Journal of Mistress Kat

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Wow Kat, what's that sound? Well, glad you asked. It's the sound of me SMASHING through my 75k getyourwordsout goal! BOOM! We're currently >78k and there's still a day to go.

*smug*

Much of the words came from a) co-writing done with dreamersdare and b) because I churned over 24k for Spooktober fics/ficlets, even if some of that churning happened after Christmas lol. Posting most of them back-to-back was a really interesting experience actually and I have some reflections.

( (under the cut, it's all very self indulgent) )


I was always going to do a Spooktober Masterlist for my own amusement. I know I'm about to list all of these for the 2023 Fic Round Up soon (well... Sometime in Jan?) anyway but there everything will be by fandom so let me just induldge my love of lists *pets the list* so, here, Spooktober Fics in posting order (links will take you to AO3 but if you prefer DW for reading, everything is under the spooktober 2023 tag.

( List under a cut due to length! )

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I have signed up getyourwordsout again because I love their spreadsheets. I've gone for the 150k optimistically even though I've never achieved that. It's good to have goals or something?

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Finally, I wanted to flail about being podficced!!

The lovely pezzax_podfics podficced under his wing (TXT, Choi Soobin/Choi Yeonjun) and turned a tiny ficlet into a full-blown audio drama with music and sound effects and it is so, so extremely cool I absolutely lost mine when listening. Also, please appreciate the cover art! (akdkjsj wings!)

The most awesome pieces0fstars podficced Volcano (Stray Kids, Han Jisung/Lee Minho) and holy shit the emotional impact the recording packs... Look, I obviously had a lot of emotions about the concepts which I wrote immediately after the song dropped. But the thing is, I wrote the fic so I knew what was in the fucker and yet, YET, I was absolutely choked up, clutching my heart, because the performance got that exact frayed, desperate edge I tried to convey in words and... Yeah, please listen.

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Title: Unintended
Author: kat_lair 
Fandom: Stray Kids
Pairing: Han Jisung | Han/Lee Minho | Lee Know
Tags: Misunderstandings, Jealousy, First Kiss
Rating: G
Word count: 2,209
Disclaimer: Make-believe!

Summary: “I didn’t mean it like that,” Minho says. “I didn’t… Jisung-ah.” He says it even though he knows it’s too late. Maybe he should just shut up. His mouth has done enough damage already.

Author Notes: I needed to stretch my writing muscles a bit and asked for prompts. dreamersdare offered “I didn’t mean it like that.” Unbetaed, if you spot a typo, please do tell me.

Unintended on AO3

( Unintended )

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Title: Whatever
Author: kat_lair / Mistress Kat
Fandom: Stray Kids
Pairing: Bang Chan/Lee Felix, background/implied pairings
Tags:  First Kiss, Love Confessions, Fluff, Feelings
Rating: T
Word count: 3,883
Disclaimer: Make-believe!

Summary:

“Ooooh, an order, is it?” Felix says, mock scared and teasing. “And if I don’t? What are you gonna do with me, you and your ‘leader privileges’?”

And Chan doesn’t know what possesses him. It’s not the alcohol, he’s not had nearly enough to blame it on that. It’s not the situation, there’s nothing unusual about their interactions, nothing particularly charged. It’s not even Felix himself, because no matter how cute and approachable he looks right now, how tactile he’s been all night, if that was all it took then surely Chan would’ve crumbled a long time ago. But something clicks in his brain, a filter switch flicking to ‘off’ position all by itself, and what comes out of Chan’s mouth is the unvarnished truth.

“Whatever you want me to,” he says.

Author Notes: Ngl, the crucial piece of Chan/Felix dialogue came to me in a dream and then didn’t leave me alone until I wrote it out. Take that as you will, likely as a sign of just how much SKZ content I’ve been consuming lately. As always, thanks to dreamersdare for beta and general indulgence.

Whatever on AO3

( Whatever )

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no. no, i cannot. this is too much emotional damage that has been inflicted on me this week by korean boys. been batted around the emotional scales like a fucking ping pong ball by Yoongi already and now SKZ drop this like 'hey, how about, idk tenth album in like ten seconds' and 'oh look we went for the over dressed and unhinged concept for the lols'



i choked on air at chan's segment. no one talk to me. goodbye.

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Whoop, right let's go! More recs, today all Stray Kids.

even though i have it all (i want you more, more) (Chan/Felix, Minho/Jisung, Hyunjin/Changbin, AU) - Who's surprised I love the sugarbaby/sugardaddy trope? That's right, not a single person. I mean, have you seen the power dynamics on this thing? Hubba, hubba. Right, so, here we have Chan who has more money than he knows what to do with but absolutely no inclination to take care of himself and Felix who could give him the motivation to do just that, for the right price. In the end, it is all Minho's fault This is just... so soft? But also like rife with mutual idiocy (there's a point, after they get together, where I literally screamed CHRIS YOU IDIOT at the fic and you will recognise it when it comes). This is such a great fic which makes it doubly tragic that the original author deleted all their fics and this is the only one that has been re-uploaded with permission. *moment of silence*

can't read your mind (can read your playlists) (Chan/Changbin, canon compliant) - okay, so Bin isn't stalking Chan's Spotify or anything, he's just... using it to get a read on his moods and when he might need to eat, take a break, is feeling down, or... It's like, helpful. For completely normal 'taking care of a friend reasons'. Shut up. This is like a song fic but in a whole different way and it is utterly delightful.

kiss me more (Chan/Jisung, AU) - Mutual pining roommates with weed. It is exactly what you would expect. They get high, things get said, then they make out. It's not a complicated fic but it is well written and funny and sweet.

keep the window open for me (Minho/Jisung, Chan/Changbin, Seungmin/Felix, AU) - Jisung's roommates Chan and Changbin keep fucking in shared areas which results in him making the very adult decision to escape the situation via his window... And ends up in Minho's apartment. Via his window. It... becomes a thing. This is hilarious on several levels, the secondary pairings are all great, it has an alternating pov which I love a lot, and the developing relationship between Minho and Jisung is very much on point, including the misunderstanding and how Minho goes about fixing it.

thought you might be mine (Seungmin/Jeongin, Minho/Jisung, AU) - aka the knee sock porn. No wait, I'm serious, but it is also an excellent rendition of the 'just practicing kissing, and then sex, and oh wait casual sex leads to less casual feelings' trope, with angst and feelings and equally idiotic Minsung background pairing. With bonus 'Seungmin is really into Jeongin in knee highs' which is... not an unpleasant image. And there is also like... a very definite, very delicious power dynamics switchy vibe happening. Oh, and there's a sequel which is sadly still wip but is looking to be dirty af.

Totally (not) a Bad Idea (Minho/Jisung, canon compliant) - You know that when the freeform tag says 'accidentally sugar daddying your bestie' I'm gonna be all over that shit like flies on honey. It is exactly as delicious as you'd imagine. Minho kind of... gets off on buying pretty things for Jisung. The adult thing obviously is to keep doing that and hope it takes a while before Jisung notices. Honestly, this premise hits so many of my buttons

like candy sugar so sweet (Chan/Felix, AU) - A short little coffeeshop AU that is just sweet. Absolutely perfect read over coffee break, can attest.

all the clouds been lifted (Chan/Felix, canon compliant) - In which Minho is tired of the pining and a plan is hatched. In which Chan is absolutely devastated to learn that Felix routinely kisses everyone in the group except him (this is not, strictly speaking entirely true of course). This is funny, has meddling friends and a healthy dose of people gossiping over text which I love, so.

falling thru the cracks (Seungmin/Changbin, Minho/Jisung, AU) - in which Seungmin and Changbin keep hooking up at parties and then they start going to parties for the sole purpose of having an excuse to hook up, you know, like normal friends. Bonus bottom Changbin and top Seungmin which I enjoy, immensely.

Unsteady (Seungmin/Hyunjin, Minho/Jisung, Chan/Felix, AU) - This is 62k university AU where dance major Hyunjin and music major Seungmin are forced to pair up for a final year show despite disliking each other immensely. Think enemies to friends to lovers slow burn with the 'expressing my feelings through my artistic medium' and more competency kink than you can shake a stick at. This is so, so good, gives us alternative povs, great side pairings and friendships, absolute comfort read.

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[yes, hi, I'm alive and aware that an update is overdue, I'm... working on it]

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Title: Volcano
Author: kat_lair / Mistress Kat
Fandom: Stray Kids
Pairing: Han Jisung | Han/Lee Minho | Lee Know
Tags: Love Confessions, Feelings, Mutual Pining, Inspired by Music, Canon Compliant
Rating: G
Word count: 2,402
Disclaimer: Very clearly not true.

Summary:
Volcano on AO3

( Volcano )
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Firstly, OMFG FALL OUT BOY ARE FINALLY ABOUT TO DROP SOME NEW MUSIC. It's been SO FUCKING LONG but in five days! I am literal grabby hands for this, PatrickPeteJoeAndyMyBoys! The teaser clip gives strong Infinity on High vibes and oh yes, oh yes, the lyrics do not disappoint... every lover's got a little dagger...

In the current obsession news, here are two of the recent Golden Disc Award performances that gave me feelings.

Here's Stray Kids in outfits that don't feel exactly... legal. Some observations:

• Minho's shirt zipper had one job and yet...
• Chan seems physically incapable to stop smiling. He's So Happy to be on stage with his boys, hyping them up
• Binnie's glasses
• Jeongin is following his leader's example re crop tops. I'm not... Actually, you know what, I am angry about it. HOW DARE?
• Felix is doing the same with the bicep cuff. But also his little hair clip ponytail is leaving me slightly feral ngl.
• The growling. Unnecessary. Chan and Hyunjin, check yourselves pls
• Jisung's little tickle of Chan's chin? idfk why but it was cute
• Freeze was an inspired choice here between the two other more upbeat/lighter songs

And here's SEVENTEEN... in outfits that are... some kind of mix between raincoats and combat fabric? I'm not entirely sure it works but... Some observations:

• Who gave Hoshi a flamethrower?
• Woozi is feeling himself throughout this performance and it shows. Sir, can you stop, uh, handling your mic quite so, uh. Look at him eating up the start of Don Quixote
• S. Coups' hair is so fluffyyy
• I'm SO HAPPY we got Cheers live stage. Look at Hoshi's face just before he throws it back,  pure smug glee. Justified.
• Is Seungkwan feeling up S. Coups' chest part of the choreo? Perhaps?

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and by 'them' i mean these two performances







look. look, it's just... a lot all in all. pretty sure i watched both of these vids with a hand clamped firmly over my mouth because it's late and people are sleeping and i had to muffle several outraged squeaks. special mention this time go to Minho who winked every. single. time. the camera focused on his face and since it's a good face that was a lot of winking, and Jeongin who... well, he straight up eyefucked that camera and i for one did not sign up for that, so.

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Title: in the course, in the night
Author: kat_lair / Mistress Kat & dreamersdare 
Fandom: Stray Kids
Pairing: Bang Chan/Lee Minho | Lee Know
Tags: Drunken Confessions, In Vino Veritas, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss, Feelings, Canon Compliant
Rating: T
Word count: 5,243
Disclaimer: Very clearly not true.

Summary:

“Lee Minho,” Chan says, fond amusement bleeding through into his voice that Minho can clearly hear if the way his eyes narrow are any indication. “Are you drunk?”

“No,” Minho answers with a straight face. It crumbles even faster than normal though and the next second he’s giggling, his whole body shaking in Chan’s arms.

Author notes: Well, this is the first of our approx fifty (it's an exaggeration sure but not as big as you'd think) SKZ fics to see the light of DW/AO3. Evidence suggests that Minho showing up at Chan's door tipsy and sincere is entirely plausible. And of course Chan carrying everyone around like his favourite stuffed toys is canon. Title is from Bang Chan and Lee Know's Drive (a song about driving, obviously) though it suggests something spicier than what you get in this particular fic. Idk, stay tuned, fic with higher rating will drop at some point in the future.


in the course, in the night on AO3

( in the course, in the night )

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Am I slow catching up with content? Yes. Because despite what it looks like, I can't in fact spend 100% of my time staring at their faces. However. This... They are SO PSYCHED to be sharing a stage with their role model '(legendary like Tiger JK!' Chan's little shout!) and generally just... stupidly badass and adorable at the same time. How is that even possible? The whole thing is akin to slam poetry set to some music.



p.s. in case you're wondering, yes i am aware of RM's album, i have listened/watched the title track and, as predicted, been an emotional wreck about it, which is why i have not yet listened to the whole album because i don't have the time to just like feel feelings for a full day which is what's going to happen.


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