Welcome to Janu-beary, a collaborative fanfiction effort - with additional art! - intending to create a cohesive NSFW fic for our beloved bear~
You can apply to join now! The form is for both writing and art contributors, and you are more than welcome to do both if you like!
All the details are at the head of the form, but you'll find the basic details below. You can also save and edit the form as needed until the closing date!
FORM CLOSES:
SUNDAY, 21st SEPTEMBER
Approximately Midnight PST, UTC -8
This is the Contributor Application for both Writers and Artists to join the Halsin Fic Collab!
Once the proposals have been gathered, we w
WRITERS
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You can submit 3 (or more!) pitches for characters you would like to write with Halsin - we will choose one writer per character based on the pitches. You do not need to give any writing samples or prior experience, all writers are very welcome!
Your final pieces should aim to be between 2,000 and 5,000 words long, though this will not be particularly strict as long as the piece doesn't run too long and is able to match up beginning and end with the pieces before and after in the order. We'll work this out with you once the pitches have been accepted!
ARTISTS
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You can let us know which characters and topics you do/don't wish to work with, so once the writing pitches have been chosen we will pair you with a piece that best fits your preferences. Unfortunately we will not be offering standalone art as the idea is to have a cohesive story, but you could make art to go with your own writing, or apply alongside a writer who you'd like to work with if you wish.
DEADLINES
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To release in January for the event, we will ideally have all written pieces finalised by the end of November to give us time to ensure everything is ready for the release schedule. Artists can be a couple of weeks later to allow more time as we understand there can be a delay in deciding the layout and scene based on the fic as it's written.
RELEASE
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We plan to release the fic one chapter per day on AO3 from the first of January until they're all out - there won't be any other versions of the publication, it will only be on AO3.
This is not a zine, but a collaborative creative work-
Hi folks! Contributor apps for Baldur's Gate: A Hallo-zine Special are now open.
The zine will have two sections: Trick for horror-focused content and Treat for tamer Halloween fun. Each section has its own application, and we are looking for artists, virtual photographers, and writers. Previous zine experience is not required!
Pairing: Astarion x Lily (Female Tav/ OC)
Summary: It's the night before the final battle. Lily tries to calm her worries, away from her companions, but Astarion knows that the last thing she needs is to be alone. (Some angst and lots of fluff, cause honestly these two are in dire need of a hug).
Word Count: 1.2k
a/n: Since I began my first bg3 run I've written little scenes like this one about my tavs/ durge, to build up an idea of their personality and mostly as a creative exercise, meant just for me. But thanks to the BG3 2025 Creative Challenge by @tavyliasin, I decided to share this snippet of a shot that has been living for a long time in my notes; so I hope you guys like it!
Lily stood at the kiosk near the docks; the night was warm and the sky was clear, her eyes focused on the moon reflection over the tide. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of the waves transport her back in time, to those days when she used to spend hours on the shore, playing with the waves or digging for treasures. She tried to remember the faces of the couple who took care of her during those happy years, but the image slipped away, leaving unrecognizable silhouettes, as it always did.
She opened her eyes and sighed in disappointment, then leaned her elbows on the handrail and watched the boats rocking in the distance. The sound of soft footsteps approaching from behind brought her back to reality, she turned over her shoulder to meet Astarion’s worried expression.
—Is something bothering you, darling?
Lily replied with a half-smile, she didn’t have the strength to disguise her uneasiness, so she returned her gaze to the ships dancing under the moon.
—I needed some air... and one last image of the good things this city gave me.
Astarion came up beside her and leaned his hips on the handrail, keeping his back to the sea. The druid could feel his gaze calling to her, but was reluctant to let him catch the worry in her eyes. He looked around slowly before speaking.
—I must admit, looking at the illuminated streets again has brought up a nostalgic feeling, especially under the threat that they could disappear at, well, any moment now.
Lily bit the inside of her lips; the final battle was imminent, she could no longer ignore the pressure in her chest, that had been latent since they discovered the true extent of what was unfolding.
—I’m not going to force you to discuss the matter, but I can see that it pains you… all of us, clearly.
She sighed again and looked down at her hands, her fingers fiddled with a bumpy edge on the wood.
—You’re not alone in this, you know that, right?
The serious but affectionate tone he used only further fueled the firestorm of insecurities in her mind.
—Of course I know that, that’s part of the problem.
She replied more sternly than expected. Astarion’s gaze still pinned on the crown of her head.
—Dear, look at me. Please?
At the unusualness of the last word, Lily finally looked up; his features were rigid, it was clear he was also trying to contain his emotions, but a drop of sadness tainted his eyes.
—You reminded me that we can’t let our lives be ruled by fear, not anymore, not after everything we have accomplished.
She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself, but tears welled up in her eyes; the elf’s gaze softened when he noticed them.
—None of what you have achieved has been a matter of luck, now more than ever you must let go of these doubts....
Astarion took one of her hands and caressed her knuckles with his thumb in consolation. Lily looked down again, unable to hold back the tears rolling down her cheeks.
He released her hand to lift her chin, guiding her face so that he could look into her eyes once again. The cold and soft touch of his skin as he wiped away her tears was comforting. Lily intertwined her fingers with his caressing hand and in a catlike fashion, used his palm to stroke the side of her face, losing herself to his touch, while trying to soothe her sobs.
Astarion placed his free hand on her back, where he drew small circles, as he used to do when she laid on his chest at night. He had never told her, but the knowledge that a simple touch from him could ease her ache, made him feel powerful and loved, in all the right ways.
Upon the display of affection, Lily finally broke down and threw herself into his arms; he held her tightly to his chest. She buried her face into the ruffles of his shirt, where she continued to cry silently, aware that if she tried to speak, only a painful cry would come out of her throat. Astarion allowed her to sob on him without making a move. When her crying began to calm down, she felt Astarion’s careful strokes on her back, guiding the rhythm of her breathing; Lily tried to follow them, but the pain in her chest wouldn’t cease.
—I’m afraid. I don’t want to lose anyone... I can’t... I can’t bear that, not again!
She admitted at last, her voice so rough and full of despair, that sent a shiver down his back. Astarion placed his chin on her head and pulled her body as tight as possible, showing he was still there.
—I won’t let that happen... I too can’t afford it, my love.
He replied in a mournful voice. The Druid slipped her arms under his and held his shoulders with her hands, her fingers almost digging into them, in a desperate attempt to hold onto the hope his embrace offered. He deposited a soft kiss on top of her head, then loosened his grip to meet her gaze. This time she didn’t resist, she needed to sink into the red ocean that nourished her soul in ways she’d never experienced before.
Again, he wiped away her tears, before beginning to trace her face with his fingertips, as if trying to memorize every line that composed it. Lily closed her eyes to let herself be carried away by his touch. His fingers outlined her lips gently a couple of times, before moving down her neck and sneaking around the back of her head. When she opened her eyes, she was met with an intense stare.
Slowly and without breaking away from her gaze, he brought his lips to hers, brushing against them, clearly enjoying the closeness of the touch, but a little hesitant to kiss her. Through that gesture, Lily understood that as much as he also needed her close, it meant that this could be their last kiss, their last touch, their last everything.
Before the druid could finish processing her feelings, Astarion’s lips opened slightly over hers, forcing her to mirror his movements. He kissed her slowly, his lips trapping hers in a loving embrace, savoring each movement. His hands roamed down her arms until they rested on her hips. Lily ran one of her hands up his neck to hold his nape and pulled him closer; a single tear rolled down her cheek as her fingers tangled in the elf’s soft curls. She was afraid to let go, if they were to perish in this city, she needed to hold on to the last good thing here, the one thing that forced her to push towards a new tomorrow, the light she didn’t know she had lost until it glimmered at the end of the tunnel.
Slowly they broke away to look at each other. Both with a bittersweet mixture of endearment and uncertainty filling their pupils.
—Whatever awaits us, we will face it together. That’s a promise.
Astarion whispered, as if it were their secret. Lily nodded with a sad smile.
—Till the end.
She whispered back before Astarion pressed his forehead against hers. They stood in this position for a while, soaking in the sound of the tide and the early morning’s breeze.
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