcmere DracoWillHearAboutThis @dracowillhearaboutthis everwitch @everwitch-magiks extasiswings @extasiswings indomitablelove @indomitable-love LolaLand @welcometololaland myheartalive @myheartalivewrites OrchidScript @orchidscript railmedaddy @rmd-writes smc_27 SprigsofViolets @sprigsofviolets stutteringpeach @stutteringpeach viciouslyqueer  zipadeea @zipadeea

#what do i even tag this post #characterization #i guess? #authors #rwrb fic recs #ask

[myheartalivewrites]

(Some of) My fave fics of 2022

So, I only joined ao3 in June/22, but I've loved it so much, both reading and writing for it. It truly gave me life. So I thought I'd do a little rec post with my favourite things I read on ao3 last year.

They are mainly RWRB with one outlier for Heartstopper, the fandom that brought me to ao3 in the first place.

I'm sticking with things that were published in 2022, just to have some sort of system. And I'm limiting myself to 5 or I'd be here forever! There's just so much good stuff out there, what a privilege to be able to read people's work like that, for free, at the tips of my fingers.

Here we go, in no particular order:

Yellow Curtains, by iphigenias (Heartstopper, T) - a canon divergence, where Nick and Charlie don't kiss at Harry's party. Nick takes his time to figure himself out, there's poetry, and it's lyrical and beautiful. The last couple of lines (before the texts) give me goosebumps every time I read them.

Never Did Run Smooth by the queen CCF (RWRB, E) - an AU, which is my favourite kind of fic, where Alex and Henry are best friends and end up in a reality show together and fall in love (well, Alex does). Pining is my Achilles heel and Henry pines SO HARD in this, it's amazing.

Route 11 by LolaLand (RWRB, E) - It's a public transport AU! There's lots of banter and chatting, and a slow build up of their feelings, which I love. It's also set in London (hooray!), and I once saw a bus catch fire just like the one in this story, and I love it when a story feels so close to life. Which brings me to the next fic...

Green Means Go by indomitablelove (RWRB, E) - Alex is an exchange student in the UK, he meets Henry at a traffic light party, and, well... I love this for lots of reasons, but having Alex experience Freshers week really resonates! It has a great dancing sequence, which is one of my favourite things in a fic.

to the victor, the spoils and the prequel/sequel What, like it's hard? by railmedaddy (RWRB, E) - Alex and Henry as lawyers AU! It has everything: a great twist, excellent smut, and a universe that just keeps on giving.

#fanfic #rwrb fanfic #heartstopper fanfic #fanfic rec #ao3 #rwrb #heartstopper #fan fiction #red white and royal blue #rwrb fanfiction #rwrb fic rec #heartstopper fic rec

[freneticfloetry]

fic rec friday(ish)

Well, it’s Saturday. But have some recs!

This week’s theme: Rec a “gateway” fic - a fic that you read and it was so good it lead you to read multiple works by the same writer.

The rules: Tag a fic and explain why it was a gateway fic / what you liked about it. Then tag some people to see what everyone else is reading. Spread the love! Lola will do the round up on Sunday again, so if you’re still recc-ing on Saturday, no pressure. Please tag @welcometololaland or #ficrecfriday so she can compile the masterlist!

(A couple things, just in general: first, I am still very new to reading in this fandom, so I’m still standing in many of these gateways. Second, I am a kudos-and-comment reader, so if you don’t see my name in your serotonin section, please assume that I haven’t yet read your fic / update (but will soon, because I am slowly but surely consuming all the things).)

Thanks to @welcometololaland, @rmd-writes, @thisbuildinghasfeelings, and my beloved @ambiguouspenny for the tags!

to which there is no reply by stormss (@reyesstrand)

We've been blessed with so many post-finale/honeymoon takes, but this is one of the two that haunts me. It's quiet and moody and beautifully introspective, as Carlos comes to grips with the end of escapism and reality starts creeping in again. There's this distinct sense of before and after, especially as he reflects on the things he would've brought back to the real world with him, if his life still made sense, and there's so much insight here, in the objects he chooses for his parents, in the way he thinks of his father, in the way he sees TK. And I felt so at home reading this, not just because it's such a well-drawn story (though it is), but because of the way, every few paragraphs, there'd be a line phrased precisely the way I would have, and I'd get the strangest sense I was reading the best work I'd ever done that I'd somehow forgotten I'd written. I can't wait to read everything Maddie's done, including the handful of fics in another fandom we share.

living at the centre of a wound still fresh by LolaLand (@welcometololaland)

And here's the other! I am utterly infatuated with this fic — the way it's written, the way it's paced, and the way Lola lets Carlos plain not be okay. It's such a starkly beautiful story about grief and the way it ebbs and flows like the tide, the way it can pull you under or see you safely back to shore and you never know which wave you're riding. Lovelier still, somehow, is her TK, and all the things he does to help Carlos stay afloat. This one is still in progress (and I have a date this weekend with the last couple chapters), but it's the reason why Lola's Seven Ways (Back to You) series is next up on my Marked for Later list.

Fire Island by @carlos-in-glasses

I was remiss in not reccing this last week, for the "fics that start with the first letter of your username" theme — it certainly deserved a spot. This was not only the first fic I read of theirs, it's one of the first fics I read in the fandom. And it's such a rich, bittersweet story, one of those quietly beautiful pieces that lovingly punches you in the gut. The OCs are so well-realized, and the boys' love is so warm and lived-in that it feels like a lifeline, like a thread of hope to hold on to as we hear these tragically beautiful stories of boys past. This is the whole reason I got so excited for the swimfic, which is posting now.

You Keep Coming Back With A Bird In Your Teeth by vaguenotion

I can't even. I got so wrapped up in reading this that I started work two hours late. Writing a rec for this apparently isn't going to be any better than my feeble attempt at feedback, so I'll just say this: the prose is gorgeous, the character voices are unreal (fueled by a truly next-level TK POV), and it surprises me with every word. It's not even finished and it's already one of my very favorite things in this fandom, and everyone should read it. It's the author's first Tarlos fic, but they've got a fan in me for life.

I’m late, so I’m pretty sure everyone’s been tagged. But just in case, @hoko-onchi-writes, you’re up!

#fic rec friday

[welcometololaland]

i keep missing these but it was nice to see tags from people (thank you so much everyone, it's nice to know people haven't forgotten about me lol) so i thought fuck it? even though it's friday? i never know what to post because 1/2 my tags are lone star and 1/2 are rwrb so have both i guess?

10 Things I Hate About You AU (an incident during sex)

—TK actually headbutts the ceiling. Hard. “Oh my god,” Carlos yelps as TK winces, one hand flying to the top of his head on instinct. He looks up and realises that the ceiling is way closer than it should be. “TK, are you okay?” “Yeah,” TK insists, even though when he opens both eyes the room looks a little fuzzy around the edges. “I’m fine. Keep going.” “I am— What?” Carlos asks incredulously. “TK, you could have a concussion!” “I don’t!” TK protests, even though he actually has no idea. The fact is, he might die if Carlos pulls out right now. “I’m fine.” “You almost put your head through the ceiling,” Carlos argues. “I can’t—” “You can’t or you don’t want to,” TK pouts. “Because I want to.” “TK, you’re leaning to the side,” Carlos points out drily. TK shakes his head. “No, I’m not.” “Yes, you are,” Carlos insists. “And stop shaking your head. Oh my god, aren’t you the one with the medical training?”

Eurotrip (alex is mad that he cockblocked himself)

Henry’s gut instinct is to apologise, but he holds his tongue. Instead, an incredulous laugh bubbles up in his throat. “Would you like me to insult you instead?” he asks, trying to keep his expression neutral despite the fact that he can feel his cheeks twitching. “No,” Alex mumbles. “But maybe you could agree to a blowjob in a confessional, or something.” “We are not having sex in a cathedral,” Henry replies, biting his lip in an increased effort to keep the laughter in. “I’m as agnostic as they come but that is a touch too sacrilegious for me.” “Fine,” Alex replies, his expression softening as he runs his tongue over his bottom lip. Bloody hypocrite, Henry thinks. “A castle then. A non-religious monument. A museum!” “Most of those places have tight security,” Henry points out. “I’d rather take my chances at the hostel.” “Not with Prudence around,” Alex mutters darkly. “She’s everywhere.” “She’s probably here right now,” Henry teases. Alex pretends to look under the table, then ducks his head back into view. “Either that or she’s been kidnapped.” “Alex, you can’t say that—” “I can and I will,” Alex insists. “But it doesn’t change that we have two more nights of forced celibacy before I can do some very bad things to you.”

thank you so much for the tags everyone! your sninppets are in my queue! @freneticfloetry @carlos-tk @affectionatelyrs @happiness-of-the-pursuit @indestructibleheart @inexplicablymine @firenati0n @sherryvalli @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @birdclowns @orchidscript @three-drink-amy @lemonlyman-dotcom @cha-melodius @heartstringsduet @carlos-in-glasses @suseagull04 @kiwiana-writes (and @hippolotamus for the last sentence game). Tagging you all back for next week!

also, just thinking about a few people i haven't seen words from recently (sorry if i missed) so tagging @goodways @reyesstrand @never-blooms @lightningboltreader @treluna4 @everwitch-magiks @celeritas2997 @ambiguouspenny @daisymae-12 @liminalmemories21 @theghostofashton for next week/sunday/whenever you post something, please tag me so i can ready it :)

#wip wednesday #lolaland writes #eurotrip #911 lone star #10 things i hate about you au #Not Now But Soon #When In Rome #rwrb #red white and royal blue

[welcometololaland]

2023 in summary - slightly less productive than 2022, with way more speed bumps than usual (lying catatonic in bed for a month was not on the agenda, surprisingly). Here's to a better 2024!

Fandoms: I added to the chaos this year by jumping into Top Gun Maverick, but Ao3 tells me my beloved in 2023 was 911 Lone Star. I also wrote more RWRB fics, so that rounded out the holy trinity.

Total words (on Ao3) in 2023: 404,508 of posted fic (with a few thousand yet to go). 2023 pushed my total word count over 1 million 💜

Total words (unposted, in my Google Docs but written in 2023):

40k approx of Pet Store AU (co-write with @strandnreyes)

14k approx of Call Me (co-write with @rmd-writes)

44k approx of Eurotrip (although I think I only wrote about 15k of that in 2023).

3k of The Ring-In 2.0.

1k of Christmas fic.

31k of 10 Things I Hate About You AU.

11k of Product Placement.

so...like a LOT of unposted WIP.

Most recent fic: a long time ago (we used to be friends)

Longest fic: the fic above at 166k approx (my longest ever! for now...)

Top fic by kudos: Fifty First Dates (the oodie agenda reigns supreme)

Top fic by comments: Cursed is a State of Mind (cursed coffee is a hot topic)

Projects for 2024: Finishing something of the above? If my most recent RWRB fic does okay, maybe I'll dedicate my whole summer to Eurotrip? Idk. I keep running out of steam worrying it's going to be a flop lol.

What I want to read: SO MUCH. guys. I'm so behind. I'm so, so sorry. I need to finish Knave 3 by @liminalmemories21, the Gabriel fic by @wandering-night19, the prompt fills by @strandnreyes, first aid by @heartstringsduet, the angsty fic by @carlos-in-glasses, bottom carlos that came out the other day by @goodways, the food fic by @reyesstrand, fear kidnapped tk fic by @birdclowns, the boxing au (is it out yet?? i'm seriously so pathetic) by @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut and legit so many other things that are just not at the top of my mind yet. OH and i am frothing at the mouth to read accidental couples therapy firstprince by @cha-melodius and i heard that @cricketnationrise and maybe someone else wrote a fic about oodies?? @celeritas2997 send me the links!!!!!!! and the percy jackson au by @inexplicablymine @read-and-write- and @happiness-of-the-pursuit. also i never sat down and finished to build a home part 3 @freneticfloetry i owe you that please don't think i've forgotten!!! okay guys do you see how frantic my brain is now? please don't judge me i'm sure there's WAY MORE i'm just forgetting. everyone send me their reading lists!!!!!! i finally have time!!!!! also i'm gonna put @celeritas2997 sweet sweet voice in my ear and listen to her podfic to calm me down. OH AND ALL THE SNOWFLAKS (@everwitch-magiks @clottedcreamfudge @athousandrooms @dustratcentral @three-drink-amy @indomitable-love @villiageidiot @rmd-writes).

Lolaland over and out! (Maybe, maybe there is time in the year for a couple more thousand words...)

#lolaland writes #lolaland 2023 in review #mental breakdown hours #those were the days #hoping for a better 2024

[welcometololaland]

hey friends!

just wanted to hop on and say that i hope you all have a fantastic new year and a great start to 2024 💜

i'm gonna be taking a little bit of time away from tumblr in the first few weeks, maybe month of the new year. not totally gone/hiatus just a little bit less active, so i wanted to let y'all know so you don't think i'm like...ignoring your amazing snippets or tags or whatnot. i still love reading them and i'm still around, i just might not be as active. actually, i think this is good for you because i won't be clogging up the dash as much hehe. but please don't think i'm ignoring you!

feel free to reach out on discord to chat if you like and i'll be back in full swing sometime in feb (i think)

tagging some people under the cut who tag me in from time to time just for the fyi

@rmd-writes @celeritas2997 @strandnreyes @lightningboltreader @reyesstrand @cha-melodius @affectionatelyrs @inexplicablymine @orchidscript @ramonaflow @carlos-in-glasses @carlos-tk @three-drink-amy @kiwiana-writes @iboatedhere @indomitable-love @heartstringsduet @birdclowns @alrightbuckaroo @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @freneticfloetry @happiness-of-the-pursuit @lemonlyman-dotcom @liminalmemories21 @redshirt2 @louis-ii-reyes-strand @hippolotamus @bonheur-cafe @theghostofashton @cricketnationrise @herefortarlos @thisbuildinghasfeelings @daisymae-12 @a-noble-dragon @alltheprettyplaces @fitzherbertssmolder

#personal #lolaland #lola writes #911 lone star #tgm #red white and royal blue #rwrb

[welcometololaland]

Hello Lola! This your nice ask week ask! I want to know the origin story of you as a fic writer! What was it that drove you into this life? And I'd also love to know: A someone who collaborates with other writers, what is it like to develop a story and work on it with someone else? How is that organised and scheduled? Not to get too col and corporate about it, but I was to know the strategy lol

hey cig, you know there's nothing i like more than corporate catch phrases, so i couldn't help but circle back to this ask 💜

i started writing fic when i was about 14, although none of those stories exist on the internet anymore (thankfully). truthfully, i've dabbled in creative writing my entire life - i remember sitting out the front of my parents' campervan on holiday and scribbling stories as a six or seven year old - so fic writing was a natural extension of that.

as for co-writing fic - i'd encourage everyone to give it a go if you haven't already. imo it's an incredibly rewarding experience (way better than group projects at school or team building games on corporate retreats). i think the number one thing to remember is that co-writing requires more flexibility - you have to give up any timing expectations and some creative control. but if it works, if the vibe is good, you'll end up with something even better than you could have written yourself.

one of my favourite parts of the experience is bouncing ideas back and forth and getting increasingly ridiculous. seeing the original aquarium rock disaster idea come to life in the rainbow fish was one in a long line of incredibly fun moments writing with jen (@strandnreyes). similarly, the owen strand fire safety agenda in (un)professional services was something that rae (@rmd-writes) and i laughed over for DAYS and kept bringing back in as we wrote successive parts. i also count all my rosie (@dustratcentral) fics as co-writes even though she will fight me (cursed is a state of mind, the ring-in, phonography, the morning (part 2), carlos and the baby c- omg sorry, spoiler) because writing someone else's brilliant idea is a task in itself and i'm so lucky that she lets me do that from time to time 💜

i think the easiest way to do it is to each pick a pov and go from there. a structure/outline will definitely help you, which is most commonly established by dumping all of the ridiculous messages from a chat into a google doc. then it's a matter of writing, reading what the other person has written and constantly checking in to make sure that you understand where the fic is going.

to be honest, every finished co-write i've done (and some are fleeting and don't quite get off the ground and you have to be okay with that) has been very, very easy. i actually think that they're easier to write than solo fics (but that might just be me). something about the shared experience really gets me going!

if anyone else has any experience, please feel free to jump in!

thanks for the ask, cig 💜

#lolaland answers #nice ask week #cig #carlos-in-glasses #co-writing #co-writing advice #fic origin story

[welcometololaland]

Lola, emojis for you pls 🥑🦷🥐🐚

i haven't looked...and yet i feel that there is going to be an attack in here somewhere 👀

🥑 you accidentally killed somebody, which mutual(s) do you text for help?

idk, y'all live so far away. i think it would have to be @celeritas2997. she wouldn't like it, but she's going to have to live with it. plus, she'd visit me in prison when i inevitably couldn't deal with the guilt and turned myself in.

🦷 share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on?

if you don't mind travelling in the back of the plane (read: waiting for everyone to de-plane before you) and you're travelling with one other person, make sure you check the seating options at the rear of the aircraft when you select your seats. sometimes in bigger planes (A380s etc) there are options for two seats side by side right down the back. then you don't have to have a random sit with you and you can go to the bathroom guilt free 😌 this hack has made my life so much better on long-haul (read: 10 hour plus) flights.

🥐 name one internet reference that will always make you laugh? 

i have a 'iconic memes' folder on my phone and all of them make me lose my shit. i have a soft spot for those really stupid medieval memes.

🐚 do you like or dislike surprises?

obvious from my anxious girl aesthetic but i HATE surprises. unless someone wants to organise a surprise birthday party for me because i hate organising things for my birthday (which is why i haven't had a birthday thing in like 15 years).

thanks rae!

[writer's ask game]

#writer's ask game #rmd-writes #lolaland answers

[welcometololaland]

🧸🪐🏜️

xoxo MJ/kiwiana-writes

hello mj! thank you for your enquiry. unlike my usual response time, i have not taken 5-12 business years to get back to you, yay!

🧸 what's the fastest way to become my mutual?

it's very simple - you just talk to me hehe. i am an irredeemable extrovert and i love meeting new people and learning all about everyone's lives in a way that may come off creepy but is just genuine interest. i have this weird thing where i feel the need to always find balance in my conversations - i want the person i'm talking to to feel valued and know that i care about what they're saying, but i'm also just very curious. so i'm sorry if anyone has found this offputting, i'm not ACTUALLY trying to work out where you live and your social security number, i just want to know you.

🪐 name three good things in your life right now?

my partner, my (relatively) healthy body and the fact that my cat is going through a phase of wanting to sleep in my arms.

🏜️ what's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work?

literally anything, i'm not fussy as long as it isn't mean. i love all comments - short comments, long comments, comments that quote things, comments that make funny jokes, comments that just consist of keysmashes. they are all precious to me 💜

thanks, MJ!

writer's ask game

#writer's ask game #kiwiana-writes #lolaland answers

[welcometololaland]

NOW COMPLETE

Chapter 8 - A Family Affair

Do you like Tarlos? Do you like pets? If so, you have come to the right place, specifically this fic - a Tarlos love story set in a pet store by @strandnreyes and Lolaland

The Rainbow Fish | E | 911 Lone Star | 8/8

Despite being a big fan of animals, TK Strand has never owned one. He’s never had a reason to enter a pet store, until he gets caught in a torrential downpour. Carlos Reyes knows a lot about pet stores. It comes with the territory, considering he works at one. That being said, none of his in-store training ever taught him how to help a beautiful, rain-soaked stranger pick up the aquarium rock display they just knocked over. OR The Tarlos pet store meet-cute.

Chapter 1: The Rock Incident

Chapter 2: Carlos 1, Carlos 2, Carlos 3

Chapter 3: Employee of the Month

Chapter 4: Lou the Lizard

Chapter 5: Job Application

Chapter 6: Cat Rescue

Chapter 7: Epilogue Part 1: TK vs Cat, Carlos vs Lou

Chapter 8: A Family Affair

Thank you to @rmd-writes and @lightningboltreader for being our trusty beta readers!

#The Rainbow Fish #pet store au #911 lone star #tarlos #911 lone star fic #tarlos fic #tk strand #carlos reyes #strandnreyes #lolaland #co-written fic #alternate universe

[welcometololaland]

don't mean to get all sunday scaries on us, but does anyone else struggle with their self-worth getting too tied up in fic? someone mentioned this to me last night, and I was like hey...it's also me?

like i do feel a bit worthless when I'm not writing as much as I want to be, or I'm not writing fast enough, or it's not as good as I expect for myself, or even if im not as obsessed with my idea as much as I'd like to be and writing is a bit of a slog. but then also feeling shit about myself if im not quick enough beta reading or haven't made it as far through my tbr as I'd like to, or feeling like people don't want to interact with me as much bc I'm not...doing enough?

100% recognise this is a ME problem, it all comes from within. but we keep it (painfully) real here in lolaland and im curious to know if anyone else experiences these kinds of things.

it's spiral time, cowboys (gender neutral) 🌀🌀🌀

#personal #fic spiral

[welcometololaland]

A fic about Alex Claremont-Diaz's chaotic coffee habits for @rmd-writes, brought to you by the extremely rogue and inadvisable duo of @dustratcentral (ifyoustay) and me (Lolaland).

(updating every couple of days).

NOW COMPLETE

CURSED IS A STATE OF MIND | E | 6/6 | RWRB

Alex Claremont-Diaz is well aware that he’s an absolute catch. He’s intelligent and quick witted, has an ass that absolutely refuses to quit and was once voted ‘most attractive law student’ in a slightly irresponsible and probably unethical NYU student magazine poll. Which is why he finds it super fucking weird that his new roommate, Henry, thinks his caffeine consumption habits are a bit off-putting. So what if he has some unconventional drink choices? It’s not like Alex can’t vehemently defend all of them. OR 5 times Henry has something to say about Alex’s coffee choices and 1 time he says nothing at all.

Chapter 1 - a wake-me-up and a pick-me-up

Chapter 2 - cereal coffee

Chapter 3 - lukecold

Chapter 4 - pre-made, post-warmed

Chapter 5 - dip it

Chapter 6 - the fat hasn't separated

#Cursed is a State of Mind #rwrb #red white and royal blue #rwrb fic #red white and royal blue fic #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #coffee habits #alternate universe #new york city #the ring-in but rwrb and worse #ifyoustay and lolaland strike again

[welcometololaland]

Fic Rec Friday Round Up

Thanks to everyone who participated this week - the theme was: a fic with a great twist and / or a fic that surprised you. I have a list below, but I only included ones people tagged me in or ones I could find from the #fic rec friday tag. If I've missed any, please let me know!

Please read at your own discretion. Heed tags and ratings on each individual fic. Keep yourself safe, friends!

911

Chaotic Energy (series) by @dancer-me

Family Feud: First Responders by @princessfbi

911 Lone Star

as if you were a mythical thing by @strandnreyes

Blood on the tracks, fire in the hills by thenorthface

call my bluff, call you babe by @strandnreyes

can we hold out for summer again? by whataboutateakettle

coming down by @taralaurel

Detective AU (series) by @strandnreyes

disaster point by @iimpossible-things

Get Feeling by @Mari_Marie

Just The Four Of Us by destimushi

I'm in this for life by @marjansmarwani

Listing by tarlost

Love Game by Lolaland (me)

Magnetic North by paperstorm

of past and present by @strandnreyes

Secret Moments In A Crowded Room by @strandnreyes

Sometimes Things Just Fall Apart by @howtosingit

The knave of Hearts, he stole the tarts by @liminalmemories21

The knave of Hearts...he said he'd steal no more by @liminalmemories21

The Watcher by @ladytessa74

time, curious time by @strandnreyes

wait in the fire by @reyesstrand

With love, your soulmate by @chaotictarlos

your first string by @strandnreyes

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Boomerangs and Rainbows by mindbending

Loki

Low-Key Coffee by sir_not_appearing_in_this_archive

The Hardest Cut by @cha-melodius

Red white and Royal Blue

A little off the top by @clottedcreamfudge

Count The Stars and Constellations by @everwitch-magiks

Ghosted by tintagel

Keep Most of Your Heart in London by @torvagatai

The Cost of Anything by @clottedcreamfudge

The Perils of Midsomer Residency by @clottedcreamfudge

The Sky is Open by @cha-melodius

to the victor, the spoils by @rmd-writes

you're all that i need by @rmd-writes

Schitt's Creek

(He) was a fast machine by @lizzie-bennetdarcy

A Whole Lot to Gain by @yourbuttervoicedbeau

Burn Out the Night by @madlori

Come Here Often by @doublel27

Dracontine (series) by @a-noble-dragon

Ernesto by @weathereyehorizon

Fish and Chips by @tyfinn

Headed West by another_hero

If I Could Melt Your Heart by @weathereyehorizon

If I were you by pine67

If Music Be the Food of Love by asoftplacetoland

Natural Selection by ICMezzo

Pretty Paper by @five678patty

Red Sky at Night, Killer's Delight by @madlori

Say the Words by mindswindowsdoors

She Sees You When You're Sleeping (with your husband) by @weathereyehorizon

Shoot and Score by @mostlyinthemorning

The Fundamental Things by @goodiecornbread

There is definitely, absolutely, positively only one bed by @mostlyinthemorning

Three's Company by treepyful

Winning the Game by @ladyflowdi

Smallville

A Handful of Dust by @seperis

Star Wars

The Lotus Eater by @stolen-pen-name23

Teen Wolf

Anchor by @thedegenerateasexual

The Man From U.N.C.L.E

This War Against Your Faith by Ingu

#fic rec friday #fic rec friday round up #911 #911 lone star #avatar: the last airbender #loki #red white and royal blue #rwrb #schitt's creek #star wars #teen wolf #TMFU #the man from uncle #smallville