AO3 Comments are SO SO SOOOOOOO important because you can only leave Kudos ONCE. You add to the hit count ONCE (every 24 hours).
So whenever someone updates their fic, the ONLY way an author knows who their regular readers are is if they comment on each chapter. And we WANT to know who's still reading.
Believe it or not, some of us think about the name that pops up constantly in the comments and go "omg I can't wait to see what they think of THIS SPECIFIC SCENE cuz I KNOW they'll say something about it!!!"
Wow, now there's a bot going around on Ao3 telling people that the "moderators" will delete works from "deprecated" fandoms and impose bans.
Fearmongering bullshit, but it's fearmongering bullshit that seems to be taking advantage of the recent spotlight series in order to trick authors into deleting their fics.
Just. Why.
What the hell does anyone get out of making these bots.
There's a theory already that this makes it easier for copyright infringers to steal fanfics because you can't prove the authorship of a deleted work.
This is pure evil
Spread the word
p.s. The comments look something like this:
p.p.s. There's no "new" policy that bans original works, either. Everything that was allowed, is still allowed. This is a "please read our TOS ffs" awareness campaign - not a surprise rugpull. Don't delete anything, please. It's an archive.
@ everyone: There is a bug on tumblr atm. BUT DO NOT PANIC!
Any post younger than 18-19 hours old is not showing up in tumblr's search function or #tags.
You can check this yourself if you try to search a word or check a tag:
If you're an artist or someone who posts written works I would hold off on posting content into #tags related to fandoms and such until this is fixed.
Yes, a staff member has been made aware of this issue and it has been passed onto the appropriate team to be looked into.
Note: This post will become un-reblogable when this issue has been fixed. If you can't reblog it, it's fixed!
Please share this post so those who see it on their feed what's going on and doesn't think they mysteriously got shadow banned or something else is going weird with their account.
If anyone wanders why it takes me so long to write, it's because I have 5 notebooks between all of them; and between them, there are 13 stories that I jump to and from.
Ogura’s Kimonos was a busy shop as they served all five islands that make up Inazuma.
And it was up to (F/N) to make sure that all orders were recorded, that those orders were completed in a timely manner, packed and shipped to the right destination and that all the payments had been paid.
So when it came closing time at the shop it was (F/N) who checked on everyone’s progress.
“You’re getting better, Naomi,” (F/N) praised her niece. “You’ll be an expert seamstress sooner than I expected,” She added.
Naomi’s eyes sparkled at her auntie’s praise.
“You’re not lying are you, Auntie (F/N)?” She asked.
“Of course, I’m not,” (F/N) reassured her niece.
“Hear that, Naomi?” Akiniko, Naomi’s father and (F/N)’s older brother said in a teasing tone. “You’re surpassing your Auntie’s expectations!” He exclaimed, scooping up his daughter into his arms and smothering her cheeks with wet kisses.
“Dad,” Naomi whined.
Since she was nearly a teenager, Naomi had begun to dislike any affection from her parents (especially her father) as she was a big girl now.
“Akiniko!” The voice of his father ran through the workshop. “Put Naomi down. We don’t you breaking anything again,” He reminded his son.
Akiniko did what his father had ordered him to do with a grumble.
“When are you going to forget that? I’d paid for the loom to be fixed. It’s been over a decade ago,” Akihiko grumbled.
Ritsu, Akihiko and (F/N)’s father gave the workshop a look over to make sure that everything had been cleaned and put away properly.
Once the room was up to his standard they could go home.
“We’re home!” (F/N) called out when she entered the house.
Even though she had made their presence known, there was no sound of tiny feet racing to greet them. But she could a lot of noise coming from the family room.
‘That’s strange,’ (F/N) thought.
Once she had removed her sandals (F/N) headed to the family room.
Heading towards the family room she could hear her nieces and nephews being more rowdy than normal but through the sea of noise, one voice could be heard.
“Hey! One at a time!” Thoma’s voice could be heard from inside the family room.
(F/N) opened the door to the family room to see said Mondstater who was currently being used as a climbing frame by (F/N)’s youngest nieces and nephew as her eldest nephew -Isao- pelt him with a thousand questions.
“Thoma?” (F/N) questioned his presence at her home.
“Oh, (F/N)-Chan,” Thoma said when he noticed her. “Welcome home,” He greeted her.
Before (F/N) could reply her younger sister, Asuka had appeared behind her.
“(F/N)-Oneesan!” Asuka exclaimed at her, slightly out of breath.
Asuka’s sudden appearance behind her sister caused her to jump in fright.
“Asuka! You shouldn’t-” But before she could finish (F/N) was already being dragged down the hallway.
“You have a guest!” Asuka announced to (F/N) as she pulled her sister down the hall.
Down the hall their father stood outside the small room that the family used as a tearoom, talking to their mother.
“Oh, there you are,” (F/N)’s mother sighed.
Her mother walked away from the conversation that she was having with her husband. Her brown eyes looked over (F/N)’s form, smoothing out any wrinkles in her kimono, brushing away any dirt on it and sorting out her messy hair.
“Mum,” (F/N) whined. “What’s this all about!?” She complained.
“You have a guest,” Her mother echoed what her sister had said.
Once her mother had tidied up her appearance (F/N) was spun around and was pushed into the tearoom.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Her mother apologized to their guest inside the tearoom.
A little bit disoriented from being suddenly spun around (F/N) could only make out a white blur by the tearoom’s table.
“That’s fine Emi-San. I did come a little earlier than I needed to,” The person waiting in the tearoom said.
Though her eyes might not be working properly at the moment but (F/N)’s ears were still working fine and she recognized that voice; though it had gotten a little deeper since the last time they had met.
“I’ll leave the two of you alone now,” Emi told them, winking at her daughter before closing the door behind herself.
It had been nearly ten years since they had last seen each other, and now here was Ayato Kamisato sitting so elegantly drinking tea in here, in her family’s home.
“Hello (F/N),” Ayato greeted her with a soft smile.
(F/N)’s mind stopped working for a moment. Seeing his face after so many years he seemed even more handsome.
When her brain finally rebooted (F/N) greeted Ayato.
“Good evening Commissioner Kamisato,” She greeted him with a full bow.
Ayato busted into laughter at (F/N)’s greeting.
It seemed when her brain rebooted it rebooted into customer service mode. Her face was burning from embarrassment and she didn’t want to face Ayato but she wanted to stand up straight again, it was also the only way to get Ayato to shut up.
“Shut it Ayato!” (F/N) told him with a brave but red face.
She strode past a still-laughing Ayato to the other side of the table. (F/N) sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea while she was doing that she refilled Ayato’s cap as well. And once he stopped laughing at her, (F/N) started to talk again.
“So why has the virtuous Yashiro Commissioner graced the Ogura’s humble abore today?” She quite sarcastically asked.
“Well, I came here today to ask you to be my wife,” Ayato told her, taking a sip of tea.
Upon hearing those words (F/N) regretted taking a sip of her tea. The tea ended up going up her nose and the only thing she could use to wipe the liquid running from her nose was the sleeve of her own kimono. Ayato watched the scene that was unfolding in front of him with an amused smile.
“You’re supposed to build up to a question like that!” She angrily stated to him.
“I don’t like small talk,” Ayato informed (F/N).
“But why now?” She asked him.
It had been a little over ten years since the two of them last spoke to each other. There had been no communication between them since the death of Ayato’s father. It was Ayato’s wish for them to stop talking to each other as he didn’t want (F/N) to be dragged into an inter-clan battle that would be ensured.
Ayato had told her once very had settled down but she was expecting a letter, not a personal visit from the Commissioner himself.
Ayato took a sip of his tea before he explained himself.
“Well, a little doggie told me that you had received a marriage proposal from a sailor the previous day,” He said.
(F/N) froze when heard Ayato’s words. She hadn’t told anyone about the accident from the previous day. If her father knew about the accident he would sent Akiniko to have a little talk with Yusuke Kaneko. But who was this ‘little doggie’?
‘There weren’t many people at the docks yesterday. The only people I remember being at the docks yesterday besides myself and Yusuke were the Dock Master and… Thoma,” (F/N) realised. “Of course, the Chief retainer of Kamisato Clan would tell his Master about a random sailor asking his beloved to marry them,’ She thought.
Ayato reached his hand across the table and placed it on top of (F/N)’s, interrupting her hysterical thoughts.
“Do you not want to marry me anymore?” He asked.
The inner turmoil that she was feeling suddenly disappeared. Butterflies filled her stomach, she could feel her cheeks becoming warm and found it hard to look Ayato in the eye. (F/N) manoeuvred her hand so her fingers were interwinded together.
“Of course, I want to marry you,” She told him. “I wouldn’t break our promise,” She softly smiled.
A kind smile adores the Commissioner after hearing (F/N)’s answer. He raised their joint hands facing him then Ayato placed a kiss on the back of her hand. The pinkness that was present on (F/N)’s cheeks turned into a light red at Ayato’s gesture.
“I guess I have to return home now and prepare everything for my bride’s arrival tomorrow,” Ayato mumbled against her hand.
Suddenly the moment that the two of them were having ended for (F/N) as she realised that Ayato wanted her to leave her family home straight away.
Ayato noticed the shift in (F/N)’s behaviour and inquired about it.
“You want me to move the Kamisato Estate tomorrow?” She asked.
“Yes,” Ayato confirmed. “Is there something wrong with that?” He question.
“Yes. If I were to leave tomorrow there won’t be anyone to run the shop,” She told Ayato.
“Couldn’t your older sister take over?” He asked.
(F/N) shook her head.
“Rei-Oneesan’s five months pregnant and she has two toddlers to look after,” She told him. “I would need to train Asuka or one of my cousins. The quickest I could do that is a month,” (F/N) said.
A silence fell between them. (F/N) watched Ayato as he thought over what she had just told him.
“Is there something wrong with that?” (F/N) asked him after a while of him thinking to himself.
“Yes,” Ayato said to her. “Having you outside of my direct care could pose a great danger to your life,” He told her.
All of the hairs across (F/N)’s body stood on end when she heard what Ayato had said.
“Is the Yashiro Commission still that dangerous?” She asked.
(F/N) knew that the Yashiro Commission had become a dangerous place after Ayato’s father’s death from the rumours that she heard, but she thought he would have dealt with that by now especially if he was bringing her into that.
“It isn’t much the Yashiro Commission these days but the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions and… outside forces,” Ayato informed her.
With those words, the room returned to silence.
(F/N) could feel Ayato’s fingers tightening around her’s. He must be scared-no terrified for her safety.
“As long as we don’t announce our engagement I should be safe,” She told Ayato.
The Commissioner pulled his face at (F/N)’s suggestion.
“And how I explain my visit today?” He inquired.
“You’re just here today to visit an old friend. I’m sure the people of Ritou still remember us causing trouble,” She chuckled.
A sigh left Ayato’s mouth. (F/N)’s idea was sound, everyone on Ritou knew that the two of them had been friends from childhood and he couldn’t allow one of Inzauma’s biggest kimono shop to be without someone running it. That could cause delays in kimonos being made, washed and mended if (F/N)’s father, brothers, uncles or cousins needed to run the shop until someone could be trained as her replacement.
“I guess there’s no avoiding it,” Ayato sighed as he took a sip of his tea.
(F/N) smiled at him. She could tell that Ayato didn’t like the idea but he knew that her family‘s business was important to her.
The Commissioner finished his tea before he stood up. (F/N) followed his lead and walked him to the door of the door of the tearoom.
“I guess it’s time for me to leave,” Ayato sighed, standing at the door. “I’ll send Thoma over to the shop to check up on you. And remember our engagement is a secret until you arrive at the Kamisato Estate in a month,” He reminded her.
Ayato turned away from (F/N) and was about to leave the room when he felt a tug at his arm. He turned back around to see (F/N) with an angry pouting at him.
“Is there something wrong?” He asked, a bit dumbfounded by her sudden anger.
“Yes,” She replied.
The Commissioner didn’t get a chance to react as he felt (F/N)’s arms wrapping around his neck, pulling his face down to her own. Their lips collided into a kiss. Ayato melted into the kiss. He moved to wrap one of his arms around (F/N)’s waist whilst his other hand weaved into her hair.
Their kiss lasted for a few minutes before they parted.
Ayato pressed their foreheads together as (F/N) cupped one of his cheeks with her hand, using her thumb to stroke his cheek.
“I’ve missed you, Ayato,” (F/N) whispered to him.
“I have to,” Ayato smiled at her.
He pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips before parting from his fiancee.
This time he when went to leave the room he wasn’t interrupted.
The two of them walked to the family room so Ayato could retrieve Thoma.
When the two of them reached the room it looked like Thoma had swapped (F/N)’s nieces and nephews for her sisters-in-law, who were currently teasing Thoma about how lucky his future wife would be.
“Such a lucky a woman, she would be. A handsome man who can cook and clean,” Nariko teased him.
“Not to mention he’s Head Housekeeper and Chief retainer of Kamisato Clan. He must make a lot of Mora,” Nozomi added.
All the sisters-in-law giggled.
“Thoma,” Ayato called into the family room.
The young man jumped up from his seat with a red face due to embarrassment.
Upon seeing the Mondstater’s state, a grin appeared on his lips but it quickly vanished as he remembered he was technically still in public.
“Are you ready to leave my Lord,” Thoma asked.
“Yes, I’ve finished my business here,” He told him.
The Commissioner and his retainer walked toward the entrance of Ogura’s house.
“We’re honoured for your visit today Commissioner Kamisato,” (F/N) bid Ayato and Thoma goodbye with a full bow.
“It’s good to see that you and your family are safe and in good health. Good night (F/N),” Ayato bid (F/N) goodbye.
(F/N) and her sisters-in-law waved goodbye to Ayato and Thoma.
Once the two of them disappeared into the distance, (F/N) closed the front door.
She then spun around.
“Father!” (F/N) called to him. “We have something to discuss,”
The day when the previous head of Kamisato Clan and Yashiro Commissioner died was the last time (F/N) saw her best friend and the boy she loved. She didn’t really understand at the time why he couldn’t make time for them to hang out. It was only when she took over running the shop from her sister did she somewhat understood how busy the Commissioner could be.
But, sometimes when finds a quiet moment to herself she lets her mind wonder what her life would be like if her friend’s father hadn’t died when he did and was still life now. Would they still be friends? Would they be more than friends? Or she would be in a situation where someone you barely know is asking you to marry them? Like what was currently happening to her.
Yusuke Kaneko, a sailor, seemed to be a nice boy but his presence began to creep (F/N) out.
“I’m sorry Yusuke-Kun, I can’t accept your proposal,” (F/N) told him as she cursed herself for cornering herself at the end of the docks.
The Ritou’s docks were a lovely place for to have lunch whilst reading her new light novel.
Yusuke’s face dropped when he heard (F/N)’s reply. His face remain calm but she could see the fury burning in his hazel eyes.
“Why?” He angrily asked. “I have a job, a house and even have some mora save up,” He ferociously ranted to her.
His sudden anger scared (F/N). She cursed herself again for isolating herself at the end of the docks. (F/N) began to eye the salty water beside her.
“Those things are nice but I promise my father I would marry for love and not anything else,” She told him.
It seemed like that comment had made Yusuke enraged.
“You rather marry for love than stability!” He raised his voice at her. “I’m sure you could learn to love me if you gave me a chance!” He shouted at her.
As Yusuke shouted he moved closer to (F/N), making her take a step back seeking to distance between them.
(F/N)’s (H/C) eyes darted to the sea debating whether or not she should jump into it to escape this situation. She was a decent swimmer.
“Hey! Are you listening to me!?” Yusuke yelled.
“Yusuke listen-” (F/N) tried to say Yusuke cut her off.
“No. You need to listen!” He yelled again.
“Hey! Everything alright here?” A cheerful voice called to (F/N) and Yusuke.
Behind Yusuke stood Thoma with his signature smile but he wasn’t giving off his usual warm aura, the air around him was tense.
“The Kamisato’s housekeeper,” Yusuke said but it came out like as a snarl. “What do you want?” He asked said the housekeeper.
Thoma continued to smile even if Yusuke’s attitude towards him was unpleasant.
“I was hoping I could pick up the new kimonos that were ordered for the state’s staff but Ogura-chan hadn’t returned from her lunch break and I didn’t want to disturb her father and brother from their work,” He explained.
“Oh! I’m sorry Thoma. I’ll be right there,” (F/N) apologised to Thoma.
(F/N) quickly gathered the remained of her lunch and light novel. She darted pass Yusuke, who tried to grab her arm but was stopped by Thoma’s spear.
“Thoma!” Yusuke snarled. “Don’t get in my way! We were still talking!”
The blond raised an eyebrow at the other man’s behaviour.
“In your way?” Thoma echoed. “From what I heard your’s and Ogura’s discussion was over,” He told Yusuke.
Yusuke growled at Thoma but allowed him and (F/N) to leave.
Thoma dismissed his spear not before giving Yusuke a stern look and then leaving the docks with (F/N).
(F/N)’s pace back to the shop was fast. Her heart was still racing from her encounter with Yusuke causing her to walk faster back to the shop with Thoma trailing behind her.
When they go to the shop (F/N) fished Obi and let her and Thoma into the shop.
Thoma shut the door behind them as (F/N) dumped her lunch and novel on the front counter.
“Are you alright?” Thoma asked her as he watched the young woman take a couple of deep breaths to calm herself down.
“I’m fine,” (F/N) told him once she clammed down. “And thank you for saving me from Yusuke,” She thanked him.
“No problem,” Thoma smiled. “What kind of retainer would I be if I allowed my Lord’s dearest friend to be trapped in that kind of situation,” He told her.
Thoms’s words caused (F/N) to blush a bit.
“ ‘Dearest friend’ ” She mumbled. “He still considered me as a friend even though we haven’t talked since he became Commissioner,” She added.
“Of course (F/N)-chan,” Thoma reassured her. “No matter how much time passes m’Lord will always see you as his closest friend,”
(F/N)’s flustered state became worst as the pink hue on her cheeks became red. Seeing the state that (F/N) ad become by his words, Thoma decide now was the best time for him to leave.
“Wait!” (F/N) called Thoma when she noticed him leaving.
The blond Mondstater stopped at the door of the shop. He looked over his shoulder to see (F/N) darting the shop’s front counter and out of site. Thoma stood there awkwardly for a moment before (F/N) came back with a couple of kimonos in her arms. The blond looked at the clothing with a bewildered look on his face.
“It would look weird if you came to get some kimonos and didn’t leave without any,” She grinned.
Thoma laughed.
“I guess it would,” He replied.
He took the kimonos from the arms.
“Just bring them back in a couple of days saying that they were the wrong size,” She told him.
(F/N) opened the door for Thoma.
“Thank you for choosing Ogura’s Kimonos,” She said to Thoma like he was any other customer, (F/N) even bowed to him like she did with all customers after they finished their business with the shop.
“The pleasure was all mine Ogura-san,” Thoma smiled. “Thank you again for providing kimonos for the Kamisato Clan and Yashiro Commission,” He thanked her with a bow of his own.
With the Kamisato’s housekeeper gone (F/N) was able to shut the door of the shop and let all of the attention that she was holding in. She pressed her forehead against the wooden frame of the door and let out a sigh.
‘I hope there are no more surprises,’ She thought to herself.
***
The sound of the door sliding open alerted Ayato to someone entering his office.
“I’m back m’Lord,” Thoma announced himself.
The blond kneeled in front of Ayato as the Commissioner finished his paperwork.
“Welcome back Thoma,” Ayato greeted him. “How was your trip to Ritou today?” He inquired as he continued with his paperwork.
Thoma placed his hand on his chin as he thought of a way to explain what happened today.
“Well, it was quite an eventful trip this time,” He said.
“Oh, really?” Ayato commented, not looking up from his work.
“Yes,” Thoma confirmed. “I met (F/N)-chan today,” He told his Lord.
Said Lord briefly stopped his brush when he heard the name of his beloved.
“You did?” Ayato asked.
A tiny smirk appeared on Thoma’s face when he saw Ayato faltered for a moment before he became serious.
“Yes,” He confirmed. “It seems like she likes to read light novels at Rituo’s docks whilst she having lunch,” Thoma told Ayato. “The docks don’t seem like a romantic place to proposal,” He added.
“What…?” Ayato looked up from his work.
“Oh, Yusuke Kaneko proposal to (F/N)-chan. He was adamant about getting her to say yes,” Thoma finished.
“Yusuke Kaneko,” Ayato repeated the name that Thoma said. “Isn’t he the one we suspect of being a Fatui informant?” He asked.
“From what I and Shuumatsuban could gather, yes,” Thoma answered.
The air inside Ayato’s office became suffocating.
What would the Fatui want with a shopkeeper? Whilst Ogura’s Kimonos were successful, they mainly catered towards the everyday people of Inazuma. It would make more sense for the Fatui to associate with Ogura’s Kimonos’ sister company Ogura Textiles & Kimonos which catered to more wealthy and influential clients.
Unless their targets weren’t the shop or their clients but (F/N), then the Fatui’s end game was him. Using one of the people he care for the most but the only person he didn’t have under his protection. He thought she would be safe outside the Yashiro Commission where many have tried to take his life.
‘I guess it’s time for me to bring her into my protection’ Ayato thought.
“Thoma,” Ayato called to his housekeeper.
“Yes my Lord,” Thoma answered.
“Clear my schedule for tomorrow afternoon,” He ordered.
“Of course my Lord,” Thoma confusedly said. “May I ask why?”
It’s you friendly neighbor fanfic author here. In the light of this apparent new trend of people feeding unfinished fics to AI to get an “ending,” and some people even talking about “blanket permissions,” let me just say this:
I EXPLICITLY FORBID ANYONE TO FEED MY FICS TO AI. DUDE, THAT IS ABOUT THE LEAST RESPECTFUL THING YOU CAN DO. IF YOU DO IT, SHALL YOU BE EXCOMMUNICATED FROM YOUR FANDOM AND WALK ON LEGOS BAREFOOT TILL THE END OF DAYS.
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