sinnersandsapphics

[batsam]

I finally posted the start of a new story - Odd Weasley Out

I think this might be my first new non-oneshot WIP since HPFT opened? =S

Percy is one of my favorite characters, and I've been meaning to make this addition to the polyverse for a long time, exploring his relationships with Oliver and Aud. One of the major contrasts that this story will have with WIGOWY (other than the obvious difference in the personality of the MC), is that while Hannah accepted her sexuality without issue and had more of a rocky path getting comfortable with polyamory, for Percy it's kind of the inverse. He is very happy in his relationship with Oliver, but is otherwise mostly in the closet about his sexuality, held back by internalized shame and guilt about inconveniencing others, especially his family.

I welcome questions to try to keep myself focused on this story. Hopefully more than one chapter will see the light of day!

[just.a.willow.tree]

I READ THE FIRST CHAPTER AND

1. Can you talk more about the history of this story? Has it evolved a lot in your head or has your vision remained the same? When did you first come up with your ideas??

2. Do you have any special headcanons about Percy/Oliver that you haven’t seen much of before in fic?

3. What is your Audrey like? She’s particularly interesting to me, and I’m so so curious to get to know more of her

4. Can we get a sneak peek of future chapters?

I LOVE YOUR WRITING AND I’M SO EXCITED YOU HAVE A NEW STORY UP.

[batsam]

Ahhh thank you Eva!

I’m equally glad I got this posted and that you got to see it!

1. Can you talk more about the history of this story? Has it evolved a lot in your head or has your vision remained the same? When did you first come up with your ideas?? 

Honestly, this idea has been in my head so long that it’s really hard to say. I think I came up with the idea in summer 2015 when I was working on WIGOWY. With that story, I structured a lot of things around knowing that most of my audience may not be familiar with polyamory, and the plot would need to introduce them to it. That made me want to be able to write a story where I didn’t have to worry about that so much, and Percy is a character who I feel a lot of connection with. Plus Percy/Oliver is one of my OTPs, so to make that canon he’d have to be poly. It’s worth noting that that summer is the same time Sense8 came out, and I only recently realized how much Oliver/Percy/Aud have in common with Lito/Hernando/Dani, and at this point I have no idea which came first. 

As far as I can tell, the core of the story hasn’t changed much. I have a brief outline that I’ve had saved for who knows how long, and the only edits I’ve made are adding in specific phrasings that would work for planned moments, but there are also gaps that have significant room to evolve as I write.

2. Do you have any special headcanons about Percy/Oliver that you haven’t seen much of before in fic?

They were totally enemies to lovers. Or, in this case, enemies to FwB to lovers.

Can you IMAGINE what it would be like sharing a dormitory with anyone as intense as Percy or Oliver? Now imagine it with both of them. They are both so intensely obsessive about their passions, and just about unbearable to be around full time for anyone who doesn’t feel the same. They definitely butted heads a lot in their early days, each being very loud unwelcome interruptions in how the other thought things should be. Needless to say, by the time they transitioned away from enemies territory, most of the other Gryffindors assigned to their dorm had found alternative sleeping arrangements.

3. What is your Audrey like? She’s particularly interesting to me, and I’m so so curious to get to know more of her 

I have some headcanons about her background that I don’t want to share now, because I’m not sure what will be included or changed in the story. I’m also very excited about her. I’m really glad to hear you are interested in her. When I posted the chapter I got worried that she wasn’t like-able enough, but honestly... she doesn’t have energy to waste getting people to like her, and if Percy and Oliver don’t need to, she shouldn’t either 

4. Can we get a sneak peek of future chapters? 

Here’s what I found saved for the start of chapter 2:

Quote

“Hello, I’m looking for the Squib Relations Department.”

Hell no.

Squib from hell or ordinary person, Percy wasn’t ready to deal with this today.

“Look lady, if you have questions, you can - ”

“Aud.”

“Sorry?”

“My name. Aud Kastelic.”

“Odd?”

“Precisely.” 

 

[nott theodore]

Hi Sam!  Just stopping by with some questions for your (new?) writer's journal!

1. Besides WIGOWY, do you have a favourite of all your stories?  Or one that you'd recommend?
2. If you had to choose between Lavender/Parvati and Alicia/Katie, which pairing would you pick and why? 
3. Let's talk about Odd Weasley Out!  I'm so excited for this story.  You've said that this story has been in your head for years - are there any major ways that the story has evolved or the characters have changed over that time?
4. Are there any ways that your characterisations of Percy and Oliver differ from the books (especially since the story takes place after the books), or most other fics?
5. Is there anything that you've learnt from writing WIGOWY that you think will help or be useful in writing Odd Weasley Out?
6. Without spoiling anything (though if you want to share more sneak peeks, I wouldn't complain ), are there any moments or scenes in Odd Weasley Out that you're particularly excited to write?

[batsam]

ahhh Sian you're so sweet, thank you for the questions!

1. Besides WIGOWY, do you have a favourite of all your stories?  Or one that you'd recommend?

No other story has quite as special place in my heart, but I do like a lot of my others. What I would recommend would depend on what the person was looking for specifically, and my next favorite changes depending on time and my mood. I think for now I'll say My First Date(s)

2. If you had to choose between Lavender/Parvati and Alicia/Katie, which pairing would you pick and why?

That's a hard question. They're both such wonderful friends to lovers ships (or lovers perceived as friends because Harry doesn't pay attention). I think I'm going to go with Katie/Alicia because I have such a weakness for Quidditch girls, and they have less built in angst than Lavender/Parvati.

3. Let's talk about Odd Weasley Out!  I'm so excited for this story.  You've said that this story has been in your head for years - are there any major ways that the story has evolved or the characters have changed over that time?

YES, LET'S.

I'm really glad that you are so excited. It's super flattering (and kind of a lot of pressure). The outline of the story has essentially stayed the same for a long time, without being touched much. Now that I'm writing, the concept is more likely to see more changes than it did over the last couple years. There is more of a focus on family than romance than I expected. I like this in some ways, and in other ways it's inconveniently messing with what I had planned for the (romance based) final line of the story.

4. Are there any ways that your characterisations of Percy and Oliver differ from the books (especially since the story takes place after the books), or most other fics?

The most noticeable thing so far, is that Oliver seems remarkably chill. To me, that's because most of the scenes I've written him in so far don't involve Quidditch. I've always thought that Oliver poured all of his overzealous passion into Quidditch, and just because Harry only ever interacted with him when he was in the Quidditch Zone, doesn't mean that was necessarily his only zone. I always think about the scene where McGonagall introduced Harry to Wood, and how before Quidditch was brought up, Oliver was just kind of quiet and bemused. I think with the years that have passed between Hogwarts and this story, Oliver has learned to let Quidditch not be his entire life, so we see more of his chill side. Don't worry, there will be moments where he gets to lose his shit over Quidditch.

For Percy, I don't see this as differing from his canon characterization, but perhaps from other fics, that I've leaned into his anxiety and heavy sense of responsibility. I think those are super clearly parts of him, I've just tried to make them ways to relate to him rather than to antagonize him. Cause hey, I find him super relatable. As far as development since the books, I think Percy has had a bit of the opposite experience as Oliver, in that his guilt and sense of duty have kind of spiraled in on themselves, leaving him feeling very trapped and conflicted about a lot of things, and it's that mess of a web that I'm dealing with in this story. Don't worry, I've officially put Percy in therapy.

5. Is there anything that you've learnt from writing WIGOWY that you think will help or be useful in writing Odd Weasley Out?

I'm not sure too much directly transfers over. WIGOWY has a very elevated romantic/poetic tone, while Odd Weasley Out is much more grounded and less idealized. I think what was super obvious to me in writing WIGOWY is that I need to be in a muse-driven space to really make the words come in the way I want them to. I'm not really feeling that now (and haven't in a long time), so I'm trying to fight against feeling like I need that, and make myself write anyway. It may not end up being my best work, but being done may be almost as good.

6. Without spoiling anything (though if you want to share more sneak peeks, I wouldn't complain ), are there any moments or scenes in Odd Weasley Out that you're particularly excited to write?

I'm currently writing this story out of order by what I feel most inspired to write, so I have bits and pieces done of like 5 different chapters (inconveniently I'm making the slowest progress on Chapter Two, so who knows when you'll see them). Something I haven't written much of yet that I'm excited for are Oliver and Aud's interactions. And I'm weirdly enjoying a few bits I've written of Percy in therapy, which wasn't something I had planned at all.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this, but I originally conceived my Percy/Oliver/Aud story to essentially be three different short stories. Odd Weasley Out with Aud first coming into their lives, one set when they are forming their family and what that partnership/parenthood will look like, and possibly one when Lucy and Molly are a bit older. I had lowered my expectations of those later stories ever happening, given how long it takes me to get around to writing things, but the more I write about Percy and his emotional struggles with the family he came from, the more I want to write about how his recovery from those issues leads him into the choices he makes in forming his own family.

OH, and I think Penelope Clearwater was the first person to know about Percy's sexuality, and will be a healer involved in bringing his girls into the world, so how's that for a (very distant) teaser

[suzy turquoise blue]

Saaaam how did I completely miss that you had a writer’s journal??  I think I must be the most unobservant person ever, but at least I’m (finally) here and I have questions!

1. You’ve said above that you put Percy in therapy and I’m intrigued. I don’t think I’ve seen a fic where he ends up in post-war therapy, particularly as — at least from Harry’s perspective — he seems to internalise everything, which must make therapy difficult, since it kind of relies on the person seeking therapy to actually articulate their feelings? Could you tell me more about the decision and how it affected Percy?

2. Since Odd Weasley Out is the opposite of WIGOWY in that there’s an expectation that the reader has some knowledge of polyamory, does this mean Percy is already aware that he’s poly? If so, what’s your headcanon for how he discovered polyamory?

3. Speaking of WIGOWY, do you think you’ll ever write more stories set in that universe?

4. Also, when you started WIGOWY, what led you to choose Hannah and Susan as your main characters? Are there any other Harry-era students who you headcanon as poly?

6. What’s your writing process? Apart from a cooperative muse (I feel your pain!) what would make the perfect scenario in which to write?

7. Did you notice that I missed question five?

8. Will you ever write fanfic that isn’t from the HP fandom? PLEASE GIVE MAX AND ANNE A HAPPY ENDING

I have a migraine that is making the words on my screen blurry  so I will be back with more questions! I’m so excited to see you writing again and I can’t wait for the next chapter of Odd Weasley Out!

[batsam]

Awww you're the sweetest. And no worries, I only recently restarted my WJ. It's also super sweet to see that you read my past answers

1. You’ve said above that you put Percy in therapy and I’m intrigued. I don’t think I’ve seen a fic where he ends up in post-war therapy, particularly as — at least from Harry’s perspective — he seems to internalise everything, which must make therapy difficult, since it kind of relies on the person seeking therapy to actually articulate their feelings? Could you tell me more about the decision and how it affected Percy?

Oof that is super relevant to why I'm so bad at therapy. And it makes sense that he would be similar in that way (did I mention I Relate to him). I need to do more exploration of this idea and when he started going and his goals. The bits of therapy scenes I have for him so far involve quite a bit of deflection. I'm not certain his therapy will be successful, but the fact that he's pursuing it does indicate that he is genuinely trying to resolve some of his underlying struggles.

2. Since Odd Weasley Out is the opposite of WIGOWY in that there’s an expectation that the reader has some knowledge of polyamory, does this mean Percy is already aware that he’s poly? If so, what’s your headcanon for how he discovered polyamory?

Not exactly. I don't think that unconventional approaches to relationships have ever occurred to Percy as a viable option for him before meeting Aud. One of the ways I consider this story the opposite of WIGOWY, is that while Hannah had no issue accepting her sexuality, her road to making polyamory work for her was a bit rocky (someone ask me about why that was). And on the other hand, Percy has a lot of repression keeping him in the closet about his sexuality, but I think accepting polyamory will be a lot easier for him.

I don't think I'm going to spend quite as much time spelling things out, like how I specifically wrote WIGOWY in mind of an audience with no background knowledge. Though that could always change as I write, as I do plan on introducing some less familiar concepts that weren't in WIGOWY like Relationship Anarchy

3. Speaking of WIGOWY, do you think you’ll ever write more stories set in that universe?

People keep asking me this and I keep saying you don't want to know my headcanon for Hannah's future.

Though it isn't unlikely that I'll write other connected stories or one shots. Doing more with Susan/Luna would be fun.

4. Also, when you started WIGOWY, what led you to choose Hannah and Susan as your main characters? Are there any other Harry-era students who you headcanon as poly?

I was given the prompt to write a Susan/Hannah/Neville ship, so the characters were kind of chosen for me, but they felt like a super natural fit for me.

For me, headcanons are super flexible, so I can probably picture just about anyone as poly if I think about it XD

6. What’s your writing process? Apart from a cooperative muse (I feel your pain!) what would make the perfect scenario in which to write?

Once I'm super in the zone for writing, I need to have music that fits well with the tone of what I'm writing, and then I typically get super engrossed and write nonstop until the chapter is done. I also tend to write non-linearly, and write what is strongest in my head first (given that I can rely enough that the plot structure isn't going to change). I find dialogue comes a lot easier for me, so I typically write almost all of the dialogue first, and then go back and fill in the rest.

7. Did you notice that I missed question five?

Fiiiiveee whyyyy

8. Will you ever write fanfic that isn’t from the HP fandom? PLEASE GIVE MAX AND ANNE A HAPPY ENDING

omg you still haven't finished Black Sails, RIP. I will say I wouldn't want to change the endings those characters get.

As for other fanfic, that really depends. Part of the issue, is that most of my other fandoms are TV, and I find it much harder to translate visual mediums into writing. For shows I manifest that kind of energy by making fan videos. If there's ever a book I get really into, then it's possible that I'd write fic for that, but quite less likely.

[batsam]

I've written bits of pieces of several upcoming Odd Weasley Out chapters, but have kind of been stalled (not surprised at all). I think the main thing slowing me down is that chapter two requires some filler, which I hate to write. But I'm good at justifying things, and am telling myself that I need to reevaluate my headcanons for the relationship dynamics between Percy, Oliver, and Aud. There is some mismatch between ideas I wrote down years ago and how things feel now that I'm writing, and I'm not sure how to proceed in some ways. I think part of the issue is that I have an itch to write a triad story about a dynamic that these characters don't have, and what I want to write about is bleeding into what makes sense for these three.

So maybe I'll find a way to channel those feelings into a different triad story, maybe I'll avoid finishing this story forever.

However! I did just post a new story in the Hannibal fandom: Scar Tissue

I'm hoping that this story will be accessible to people not familiar with the fandom (cause I crave validation). The characters in it are minor characters from the show and didn't meet, so I'm hoping not tooo much context will be needed. We'll see how into the nitty gritty of rehashing stuff that happened on the show I'll get.

I don't have a clear outline or anything for this story, but I have huge admiration for these characters and always thought they deserved better - like healthy recovery and each other. Other than that I have a ton of headcanons about how they feel about their pasts (and lots of affectionate bashing of what a manipulator Will Graham is). I'm not sure how well these ideas will develop into a narrative (or how much of a role romance will play), but at least I'm trying! It may become another abandoned WIP, but if not it's looking like WIGOWY length chapters, which is a win.

[batsam]

My Knockout Challenge entry, The Moth & The Flame is up, and =SS

I'm not totally sure what I think of it, and have way less idea what other people will think of it, so feedback would be very much appreciated on this one.

This is also technically my first OF posted here, though it doesn't quite feel like it because I avoided worldbuilding and details to the point of not even naming my characters, and I essentially pictured them as characters from other works (which I guess would make it a weird crossover AU)

And because I spent possibly more time building a playlist for this story than writing the actual story, here are the songs I used (vaguely spoilery for the direction the story takes)

Spoiler

• Your Heart Is As Black As Night by Melody Gardot
• (Sigh) by Unloved
• The Moth & The Flame by Les Deux Love Orchestra
• Addicted To Love by Skylar Grey
• She Loves Control by Camila Cabello
• Xpectations by Unloved
• Into You by Ariana Grande
• I Get Off by Halestorm
• Cold Blooded by The Pretty Reckless
• Hatef*** by Cruel Youth
• The One That Got Away by The Civil Wars
• Killer Shangri-Lah by Psychotic Beats
• Look What You Made Me Do by Taylor Swift
• I Miss the Misery by Halestorm
• Out of Mind by Tove Lo

 

[Jo Raskoph]

Damn, Sam.

I'm just read The Moth & The Flame for the very first time. It's brilliant. Congratulations on posting your first OF! 
(I want to ramble on about it for paragraphs, but I'm typing one-handedly with a sleeping baby in the other, so I'll try to keep this short-ish.)

Here come your questions in no particular order:

* After what you said above, obviously: Can you share which two characters you pictured?
* Did you first have that idea about the score keeping? Or was it added after you knew the whole plot?
(It's a brilliant plot device, brilliantly used to a surprising end, … I'm in awe and somewhat speechless.)
* When your character A (POV character) sees B in court, is it real or imagined?
* Do you have more OF you might want to share sometime? If yes, how soon?  
* Did you enjoy writing OF? What is your most/least favourite part of it?
* What was the most difficult part to write?
 * Which scene is your favourite?
* Are there other works that inspired this one, or influenced your writing?
* This is a lot darker than other stories of yours I've read – do you think this is the start of a trend/new direction/development of your style or just a variety among others?
* Is any aspct of this inspired by real life experiences? If yes, which?
* Which methods/process did you use to develop this story? (Was it all there from the start? Did you write beginning to end or bits and pieces? Did you pants it or plan?)
* What would you say is the most defining characteristic of character A, what of character B?
* Your characters both seem pretty morally ambiguous. Is B truly as manipulative as A perceives her? Is B aware of A's score keeping?
* The paragraph about media attention for abuser vs. victim is chilling. Is this a topic you feel passionately about? If so - please tell me more!
* Character A comes across as pretty predatory, is B truly her first victim? Or only the first where the situation escalated to this extent?
* What did B do to her co-worker?
* What does A mean when she says "Will they see the sacrifice your love demanded?"?
* Who, would you say, is the moth in this and why?

Finally:
* Are there any details of this story you didn't include but can share now?

 

I truly feel like my questions can only be inadequate for this story - I want to know all the things! It's made to make you want to know more… It's a very well written, very fascinating piece! Thank you for sharing!

[magemadi]

Sam!! I know it’s been a hot minute since you wrote something longer than a drabble but you are just a great person and you deserve everything in the world! I come bearing love and hugs and also questions about your fics!!!

1. Your AP, while varied, has several fics that feature Oliver Wood, and specifically Oliver Wood/Percy Weasley as a ship -- what do you like about this ship in particular and why?

2. Of the canon Marauders Era ladies, who would you be friends with and why?

3. Finally, pick one: Tragic Oliver/Percy, Fluffy Oliver/Percy, or Unrequited Oliver/Percy.

[batsam]

On 3/22/2020 at 8:33 AM, Jo Raskoph said:

Damn, Sam.

I'm just read The Moth & The Flame for the very first time. It's brilliant. Congratulations on posting your first OF! 
(I want to ramble on about it for paragraphs, but I'm typing one-handedly with a sleeping baby in the other, so I'll try to keep this short-ish.)

Here come your questions in no particular order:

* After what you said above, obviously: Can you share which two characters you pictured?
* Did you first have that idea about the score keeping? Or was it added after you knew the whole plot?
(It's a brilliant plot device, brilliantly used to a surprising end, … I'm in awe and somewhat speechless.)
* When your character A (POV character) sees B in court, is it real or imagined?
* Do you have more OF you might want to share sometime? If yes, how soon?  
* Did you enjoy writing OF? What is your most/least favourite part of it?
* What was the most difficult part to write?
 * Which scene is your favourite?
* Are there other works that inspired this one, or influenced your writing?
* This is a lot darker than other stories of yours I've read – do you think this is the start of a trend/new direction/development of your style or just a variety among others?
* Is any aspct of this inspired by real life experiences? If yes, which?
* Which methods/process did you use to develop this story? (Was it all there from the start? Did you write beginning to end or bits and pieces? Did you pants it or plan?)
* What would you say is the most defining characteristic of character A, what of character B?
* Your characters both seem pretty morally ambiguous. Is B truly as manipulative as A perceives her? Is B aware of A's score keeping?
* The paragraph about media attention for abuser vs. victim is chilling. Is this a topic you feel passionately about? If so - please tell me more!
* Character A comes across as pretty predatory, is B truly her first victim? Or only the first where the situation escalated to this extent?
* What did B do to her co-worker?
* What does A mean when she says "Will they see the sacrifice your love demanded?"?
* Who, would you say, is the moth in this and why?

Finally:
* Are there any details of this story you didn't include but can share now?

I truly feel like my questions can only be inadequate for this story - I want to know all the things! It's made to make you want to know more… It's a very well written, very fascinating piece! Thank you for sharing!

these questions are soooo amazing, I couldn't answer them without having proper time. And then, naturally, I procrastinated and now it's been long enough that I don't have as clear a memory of the story

After what you said above, obviously: Can you share which two characters you pictured?

I more or less pictured the speaker as Villanelle from killing eve and her romantic interest as a young Narcissa Malfoy, which mostly has to do with the similarities I saw between their personalities. I don't really spend time thinking about what my characters look like, so I wouldn't at all call them faceclaims. Maybe vibeclaims

Did you first have that idea about the score keeping? Or was it added after you knew the whole plot?

I'm pretty sure the scoreboard came before the plot. I believe I started with the line "There's a scoreboard in my heart" with no kind of plot or character attached to it and went from there cause it sounded like a fun kind of twisted

When your character A (POV character) sees B in court, is it real or imagined?

'tis imagined. A has thorough follow-through.

 Do you have more OF you might want to share sometime? If yes, how soon?  

Oof, not really. But that's because I haven't really been in a writing zone at all. If I do get into that zone, I think it's likely that I'll write OF instead of fic. A bit ago I was playing with a stabby ladies idea that would kind of combine some of my favorite bits of murder!romance from Hannibal and Killing Eve, but I don't have a lot of confidence in my ability to write something as long as I was picturing that.

Did you enjoy writing OF? What is your most/least favourite part of it?

I did. Idk, it didn't really feel that different from writing fic for me. Since when I write fic I write minor characters and project onto them a shitton, it didn't really feel like I as doing anything that different. Not to mention, in ways this was kind of fic of Killing Eve and Hannibal. Even though I wasn't using those characters, I was drawing from the vibe in a similar way.

What was the most difficult part to write?

It's been long enough that I don't remember very clearly =S I think I intended there to be more material in the middle, and it was kind of difficult to balance between feeling like more would be filler and feeling like things were too rushed without it.

 Which scene is your favourite?

Hmmm I really enjoy that I got a cannibalism innuendo into their meet-cute. That was a scene that I struggled with for a minute, not sure how to balance romance with a vibe of creepiness, and that solution just perfectly addressed that while working really well with both characters.

Are there other works that inspired this one, or influenced your writing?

Yeah, I was totally ripping of Hannibal and Killing Eve vibes. There's more KE to this piece, but both shows have similar elements that I'm super into and wanted to channel for this. I was also very inspired by music for this. I spent a lot of time procrastinating writing by making a playlist, which ended up really informing the story. You can find the playlist here+. The songs are ordered to follow the plot arc of the story.

This is a lot darker than other stories of yours I've read – do you think this is the start of a trend/new direction/development of your style or just a variety among others?

It may well be. It's not like I used to be all   and I suddenly became , I've always been both. Really, when I started writing WIGOWY and other super romancey stories that I think kind of became known as my niche, it was a surprising change for me and I never expected to write light and happy things. It's really good to know I'm capable of both and (if I continue writing) it would be fair to expect both from me.

Is any aspct of this inspired by real life experiences? If yes, which?

While the speaker interprets it in a very different way than I would, I think "there's a scoreboard in my heart" comes from a place of truth for me. I don't at all compete in a way that she does, but when I think about that line it brings out in me a sense along the lines of "My feelings work differently than they are supposed to. I recognize that this is considered wrong by others, but I can't control it and am not going to fight it." Also, what really makes such a deep impression is the experience of being really seen and understood by her partner. It's intense in a way that's difficult for her to deal with, and I think some of that is drawn from my experiences. I also relate to the speaker's struggle with control, and the challenges of losing some of that control by being in a true relationship.

Which methods/process did you use to develop this story? (Was it all there from the start? Did you write beginning to end or bits and pieces? Did you pants it or plan?)

I used a shitton of procrastination, does that count? While procrastinating, though, I put together that playlist, which while I spent at least twice as long making the playlist as I did the story (there's also a longer 92 song vibe list I made first before whittling it down to those core super relevant songs), I think it did end up helping the writing process. I wrote the story out of order, which is what I normally do, focusing on the bits and pieces that are strongest in my mind and then linking them together. Fortunately, with the microfiction setup of this story that was super easy to do, and I think I ended up moving the order that snippets happened around quite a bit.

What would you say is the most defining characteristic of character A, what of character B?

I think they are both defined by their needs for control, but in different ways. A's interpretation of control is more traditional. In terms of the scoreboard, she needs to be on top. B is arguably just as motivated by control, but she has a wider definition. For her, in a way knowledge is power. She is fully aware of who A is and what she needs, and that gives her a huge sense of control. Every victory that A has is one that B either let her have or has the power to take away, and that makes it okay for B to not always win, because her understanding gives her the true power. I think B always knew where their relationship could lead in a way that A didn't understand, and she was able to consent to that in a way.

Your characters both seem pretty morally ambiguous. Is B truly as manipulative as A perceives her? Is B aware of A's score keeping?

They are both twisted as fuck. I think B has much more inter-personal insight than A is capable of, and that makes her very aware of A in a way that A is not able to return. A eventually sees a glimpse of B's truth, but I think in A's mind B is always some kind of ideal who she is never able to see perfectly clearly. One of my concerns writing this was that I have sooo many thoughts about how twisted B is that wasn't directly written into the story and I was concerned about people seeing her too much as an innocent victim, but I'm reassured by a lot of comments I've gotten that the ambiguity is strong enough.

The paragraph about media attention for abuser vs. victim is chilling. Is this a topic you feel passionately about? If so - please tell me more!

Ummm if what you're referring to is "You are portrayed as pale and innocent, a shadow of the woman I knew you to be. I am a monster, calculating and unfeeling." I think what I was going for is that obviously neither of them was fully realistically captured in the news. "Calculating and unfeeling" isn't wrong, but "pale and innocent" sure is, and there's a sadness that what's left of her in others' minds is so inaccurate, and also draws the question of if others who knew B when she was alive saw her in this incomplete way, if the speaker was the only one who saw some of her truth. Also the victim/monster idea kind of sets them up as two isolated and wholly separate individuals who had the misfortune of running into each other, while in reality they were deeply linked. Their relationship wasn't about one twisted person doing something to another innocent person. It was about them together becoming something twisted that could only have a messy end. And I think to see that mess (which is so rich and complicated and in a weird way the closest to real love the speaker has ever gotten) simplified into something so artificial and inaccurate is kind of heartbreaking.

Character A comes across as pretty predatory, is B truly her first victim? Or only the first where the situation escalated to this extent?

A great question! I definitely think that this is not A's first "scoreboard." That is how she has always existed in relationships. But I do think this is the first one that has escalated in this way. BECAUSE this is the first time that she found someone remotely like her, and the first time she really fell in love. With falling in love comes an enormous loss of control which she is simply not equipped to deal with. Her feelings are very real in this relationship, and being invested the way she became gave her other needs in the relationship beyond just winning, which she had never dealt with before. I imagine in other relationships she played her partners until she was so far ahead that she got bored, but that was impossible with B, who not only did she have her version of love for, but was also playing her right back.

What did B do to her co-worker?

Hell if I know. Really, I never decided. All I know is that it's not exactly what anyone imagines. It's twisted in a surprising way that I am not capable of thinking of.

Who, would you say, is the moth in this and why?

I think the speaker thinks she is the moth, and maybe in her previous relationships she always was. But in this relationship she is the one who is incapable of turning away. B is capable and chooses not to.

Are there any details of this story you didn't include but can share now?

Probably, but I've forgotten them now? Oh, for a while the working title of this song was "How To Twist You" which is a lyric from one of the songs in the playlist, I Get Off

Again, thank you sososo much. These questions were so amazing. I was truly wowed when I got them, and I'm sorry it took me such a long time to respond.

3 hours ago, magemadi said:

Sam!! I know it’s been a hot minute since you wrote something longer than a drabble but you are just a great person and you deserve everything in the world! I come bearing love and hugs and also questions about your fics!!!

1. Your AP, while varied, has several fics that feature Oliver Wood, and specifically Oliver Wood/Percy Weasley as a ship -- what do you like about this ship in particular and why?

2. Of the canon Marauders Era ladies, who would you be friends with and why?

3. Finally, pick one: Tragic Oliver/Percy, Fluffy Oliver/Percy, or Unrequited Oliver/Percy.

A big thank you to YOU to posting these delightful question to finally kick me into gear to also answer Jo's

1. Your AP, while varied, has several fics that feature Oliver Wood, and specifically Oliver Wood/Percy Weasley as a ship -- what do you like about this ship in particular and why?

This is a little funny to me, because I don't really think about them as Oliver stories as much as Percy stories. I also kind of think of them as all one story, just scattered through different points in Percy's life. It's kind of silly that I have a polyverse when those stories aren't connected much, I should really have a universe for my Percy stories instead. Percy is the character I love and connect with more, though my Landon and Peters story helped me connect with Oliver more. I am a huge sucker for just about any HP ship where dormmates become love interests. I also connect with Percy and Oliver a lot regarding their obsessive passions that tend to disregard all else, as well as what I see as a healthy dosage of anxiety (at least in Percy). I think they are both super similar in super different ways, and they both have a lot of growing they need to do, and I think they see the need and possibility for their own growth through seeing each other.

2. Of the canon Marauders Era ladies, who would you be friends with and why?

I'm a weirdo who doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about Marauders Era. I'd probably have a crush on Lily but I don't know if we'd get along. Marlene's a pretty name and she's probably a pretty gal, so why not her? Oh, does Andromeda count as Marauders Era? I think I could get along with my morally grey headcanon of her.

3. Finally, pick one: Tragic Oliver/Percy, Fluffy Oliver/Percy, or Unrequited Oliver/Percy.

This is such an easy question, and I'm kind of shocked that you'd even need to ask? Oliver/Percy is a pure and fluffy ship and they will never have to deal with tragedy or unrequited troubles.

 

I did it!!! I answered WJ questions!!!!

[Darling_take_off_the_mask]

52 minutes ago, sinnersandsapphics said:

While the speaker interprets it in a very different way than I would, I think "there's a scoreboard in my heart" comes from a place of truth for me. I don't at all compete in a way that she does, but when I think about that line it brings out in me a sense along the lines of "My feelings work differently than they are supposed to. I recognize that this is considered wrong by others, but I can't control it and am not going to fight it."

Hi Sam! I really really loved that line and that theme in The Moth and the Flame and found it so relatable. Maybe not the exact way the narrator did, but honestly I think it's a feeling that more people have or have had than would like to admit it. It speaks to a lot of power dynamics (power as in, "Who's more in love," and therefore more vulnerable and likely to get hurt when this goes south) and was such a great theme. IDK if I got any of that right, but it's how I remember feeling about it when I read it.

 

52 minutes ago, sinnersandsapphics said:

Percy is the character I love and connect with more

What is it about him that you love and connect with? Please shout at me about Percy; as you might know I am mildly obsessed.  

 

52 minutes ago, sinnersandsapphics said:

a healthy dosage of anxiety (at least in Percy)

Yessss, same, my headcanon of him involves anxiety, and personally I see him as prone to depressive thoughts if not outright clinical depression at times.

 

52 minutes ago, sinnersandsapphics said:

Oliver/Percy is a pure and fluffy ship and they will never have to deal with tragedy or unrequited troubles.

 I'm sorry I don't have anything more intelligent to say.  WAIT I LIED, please hold while I edit another question into this...

Is aro Oliver your typical headcanon for him, as you wrote or at least hinted in Landon and Peters? Or is that differently than you have written him, and their dynamic, in the past? How do you see Percy/Oliver working out after the end of Landon and Peters?

Please tell me an adorable, fluffy Percy/Oliver headcanon about any random thing?

[batsam]

48 minutes ago, RonsGirlFriday said:

Hi Sam! I really really loved that line and that theme in The Moth and the Flame and found it so relatable. Maybe not the exact way the narrator did, but honestly I think it's a feeling that more people have or have had than would like to admit it. It speaks to a lot of power dynamics (power as in, "Who's more in love," and therefore more vulnerable and likely to get hurt when this goes south) and was such a great theme. IDK if I got any of that right, but it's how I remember feeling about it when I read it.

Thank yooouuuu it's really good to hear that the realness twisted in with the, well, twistedness, feels real to other people top

48 minutes ago, RonsGirlFriday said:

What is it about him that you love and connect with? Please shout at me about Percy; as you might know I am mildly obsessed.

I'm not sure I have the energy or the focus on Percy right now to really answer this fully. But the big things are his hyperfocus, the way he uses academics for structure and validation, his anxiety, and a bunch of stuff I've projected onto him post-series about the mix of pressure and guilt he feels about his family

48 minutes ago, RonsGirlFriday said:

Is aro Oliver your typical headcanon for him, as you wrote or at least hinted in Landon and Peters? Or is that differently than you have written him, and their dynamic, in the past?

I don't think that headcanon happened before I wrote that story. I actually think that before that I had Percy on the ace spectrum (demisexual), but had known for a while that my headcanons for Percy, Oliver, and Aud when I had first written my Odd Weasley Out outline didn't feel quite right anymore. Writing this story helped me start to feel them out a bit better.

48 minutes ago, RonsGirlFriday said:

How do you see Percy/Oliver working out after the end of Landon and Peters?

They disconnect for a couple years after school, I don't think Oliver is in Percy's life when he leaves his family. I don't have an exact picture of how they come back into each others' lives and I'm not sure if that's a chapter I'm going to want to write someday or leave it vague. It's not something I've given a ton of concrete thought to. And then of course eventually they get to the point of Odd Weasley Out where they're happily and comfortably domestic together. Well, given being kind of closeted... but that will work out, I promise. Whether or not I ever write it.

48 minutes ago, RonsGirlFriday said:

Please tell me an adorable, fluffy Percy/Oliver headcanon about any random thing?

Percy and Oliver (eventually) have a jar they have to put a knut in every time one of them talks about work on a date night.

[Darling_take_off_the_mask]

16 minutes ago, sinnersandsapphics said:

Percy and Oliver (eventually) have a jar they have to put a knut in every time one of them talks about work on a date night.

BEST thing ever, I love it so much!

I also very much love you've headcanoned Percy as demisexual, and I'm really happy to hear that writing What Landon and Peters Missed has helped you start to sort some things out for Odd Weasley Out. Sometimes it just takes some time away from an idea to get your head on straight about it, I think, and come back to it with fresh focus and direction, and I really look forward in the future to seeing what you do with these characters, whether it's in Odd Weasley Out or something else.

[batsam]

1 minute ago, RonsGirlFriday said:

I really look forward in the future to seeing what you do with these characters, whether it's in Odd Weasley Out or something else.

Oh, so if I ever get past the Odd Weasley Out angst, there's one or two fluffy stories after that - one about conceiving Molly II, and then another when the girls are older. And by that point Aud is also dating Alicia, so she and Katie are in their lives, so big weirdass happy family (which there's a taste of with The Healing of Alicia Spinnet, which is weirdly the first story I wrote of this series??)

[batsam]

I present the highly scientific outlining I did for The Moth & The Flame, so clear and precise that when I found it in my notebook tonight I didn’t have the faintest clue what it was and @grumpy cat now owns the rights to my stories

I obviously don’t remember my story well enough to say, but I think some or these points didn’t make it into the story? I’m not sure what some things like asshole/parents/watch/watch back/files refer to (but again, I don’t know my own story anymore)