#btbask

[okamirayne]

Hi Rayne! Saw a cool post you reblogged about word count and fanfic writers writing longer works than lots of known fiction writers and I was trying to guesstimate what BtB series would look like printed out in book form and I think my brain broke, becauuse looking at word count on ffnet (like way over 1 million words) it’s like hella long girl! Can you estimate??? Oh and huge Congrats on that, Rayne!! ❤️

Hey there, Anon!

😆 It’s so funny you should ask this. My darling, talented, and incredibly thoughtful friend, who is currently transcribing BtB into German, sent me a printed copy of part of the first German BtB instalment (Break to Breathe) a few months back. She inspired me to get the entire series printed for myself as something to have and to hold when feeling low and disconnected, to help me through the hell of this current burnout…to remind me of what I can produce and absolutely will produce once again when I finally find the right way to crawl my arse out of the hellpit. 😭

So yes. ☺️I can do better than give you a guesstimate, my curious Anon! I can show you what the series looks like.

Bear in mind there are a few chapters missing from Heaven Hold Us as I’d added more to the fic after publishing these. This really put things into perspective for me.

Disclaimer: these print versions are for my own personal keepsake. I’m not in any way advocating selling or profiting monetarily from writing fanfic — unless it’s to donate the money elsewhere.

Aww! Thanks for the ASK and the sweet congrats. 💜 Much appreciated! 🤗

[okamirayne]

Hello! Peace .

So ... I was passing by and thought about asking you about your update of thé btb. Are you progressing ? If so how many chapters we should be expecting for heaven hold us?

And your about your original work, what is thé name of your novel?

Thanks for answering.

Hey there, @shindo18kun !

Thanks for stopping by and dropping me your ASK. As for asking how Heaven Hold Us is progressing?

I’m currently passed out with burnout at the wheel of the BtB crazy train. But thanks for showing support!

As for my original works, I’ll post up any and all updates regarding them in the near future. Really appreciate your interest, luv! 😘

[okamirayne]

Rayyyne! Re-reading Requiem and UtS and zomg, just want to clarify if it’s true; does Genma have a crush on Kurenai? 😍 and Did Asuma know?

Anoooon!! 😆

[...] does Genma have a crush on Kurenai?

That’d be Genma’s reaction to that question... but I can do you one better with a definitive YES. A wee bit more than a crush.

Did Asuma know?

No. Thank goodness. Else he might’ve showed up at Genma’s all....

Thanks for the Ask, luv! 😘

[okamirayne]

Lmao I apologize if this is a weird ask but where did you get the idea for genma and kakashi being kinky af

Wellllll....

Ha. Great question. One person’s sexy fun times kink is another person’s unresolved emotional trauma. 😂 Nah, seriously though. I write a lot about warrior archetype characters and one thing that comes up with some of said OC characters are similar dynamics tested out in BtB between those males experiencing semi-masochistic or aggressive/control tendencies — or who just plain like it rough. Naturally some of this has tamed between Kakashi and Genma, certainly compared to their insane ANBU days, where the death drug was cut with rough sex (life-affirming at the time) and mixed into a dangerous combination...which also changed over time as emotions got involved. Also, depends on your definition of kinky — Kakashi’s craving for intimacy (sublimated into the novels he reads) translates to wanting to hear his lover speak during sex — particularly Genma, as he knows Kakashi’s mind about as well as his body. Hope this makes some kinda sense? 🤪 Thanks for the question Anon!

[okamirayne]

hi! i wonder if you’ll continue heaven hold us? because i’m getting kinda... anxious? for whatever happens to my shikaneji boys 😅

Hi Anon!!

I’m afraid I can’t make any promises or predictions as to when I have time, space and mind-fuel enough to continue Heaven Hold Us — unlike the former instalments, it wasn’t started with a set end-goal in sight but, more as a shout out to those who so kindly continue to support and review my work, and encourage my madness 🤣 Which reminds me! I owe personal responses to reviewers on Ff.net who’ve kindly left me feedback for the recent two chapters! Just in case any of you are seeing this! I haven’t forgotten you!! 😘

Given that my focus is predominantly on my original works, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me...I’ve taken on something huge and crazy big in scale....it demands blood 🩸 and maybe some cry-baby bitch tears 😭 for kicking my mental ass so thoroughly into a very particular shape — when I world hop back into the BtB-verse it’s like rearranging my brain.

I always remain open to inspiration and time, and I always hope to surprise readers by shooting off surprise chapters whenever I’m able. Unfortunately the guarantee isn’t in my hands like it was with the previous instalments.

Thank you for taking the ride! I’m really happy to know you’ve invested interest in the BtB craziness! 💗

[okamirayne]

Hello! I hope you and your loved ones are well in this difficult time 🙏 You might have answered something like this before but I'm so curious about Neji and Shikamaru's relationship post U.T.S and pre H.H.U. Did they get to try normal dating and being a couple? 💕

Hello my sweet,

Thank you for your warm wishes.  All ok at my end, I’ve been very blessed and lucky.  I truly hope that you and yours are safe and well? <3

I'm so curious about Neji and Shikamaru's relationship post U.T.S and pre H.H.U. Did they get to try normal dating and being a couple? 💕

As always, so many potentials for one-shots (which I really need to learn to write...seriously, I SUCK at these). I can tell you that “normal” was never going to be part of their dynamic, given the demands of their world, plus their attempts to keep their relationship private.  Their stolen moments were everything to them.

With what time was granted to them before The War, they certainly made the most of it. 

[okamirayne]

i have to ask, if it's not going to be a spoiler, what's shikamaru's infinite tsukuyomi dream in the btb series? can we assume it differs from canon 👀

Hello my dear Anon!

Spoiler potential, so can’t reveal too much but you can bet your flaming horses that it DEFINITELY differs from canon 👍🏼 It centres around....

And of course...

[okamirayne]

how do you think asuma would have reacted to shikamaru and neji's relationship? your whole series is so turbulent to say the least, im really interested in what you think

Hey Anon! Thanks for your patience as I get round to replying to messages. Hope you’re safe and well!

Ah, our dear Asuma 💔

By the end of BtB (1st instalment) Asuma knew there was a significant “he” in Shikamaru’s life and while he was initially shocked he wasn’t in any way against it. He’d have been unsurprised to discover it was Neji, as he knows Shikamaru’s mind and its need for mental stimulation in a relationship—not too many can keep up.

Despite knowing this, it didn’t stop Asuma from continuing to tease Shikamaru about Temari, as he also acknowledged his student’s attraction to her.

Asuma, being extremely private himself (given how hush-hush he kept his relationship with Kurenai) would never have pushed Shikamaru to talk about it or reveal it unless concerned for his wellbeing. He loved Shikamaru, would’ve supported his student’s choices and it would’ve eased Asuma’s mind to know there was someone else there for Shikamaru both willing and able to “chase him down”. 😊