Room of Guidance 
♫ Dearly Beloved ♫"You won't fade. You can't fade. No power can defeat you—not the light, not the dark. So don't run from the light—and don't fear the darkness. Both will make you stronger."
Room of Guidance
Hard work and determination. Have no interest in 'good' design. Be tired.
Your text is all centered?
Not all. But yes, it is. In most cases, that is deliberate. In some cases, it is because I am not very good at this, although I think I've finally figured out p align!
How accessible is your website?
At this current time, there is alt text on all three of the art pages, although I acknowledge there may be typos. Not sure what else to add? The aesthetic is kind of the point of the thing, too, so I don't see any point in changing that. I dunno, if you are someone who has an accessibility requirement or request, and you actually want to browse this website, please contact me here and I'll see if someone with my skills can do anything about it.
Why is there autoplay on desktop?
The design of this site is based on old fan pages on Geocities, which frequently had autoplay. On desktop, you should be able to mute the tab if it annoys you.
Why isn't there autoplay on desktop?
Your browser or extensions may be blocking it. There's also occasional jank.
Why is there no autoplay on mobile?
I'm not good at this.
Do the unFAQs get updated?
Yes. This page, website, and all its unFAQs are permanent works-in-progress. I may go back and randomly add a question to a section, or actually receive a question from someone who isn't me and answer it. Once this site is properly published, however, those updates will be things I compile into an entry for my RSS feed.
Many of these unFAQs are a bit boring right now because I just want to get this page 'done'. I'll try to think of more interesting questions for them later! Also, I am happy to actually answer (some of) the questions of other people, so if there's something you want to ask regarding my fics, art, or another topic, feel free.
Can I add you on Discord? Twitter? Dreamwidth, maybe?
Anyone is welcome to try, but I will probably not add you unless we have talked somewhere else, or a friend/your own behavior convinces me I should.
Did you have fun making up a guy to fight with in some of those unFAQs near the bottom of the page?
Not really, but I figured I might as well get the unpleasant stuff out of the way. Sorry, guy I made up.
Do you think the statement on the Entrance Hall page will convince anyone who doesn't agree with your views?
Honestly, no, and I expect only bad faith from that crowd. I don't argue or talk to strangers online anyway (although my above statement about accepting (some) questions might contradict that a little, heh). It's just there to outline my position, and to make it clear to people who disagree that they should probably go away.
Do the quotes at the top of each page mean anything?
Yes. Do you want to guess, or should I tell you?
Do you know how beautiful the moon is?
Yes. He is my love.
Is it unFAQ or unFAQs?
Both!
Because I want to.
Does it frighten you?
Not typically.
Do you think you're any good?
I do, a bit. Not great or brilliant, but good? Sure. Reading a wide variety of fics, original works (literary, classics, niche, a variety of genre, tradpub, selfpub, et cetera), nonfiction... The more I read, the more convinced I become that I'm not so bad, haha. I do kind of do whatever I want with punctuation, though.
Because I want to.
Does it frighten you?
Not typically.
Do you think you're any good?
Eh. I like to draw and it's important to me, but I do feel I'm a bit stagnant. My own fault, mostly. But it doesn't bother me so much. I still want to do it, in the end. I can't help but draw. Maybe one day I'll work harder to develop in a direction I like.
Assorted Kingdom Hearts fics. Repliku Hairpulling Existential thing for a Kink Bingo (it is Feb 2025 right now). I will also return to my Kingdom Hearts High School AU eventually.
Anything else planned?
A whole lot of things, but who knows when or if they will exist. I have some drafts for a couple of gift fics from years ago. I should do more of those and polish them up... I also want to do the 100 ships challenge, and finish off some fics which I started but never finished.
Red Wine, White Wine; Ode to a Beach Ball; Three Kisses for the King; Bank the Fire at Dawn; Family Planning; Extra Cheese; Safe; Thirteen; Harlem Sunset; Summer, Salty Sweet. They can be found here, here, and over here too, if you would like to read them.
Is this series complete?
Yes. It is also 2023, and as I have no fic leftovers from Akuroku Week 2019, there would thus be no sense in adding anything to this particular series.
What about the individual works in the series?
Yes, I would like to continue writing in some of the worlds I came up with for Akuroku Week 2019. In particular, I would like to write more works in the 1920s gangster universe established in 'Harlem Sunset'.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
It's been a while, so I can't remember the specifics. 'Red Wine, White Wine' was meant to evoke a feeling of intimacy, pleasure, and sensuality, and also some of the colors associated with Axel and Roxas. 'Ode to a Beach Ball' combines humor with seriousness regarding the words in the title; as for the reason why those specific words, the fic itself discusses that in more detail. 'Three Kisses for the King' has a 'heroic' and romantic feeling, I think. Again, the fic itself should make clear who the 'King' is. 'Bank the Fire at Dawn' creates a feeling of melancholy and finality; the title is referenced, though it is not a proper title drop. 'Family Planning' is about Axel and Roxas having a kid, 'Safe' is a sickfic, 'Thirteen' is about thirteen important moments in Axel and Roxas's life, 'Summer, Salty Sweet' makes vague reference to its title, and 'Extra Cheese' involves Axel as a pizza delivery guy. 'Harlem Sunset' is a noir phrase meaning 'a fatal wound inflicted in a knife fight' and also felt appropriate considering Axel and Roxas's ties to twilight.
As for how I came up with them, in most cases it was 'in a rush'. I don't find coming up with titles too hard, to be honest. I usually have a general idea before starting, and once a fic is ready to be posted there's usually a handful of obvious choices. I just pick one I like and go with it. It's not something one should overthink, especially for fanfic.
You wrote these in a rush, huh?
Yes. Aside from 'Harlem Sunset', most of them were written the day before/day of their respective Akuroku Week 2019 prompt. Their editing is a little weaker than that used for most of my later works, although there were also just some things I hadn't learned at the time of writing them. I also think I left out the accent in Naminé's name in some of them. I think they're still decent fics overall, though.
First Touch; Another Touch. They can be found here, here, and here too.
Is this series complete?
Yes. At this time I have no plans to add additional works to this series.
What about the individual works in the series?
The individual works in this series are set in the same universe, so the above answer applies.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
They're stories about the senses; in particular, our sense of touch. They are some of my most delightfully simple and boring titles. I hope they act as a reminder to anyone who likes my work and also writes that sometimes it's fine if your fics have the most plain titles in all the world.
Why those four characters?
They're the main characters from Chain of Memories (or just about) and I thought it would be interesting to explore their relationship. I wouldn't have minded including characters like Donald and Goofy, or someone like Axel, but I also feel like their inclusion would create a slightly different mood as I shifted the work to accommodate their unique personalities and behaviors, or, in Axel's case, the particular relationship he had with (Replica) Riku. The stories were not intended to be long, and I felt those four worked best; they were rather intimately tied up with each other, so why not take that further?
Tropical Balm; Tropical Buzz; Tropical Bloom. They can be found here, here, and over here too.
Is this series complete?
Yes. However, I may write in this universe again.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
'Tropicana' means, to my understanding, 'things relating to the tropics; things that are tropical' and other such. Funnily enough, I can't find anything online anymore to confirm this. I just remember the word being used that way...and also a juice with the name. Funnily enough, not a juice made by the company Tropicana. Regardless, it's just the word Tropic with the -ana suffix. You can read about how the word works here. The individual titles 'Tropical Balm', 'Tropical Buzz', and 'Tropical Bloom' are all things that could be considered 'Tropicana', and evoke feelings of the tropics, of summer, of a particular world and feeling. Balm refers to the feeling of humid air on skin, a sense of cloying, of healing, of sticking to skin. Buzz refers to the intense 'sound' of heat, and, I suppose, of insects; while one can drown in both balm and buzz, buzz represents something sharper, droning, overwhelming in ways both positive and negative. Bloom refers to both flowers and the act of blossoming; a beautiful sort of awakening, a bright splash of color after a storm. I think each fic in the series reflects the word chosen for it.
Any songs you associate with the series?
'Eternity ~Memories of Light and Waves~', by Takahito Eguchi and Noriko Matsueda. It's from the FFX-2 soundtrack. I believe I may have also listened to 'Ami', both the original and piano collections versions. The original was by Nobuo Uematsu, and the piano collections version was arranged by Shirō Hamaguchi and performed by Shinko Ogata. There were likely other songs in there too.
Why doesn't Kairi get a story told from her perspective?
Kairi has a mysterious feeling in canon, I think, and I chose to preserve that in this series. I also think 'Tropical Balm' needed to be told from Selphie's perspective. It establishes her story, her personality, her life, and most importantly, her feelings. I needed to show how the people of Destiny Islands remember their experiences after everything that occurred in the original Kingdom Hearts. I needed a story told by an outsider to the events involving Keyblades and Ansems and Princesses of Heart, and because it's also a story about Selphie being in love with Kairi, it had to be her. Kairi and her thoughts and feelings needed to exist in a world both near and far to Selphie, and to the reader.
In contrast, 'Buzz' and 'Bloom' needed to obscure Selphie's feelings. Since each story is about her relationship with Kairi, Riku, and Sora, the latter two stories would be told from Riku and Sora's perspectives. They needed to be told from the perspective of people who have ceased to exist, for a time, in a world of unchanging, endless summer; from people who exist outside Selphie and Kairi's changed relationship. They're also smaller stories, told primarily in the span of an afternoon rather than a year.
All that said, I wouldn't mind doing a story from Kairi's perspective. This universe feels ripe for more emotions, more play, more fics. But I think, in the context of the 'Tropicana' series, it is done.
Silver; Shattering; Void. They can be found here, here, and over here too.
Is this series complete?
Yes. At this time, I have no plans to add additional works to this series.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
'Complications in Silver and Gold' is a reference to hierarchies of worth; of self; of life; what they are and why they destroy people. 'Silver' is a reference to Naminé's understanding of herself as a Nobody; a lesser form of life, and, in her case, a lesser version of Kairi. If Sora had loved and chosen her, by her own perception, she would have become 'Gold'. A higher form of life. Someone like (Replica) Riku could not give this to her, because by the standards of those around her (and, in all honesty, by herself) he is worth even less than her. He is 'silver' too, or something below it. Of course, the very idea that 'gold' is worth more than 'silver' is questionable, and even the very idea that either metal is uniquely special in comparison to other things is something constructed by humans, rather than by some natural law.
'Shattering' explores the nature of (Replica) Riku's shattered psyche. He is also a 'lesser' version of another person, and he has similar longings; to be loved, to be made real, to be chosen as one of the worthy. It also explores the choice to protect someone who broke him, who sacrificed him for herself, because he understands more than anything the state of being 'less than'.
Finally, 'Void' is told from (Dark Replica) Riku's perspective, and explores his rage at (Replica) Riku's dismissal of their existence, and what that ultimately costs him. It's about the horror of having your own affirmation of worth rejected and having no power to stop the consequences when you are forced into the hierarchy and found wanting, found worthless, and condemned to non-existence.
Schneeweißchen, Rosenrot, und Nachtschwarz. It can be found here, here, and here.
Is this series complete?
No. At this time, I have plans to add works to this series.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
'Tales from Another Kingdom' is in reference to the fact all the stories are Kingdom Hearts fairytale porn pastiches. 'Schneeweißchen, Rosenrot, und Nachtschwarz' is a retitling of 'Schneeweißchen und Rosenrot', otherwise known as 'Snow-White and Rose-Red'. The title refers to the three main characters; Naminé, Kairi, and Xion. Nachtschwarz means Night-Black.
The chapter titles 'Der Rote Wolf und der Bergkatze', 'Zwischenakt: Haus und Herd', and 'Der Mond Panther und der Bär des Unbekannt' mean 'The Red Wolf and the Mountain Cat', 'Intermission: House and Hearth', and 'The Moon Panther and the Bear of the Unknown'. Or at least, I hope that's what they mean. 'Zwischenakt: Haus und Herd' was called 'Zwischenakt: Haus und Hof' up until 27 May 2023, because I thought 'hof' meant 'hearth'. Whoops. I don't know German. 'Haus und Hof' isn't too terrible a mistake, at least.
You can find a brief discussion regarding the chapter title 'Der Rote Wolf und der Bergkatze' beneath said chapter in the comments section.
What's with the point of view switching like that?
I didn't want to write the sex scenes from a singular perspective, but it also wasn't the sort of story where frequent scene breaks would have been appropriate. Thus, I elected to 'head hop' via the magical powers of mental and emotional connection the characters share. :> One of the perks of working with fairytales and magical beings; experimenting with perspective!
Sweet of the Sunset, Salt of the Moon. It can be found here, here, and here.
Is this series complete?
No. At this time, I have plans to add works to this series.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
'Bound in Blue, Black, Red, and Gold' refers to the main 'color' of each of the four central characters; blue for Isa, black for Xion, red for Axel, and gold for Roxas. Bound is a reference to their relationship, and especially to the BDSM aspect of it. 'Sweet of the Sunset, Salt of the Moon' incorporates various symbols of the four characters. Sea-salt ice cream is described as 'sweet, but salty', the colors of sunset feature blue, black, red, and gold, and, of course, the sunset is especially meaningful to these characters. Twilight Town is their home in the story, and also where most of their relationships developed. The moon is one of Isa's symbols, but also may be meaningful for Xion and Roxas, who as a replica and a Nobody, are partial reflections of others, even if they are also uniquely themselves.
The chapter titles 'Puppet', 'See Me', 'Unforgettable', and 'Divine Redemption' each incorporate some element of the character; Xion's experiences as a 'puppet' and the many reversals of that role in her D/s relationships, especially with Isa, come to play in 'Puppet'. Roxas's need to be seen for himself and loved for himself come to the fore in 'See Me', which also makes fun use of another character's blindfold. Axel's own desire to be remembered, as well as the other issues with memory that come into his relationship with his various partners, are at the center of 'Unforgettable' and its rough sex tape shenanigans. A combination of mystical lunar ritual and Isa's feelings of guilt and desire take the stage—or the bed-altar—in 'Divine Redemption'.
At the Altar of His Love, Function: Blush, and Heavy Petting. They can be found here, here, and over here too.
Is this series complete?
No. There will be twenty-five fics in this series.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
'At the Altar of His Love' is a reference to a line within the fic, as well as the repeated 'altar' imagery. Makes sense in context.
None yet.
Is this series complete?
No.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
No answer.
This is a placeholder.
Is this series complete?
No.
Why those titles? How did you come up with them?
This is a placeholder.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
It's a reference to the song, 'At Dusk, I Will Think Of You...' from the Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days soundtrack. It forms the sentence 'At dusk, I will think of you, and the sun never sets in Twilight Town.' I think this 'sentence' is the implication of the song's title, and felt appropriate to use for my fic. That said, I'm sure Yoko Shimomura was not thinking of Axel masturbating on a clocktower when she wrote it.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Katára is a word for 'curse' in Greek. It's a reference to the pseudo-Greek setting of Hercules and the specific sort of magic used in the story. I am not Greek, and therefore cannot comment on how serious or silly the word might sound out of context (or in it).
Any trivia?
Hit-wise, this is my most popular fic. Smut fics usually are very popular hit-wise, for multiple reasons (often sought, often revisited, people are a little more forgiving of poor writing if they can get off to a kink they like, et cetera). Almost all my explicit fics, and most of my mature ones, are near the top of my hit rankings. It gets a little more complicated with less popular ships, or works with a heavy story-theme-setting-unpopular kink focus alongside the smut that might be a little overwhelming.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Do you think this fic should have been called 'Like and Unalike' instead?
Sometimes.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
The sight of Cloud Strife in a dress is fascinating. The characters also experience fascination at their own 'other-gendered' performance, since it is atypical for them, but also pleasurable. Also, the word just has a 'glittering' feeling.
Have you ever considered writing more in this universe?
Yes. I used to do twitter-rambles regarding the setting and relationships. It's a series in which something exceptionally violent exists within a 'sugared', romanticized setting; a siloed-away-from-reality feeling. I might write something else for it one day, but we'll see.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
While I'm personally not all that bothered by Yen Sid's treatment of Sora the way some are, I thought it would be interesting to explore his own potential feelings of failure regarding Sora's fate post-Kingdom Hearts 3. It makes for a compelling contrast to the usual state of things, in which he is the teacher, the mentor, the judge. Yet the title also suggest to me a lesson, or a philosophical/academic treatize on the topic, and thus still calls to mind that role even as he contemplates his inabilities, his weakness, the 'letting down' of those he watched over. The mentor remains life's student, and must put what it teaches him into words; a tome titled 'On Failure'.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
As is often the case, I think the story itself makes a good case for the title. I think it's an impactful line; a thought that summarizes Sora's perspective and motivations.
How could you make Sora do that?
Easily, because while some people might be more likely to do what Sora does in this fic, the reality is that anyone can do what Sora does in this fic. Being a lovely, warm person doesn't change that. And I did actually consider Sora's behavior (both Sora and Data Sora) when coming up with reasons and (sometimes contradictory) motivations that could work in tandem and keep him in character.
'Mystery Meat Riku', really?
If people were funny and interesting they would use that tag too. I don't even eat meat or encourage meat-eating and I think it's amusing.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Mickey mentions in (Re:)Chain of Memories that his experiences with Riku help him to see Light and Darkness in new (implied to be better) ways, and Riku himself is symbolically tied to the dawn. Also, the very basic imagery of new beginnings, new steps in a relationship, and how 'romantic' sunrises can be.
Do you actually ship Mickey Mouse and Riku?
Yes. I'm pretty unapologetic with my everyone/everyone shipping in Kingdom Hearts, and I think the relationship between Mickey and Riku is very special. And I am right.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Nostalgia and 'the need to go' (take action, to leave, to find Sora) are both important parts of this fic. Even before naming it, though, I did consider 'the need to go' might cause other things to come to mind. Still, I think it's a wistful title.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
It's a fic with elements of exhibitionism, 'putting on a show', and exploration (especially of one's more unusual and erotic attributes). It's also about sharing our more vulnerable sides.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Vanitas has opinions on art therapy. Deep.
Was the fic inspired by another?
Sort of. I considered shipping Vanitas and Isa/Saïx due to these fics, here and here, by xenoglossia. My approach is a little different, and set in the Kingdom Hearts universe, but I thought I would acknowledge the ship inspiration.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
There's a rhyming poem in the fic itself from which the title is derived, although I can't recall if the title or the poem came first. Regardless, I hoped it would evoke a sense of fairytale wonder and magic.
Why a donkey? And would you like to ramble about non-human animal stuff for a moment?
Well, that's just what happens on Prankster's Paradise. I'm actually not a big fan of most non-human animal symbolism; I think a lot of it is ignorant of variation across species (a loose enough concept in and of itself), disregards the various communities/colonies/cultures/environments that aid in the creation of difference within species, and erases the singular experiences/'individualities' of the animals themselves. Does an ass being 'an ass' actually have anything much to do with the wide varieties of asses themselves, or is it just a particular human culture erasing those many animals and then judging them as a group based on that cultural perception and/or species-story? Granted, I don't think the use of symbols necessarily implies an agreement (even if a text appears 'uncritical') and I don't think people are wrong for wanting to utilize, explore, or have an attachment to them. Plus, plush cartoon donkeys really are very cute.
My critique for myself is that at the time of writing I hadn't really reflected on what I thought about non-human animals very much. I don't mind writing things (even things I disagree with) if I know I'm doing it.
At this current time (Oct 2024) I like to approach the fic with the idea that it's more the vulnerability and difference of his new form, moreso than any (implied lower) 'animal instinct', that frees something in Riku. It's not some human-animal binary at play, even if it may appear or be assumed to be that way. Perhaps it's the assumptions and symbolism regarding non-human animals that allows it, even, sort of like how different gendered performances and their symbols can 'free' things in a person, even if one might also question the effects of those gendered expectations and performances and their 'realness'. But I'm not sure I was thinking that at the time of writing (although I was probably mostly thinking that plush cartoon donkeys are so very, very cute and that I like transformation and the experiences of 'a body' and all that entails).
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Alliterative appeal, and it's adorable appropriateness, also.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
The obvious answer is that the fic is centered on Jiminy Cricket. Less obviously, I think Sora makes (or is made by others) into something of a wishing star himself. Sometimes that can be a problem, but in this context it felt warm and kind of Jiminy to recognize that part of him.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
I think this one is answered in the text. I suppose there were other things I could have called it, but I think those words as said by the character who says them encompassed a good part of what I wanted to say with the story. In the end, what else can people do when they are plummeting but call out those words?
What is 'Tropical Gothic'? That's a neat tag.
When I first used the tag, I had intended it to invoke the combined feeling of the Gothic genre and, well, the tropics. A sense of eerie strange places in both the light and darkness of summer. I didn't actually realize it was a real genre until later (I have, in fact, read what is to my understanding one of the defining works of the genre; Nick Joaquin's 'The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic'). I have considered changing the tag to 'Summer Gothic' since Tropical Gothic as a genre tends to be bound up in specific real world politics that I don't quite think are relevant to my fan fiction. But, on the other hand, I'm not too fussed about it. I still think the idea of 'Tropical Gothic' conveys the general feeling of the work. If I write more works wherein the tag is relevant, I might change it then.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
There's a side of the moon we don't see, but it's just as much a part of the moon as the part we do. The moon is also beautiful; very appropriate for any Riku, I think. The story explains the choice of title, anyhow.
How did you come up with this concept?
It's a little different from the way Kingdom Hearts typically plays with selfhood and identity, and the connecting and combining of existences, I think. I came up with it based on a misinterpretation of a twitter post, hilariously. People were talking about (Original) Riku and (Replica) Riku merging in a discussion regarding his visiting Naminé at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. While I think that discussion is odd ((Original) Riku and Naminé were friends and, in some respects, coworkers; they were closer than (Replica) Riku and Naminé ever were), my misinterpretation of what 'merging' meant in this context created interesting results. I've had many thoughts about consciousness, its continuity, and other such things prior to this, and my misunderstanding acted as an excellent starting point for this story. I did not write or publish the story under any misinterpretation, though; I figured out the truth before then.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Well, I mean, what is Roxas if not the Ghost of Twilight Town? He lived in a ghost version of the town, and he occupies the thoughts of the material!cast as a ghost. The echo of him haunts the place. It's not bad, just a strange, sad, sometimes warm thing, in the context of the fic.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Needed something 'cheerful', and there's a silly song in the fic with lines that worked for me.
Why are there unrelated comments under this fic?
This used to be the fic I designated as a contact page. The fic itself is pretty unlikely to offend most people, hence why I chose it.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
'Determined, to the point of detriment'. It's a reflection of Sora's character in the context of the fic, and perhaps an exploration of it more widely? Riku's character might also be involved in that exploration, albeit not to the same degree as Sora. Also, while I dislike being reductive about animals, donkeys are animals associated with stubbornness—I think that's not entirely fair in this context, but it suits Sora's thought processes regarding Riku here.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Plushie humping and a bit of scent kink. Also, aforementioned alliterative appeal.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
I like a bit of 'light' religious imagery. I'm not religious, and wasn't raised as particularly religious, so I don't feel like it ever gets very deep. In the context of this fic, it's also paying homeage to the cathedral-esque qualities of Hollow Bastion, and, of course, to the 'confession' Riku makes within. He's got desires he's in denial about, after all.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
I really needed something other than 'Balloonza'. "Ansem did say "anything could happen"..." is an amusing echo of Mickey, who himself is echoing Ansem the Wise/DiZ. Bet they never saw this one coming, eh?
How do you view Riku's gender in this fic?
I view him as male. For me, outside of societal force, I am complete detached from the idea of body reflecting gender. With that said, because of both societal force, dysphoria, and the embarrassment we often feel at having a body that is often beyond our control, changed without our permission, forced into roles (both our bodies and minds, albeit they're connected since the mind is an aspect of the body for many sentient creatures) and other such, we can feel pretty terrible and alienated from it. But he's still Riku, just like the men I know in real life with breasts and vaginas are still men with male bodies (though they may wish for more typical male body parts, which I also support them having access too).
I mostly bring this up because I've seen a couple of bookmarks that mismash male and female tags; I view him, in the context of the fic, as exclusively male.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
I like summer imagery; intense, afternoon shadows and heat is haunting to me. There's a feeling to the haze of it. Anyhow, that's more seen in 'Hold on to Me', but in the context I wanted to draw upon a feeling of long, summer shadows and of youth gone as Riku revisits places precious to him, Sora, and Kairi (who are separated from him due to the canon events of Kingdom Hearts III).
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
This fic is technically two fic concepts that I wrapped neatly into one, hence the 'split' nature of the title. The first half explores the Data cast of Kingdom Hearts, focusing on the 'aware' characters (Data-Sora, Data-Riku, Data-Roxas, and Data-Naminé). The second half is about what Mickey and especially Riku learn from them.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
It's an Ansem the Wise-centric fic, hehe.
Any trivia?
Hit-wise, this is my least popular fic. I'm not surprised. It's Ansem the Wise/DiZ-focused, and a bit plain. Still, I've a soft spot for Ansem the Wise/DiZ. His lore is a bit messy, though, which unfortunately makes my fic a little messy too. I'm sure there are some canon inaccuracies, just because the retcons, et cetera, around this guy are pretty noticeable. It's hard to write anything that feels 'right' for his history; they shortened his time with Xehanort so dramatically for the sake of Birth by Sleep, among other things.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
A reference to the self-soothing skill and to Aeleus's elemental attunement as Lexaeus, since he acts as a 'grounding' person for Vanitas.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
It's a reference to the three replicas: Xion, Repliku, and Dark Repliku. Three imaginary numbers, three replicas connected by being considered 'lesser' forms of life.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Blood and bone is a type of fertilizer made of primarily non-human animal blood and bone. There are other types that I prefer (being a vegan, heh) but considering the nature of this fic, I felt this was the most appropriate to reference.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
The sea at sunset is beautiful and some of the my favorite imagery (especially for the Destiny Islands). Riku, coincidentally, is also beautiful, no matter what form he's in. This is probably referenced in the fic itself, hehe.
Another Mystery Meat Riku?
Yes, there are three in total, as of updating this unFAQ (Feb 2025). They're each a little different.
Here, over here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
A line in the fic. It's just acknowledging the idea that, even if we're influenced by our shapes, we are also more than that, and that aspect of ourselves then further influences the shape, et cetera. It's also an acknowledgement of the need to be seen for more than our shapes, our forms.
And again with the Mystery Meat Riku?
Yes, as of now (Feb 2025) it's the third and final. This is the mostly SFW, extended variant (wherein we examine a wide variety of relationships). 'Not Even You' is dark, and 'Sea at Sunset' is fairly emotional smut.
Here, here, and here. Hope you enjoy it.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it?
Some theories of false vacuum decay essentially result in the total wiping out of life in the associated 'false reality bubble'. It's an existential threat, albeit one that often feels 'kinder' than others due to the likelihood of 'death' being instantaneous. The new rules of the 'true' (or at least, 'truer', albeit still possibly 'false') take over. Apologies to people with a proper understanding of vacuum decay for my likely incorrect summary of how I used it for this fic.
Anyhow, I feel like it resembles the type of violence Repliku experiences both canonically and in the fic. His experiences are exceptionally existential, even when considering other characters who go through similar things in the games.
Why that title? How'd you come up with it??
Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer.
Why is the summary formatted like that?
It's meant to resemble those art placards you see in museums.
And this is an answer.
And this is another question?
Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer.
And this is an answer.
And this is another question?
Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer. Another answer.
Yes, generally. It can take me some time to reply, but I do appreciate hearing from people. One of the reasons it can take me time is because I'm trying to formulate a good response. Sometimes someone has said something that prompts me to think, or requires a more lengthy reply. Other times, I take time because time isn't real.
You seem to make commenting difficult though?
I like to maintain control over the ways in which people contact me online. Dreamwidth will allow you relative anonymity when speaking to me, and both Dreamwidth and AO3 allow pseudonimity. Most people don't comment or speak to me, anyway, but on the off chance someone wants to, say, flame me, I can ensure I'm the only one who sees it, and also shut down the ability for most people to contact me. It doesn't bother me so much (in the sense that I'm fine with not being contacted).
Will I get you to write more of the type of fics I like to read by commenting?
No. Or not necessarily. I do what I want when I want because I have to...or because I want to. Under some circumstances, commenting may put me in a state of mind to get what you want; not because you asked, but because I already felt like it. But there's also a very likely chance I'm already doing something else. Either way, if you choose to comment, do so because you want to regarding a thing that exists, rather than for the sake of something that doesn't.
Do you have any preferences regarding comments?
I do like comments that feel like they engaged with the work, even if they come to unusual or different-than-expected conclusions regarding it. I like compliments regarding my work and (if one thinks I have it) my skill in creating it. I like connections with my work. But I also respect small comments and little 'comment kudos' and such. But I don't require comments and will make my art regardless. Do it because you want to, not because you feel you must.
And any sorts of comments you dislike?
Aside from flames or harassment or the like, not really. I don't particularly want or seek critique, but if I get some I probably won't explode. I do appreciate typo corrections, though. Please let me know if you find one so I can make it go away (if you're wrong about the typo, I won't be mean to you about it). I often wonder why nice comments I receive are deleted, but you must do as you wish.
I'm shy of commenting; should I still do it?
It's up to you. In almost all circumstances, I will approach those who comment with what I hope is thoughtfulness and consideration. Even if you are accidentally (or sometimes purposefully) annoying or anything like that, I won't think you're truly bad or something like that (but I don't think I should lie and say 'you will always come across perfectly' and 'I will always be pleased with what you say'. I know I probably come across as an obnoxious dip sometimes, but it's fine. People communicate in weird ways, and I think it's okay if our communications are a bit awkward). I don't think anyone who has commented on my work thus far has been cruel to me, even if sometimes things felt awkward, and I don't think I've been cruel to anyone. You likely aren't that special to become the first, and if you do, I will just delete your comment and not reply (i.e. you will be left alone). Most non-replies are just very slow replies, however.
Can I tell you if I jerked off to your work?
I don't personally mind and/or care, so yes, if you like. I'm glad you could find pleasure in it. I do think that's pretty cool.
And if I don't want to tell you?
Then you don't. Do as you will.
Do you actually use comments as a place to hide author's notes?
Rarely. Out of fifty-one fics, I hid author's notes in the comments of one of them. I did this because I dislike having my author's notes visible between chapters and think it messes with the overall flow and appearance of the fic. I don't think most people sort by comments, and even if they do, I doubt any would be tricked in to reading my works due to the existence of one author's note comment per chapter.
Fair question. I just wanted to get this out of the way.
I like your recs!
I'm glad. Thank you for your interest. Please do give your kind words to the authors (or occasionally other sorts of artists) whose works you enjoyed.
I didn't like your recs!
Well, that is the way of things sometimes. You are welcome to create your own rec list. Please leave the authors and other artists alone.
How can I be added to your rec list?
Write a fic, or create some other sort of art, that I enjoy and want to share.
I'm delighted to be featured on your rec list!
I'm glad. If you want to speak to me about said delight, or anything else, you can contact me via this link.
And how do I get my work removed from your rec list?
As mentioned elsewhere, you can contact me via this link. Please note I will never delete my private archived copies, and may still privately recommend and share your work with others. I may also keep a notice somewhere that a fic was removed, along with the fic’s name and possibly (one of) the author’s username(s). However, if you are currently dealing with some form of stalking or harassment—whether that be due to being on my rec list, or, more likely, something else—and this is a contributing factor in your desire to minimize the presence of your work, please let me know. This greatly decreases the likelihood of me privately sharing your work and including identifying information with regard to your fic on my ‘fics removed’ list.
My work was deleted from the internet! Why did you still rec it?
Because I thought it was good and I enjoyed it, or perhaps even because I thought it was influential or a pillar of a particular period of Kingdom Hearts fic history. I genuinely don’t believe there is an issue with the idea of continuing to share various forms of art after they have been deleted by their creators, nor with private—and sometimes public—archival of said art. Note that I will personally never repost works, and will never claim such works as my own when privately sharing.
If, as mentioned above, you have concerns regarding stalking and harassment, please let me know. Otherwise, I think it’s fine for people to continue sharing and reccing deleted art, and to keep private copies for themselves and show them to others. I also believe it is fine for someone to remove their art from the contexts that connect it to them (from their accounts, from the public internet) and from contexts wherein others claim it as their own (reposting, claiming credit).
With that said, if you desperately don't want your work shared then please contact me at the above link regarding removal from the rec list. As mentioned in response to the question And how do I get my work removed from your rec list, your work’s deletion from the list may be noted. Please also contact me if you would prefer your work to be anonymized when shared, or if you would prefer your works shared only under specific circumstances. I will not, under any circumstances, delete my personal copy of your work.
But my work is the worst/evil/embarrassing/poorly written/a blight upon all sentient beings?!
I disagree, or maybe I don't care because I liked what you made regardless. Also, please recall that a rec list is not a drama channel, a sporking, or something else of that sort. It is on the list because I thought it was important from a fandom context or I liked it. And to be quite frank, there are things you do in your everyday life that are likely more 'evil' than the most 'evil' thing you've ever written, drawn, or otherwise created art of; I do not think it is in any way meaningful to remove 'evil' art and/or fiction, particularly not art of this small—but still important to some—magnitude. I'm not saying that to be cruel, nor to say I think you are 'evil' in any meaningfully unique sense; you very likely aren't that different from most people. I just think if you're trying to do something 'good' for the world, you should prioritize something else.
Also, I'm sure most sentient beings (including our fellow animals) are likely not bothered by your work in the immediate sense (of finding it bad to read). :P
Would you consider your behavior entitled?
No, not really. It might be entitled to demand you keep your work up and connected to you. It would be entitled to demand more. But it's not entitled to keep a copy of a piece of art or to share it privately. I think, under some circumstances, it might be thoughtless—though not entitled—to share it without due consideration of the circumstances. But this is about my general approach, not about edge cases. If you feel you are an edge case, again, the link is up there.
Despite being about something positive, you made up a guy to really bring down the mood in your unFAQ, huh?
Unfortunately, I did. I wanted to get all that unhappy information out there, though, so that authors and artists of all fannish sorts have an idea what to expect from me. For the most, I hope they are genuinely happy and excited to be on my rec list. I hope it is a mostly positive experience for people, both readers and artists alike!
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