Latest Posts by detectiveruebennett - Page 2
i loooove being delusional. catch me ignoring reality altogether. catch me never being reasonable ever. catch me straight up making up things in my head to cope. delusion is my best friend
how to write relatable characters
writing relatable characters may seem like an easy task, especially when you’re constructing your protagonist. but what if you want to make your antagonist likeable? what if you want people to hate your protagonist but still root for them? all of this and more requires that your characters be relatable. they need to feel real, so how do you do that? here’s how:
- flaws: this is probably obvious. everyone has flaws, so we should give our characters flaws, too. this applies even if your character is non-human; they cannot escape the personification that we as writers or readers project onto them. we are humans reading, so we expect to see human qualities everywhere we look. if you’re having trouble of identifying your character’s flaws, here are some prompts for ways to think about flaws beyond a list:
what skills do they lack? what do they struggle with?
can their strengths be turned against them as a weakness?
what makes them react emotionally or impulsively?
are they aware of their flaws? if so, do they want to improve them or change them?
- quirks: these are what make your character unique or special, and no, i don’t mean purple eyes or unique physical traits. i mean: what makes your character authentically themselves? what traits define them that few others have? some ways to think about this are:
how do they react when nervous? do they have a tell? similarly, how do they react on behalf of any emotion?
what skills do they have that hardly anyone else has?
what obscure thing are they obsessed with?
do they have a unique outlook on life compared to their peers?
- values: these come from life experiences: where we were raised, our family and friends, our community, religious affiliations, etc. i suggest identifying eight to ten values that define your character and then narrowing that list down to five values that mark their core or essence. think about how these values influence their choices, decisions, and ultimately, the plot of the novel. here are some more prompts to think about values:
how do they react when their values are challenged? are they one to speak up or do they sit back in the shadows?
what, if anything, will change or shatter their values?
are their actual values misaligned with their believed values?
- stakes: what is at risk for your character? what is motivating them? stakes don’t need to be over the top or life or death; they can be as simple as maintaining a relationship or reaching a goal. unless there’s an outside influence (ie. percy’s mother being kidnapped in The Lightning Thief), most stakes—especially those relatable—tie back to values. even those influenced by outside factors can tie back to values: the only reason percy is motivated to get his mother back is because he cares for her and she is the one person who has always advocated for him and cared for him. he values family and riordan uses his family to motivate him and incite the plot. generally, there will be one overarching stake for your character, but throughout your novel, there should be several smaller stakes. these may not service the plot but should elaborate on your character nonetheless. some ways to think about stakes include:
how can i use internal or external factors to create convincing, relatable stakes that tie back to basic values?
why does the overarching stake matter to my character? why do they care?
how can i raise the stakes or introduce new ones that are relevant to my character and illustrate them as a relatable being?
- connection: even if your character is an introvert, they will still be connected to someone, something, or even an idea. we, as humans, look to certain people, pets, objects, and ideas to maintain our sense of reality whether we realize it or not. if your character prides themselves in having no attachments, think about the ideas or themes that mark the cornerstones of their reality. most human beings strive for some form of connection, so here are more prompts for thinking about your characters and connection:
what does connection mean to my character? how do they show how they value their connections or relationships?
how does my character’s behavior change when around different connections?
what connections define my character and their reality? how will these connections influence my character and/or the plot?
how will removing or challenging a connection change, influence, or motivate my character?
a good rule of thumb is to treat a character as a human, not a plot device. there is a time or place in which a character must act as a plot device, but if you’re wanting your readers to be compelled by your narration and the characters within them, you should strive to write your characters as human (aka as relatable). one of the greatest pleasures i find in writing is when other’s identify themselves in my writing.
you’re not just here to tell a story, you’re here to connect with others through the illustration of your characters. let the reader navigate your prose as a detective, to search for and identify the evidence provided by you. that is to say, show us how these things manifest in your character. don’t tell us.
happy writing! hopefully this post gave you some ways to start thinking about how to show the relatability of your character. if you have any questions about implementing these tools or about writing characters, our ask box is always open.
Tips For "Show, Don't Tell."
Honestly, show don't tell is something I feel even I struggle with and I'm pretty sure anyone who writes faces it. Finding a balance is hard. When to show and when to tell can become an inherent feeling though. However, there are some things I've learnt and I hope they help you!
❥︎Emphasise Sensory Detailing: Not only does packing a scene with sensory details help readers imagine the setting, it also gives your characters a distinct physical world to interact with. Rather than simply saying that a character is in New York, describe the light reflecting off the Hudson River, or the towering colossus of the Statue of Liberty.
❥︎Describe body language and avoid emotional explanation when showing.
❥︎Like I said, focus on describing senses and lean more on the usage of imagery too, it'll help if you understand that literary device. I have a post on how to use imagery in writing which helps a lot when showing and not telling. Pick adjectives that you use to describe and replace them with sensory descriptions. Eg:
+ He was scared when he saw the lion at the exit.
+ His heart raced when he saw the lion looming at the end of his escape route.
See what I did here?
Did you feel the difference?
❥︎ learn from examples of 'Show, Don't tell' by reading. The most basic.
❥︎ Use of Dialogue: can also teach readers about characters through word choice, tone, and POV. For instance:
The tray flipped and drenched her in wine. She shrieked and jumped out of her seat, glaring at the waiter.
And
The tray flipped and drenched her in wine but all she did was sigh and smile in understanding.
The scene is the same but the character's approach was different in each case. The former seems kind while the latter seems to be a temperamental character.
❥︎Make your character do something out of ordinary, something that breaks the routine or would make a heavier impact. For eg:
If a character speaks in long-winded, erudite sentences, readers might gather that they are pompous and well-educated. If this same character suddenly begins speaking in terse, short bursts later in the novel, readers might note that something in that character has shifted.
If they're described as someone who never cooks say and then at some time they cook for the live interest, it'll pique the reader’s Interest because it was uncharacteristic of them to do.
❥︎Having a diverse vocabulary, imagination and the ability to use literary devices like metaphors will greatly aid in Show don't tell.
❥︎And lastly, It's fine if you don't get it right the first time because that's how writing works. The more you read, attempt and err, the more you learn. But having an idea of what to do will go a great way in guiding and saving time.
Hope it helps! Follow for more, like and share! <3
The Emotion Thesaurus: Adoration
Hello, everyone! I will be starting a new series that will help you the writers describe emotions.
This guide will be a writer’s tool to characters expression.
This section comes from The Emotional Thesaurus by Ackerman and Puglisi.
Adoration
Definition: the act of worship; to view as divine.
Note: the subject of adoration can be a person or thing
Physical Signs:
Lips parting
A slack or soft expression
Waking quickly to erase distance
Mimicking body language
Touching one’s mouth or face
Reaching out to brush, touch or grasp
Steady eye contact, large pupils
Leaning forward
Stroking one’s own neck or arm as a surrogate
Pointing one’s torsos and feet towards the subject
A flushed appearance
Nodding while the subject speaks
Smiling
Open body posture
Releasing an appreciative sigh
Laying hand over the heart
Frequently moistening lips
Pressing palms lightly against the cheeks
Skimming fingertips along the jaw lines
Eyes that are bright
Agreement
Speaking praise and compliments
Keeping trinkets, pictures of the subject
Constantly talking about the subject to others
Rapt attention, still posture
Becoming unaware of one’s environment
A radiant glow
Visible shakiness
Reduced blinking
Closing eyes to savor moment
Speak with a soft voice
A voice that cracks with emotion
Internal Sensations
Quickening heartbeat
Breathlessness
Feeling one’s pulse in throat
Mouth dry
Throat growing thick
Rising body temperature
Tingling nerve endings
Mental Responses
A desire to move closer or watch
Fixating one’s thoughts on the subject
Acute listening and observation
Ignoring distractions
An inability to see the subjects flaws or faults
Cues of Acute or Long-Term Adoration
Obsession
Fantasizing
Believing that the feelings are mutual
A sense of destiny
Stalking
Writing and sending letter, emails, and gifts
Taking risks or breaking laws to be near or with subject
Weight loss
Poor sleep patterns
Jealousy towards those interacting with the subject
Taking on traits or mannerisms of the subject
Carrying something that represents the subject
Possessiveness
May Escalate To:
Love
Desire
Frustration
Hurt
Cues of Suppressed Adoration:
Clenching or hiding one’s hands to hide sweating or shaking
Avoiding conversations about the subject
Watching or observing from afar
Staying out of subjects proximity
Blushing
Sneaking looks at subject
Creating chance run ins
Writing secret letters, keeping diary
Lying about one’s feelings regarding the subject
Writer’s Tip:
Body cues should create a strong mental picture. If the movement is too drawn out or complicated, the emotional meaning behind the gesture may be lost.
Please like, follow and reblog if you find this helpful!
Oblivious pining prompts:
Accidentally admitting that the other is really pretty, leading to both of them getting very flustered
Quickly sewing back the loose button of their shirt that came off at the last minute, realising that you two are extremely close
Pretending to be married for reasons, feeling very giddy whenever someone refers to you two as a couple
Walking past a busy crowd, hands entwining on their own and then realising it after someone points it out
Rambling about something you both love and all you can do is stare at them lovingly, when suddenly they also turn to look at you and now you're both just staring at each other
Making lucky charms for each other, being reminded of the other whenever they look at it
Fixing each other's clothes (+ if they say "you look good")
Learning more about their interests so they have a common thing to talk about
Thinking that the other doesn't like them in that way, while their friends watch both of them become an incoherent mess in front of each other, wondering when they'll finally ask each other out
Always finding excuses to stay with each other
(X)
"x black reader"
How to write a kiss scene
requested by: anon request: How do I write a good kiss scene? As how do I describe it? What details or words would make it good?
What goes into the writing of a kiss scene?
details to incorporate:
the sensations in their stomach, their chest, and their knees
the way their breathing changes shortly before the kiss
the feeling of the other's hands
the texture of the other's clothing
the moment they realise they've reached the point of no return
the feeling they're left with after the kiss
words to use...
... to describe the kiss:
tentative
tender
hesitant
quick
soft
gentle
delicate
languid
feathery
familiar
exploring
hungry
heated
fiery
frantic
impatient
sloppy
messy
aggressive
... to describe how they feel about the kiss:
nervous
excited
giddy
anxious
apprehensive
ambiguous
surprised
reassured
certain
confident
relieved
eager
greedy
... to show what the lips do:
exploring each other
brushing over each other
locking
devouring
touching
sealing
pressing against each other
capturing
lapping
tasting
crushing together
travelling (the other's body)
trailing (down to the other's chin)
grinning into the kiss
caressing
lingering
... to show how their body reacts:
feeling warm all over
buzzing
humming
pumping/palpitating heart
clenching lungs
joy bubbling up
tingly stomach
warm chest
burning cheeks
sweaty palms
blood rushing through their veins
... to describe what their hands are doing:
tangling in their lover's hair
wrapping their arms around their lover's neck
intertwining their fingers with their lover
resting on their lover's hips
pressing into their lover's shoulder blades
cupping their lover's cheeks
touching their lover's chin
curling their arm around their lover's waist
resting on their lover's shoulders
grabbing their lover's collar
sneaking up under their lover's shirt
brushing over their lover's bare skin
lightly squeezing their lover's butt
focus on:
the sensations instead of what's physically happening. (the protagonists might very well not know themselves what is happening exactly, but they feel very precisely)
I hope this helps <3
ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇ
Anger
Anger is one expression of fight-or-flight mode — an automatic, instinctive reaction to a threat. In many cases, there is an underlying fear of being harmed. Thanks to autonomic nervous system arousal, the heart rate increases, pupils dilate, and the face may flush. Other signs of anger
Balling the fists
Crossing the arms tightly
Clenching the fists once arms are crossed
Tight-lipped smile
Clenched teeth
Shaking a finger like a club
Stabbing a finger at someone
Attraction
Pupils dilate
Women will cross and uncross legs to draw attention to them
Mirroring – (usually unconsciously) mimicking the other person’s body language
Closed to Conversation
Keeping the hands in the pockets (esp. men)
Arms and legs crossed
Sitting back
Folding the hands together on a table (creates a barrier)
The “figure-four” leg cross (setting the ankle of one leg on the knee of the other) and then grabbing the lower half of the top leg with both hands.
Openness and Honesty
Exposure of the palms
Arms and legs unfolded
Leaning forward
Submissive Signals
Smiling – that’s why some people smile when they’re upset or afraid
Slumping the shoulders
Doing anything to appear smaller
Distress
Men in particular have a tendency to stroke or rub the nape of the neck when they’re upset. It acts as a self-soothing gesture to deal with a “pain in the neck.”
Crossed arms – arms act like a protective barrier
Self-hugging – arms are crossed, hands gripping upper arms
One-arm cross – one arm crosses the body to hold or touch the other arm – women keep a hand on a purse or bag strap to make this look more natural
Clutching a purse, briefcase, or bag with both arms
Adjusting cuffs or cuff-links (men’s version of the purse-strap grab)
Folding the hands together in front of the crotch (men)
Lying
Lying causes a subtle tingling in the face and neck, so the gestures below are attempts to eliminate that feeling
Covering the mouth – can be like a shh gesture, or they may cover the mouth completely – some people try to cover it by coughing
Touching or rubbing the nose or just below the nose – often a quick, small gesture, not a scratch
Rubbing the eyes (especially men)
Scratching the neck with the index finger
Superiority, Confidence, Power, Dominance
Steepling the fingers (aka setting the tips of the fingers together)
Folding the hands behind the back
Thumbs sticking out from pockets when hands are in pockets (can be front or back pockets)
Hands on hips
Straddling a chair
Hands folded behind the head while sitting up (in men)
[source]
Random Ship Dynamics
Gets scared easily x “How did that make you jump??”
Consistently cold x A very cuddly person who just happens to be warm
Sweetheart x “You’re so kind that it’s making me sick”
Doesn’t like PDA x Has to hold back from smothering them when they’re out on a date
Carefree and kind of reckless x Stern and is always (affectionately) scolding them
Famous singer x Their average partner who is the loudest in the crowd when they go see their concerts
Fascinated by everything x Thinks their partner’s fascination is fascinating
Tall x “How’s the weather up there?”
Short x Bends down to talk to their partner because they know it pisses them off
Two teachers whose classrooms are in the same hallway so they always visit each other during lunches
Very physically affectionate x Didn’t realize how touch starved they were until they met their partner
Cries very easily x “Stop crying or I’m gonna cry.."
“Fuck you.” x “Fuck ME???” [winks]
Very good dancer x Can’t dance for their life but still gets dragged onto the dance floor by their partner
Does embarrassing things on purpose x Pretends to be embarrassed so they can laugh at their partner
switch up your verbs (part one) ~
walked - hiked - moved - shuffled - toddled - sauntered - ambled - tiptoed - meandered - strolled
laughed - chortled - chuckled - giggled - snorted - guffawed - howled - snickered - shrieked
wanted - ached for - wished - craved - coveted - fancied - pined - aspired
ran - sprinted - galloped - scampered - bolted - trotted - dashed - raced - jogged
jumped - bounced - hopped - leapt - hurtled - vaulted - barged - bounded
✎ treats for writers - writing (and daydreaming) prompts ✎
Feel free to use and reblog!
#1 - challenge: what is the most self-indulgent story you've written? try to top it with something even more self-indulgent!
#2 - write yourself a bomb a** review/comment on your favourite story/chapter
#3 - write your favourite character in a colour drabble of your favourite colour
#4 - write one of your (favourite) characters doing one of your favourite activities
#5 - write how one of your favourite characters gets the appreciation they deserve. how do they react?
#6 - write your favourite character in a song drabble of your favourite song
#7 - write a monologue of your character, describing what they would think about YOU
#8 - write an AU or addition to one of your favourite fics by another writer
#9 - let your favourite character do something you've wanted to do for so long. enjoy it together!
#10 - write about your OTP growing old together, surrounded by their love. because that's the ultimate dream, right?
show, don't tell:
anticipation - bouncing legs - darting eyes - breathing deeply - useless / mindless tasks - eyes on the clock - checking and re-checking
frustration - grumbling - heavy footsteps - hot flush - narrowed eyes - pointing fingers - pacing / stomping
sadness - eyes filling up with tears - blinking quickly - hiccuped breaths - face turned away - red / burning cheeks - short sentences with gulps
happiness - smiling / cheeks hurting - animated - chest hurts from laughing - rapid movements - eye contact - quick speaking
boredom - complaining - sighing - grumbling - pacing - leg bouncing - picking at nails
fear - quick heartbeat - shaking / clammy hands - pinching self - tuck away - closing eyes - clenched hands
disappointment - no eye contact - hard swallow - clenched hands - tears, occasionally - mhm-hmm
tiredness - spacing out - eyes closing - nodding head absently - long sighs - no eye contact - grim smile
confidence - prolonged eye contact - appreciates instead of apologizing - active listening - shoulders back - micro reactions
the way im just avoiding the fics ive started on here & wattpad is ridiculous... i haven't updated shit for the past like month or so
Masterpost: How to write a story?
Compilation of writing advice for some aspects of the writing process.
How to motivate myself to write more
How to get rid of writer’s block
Basic Overview: How to write a story
How to outline a story
How to come up with plot
How to create a character
How to make a character unique
How to use nicknames
How to start a story
How to write a prologue
How to write conversation
How to write witty banter
How to write the last line
How to write a summary
How to write a book description
How to write romance
How to write friendships
How to write emotional scenes
How to write an argument
How to write yelling
How to write anger
How to write betrayal
How to title fanfiction
How to write an unreliable narrator
First Person vs. Third Person POV
How to write character deaths
How to use songs in a fanfiction
How to name fictional things
How to write multiple points of view
Introducing a group of characters
Large cast of characters interacting in one scene
Redemption arc
Plot twists
Fatal Character Flaws
Good traits gone bad
More specific scenarios
Slow burn
AU ideas
Favourite tropes
How to create quick chemistry
How to write a bilingual character
How to write a character with glasses
How to create a villain
How to write a polyamorous relationship
How to write a wedding
How to write found family
How to write forbidden love
How to write a road trip
How to create and write a cult
How to write amnesia
How to write a stratocracy
How to write the mafia
Criminal past comes to light
Reasons for breaking up while still loving each other
Relationship Problems
Relationship Changes
Milestones in a relationship
Platonic activities for friends
Settings for conversations
Introducing partner(s) to family
Honeymoon
Date gone wrong
Love Language - Showing, not telling
Love Language - Showing you care
Affections without touching
Giving the reader butterflies with your characters
Reasons a couple would divorce on good terms
How to write enemies to lovers
How to write lovers to enemies to lovers
How to write academic rivals to lovers
How to write age difference
How to create a coffee shop atmosphere
How to create an atmosphere: Library
How to write a college party
How to write modern royalty
Arranged matrimony for royalty
Paramilitary Forces/ Militia
Inconvenient things a ghost could do
A Queen’s Assassination Plot
Crime Story - Detective’s POV
Evil organization of assassins
Evil wins in the end
Causes for the apocalypse
Last day on earth
If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰
falling in love prompts +
feel free to use :)
“i genuinely don’t know why my brain just goes blank when i look at you. i think i’m going a little crazy.”
the little laugh or smile a character a does in utter disbelief because character b is just so endearing and sigh
one character going “so this is really awkward cause i know i told you i wasn’t looking for love but then i kinda fell in love and i would love it if you’d take me”
“can i love you?”
“i just… adore you.”
character a noticing character b is sleepy while driving and being like “hey i can take over for you”
the classic “no i’m not in love with character a, yes thinking about hurting them makes me want to throw myself into ongoing traffic, no it doesn’t make sense to me either”
their love interest fell asleep and your main character has a blanket so they give it to them
confessions when one character thinks the other is sleeping
they kiss for the first time and one character just steps back and is like “um ok. yeah that’s not a normal kiss i def love u”
character not being able to even fathom or come close to understanding how someone can dislike such a beautiful ray of sunshine and oh yeah ok…. they’re def in love
characters who’ve been married for years falling in love all over again
exes to lovers
“i think i love you…?” “….. think?” “let’s just say a ninety-nine percent chance.” “i’ll take it.”
that moment where your character just… looks. just looks at their love interest for more than five seconds and doesn’t understand why or how this earth can exist and the sun and moon exist and the sky can be an eternal source of happiness and yet this person right here can bring so much more warmth and comfort to them with just a single glance
note confessions because yes written confessions in letters are superior
“i got you a gift. i hope you like it.” and character who receives the gift tries not to mention that any gift would mean more than the stars in the sky as long as it was from them
“do you… love me, by any chance?” “yeah, why?” “well, i’m sorry, i was just— WAIT WHAT—”
The Stars Write Back
"Love of my life, don't leave me."
— love of my life • queen
pairing: sam wilson x starr viriano (black!oc)
genre: angst
word count: 264
His eyes glossed over with silver tears. Pouring rain seeped against his damp skin and dripped down onto his neck. It was a warm summer night, but Sam had never felt so cold.
It wrapped around his bones and froze his blood into slush in his veins. The absence of someone was more frozen than any weather change.
He could still see her eyes in his mind—as navy as the starry sky and as devastatingly beautiful as his cracking heart.
Her last words had been an “I love you.” Spoken through him instead of to him, but he’d taken them for himself anyway.
A sob tore through his lips at the loneliness of the loss; the sheer tragedy of having a part of himself fade away before he could indeed find the words to express how deeply she could thread herself into his reality.
Because to anyone else, she was a simple collection of words—a spill of black ink, a vessel to a writer’s fingertips, one last page left turned. But to Sam, at that moment, she was everything.
She was Sam's warmth—the temporary tape to his broken smiles and the laughter filling his sagging lungs. She was the hand that reached into the hole around him, pulling him out quickly without thinking of herself.
She’d saved Sam from himself and his empty, chaotic mind. And yet, here he was, standing in the rain alone with nothing but a silver chain in his grasp. Because, in the end, he had to love her all alone.
And that was the coldest truth of it all.
welcome to my safehouse
genre guide:
angst – ( ¤ )
fluff – ( ♡ )
hurt/comfort – ( ☆ )
smut – ( ♤ )
romantic ship – ( r )
platonic ship – ( p )
song fic – ( ♧ )
disclaimer: all of my writings will accommodate to black audiences unless requested otherwise. meaning that i write with a black person in mind, if that makes sense. if this bothers you then idk what to tell you. it's hard to find black!reader fics anywhere so i'm trying to add to one's that are there.
*masterlist still under construction*
MARVEL
natasha romanoff [ black widow ]
"thank you for your cooperation."
series:
have mercy | black!oc — on hold
summary: The Avengers need her help. Jaslyn Wilson doesn't want to, though. Will the help of a certain redheaded avenger draw her out?
oneshots:
sam wilson [ falcon/captain america ]
"on your left."
series:
the stars write back | black!oc
summary: Entries between lovers that follow their story from beginning to end. Read along as the two tangles together and play tug of war with the stars.
love of my life [5/20/22] ( ¤ )
oneshots:
set me free | black!reader [1/16/24] ( p ) ( ☆ )
summary: it is said that your skin will regenerate itself approximately every 27 days. although, that may be true... it's been two years. why doesn't it feel like it?
michelle jones [ mj watson ]
"if you expect disappointment, then you can never really get disappointed."
series:
oneshots:
wash day | black!reader [ coming soon ]
*Natasha arguing with Y/N*
Y/N, cutting her off: Every time you talk, I hear that sound that plays when pac-man dies.
Natasha, shocked: Do you want to be single?
OFBLCKWRITERS — a network for black writers, black readers, & black people.
with the increase of many black writers in the fanfiction writing community, this network is dedicated to promote and spread content about black readers (and written by black people). this network will include the promotion of different fan fiction from anime/mangas, marvel, dc, video games, and other things. with just tagging your work under the #ofblckwriters tag and tagging this account in your work, your work will automatically reblogged to be promoted on this blog.
reblogs would be greatly appreciated
Have Mercy | natasha romanoff x black!fem!oc
Chapter Two: why not me?
warning(s): contains flashbacks of past traumatic events
pairing(s): sam wilson x jaslyn wilson (oc)
natasha romanoff x jaslyn wilson (oc)
a/n: this chapter is just a short flashback and stuff. next chapter is about her time in hydra & meeting the winter soldier. don't worry, we'll get to natasha x jaslyn soon. i'm just tryna have a build-up for her. should their ship name be jastasha? idk
have mercy masterlist chapter one
"Something is off. We should head back for now." Riley speaks into the comms. Something bad is about to happen. He could feel it in his gut as he soared through the sky alongside the two Wilson's.
"Copy that." Sam responds.
The trio turns around and make their way back to base. The plan was that once they make it back, they'd get in touch with the higher-ups and wait for the next instruction.
The sound of a faint whistle meets Jaslyn's ears but she doesn't pay any mind to it.
Big mistake.
Suddenly, Riley's left wing is hit, causing him to lose control and fall through the air.
"No! Riley!"
"Sam! Get help!" Jaslyn yells to her brother. Adrenaline coursing through her blood, Jaslyn shoots down behind a falling Riley. She gains speed and reaches her hands out in hopes of catching him before he meets the ground.
Unfortunately, Riley lands first. "No. Please, no," she pleads.
She didn't make it.
"Don't do this to me, Riles," she whimpers. The sound of her cries reach deaf ears as she cradles his lifeless body. She hears the sound of footsteps coming from behind her.
Before Jaslyn can speak another word everything around her goes dark.
----
It's been five days since the passing of his friend, Riley. And today was the day of the funeral. Sam and many others were seated in the congregation, and Jaslyn was nowhere to be found. Or anywhere for that matter. Sam doesn't know where she is. By the time he came back with the medical team and his other men, all that was left was Riley's body. No Jaslyn in range. At first, Sam assumed that she was heading back to base. But if that were the case, he would've seen her fly past him since they take the same path.
After Riley's body was taken back by airlift, the commander had another group finish the mission while the rest of them packed up to head home. It was supposed to be a simple mission. The three of them were to scan the area in search for any signs of their targets. Then head back and report what they'd seen. Both Sam and Jaslyn hadn't spotted anything unusual, but the air had felt sort of uneasy.
He waited precisely forty-eight hours before reporting Jaslyn's disappearance to the police. It would've been earlier, but Sarah had told him to stay in case she'd showed up. "You have to wait for at least twenty-four before filing a missing person report," Sarah reminded him three days earlier. "Maybe she needed time to deal with the grief on her own. You know how distant she can be when it comes to situations like this." Sarah had a point. After the death of their parents, Jaslyn had disappeared for a few weeks before returning. With that, Sam's distress slightly lessened for the time being.
There was a tiny detail that they seemed to have forgotten. Jaslyn Wilson would always leave them a note or a call to tell them she was safe. No matter what.
MCU Chronological Order
This timeline is only about the MCU not the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse (MCM), so it doesn’t contain any of the movies outside the MCU.
Also I consider all these shows above as canon in the MCU but I won’t consider canon Inhumans (even if the rumour of Doctor Strange is true) or Team Thor (although you should see the videos of Team Thor ‘cause they are amazing). Last thing that I want to clarify, I don’t care what the Timeline of Disney+ says about some placements of some movies/shows
Edit: If you wanna know more about specific dates or things about the MCU Chronological Order, I recommend the channel Geekritique on Youtube ‘cause his videos are amazing and really helpfull to understand the wider MCU!
Have Mercy | natasha romanoff x black!fem!oc
Chapter One: in or out?
pairings: natasha romanoff x fem!black!oc
warnings: none really besides brief mentions of past trauma (barely any details of it tho)
a/n: here we go. this isn't edited yet so if there's any errors im sorry in advance.
have mercy masterlist chapter two
"Absolutely not," Jaslyn cuts her brother off long before he even gets the chance to speak. Turning around, she walks back inside her house towards the kitchen. The sound of the front door echoes through the halls. And heavy footsteps follow behind.
"Oh, come on! You don't even know what I was gonna ask," Sam exclaims. Walking up beside her, Sam brings his hand up to ruffle her hair, knowing how much the action annoyed her. "What if I just wanted to check on my baby sis, huh?"
She hisses. Smacking his hand away before brushing her hair down. "I hate it when you do that shit. And you know if that were the case, you would've hit me up ahead of time, not just pop up at my door unannounced," Jaslyn points out.
"Okay, sure, but–"
"Also, this has been the second time since I got back from Rio with Redwing that this happened."
"Please, Jas," Sam begs. "I need your help with this one."
Jaslyn would do anything for Sam. It didn't matter how much he'd asked of her. She would go through the depths of Hell if he asked her to. Sam would do the same for her. They were the definition of 'ride or die.' Their loyalty to each other has never been doubted. They may not have been fully blood related, but that never mattered to any of them. Jaslyn was just as much as his sister as Sarah was. They were his family.
Still silent, Sam took that as his chance to explain what was going on. "It's Hydra. They're back and have gotten worse. There's this guy; they call him the Winter Soldier." His gaze was disquieting as he spoke.
Her blood runs cold. No. No, no, no.
Sam continues to debrief her, yet Jaslyn could not register another word after that.
Winter never made it out?
She remembers her time in that dreadful place where Hydra claimed to be her new home. The screams. The torture. The constant state of numbness. And constraint of fear and brainwashing snatching you back. Hydra had turned them into fearful creatures. Monsters. She'd gotten out a couple years ago; however, the gushing red of her victims still dripped from her hands. It still tormented her mind just the same. She’s made a lot of progress in the past couple of years.
During her time at Hydra, she met Winter. She never knew what his real name was, neither did he. So, she chose to refer to him as Winter. They supported each other.
Winter never got out.
"Jas...? Jaslyn!" She hums in response. "You're crying," Sam whispers. His eyes are filled with guilt. He told Fury that she wouldn't want any part of this. Hell, Sam didn't want to include her in this either. No matter how much they needed her.
She didn't notice the tears streaming down her face until she felt Sam's thumbs wipe them away. "I'm sorry. I knew I shouldn't have come. I told Fury this was a bad idea to try and rope you back into all this."
She shakes her head as she looks at him with sadden eyes. "It's not your fault, okay?"
"I could have tried harder. I–"
"You did everything you could, Sammy..." With that, the two are silent. Sam takes his sister in his embrace, holding her tight as though she would disappear out of his hold at any second. The two sway for awhile before Jaslyn breaks the silence.
"I'm sorry, Sammy. I can't. Not after what happened with–" the rest of her sentence gets caught in her throat. Suddenly she was thirsty. Quickly, she moves from his hold and grabs bottled water out of the refrigerator. She gulps the liquid down in a hectic manner. She doesn't let up until there isn't a drop left. Her gaze is unfocused as she leans against the counter. She was a mess.
"Come on. Let's get you back to your room." Sam gently guides her down the hall toward her bedroom. Going inside, he assists her underneath the sheets and tucks her in. Sam gives her a feathered kiss on the forehead.
"There's leftover lasagna in the fridge if you want some on the way out. Tell your little redheaded friend outside she's welcome to have some, too." Taking this as his time to leave, Sam gives her a sympathetic smile before walking towards the door. "I'll be back to check on you later."
Hearing the faint click of the door locking, Jaslyn cries. "I'm sorry I'm too much of a coward to help you," she whimpers.
I wish white girls never discovered silk and satin scarves
the way they really had me up at 5am to take a 3 and half hour test bruh... my act score better be good too
Have Mercy | natasha romanoff x black!fem!oc
*disclaimer: jaslyn wilson's faceclaim is ryan destiny.*
summary: Peace. All Jaslyn Wilson wanted was some peace and quiet for once after a trip like this. But what did she expect when her brother just had stick his metal wings in other people's business? As usual. But who was she to complain? She gets an amazing view of a dangerous redheaded ex-assassin as a motivation that may just prevent her from strangling her brother to death once she gets the chance. Maybe.
She probably should have went with Sarah and the kids to Hawaii.
chapter one: in or out?
chapter two: why not me?
chapter three: winter (coming soon)
childhood best friends to enemies to lovers has got to be the best trope to ever exist idccc
happy international women’s day to black women across the afro-diaspora 💗💗💗
time for me to ruminate on these tweets again.
Happy black history monthhhh
the day i see more sam wilson fics w a black oc is the day imma finally live peacefully. same thing w my girl mj too. i barely see ones with her. like im thriving off scraps yall.
ykw fine I'll do it myself. in fact, i'll kill two birds with one stone and write one with sam's kid and have mj as a love interest.