Ask The Beholding Writer

A blog for all things dealing with the avatars from "Collections from The Journalist", which can be read over on AO3. Ask box is open for questions.

[beholdingwriter]

Welcome!

This is an ask blog for my OCs for The Magnus Archives. Here, I’ll post up content for these characters (mostly in the form of short stories, but some art too) and answer questions about them. I’ve been working with these characters for a while, and I finally get to share some of their stories based from the Whumptober prompts. It’ll take a bit to get all the profiles up, so please be patient during that process.

As for questions: make sure you specify who the question is for (can be multiple).

Characters Available for questions: Taelyn Eldfors Moira Bramwell Matthew Haywood Cam Wyatt Haywood Diane Haywood Edmond Haywood Kitty Haywood Astra Noxinra

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

LATE - Whumptober Day 23 prompt: What's a Whumpee Gotta do to Get Some Sleep Around Here? - Exhaustion 

Summary: Taelyn has a deadline they need to meet, and has spent the last few days trying to make it. 

Preview:    Taelyn stared blankly at the word document in front of them. They know they need to put something down as the final paragraph. And at this point, anything would be better than nothing. However, the 65th hour of their writing vigil has been starting to get to them. Their head rests in their right hand, eyelids drooping on their own accord, making the words swim in front of them in their vision. Brian was going to kill them… but like, what did he matter anyway? He was an asshole.     “Why are you still up?” comes Astra’s voice from a distance behind Taelyn. She has a hand on her hearing aid, turning it up to a respectable volume.     “I have a deadline and I need to finish this up,” Taelyn groans, turning back to their work. It is just one more sentence.     “…same deadline as yesterday?” they ask the writer.    “Yes. Last day of it. Has to be in Brian’s mailbox before he wakes up.”    “He’s going to notice the time stamp, isn’t he?”   “You think he cares that much?” Taelyn rolls their eyes, and closes their eyes. “He’s not a school teacher. As long as it’s there in the morning…” They wave a hand carelessly in the air.   Astra gives Taelyn a blank stare. She’s the kind of person who knows when something is a bad idea, but doesn’t really know how to address it. “Don’t fall in,” Astra eventually says, heading off to do whatever they’re going to do.

Read the rest on ao3

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Summary: It's Christmas time, the time of year people go and spend time with their families. It's only natural to also visit those who have moved on as well. Taelyn visits their parents and gets the only closure they can from the dead. Preview: Taelyn plops themself on the couch next to their partner as Wyatt and Diane “discuss” what movie they want to watch. Moira looks at their interaction with humor, putting an arm around Taelyn when they sit down. Taelyn leans into the touch, curling up more around the mug of peppermint tea they have made. “So this is normal?” Moira asks quietly, amusement evident in their voice.  

“This is normal,” Taelyn says with a sigh, “This is also why we don’t play board games. They get… a little too competitive with it.”   

“What about a game of chance, like War?”  

Taelyn sips their tea. “Doesn’t matter. Dad got Mario Party one year, just to have something for the family to do together…” Taelyn grimaces, “It did not end well.”

Continue reading on ao3

[beholdingwriter]

I apologize for the sudden abandonment of the Whumptober project. A lot of stuff happened recently and trying to get back the original focus of the stories kinda got thrown out the window. I do have some of them complete and will get them up in due time. Until then, I do have a bonus story based from a prompt I was given.

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 19: "Broken Hearts" - Grief, Survivor's Guilt, Mourning Loved One 

Summary: The day of Kitty's mother's funeral arrives, and that means seeing family. 

Preview: Kitty cannot bring herself to head inside the church hall and finds herself sitting under a nearby tree, watching the light rain fall. Despite everyone else being annoyed that it decided to rain, Kitty is relieved that the world decided to match the solemness of the day. Her mother has been laid to rest and all final words spoken. The family can move on now. Kitty never can.    “So this is where you are,” Diane walks right up to Kitty, having come from the church hall. She holds a small plate of assorted food, none of it touched. “I didn’t get to say hi.”    Kitty waves, but doesn’t say anything. What is there to say really? They aren’t close besides being cousins. Not anymore at least. When they were kids, it always seemed that they were pinned against all the boys. Not that Diane ever seemed to mind such confrontation; she always lived for a good fight. 

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 18: "Panic! At The Disco" - Panic Attack Originally, I think the story was going to line up more with the prompt, and then the following story happened.

Summary: Edmond meets a philosopher in training. 

Preview: “…we are nothing and there is nothing besides the malevolence that runs the universe…”   Edmond finally got his tongue in check and looks properly at the newest audience member to one of his tirades on the Vast. There is a vacant look in their eyes as they walk away from the table. Edmond sighs. He admittedly feels better, but it certainly wasn’t controlled, and that is what bothers him the most. Matthew is the one to keep telling him he needs to get it under control, but it’s hard. He can’t just walk around gagged all the time, that would just…    “I have a few questions,” a woman about Edmond’s age takes up the seat in front of him, a determined look in her eyes. “You have a few holes in your premise.”

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 17: "I Did Not See That Coming" - Blackmail 

Summary: Taelyn gets blackmailed and has no idea why. 

Preview: “I thought that everyone you interviewed consented to doing so?” Moira asks once Taelyn is done reading out-loud the letter they just received. It is not a very long letter, but it does get to the heart of the issue.     “Mostly, yes. And in this case, this person did consent.” Taelyn puts the letter on the table, that Cam immediately snatches up. “So you see my problem, right?”    Cam quickly reads over it again. “Do you really think this person has something that can hurt you?” Cam asks, and eyebrow raised. “I mean, the three of us can do some heavy damage, and if we let Ven loose…” Cam grins for a moment.

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 16: "A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day" - hallucinations 

Summary: Kitty is trapped in a music box; Taelyn goes in to save her from her from her untimely demise. 

Preview: Just as Diane had said before, the music box that Kitty used to escape from is open, face down in the storage unit filled with all the other music boxes the D’aeth family has kept hidden over the centuries. They pick up the music box in question. There is no figurine at the center, but the inside of the box is decorated to look like a large ballroom decorated for a wedding. Taelyn looks over at Diane, who stands at the entrance to the storage unit.     “Make sure no one else comes here,” Taelyn says, “And no opening any of the boxes. I have no idea what any of them do, but none of it is good.”    “…you really think you can get Kitty?” Diane asks, incredulously, but there is high concern in her eyes.    Taelyn nods, if only to hide the hesitation they themself have in this venture. They place the box on one of the empty crates in the room and looks more carefully in the box. They begin to focus on what this particular place would be like to walk through. The sounds, the particular sights, the smells. All of it. 

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 15: "Into the Unknown" - Possession, Science gone Wrong

As a note, the science gone wrong is more due to the nature of what is going on. Notes on it at the end of the story.

Summary: Moira, while enjoying a day off wandering the carnival, finds a new and interesting act.

Preview: Moira plays around with a sewing needle they “borrowed” from their mother as they walk around Boston Commons, taking in the sights of the carnival come to town. Not that the city of Boston is ever without some sort of entertainment, however magicians can always use a break and take some inspiration from those who are also a part of the craft. Though, the more recent trend in the current days are escape tricks. And yes, Moira does use the word tricks, because that’s all any of them are. Elaborate tricks, because nearly all of them use a curtain or the actual escape attempt is hidden from plain view. Moira flicks the sewing needle up in the air, and it disappears before landing down. This makes the young magician grin. What are petty tricks when they can use real magic?     A certain sign catches Moira’s eye. “Lady Ulra, Mystic of the Spider”. On the poster is a woman wearing a black dress, gorgeously donned with silver trimmings. She wears a veil, and in her hand is a silver pocket watch. Intriguing. The tent itself isn’t that impressive, just another dot on the backdrop of the commons. This peaks Moira’s interest all the more. Most people are very flashy and want people to notice their act. This is rather quiet. Passive.

Read the Rest on AO3

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 14: Is Something Burning? - fire 

Summary: Kitty finds a mysterious figure in the middle of the forest. 

Preview: Kitty plays around with the ring she found earlier that day as she sits in the near pitch black darkness, only illuminated by the flashlight she brought with her. She likes the feel of it in her hand; it’s a weighty thing. It’s too big for her to wear yet, but maybe in a few years, when she grows up a little. She has no idea what the words are, but they feel important. She is reminded of her grandmother on her mother’s side, the words feel like her.     She couldn’t sleep, and she didn’t want to be in the cabin anymore. She wanted to explore a bit, but she didn’t get far because of how dark it is in the forest. So, Kitty will settle being outside. The night is warm, but not in any uncomfortable way. It certainly is a lot cooler from what it was during the daytime. Looking up through the trees, certain stars peek through. All is calm, except for a feeling Kitty cannot explain.

Read the Rest on AO3

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 13: “Breathe In, Breathe Out”

For this prompt, I used the title as inspiration more than the suggestions.

Summary: Wyatt has an encounter in the middle of the forest.

Preview: There is a secret sort of path to the local mall that the Haywood kids used to use all the time. It’s through the forest, and over the Charles river, but it’s a lot quicker and more exciting than waiting for their parents to drive them over there. The path was safe enough, so long as they watched their footing and went slow on the bridge over the river. It certainly wasn’t an official thing, and Taelyn had slipped in there more than once, but no real harm ever came to the three Haywood kids. The river wasn’t as perilous as the ocean can be, and they all knew how to swim well.    Over the past several years, Wyatt had gotten into the habit of petty shoplifting. Never anything major: cheap chap-stick, a Wonderball, those colorful shiny rocks that natural museums have. He wasn’t in it for the items themselves; he did it for the thrill of just doing so. He used to just do it back in their hometown of Truro, with the local shops there because it was fun (though Taelyn would make sure he returned the stuff). When they moved to Watertown, Wyatt had avoided his favorite past time. Bigger place, bigger punishments. However, with Taelyn gone… well, he needed something fun to do.    Today’s shoplifted item is a hand-sized metallic lunch-box filled with food shaped erasers. It was in a prime location, and everyone was busy with more important sales, considering it was the holiday season. The snow crunched under his feet as he ran through the path. He was lucky it was snowing, just in case someone tried to track him down. But really, who cared about something so small?

Read the Rest on AO3

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 12: "I Think I've Broken Something" - broken trust 

Summary: After years of cat and mouse, Diane and Wyatt finally talk out their feelings. 

Preview: Diane, Taelyn, and Wyatt are all very quiet as the three of them make their way to the hotel room they’ll be sharing for the night, despite Diane not wanting to be near either of them. Wyatt she really wants to beat up until he comes to some sort of sense, and Taelyn… Diane does not know what to make of them yet, and Wyatt seems to trust them a little too much.     Taelyn takes out the key-card, swipes it in the door, and pops it open. Standard two queen sized bed room, nothing much to write home about. The three of them walk inside, with Taelyn hanging out near the door, as Diane sits on the bed near the window. Wyatt stands awkwardly at the tv.    “Alright, I’m only going to say this once,” Taelyn starts, “You two have to come onto some sort of agreement. I don’t care if it means you two just put up with each other for the night or you become friends again. I just want you two to get to a point where you won’t try to murder each other for ten hours.”

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 11: “Psych 101″ - struggling

This one is more of a creative liberty day based on the title.

Summary: Edmond is yeeted into the Vast. 

Preview: For as far back as Edmond can remember, he had always believed in The Path that God so rightly designed for existence. Everyone has a part to play, so long as they accept God into their life and are ready for the divine plan. Those who don’t, well, they just don’t get to be apart of something greater than themselves. A pity, and Edmond never understood why people would be such against it. The Path was a good one, that lead to good things, and as long as one stuck too it, not true harm could ever come to them.    Edmond walks the streets of London, taking in the sights of the place. He is over here on a trip with a group of people from his college. A general learning experience, though most have come on the trip just to get away from school work. Not that they won’t have a mountain to do when they get back, however that is a few weeks away. Edmond’s father thought it was a great idea, and insisted his son go on the trip. Edmond’s mother, while not exactly against it, certainly was not thrilled by the whole venture. Something about focusing on studies and prayers.     Fall is evident in the air around, Edmond takes a deep breath in, clutching the crucifix safely in his pocket. He has carried around this artifact for a very long time, since he was 10. It called to him when he was out exploring in a forest with his cousins. The cross itself is a plain bronze item with a intricately detailed gem at the center of it. It looks like a God’s Eye, with how the various colors of purple, blue, white, and green are woven together. It is like looking into an entire galaxy… into the eye of God Himself. It has always been a very holy item for Edmond, and has inspired him to become a minister. That is the next step, going to a school to become ordained. It is his calling.

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 9: “For the Greater Good” - take me instead

Guess who cannot read and got days wrong? But that’s ok! No time like the present

Summary: Kitty finds out why her mother has kept a music box secret for all her life. 

Preview: There is a music box that Kitty’s mother has always had in her possession. It is a handheld objects, easily done so within two hands. It is an ornately decorated thing: a wooden box painted black and ordained with gold out-linings. Kitty has always believed that at one point, there were jewels that decorated the outside of it as well, due to the odd gaps in the gold decoration.     Kitty’s mother never talks about the music box, and often keeps it hidden somewhere in the her bedroom. Kitty has always been curious as to what is inside it. It has to be something important, if her mother tries to keep it secret. There is only one thing that has kept her from ever going through with opening it, and it is the ominous feeling that the box radiates. Something isn’t right with it. 

Read the Rest on AO3

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 10: “They Look So Pretty When They Bleed” - blood loss

Summary: Diane has been cooped up for too long so her fellow hunters take her out on a hunting day trip. 

Preview: Despite winter being the season that everyone associates the most with hunting due to aesthetic and older necessity, Diane hates hunting in winter. She can never really get warm, despite the layers she puts herself in. She never thought she would ever depend so heavily on cuddleduds… She shakes the thought away as she centers herself back to the present situation.    Ikki and Fion invited Diane on a special hunt, giving no real explanation has to what they’re going after. The two of them know, sure, but they haven’t explained it to Diane. “I think you are going to like it,” Ikki had told her.     So far, Diane hates it. She needed a break, they told her. She needed some fresh air, they said. Diane could have just gone on a run instead of a multi-day journey in the mountains. She is trying to find someone, after all.

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 8: “Where Did Everybody Go?” - isolation

Summary: Taelyn contemplates their life, and is taken by the Lonely. 

Preview: Despite it being the middle of August, it has been a chilly morning, with a fog outside covering the whole city. None of the news broadcasts that Taelyn has heard have talked about it, or even acknowledged it. It is supposed to be a hot day, in the high nineties. Could have fooled Taelyn. 

continue reading on AO3

[beholdingwriter]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Whumptober Day 7: “I’ve Got You” - support

Summary: Matthew finds Edmond in a precarious state; Edmond isn't fully human anymore. 

Preview: During the trip from the bathroom to the couch, Edmond grips Matthew’s shirt ever so slightly, feeling the fabric beneath his fingertips. He is unceremoniously dumped on a couch, head resting on the backrest.Edmond closes his eyes again for a moment, and he is shaken awake again.     “You need to stay up. I’m calling 911.”    “Don’t,” Edmond says quietly.    “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t?”    Edmond has none. Maybe he would if he could think…    “Right.” Matthew starts pressing buttons.    “…aren’t you a nurse?” Edmond mutters.    “That’s not a good reason.”