Still alive

I just noticed that I haven't posted here since July. Whoops.

Hi, I'm still alive. Here's a brief (okay let's be real it's me so it probably won't be brief) update of what's going on in the world of Hils.

I just got back off a vacation for my birthday. A small group of us rented a cottage for just under a week. I mean it was listed as a cottage but it was pretty big and had six bedrooms (so no one had to share in these Covid times).

( Pics )

It was nice. We did fun fandom activities, had a disco, saw some scenery and just hung out. It was a nice mix of doing activities but not cramming so much in that we all felt exhausted. I got some writing done during the quiet times and some reading.

Now I seem to suddenly have all the social activities together. My aunt is getting married next weekend up in Scotland so I'll be heading up to stay with the parents for a couple of days, then the weekend after it's my friend Emma's birthday and we've rented the beach apartment that I was supposed to stay in at Christmas, and then the weekend after that I'm going to visit my sister who I haven't seen in nearly 2 years.

Work has been a bit of a saga. We were supposed to return to the office at the beginning of this month. We spent ages setting everything up and making sure it was all as safe as possible. Then, 2 days before we were supposed to go back, our health and safety officer said we couldn't reopen without an inspection first. Apparently the London office delayed their reopening by a month for this reason and everyone just assumed we knew and had done the same even though no one had told us.

So now the return to the office is set for the beginning of October at the earliest. Who knows what's happened while I've been away.

In fandom news I have finished The Rebel, which was mostly excellent with a slightly disappointing ending. Now I'm watching The Devil Judge which is a Korean dystopian drama where the outcome of high profile court cases is decided by public vote. I'm really enjoying it so far. The cast is fantastic. One of the leads is a former k-pop idol and I had no idea until I was a few episodes in. He can definitely hold his own as an actor.

I have posted several fics since I last updated here. My total AO3 word count for the year is now 115k which is wild. I never imagined when I posted my first Lost Tomb fic at the end of last year that it would unlock all of the inspiration. I've got another fic I'm working on at the moment which is probably going to be around 7k when it gets finished and I have more fics outlined than I will ever have time to write. It feels really good to have a fandom I'm fully engaged in like this again and I'm so thankful to achray, fangirlishness, teyla, elenothar and charloween for being so encouraging and always being willing to beta when I finish something new.

Title: A Friend in the Dark
Fandom: The Lost Tomb Reboot
Pairing: Gen
Rating: Teen
Summary: He’s starting to wonder if Wu Xie secretly hates him. Wu Xie could have stayed himself or left Zhang Qiling to keep an eye on him while he drew. Not that he needs a babysitter. He’s a professional and has managed just fine by himself up until now. He’s not the one who gets into trouble as soon as anyone’s back is turned.

Title: Memories of You
Fandom: Ultimate Note
Pairing: Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling
Rating: General Audiences
Summary: The mark on his wrist is a tattoo. It’s small, only about the size of a fingernail, but it stands out stark on his pale skin. It’s writing, cleanly printed and easy to read. Two characters making up the word ‘mine’, which he thinks is a strange choice for a tattoo. Did someone else design it to mark him as their own? Or was it his choice, laying claim to someone or something he has now forgotten?

Title: You, Me and a House in a Tree
Fandom: The Lost Tomb Reboot
Pairing: Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling/Wang Pangzi
Rating: Teen
Summary: “For Xiaoge,” Wu Xie says, lifting the paper slightly so Pangzi can see it clearly. “Do you think he’ll like it?”

It’s not a very complex design, but Xiaoge isn’t really one for ostentation. What he likes are things that are practical and functional, which this very much is.

“He sleeps on a tree branch,” Pangzi points out. “Of course he’ll like it. This is a mansion compared to that.”

Title: Dinner for Three
Fandom: The Lost Tomb Reboot
Pairing: Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling/Wang Pangzi
Rating: Teen
Summary: They’ve both cooked with Pangzi before, always under his guidance, but often enough that neither of them are total novices. How hard can cooking one meal be? Wu Xie has a degree in architecture and Xiaoge has been alive for over a hundred years. It’s not like either of them are stupid.

I also want to share a couple of fics that have been written for me because they are delightful.

achray wrote this one for my birthday

Title: Unity and Mutual Assistance
Fandom: The Lost Tomb Reboot
Pairing: Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling/Wang Pangzi
Rating: Teen
Summary: “You’re the best person they could have on their stupid village committee, and at least they’re sensible enough to know it!" Wu Xie said.

And teyla wrote this one as part of the guardian_wishlist exchange

Title: Space to Live
Fandom: The Lost Tomb Reboot
Pairing: Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling/Wang Pangzi
Rating: General Audiences
Summary: After the tomb raid is before the tomb raid. There comes a time, though, when every tomb raider has to think about retirement.

I think that's pretty much it. I'll try not to leave too long between updates in the future.