all my keysmash are belong to you

Yuletide was delightful because both the fic I received and the fic I wrote were about the same thing, which was what Stephen Black did post-canon. I LOVE STEPHEN BLACK. Are you a fan of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell? Here are some ideas about what happened next.

King's Progress by azurefishnets
"The man once Stephen Black, as the new King of Lost-Hope, decides to make a Royal Progress through his demesne on the advice of a raven after realizing how little he knows how to rule a fae court. He meets the Raven King himself with surprizing consequences for both." 3840 words of DELIGHT

The stones shall make a throne for me by me! Las.
"The new king of Lost-hope is not like the last." 5756 words

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You know what, while we're at it, let's continue with a little fic roundup. Here is mine for both 2022 and 2021, and they are all Red Dead Redemption 2 because it's always time to cry about cowboys:

whatever you i shall love
Abigail/Sadie, general audience
AU. Abigail is safe at last with her family in a home of their own. She still worries about bungling it all up. 3990 words.

in the silence that followed
Charles/Sadie, rated M
At the end of both their ropes, they have a moment of connection in Lakay. 1230 words

that which carries me
Charles, gen
Charles Smith joins the gang. 2623 words

will you hear the sound
Charles/Arthur, rated M
Set in Colter after The Aftermath of Genesis. "In this little cabin, the world felt shrunk down to just the two of them. It was easier to just want, to just be."


Anyway, one of my new year's resolutions is to join more fic exchanges, so I'll see you around!

So far, there's only this. But if you don't know how to write the story yet, then tell yourself a story about the story, so here's what I got:

It opens on a bonfire. Most people are a few beers in, and the loudest conversation is Sean and Lenny arguing about the likelihood of reincarnation. Do you think we're born the exact same people we used to be? What about history and circumstance? How would they affect? Javier says no, we get one life - this one. It's why it's so precious. And Lenny says okay, but what if the one life is shit? Like, a giant stinking pile of shit. Karen is the voice of exasperated optimism: is this life so bad they're already thinking of the next one?

Hosea chimes in with a quote. He can't remember the source, and Arthur says that means he's making it up. "Optimism is the belief that the life we're in is the best possible version; pessimism fears this is true."  Hosea turns to the newcomer and tries to draw him out. "What do you think, Charles?"

Charles was content to soak in the ambience. All attention is on him now, not necessarily looking for an answer, but just generally gawking at fresh meat. Or at least, that's how he feels. Charles sighs. "I don't know, I haven't really given it much thought.  Too busy worrying about this life to think about the next."

The conversation moves on from him, so he relaxes. Everyone has an opinion, or at the very least more questions. What if this life is a gift? What if our worst life is over?

Arthur says, "Can't be. We still have to eat Pearson's cooking in this one."

Javier finishes tuning his guitar. The first song has no words, just triplets of minor chords as the fire crackles and pops.  By the fifth song, though, even Charles is singing along.

+

Charles's car is fifteen years old, and it's full of his dad's blues and jazz CDs. His favorite memory of his father is when he taught Charles how to play the harmonica. He only remembers a handful of songs, but he still listens to Oscar Peterson all the time. 

Two voicemails on his phone and Charles is being a coward again. The easiest thing to do with his dad has always been to run away. He supposes that's why he's here. He's just not sure if it's going to work this time. Charles keeps thinking his father is not long for this world, but he's been thinking that since he turned thirteen. He is wrong every time. Amos Smith is not a perfect man, but he is full of surprises. You just never know whether they're going to be good or bad.

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idk, i feel really adamant that in my modern day au charles has at least one parent around oKAY. anyway, for real, harmonica!charles. harmonica!charles, sea shanty version.

This was mostly just going to be me compiling characterization notes for myself. Somewhere along the way it turned into ~2300 of gen fic about Charles joining the gang. It's unbeta'ed and I haven't written anything since 2017, so please excuse the creaky joints. I'm happy to have finally finished something though. The conversation between Lenny and Dutch is mostly lifted from their actual camp conversation. If any of the race stuff is badly done, please let me know and I will fix it.



( devil makes three lyric goes here )