#aurorawest

[tubercloset]

3, 10, 12, and 13 for the book asks!

3. What were your top 5 books of the year?

In chronological order: light from uncommon stars, much ado about nothing, the bedlam stacks, the half life of valery k, king lear (+ siren queen bc I don’t want to omit it lol)

10. What was your favorite new release of the year?

Yellowface by rf kuang, I guess? I haven’t been on top of the new releases this year and I don’t think I liked any of the 3 2023 books I read that much. I would love recommendations if anyone has any though

12. Any books that disappointed you?

answer here

13. What were your least favorite books of the year?

the godfather… I thought it would be interesting to read it after I finally watched the movies… it was not.

the sympathizer - most painful reading experience of my life. I hope no one will ever have to spend 4 months on this book writing answers to Socratic seminar questions, but that’s probably going to happen again in 2024. I think I would’ve gotten bored of it if I read at a normal pace too, but the sluggish pace at which we read for class was completely unsustainable 🦑

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - I’m just bitter I spent money on it to not be able to finish it 😢

#Thank you so much for asking fun questions! #ask game #asks #aurorawest

[aelaer]

for the fic writer asks - 🌈🎀

🌈 is there a fic that you worked *really fucking hard on* that no one would ever know? maybe a scene/theme you struggled with?

Over 10 years ago I wrote over 150k of a LOTR fic. The only person who read where it was going was @cairistiona7 who betaed the first part for me (bless you for doing so, it's not *that good* lmao, I reread it a few years ago and did a bit of wincing at some of what was contrived).

Unfortunately many of the first reviews for the first few chapters were what I perceived at the time as hypercritical of the OCs and overall plot, so despite working my best that I could at the time, the criticism led me to not finishing the last 20% of the fic and to stop posting altogether. I stopped writing LOTR fanfic for the most part after that with a couple exceptions. A couple of those reviewers really killed fanfic for me until I started writing it again for the MCU several years later.

It's unlikely that the fic will ever see a rewrite or the light of day. Which sort of sucks as I had this whole timeline planned out.

MCU-wise, I'd say that no one would know how hard it was for me to attempt to write the romance BS in my only true IronStrange fic, but I've bitched about that more than once lmao. I tried, I didn't like writing it, I don't enjoy reading my own writing of it, but now I can say I tried and never do it again xD reading others is fine but writing, never again.

🎀 give yourself a compliment about your own writing

I think my characterizations are absolutely on point for the characters I write the most, and pretty good for characters I don't write often. And I think many of my OCs are dynamic and three-dimensional, too.

Thanks!

#aurorawest #ask #answered #fanfic #my writing

[adrift-in-thyme]

2, 7, and 11 for the fic asks :)

2. what's a fic that took you to an emotional/dark/hard place?

Probably my Lokane fic “Falling, I Will Catch You.” There were A LOT of emotions in that fic and while writing the first couple of chapters I had to step back a few times to keep from getting too far in my head. Plus, my life was kinda goin nuts while I was writing it so that didn’t help. I’m super proud of that fic but yeah it was A LOT lol

7. how does receiving or not receiving feedback/support impact you?

Receiving feedback/support makes me insanely happy. I’ve literally screamed over nice comments readers have left. But not receiving it makes it difficult to stay motivated.

11. Has a fic you’ve written ever caused issues/controversy?

Not that I know of lol

#thanks for asking! #writer ask game #aurorawest

[thelightofthingshopedfor]

15 and 30 for ao3 wrapped

15. What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

hahaha well all of them. all the unfinished WIPs languishing in my notebook and OneDrive folder, haunting me. also taunting me. but my first priority is to actually type up the damn notebooks so they're actually backed up oh my god and so I have a better idea which fics I think might be sort of almost finished are actually sort of almost finished, and after that the priorities will be 1) a 2020 MTH fill oops, 2) anything that is really, genuinely almost done, and 3) anything that would ideally be finished and posted before Loki S2 comes out (I don't have anything really, actually speculative, but I do have a few set in the post-S1 blank space that will feel weird to write once I know what happens after the finale).

30. Biggest surprise while writing this year?

ummm. well, I just realized that although I published at least one "adventures of tiny Loki and Thor" photo (which is a chapter on AO3) every month, I otherwise finished and posted literally just one fic so far this year, so...that doesn't feel great.

[AO3 wrapped]

#conversations #aurorawest #writing #fanfic

[kestrelii]

"Strange’s eyes stayed locked on Loki’s, and he said more quietly, “I always liked storms. They’re one of the few things I don’t mind feeling powerless against.” "

From @aurorawest 's fic "A Full and Factual Account of Asgard" (read it on ao3. you won't regret it I promise).

I don't know if this scene was taking place at night but... I needed an excuse to draw the moon.

#loki #art #loki laufeyson #my art #stephen strange #dr strange #aurorawest has addicting stories ok #ao3 works

[themculibrary]

Loki Needs A Hug Masterlist

A Place In Time (ao3) - SnakeCharmer2023 loki/mobius T, 7k

Summary: Loki knew what he'd signed up for, replacing the loom at the end of time and sitting alone on the throne.

But what if the end didn't have to be forever?

A fix-it fic after the ending of series 2, because my heart can't take it.

Beautiful Figments (ao3) - mudgems M, 104k

Summary: “Hold on,” Stark says, attempting flippancy but falling well short of the mark. “I’m confused.”

“I think that makes two of you,” Rhodes says under his breath, but his visible concern remains.

Vision is not confused. If anything, he thinks the situation is suddenly, painfully, clear. “You do not remember yourself, do you?” he asks gently, and Loki finally meets his eyes. The hollow fear Vision sees there is obvious, and he wonders why he did not notice it before.

Broken Beyond Repair (ao3) - kittyhazelnut T, 31k

Summary: Loki had committed treason on a level Asgard had never seen. He would not be welcome back to his home realm. He would remain at the mercy of those he tried to control: the humans, SHIELD, and, of course, HYDRA.

By the time the Avengers come knocking HYDRA's door, Loki's long gone in every sense but the physical. Fortunately, even in his silent, fearful state, he's managed to make some friends. Wanda and Pietro won't let anyone hurt him. The Avengers are nothing but a threat, and Ultron makes them a promise that they'll be free of those so-called heroes soon enough.

(Basically, it's an Age of Ultron au where Wanda and Pietro have adopted a very broken Loki and they're determined to keep him safe.)

Brother (ao3) - Lynsds T, 24k

Summary: Overwhelmed with grief after Loki's apparent suicide, Thor is overjoyed to hear that his brother may be alive, if not well, and invading Midgard. It's not Odin that sends him there, but Frigga, and in this world, Thor is ready to observe and to listen.

It's not just Loki who has a lot of healing to do. But they're not alone anymore, and where there's life, there's hope.

For Eternity (ao3) - himynameisv T, 2k

Summary: Sometime during his centuries of self-imposed time loops, Loki begins to hallucinate Thor.

This is perhaps not the best indication of his current mental status.

Free Fall (ao3) - Daffanddahlodil N/R, 14k

Summary: Loki tries to function after learning of his adoption, but he’s not doing as well as he’d hoped.

Here, Here, and Here (ao3) - AuroraWest M, 68k

Summary: Loki and Thor have returned to Earth after two and a half years in space, and Loki, even after a winter in New Asgard, isn't sure he'll ever feel at home.

It doesn't help that as the alien who invaded New York City in 2012, he's been placed on probation by the UN for six months. If he can go six months without leaving New Asgard and without causing any trouble, he'll be free to visit anywhere he pleases on Earth. It's only six months. He can handle it.

Except Loki is bored. And what harm would it do if he just broke his probation a tiny bit? What are they going to do—send him to prison?

Well, yes. Yes, as it turns out. That's exactly what they're going to do.

In The Dark Alone (ao3) - every_oak_tree G, 17k

Summary: It starts at the end, really, with Ragnarök, with Asgard's fall (but Loki's been falling for longer, hasn't he?). It starts with the Mad Titan and the Statesman's explosion. It starts with a dead brother, his broken body sprawled on a spaceship's floor, miles and miles away from a home that no longer exists.

___ Something stirs inside Loki. He acknowledges that this is what he wants—but not all he wants. A newfound anger makes its way into his heart, surrounding it with an impenetrable wall of ice. He will be stronger this time, ruthless and unforgiving. Because when the world has taken everything, when they have stripped you off your armour and left you for dead, you have nothing more to lose. He can do better—no, he will do better. There is no alternative. You either die a loser or live to see yourself become a winner.

___ Or: where Thor dies at the Stateman instead of Loki, but his death will not go unavenged.

Loved and Lost (ao3) - forever_whippoorwill loki/mobius G, 4k

Summary: Loki hadn't realized how much he had missed the man's comforting presence until he was here and he could see it. Let me sit here, Loki's bones begged, at the sight of Mobius just out in his yard, and watch the wind blow through your hair and ruffle it in all the ways I want to.

He was too tired to keep that thought from running through his mind.

Old Habits (ao3) - Yavvys G, 7k

Summary: Odin knows that Loki will not change - not a cycle, not a hundred cycles later. But still, weak hope and smoldering feelings pull him towards the new guise of his adopted son, and the All-Father goes to visit the reborn god.

Once More, With Feeling (ao3) - NovaWasTaken1 T, 25k

Summary: Loki survives Thanos' attack on the Statesman by the skin of his teeth, the Tesseract, and a suicidal plan to save Asgard or die trying.

This changes less than you might think.

rest your eyes, weary god (ao3) - panthor loki/mobius N/R, 3k

Summary: Something blooms in their chest with that touch, something they try their hardest to push back down. As they walk, Loki thinks about how kind Mobius has been to them tonight. Tender, even. Enough to where they let their guard down enough to sleep in front of him. As much as they hate to admit it, Mobius has shown them more humanity than almost anyone else in their life. Despite where he works, Loki can see the empathy radiating from Mobius.

or

Mobius is just a nice guy.

Stay With Me (ao3) - Bookwormgal T, 17k

Summary: Loki had lost almost everything important to him, one way or another. His place in the timeline, his family, his sense of identity, his purpose, Sylvie... Even his first true friend was snatched away, along with the familiar version of the TVA.

But part of what makes a Loki was that they never give up. He would claw his way back and reclaim some of what was taken from him. So he searched through countless versions of the TVA until he found his way back to the right one. The one that had the right Mobius.

And if fate wished to steal him away in a more permanent way, it would have to fight Loki for him. He refused to lose anything else.

Toil and trouble (ao3) - AnsibleMechanic T, 44k

Summary: “When he made it back to Asgard and managed to outwit Odin himself, he only thought of ensuring his own freedom and survival. When Thor refused the throne (his brother chose the worst time to grow wiser), Loki was still delirious in his glee of finally making the biggest, funniest joke in all the realms – the lying Jotun trickster on the throne, and not a soul suspects it!”

Loki didn’t just eat grapes and watched amateur theatre in his dad’s robes for five years. Everything from TR canon is thrown to the wolves, and we have Loki having mental health consequences of his actions in various locations, with some inter-realm politics thrown in, with eventual relocation to the Avengers Tower (in true 2012 fashion) for more angsting and agonising. Hopefully with some friends we found along the way.

to see the world (as you do) (ao3) - T, 16k

Summary: When Odin finds a newborn babe in the war-torn wasteland that is Jotunheim, he takes it home; Frigga is the one to insist they must treat it as their own, and Odin loves her, so he obliges.

And then she dies, and Odin has no time for a child that only reminds him of the very thing he lost - he barely has time for his own young, grieving son.

So he locks it in the Vault, and calls it a trophy from the frozen realm.

or

All Loki knew for a long, long time were there four walls that held them, and the distorted view into the room beyond - filled with trinkets they couldn't name.

There were flashes of something else, of a woman who held them close and hummed lullabies, of a boy with hair like the sun, and a bright blue sky - but the memories were insubstantial and fleeting, slipping through their fingers like smoke.

You Screamed For So Long We Forgot To Care Anymore (ao3) - GalaxyThreads T, 126k

Summary: Five months after Thor drags his half-dead brother to Earth to plead asylum, things take a turn for the worse. With the older Asgardian out of commission and a sizeable threat overshadowing them, Clint becomes aware of two facts: One: Loki was tortured, mind-controlled, and manipulated into attacking Earth. Two: Loki knows none of this. (gen, no smut)

#themculibrary #masterlists #marvel #mcu #loki #loki needs a hug #loki needs a hug masterlist

[gingersnappish]

Finally finished off this piece for the lovely, talented (and very patient) @aurorawest who always has the best of OCs! I love how the atmosphere came out on this one!

#commissioned art #commissions #oc designs #oc art #gingersnappisharts

[mareebird]

Chapter 8

A Murder Mystery, Staring Loki and Stephen Strange! Part of Artifacts and Asgardians (The Relic) Rating: Mature

Loki and Stephen go on a diplomatic mission to an isolated city on a tiny planet. Unfortunately, Stephen is no diplomat, Loki is sorely out of practice, and their friendship is on rocky ground. It's the worst possible time for someone to find a dead body on the beach. Chapter 8 - The Bliss

Against his better judgment, Loki follows the priest to a second location and learns a few things about Bohara and The Bliss.

A tragedy occurs.

And Stephen goes missing a second time.

Read on Ao3

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

With thanks to @aurorawest for their beta work.

#loki #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction #stephen strange #doctor strange #mcu #mystery #murder mystery #caper #sherlock holmes #hercule poirot #i'm just tagging everything now #chapter update #a scandal in bohara #the relic fanic

[tubercloset]

Hey I'm here via your wonderful propaganda for The Kingdoms, so it only feels right that I should ask you to do the book bingo for The Kingdoms! :)

Hi hi I'm glad you enjoyed the propaganda! It's good to see another fan of The Kingdoms :))

It's been a while since I read it but one thing is that after finishing it I immediately jumped around to every part in the book until every part was worn with familiarity, and then I moved on (but not completely)

#after I finished it I was sad that the story is so short it should be longer somehow #there's not enough in it #the kingdoms #natasha pulley #asks #aurorawest #thank you so much for the ask! #book bingo

[aelaer]

❌👻

I really really meant to get to this earlier. Le sigh. Sorry bout that.

❌ What WIP do you find the most challenging? Why?

To be honest, the Loki POV fic is the next one shot that followers asked me to finish and I've been blocked on that since like, February. Maybe it's because it feels like his personality has shifted around a lot throughout his time in the MCU but I don't feel like I have a great grasp on his character and just how "chaotic" he should be in a "post IW but he survived" fic. Should I go for a bit more comedic? Or more serious? Since he's had so little time with Stephen on screen is it just a matter of what the author wants their relationship to be? I haven't fully figured it out.

👻 Is there a scene that you find intimidating that you have yet to write?

I need to figure out how Tony, Steve, and Bucky meet again in a fic that had CW happen, but IW didn't and Thanos is delayed so there's other stuff bringing them together. This was a scene I desperately wanted on screen in Endgame - some sort of conversation with them, not just giving the shield back - and I still feel robbed. And I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to approach it.

(Note: the convo is strictly about Steve keeping the info about his parents from him (so Steve's bad) and Tony losing his temper terribly and trying to kill a brainwashed man in his grief (so Tony's bad). I 100% feel any interpretation from fic writers saying Steve nearly killed Tony grossly OOC and I honestly think it's just bad characterization when used unless the writer is doing Hydra Steve or something.)

But yeah. I have to figure that out 😞

#ask #answered #aurorawest #my writing #the work i need to do on my wips :(

[ankeschoenle]

Hey @aurorawest look at these beauties!!! Was thinking of you because you once had Pride Flag Converse as a literal plot device, IIRC.

#converse #gay #gay footwear #pride

[evenaturtleduck]

It's a 3+ hr drive to my parents' house for Thanksgiving and the traffic is especially trafficky, so I'm Trying To Art on my lap without spilling anything in the front seat.

Still thinking about Alex and Jake from When We Finally Kiss Good Night by @aurorawest so here they are being cute.

#cartoon Alex inspired by Oldest Child's style #favorite books #when we finally kiss good night

[nostalgia-tblr]

Ten First Lines

Tagged by @aurorawest

Rules: Share the first lines of your ten most recent fics and then tag ten people. If you have written fewer than ten, don’t be shy—share anyway!

I do have more than 10 fics but what I don't have is more than 10 fics since last time I did this meme and I wasn't sure if I was meant to repeat in that case so I didn't. And as usual I tag whoever wants tagged :D

“So why haven’t you two fucked yet?” asks the Grandmaster, seemingly out of nowhere. [Love Is A Danger Of A Different Kind (sylki & frostmaster)]

His brother’s funeral has not yet taken place and already he is betrothed to the killer. [The Winter Of Our Discontent (AU sylki)]

Even with the wedding itself over and done with, Asgard is still full of festivity. [To The Highest Bidder (thorki)]

There’s a storm on the way again, and Sylvie is waiting for it by the window in the kitchen, dressed in an oversized t-shirt and holding a lightly steaming mug of tea in her hands, over which she frowns at the outside world. [White Picket Fence (sylki)]

Sylvie has lovers in a dozen different realities and they’re all the same man. [we bite and scratch and scream all night (off-brand sylki)]

“Music please, Mobius.” [with the record selection and the mirror's reflection (not-quite-sylkius)]

Time is relative, everyone knows that. [All The Time In The World, (OMG the only one that's not MCU fic!! it's Missy gen!)

#ten first lines tag #fic related #fic memes

[themculibrary]

Anniversary Masterlist

A Day at Target (ao3) - sammysouffle sam/bucky G, 1k

Summary: Sam takes Riley to Target to buy an anniversary present for Bucky.

anniversary (ao3) - NotEvenCloseToStraight bucky/tony E, 4k

Summary: Bucky plans out Valentines Day and Anniversary gifts.

Tony offers his butt in some pretty lingerie.

A Sky Full of Stars (ao3) - Marv_aka_Kitten_Writes rhodey/sam M, 1k

Summary: An anniversary is an important day. For James Rhodes, it's a reminder of a happier time, but if there's one thing he can count on, it's Sam Wilson's ability to surprise him.

a year around the sun (ao3) - parkrstark steve/tony T, 62k

Summary: Following the life of the Rogers-Stark family the year after they become a family, one monthly milestone at a time.

A Year in the Love (ao3) - bonusholegent peggy/steve/howard T, 694

Summary: Howard and Peggy are trying to celebrate Steve's return. It doesn't work out, but that's okay.

Come Undone (ao3) - AuroraWest loki/stephen E, 4k

Summary: It's Stephen's and Loki's first wedding anniversary. They celebrate with an overnight in a hotel, champagne, poetry, and sex. Plenty of sex.

dedicated to the one i love (ao3) - 18kiwis gamora/peter T, 6k

Summary: Gamora’s not the best chef. Okay, she’s downright awful, but that doesn’t stop her from trying.

Or, 5 times Gamora (unsuccessfully) cooks and 1 time she doesn’t cook at all.

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too (ao3) - haybelle sam/bucky G, 398

Summary: It's Sam and Bucky's wedding anniversary and they're out to dinner celebrating. When Sam orders dessert, Bucky thinks he'll just eat some of Sam's instead of ordering his own dessert. After five years of marriage, he should've known better.

Husband (ao3) - celtic7irish steve/tony G, 100

Summary: It's Steve & Tony's anniversary.

I Love You Always Forever (ao3) - Artemis_Egeria wanda/vision T, 2k

Summary: Wanda and Vision celebrate their anniversary. In one universe.

In Beauty, Like the Night (ao3) - cakeisnotpie clint/phil M, 2k

Summary: 5 times Clint and Phil slept together, and one time they didn’t

in each other's keeping (ao3) - ishipallthings steve/tony G, 1k

Summary: “Hi,” Tony says, a little breathlessly. After a pause, he adds, “Missed you.” It’s been a year, and it still surprises Tony sometimes, that he can say that to Steve without hiding it behind crooked smirks and sarcastic jokes about giddy optimism, that he can just tell Steve he’s missed him without any caveats.

“Missed you too,” Steve replies easily, and hearing that in return is almost sweeter than getting to say it to Steve.

(On their first anniversary post-Thanos, Steve and Tony take care of each other in the aftermath of a battle).

Lights Out (ao3) - sarahbeniel bucky/darcy T, 1k

Summary: Darcy and Bucky's anniversary plans are foiled by a power outage.

Set a Course for Adventure (ao3) - Politzania steve/tony G, 1k

Summary: To celebrate their 15th anniversary as well as Steve’s retirement from active duty, Steve and Tony’s friends send them on a mystery cruise; the two of them are initially less than thrilled.

The Anniversary (ao3) - Andrea1717 steve/bucky T, 1k

Summary: Steve and Bucky celebrate their marriage anniversary.

The Journey (ao3) - scottxlogan bucky/steve/tony E, 7k

Summary: Steve and Tony decide to take a special trip for their anniversary together. To spice things up they decide to gift each other a vacation with Bucky who is ready and willing to be what they need to make their anniversary even more memorable. Will it prove to be exactly what they needed to strengthen their marriage or will they find something more in their playtime with Bucky?

three years (ao3) - zetermj mj/peter G, 1k

Summary: in which peter and mj come to the realisation that they’ve been together for three years. (really short fluff)

You Think I Didn't Care? (ao3) - ZaraMelMercury steve/tony E, 2k

Summary: It's Steve and Tony's first anniversary together after Tony snapped his fingers and defeated Thanos.

Tony prepares a special gift for his beloved, but the night takes an unexpected turn...

#themculibrary #marvel #mcu #masterlists #anniversary #anniversary masterlist #fluff #celebration

[gingersnappish]

Commission I finished recently for the immensely talented and very patient @aurorawest! Thank you so much for giving me the chance to draw your OCs, and in such an amazing environment, too!

#commissioned art #oc art #oc designs #gingersnappisharts #gingersnappishcommissionart