#lullabyfineline

[firstdragonlady]

Chapter 80

“Mason!” Chloris groaned. “I am asking you to at least agree to making it look like we’re friends!”

“Best friends forever?”

“I am so close to knocking your teeth out.”

Johanna flashed her crooked teeth in a feral smile. “I’d like to see you try.”

I was gonna hold off for a true Happy Fine Line Friday, but I've kept you waiting long enough.

 I know it's been a while. I've spoiled you all with two years of regular weekly/bi-weekly updates and then I disappeared like a toxic ex-husband.

TLDR; and without getting into too much personal information, in typical AO3 author fashion, I was struck with some very unfortunate circumstances. I had a genuine and very scary housing crisis on my hands and a job crisis all at once (and some other stuff that I don't wish to divulge). Much of it is better now, but as I'm still catching my breath from the chaos, I can't promise anything regular again. Which sucks, I know, because we ARE so close to the end. I only ask that you trust my reassurance that the fic is not abandoned and that I will update when I'm able to breathe, put myself into this difficult world, and come to a resolution that I hope will be worth it to you all. I ask for your patience.

I'm truly grateful for those of you who not only stuck around for these 80 chapters, but also the unplanned and unwanted hiatus. And to my new readers, I'm truly grateful for you giving my enormous fic a chance, especially when the current fanfic culture is to not read anything that's a WIP.

You're all babes. Hopefully I'll see you sooner rather than later.

CW: This chapter contains VERY blunt discussion of this universe's human trafficking ring, discussions of SA (nothing graphic, but very honest), and trauma from SA. PLEASE read responsibly. This is not an easy chapter.

[firstdragonlady]

loving your fine line fic can’t wait to see what you come up with next 🥰🥰

Thank you, my love! It means the world when I get positive feedback :') I hope it continues to live up to your expectations!

[firstdragonlady]

Chapter 78

“Give me the prototype,” Haymitch ordered Beetee.

Beetee set about searching for the device. "Do you have anything I can adhere it to?”

“I don’t know, my fucking shirt?”

Beetee sniffed and grabbed the thin coiled wire from the top of his dresser. “Give me a few minutes, I’ll have it secured. Shirt off.”

“Hallelujah, something good about tonight!” cried Finnick with a little stationary hop on Johanna’s back.

“Get off me, asshole!”

Happy Fine Line Friday! Plans are kicking off :)

CW: This chapter deals with PTSD from SA and frank discussion of this universe's human trafficking ring. Please read with discretion.

[firstdragonlady]

Chapter 79

No preview this time :)

Happy Fine Line Friday! Hope you enjoy some more Haymitch/Seneca interaction. I do love to write their dynamic. >:)

Enjoy!

CW: This chapter deals with VERY blunt discussion of this universe's human trafficking ring and being drugged against your will. Please read responsibly.

[firstdragonlady]

Chapter 65

“I really don’t want to hear about you and the Gamemaker boning, princess,” Haymitch drawled as he strolled in the door with Hardy and Nell on his heels.

Oh, Effie simply wanted to die.

“Who’s Seneca?” Nell asked with a confused look between the two.

“My ex-boyfriend,” Effie answered at the same time Haymitch said, “An asshole.”

Happy Fine Line [Saturday]! So sorry this is beyond late.

I had to go back and rewrite a good chunk of this chapter because I'm having difficulties finding the balance of making the commentary I want regarding healthy sexual expression (in both teens and adults), re-finding what healthy sexual expression means, staying realistic about what these characters may be experiencing, and remembering that these characters are very, very young.

I hope I'm on the right track of not shying away from what's happening but also remaining sensitive to their age demographic (even though the demo for this fic is over 18). Any advice is much appreciated. I don't typically ask for constructive criticism because I'm a sensitive heaux, but I'll happily take CONSTRUCTIVE criticism for this chapter.

[firstdragonlady]

Chapter 77

No preview again. ;)

I don't even know what this update schedule is any more. We're just doing our best at this point now, LOL.

Enjoy!

(And welcome to some new readers! I see you!)

[firstdragonlady]

FL Chapter 49 (alternate)

Chloris groaned softly to herself and removed the silk sleeping mask covering her eyes. She flinched when illumination she didn’t expect invaded her pupils. Effie’s bedside lamp was still on. Chloris’s first instinct was that perhaps her best friend had needed to use the facilities as well.

That is, until she saw that Effie’s bed was still made to perfection.

She’d never gone to sleep. She’d never returned from her supposed phone call with her mother. It was almost two in the morning, and her best friend had never come back to their room.

And Chloris knew exactly where she was.

Happy Off the Line Friday! Sorry it's not a normal Fine Line chapter. I've no good excuse other than the fact that I have to fix a plot hole. That may take some time.

Anywho, enjoy an alternate chapter 49 to Fine Line, way back before I'd officially decided on Chloris Fernwood's role in the story. The fic almost turned out verrrrrry differently!

[firstdragonlady]

Chapter 75

Effie smiled sheepishly. “I’m a little antsy.”

“You don’t say?”

She stuck out her tongue. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous about everything. Hardy’s blowup yesterday, Johanna’s interview tomorrow, the whole test itself. I don’t like this limbo.”

“And you’re bored,” Haymitch pointed out with a smirk.

“Well, being in your company is a chore, I must admit.”

Happy Fine Line Day!

And so it begins. Mwahahahaha.

Enjoy!