#faerynova

[snoozedraws]

usually i stick to fandom circles on tumblr and oh my god ive never followed an artist for original content so fast in my life. im in love with briar. your lineart is so crisp i want to shove it in my mouth. cant wait to see what you do with a comic!!

AUGH THANK YOU T_______T genuinely that means so much to me and im soooo incredibly glad you enjoy briar!!!!

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 2: The Fall of Amity Park)

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

Pariah Dark is nothing like the ghosts that have invaded Amity before. Not even the Knight can compare to the overwhelming sense of pressure and dry heat that Pariah fills the air with, enough that Valerie’s hands shake for reasons that have nothing to do with her injuries no matter how much she might wish otherwise. If there’s any consolation, and there can be no mistaking how hollow a consolation it is, it’s that the Phantom seems just as affected. Its edges pulse, shivers of visibility running up and down them, and despite the growl rising in its chest Valerie can see how its claws tremble. She regrets that she ever had any reason to meet the predator strong enough to intimidate the ever-eager Phantom this way.

Things go from bad to worse.

This chapter contains some gore (really the only instance of it in the fic, but it's very present at the end) so read the chapter note.

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 12: The Way Forward)

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

It’s no small miracle that Valerie and Danny actually get most of the day to clean themselves up and relax. Their only interruption is the Box Ghost (Val is unsurprised at this point to learn Danny actually calls it- him- Boxy), and they don’t even transform for that, much to the other ghost’s annoyance. The day is largely spent in the small movie theater tucked away inside the Manson residence, playing Mario Party and then Smash Brothers. Danny never brings up the way Valerie went berserk, and she never invites him to. She does fire a low-power ectoblast at his shoulder from a few seats down when he steals a star from her, though, mostly to stop his giggling. It’s nice. She can’t remember the last time she felt at ease like this, even with everything unknown and terrifying lurking in the shadows of her thoughts. Sam still glances at her sideways sometimes, and Jazz sneaks worried glances when she thinks Val isn’t looking, but her thoughts never feel as intense as they did when she was looking out for the Phantom in every dark corner.

And so we reach the end.

This was my first time writing in this fandom, and my first creative event in general. I had an absolute blast. I owe no small amount of that to my partner, who remains the incredible Fae. Without her art and ideas and support for my own ideas, I would've never gotten so much writing done for this story.

Considering what I originally had to work off of was their comic, which wound up in Chapter 6, they enabled me to really go nuts figuring out how things got to that point, what happened to Valerie, why Danny was nearby to swoop in and catch her, all of it. What wound up coming out of our wild brainstorming is nearly 40,000 words and an AU that I'm hardly feeling done with. Even just letting her in on who Phantom is changes Valerie's trajectory wildly, and putting her through the wringer like this even before Danielle exists means that a lot of things are dramatically changed. I wouldn't be satisfied without exploring some of that, and I can blame the inspiration on Fae and the event organizers and the momentum on the incredibly lovely and fun comments you guys have been leaving.

Seriously, thank you so much for your encouragement and appreciation throughout posting Dying To Know You! Go check out Fae's other works (and mine if you like Outer Wilds, I guess?), and keep an eye out for the continued adventures of our two beloved half-ghosts sometime soon! Stay hydrated, take your meds, eat something, you know the drill!

Until next time, take care of yourselves!

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 3: The Phantom)

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

“You look like hell, little brother.” Danny doesn’t know how she can tell. Aside from the obvious injuries, the cuts and wounds that bleed luminescent green sludge, even he’s never really been able to make out exactly how badly he’s been beaten up until he changes back. He manages a weak shrug, though, because she’s absolutely right and no lie can possibly convince her otherwise. “M’already dead. Help her first.” Based on the way Jazz’s eyes soften, that may not have been exactly the right thing to say. Stupid, he realizes, that was stupid, she hates it when he reminds her. He swallows the acrid taste of worry that rolls off her along with the guilt that wells up in him and thanks the stars above that she doesn’t press the issue, instead letting go of him to look at the Huntress.

Our one and only Danny POV for this fic!

He was tremendously fun to write, as much as I enjoy writing our stubborn Huntress. Nervous sapient thunderstorm boy.

Speaking of fun to write, Jazz appears! As an only child her dynamic with Danny is the sibling relationship ever, to me.

Fae continued to absolutely blow it out of the water with the art. Like, have I mentioned how much I adore what they put together for this fic? Because it's awesome.

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 11: The First Fight)

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

As Danny dives in with his claws, Valerie briefly considers her options. When she fought as the Huntress, she was never prone to getting too close. Ghosts were too strong, too durable, and all of her best weaponry against the stronger ones relied entirely on her skill with a blaster in her hand. Better to stay at range and use the tech in the suit to her advantage than to put her human body up against a ghost’s strength unnecessarily. A good strategy, in hindsight, considering that being forced into close range is part of what ultimately killed her. But she’s so much more than just human, now, isn’t she? The battle cry that escapes her as she plunges toward Skulker from above is somewhere between a thrilled yell and a roar. Even Danny startles at it. Skulker looks up just in time to catch Valerie’s elbow in his face, and he screeches, swatting at her with both hands and making her dart away through the air.

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 6: The Revelation)

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

There’s something so freeing about being in the air, even if her board flexes a bit where it used to be so rigid. She will never admit it, not to anyone, but there’s times where she envies the Phantom and the other monsters she chases through the sky. The way they twist and move with complete freedom, as though gravity is a mere suggestion and wind resistance an empty threat, is undeniably appealing compared to the reliance on her board she currently has. Still, she guns the board’s engines and streaks across the city and feels a little bit like herself again for the first time since she’d fallen on that football field. It’s a pretty significant distance from okay, given the angry determination that simmers in her blood, but it’s better than stewing in her own failures.

Halfway point!

Holy shit, this chapter has a big moment in it, and it's captured in the comic that originally served as the submitted art for the event. And what a comic. As soon as I learned that I had pulled this from the magic event hat, it had my brain buzzing. Fae's got an awesome ability to capture emotion through framing, facial expressions, and color- and then, on top of that, the dynamic motion of the middle of the comic? Incredible. I'm so excited to finally get to post this one, y'all. Please enjoy.

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 4: The Aftermath)

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

Val shrugs, using the motion to test her bandaged shoulder. Slight pain but no real resistance outside of the bandages. Good. She doesn’t miss how the redhead’s eyes snap to that same spot for a moment, though if Jasmine has any thoughts on Valerie testing her limits, she keeps them to herself for now. “You’re Danny’s sister, right? Jasmine?” “The one and only. I prefer Jazz, though.” Valerie nods, and Jazz gestures at the overwhelmingly pink decor. “It’s not exactly a five star hotel, but I hope my room’s been comfortable enough. We didn’t know what else to do when Phantom showed up holding you in his arms three days ago.” Ah. Huh.

Back to Valerie's POV for the rest of the fic! She is what you came for.

Y'all. The dynamic that evolved between her and Jazz makes me so happy. Jazz's protectiveness over Danny versus her worry over Val's condition is just so warm, especially from Valerie's point of view.

And then Fae dropped the art for this chapter on me and it's so soft, I love it so much.

[fridurwrites]

Ecto-Implosion 2024 Fic: Dying To Know You (Chapter 10: The Witching Hour)

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

Danny holds his hands up non-threateningly and shrugs. “This happens to me every night around this time, and I kinda thought it would probably catch you too. Sam thinks it’s because of the witching hour.” “The what.” “Witching hour. Supposed to be the time of night supernatural stuff is most active.” “Which is why I feel like I downed some of those crappy gas station energy shots.”