Thanks for tagging me @pato-roldnart and @monbons!

I think I'm almost done with the first chapter of one of my CORBB collabs (hopefully?). Here's a bit of Simon's POV:

I’ve always been drawn to him like a moth to the brightest and most blinding light. I don’t get him. I don’t get him at all. The way he carries himself, as if he were superior and above everyone else. The way he still listened to me every time I poured my heart out to him, without making fun of me. He’s rich and posh, but he always looks so sad. And the way he has to look at me sometimes…

The way he somehow knows when I’m at my lowest and always buys me a drink or something to eat.

He said his mother died when he was little. That it was a car accident. That the car caught fire, but his mother managed to push him out of it before it was too late.

I wonder if he has scars. If underneath those expensive clothes he’s not as put together as he looks. I think he would look perfect with a few scars. I found myself dying to know what he looks like naked on so many occasions while I was talking to him or making him coffee. Penny says I’m obsessed with him. Shep always smiles and says there’s nothing wrong with having a healthy crush or an unhealthy obsession for someone. I don’t know what to think anymore. I don’t know if it’s a crush or something else. If it’s something more. I don’t even know if I fancy blokes.

All I can think of is Baz, Baz, Baz.

I want to rip off every layer of him, like old wallpaper, until I’m left with the real Baz. The one nobody gets to see.

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WIP Wednesday : Fic Rec Edition

I'm between projects, so I'll follow Em's lead and put up three of my favorite recent reads. I've read everything posted for the Carry On Reverse Big Bang because this format—making art and then spinning a story around it—had magical results. Good job to everyone who participated!

Behind the Magic - partnership of @bookish-bogwitch and @ic3-que3n

This story gives a behind-the-scenes view to the low-budget set where Carry On, the novel, is being created by characters who are living archetypes. But what happens if the "Chosen One" and the "Villain" don't stay inside their roles? Hilarity! And the art! There is SO MUCH wonderful art! My favourite highlights include the headshots, the visual punchlines of the kiss and the crane, anything Dev says, ongoing roasts of Rainbow Rowell (with love) and how within 100 words Agatha decides this is BS and leaves. She's replaced with New Agatha, who has long flaxen hair, one shapely leg and is much easier to push around.

We All Fall Down - partnership of @captain-aralias and @technetiumai

Dramatic art leads you in to a story of love and self-acceptance. Baz is dying of unrequited love. When Simon finds out, he promises to do anything to save Baz—even try to fall in love with someone that annoyingly good-looking. Highlights include Simon with soft, feathered wings, Baz describing Malcolm and Daphne's wedding and Penny getting affronted on behalf of a library book.

Where Does the Pollen Go? - partnership between @bazzybelle and @stardustasincocaine

I was so lucky to beta read this story before it was posted. A graduate from Watford has set up a tattoo parlor where she gives magical tattoos. Simon watches avidly as Baz covers himself with floral art, each representing healing and acceptance of a part of Baz's past (and future). I found this by turns tender, funny and heart-rending. My favourite highlights include descriptions of so many delicious meals (food = love with these two), bee puns! (so many bee puns) and the art that gets me humming "Birdhouse in My Soul" by TMBG. (Dang it, there I go again!)

Honorable Mentions:

The Smokescreen - partnership between @whatevertheweather and @subparselkie

Beautiful art and incredible writing! This noir crime story has a unique structure that really takes off when Baz is introduced. The dialogue is sharp and sexy.

Any Way the Dice Roll - partnership between @scone-lover and @excalisbury

Thanks for tagging me @monbons! I've been working on three snowbaz fics (Space Oddity and my two CORBB collabs). I've also been reading the Green Creek series with Pato and I'm losing it because I love them all so much.

Here's a snippet of one of my WIPs (Baz's POV):

I tell myself that maybe I can push my luck a little.

That maybe no one will notice if I get the smallest of my sketch pads out and hide it in front of my keyboard. Maybe if I move my laptop a little to the left and point it his way, Snow won’t notice that I’m drawing him. I’m not the only person here, after all. There are other customers coming and going. I tell myself that no one will pay attention to me, even though I’m usually much more cautious than this. But I’ve had a shit week, and Father is probably going to bother me even more than usual because one of my cousin’s wedding is coming up, and I’m supposed to bring a plus one.

My heart stutters as I slide my hand inside my work bag and get my drawing kit out. My eyes are fixed on Snow while my fingers move almost seamlessly, so used to doing this covertly. It’s not the first time I sketch him—far from it. But I usually plan this beforehand. I wait until rush hour or pick a moment when he’s busy to sneakily draw him. I have a massive drawer under my bed full to the brim of sketch books. It’s all freckles and moles, blue eyes and bronze curls. That elusive smile, the determined frown and that vulnerable look he has sometimes, when he thinks no one is paying attention to him while he’s torturing his curls.

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Thanks for tagging me @monbons and @wellbelesbian - I loved your WIPs!

This week I've been working one of my CORBB collabs. Here's a snippet (Baz's POV):

I get out of work earlier than usual the following day. I wait for the bus, tapping my foot impatiently on the pavement, my heart in my throat as I see the red double-decker approaching too slowly. I check my hair on the reflection of the glass before I get on and search for a familiar head of messy curls. And there he is, arguing with a man and then pointing at me as soon as he spots me. “Well, tell your mate that you can’t save spots,” the burly man grumbles, moving towards the back where there’s plenty of space. “We’re not on a school bus, for fuck’s sake!” Snow has that big frown on his face, that determined expression that I’ve seen before as he moves the small paper bag from the seat next to his and then offers it to me as soon as I sit down. “I saved you a spot,” he announces, clearly still seething. I can barely contain the grin that is pulling at the corner of my lips. “And I got you a pain au chocolate.” I shouldn’t find the way butchers the pronunciation so endearing. I feel the sudden urge to kiss him breathless as I open the paper bag and inhale the mouth-watering scent of pastry. “It’s pain au chocolat,” I correct him. “And thank you. For fighting for my seat as well, my valiant knight.” “Oh, shut up,” he mutters, but I can see that deep down he looks pleased as he turns towards the window to hide his smile.

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