a (food) critic on the hearth.

DCMK: archiveofourown.org/works/71442891 In the gloom he feels Akai tilt his head, sees the glint of his eyes turn dark, predatory. “Oh? Is that what you’re after? My wallet? You’d like to be bought, paid for? I didn’t know that was what turned you on.” (I wrote this in one day; no shame)

Guardian (now E): archiveofourown.org/works/704405... The SID Chief runs his hands through Shen Wei’s hair; they come away wet, shiny. “Aiya, you’re dripping. If you wash off – if you’ll wash off, I’ll –” “Come,” says Shen Wei, bold, brave. “Come with me.”

Guardian final ch in progress... Zhao Yunlan’s apartment is on the third floor; Shen Wei ascends from the sidewalk to land on the heavy stone sill. A curl of magic unlocks the window, and he lifts the sash. “Hot,” says Zhao Yunlan, in his ear, as he slips down from Shen Wei’s arms onto his bed.

Guardian: archiveofourown.org/works/704405... Zhao Yunlan grins, and licks the foam off. “I haven’t seen you use that sword before. Pretty hot.” “You can be extremely difficult to talk to,” Shen Wei tells him, resting both hands on the table, feeling exhausted by this conversation.

Guardian: archiveofourown.org/works/704405... “Wow, I can feel your disapproval from here. I bet you want to clean it. I bet you have an _urge_. But Shen Wei – you’ll be safe here. And you can plan or scheme or whatever to your heart’s content. I can bring you anything you need."

Forever thinking about Tie Your Heart Strings Up Tight...

Guardian: archiveofourown.org/works/704405... "I know when a thing is over. Zhao Yunlan, I have seen plenty of kingdoms rise and fall. I can read my own fate much more easily.”

Guardian: archiveofourown.org/works/704405... “I won’t compel you,” replies Shen Wei. Zhao Yunlan’s eyes are bright. Coy. “And if I want to be compelled?” Shen Wei takes in a breath, holds it for a beat to feel the warmth of the air within him. “Then I can’t stop you.”

I love it when I get to chapter 3 or 4 of a fic and think, "oh _that's_ what's going on here" in terms of, you know, the central point of the fic.

Guardian: archiveofourown.org/works/704405... "Intellectually, there is no benefit to a vampire to killing its prey. Dead men don’t bleed.” “So I see Shen-jiaoshou can be ruthless, if required.” Shen Wei nudges up his glasses. “I am merely extrapolating," he says.

Guardian: archiveofourown.org/works/704405... Shen Wei hasn’t seen Zhao Yunlan like this before. Apologetic; attentive. He opens his eyes and finds the SID chief leaning in, watching him. Almost like another person compared to the sardonic cop he plays for Hei Pao Laoshi.

Guardian... Shen Wei sits at the end of Zhao Yunlan’s bed. The apartment is clean, sparkling. Trash taken out, dishes done, personal items washed and arranged. The cat is still watching him. It knows what he is: undead, inhuman. It knows what he wants: its master.

some Guardian in the hopper too... “I’m not an expert in the species. Merely the science of blood magic.” “I wasn’t aware there was a science behind magic. I thought that was kind of the point of magic. It’s, you know, _magic_.” Zhao Yunlan wriggles his fingers in demonstration.

I always feel such shame with unfinished works. It's so wonderful that people commenting on In Infinite Combinations are leaving kind, positive comments rather than guilting me. Believe me, it's appreciated!

Still playing around with the lawyer AU. “Ah. Well. B&E isn’t illegal if there’s imminent danger.” “That only applies to law enforcement officers effecting forced entry,” says Lan Zhan. “I won a badge in a cereal box once?” grins Wei Ying.

DCMK archiveofourown.org/works/701455... “I don’t know how to do this,” he says, out of no where. Lifting his head he sees Akai’s surprised expression. “Be – good. To you. Be something to you. Even if you want it. Even if I do. There’s just no more room, here.” He rubs at his chest, tight, pained.

sometimes i write a word and see that spellcheck has accepted it and am like 'good, done.' never stopping to think that it is A word but is it THE word? see most recently: waver/waiver.

Some more DCMK... He has lied to Akai Shuuichi before, just as he’s lied to everyone he’s met in the last five years. But here, now, there’s no more room for lies. “Don’t ask for my heart. Everyone who ever loved me died. If you won’t think of me, think of yourself. Go back to America, FBI.”

The other unfinished MDZS fic I have sitting on my plate is a lawyer AU. I had big dreams for that one that I think probably aren't achievable, but working to see if I can make it into something...

not sure which i love more; old readers finding me in new fandoms, or new readers getting into my other fandoms following my fics. they are both such a joy ✨

Guardian vampire AU... Zhao Yunlan’s mental model doesn’t excuse the significant proportion of the species who work to hold the balance. But Hei Pao Laoshi remembers. He remembers a time that hasn’t happened yet. A time when things will be otherwise. And he waits. And he hopes.

the weird thing is that i don't actually like Guardian the show but i still like both reading and writing Guardian fanfic???

Made one of the recipes from Reach Out. 😋

And rolling right over into 401, lol. DCMK: archiveofourown.org/works/69409026 “Congratulations on not dying,” says Furuya. “Absolutely zero congratulations on falling in a goddamn hole and dragging me into your problems.” “Apologies,” says Akai.

My 400th fic on AO3 🎉🎉🎉

MDZS bodyguard au: archiveofourown.org/works/69396096 He had seen a man who could convey love, and longing, and loyalty, with nothing more than a single look. Had seen a man no one could refuse to reach out to, if he reached first. Wei Ying had reached out, and Lan Zhan hadn’t been able to refuse.

Also DCMK - race to see which finishes first! “Better and better,” grits out Furuya, just a wisp of gold hair and occasionally a shape of shoulders. “I should just leave you down there to melt into sea foam when the daylight comes.” “Mixed metaphor,” replies Akai. “Oh, fuck off.”

MDZS... It’s not uncommon for Wei Ying to over-reach. He does from time-to-time flirt with Lan Zhan, as if he forgets that he’s not with a co-lead or a fellow entertainer. When reminded, he’ll disappear the impropriety as if it never was. As if every time isn’t burned into Lan Zhan’s brain.

DCMK archiveofourown.org/works/68814661 “I love you. All of you. All the masks you’ve worn, all the things you’ve done. You’re the clearest compass I’ve ever known – everything you do is so unassailably focused on this country."

Back from vacay and following up with initial readers for final feedback!

For anyone wondering where I've been...

Don't know if this will get anywhere because it's been sitting in my writing folder for a year now, but picked up a MDZS bodyguard/actor AU to nibble at again.

Yesterday my mother realised for the first time that Conan (DCMK) takes his name from Arthur Conan Doyle. I have been in this fandom for 15+ years. I feel like I have failed as a fan. 🤣

The novel is really making headway. I'm wrapping up the second round of in-depth edits for both structure and content. About 75% of the way there.

Promise I'm still working on the novel in between all this ficcing...

DCMK archiveofourown.org/works/66808288 “I don’t mind taking in stray cats,” says Akai eventually. “I’m a dog person,” replies Furuya. He stays anyway.

DCMK in progress... “I’m asking for a favour. Of course, if you’re too high-and-mighty to share what you’ve stupidly lucked into, it’s not like I don’t have other options. Feel free to deny me, FBI dog.” This, Akai discovers, is how Furuya Rei asks to move in with him.

Fugou Keiji: Balance Unlimited archiveofourown.org/works/66661498 “I shouldn’t be here,” he tells Katou. “I don’t deserve to be.” But. There’s no one else. “You were right not to trust me,” he says, voice low. But he holds onto the metal rail, monitors beeping and pinging around him; he stays.

Did a quick translation for the Detective Conan movie ed theme trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDFR...

(Still) working on some Fugou Keiji: Balance Unlimited fic. “You’re the most unbelievable person I know,” Daisuke tells him. “For once, please just pay attention to yourself.” His voice sounds very brittle, ready to break. “Thass a weird thing t’ say,” murmurs Katou. “Yer soo much weirder ‘n me.”

DCKM: archiveofourown.org/works/66259180 “I spent so long hating you. Years. So sure you were a murderer – morally, if not literally. Even now, it’s so easy to be cruel to you. And even so it was so easy – so easy – to walk into a building with you behind me, rifle in your hands. Why is that, FBI?”

Wrapped up the DCMK supernatural AU (3/3). archiveofourown.org/works/660715... He becomes aware that Akai’s scent is all over him. Nuzzled into his soft belly fur, coating the prickling ridge of his spine, smeared over his velvety ears. Relief comes with that realization, a sense of satisfaction.

DCMK supernatural AU (1/3): archiveofourown.org/works/660715... His teeth, when he speaks, flash ivory white like a dog’s fangs. Rei wonders whether he has fangs of his own – most tsukai do. He wonders what shape Rye holds beneath his false human skin. He wonders who he serves.

DCMK AU... “If I let you be a colleague, you wouldn’t stop there. I wouldn’t stop there.” "You say that like you’re afraid for me. This world is unpredictable, and our lives are already on the line. I would rather take risks for what I want then let it pass by without ever trying.?”

Working on a DCMK supernatural AU. It’s not exactly smell. If anything it’s closer to taste, really. The taste of magic. It has the feel of frost on the tongue, bright and prickling, but to Rei the thing it most closely resembles is petrichor. Clean and fresh as new rain on a dusty road.

Words where I have to try every vowel until I find the right one(s) every. single. time: manoeuvre, corrugated.

Novel status update.

DCMK: archiveofourown.org/works/65481064 Rei’s plan is to attend the club, gather the information he’s been sent for, then return to NPA HQ and wash off all traces of Toumei – his drag persona – before going home. Only, of course, things don’t go to plan.