May 4, 2025
Did I finally survive writers block? It's feeling more hopeful.
Decided to make some art for chapter 17 😏 which I have not posted yet. Thanks for supporting the story 💖💖💖
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Did I finally survive writers block? It's feeling more hopeful.
Decided to make some art for chapter 17 😏 which I have not posted yet. Thanks for supporting the story 💖💖💖
title may change depending on where i send the direction of the chapter, but i sort of have a plan for 17! i'm going for that delicious progress if i can.
I'm ready to write a furious Lan Zhan bc i've thought about this section for ages. Lan Zhan is just full of untapped righteous anger and i am hungry.
The Phoenix Project Final Chapter Preview
I can’t believe we’re so close to the end! Thank you so much to @crownofstardustandbone @therollingstonys for all of the gorgeous moodboards, and to all of you who read and gave me such awesome feedback! 💖
********
Making his way back down the hall, Peter paused outside the door to the master bedroom. From what he could tell, Dad was not pacing back and forth, which probably meant that he wasn’t quite ready yet.
“Yeah?” Dad said in response to Peter’s knock. “Who is it?”
“It’s just me, Dad. Can I come in?”
“Good grief, Pete, you know you don’t have to ask.”
Peter rolled his eyes as he opened the door. “Well, it’s not like I’m not gonna ask,” he said as he stepped inside, stopping short when he saw Dad sitting on the edge of the comfy armchair tucked into the corner of the room. He at least was wearing his shirt and pants, but his purple tie was loose around his neck and his suit jacket was still carefully laid out on the bed. He was leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees, and rocking slightly back and forth.
He looked, in a word, terrified.
“Dad?” Peter asked, his heart starting to thud. “Um… are you okay?”
“Huh?” Dad said, as if he’d just realised that Peter was there. “Oh, yeah, bud, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”
“Okay, but… what about?” Peter asked with a frown. “‘Cause it looks like you’re about ready to pee your pants or something.”
Dad shot Peter one of his goofy really? looks. “Spoken like a true adolescent boy,” he said, his eyebrows all scrunched together. “No, buddy, I’m not afraid in the slightest.”
“Yeah, right,” Peter said warily. “Nice try, Dad, but you’re not fooling me.”
Dad rolled his eyes, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “All right, fine. I am afraid. But not about the wedding.”
Peter breathed out a slight sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good. Then… what? What’re you so afraid of?”
It was several heartbeats before Dad could answer.
“I’m not afraid to have… all of this,” he murmured, his gaze firmly trained on the portrait of their family that hung on the wall over their bed, one that Papa had painted from a drawing that he’d given Dad right before the Phoenix mission. “I’m—I’m just afraid that now that I’ve got it… I’m just gonna end up fucking it all up again.”
Oh boy…
“Dad,” Peter said. “I really, really don’t think you need to be worrying about that. And you know it makes Papa sad to even hear you talk like that, so… why?”
“Yeah, I know it does,” Dad said with a sigh. “And I can’t stand that sad face of his. Makes me wanna cry whenever I see it.”
“Then… don't be thinking like you’re thinking, and he’ll have no reason to make it,” said Peter. “Right?”
Dad lifted his head, attempting a smile. “Sure, bud. No problem.”
Aaarrrggghhh, Peter thought, biting back his frustrated groan. He and Dad had just had an entire conversation about this very thing the night before, when Dad was tucking Peter into bed. Papa had asked him to sleep apart since it was the night before their wedding, apparently because it was some old tradition or something that Grandma had mentioned. And while Dad had agreed to it, Peter knew it had thrown him a bit more than he’d wanted to let on.
Unlike Papa, Dad was very good at hiding his emotions. But even with his mask firmly in place, Peter could still see right through him.
“You’re not Grandpa, Dad,” Peter said gently. “And you’re not gonna fuck anything up, so—”
“Whoa, young man!” Dad exclaimed with wide eyes. “That’s a pretty grown up word coming out of such a young mouth!”
“Mmm,” muttered Peter. “Yeah, okay, but you get what I mean, right? Papa asked you to marry him because he loves you, and wants to be your husband. It’s really not anymore complicated than that.”
Dad sniffed, swiping at his eyes as he chuckled. “Yeah, bud, you’re right. I’m just being stupid.”
“No, you’re not being stupid, Dad, you’re just… afraid. And it’s okay to be afraid as long as you don't let it control you. Isn’t that what you and Papa tell me every night?”
“Yeah, yeah, something like that,” said Dad. He pushed himself up to his feet, clearing his throat as he looked Peter over. “How in the hell did you get to be so handsome, hmm? Weren’t you just about yay big only a month or so ago?”
“Not quite, Dad,” Peter said with a smile. “It was more like nine weeks ago.”
That finally got Dad to smile. “Oh, yeah. That makes more sense.” He stepped back, checking Peter over from head to toe. “You sure clean up pretty good though, bud.”
“Yeah, must be a Stark thing,” Peter said, holding up his camera. “You mind if I get a few pictures? I already took some of Papa.”
“You did?” Dad asked eagerly. “How’s he look?”
“Amazing,” Peter said with wide eyes. “Like, you’re probably gonna stop short when you see him. Make that silly ga-ga face and everything.”
“Well, that won't be anything new,” answered Dad. “The man is about as perfect as they come.”
“Yeah, and he thinks the exact same thing about you,” Peter said firmly. “He’s even told me so. You really have nothing to worry about, Dad. I promise.”
Dad’s lower lip started to tremble, and he caught it between his teeth. “Well, if you’re saying it, then it must be true,” he whispered. He brushed the hair from Peter’s forehead, pressing a kiss there. “I s’pose it’s time to head downstairs now?”
“Yeah, just about,” answered Peter. “Can I get some pictures first, though?”
“Sure, bud. Where do you want me?”
“Well… how ‘bout how you were sitting when I first got in here? he said. “When you were being all contemplate-y and stuff? That’s how I got Papa too.”
“Contemplate-y?” Dad said, smirking as he sat back down. “Is that even a word?”
Peter laughed, raising his camera. “Eh, I guess it is now.”
The full chapter will post on Monday, July 20th 😊
2893 words on the newest chapter of Ghost of Mine so far... after i finish my nap, i need to push for more progress today! i don't think i will be able to do everything i want to do before the end of sunday, but still gonna push.
reading what is essentially a book, editing that said book, then also finishing a chapter and art...that doesn't seem...entirely possible. LMAO
it's a shame though because i'm a big fan of the coming chapter despite its slow progress on writing and me feeling like its gonna need a lot of rework after writing. i am always eager to show chapters even if they aren't done yet XD
anyway, i can't remember if i've shown any previews for this chapter besides the first line, so how about it? let me gather a few- oh also i changed the chapter title from "baby of mine" to "barriers" since the chapter subject matter changed. there are multiple meanings behind the name that i hope you guys understand when reading the chapter.
That's all for now, there isn't much i can share from this chapter cuz i'm avoiding spoilers haha!
enjoy ❤
wanna see more GOM or other projects in MDZS i am working on? Check it out here on my master post.
another day where i've managed to start making progress that isn't super slow!
maybe it's all the support you guys give me ❤ thank you so much for expressing how much you love, read, or look forward to my fic! those comments really make me happy, i love every single one.
Chasing Demons Chapter 17 Preview
Behind? Catch up HERE 😊
With a heavy sigh, Tony carefully turned a coffee-soaked page of one of the notebooks, rereading the section he’d been studying and comparing it with one of the files that Peter had decoded. Peter had mentioned a semi-enhanced person who he believed could run at almost supersonic speeds, and while the file he’d decoded didn’t mention that skill specifically, it did make sense given what had happened up at the Compound.
“JARVIS, pull up the footage from the defence drone that fired at the Compound, will ya?”
A second later his monitor lit up, displaying what appeared to be nothing more than a sharp gust of wind followed immediately by the drone shot, followed by another strong gust.
Tony tapped his chin. “And that was it, J?”
“Yes, sir. There was nothing else.”
“Ah huh. And what do you think? You think it looks like a person in there?”
There was a short pause, and Tony could almost imagine JARVIS tilting his head in thought, if in fact he had a head.
“Judging by the displacement of the surrounding leaves and grass during the incident, it would appear to have been caused by a human,” said JARVIS. “However, if that is indeed the case, he or she was too fast for me to visualise.”
“Hmm. Well, maybe that explains why HYDRA hasn’t tried to invade the Tower just yet if their fastest guy got scared off by the drones,” Tony muttered. And, since the drones around the Tower had a range long enough to target Peter’s school, that could also help to explain why they hadn’t gone after him yet either.
Which was obviously just fine by Tony.
“JARVIS, do me a favour and start scheduling regular diagnostics on the drones, all right? Let’s say every three hours? I just want to make sure that nothing goes wrong.”
“Very good, sir.”
“And make sure that at least two are specifically assigned to Pete whenever he’s out of the Tower, all right?”
“Yes, sir.”
Tony pressed his palm to his chest, the cool metal of Steve’s dog tags against his scarred skin sending a light shiver down his spine. The fact that the drones had not only surprised HYDRA but also managed to scare them off couldn’t be just a coincidence, and it also likely meant that wherever they were holding Steve was currently out of the firing range of the drones, both at the Tower and Compound and those mounted on the Stark Industries building in D.C.
“JARVIS, pull up a map of the coastal U.S. areas, yeah?”
A second later a holographic map of the U.S. Eastern Seaboard appeared, the Compound, Tower, and D.C. buildings highlighted in red.
“All right,” Tony said as he circled the hologram. “Now show me the areas that are in the targeting range of the current drone system.”
Green circles appeared on the hologram, encompassing most of the New York and Maryland coastlines.
“Okay,” Tony said slowly, thinking. If he were able to double the targeting range of the drones, it just might be enough to get HYDRA out of some of their foxholes and into the open, especially if they were forced to move Steve because of it.
Hmm...
“JARVIS, show me what it would look like if the targeting range was doubled?”
The circles grew to include most of the New England coastline, along with all of Maryland, Virginia, and a good portion of the North Carolina coastline.
Well, it’s a start.
“Ah uh. And how long would it take to double the range on the current drones?”
“Am I to assume that you are not interested in replacing the drones, but rather upgrading them?” JARVIS asked.
“Yeah, that would be a valid assumption,” answered Tony. “A software upgrade instead of hardware.”
“Very well. Then I am estimating it would take one week’s time to complete the upgrade on all units, if in fact it is your desire to not deactivate them while they are being upgraded.”
“Again, you assume correct,” Tony said with a sigh. “We can't afford to have any of those things offline for even a second, you got that?”
“Duly noted, sir,” said JARVIS. “Shall I get started immediately?”
“Ahh, you got Rhodey’s new suit done yet?” Tony had already upgraded his own armour since Steve’s arrest, as well as the rest of the team’s equipment and increased the number of the Iron Legion suits from twelve to twenty. He wanted to make sure that the team was as well-equipped as possible when it came time to storm Steve’s prison.
“Barring interruption, Colonel Rhodes’ armour will be completed at approximately 1800.”
“And you’ve finished all the diagnostics on the new Iron Legion suits?”
“Indeed I have, sir,” replied JARVIS, and Tony almost smiled at the UI’s indignant tone, so reminiscent of the human Mr Jarvis.
“All right, then as soon as all the diagnostics on Rhodey’s suit are done, get started on the drones, yeah?”
“Very good, sir.”
“Thanks.” Tony ran his fingers down his unkempt goatee, trying to concentrate on the fact that they were going to find Steve instead of the possibility that it might take another week, or even longer.
Hold on, honey, he thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. It was definitely time for more coffee.
We’re coming for you babe, you just gotta hold on.
The full chapter will post on Monday, January 6th 😊
The Phoenix Project Final Chapter Preview
I can’t believe this is the final chapter! 😮 Thank you so much to @crownofstardustandbone @therollingstonys for the gorgeous moodboards, and to all of my awesome readers! 💖
*******
Making his way back down the hall, Peter paused outside the door to the master bedroom. From what he could tell, Dad was not pacing back and forth, which probably meant that he wasn’t quite ready yet.
“Yeah?” Dad said in response to Peter’s knock. “Who is it?”
“It’s just me, Dad. Can I come in?”
“Good grief, Pete, you know you don’t have to ask.”
Peter rolled his eyes as he opened the door. “Well, it’s not like I’m not gonna ask,” he said as he stepped inside, stopping short when he saw Dad sitting on the edge of the comfy armchair tucked into the corner of the room. He at least was wearing his shirt and pants, but his purple tie was loose around his neck and his suit jacket was still carefully laid out on the bed. He was leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees, and rocking slightly back and forth.
He looked, in a word, terrified.
“Dad?” Peter asked, his heart starting to thud. “Um… are you okay?”
“Huh?” Dad said, as if he’d just realised that Peter was there. “Oh, yeah, bud, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”
“Okay, but… what about?” Peter asked with a frown. “‘Cause it looks like you’re about ready to pee your pants or something.”
Dad shot Peter one of his goofy really? looks. “Spoken like a true adolescent boy,” he said, his eyebrows all scrunched together. “No, buddy, I’m not afraid in the slightest.”
“Yeah, right,” Peter said warily. “Nice try, Dad, but you’re not fooling me.”
Dad rolled his eyes, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “All right, fine. I am afraid. But not about the wedding.”
Peter breathed out a slight sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good. Then… what? What’re you so afraid of?”
It was several heartbeats before Dad could answer.
“I’m not afraid to have… all of this,” he murmured, his gaze firmly trained on the portrait of their family that hung on the wall over their bed, one that Papa had painted from a drawing that he’d given Dad right before the Phoenix mission. “I’m—I’m just afraid that now that I’ve got it… I’m just gonna end up fucking it all up again.”
Oh boy…
“Dad,” Peter said. “I really, really don’t think you need to be worrying about that. And you know it makes Papa sad to even hear you talk like that, so… why?”
“Yeah, I know it does,” Dad said with a sigh. “And I can’t stand that sad face of his. Makes me wanna cry whenever I see it.”
“Then… don't be thinking like you’re thinking, and he’ll have no reason to make it,” said Peter. “Right?”
Dad lifted his head, attempting a smile. “Sure, bud. No problem.”
Aaarrrggghhh, Peter thought, biting back his frustrated groan. He and Dad had just had an entire conversation about this very thing the night before, when Dad was tucking Peter into bed. Papa had asked him to sleep apart since it was the night before their wedding, apparently because it was some old tradition or something that Grandma had mentioned. And while Dad had agreed to it, Peter knew it had thrown him a bit more than he’d wanted to let on.
Unlike Papa, Dad was very good at hiding his emotions. But even with his mask firmly in place, Peter could still see right through him.
“You’re not Grandpa, Dad,” Peter said gently. “And you’re not gonna fuck anything up, so—”
“Whoa, young man!” Dad exclaimed with wide eyes. “That’s a pretty grown up word coming out of such a young mouth!”
“Mmm,” muttered Peter. “Yeah, okay, but you get what I mean, right? Papa asked you to marry him because he loves you, and wants to be your husband. It’s really not anymore complicated than that.”
Dad sniffed, swiping at his eyes as he chuckled. “Yeah, bud, you’re right. I’m just being stupid.”
“No, you’re not being stupid, Dad, you’re just… afraid. And it’s okay to be afraid as long as you don't let it control you. Isn’t that what you and Papa tell me every night?”
“Yeah, yeah, something like that,” said Dad. He pushed himself up to his feet, clearing his throat as he looked Peter over. “How in the hell did you get to be so handsome, hmm? Weren’t you just about yay big only a month or so ago?”
“Not quite, Dad,” Peter said with a smile. “It was more like nine weeks ago.”
That finally got Dad to smile. “Oh, yeah. That makes more sense.” He stepped back, checking Peter over from head to toe. “You sure clean up pretty good though, bud.”
“Yeah, must be a Stark thing,” Peter said, holding up his camera. “You mind if I get a few pictures? I already took some of Papa.”
“You did?” Dad asked eagerly. “How’s he look?”
“Amazing,” Peter said with wide eyes. “Like, you’re probably gonna stop short when you see him. Make that silly ga-ga face and everything.”
“Well, that won't be anything new,” answered Dad. “The man is about as perfect as they come.”
“Yeah, and he thinks the exact same thing about you,” Peter said firmly. “He’s even told me so. You really have nothing to worry about, Dad. I promise.”
Dad’s lower lip started to tremble, and he caught it between his teeth. “Well, if you’re saying it, then it must be true,” he whispered. He brushed the hair from Peter’s forehead, pressing a kiss there. “I s’pose it’s time to head downstairs now?”
“Yeah, just about,” answered Peter. “Can I get some pictures first, though?”
“Sure, bud. Where do you want me?”
“Well… how ‘bout how you were sitting when I first got in here? he said. “When you were being all contemplate-y and stuff? That’s how I got Papa too.”
“Contemplate-y?” Dad said, smirking as he sat back down. “Is that even a word?”
Peter laughed, raising his camera. “Eh, I guess it is now.”
The full chapter will post on Monday, July 20th 😊