YAY what a fun trip down memory lane -- which is making me realize how long it's truly been since i watched either of these shows! so this is far from definitive but from memory paired with a little bit of going through my tags:
top 5 bughead scenes
1x10 hand kissing moment at pop's
1x06 first kiss
3x16 "seventeen" duet or 3x16 trailer burning car makeout, i can't decide
2x12 reunion
1x13 "believer" scene bc sry but iconic
top 5 nace scenes
4x03 epic first real kiss
1x14 library scene that made me first start shipping them
4x13 curse is broken scene/kiss
1x15 ace drinking possible poison bc he trusts nancy scene
⭐️ for the fanfic director’s commentary - story and section of your choosing!
ps: I hope you feel better ❤️🩹
Fanfic Director's commentary asks
⭐ select a section you've been dying to talk about.
Ok I'm gonna take this opportunity to be slightly self indulgent and talk about all of the little scenes from Second Spin. Because 1) each one is only a paragraph long and 2) I'm really proud of this fic and I put a lot of thought into each of those scenes and the little details in them even though they are so mini. (Already realising that the commentary is probably gonna be longer than the fic is that embarrassing? Lol)
- Sam and Suzie Heizer (song: Creed - With Arms Wide Open) - so I wanted to open with a scene to connect directly to the quote that inspired the whole fic - and I also knew that I wanted this one to be quite lighthearted and it end with the song actually not being one either soulled or soulless Sam enjoy - Sam because it's connected to an embarrassing memory and Soulless just cause he thinks it's cheesy. I just thought it was a good initial way to show how their perspectives diverge - soulless remembering the events and emotions connected to each song but no longer *feeling* them and presenting each memory quite matter-of-factly. Having Soulless use the word "tits" in this scene I think establishes that it's his voice right away - I personally can't see Sam using that word if he were recalling the same memory. Something something a slightly more deanish turn of phrase something something changed proximity to masculinity. I also just wanted to capture the awkwardness of hormone fuelled teenage car sex lol. In this case I thought of the scene first and then looked to find a song that would have been popular in the year the scene took place that would be embarrassing to come on the radio the first time you have sex with someone you've been crushing on for weeks. And I do feel like a Christian soft rock power ballad about finding out you are gonna be a dad fits the bill!
- Flagstaff (song: Peter Gabriel - Digging in the Dirt). This was the second scene I wrote but the first one I thought of I just really liked the idea of giving a little backstory to the events immediately preceding Sam running away at Flagstaff. I'm very much a believer in the idea that Dean was hitting Sam long before we first saw him do so in the show - it's so clearly already an established dynamic and Sam has clearly already normalised it pretty bad by the time of Bloodlust. I thought the idea of some of the impetus for Sam running specifically at Flagstaff being that Dean had hit him and it being a time before that became just "part of their dynamic" was a nice little subversion/commentary on "and when dad came home" and the conclusions/emphasis a lot of the fandom puts on that line. I also wanted to make Dean hitting Sam be over something that was a thing that kids might hit eachother over but would usually be put a stop to and the behaviour curtailed in the presence of a parent - building off something I did with 'Rabbit' of dynamics that can form in the absence of adult intervention and an inherent power imbalance. John sending Dean home and going off lone-wolf on a hunt and Dean being pissed about it feels like a very real thing that probably happened on occasion - and I like to think about a part of Sam thinking "now you know what it's like to be dumped on your own all the time". Again in terms of establishing Soulless as the narrator I tried to keep the recollection neutral in tone to really contrast with the idea that this was surrounding a memory so important to Sam that it was in his heaven. Another one where the scene came first and the song second but this was very much a song that I already had on my list of Sam songs/songs Sam would listen to. And again made sure it was something that might have plausibly been on the radio in a convenience store in year the scene is set.
- Bus to Stamford (song: Fleetwood Mac - Landslide) this was the first scene I wrote and one where I came up with the scene and the song to match at pretty much the same time. I mean Landslide playing whilst you are setting off on your own to try and start a new life is maybe TOO on the nose but it was also too beautiful an image to me to pass up. It's one of the shortest scenes but I think it gets across a good amount in that space. I particularly liked the line " I remember she smoked the same brand as Dad, the smell, it was the closest I ever came to turning back" because at least to me I think it can be read two ways. Either as the smell was so disgusting it made Sam want to leave the bus. Or as the smell for a fleeting second made him miss his dad so much he wanted to go home. To me it's both at the same time. Soulless in this comments on what he percieves as Sam's insecurity which in my head I kinda tie into his derision of Sam as a "misty eyed milksop".
- Sam and Ruby in the Impala (song: The Captain and the Hourglass). Straight up the song choice for this one is part of my ongoing quest to establish Sam as a fan of Laura's music as part of the canon of all the fics I write lol. Partly because she's my favourite musician of all time and I selfishly want Sam to share a love of her with me. But also because I do really, genuinely think he would like and get a lot from her music. And that also it would very much be something that Sam listened to when Dean wasn't around because it's so very much NOT Dean's taste. This one I wanted to show Soulless being able to have more clarity on the noncon aspects of Sam and Ruby's relationship than I think Sam would ever be able to fully process - much in the same way Soulless has significantly more clarity about the panic room. Have him aware of the power dynamics at play as well as Sam's underlying motivations re using the demon blood and Ruby's understanding of that "she made me feel in control of myself in a way I never had before. And completely at her mercy".
- Sam's first gig (song: Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love). Since this one was being placed in the penultimate spot I wanted to bring a little levity again which I hoped would also then make the final scene hit home harder (evil grin). I just loved the idea of Sam and Dean sneaking into a bar and seeing a really shitty Led Zep cover band, you could probably write a whole fic of that and it would be DELIGHTFUL. I think my favourite lines in it are "we’ve probably got some kind of World Record for bad cover bands by now. They’re like roaches, everywhere, and hard to kill." I just feel so certain that Sam and Dean have in fact seen more terrible tribute bands in terrible bars that most other humans alive that feels absolutely real to me and we were robbed of seeing it on the show. I also really liked the idea of them both bursting into fits of giggles over how bad they were and that becoming a little joke between them that they couldn't ever explain to dad without getting in trouble and then it probably tormenting John as to WHY they were suddenly laughing every time he put the song on in the car lol. Idk I just thought it was a really cute image, I do love my little weechester babs so very much. This one is obviously built completely round the song and really it's a Dean song but it becomes a song that Sam loves because of the memory which I thought was nice.
- On the way to say yes to Lucifer (song: The National - Sorrow). This is the shortest scene of all but I felt it had most impact that way. I liked the idea of Sam being "allowed" to listen to his own music (through headphones) in the car for maybe the first time ever being kinda representative of when Soulless comments on Dean's speech about letting Sam go his own way and not being a kid any more and the way that rings hollow pretty damn fast because BOY does that not last. But also yeah it's kinda encapsulated to me in Sam being permitted to do something like listen to music on the way to essentially commit suicide - that it's still something he needs to be granted permission to do and that even then it's music through his headphones - still not disturbing the sanctity of the car. A supposed gesture of letting Sam be his own person still so cloaked in the power imbalance. The song choice for this one came from Audree (Sunflowerchester) and I think it's an absolutely perfect match for both Sam and the scene in particular and, thankfully, it can't it JUST in time for it to be possible for Sam to be listening to it here!
ANYWAYS yep this is definitely longer than the fic itself 💀 I hope this was interesting to read! I enjoyed writing all my thoughts down at least!
For the fall trope game: Bughead + sweater weather + first kiss
“Do you want tea?”
Betty swipes her highlighter through a line in her notes and then pauses, unsure if she’s heard him right. “Tea? Like hot tea?”
“Yeah. Nothing fancy, it’s just Lipton’s.” Jughead shrugs one shoulder. “My dad likes it.”
Betty bites back a smile. Since arriving at the trailer less than an hour ago, he’s offered her water, orange soda, Oreo cookies, a frozen pizza, and some hand cream — all of which she’d politely declined, save the water. Clearly, he doesn’t play host very often.
(Which is why she’d felt so excited — special, even — to be invited here in the first place. Even if it was their only remaining option for a study session after Pop’s had closed for the evening for a private event, and Alice Cooper had forbidden any visitors to their house while the guest bathroom was being remodeled.)
“Do you want tea?”
“Not really.”
“Then I’m good.”
“Betty.”
She can hear the good humor in his frustration, though, and lets her own smile crack through this time as she returns her gaze to the notebook in her lap. “I’m fine.”
He huffs, but lets it go, leaning back against the sofa beside her as he pages aimlessly through their history textbook. “Isn’t it a little early in the year to be giving us such a huge exam? The leaves aren’t even changing yet.”
“Welcome to AP Euro. Cheryl warned us it was tough.” With a sigh, Betty caps her highlighter and drops her notebook to the floor. “One hour of AP studying is like three hours of normal studying. I think we’ve earned a break by now, don’t you?”
His mouth curls up at the side, and Betty’s heart thumps in her chest as he turns towards her.
She forces her face into a neutral expression. Practically the only thing she could think about all summer was when they’d finally stop dancing around one another, and Jughead would make a move. But then he hadn’t. So it’s still all she can think about now that autumn’s set in, as the days grow shorter, the air gets chillier, and the homecoming dance – which she’d vaguely hoped they’d attend together – approaches.
Sigh.
Jughead rests his arm along the back of the sofa, his long fingers dangerously close to brushing against her shoulder. “So what does a Betty Cooper study break entail?”
Betty taps her chin, pretending to think. “Clowns? Balloons, definitely. Maybe some karaoke.”
He laughs, and then – then – his hand drops down to rest on her shoulder. She tries not to shiver as he gives it a single squeeze.
“Will you settle for some – oh.” Jughead’s brows pull into a frown as he leans forward, peering at her arm. “Betty, you must be freezing. You’ve got goosebumps.”
Confused, she runs one hand across the skin of her forearm, and realizes he’s right – hairs raised, skin pebbled. It’s just not for the reason he thinks.
Before she can protest, he’s on his feet, muttering something under his breath as he disappears down the hall. Betty sinks back against the sofa cushions, face flaming. In approximately ten seconds Jughead is going to realize that it’s actually so warm outside she hadn’t even bothered to wear a jacket on the walk over, and there’s something much more embarrassing going on here.
“I told my dad it was time to get the heating back on,” he grumbles, appearing flustered as he emerges from the bedroom.
Collapsing onto the sofa beside her, he places something in her lap: his gray cable knit sweater. She remembers admiring the way it made his shoulders look broader last winter, months before she’d finally pieced together the understanding that the fluttery, nervous feeling she’d started getting around her childhood friend was a full-on crush.
“I’m sorry,” he tells her, unable to meet her eyes. “This is why I don’t like having people over – it’s not you. It’s just not a nice place to be.”
“Juggie.”
Without really thinking about it, she touches his arm. He lifts his gaze to meet hers, and Betty realizes: if she wants to have a ‘moment’ with Jughead, maybe she’s got to make it happen herself.
She leans in and presses her mouth to his.
She pulls back quickly – too quickly, it seems, because Jughead makes a sound of protest low in his throat and touches her waist with one hand and pulls her back in for another.
They kiss again, for longer this time.
When it ends, neither of them seems to know where to look, so Betty lets her gaze drop down to the sweater in her lap. Jughead’s eyes follow.
“If that was all it took,” he says slowly, “I should have given you my sweater a lot sooner.”
“It’s okay.” Betty smiles, and he smiles back. “It wasn’t sweater weather yet.”
~ 3 ships: Bughead my OTP to rule all OTPs, LoVe before the season 4 Veronica Mars revival ruined everything and Narlie from Heartstopper who have been my comfort ship since last spring 💙💛
~ first ever ship: Anne and Gilbert from the Anne of Green Gables trilogy (and the books). Before I even knew what 'shipping' was ❤️
~ last song: Take a Chance on Me by ABBA (don’t ask lol)
~ last movie: Glass Onion and Everything Everywhere All At Once
~ currently reading: not reading anything at the moment… but I am listening to Prince Harry’s audiobook 🙈
~ currently watching: just finished catching up on Abbott Elementary season 2 and finally finished Young Royals season 2 this weekend (it was soooo good)!
~ currently consuming: orange flavoured Sumol (it’s a Portuguese sparkling orange juice more or less)
~ currently craving: pizza (which is pretty much a perpetual state of being for me)
The fic I think of when I think of you is the texting Nace fic - I just think it stands out for its creative format - I hadn't read anything like it, and have yet to read anything like it since - favorite moment from it would be:
Ace: You’re a Hudson.
Nancy: On a technicality.
Ace: u don’t have to do that, u know
Nancy: What?
Ace: Pretend like it doesn’t matter to you. Every piece of your origin.
Nancy: Okay.
Ace: ok
yes!! very happy with the effervescent creativity of that one, i personally count it as the best thing i’ve contributed to the fandom
and, if you’ll indulge me a conversational swerve, very considerate and wonderful of you to link the fic in the ask, gonna make this a practice i adopt and i’m kissing you on the forehead about it !
For the fic prompts - ❝ you either need to make a move or let them go. ❞
Thank you winter, this was fun to write. I hope you like it!
Prompt from this list.
The moment of truth in your lies.
word count: 872
“What do you mean, she is acting differently?” asked Bess sitting directly in front of Ace in his apartment.
It was around mid-day when she received an unusually unprompted SOS message from Ace asking for her to meet him in his apartment - “life or death situation” he reported.
“It feels like she has this switch in her head. Every time that I feel her close, this switch gets flickered, and she shuts off.” Ace explained.
It wasn’t the first time that Bess helped his platanchors in the “Nancy of all things” situation.
“Are you sure? You know how Nancy can detach her feelings sometimes, especially now, after the Temperance new genesis.” Counterpointed Bess.
“Yes, Bess.” Ace got up from his spot and started passing around. Bess could see him getting restless by the second, which stricken her as an odd thing. “One minute she is clasping to my shirt, centimeters away from me. I can smell her shampoo and perfume, but in seconds, she pulls away and builds an impenetrable fortress around her.”
“That sounds like Nancy alright,” scoffed Bess.
“I think something is wrong with her,” Ace said.
Bess was getting tired. Her shoulder ached and her eyes felt dry. She had heard this speech before, but Ace wandering around with a pout face and mournful eyes was getting into Bess’s nerves.
“You know what, leave this to me.” Bess got up, clutching her bag as she walked out of the apartment.
“Bess? Bess, where are you going? Bess!” Ace’s appeals echoed in the hallway.
Bess was the keeper now. She made a vow to keep her city safe and its citizens. And as a platanchor was her job to look after Ace’s heart and interests. She loved Nancy, but it drained Bess watching the redhead toying with Ace’s affections.
Bess marched to Nancy’s office at Icarus Hall. She mindlessly walked, knowing the place like the palm of her hand. Bess arrived at the opening arch of the room and stomped in, making herself known.
“Hey Bess” greeted Nancy.
“What are you doing?” Bess placed her jacket and pursed in the chair, forcing it to wobble with the heaviness of her movement.
“What you mean?” Nancy expressed her characteristics confused look, wide eyes, wrinkled forehead, raised eyebrows. Bess continued proceeding forward, and Nancy darted at the books on her desk. She instinctively closed the book nearest to her. “I’m just doing some research for a case...”
“Not about a case.” Bess settled her hands on the desk leading in Nancy’s direction. “I mean about Ace.”
“Oh.” Nancy’s lips parted and remained that way. She struggled to come up with something to say, but all she did was close her mouth, changing the agape lips with a straight line and heavy eyes.
“Look, I get it you have relationship issues.” Bess pulled the chair behind her and sat, cushioning her glance at Nancy. “But Nancy, if don’t want him, or don’t like Ace enough to make a move, you need to let him go.”
“Bess, you don’t understand.” Nancy leaned her head in the chair, rubbing her temples. With every stroke she played in her head if she should tell Bess the truth.
“Nancy, I adore you, but I won’t let you hurt him.” Bess was about to continue when she recognized Temperance grimoire on top of Nancy’s desk. Scanning around, she spotted other books about spells, love, soulmates, curses. Bess recalled what Ace said about switches, she only need it a few moments to assemble the new puzzle of information.
“Temperance did something to you, didn’t she?” Bess raised from her place and strolled to Nancy's side. She noticed a scribbled scrap of paper in Nancy’s handwriting.
“What? No.” Nancy reestablished herself and seized the paper before Bess could read it.
“Look, I will be straight with you, something that I’m not,” point out Bess. “If you don’t explain to me what is going on in the next 5 seconds, I will find a spell that will replace your head with a cabbage, and this copper hue hair doesn’t match with vivid green.”
Nancy perceived Bess’s threat. She exhaled, handing the keeper the paper. Bess eyes stream through the page, reading word by word. Her eyebrows lifted when she understood what that was.
“Temperance cursed you.” She concluded.
“Us.” Nancy corrected. “Ace and I.”
“That is why you’ve been running away from him, why you are pulling back,” Bess lay in words Nancy's actions.
“I have zero clues to what unleashes the trigger, and every time that I get close to him, something breaks, like a warning.” Nancy scratched her head and for the first time, Bess realized how Nancy was beat. Her under eyes carried purple and deep bags, her bright blue eyes now had a grey shadow trotting through them, her copper hair was tight in a messy bun with locks coming out from all sides.
“I’m the keeper and your friend.” Bess rested a reassuring hand on Nancy shoulder “And I will help you break this curse.”
Nancy's eyes were murky with unwept tears. After all this buildup fear, she could finally relay on someone. Nancy nodded and the both women turned their head to the books.
character | pairing: sophie deveraux; sophie/harry
synopsis | summary: the transition from our mr. wilson to her mr. wilson takes exactly three years, ninety-nine days, and seventeen hours. so breanna informs her, anyway; her head and numbers have never gotten on quite that well.
[OR: sophie and harry have been forging a shared path for a long while.]
+
be still, i need the quietness of time
character | pairing: roy kent; roy/keeley; roy/keeley & kent-jones tiny human
synopsis | summary: after ted gifts him that bloody gorgeous children’s novel, roy can’t seem to resist burying his nose in books. some are reserved solely for him, some he sees fit to share with keeley over the years, and some they pass down together. [calling their daughter arrietty doesn’t come out of nowhere, yeah?]
[OR: eventually, roy amasses enough titles in his personal collection that he could open a damn library if he wanted.]
send me a made-up fic title and i’ll tell you what i would write to go with it
Umm selling point? What is there to sell - this human is inherently iconic with their gif sets and overall warm presence in the ND fandom ❤️ no selling required
