✨immaryn✨

I've been practicing saying it in the mirror for three weeks. It still doesn't sound real.

You're the first person I've told. I need you to understand what that means.

Don't make it a big deal. Also — it's the biggest deal of my life.

I knew when I was seven. I just didn't have the word for it yet.

You looked at her the same way I look at her. I think that's when I knew I wasn't alone.

Say it with me. You don't have to say it to anyone else. Just say it with me first.

My family doesn't know. I need tonight to just be about us knowing.

I came out twice today. Once on accident.

You held my hand in public and I forgot how to breathe for a second.

I spent so long pretending. I don't really know who I am without the pretending yet.

This is the first pride I've been to as myself. Bear with me if I cry a little.

I kept waiting to feel different after I said it. I just felt relieved.

Nobody gets to tell you what your identity means. Not even me.

You're allowed to still be figuring it out. The label can wait. The feeling doesn't have to.

I'm not asking you to announce anything. I'm asking you to stop hiding from me.

You looked so free today. I don't think I've ever seen you look that free.

Love is not a phase. I need you to say that back to me like you mean it.

I've loved you in every version of myself. That has to count for something.

My mother cried. I don't know yet if they were good tears or bad ones.

You didn't flinch. When I told you, you didn't flinch. Do you know what that meant to me?

I used to pray to be different. Now I think I was praying wrong.

Hold my hand. Not for anyone else. Just because I want you to.

I found the community before I found the word. That's how I knew I was home.

You are not too much. You have never been too much.

I spent years shrinking myself into something easier to love. I'm done doing that.

She smiled at me and I forgot every lie I ever told myself.

The world is loud today. Can we just be quiet together for a minute.

I'm not brave. I'm just tired of being afraid.

You loved me before I knew how to love myself. I don't know how to thank you for that.

Stop apologizing for existing so loudly. That's the whole point.

I kept the letter for two years before I sent it. I'm glad I finally sent it.

You're the first person who ever made me feel like this was something to celebrate.

I don't need anyone's permission. I just needed my own.

I'm not confused. I have never been less confused in my life.

You came. After everything, you came. That's all I needed to know.

There are so many of us. I keep forgetting how many of us there are until days like today.

I wrote it down before I could say it. Here. Read it. Take your time.

You make being this feel like the most natural thing in the world.

I hid it for so long it became a habit. Breaking habits is hard. You make it easier.

We don't have to call it anything. We just have to be honest.

I used to think the love I wanted was too much to ask for. Then I met you.

My chosen family showed up today. My blood family didn't. I know which one counts.

You kissed me in front of everyone and I think my whole life changed in that second.

I have never felt more like myself than I do standing here with you.

Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done. Everything else was the hard part.

You told me it gets better and I didn't believe you. I'm starting to believe you.

I don't want to be tolerated. I want to be celebrated. Is that too much to ask.

a healer in a plague-stricken city discovers their apprentice is immune to the symptoms, but also a silent carrier that is actively spreading the disease

two friends running a small criminal operation are offered immunity if one testifies against the other, but both begin separately planning to take the fall to protect the other’s future

a successful warlord meets their former apprentice, who has become a pacifist negotiator

after growing up in an extremely toxic environment, one sibling wants to leave and the other doesn’t understand why

when one of the kids of a supernatural hunter family is turned into a werewolf, their sibling needs to dismantle their belief system to help keep them safe

finding out that they only got their job because a friend pulled some strings without telling them causes someone to reevaluate their skill and success

former roommates at an academy for muscle-for-hire meet again. one has become a bodyguard, the other an assassin, and both now have the same mark

after finding out their best friend betrayed them years ago, they chose to get revenge now, as the pain is fresh

a spirit becomes accidentally attached to a random disaster of a person and helps them tackle everyday life

✮ "Stop trying to act tough. You're shaking."

✮ "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

✮ "Hold still--I know it stings, but I have to do this."

✮ "You scared me half to death, you know that?"

✮ "I've got you. You don't have to hold yourself up anymore."

✮ "Just breathe. In and out. I'm right here."

✮ "You're going to need stitches and I swear, if you say you're fine one more time--"

✮ "Don't argue with me right now. Just let me help you."

✮ "I'm not going anywhere, so stop telling me to leave."

✮ "Can you squeeze my hand? I need to know you can hear me."

✮ "You're running a fever on top of everything else. Of course you are."

Haven't done one of these in a while.

"Come on, this isn't funny." "I'm not joking. It's locked."

"Is that the only tent we have?"

"There's only one bed." "Well, darlin', I'm not sleeping on the floor, so I guess we'll have to share."

"I'm your bodyguard. It's in the job description to protect you at all times." "Well, could you at least 'protect' me from over there?"

"You have got to be kidding me. I have to share a room with you."

"What do you mean there's only one sleeping bag? You had one job."

"Quit following me!" "I was hired to follow you, princess, better get used to it."

"What the hell is that noise?" "Uh, yeah, slight problem. We're out of gas."

"Where are you going? We're in the middle of nowhere!" "Yeah! And whose fault is that?"

"Look around, love. In case you hadn't noticed we're snowed in. So unless you plan to freeze to death, we'll have to find a way to keep each other warm."

"I may be stuck with you, but I don't have to like it."

"Is now a bad time to tell you I'm claustrophobic?"

"Your heart's racing. Now, I know being pressed up against me is exhilerating and all, but I'm trying to concentrate on picking this lock."

"What are you? Afraid?"

"Uh. Slight problem. We're trapped."

they have been competing for so long that it had become the natural state of things: the other is the rival, not a fellow student. that is, until something happens to humanize them in some way

finding them crying behind the building

realizing they took up smoking again

they suddenly stopped showing up for class out of nowhere and no one knows anything

sickly appearance and voice lacking the energy and strength it used to have

defending them when a member of the faculty is being condescending / otherwise discriminates against them

finding them fishing food out of the trash or working a shitty night job to stay afloat

seeing them get ready to sleep in their car after losing their home

hidden injuries (classic)

Person B: "I'm hiding it."

Person A: "...no you fucking aren't."

Person B: "I'm hiding it so well."

And then you smiled and, for a moment, I would have done anything to never see that expression fade.

I couldn‘t help the smile forming on my face when I realized you had been watching me the entire time.

It was an entirely inappropriate moment, but the smile had formed without me even noticing.

Only when my ribs began to ache, I managed to still my laughter and tame it into a wide grin instead.

No matter how hard I tried to act unaffected, I knew my lips were in the process of betraying me.

I smiled at you, and you smiled back at me, and suddenly this entire thing didn’t feel as daunting as it did before.

Even as my face began to ache, it was impossible for me to drop the smile.

A character blacks out after looking into a special mirror.

Slow burn is one of the most satisfying dynamics to read... and one of the hardest to write well. The challenge is simple: how do you keep readers invested when the payoff is intentionally delayed?

Here's how to maintain momentum without rushing the development:

Progress is not just romantic Focus on: ঌ Character development ঌ Plot progression ঌ External conflict The story should always be moving, even when the romance isn't.

Change the dynamic in small ways Even if the main pairing isn't together yet, their relationship shouldn't stay static. Track shifts like: ঌ Hostility to tolerance ঌ Indifference to curiosity ঌ Distance to trust

Use micro-tension You don't need major events to maintain interest. Small moments can carry significant weight: ঌ A look that lingers just a little too long ঌ A line of dialogue with ambiguous meaning ঌ A moment of unexpected vulnerability

Introduce Obstacles That Matter The delay should feel justified. Avoid: ঌ Miscommunications that could be solved in one conversation ঌ Artificial delays that feel forced Instead, use: ঌ Conflicting goals ঌ Personal limitations ঌ External stakes The characters should have real reasons for not being together yet.

Payoff smaller moments along the way You don't have to save everything for the final payoff! Try including: ঌ Partial confessions ঌ Almost moments ঌ Temporary shifts in the dynamic, positive or negative