Journal of Mistress Kat

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This is a depressingly short list of stuff that saw the light of the internets this year. However, the total word count of the year is actually much higher because in the autumn dreamersdare and I fell hard for Stray Kids and have since produced a truly obscene amount of words in several different fics all barring one which are in wip status. I did the tally to the best of my ability and in 2022 I wrote just of 51k of fic, the last ~20k of which are SKZ wips lol. In addition I wrote about the same amount for the 'Kat's Irreverent Readers' Digest' of Wheel of Time Re/Read Book Club over at tar_valon so... Words were had.

But anyway, traditional summary of stuff that actually got posted.

Fics written/posted in 2022 by Fandom:

방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS
Beat Change (Kim Namjoon|RM/Park Jimin, T, 3847 words) – on DW & on AO3
lift you up (hold you when you fall) (Kim Namjoon|RM/Min Yoongi|Suga, T, 4081 words) – on DW & on AO3
Tacit (Kim Namjoon|RM/Min Yoongi|Suga, M, 2920 words, co-authored with dreamersdare) – on DW & on AO3
Taste of Danger (Jeon Jungkook/Kim Seokjin|Jin, Kim Namjoon|RM/Min Yoongi|Suga, Jung Hoseok|J-Hope/Kim Taehyung|V/Park Jimin, T, 2775 words, co-authored with dreamersdare) – on DW & on AO3

Buzzfeed Unsolved RPF
time to sow (Ryan/Shane, G, 281 words) – on DW & on AO3

Good Omens
this ain't a scene (it's a goddamn heart chase) (Aziraphale/Crowley, G, 1692 words) – on DW & on AO3

Guardian
all the things you feared (i was) (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, M, 780 words) – on DW & on AO3
Secured (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, T, 1526 words) – on DW & on AO3

Marvel Cinematic Universe
Direct Action (Bruce/Tony, T, 681 words) – on DW & on AO3

Original Work
Peace Accords (OMC/OMC, Conquering General/Losing General, M, 2415 words) – on DW & on AO3

Shetland
Skipping Stone Ch2 (Duncan/Jimmy, M, 1701 words) – (on DW only when complete) on AO3

Stargate Atlantis
In Synch (Rodney McKay/Radek Zelenka, T, 1769 words) – on DW & on AO3

Stray Kids
in the course, in the night (Bang Chan/Lee Minho|Lee Know, T, 5343 words, co-authored with dreamersdare) – on DW & on AO3

阴阳师 | Yīn Yáng Shī | The Yin-yang Master (Movies - Guo Jingming)
Bittersweet (Bo Ya/Qing Ming, T, 459 words) - on DW & on AO3


Non-fic things:
The Sea to Love (Cover Art) (Shetland, art for smallfandombang) - on DW & on AO3
Stronger Together (Fanmix & Covers) (Sleepy Hollow, art for het_bigbang) - on DW & on AO3

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( Meme Questions )

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Firstly, surprise: I'm not dead. Just... Work has been absolute bugger and we shall not discuss the number of overtime hours. So, not dead, but just Knackered = haven't had energy to even sign on to DW for weeks and weeks and Weeks. And I miss people and fandom and I miss who I am among my people and fandom here, but it's just been work, eat, sleep with maybe some mindless media consumption in form of tv or fic in between. For the last couple of years I've given up reading fanfic for Lent but this is not the year to do so not even doing that.

Anyway. Making no promised but it may be that I've broken the back of some work things and may be that I will have some energy for actual updates and other posts before summer. Mayyyy  be.

However, in the meanwhile, whilst it's still at least the first quarter of the year...

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Fic and Art Round-Up 2020

Well, despite it being A YEAR and the fact that I failed both my getyourwordsout goal (wrote 86k/150k) and my auction commitments, I did produce some things.

** Marks co-authored round-robin fics


Fics posted in 2020 by Fandom:

Bandom
dancing's not a crime (unless you do it with me)** (Brendon/Spender, T, 830 words) – on DW  & on AO3
now i lay me down to sleep (MCR gen, T, 520 words) – on DW & on AO3
scratch your excuse (stitch your noose)** (Patrick/Pete, T, 685 words) – on DW & on AO3
shine a light (burn it bright) (Frank/Mikey, G, 506 words) – on DW & on AO3 
Tithe (Ryan/Brendon/Jon/Spencer, T, 618 words) – on DW & on AO3
was blind (but now i see) (Frank/Mikey, T, 1665 words) – on DW & on AO3
we can live forever (if you've got the time)** (Gerard/Mikey, T, 954 words) – on DW & on AO3

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Smudge (Tara/Willow, G, 150 words) – on DW & on AO3
The Sun Crown (Tara/Willow, G, 239 words) – on DW & on AO3

Buzzfeed Unsolved RPF
i have my reasons (call it my defense) (Ryan/Shane, T, 666 words) – on DW & on AO3

Deadpool
Retrogression (Logan & Wade, T, 576 words) – on DW & on AO3

Doctor Who
Fix-It (Ten/Jack, G, 303 words) – on DW & on AO3
Open Wide (Ten/Jack, T, 364 words) – on DW & on AO3

Firefly
talk's cheap and so’s your mouth (Mal/Jayne, T, 1336 words) – on DW & on AO3

Good Omens
bright my hopes, and soft** (Aziraphale/Crowley, G, 828 words) – on DW & on AO3

Guardian
restraint (release) (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, E, 6364 words) – on DW & on AO3
Second Act (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, G, 100 words) – on DW & on AO3

Guardian RPF
let me hear your body talk (Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong, E, 115995 words) – on DW & on AO3

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
the sweetest fruit (Gretel/Hansel, M, 227 words) – on DW & on AO3

Harry Potter
Fac Mihi Viam (Harry & Sirius gen, T, 7900 words) – on DW & on AO3
Liminal (Remus/Sirius, T, 554 words) – on DW & on AO3

Hawaii Five-0
Cut to the quick** (Danny/Steve, T, 532 words) – on DW & on AO3
play to win, love to lose** (Danny/Steve, T, 933 words) – on DW & on AO3
(un)said (Danny/Steve, T, 664 words) – on DW & on AO3

Life on Mars
Provocation (Gene/Sam, T, 620 words) – on DW & on AO3
Scattershot**  (Gene/Sam, T, 1202 words) – on DW & on AO3

Marvel Cinematic Universe
your scent on me (for many days) (Bruce/Tony, T, 2446 words) – on DW & on AO3

Mission Impossible (Movies)
realignment (Will/Ethan, T, 2436 words) – on DW & on AO3

NCIS
gotta have faith (Tim/Tony, G, 150 words) – on DW & on AO3
Shelter (Tim/Tony, G, 366 words) – on DW & on AO3

Sense8
revolución del corazón (Hernando/Lito, T 512 words) – on DW & on AO3

Shetland
the reason comes on the common tongue (of your loving me) (Duncan/Jimmy, T, 12158 words) – on DW & on AO3

Supernatural
Priority Claim** (Sam/Dean, T, 1181 words) – on DW & on AO3

Supernatural RPF
push comes to shove comes to pull** (Jeff/Jensen, T, 409 words) – on DW & on AO3

Strictly Come Dancing RPF
misstep (miss you)** (Bruno/Craig, G 973 words) – on DW & on AO3

The Witcher
Toss A Bone To Your Witcher (Geralt/Jaskier, E, 2340 words) – on DW & on AO3


Non-fic things:
I Wade Through Full Lands - Book Cover on DW & on AO3
Lavender for Luck (Art) & the only remedy for love (is to love more) (Mix) on DW & on AO3
The Body Beneath The Blossom - Book Cover on DW & on AO3
Three GeeWay Wallpapers on DW & on AO3


Meme Questions

Total: 24 fics + 4 art + 1 mix
Total Word Count Posted: ~92k (includes all the co-authored round robin fics)


Leitmotifs of the year:

• Round Robins fuck yeah! pushkin666, dreamersdare and I had many fangirl vid nights to make up for the loss of originally planned in person ones (though we did manage it in July) and started writing Round Robins to get the creative juices going and it was So Much Fun! Otherwise... New fandoms, old fandoms, all the fandoms?
• And also Big Fat Nothing in the latter quarter of the year because work got shitty

Most popular story:
By metric of hits and kudos, it's Toss A Bone To Your Witcher. By metric of comments, Fac Mihi Viam, which also comes close second with hits and kudos. First I kind of understand because Witcher fandom is still indiscriminately thirsty. The second was the unexpected runaway success of the year. It's older fandom, it's gen... Would not have bet on this story to get the attention it did.

My best story this year:
But I love all my children? Okay, okay, Fac Mihi Viam I am actually pleased with because of the it manages to handle the subject matter with some subtlety. i have my reasons (call it my defense) delivers the atmosphere and impact. now i lay me down to sleep delivers... something. Ugh. Weirdness?

Hardest story to write:
let me hear your body talk but only because of the research element. I spent a lot of time watching muya Thai videos on youtube and googling yoga poses.

Easiest story to write:
Idk... Maybe the round robins because they were just fun things done in short bits and no one cared about plot that much. I also remember being kinda inspired for shine a light (burn it bright) because dreamersdare's story demanded more.

Story most underappreciated by the universe, in my opinion:
now i lay me down to sleep? To be fair, I wouldn't click on it either, being as it is 500 words of weird gen dreamscape psychological horror.

Most fun story to write:
talk's cheap and so's your mouth because I really enjoy Jayne's voice. Oh and Toss A Bone To Your Witcher (no, I do not accept any criticism on the title) because Jaskier's pov turned out to be fun too. Oh, Retrogression because Deadpool! And actually, all the round robin ficlets because they involved pushkin666  and dreamersdare 

Fluffiest story:
Hmmm...?? A lot of my ficlets tended toward fluff. Sun Crown and bright my hopes, and soft are both about flowers and feelings. Smudge, revolución del corazón, Shelter and gotta have faith all offer sweet relationship moments. Of the longer ones, the reason comes on the common tongue (of you loving me) brings the slowburn friends to lovers romance of maybe not fluff per se but feelings. Oh, oh your scent on me (for many days) has clothes sharing! That's the winner!

Most angsty story:
Idk... Liminal? Because Remus is kind of Like That. Realignment has some h/c but not really angst... Fac Mihi Viam deals with Harry's less that nurturing upbringing though not explicitly but assuming events proceed as canon it casts whole layer of angst to the thing so...

Sexiest story:
restraint (release), also affectionately known as Absolute Filth. It's 6k of edging, oral fixation and every fantasy scenario for the pairing I could shove in there and it is, well, Absolutely Filthy. You're welcome. let me hear your body talk brings the prolonged sexual tension though so if you like your edging more emotional, that's the one for you...

"Holy crap, that's wrong, even for you" story:
I don't know why I keep this question in... I didn't really write anything particularly outrageous this year. Incest, explicit sex, demons, dystopian themes, nightmares, dark fey all featured. Eh.

Biggest Disappointment:
Not finishing my Get Your Words Out target and not finishing my auction fics. This academic year has been the Absolute Worst I've ever experienced in terms of of issues and workloads, to say nothing of the continued remote working which brings its own challenges. Sep-Dec was mostly a wash when it came to creativity because I was just too exhausted to string a sentence together, quite literally some days. So far this year hasn't been much better either... Sigh.

Biggest Surprise:
Fac Mihi Viam because of the reasons explained above. Did not expect it to make much of an impression but apparently it did. i have my reasons (call it my defense) has a stupid hit count for something is just a little ficlet but apparently BFU fandom are still horny for demon!Shane so...

Most Unintentionally Telling Story:
I mean... I'm not exactly subtle about my kinks... Beyond that, I don't think I wrote anything this year that was particularly, idk, revealing. Professional knowledge was used in some fics to a certain degree. Kinks were indulged.

Story I haven't yet written, but intend/hope to:
Just want to have the creative energy to write something, honestly. I have wips on the go and ideas but I just don't know when/how I'm going to claw back the time and mental fortitude.

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This is my second Mixtape Exchange fill. This one is for pocky_slash who wanted a Psych mix of upbeat songs and silly hi-jinks. I was delighted that Gus&Shawn was something that pocky_slash gave as an optional focus of the mix and that's exactly what I have gone for here. Like Gus and Shawn's relationship in the show, the mix can be interpreted to portray either an awesome and loving BFFness or... something a bit more.

The mix is very much from Shawn's pov and there's a little bit of a chronological narrative so that the first few songs are more, well not angsty by no means, but perhaps a bit more cynical/sarky. But then Shawn settles into his new career and starts going steady rekindles his epic BFFship with Gus.


You Know That's Right! - zip at MU, includes songs and full size covers.


( Track list with lyric tasters under the cut. )

Until My Dying Day – a Sam/Dean mix

  

Mix: kat_lair / Mistress Kat
Covert art: razorxrosary

Notes: This is the story of Sam and Dean; lives entwined, days numbered, love like dying.

Thanks: go to razorxrosary who is my first point of call for any and all Supernatural graphics and who once again has put together covers that take my breath away.

 

Soul Overturned - an evil!Sam mix

Mix: Mistress Kat / kat_lair
Cover art: razorxrosary

    

Notes: I have deep and unholy love for evil!Sam, and a firm conviction that what the world really needed was another fanmix dedicated to him. This time with strong Wincestual overtones. Because that’s the way I swing, baby! Thousand thanks to the disgustingly talented razorxrosary for the shiver-inducing cover art, be sure to let her know how amazing it is.

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But wait! That’s not the end yet! evilsam_spn is running a fic/vid/art Challenge connected to the Mix. If you feel inspired by the music, go sign up here.

Strange Affection – House/Wilson Fanmix by Mistress Kat / kat_lair

Cover art version 1: Silver / silversolitaire

 

Cover art version 2: Ruthy / teapot_stains

 

Notes on the mix: The relationship between House and Wilson is a multi-layered one. I can - and often prefer to - see the playful, easy camaraderie, filled with pranks and banter and genuine caring. However, there is also a darker side to their relationship that I find absolutely fascinating: the co-dependency, the lies and deceit, the seeming inability to truly give or accept what they really want and need from each other... This fanmix concentrates on these aspects of the House/Wilson relationship, the ones that are perhaps... less-than-healthy.

Notes on the cover art: Being completely hopeless when it comes to graphics, I wisely asked for help. Two wonderful ladies, Silver and Ruthy, answered my plea. They gracefully donated their talent, putting together two beautiful and distinct versions of cover art. You, the listener, are thus doubly spoiled. Please, please let them know how talented they both are.