don't slow down.

stephanie!! (she/her) 30s. an absolute bisexual disaster. full of an unhealthy obsession with the raven cycle, rwrb, and bookish things. ao3: caterpills

[caterpills]

This Is More of a Comment Than a Question

Chapter 10 (of 10) - COMPLETE! | 94.1K words | Rated: M Read from the beginning on AO3

Summary:

Three weeks before Henry Fox's tour for his fourth, highly anticipated, awards-bait novel A Brief War in December begins, his publicist Janella breaks her foot on a bunny slope at Windham. Alex can't be mad at her, even though he kind of is. Saying it out loud would be like kicking her when she was down, and she already went down a literal mountain in the worst way possible. Now crammed in Rafael Luna's corner office, Janella is shooting Alex extremely apologetic looks while slumped on her crutches, wearing a bright orange cast. The conversation about who is going to be joining Henry Fox on his multi-city trek across the U.S. is also going downhill. Alex is feeling the same sort of free fall while standing still. Because out of all the publicists available in their tiny underfunded department, the only one left to escort their company's best-selling author is regrettably him. The problem is, well, Alex absolutely hates Henry Fox.

Or: Alex is the publicist for Mountchristen Publishers, and is stuck on a two-week tour with their best-selling, but frustrating, author Henry Fox.

If you like playlists for your fics, I've got one for you. And so many thanks to @jamieylnn for making me this header ilu 🥹

[caterpills]

HOLY SHIT.

CHAPTER 10 (The Epilogue!) is up - This fic is now complete and safe to binge!!

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

An even more exciting - @miharaikko made these LOVELY covers for Henry's book!! AHHH I scream!!

[azaablue]

the best fanfiction you've ever read was written by a woman in her 40s before she made dinner for her kids. it was written by a teenager after school when they should've been studying for a history test. and a barista came up with the idea while they cleaned the espresso machine and busser fact-checked it on their break and the post-doc edited between writing grant proposals and the nurse apologized for typos in the notes after a long shift and behind every drabble and one-shot and multi-chapter fic there is a person with a wonderful and interesting and chaotic life and it is such a privilege that we get to be apart of it because they decided to do this thing we all share, for fun.

[the-bar-sinister]

That fic you wrote?

The one about the ship no one else cares about, or the deeply unpopular character, or the extremely unusual AU?

The fic that got no comments or kudos when you posted it?

Months or years from now, that fic might be exactly what someone is looking for in the sea of fics about all the popular characters, ships, and AUs.

Your fic might be the only fic out there that has what someone is looking for. The only fic that scratches the itch that it turns out you and that reader share.

And that's awesome.

[marzelgrimm]

Stars, Skies, and Saturdays - Chapters 16 and 17 (NOW COMPLETE!!!)

Red, White, and Royal Blue | Rated E | Single Dads Alex & Henry | Fluffy Vibes and Happy Endings

Alex has the whole Cool Papi thing down. Sure, his son was bullied out of his old school just for wearing bright colors and nail polish. But Pablo's back to his usual, confident self, and Alex has found a way to balance home schooling with running his cafe. There's just two little tiny problems...

1) Alex is terrified about what'll happen when Pablo starts High School in the fall. So terrified he's gone to fuckin' Reddit for help. 2) He's just met Henry, a stupidly hot, incredibly smart, and genuinely kind single dad, and his daughter Emma.

Pablo and Emma become fast friends, and Alex feels immediately drawn to the Henry. But when a surprising past connection comes to light, Alex and Henry will have to find a way to nurture their blossoming romance while helping their kids adjust to big changes.

You can read Chapter 16 HERE and Chapter 17 HERE.

This story started as an outline for a 5k one-shot. And while I overshot that by 115,000 words, I couldn't be more proud of what it became. To all the endlessly wonderful and incredibly brave trans, non-binary, and genderqueer friends who inspired this story, I love you, I see you, and thank you.

Also a huge thank you to @jackzimmermemes, @exitariel000, and KnowledgeIsCake for beta-reading this and making it far better than I hoped it could be. Your wise words and giddy screeching helped me more than you know.

Finally, thank you to the people below for not murdering me for tagging them twice a week since the beginning of April. (Please feel free to ignore this as always)

@benwvatt @caterpills @dizzymisslizzie @jafffacakess @kategraves @miss-minnelli @onpurposewrites @run-for-chamo-miles @rileysrants @theprinceandagcd @youtookmethere @onthewaytosomewhere

[caterpills]

Happy 2 year anniversary ❤️

... to This Is More of a Comment Than a Question!!

Incoming me being a bit smooshy and ridiculous—

I started writing this fic (and fic in general) at a very low point in my life. Things were imploding in my social life, work was becoming stressful and uninspiring, and I was creeping toward a mental health spiral about where I was and what I was doing (a crisis, if you will.)

But writing always brought me joy. RWRB brought me joy. And there was all these pieces of my life and job and interests that did bring me joy. So on a desperate little whim I decided to do, what many writers do, and ask "what if?"

What if Henry was a bestselling author? What if Alex was a weary publicist? What if they were stuck on the road for two weeks, resolving their issues, expressing their grief, and falling in love? 

What if I could pour all my favorite things into one selfish story that I wanted to read and now would have to write? What if writing and stories could be shared with other people who wanted connection too? What if, what if, what if.

That kind of became the impetus for Comment/Question (or TIMOACTAQ, if you like keysmashes) and of Henry's book, A Brief War in December - what if? That carried me through every chapter, every sentence, every moment of writers block and every breakthrough in scenes, chapters, and delicate moments.

 Not only was it the biggest, longest, most intense thing I have ever written and completed, but it was also the most vulnerable.

Alex and Henry, I think, see each other in a different light, not because of what separates them, but what joins them together. 

There is a part in Chapter 7 (Tucson) that I love to quote because it's also my love letter to the fandom in those lines:

"There are people out there who will help you not have to do it all alone. You just have to find them…  Or sometimes they find you."

So thank you for finding me. Thank you for allowing me to find you through writing and fandom. This has been a very big shining moment in my life (and I do not say that lightly). Thank you for continuing to show up and share this piece of my heart, even 2 years later.

And maybe I'll finally finish that companion piece sitting in my docs. ❤️

[caterpills]

10 people (or less) you would like to know better

It's been a hot minute since I've done these, so why not? Thank you @alasse9 for the tag!! ❤️

Last song: Oooh, Fabulous by MEEK and strangers again by Matt Hansen

Favourite colour: Everything lately has been a minty or sage green. I don't make the rules, those are just what are the best.

Currently watching: NOTHING, no, I mean it. I play reruns of Dance Moms in the background while I work because there is something weirdly soothing about everyone else yelling.

Currently reading: SOOOO much. I just finished My Kind of Guy by Sarina Bowen and Dearly Departed (ARC!) by Chip Pons. Going to start Fake Divination Offense (another ARC) by Sara Raasch, and then who knows. My TBR is very long, and I've got Project Hail Mary on audio when I drive around next month.

Current obsession: Still obsessed with Heated Rivalry, I do love those hockey knuckleheads deeply.

Currently working on: Kind of depends on the day. Nothing actively, but I've put some words in some docs here and there. (Yes, I'm being vague because I don't want to jinx myself.)

Last google search: "Avon Winterguard 2026" - does anyone watch WGI Colorguard championships? I wanted to see what Avon was bringing this year! Avon didn't compete last year, but their 2024 routine was *chef's kiss*. And Woodland's 2025 routine was so incredible. Now they are BOTH competing in 2026, and I can't wait!!

Low-key, no pressure tags (from some recent tagged stuff!): @jafffacakess @jamieylnn @shesfromboston @marzelgrimm @songliili @onpurposewrites

[caterpills]

Not sure what to read after finishing Heated Rivalry and The Long Game?

I made a presentation about it, okay bye

[caterpills]

I have, indeed, updated this presentation. Always a work in progress as I read more.

[miplup]

we didn't even kiss

huevember 23/30

[caterpills]

Not sure what to read after finishing Heated Rivalry and The Long Game?

I made a presentation about it, okay bye

[anincompletelist]

slow burn | E | 33k

“We pride ourselves on being a supportive, tight-knit community here, Mr. Claremont-Diaz,” Srivastava says placidly, “which, conversely, really narrowed down our choices for part one of your research experience.” “And what might that be?” Alex asks. Srivastava’s head tilts, eyes slanting between he and Henry with as close to what he ever probably gets to modestly contained glee. “Enemies to lovers, of course.”

or, with both promotions and sanity on the line, henry and alex are tasked with being the test subjects for a social experiment in which popular romance tropes are put to the test. it works, and then it doesn't, and for however many books alex has erroneously judged by their covers, this one might just be worth getting lost in enough to keep.

+

written for @caterpills for @fandomtrumpshate 2025 !!! :D

[caterpills]

let the body keep the score

E | 10.3k | Read on ao3

🏒 one night stand + light angst + missed connections + hockey game = hea

Alex is lost. The next logical step would be to try to track him down, like, in person. But he’s not going to do that. That’s insane behavior. Those are the actions of someone who doesn’t know how to take a hint, even though Alex can’t scrub the words you’re incredible from his mind. He’s folded and refolded the note a hundred times in an effort to forget. James wouldn’t write that if he didn’t mean it. Right? But Alex is not, he is not, going to prowl around the city with irrational optimism that James will also be out on the same street. He's not that desperate.

Or: Alex's one unforgettable night with a mystery guy named James turns into a search across New York City to find him again. He's just missing a key few details along the way.

Had the absolute best time writing this fic for the @anywhere-with-you-event. There's firstprince, hockey, and just some "hollanov for fun". It's been over a year since I wrote and posted a fic, so I hope you love it just as much as I did writing it!

[solifelessblog]

Love between shifts

My piece for the @anywhere-with-you-event ! I had so much fun with the prompts i was given and in the end, it was the firefighter/paramedic AU the one that called me ❤️

You all should go and give a read to all the amazing fics in the collection!

Please reblog, don’t repost :)

[anywhere-with-you-event]

AUTHOR REVEALS!!

DAY 1 (LINK) maybe life really is serendipitous by onthewaytosomewhere(mae)

l'amour et la mer by PorcelainMortal

What Kind Of Magic Is This? by anyroomsrio

the (cat)astrophe of you and me by benwvatt

“So that’s why I could never walk in a straight line” - Alex Claremont Diaz by MyShipLife

When We Touch, We Are Caressing Stars by LK_42

knight in shining armour by buttercupkisses

code of conduct by thesleepyskipper

DAY 2 (LINK) rest on your patient lips by silvermaples

Let's Take This Offline by jafffacakes

and your eyes look like coming home by berrybluefae

Love, Royal Style by Romcomdeplume78

Haunting the Narrative by dwell_the_brave

Build Me Up, Buttercup by Lien_BE

Barking Up The Right Tree by KJBee81

Vitamin D by LouiKazooie

DAY 3 (LINK) Daydreams on Prince Consort Road by emmynotoscar

let the body keep the score by caterpills

Checkmate, I Couldn't Lose by marvelouslysherlockedhunter

life happens, coffee helps by glasshouses_and_stones

Loose Lips Sink Ships (All The Damn Time) by Lien_BE

Elevator Guy by DragonflyLady77

Wouldn't it be nice? by Luminous_Bluebell

Phantom of the Oxford Library by clockwrkpendrxgon

DAY 4 (LINK) waiting for you (to come home) by miharaikko

Tastes Like Forever by dani_dabbles

A Tinseltown Christmas by starry_pisces

No Split Ends by cmere

you're my craving by princebutt

all in good time by 14carrotgold

the constitutional safeguard of a flannel waistcoat by leiyth

Break The Ice Around My Heart by LadyKnightEllen

DAY 5 (LINK) The End of the End (We Live Again) by chamel

Dream A Little Dream Of Me by sillyberry

break my soul in two looking for you (but you're right here) by theprinceandagcd

benefits of finding yourself a gym buddy by onthewaytosomewhere(mae)

Welcome To Your Life (There’s No Turning Back) by MayQueen517

Shelved Hearts by unkn0wn_1o1

til the last drop by EmmaLostInWonderland

DAY 6 (LINK) Eleven Eleven by MarzelGrimm

Cups of Brew (for Me and You) by DezInTheCloud

A Saturday Night (or the rest of your life) by shesfrmboston

Dealer's Choice by bleedingballroomfloor

50 first dates by ninzied

love me 'til my heart stops (love me 'til i'm dead) by dreakawa

Love between shifts by Tsuwrites

DAY 7 (LINK) prima facie by 0npurpose

Mixed Up in Glass by happilyappled

One Month to Forever by quill_and_ink

somewhere to replace the time that we have wasted by darwinsfinches

Get my timing right by Luminous_Bluebell

totally, completely, definitely platonic by onthewaytosomewhere(mae)

constant as the stars by EmmaLostInWonderland

Crash Into You by High-Seas-Swan

(original posts for each day can be found by following the links)

[caterpills]

let the body keep the score

E | 10.3k | Read on ao3

🏒 one night stand + light angst + missed connections + hockey game = hea

Alex is lost. The next logical step would be to try to track him down, like, in person. But he’s not going to do that. That’s insane behavior. Those are the actions of someone who doesn’t know how to take a hint, even though Alex can’t scrub the words you’re incredible from his mind. He’s folded and refolded the note a hundred times in an effort to forget. James wouldn’t write that if he didn’t mean it. Right? But Alex is not, he is not, going to prowl around the city with irrational optimism that James will also be out on the same street. He's not that desperate.

Or: Alex's one unforgettable night with a mystery guy named James turns into a search across New York City to find him again. He's just missing a key few details along the way.

Had the absolute best time writing this fic for the @anywhere-with-you-event. There's firstprince, hockey, and just some "hollanov for fun". It's been over a year since I wrote and posted a fic, so I hope you love it just as much as I did writing it!

[onpurposewrites]

AWY GIFT EXCHANGE DAY 3

let the body keep the score

🏒 explicit | 10.3k | alex pov | here

🏒 hockey player Henry x lawyer Alex

🏒 one night stand + light angst + missed connections + hockey game = hea

[yrsonpurpose]

“You know the night of the draft, in that hotel gym?”

[caterpills]

Wrote a fic for the @anywhere-with-you-event and I am SO excited to finally yap about it on Tuesday after reveals.