#twc ava

[auggiepierce]

feeling better and better about my Avas

[wayhavenmemes]

[nevira-names]

AAAA ITS FINALLY DONEEEE

i was going to do a late wip wednesday post but instead i locked in and finished ava's (belated) birthday short i've been working on ^^

uncreatively named "Birthday" lol

word count: 686

time period: early relationship

***

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday today?"

Ava finds herself avoiding Lark's questioning gaze, unable to bear the hurt look on their usually stoic face. It's the small things that always seem to get to them the most; not the kidnappings or facing down death, but the fact she hid her birthday, or that they still don't know her favourite food.

"It never came up," she lies. The truth was that she forgot, and when she did remember — briefly — she felt…guilty. After hiding for so long, pushing them away, withholding anything that might make them feel endeared…how could she tell them now?

Lark touches her elbow, staring up at her through their eyelashes, still patchy from old habits. Their brows are pinched together in a way that might look frustrated or disappointed if it weren't for the faint pout on their lips, something Ava has the sudden desire to kiss away.

"Don't lie to me, Ava. Not now," they caress her skin when they speak, the action bringing her no small amount of comfort. Her own hand flexes with the effort it takes to hold back from grasping their waist.

Still, she doesn't look at Lark when she speaks, "We've known each other too long, now. It felt…"

"Weird?"

"I suppose."

They sigh, somewhere between sad and amused, before they slide their hand up her arm, gently grasping the back of her neck, forcing her to meet their gaze. The corners of Lark's eyes crinkle faintly, their effort to express an emotion in a way they don't quite know how, and it takes Ava a moment to realise it's something akin to exhasperatuon.

"I'm here now," the words are half-whispered, like a promise. "You don't have to keep hiding."

Their thumb rubs circles into the sensitive skin at Ava's nape, slowly easing the tension in her shoulders. She hadn't even realised she'd stiffened up, too preoccupied with the pain that had flickered across Lark's features to notice.

"You're far too kind to me," she murmurs, pressing her lips to the crown of their head and slowly filling her lungs with the smell of their shampoo. It smells of eucalyptus and fresh plants she's never witnessed with her own eyes. Underneath it all is the earthy, rusty scent of their blood, intoxicating as ever, flooding her nerves with warmth.

"I know," Lark's reply is less spoken, more mouthed into the skin at her collar, "…so tell me more. Something small. Stupid."

"You asked for my favourite food a week ago. It's…" she takes a breath, feeling their thumb stroke her hair, "it's vegetable stir-fry," a faint smile curves her lips, "I like more natural flavours. Earthy things."

Ava's partner pulls away just enough to look at her again, gazing up at her softly before leaning up to kiss her on the mouth, long and slow and sure. She finds her heart twisting with warmth, hands gentle where they rest around their waist.

"Thank you," they press their forehead to hers, closed eyes doing nothing to hide the shimmer of tears in their lashes. For a frightening moment, she's afraid she's done something wrong, upset them in some way, until she sees Lark's face twitch into a half-smile, "for letting me in. About the little things, not just the big."

She kisses their eyelids, lips barely brushing their skin, feeling them sigh and sink into the touch, "I'll make you some tonight, thaisce."

Treasure. Lark told her what it meant once, and it still spins in Ava's chest, nestled behind her left lung, beating beside her heart. She's about to tell them they don't need to do that for her when they shift closer, tucking their head beneath her chin as if their body was made to fit against hers. Suddenly, she can't bear to tell them no, not when they speak so earnestly, delighted by every little fact they learn about her.

Besides, it's not like the thought of the detective cooking for her didn't make her stomach flutter. Even if it was only for special occasions.

"I think I'd like that."

***

starting a taglist 👀: @serenpedac, @redhead-mess, @kurczakmarty, @mornynge, @agentnatesewell, @carriehobbs, @turtleybeachin (as is traditional, just ask to be added/removed)

[crownleys]

I am waaaaayyy late to post this, but this was @nat-seal-well's most recent Ko-fi subscription reward! Who doesn't love a menswear Ava.

[kdelarenta]

the rest:

[nevi-after-dark]

thinking about that body hair ask from ages ago where sera said unit bravo doesnt really have body hair

and most of us just went "no, give morgan a happy trail, and give ava a bush"

[delucadarlingwriting]

Summer In Wayhaven 2025 - Ice Cream

While the game overall is still very much in progress, I have AT LAST, finished Nat and Kira's date. From start to finish, there is probably...3 minutes of game play I'd wager. Funny how much time goes in and how little seems to come out >:T

But here it is! In all its glory. Follow that link to my itch.io. The game should play in your browser, and it's been pretty mobile friendly according to my play tester fiancee.

I've had to rejig some planning, as I realized in finishing up Nat's portion, doing Ava next will be much easier than starting Felix. So my current intentions are to 1) squash any bugs people find in Nat's route 2) create all assets for Ava's route 3) make the events and cutscenes for Ava's 'date' 4) rinse and repeat for Felix (though his date has most of the needed assets already) 5) same for Mason

I suspect I won't really have time to do anything more than Ava before my work schedule really starts ramping up next week, so we'll have to see if Felix and Mason even get made. Cross your fingers!

Thanks again @summerinwayhaven for putting this event on! It's a lot of thankless work, so I want to express my true gratitude that you took on running this event!

[vanillanjin]

good evening, A-mancer detectives! this you? 🫵