#nanocrymo25

[k-itsmaywriting]

nanocrymo25 day 29 (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

31,065 / 50,000 (62%)

EXCERPT:

He looks back to Agate, sitting right by his side, and at his easy smile beneath the warm light of the bar. At his hand that holds his glass, large and calloused where it's wrapped under new green gloves. And Loewe feels…comfortable. Safe. Being with him, even as his breath catches a little in his throat as he looks at him. It's more than the understanding, and the grief, and even the friendly competition.

It's…

[sabraeal]

NaNoCryMo 2025!

It's getting to be that time of year again: where I hang up my fic writing for a month and go all-in on my original writing! For the whole month of November I'll be aiming to but 50K on the project I worked on last year, and maybe even stitch up all the bits that have been floating around between drafts for YEARS. I'll probably have a few fics coming out here and there, but I'm expecting I won't be back to my regular posting schedule until January!

However, this month I'll be reblogging a few ask games about OCs and worldbuilding to set me up for success in November! If you'd like to help out, please feel free to participate-- the more asks I get, the more I have to think about how this story will come together! All these posts & their answers will be tagged: #nanocrymo and #nanocrymo25 if you'd like to follow along (or miss them entirely!)

Misery always loves company, so I'll also be dragging a few friends along with me, so if you'd like to help them out too, please feel free to pop by and give them some asks too:

@infinitelystrangemachinex @kirayaykimura @ccprovolomies @k-itsmaywriting

[infinitelystrangemachinex]

Nanocrymo 2025 Day 1

1,819/50,000

Best work:

The men were half in metal, still reflecting twice as much stuffy gray cloudlight and boasting half as many nicks and bits of rust as any brandy-bellied lout of a catchpole could ever dream to afford in this village. Long, wide tassels fell from beneath the half-armor nearly to their ankles, switching between old red and warm dun, and they wavered and parted and swung together when the men shifted their legs uneasily. The boy was wrapped in a bedsheet. She stuck a finger in one of the men’s faces. “You’d better dress that poor child better, or it’ll be all over town tomorrow that some half-naked infant caught his death on Goody Goda’s doorstep, and wouldn’t everyone love one more excuse to gossip and whine about just what I ate to keep from starving during you boys’ war. Hmph.” “Goody Goda?” The soldier did not sound interested. Interest was hard to come by when you crossed the waters of ninety, not even interest in the secret to such an elongated life, because when they looked at you and saw how it was, they promptly didn’t want one for themselves anymore. “The house of Ama Goda in Shulya?” “Who’s asking?” The hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and not because the air reeked of lightning.

[k-itsmaywriting]

nanocrymo25 day 18

18,739 / 50,000 (37%)

EXCERPT:

Loewe has burst into laughter now. He's stopped walking just to laugh, holding his stomach as he doubles over. And the sound punches Agate in the chest so hard that his mind goes completely blank. He doesn't remember the rest of what he was going to say. It's weird - so, so weird - to see him laugh like this. He doesn't even feel embarrassed about the story anymore.

A wave of emotion crashes into him now. He doesn't know what it is, and it's too much. There's grief in it, but also relief and gratitude all at once. And something else that he can't quite place.

Dan's voice rings in his head now. You're angry because you care about him.

Agate can't even find it in himself to laugh or shout about it. 'Cause, shit, maybe he was right after all.

[k-itsmaywriting]

nanocrymo25 day 17

16,560 / 50,000 (33%)

EXCERPT (minor Sky SC / 3rd spoilers for the 3 Ravens):

"Would you mind doing me a favour?" Jean asks on the other side, in that distinct way where Agate knows there is actually no room in his request to say no. "We've had some new recruits sign up for junior bracer training, and I think they would love your help."

Agate narrows his eyes. Something's fishy. "Not that I'm saying no, but is Carna not around?"

"She is, but trust me," he says, and he can hear his smile through the phone. "You'll want to be the one to do it."

And that is how, by the afternoon of the very same day, he gets to watch Deen, Rais and Rocco's faces shift from bright-eyed hopefulness to sheer dread just by walking into a room.

[k-itsmaywriting]

nanocrymo25 day 2

4,043 / 50,000 (8%)

EXCERPT [CONTAINS HELLA TRAILS IN THE SKY FC/1ST CHAPTER SPOILERS]:

The Divine Blade is much more chipper than Loewe ever expected.

As he gushes on about the many achievements of his children, he thinks he suddenly understands a little more how Estelle used to be. Despite his own accolades and great feats, he sounds no different from any other ordinary, doting father, and Loewe finds himself indulging him with a constant stream of rushed nodding, despite having heard all the stories already.

He is only half-listening to his rambling when Cassius Bright says, "You should be proud of the person Joshua has become."

It gives Loewe pause. He looks up at Cassius' face. His eyes have the same shining determination that Estelle's do, though it's much more matured and graceful in his years of age.

"I am," Loewe says plainly. "And I thank you for guiding him as much as I thank your daughter."

Cassius hums in thought, crossing his arms and raising a hand to his chin. "Estelle certainly wasn't kidding when she said you're deflective."

"Truthfully, I fail to see why. You two were the ones who took him in and treated him like family. It is how he was able to have hope again, after the kind of childhood he went through. There is no denying this fact."

"But so did you," says Cassius, his voice suddenly firm. "During the darkest hours of his life, you were there. You made sure he was safe, and that he had a means to survive. It is only because of you that Estelle and I could meet him at all."

The words sit heavy in Loewe's chest. "I made someone a promise, that's all."

Cassius smiles, something sad in it. "I do hope that one day you will learn to show yourself just an ounce of compassion, and truly understand what you have done for others."

[k-itsmaywriting]

nanocrymo25 day 27

28,280 / 50,000 (57%)

EXCERPT:

The two of them circle around to the back of the house, where Dan opens the junction box and makes a show of snooping around it. "Hmm, nothing seems to be wrong here. How strange. Could a monster have chewed on one of the wires?"

Agate looks around. The sun has only just set, so it isn't quite late enough for the nocturnal monsters to become active. And he doesn't hear any scurrying or buzzing. Not to mention Dan and Tita are both terrible actors. "What's going on?" he asks.

"Oh well," says Dan, acting as if Agate hadn't said anything at all. "Maybe it's something inside the house. Why don't we head back?"

They return to the house, and Agate notices along the way that the lights are still off, but someone must have found a lantern or something. Agate opens the door first, stepping inside and—

To his horror, Tita begins to sing. "Haaappy biiiirthdaaay toooo—"

Oh, Goddess, no.

The rest of the family joins in the song. Dan singing behind him, Albert in the kitchen, and Erika mumbling next to him.

Dan pushes Agate inside as the lights turn on again. Tita walks up to him with a small cake, covered in cream and decorated with strawberries that, he realises, are arranged to resemble the shape of his hair, while a face that he assumes is his is drawn with a thin line of chocolate.

[sabraeal]

World Building Questions

All of these are taken from the 2025 version of one of my favorite world building challenges: World Anvil Summer Camp! No graphic this year, unfortunately, but they still released the list!

A myth about a legendary food or drink.

A substance known for its unique smell.

A profession related to spirituality or philosophy.

A charity dedicated to helping those in need.

A ritual related to agriculture.

A species that feeds through a symbiotic relationship.

A condition you can get from eating specific foods.

A delicious staple found on every table.

A city many people want to visit.

A place people aren't supposed to go.

An organization rooted in controversial principles.

A myth surrounding the birth of an important person in your world.

A character known for their numerous progeny.

A foundational document for a country, religion, or other organization.

A garment traditionally associated with a culture.

The place of origin of a people in your world.

An ancient tongue from which many common idioms spring.

A war that resulted in the creation of something new.

A symbolic building.

A diaspora spread around the world.

A settlement that has been rebuilt several times.

An ever-changing location that requires its inhabitants to adapt.

A subculture that appeared due to social changes.

A transformation caused by a celestial body.

A formation known for its adaptability.

A technology invented to prevent or delay a transformation.

A ritual that has changed meaning throughout the years.

A species that undergoes a metamorphosis.

An animal celebrity.

A job many people aspire to but few achieve.

A recently created title or honor.

A building that hasn't been finished yet.

A visionary that changed the course of history.

A new condition unknown in olden times.

A cutting edge technology expected to change the future.

An idealist manifesto published by a movement, political party, or other organization.

An organization seen as the next superpower.

A vehicle hailed as the transport of tomorrow.

A resource with an alternative or secret application.

A tool used by a nomadic culture.