Bugborg Week 2023

Welcome to Bugborg Week 2023, a Tumblr fanweek for Mantis and Nebula from Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.

[bugborgweek2023]

The AO3 Collection is now CLOSED!

…which means Bugborg Week 2023 has officially ended! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed — whether it was by creating something or just reading/liking/reblogging whatever was posted! We hope everyone enjoyed the event!!!

Please peruse the fics in the Collection on AO3 — there are some great ones on there! 🩵💚

[fruitsugarcane]

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

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Guardians of the Galaxy (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mantis/Nebula (Marvel), Gamora & Nebula (Marvel), Nebula & Rocket Raccoon, Nebula & Peter Quill, Drax the Destroyer & Nebula Summary:

Those emotions came in surges big and small, sometimes springing leaks in her walls and her bodily crevices. They’d shatter into salty foams and outlive the needless thoughts that started all the problems in the first place.

Some would leave her terribly shivering and drenched.

Some would begrudgingly wander off by themselves with an uncertain promise to return.

It was unnerving for her to do nothing but watch herself erode.

I wrote my first fanfic as a late contribution to bugborg week 2023! I hope I did this correctly kjdsds

hope you enjoy

@bugborgweek2023

[monsterhunting]

to the stars (that we never really owned as ours) | 7.4k, on ao3

“I think Nebula hates me,” Mantis announces one morning.

“She hates everyone,” Rocket says. “Don’t take it personal.”

Mantis isn’t taking it personal, per se. In fact, if asked, Mantis would probably say that not taking it personal is both a startlingly accurate summary of herself and something she should probably work on. It’s just that Nebula seems to tolerate everyone except for her, in her own little way.

“Just give it some time,” Rocket says. “Eventually, she’ll start to pretend to tolerate you like she does the rest of us.”

Or: four times Mantis thinks Nebula hates her, and one time she realizes she doesn't.

written (late) for day seven of @bugborgweek2023!

[bugborgweek2023]

THANK YOU to everyone for this year's Bugborg Week! It was so much fun coming together and gushing over what everyone created. If you've posted something for the week that we haven't reblogged, please shoot us an ask and we'll reblog it. Same goes for fics in the AO3 Collection!

That said: the week isn't quite over yet! We will still be reblogging late works and accepting fics into the Collection until Saturday, June 25th. There will be another announcement once the Collection is officially closed. Continue to tag us or use the tag "bugborgweek2023" if you're planning on posting any late works!

Also: if you'd like to browse through any already posted works, take a scroll through our blog or head directly to our Navigation page to browse by prompt or work medium!

THANKS SO MUCH to everyone once again!

[bugborgs]

@bugborgweek2023 day 07: free day

last day babeeeyyy

i was really indecisive with what i wanted to do for the last day to the point of starting several other draws that ended up scrapped and eventually just took an old sketch i still liked and painted over it :]

i'm sad that bugborgweek is over, but it's been so much fun participating and seeing everyone else's works throughout the week! thank you to the hosts for making this happen <3!

[bloodpraxis]

@bugborgweek2023​ Day 7: Free Day → Little Moments

POV through Nebula’s cybernetic eye: Mantis going in for a nose boop + hands moments meant for day 2 but I’m late as always </33

[bugborgweek2023]

The prompt for the LAST DAY of Bugborg Week is FREE DAY! Let your creativity shine and create anything you'd like to make for today's prompt. Don't forget to tag your posts with #bugborgweek2023 and/or tag our account, tag our Twitter if you're posting on there, and make sure to add your fics to the AO3 Collection. And don't forget to visit our Navigation Page to sort all works by corresponding prompts. If you've posted earlier this week and you don't see your posting on our blog, please let us know we missed it and we'll reblog your post!

The AO3 Collection will be open for another week (closing on June 25th), and we'll still be reblogging any late works for this event up until then, but for now, we want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's participated! This week has been so much fun and we can't wait to see what everyone's come up with for the Free Day prompt. <3

[eccentricdisco]

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

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Guardians of the Galaxy (Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mantis/Nebula (Marvel) Characters: Mantis (Marvel), Nebula (Marvel), Peter Quill Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Romance, Post-Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, POV Nebula (Marvel), bugborg, bugborgweek2023 Summary:

 It was all an annoying problem. Nebula still does not know what the hell love is.

Keep reading

[bugborgs]

@bugborgweek2023 day 6: AU

today i have drawn something SO indulgent. sorry i cycled through like 5 different possible draw ideas and ended up settling on werewolf au as a little treat to myself :)

[bugborgs]

@bugborgweek2023 day 6: AU

today i have drawn something SO indulgent. sorry i cycled through like 5 different possible draw ideas and ended up settling on werewolf au as a little treat to myself :)

[monsterhunting]

when you don’t know who you are (you fuck around and find out) | 7.3k | on ao3

It strikes Nebula, suddenly, that Mantis is a lot like the sun. Peaceful and warm and bright, but sometimes, too bright. Almost stiflingly so, like it’s difficult to look at her for too long.

written for day five of @bugborgweek2023, based on the song “true blue” by boygenius 🎶

[bugborgweek2023]

The prompt for DAY SIX of Bugborg Week is AU / ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. Tag your posts with #bugborgweek2023 and/or tag our account, tag our Twitter if you're posting on there, and make sure to add your fics to the AO3 Collection. Can't believe there's only one day left for this event! Thank you so much to everyone's participated so far!

[fool-for-luv]

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

“What is your ship called?” Mantis asks. Asking any question of Nebula is very hit or miss, she is finding. This one seems to hit.

“Silent Death,” she says in her low, husky voice. “Though Thanos’s death will be anything but silent.”

“Oh. I see.” Mantis says politely.

“Do you?”

“No.“

___

Nebula doesn’t especially like Mantis. Mantis is mostly ambivalent towards Nebula. But Mantis needs a ride, and Nebula’s got a ship. AKA Mantis and Nebula’s Road Trip of Revenge (and Love!).

Set in the period between GOTG2 and Infinity War. Title and inspiration from Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, and written for BugborgWeek2023 day 5: based on a song.

[bugborgs]

@bugborgweek2023 day 5: based on a song

There is love in your body but you can’t hold it in It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts [x]

YEAH ALL RIGHT i’ve been very excited to post this one! this was the first prompt i drew for bugborgweek which is why it’s not painterly like the other ones so far, but i’m super pleased with it.

MUCH love to @fool-for-luv and her fic there is love in your body (but you can’t get it out) for the inspo! this art is really fanart for her fic. i read the fic, listened to the song, immediately knew i wanted to draw some fanart :] it’s good, go read it!

[marlasomething]

The Street Where You Live (Bugborg Week - June 16)

Summary: Nebula is tired of Mantis being an useless student, so she decided that, instead, is going to waster her time with hear with small talk…apparently, none of them are good at speaking in a chill manner.

Relationships: Nebula/Mantis

A/N: Written for day 5 of @bugborgweek2023

Prompt: Based on a song

Word count: 920

CW: parental abuse, childhood trauma, mentions of death

Also on AO3!

Nebula didn’t understand why on Earth she had said yes to this job offer. Yes; she wanted to be able to leave home as soon as possible, and it wasn’t as if she had many talents apart from physical defence and formal etiquette (things that happen when your father is a mafia boss), but she had never been good with nice people of around her age…

Still, there she was, in front of a smiling girl a couple of years younger than herself, sitting in the most uncomfortable position imaginable while wearing green raggedy clothes. Between her posture and the outfit…she got why people called her Mantis. Also, she wished she could be squashed as easy as the insect, since this was already their fourth session and she couldn’t even choose the proper spoon for soup.

Still, she actually felt pity for the girl; all her siblings had died either under mysterious circumstances after having tried to face their father or in the line of duty while trying to make him proud. Mantis’ only reason to still be alive was that the 1920s weren’t exactly a progressive time, and his father wouldn’t allow a girl to either become part of the Army or the Police Forces, nor give her enough free space to get a formed opinion that would make her want to rebel against him.

Nebula hated his father; he was abusive and there was barely anything good to be said about him even outside of how he treated his multiple suspiciously adopted children, but, at least, he valued them having a mind of their own and didn’t care about their gender or interests under the sheets , as he called them.

“Ok, we are getting nowhere and after this I have to go and try to stole a prisoner from my sister so my father actually realised I am the best out of the two of us. Maybe I will kill him, just in case he decides to speak well of Gamora. He won’t be the first idiot falling for her…wonder why” she reflected out loud while sitting down. “…what do you like doing?”

“What do you mean?” the younger lady was clearly perplexed by the question.

“What do you like doing? For example: I like fighting and not having useless conversations”.

“This is a useless conversation, and that is not something you do. That is something you avoid doing…wait, do you only like the stuff your father thought you?”

Nebula scoffed.

“As if you were any different, Miss Perfect Mantis Planet” Mantis lowered her eyes, and Nebula thought she had hurt her with a far too brutal honesty. Then, before she could even form an educated opinion whereas that made her feel good or bad, the other young woman kneeled on the floor and dismantled a couple of wooden panels, to show a complete painting set, showing drawings of faraway lands.

“When I was little, my dad was an ambassador and we travelled a lot . I wish I could travel again…I really don’t care where, though I’ve heard Seville in Spain is really nice and hot; I am tired of London’s clouds. I also draw; feelings, mostly. I just…put the colours where the feelings would go. Of people, or for people. I like to make people feel things ; like I make you be frustrated”.

This shouldn’t have been enough for Nebula to open her absolutely hardened heart but, here was the thing: she was so unused to people being honest without being scared of her, or purposely cruel to her, that the difference was enough for her to do something that would commonly be absolutely out of character for her.

“Yeah, you are pretty good at this…I…I might like when…when I got people that also want my classes, but the self-defence ones, the crap that is actually fun and not only for appearances. Especially when it is when actual kids, not like you, I…think I kind of like kids”.

“I do too, but at a distance. Except for the girl of my bodyguard. She is really kind, and strong. Maybe you would get along. See? They are here” she pointed at a painting of a very muscular man with a woman and child, not small by any measures either. It was painting in warm, peaceful colours.

“Wait, why is it in this colours? Your bodyguard is pretty infamous for his violent temper and this, this brings me…”

“…peace, I know. Because that is who he really is, but don’t get it mistaken: there is also some aggressiveness painted into it. The only reason you don’t get it is because it is already too deep within you, but, don’t worry. I think your palette wouldn’t be as violent as you think either. Maybe…yes, a lot of blue”.

“A lot of blue for the murderous ginger? Yeah, sure”.

“Yes, sure . Now, let’s talk illegal, it’s always fun” she sat somehow in an even more uncomfortable position and, holding her head in between her hands, asked “what was your favourite place to go drink while pretending to be within legal age? I need names”.

Nebula contained a cackle and answered. Perhaps, this class would be a bit longer than usual.

Back on the street, Nebula observed the panel with the name of the street in which the Planet Household was situated “Gunn Street”.

She let a sight scape. She would be walking around said street much more from that moment on.

[nuclearr-wessels]

‧⁺✧ Bugborg Week ♡°‧

title: One of These Days (link to AO3)

wordcount: 4,120

rating: T

tags: hurt/comfort, reunions, post vol. 3

Nebula has found the perfect way to cope with Mantis’ departure from the Guardians – only for Mantis to come back and ruin it all.

For @bugborgweek2023 ♡ Based on a Song: “One by One” by Cher.

‧   ──────────   ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆  ──────────     ‧

After the initial turmoil of the fight against the High Evolutionary, the days on Knowhere had simply melted into one another. Nebula was surprised by how quickly everyone adjusted to their new lives.

Rocket led the reformed Guardians on missions, aided by the Kraglin and Cosmo, who absolved everyone else of the task of repairing Knowhere. Time after time, Nebula was called to help with a technical problem. She didn’t mind making herself useful in this way, because her new duties did not really involve anything she was used to.

After only two weeks with the children, she and Drax had developed a more or less strict routine. She had not expected getting along this well with him. But it was still hard. Children were unpredictable. Some were mature enough to join Rocket soon, but others needed help understanding the simplest things. Or eating without throwing up every other day.

With all that going on, there was little time to mourn those they had lost.

Drax told her she was being unnecessarily dark. But to Nebula, the absence of her new family cut that deep.

She did try to reach out to Gamora from time to time. She also upheld communications with Quill on Earth.

From Mantis – she didn’t hear a word.

Keep reading

[bugborgweek2023]

The prompt for DAY FIVE of Bugborg Week is Based on a Song. Tag your posts with #bugborgweek2023 and/or tag our account, tag our Twitter if you're posting on there, and make sure to add your fics to the AO3 Collection.