paynesgrey: Marilyn (Default)


Hello!

This is my personal Dreamwidth journal! Not to be confused with my art journal: [community profile] paynesgrey_art, which is for...well, adding art. And my writing journal, [community profile] paynesgrey_fics for writing, obviously. :-)

Please feel to subscribe to me, and I'll get back to you. I have other social media pages on the links to the right of this blog page.

About Me

Jan. 12th, 2026 10:03 am
paynesgrey: Don't Grow Up, it's a TRAP (dontgrow)
Some of you are new to my journal, so I'm just going to give a short bio on me in case there's any confusion:

Name: Heather
 
City: Chicago suburbs
 
I'm married to a man who is a Case Manager for Early Intervention, serving children with disabilities ages 0-3. I work as a User Experience Design consultant for a large IT consulting company, where I get to work for many clients. Right now I'm working for a client that is a well known brand of truck rentals. ;) I love to design and I love my job because I get to work from home, I have great benefits and so much flexibility. I'm also a proud volunteer for the Girl Scouts of America and a Troop mom of a Brownie.
 
I have a young daughter. She's my star and the light of my life. 

We have three pets; a Treeing Walker Coonhound named Holly (8), a beagle named Heidi (4) and a scrappy brown tiger tabby cat named Bastet (5).
 
I also freelance, doing graphic design, web design and editing. Also tarot reading.

I'm also a self-published author and try to do more original writing for publication.
 
We bought a house in 2016 and it was a good deal, but it needs a lot of upkeep so I will be talking about it for awhile, especially the landscaping and the garage. 
 
Hobbies include reading, writing, drawing, gardening, and baking. 

Fandoms: I'm not very active in fandom anymore. I occasionally join a Big Bang or fic event, but otherwise I focus on finishing WIPs and doing short stories when I have time. I have varied interests in shows, from asian dramas to anime to the Marvel series. 

Regular Fandoms: Doctor Who, The Apothecary Diaries, Heaven's Official Blessing, Yuri on Ice, MDZS, Inuyasha, Sailor Moon, Heroes, Love in the Air, Guardian, Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter, Good Omens, and Fence. I am addicted to Asian dramas, especially BL.
 
Politics are: LGBQT-advocate, super liberal, democratic socialist and Green. I am NEVER-Trump. 
 
Sexuality: I consider myself pansexual, though I've been married to my husband and the love of my life since 2008.
 
I consider myself a Dharma Pagan. Basically someone who follows Buddhist and Goddess-worship ideologies.
 
I have generalized anxiety and depression, and I work through it with my art, writing, and online journaling.
 
paynesgrey: That's DOCTOR Lewis (darcy-2)
I don't think I did one of these last year...

The Year in Fic 

Mornings (Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!) Rated E. Adachi x Kurosawa. 1,610 words. Kurosawa thinks mornings are his new favorite. 

Precious Things (Doctor Who) Rated G. Clara x Twelfth Doctor. 382 words. The Doctor was supposed to know her, but he didn't.

Dry (Doctor Who) Rated T. Thirteenth Doctor, Clare (from Flux). Drabble. 100 words. Companion prompt.

A Zero Who Dares (Fence Comics) Rated T. Nicholas x Seiji. 4,766 words. Nicholas does something stupid to reveal his feelings to Seiji.

You Forgot My Kiss (Fence Comics) Rated T. Nicholas x Seiji. 7,027 words. A cruel prank turns into a night of revelations.

Never Been (Fence Comics) Rated T. Nicholas x Seiji. 2,343 words. First kiss prompt.

Mortal Coil (Heroes) Rated T. Peter x Claire. 695 words.

Her Most Loyal and Subservient Dog [Rewrite] (Inuyasha) Rated M. Rin x Sesshoumaru. 587 words.

Flashes of Death (Inuyasha) Rated T. Kikyou. 288 words. Memories kill her over and over again.

Tainted (MCU) Wanda x Pietro. Rated E. 1,075 words. He shouldn't want his sister as much as he does.

Necromancy and Chill
(MCU, WandaVision) Rated T. Loki x Darcy. 4,981 words. Darcy spends her Halloween raising the dead.

The Tell-Tale Kiss (Miraculous Ladybug) Rated E. Marinette x Adrien. 19 chapters. Complete. 47,906 words total. Adrien has had enough.

The Temple in Our Minds (Star Wars Sequel Trilogy) Rated E. Rey x Kylo Ren. Chapter 5. 17,470 words. WIP. (chapter 6 is done but unposted. chapter 7 almost complete.) Save the Galaxy and Bang.

Welcome to the Family (Fence Comics) unposted chapter fic. Nicholas x Seiji. 247 words. Seiji's family takes a liking to Nicholas; hijinks still ensue.
 
Total: 14
 
Total Word Count For The Year: 89,772 (according to A03)
More fic stats )
paynesgrey: Squee (drwho-squee)
Spirits Abound: Ghostly Little Tales anthology is currently free on Amazon! Please download an ebook version for FREE! The promotion runs through Monday.

We are also desperate for reviews, so anything you can give us on Amazon and Goodreads is greatly appreciated!


spiritsabound-cover

Title: Spirits Abound: Ghostly Little Tales

Authors: K.A. Crittenden, H.K. Rowe, Tiffany Piel, Roxanne Solangi

Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Summary:

In
The Hitchhiker...Out of luck and out of battery, Madeleine Cooper is too prideful to go back to campus to call for a ride after she misses the last bus out of town. Determined to walk the full distance back to her current home just south of Seaside, Oregon from Astoria, one thing after another goes wrong and she's forced to try thumbing for a ride on a secluded coastal road. Little does Madeleine know that her savior is more than they appear on this dark and stormy night.

In The Ties That Bind... She's drawn to certain places and certain things, and they never fail to lead her somewhere interesting. It's a long drive through a clear night, and there's something waiting at the end, in the dark, biding it's time. It has a story to tell.

In Deathly Ever After... Three young high school girls live out the last day of their torture and murder over and over again. Lanie starts to realize that they have been caught in this nightmare, and she wonders if there's any way she can break free and save her friends.

In Whispers... After two life-altering tragedies, Katie finds herself alone. She returns to her childhood home to make a new start. But she has some unexpected and mysterious intrusions into her life awaiting her.

Available in: ebook and paperback

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Suspense, Short Stories

FREE BOOK!

Jan. 16th, 2019 10:15 am
paynesgrey: Looking out at the world below (marilyn)
 So... in an effort to do a FREE promotion for the Spirits Abound anthology that I did with other writers last year, I ended up setting up a promo for the wrong book. So my novel Unbridled is currently FREE on Amazon kindle now instead.

If you haven't gotten a copy yet, please do so! The Promotion ends this Sunday.

Unbridled by H.K. Rowe

Summary:  Two orphan brothers are taken in by their rich cousins, only to become involved in a dangerous and risque romance with their beautiful daughter. And as each brother falls for her further, dark secrets arise weakening their strong bond.





Spirits Abound will go up FREE tomorrow. And I'll make a post for that too.

Thank you to those who download! DOUBLE TRIPLE THANKS if you manage to leave a review. 

paynesgrey: if you made this please let me know! (dancing dumbledore)
The lovely [livejournal.com profile] nemophilist is having another FREE Book Giveaway for her books A History of Madness and Haze at [livejournal.com profile] self_published.

Haze Summary: 

When Eliza Owens gets a phone call in the middle of the night from a girl she’s never met, she doesn’t know what to think. The girl introduces herself as Paige, and says she used to date Erik Stern, Eliza’s fiancé. What’s more, she has something important to discuss.
The only problem? Paige has been dead for years.

Believing it to be a sick prank, Eliza tries to force it from her mind until Sam, Eliza’s older sister, tells her she met Paige only a few weeks before. And, according to Sam, Paige has nothing nice to say about Erik.

The fight which follows shatters the lives of everyone involved, and Erik disappears without a trace.

Five years later, Erik returns to town after his father’s death. Old wounds quickly resurface, and with them several burning questions. None the least of which is: Who spoke to Eliza and Sam if it wasn’t Paige? And why?

A History of Madness
Summary:

The four remaining fugitives are now spread across the Kingdom. And with the fate of the others unknown to him, Nate Anteros prays for a fast execution.

Yet execution does not come. After a meeting with the King which leaves Nate questioning his sanity, he’s sent to a workcamp in Argon Basin for five years of hard labour. It’s there that Nate learns what became of his friends upon their arrest.

And as his strength returns to him, and he’s plagued by dreams which are much too real to be ignored, Nate decides five years is far too long to wait …
paynesgrey: done by shadow of doubt on Livejournal (spn-chuck)
My short story Mod Fury will be FREE this weekend on Amazon and will stay FREE until Wednesday October 3rd. 

Summary: They were once known through Greco-Roman times as the three vengeful spirits that punished the horrible transgressions of humanity. Now, in current times, the Three Furies have mellowed out and traded their ruthlessness for modern conveniences. Under the guidance of their mother the Goddess Nyx, the Furies avenge the wrongs that humans ignore. Short Story Prelude.


As always Mod Fury is always FREE on Kindle Unlimited!



paynesgrey: Alias (jessicajones)

Support indie authors! This is a great dystopian series and a standalone by Rebecca Crunden (aka

[livejournal.com profile] nemophilist).

 

A Touch of Death (book i)
A History of Madness (book ii)
A Promise of Return (book iii)
A Dance of Lies (book iv)

A Game of Wings and Marks (angels and demons standalone)

GET THEM. THEY ARE FREE!
paynesgrey: Marilyn (stdisc-michael)
I'm doing an anniversary special on my book Unbridled until Wednesday. Four years ago I published my first novel so I want to celebrate with a free giveaway! You can get your free copy to download on Amazon!


Summary: Two orphan brothers are taken in by their rich cousins, only to become involved in a dangerous and risque romance with their beautiful daughter. And as each brother falls for her further, dark secrets arise weakening their strong bond.

Add it to your Goodreads to-read list!
paynesgrey: Squee (drwho-squee)
 As I said at my Wordpress blog...

Well, I finally released another story. It’s been a rough few years since I released “Unbridled” in 2014.

We’ve packed up, sold a house, bought a house, moved, I got pregnant, had a beautiful baby girl, changed jobs, gone through some financial struggles – but now I finally am getting into a routine where I can seriously work on my books again.

This is a short story prelude to an upcoming series about a modern take on the Greek Furies. Available for pre-order and free on KU!

 

On Amazon

Please add it to your to-read list on Goodreads as well!

I'm very excited about this release. And I'm 3K words into War Fury for Camp Nanowrimo this month too. Whoohoo!


paynesgrey: done by shadow of doubt on Livejournal (spn-chuck)
Signed up for two fics and as an artist. Whoot! It was so successful last year that I have to do it.


Join us at [community profile] wipbigbang
Sign up March 30-April 14 and Finish Your Sh**!

This is a Big Bang with one goal in mind: to clean out your drafts folder. These are stories that were unfinished for whatever reason, that authors returned to and completed, and the art that goes with them! All fandoms welcome!
paynesgrey: Looking out at the world below (marilyn)
Recommendations for [community profile] hc_bingo , March Amnesty Challenge 2018 

forgiveness cursed loss of job / income

Forgiveness


1. Title: How Does One Come Home (4474 words) by firelord65
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren
Characters: Rey, Ben Solo | Kylo Ren
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Post-Canon, Kylo Ren Redemption, Dark Side Rey, Force Bond (Star Wars), Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied Character Death
Summary:Actions and consequences. Guilt and culpability. The galaxy bends to these forces just as easily as it does to determination and hope. Rey and Kylo Ren must confront their own demons. They cannot defeat the other’s for them.

Why I'm Reccing it and How it Pertains to the prompt: This fic starts with a lot of internal struggle on Kylo Ren’s part and I like that as the story progresses Rey’s influence on Kylo Ren not only gives fuel to his redemption, but she is a catalyst for Kylo Ren forgiving himself and no longer be the monster that he is. In the end, Kylo helps Rey forgive herself too, as she is carrying similar burdens.

2. Title: Almost Doesn't Count (1875 words) by marcasite
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who (2005)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Twelfth Doctor/Clara Oswin Oswald
Characters: Twelfth Doctor, Clara Oswin Oswald, Danny Pink
Additional Tags: Angst, Post-Kill The Moon, Not A Fix-It, Kissing
Summary:The silence swells between them and Clara feels the echo of loss. The loss of everything that was easy and comfortable between them, it has all turned to ashes and lay scattered at their feet. She is helpless and lost, determined and strong at the same moment.

Why I’m Reccing this: At this particular point in the series, Clara and Doctor part ways, but Clara never really wanted to. There is misunderstanding between them, and when he returns their tension starts to unravel, and I like how it seems that he’s back for her but not needing her, but he does it in a very Doctor way. I see this as Clara forgiving him after “Kill the Moon” and seeing that she never really meant to push him away in the first place.

3. Title: With Grace In Your Heart (3147 words) by Lapin
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Heroes - Fandom
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Edgar/Lydia (Heroes), Amanda & Lydia, Edgar & Amanda
Characters: Amanda Strazzula, Mrs. Comey, Edgar (Heroes), Lydia (Heroes), Carnies - Character
Additional Tags: Grief/Mourning, Acceptance, Moving On, Mother-Daughter Relationship
Summary:  Amanda just wants to know who her mom was, and Edgar holds all the answers. If only he would give them to her. But she's not the only one in mourning, and she's not the only one who loved Lydia.

Why I’m Reccing this: This is a great introspection piece with little known characters. I liked Amanda’s point of view here. She just wants to know her mother and the only person she can learn more about her is from someone who is ignoring her and ready to leave her - her late mother’s lover Edgar. She lashes out at him, and he starts to understand her, and she forgives him his silence as he confesses he loves her because she’s apart of her mom, and he would never leave her.

4. Title: Beginning of the End of a Beginning (1402 words) by PhoenixDragon
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Doctor Who (2005)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Amy Pond - Relationship, mention of OCs - Relationship
Characters: Amy Pond, Rory Williams, Mentions of OCs
Additional Tags: Angst, Dark, Horror, Speculation, Introspection, Character Study, spoilers for 7.05, Surprise!Twist
Summary: Amy buried her husband of sixty plus years on a cold, blustery day that smelled of burning tires, hot oil and exhaust.

Why I’m reccing this: This is a great story on Amy and Rory back in the past, and being very forgiving of the situation - living in a time and world before they were born and acclimating to it. Amy doesn’t quite acclimate the way you think, and she forgives her situation like a companion would - by fighting it in her own way.

5. Title: The Worst Plan
Author: Vigs
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: Teen
Characters: Martha, Ten
Summary: Takes place immediately after Family of Blood. Martha explains to the Doctor just how bad his plan was.
Why I’m reccing this: This fic could not fit this prompt more perfectly. The Doctor apologizes to Martha for getting her trapped in the past as a black woman and then as his behavior as John Smith. His apology isn’t taken so easily but it ends happily for them.


6. Title: What it Means to Care
Author: Left Handed Lemon
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Twelfth Doctor, River Song, 
Pairings: 11/River, 12/Doctor
Rating: Teen
Summary:  "All I want is to know if you still care or if you don't. The truth. Regardless of what it might be. Because this uncertainty is far worse than anything you could throw my way."

Why I’m reccing this: The Doctor (Twelve) has an unusual way of showing affection to River, and she thinks he’s rejected her. Instead he shows her how he feels, and I think in a way, she shows acceptance (and forgiveness) in his behavior.



Cursed

7. Title: Tequila Sunrise (1818 words) by chantefable
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Draco Malfoy/Rose Weasley
Characters: Draco Malfoy, Rose Weasley
Additional Tags: Romance, Character Study, Age Difference
Summary: Draco Malfoy's séjour on the island of Tenerife takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a young English witch.

Why I Recced This: I recommended this based on Draco's thoughts of his desire for Rose, that his infatuation is a curse, and he wants so much for Rose to reciprocate and he hardly believes it for a moment when she does. More than anything I felt this fit the prompt because of Draco's internal struggle of wanting her.

8. Title:The Only One (5954 words) by Harlow R
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Azula (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Ursa (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar)
Summary: Azula has always been defined by her brother.

Why I recced this:
The way Azula's parents see Azula versus what she's expected to be, as well as her view of herself as the unreliable narrator makes it seem like Azula is cursed. It's all about perspectives here.

9. Title: Certain Dark Things (3176 words) by sinemoras09
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Avengers (2012)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Major Character Death
Relationships: Loki/Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov
Characters: Loki (Marvel), Natasha Romanov
Additional Tags: Unrequited Love, Angst, Anonymous Sex, Loneliness, Hurt/Comfort
Summary: I love you as certain dark things are to be loved.

Why I recced This: A really harsh look into Loki's perspective on the Black Widow, how she is, and what they are like to each other as they come together and become more intimate. In the beginning it seems like Loki is the only one talking, making observations about the Black Widow in his own perception, and in her silence and demeanor it gives space to how Loki is himself, just as cursed as she is.

10. Title: Loneliness of the Warrior (2551 words) by eirenical
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sailor Moon - All Media Types, Code Name: Sailor V
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Aino Minako | Sailor Venus/Hino Rei | Sailor Mars
Characters: Aino Minako | Sailor Venus, Hino Rei | Sailor Mars, Kino Makoto | Sailor Jupiter, Mizuno Ami | Sailor Mercury, Tsukino Usagi | Sailor Moon
Additional Tags: Female Relationships, Angst, Memories, Loneliness
Summary: "I have been the lone warrior at this gate since I was but a child. Aino Minako... Sailor V... You don’t corner the market on feeling alone."
Why I recced This: This is a great introspection piece on Minako Aino and how she sees herself compared to the other Sailor Guardians. She's a more seasoned warrior and when a battle goes awry she feels alienated and alone, almost cursed that she does feel so alone from them. Thankfully Rei is there to support her.

11. Title: Sjalfradr Means Freedom
Author: theladysifofasgard
Fandom: Thor
Characters: Lady Sif
Rating: K
Summary:  Sif was not only burdened with the jealously that seemed to poison her mind, but on top of this, she was constantly being pitied by her surrounding Asgardians. They pitied her.. How dare they! She is offered a chance for a fresh start, freedom, by the All-Father himself, and she takes it. One-sided Sif/Thor. Tumblr prompt.

Why I recced this: This is a great piece on Lady Sif's thoughts as Thor comes home with the imprisoned Loki, how things have changed since they had all grown up together, and how her jealousy towards Thor's attachment with Jane is her curse, and how even her friends see that she is heart broken by Thor's choice, a feeling she must live with and make well with it on her own.

12. Title: Physician, Heal Thyself
Author: Serendipity1
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Characters: Aang, Katara
Pairing: Aang/Katara
Rating: T
Summary:  Katara overextends a metaphor and under-appreciates her own needs. Still, life goes on. Katara/Aang.
Why I recced this: This is another good introspection piece on Katara. I see her curse here being in the way her empathy and willingness to help is a curse in itself. She is a healer of others, but does not always take care of her own needs and heal herself.

13. Title: I’m Going to Stop Pretending
Author: sinverguenza
Fandom: Heroes
Characters: Peter Petrelli, Claire Bennet
Pairing: Peter/Claire
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Incest, underage
Summary:  Peter Petrelli struggles against his less than familial feelings toward his niece.
Why I recced This: This is one of my all-time favorite stories for Peter and Claire in canon. This really explores how these two characters feel about each other and the growing sexual nature and taboo of their relationship. Their curse is that they are related, as they discover, and how to deal with it and their interactions within the family as well as their identities as people with special abilities. It's even more trying for Peter who has feelings for his niece that is underage.

Loss of Job / Income

14. Title: Critical Media Studies (1201 words) by zarabithia
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Runaways (2010) RPF, Actor RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dakota Fanning/Kristen Stewart
Characters: Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Elle Fanning
Additional Tags: Fluff, Sibling Bonding
Summary: Elle is the first person to call Dakota and ask if she is really going to quit acting.

Why I recced This: Simply put, Dakota’s sister Elle is worried about her in the media and thinks Dakota is quitting acting and joining a band after doing The Runaways. Dakota sets her sister straight.


15. Title: A Hope of Doubt
Author: luxken27
Fandom: Daria
Characters: Trent, Daria, Jane, Jesse
Pairing: Trent/Daria
Rating: K
Summary:  Post-canon. On the eve of the biggest performance of his life, Trent shares a special moment with Daria. Written for the Cotton Candy Bingo prompt key to heart.

Why I recced this: Not so much a single job loss, but a struggle here as Trent reflects on how his band went through some really low points of lack of productivity and how their music evolved over the years. They had been dropped by their label at one point and Trent had to pick himself back up and change the tone of his music. He also credits Daria for her inspiration to his motivation and his music.
paynesgrey: Magical (witch)
 Happy Ostara and Blessed Spring Equinox to all!

Ostara
Artist: Helena Nelson-Reed
"Ostara"
(Totally not mine!)


paynesgrey: this mad complicated lovely ship (olicity)
 I had a busy weekend so here's my catch up post.

Day 13:
In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private. 
 
1. Definitely DRAW MORE, practice drawing more, and improve my skills and get over this drawing block I have.
2. PUBLISH SOME SHORT STORIES. For the love of the gods, just publish SOMETHING that I have planned. Continue editing, drafting and writing.
3. FINISH THINGS. Drawing, fanfic, original work, decluttering, etc.
4.  Work on my online graphic novel and get it ready for 2019 release.
5. Read more and more and finish my Goodreads Reading challenge
6. Do more for my Facebook writing group. I'M HORRIBLE.
7. Enter more story contests
 

Day 14

In your own space, create your own challenge. Whatever your challenge is, and have fun with it! 

Top 5 TV Shows (right now)

1. Star Trek: Discovery
2. Doctor Who
3. Runaways
4. Ink Master
5. The Marvelous Ms. Maisel


Top 5 Movies

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2. Wonder Woman
3. Thor Ragnorak
4. Pitch Perfect 3
5. Big Eyes




Top 5 Books

1. Emma by Jane Austen
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
4. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. The Witness by Nora Roberts


Top 5 Ships

1. Rey/Kylo Ren (Star Wars)
2. Twelfth Doctor/Clara (Dr Who)
3. River Song/the Doctor (Dr Who)
4. Darcy/Loki (Marvel)
5. Oliver/Felicity (Arrow)
 
 
 
Day 15

In your own space, write a love letter to Fandom in general, to a particular fandom, to a trope, a relationship, a character, or to your flist/circle/followers. Share your love and squee as loud as you want to. 


Dear Dr. Who fandom,

Thank you for not being full of crazies, and if you are, the crazies are not that bad and not as bad as my previous fandoms. I am glad that I have never been flamed or encountered any crazy person who wanted to ruin my life. Thank you for letting me meet some wonderful people. And Thank you for always being fun, new and old, and full of intelligent people who make fandom life even better. You are my favorite fandom by far.
 
paynesgrey: Marilyn (sw-reylo3)
  Fandom Snowflake Challenge banner 2018

Day 11

Share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life.

A TV show that changed my life? Probably Sailor Moon. Being an outcast in school, I was often OFTEN teased for liking nerdy things like Star Trek and comics and not being into girly things like cooking and boys. I also struggled with my sexuality during my teen years, and felt there was something wrong with me that not only was I attracted to men and women, it didn't matter to me if the attraction was man or woman, it was the person that mattered. Still, in a small tiny farming town, that was taboo. I saw Sailor Moon on Toonami and felt empowered. They were regular teens but had powers. They all had individual personalities and quirks. Sailor Moon was my obsession, and it helped me embrace who I was and who I was becoming. It'll always be special to me.

Day 12

In your own space, create a fanwork. Make a podfic, an icon, a sketch, a meta, or a rec list. Arts and crafts. Cross stitch. Draft an essay about a particular medium. Put together a picspam or a fanmix. Write a review of book you love, a ship manifesto, a you-should-be-listening-to-this-band essay. Create something.

I wanted to try my new copic markers so I did an angsty Rey and Kylo Ren doodle from Star Wars. Sorry for the crappy photo. Done in Markers.
 

doodle under the cut )
paynesgrey: Looking out at the world below (marilyn)
  Fandom Snowflake Challenge banner 2018

Day 10
In your own space, share your love for a trope, cliché, kink, motif, or theme. (Or a few!) Tell us what makes it work for you, and why it appeals to you so much. Talk about what you like to see in fanworks featuring that theme most. Feel free to include recs and examples! 

My favorite tropes/kinks/motifs are:

  • May-December Relationships (This is why I like Twelve/Clara [Doctor Who], Sessmom/Inuyasha [Inuyasha],  Mrs. Higurashi/Houjo [Inuyasha], Colonel Brandon/Marrianne [Sense and Sensibility], Mr. Knightly/Emma [Emma]
  •  

  • 'Cest Ships - incest, soulcest, preferably angsty and full of taboo feels: Peter/Claire [Heroes], Quicksilver/Scarlet Witch [Marvel], Inutaisho/Sesshoumaru [Inuyasha], Azula/Zuko [Avatar], and pseudo-incest too, like step-siblings Thor/Loki [Marvel], and even weirder, Soulcest, [Kikyou/Kagome] where two incarnations of the same soul are intimate. Some incest ships I'm Meh about though so depends on the situation.
  •  

  • Body Switching - Freaky Friday, Big, Trading Places, The Gang Goes Black [It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]. I love it. I think it's hilarious and it amuses me. It was the inspiration for my fic "The Flip Side" where Loki and Darcy switched bodies.
  •  

  • Wild West/Pirates in Space - Think Firefly, Star Wars, Captain Harlock, Space Battleship Yamato, Cowboy Bebop. I like the idea of retro things or spaghetti westerns taking place in space. I don't even really like westerns that much. I just like the idea of Space being more of a wild frontier rather than controlled by alliances. 
  •  

  • Nice Guys winning - I like this in romances. Mostly because I get bored with dominant alpha males that have mental problems. Yawn. I have seen a lot of anime's like this and it has pleased me. Golden Time, Tenchi, etc.
  •  

  • Regency/Jane Austen type AUs - Take my favorite fandom characters, modern or futuristic, and drop them into Jane Austen's time. Boom. I'm happy. 
  •  

  • Dark Comedy - I love things that are dark, gory, full of horror and murder but has a sense of humor to it or make light of things. Monty Python or Kurt Vonnegut. Bring that stuff into fandom and wreck it.
  •  

  • Villains as Main Characters/Villain point of views with NO redemption and winning - I like that, but I don't see it often. Or when good characters go dark. I'm getting into a lot of Dark!Rey for the Star Wars fandom lately, which is like that. I love Regina from Once Upon a Time. Azula from Avatar. Loki from Marvel. Kylo Ren from Star Wars. Magneto from Marvel. I like to cheer for villains. After all, they don't think they're villains, not really.
  •  

  • Silver Screen/Hollywood AUs or Film Noir/30s and 40s crime - LA Confidential, James Cagney movies, This Gun for Hire, The Thin Man. I love that stuff. I wrote and published my first novel with a film noir/crime motif. I almost wrote an Oliver/Felicity [Arrow] fic where Felicity was a safe-cracker from the 30s and she was trying to steal a diamond "heart" that belonged to Oliver Queen. If someone writes something original or fandom based on that I'm there!

paynesgrey: my MCU crack ship (darcyloki)

Fandom Snowflake Challenge banner 2018

Day 9
In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created. It can be your favorite fanworks that you've created, or fanworks you feel no one ever saw, or fanworks you say would define you as a creator. 

Title: The Flip Side
Fandom: MCU/Avengers
Rating: R/M
Word Count: 23,665 
Type: Het(mostly), Romance, Comedy, Adventure
Characters/Pairings: Darcy Lewis, Loki, Thor, Jane Foster, Clint Barton, Odin, ensemble || Darcy/Loki, Darcy/Clint, Clint/Loki, Jane/Thor
Notes/Spoilers: Avengers AU-compliant. There are no spoilers for the Avengers movie. Written for [livejournal.com profile] avengers_bang. Warnings: gore, dubious consent, possession, manipulation, sexual situations 

FFnet

Summary: In punishment for his crimes, Odin destroys Loki's body to imprison his soul. After a narrow escape, Loki comes to Midgard and plans his revenge by taking over the body of Jane's assistant, Darcy Lewis. The girl who loves tasers, however, does not make things easy for him.

I definitely think this defines me as a creator. Not just the praise for this fic that I've received, but how the story came together for me with a really satisfied ending.

***

Title: Silence for Naught
Fandom: GALS!(manga)/Super GALS!(anime) by Mihona Fujii 
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: T
Summary: Rei tries to keep his feelings hidden from Ran, but when she clues in, she predicts a storm brewing among her group of friends, and she can't seem to stop wondering if she feels the same. RanxRei. Takes place around Volume 6.


FFnet URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3095492/14/
MMO URL: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/127420

Hands down my favorite fanfiction that I've ever written. It's a rare fandom, so the intention behind this fic was to "FIX" what I did not like in the original story and what the original creator intended. I didn't care who agreed with me or not, and the canon purists amused me when they flamed me. However, in turn I did get a lot of feedback on this fic from like-minded people, especially from other countries, and that they enjoy my fic. One person said they printed it out which really made my day. I feel like I struggle with the romance genre and this story really helped with that challenge.

***

Title: Desperately Seeking Sessmom
Fandom: Inuyasha
Genre: Humor
Rating: Gen
Summary: Ryouji, the son of Ryoukotssei, is searching desperately for his mother, and he thinks that the Lady of the West, Sesshoumaru's mother, is that person.

AO3 | FFnet

It was really hard for me to pick a third one, but between my two oldest fandoms, Inuyasha and Heroes, this is the fic that I probably like the best because it showed my writing chops writing an original character that could stand on his own. It proved to me that I could get more into my own original writing and ideas. Plus, it helped me with humor writing which can be hard for me and sometimes I have to be in the right mood.

paynesgrey: Marilyn (sw-reylo4)
Fandom Snowflake Challenge banner 2018  

Day 8
In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much.

Shit, I'm in so many fandoms. I have a lot of canon scenes that I love.

Many come to mind, especially recently with Star Wars: The Last Jedi with Rey and Kylo Ren. I LOVE the battle scene in Snoke's throne room. It's just fucking glorious, as a shipper and as a fan of action.

In Doctor Who, when Paul McGann as the Eight Doctor got his memory back and kissed Grace Holloway. I first fell in love with Doctor Who here!

Also in Doctor Who when the Eleventh Doctor confronted the Atraxi after reuniting with an older Amy Pond. My love for Doctor Who revived!

The Twelfth Doctor robbing a bank with Clara. I shipped them hardcore and my muse was happy.

In Heroes, when Peter and Claire talk intimately in The Hard Part in Season One and wipes a tear from her cheek. Because even though they were related I still shipped them like burning and they had wonderful chemistry.

In Downton Abbey when Matthew proposed to Mary. Because the wait was too long!

In Arrow when Oliver and Felicity tried to fake loving each other but ended up really speaking from their hearts. An OTP I never thought would be canon did so!

Or in Anne of Green Gables (Avonlea) movie where Anne finally accepts Gilbert Blythe when he gets over being really sick. Because it was just so romantic and sweet and heartbreaking.

And of course in Pride and Prejudice when Darcy first confesses his love for Elizabeth. Because it was goddamn sexy AF.

I guess I could go on but those are the ones that stand out!


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paynesgrey: Marilyn (Default)
paynesgrey

March 2022

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