Crosslo - Blog Posts

First/Last Line Challenge

Thanks for the tag @tealmisthams!

I will also do both! Here is the first and last line I wrote today for the next instalment of my Crosslo series!

The first line:

Arlo merely leaned over and kissed his cheek, communicating her answer through a small wink.

The last line:

“I’m yours,” he rasped, and then kissed her, moving his lips slowly and assuredly against hers.

NPTs: @ladylucksrogue, @whyamismall, @aknightreaderr, @julijuli77, @queen-of-mandalore and anyone else who might want to participate!

Nearly Whole

Summary: Crosshair and Arlo take the next step in their relationship, and Crosshair finds clarity in what he wants for the future.

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x Original Female Character

Word Count: ~5,200

Warning: mild smut, swearing

Hope you all enjoy the next instalment in my Crosslo series! Slowly but surely I am adding to their story haha. The rest of the series can be found here on ao3.

Last Line Challenge

Thanks @queen-of-mandalore for the tag!

In a new post, share the most recently completed line(s) of your WIP, whether the last you wrote or the last you drew.

Then tag some folks to join in!

This is from the next instalment in my Crosslo (Crosshair x ofc) series, which can be found here on ao3.

He leaned into that feeling, deepening the kiss as he pulled her closer. He kissed her again, trying to banish the fear with each pass of her lips upon his. He allowed her to take away his guilt and pain with each caress of her hand. He felt warm. Safe. Whole? Nearly whole… the doubts lingered, but they were quiet enough that Crosshair did not feel compelled to face them, at least not right now.

I'm hoping this fic will be up sometime in the next couple weeks, but it will depend how much writing time I get!

NPT: @tealmisthams, @ladylucksrogue, @whyamismall, @aknightreaderr, and anyone else who wants to participate!

Dear Fives,

I have a bit of a dilemma. After reading all of your insightful, informative and thoroughly entertaining replies to other lovesick readers, I think you're just the person to help me.

I've had an eye on a certain clone trooper for a while now, but I just can't seem to get a good read on him. I work as a physician on Pabu, and there are a group of clones who live here. You may know them as 'The Bad Batch'? There is a certain sniper among them who has caught my attention.

He's tall, and handsome, and although he tries to put on a tough front, I know he has a kind heart. His softer side shows through from time to time, especially around his little sister. He can also be rather grumpy, but I find it endearing. I could talk about him all day... but that's not what I am trying to accomplish by writing to you.

Although I have been rather taken by his taciturn nature, it is that very trait that makes him so hard to read. We've spent a lot of time together: he often walks me home from my clinic in the evenings, and I've managed to run into him a few times around Pabu. We always talk and it's always enjoyable... but whenever I suggest meeting in a more purposeful way, he makes his excuses and scurries off. Or as well as a man of his stature can scurry anyways, but I digress.

I suppose, after all that exposition, my question to you, dear, dear Fives, is how on earth am I supposed to figure this man out? I've tried to be patient, but at this point, I do wish for an answer. I sorely hope it is the one I seek, but even if it's not, anything would be better than dancing around the subject like we tend to do.

Help me, dearest Fives. You are my only hope.

Best Wishes,

Arlo

Editor's note: Got a question for Fives? Read the rules here. My ask box will close in 12 hours. I was so excited to see that this is from Arlo!! I’m so glad your lovely OC has decided to swing by Fives’ advice column <3

Dearest Arlo,

You call it a dilemma. I call it an opportunity.

I am unfortunately acquainted with The Bad Batch. I actually quite like them all (my editor too, especially a certain Hunter-Gatherer) except for The Biting Child. You refer to her as the little sister. 

Do not be deceived by her supposed kindness. It is all an act. I must warn you that she bites. It’s important you are aware of this because if you’re about to get close to Crosshair, you’re going to be around her a lot. I’ve been told she only bites because she’s protective of those she loves but I’ll let you read between the lines.

Your Crosshair is such a sweetheart. It’s true that he hides behind the tough bad boy exterior, but he truly has a heart of gold. Please do not feel the need to stop talking about him. That’s what I’m here for - to listen!

I think that there is only one way to approach this and that’s to be blunt with Crosshair. If he keeps making excuses then it’s a sign that he is not ready for a relationship. You should not be chasing after someone who won’t recognise your value and accept your advances.

However, it is also important to balance that with realising that some people need a bit more time and coaxing. It’s a tough balance, I won't lie.

Knowing his personality and his history, I think he has a hard time connecting with new people and learning to trust them. That being said, his actions are all very positive so far. He’s choosing to spend time with you and talk to you. 99% of the time (pun intended but the statistic is true) he will grunt at someone then walk off. It’s clear that he genuinely likes you.

You need to tell Crosshair in no uncertain terms that you like him and you get the feeling that he might reciprocate such feelings. Tell him that you would like to explore a relationship and that it does not need to move fast if that’s what he needs to feel comfortable. I would tell him what ideas you have for a first date. That way, it takes away some of the nerves on his end if he is planning to say yes. Crosshair will appreciate knowing that you've thought through all of the details.

The other thing to consider is when and where to do this. I suggest one night when he walks you home that you invite him inside for caf or something to eat. Once you’ve both got a cup in hand, I’d ask him out. That way he cannot easily scurry off.

I personally think he has feelings for you. However, if he is not brave enough to act on them, then you shouldn’t waste your time waiting for him to man up. Remember that your time is precious and so are your feelings. You shouldn’t put your life on hold because a man is struggling to get his life together.

Remember, my dearest Arlo, that we have hope. Hope that things will get better. And I think they will 😉

Lots of love,

Fives advice columnist who writes “insightful, informative and thoroughly entertaining replies” - quote Arlo

Fic Game

Rules: Give us the links to your fics with the most hits, second most kudos, third most comments, fourth most bookmarks, fifth most words, and fic with the fewest words.

Thanks for the tags @aknightreaderr and @tealmisthams!

First Most Hits:

That Familiar, Yet Unfamiliar Feeling - 6,112 Hits

This was my first long fic, which is essentially my take on what happens to Rex and Ahsoka post Order 66. This was definitely a labour of love and very close to my heart!

Second Most Kudos:

Tihaar? More Like Truth Serum - 128 Kudos

One of the very first fics I wrote, a cute little confession of feelings between Rexsoka. If anyone is looking for a cute, fluffy read, dare I make a little self-rec? :)

Third Most Comments:

Not the First, But the Best - 36 Comments

This is one of the Fics in my Crosslo series, for Crosshair from The Bad Batch and my OC, Arlo. This fic is about their first date, ending with some light teasing for Crosshair from his siblings.

Fourth Most Bookmarks:

A Tie!

Not Strong Enough & Please Don't Make it Real - 19 Bookmarks

Both of these fics had the 4th most bookmarks! Not Strong Enough is a Tech Lives fic I wrote for Angstpril where Tech is CX-2 and is recaptured by the Batch who try to break him free of Hemlock's conditioning.

Please Don't Make it Real is my take on Crosshair finding out about Tech's death between Season 2 and Season 3 of The Bad Batch.

Fifth Most Words:

Hold on to Me - 7,233 words

This fic is a AU where Order 66 did not happen, and the Clone War continued on. This fic is about the final battle before the Republic is victorious.

Fic with the Fewest Words:

Chaos and Order - 410 words

A short fic I wrote for Clone Twin Week about how despite being opposites, Tech and Crosshair have personalities that complement each other very nicely.

NPT: @ladylucksrogue, @whyamismall, @melting-houses-of-gold, @acatinwinterfell and anyone else who wants to participate!

First Line Challenge

Thanks for the tag @tealmisthams and @aknightreaderr!

This is not the first line, but it is the first line I wrote today for my upcoming Crosslo fic. It is the one referenced in my WIP game post as “Crosslo confessions fic” so I’m tagging @julijuli77 as well since you asked about that one! I don’t wanna reveal too many details, but let’s just say there will be some confessions from both Arlo and Crosshair 👀

“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” Arlo asked quietly as they turned on to her street, unable to ignore the subject any longer. Crosshair frowned but merely shrugged, seemingly unbothered.

NPT: @ladylucksrogue , @whyamismall , @acatinwinterfell , @saviinika , and anyone else who wants to participate!

10 people I would like to get to know better

Thanks for the tag @ladylucksrogue, @julijuli77, @kotemf, @tealmisthams, and @queen-of-mandalore!

Last Song: Bodak Yellow by Cardi B - not my usual genre of music but this song slaps haha

Favorite color: Pink! Specifically light, pastel pink is my favorite

Last book: Star Wars Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Last movie: Deadpool 2

Last show: Gossip Girl

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Sweet, always sweet :)

Relationship status: IRL? Single. In my head? Either married to Solas from Dragon Age or Crosshair from The Bad Batch, depending on the day XD

Last thing I googled: how to sync OneNote files to a new OneDrive. I'm having problems, friends haha

Current obsession: Solas and Solavellan <3 I can't stop thinking about the egg. I am in love. Somebody stop me (please don't I like it here)

I look forward to telling you: the long kept secret of my OC Arlo's past! The next fic in the Crosslo series will be the big reveal... so keep an eye out ;)

NPTs: @whyamismall, @melting-houses-of-gold, @acatinwinterfell, @s0lavellan, @stardustandash and anyone else who wants to participate!

Last Line Challenge

Thanks for the tag @tealmisthams!

This is from the next instalment in my Crosslo series, which I am slowly working on! Please enjoy :)

She knew she was likely blushing like an idiot, but she otherwise tried to smooth out her appearance, dusting the sand from her hair and her back, and readjusting her shirt where it had ridden up to her ribs. She resolutely ignored the warm, honeyed desire in her core, pretending like she didn’t want to grab Crosshair’s hand and run across the beach in search of another secluded location to finish what they’d started. But she was able to control herself. Probably. Mostly. Maybe.

The rest of the series can be found here on ao3!

NPTs: @ladylucksrogue, @whyamismall, @melting-houses-of-gold, @aknightreaderr, @acatinwinterfell, and anyone else who wants to participate!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful, wonderful weekend, that the creative juices are flowing, and that the creation process of your Clone x OC piece is going well! We are so, so, so excited to see everyone’s entries, and we can’t wait until February is here! If you have any questions regarding the event, please don’t hesitate to send us an ask✨

In the meantime, we’d like to collect some statistics. To the people who are participating in the Clone x OC week, we’d like to ask you:

Which clone(s) are you creating your Clone x OC week entries(s) for?

Tell us in the replies!

Unbidden - Part 4

Summary: During a date night, an intimate moment is turned sour when Crosshair is forced to relive some of his darkest memories from his time on Tantiss. Arlo is there to help him through, but he's not so sure how to let her in.

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x Arlo (Original Female Character)

Word Count: ~5,700

Warnings: Panic Attack, Heavy Angst

Wow FINALLY finished! Yay! Sorry this took so long everyone but life was being rude this week XD But here it is so please enjoy! <3

Unbidden - Update

Sorry guys! I know I promised the last chapter would be up tonight, but life has seen fit to get in the way.

It will be posted tomorrow. Sorry for the delay and thank you all for the love you've given the fic so far <3

20 Fic Writer Questions

Thank you for tagging me @ladylucksrogue and @aknightreaderr! Excited to do this question game!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

26

2. What's your A03 word count?

162, 887

3. What fandoms do you write for?

I write for the Star Wars fandom! A long long time ago, before I was confident enough to post my fics, I wrote some Lord of the Rings fan fics that will never see the light of day XD But now my main fandoms are The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

That Familiar, Yet Unfamiliar Feeling - 205 (Rexsoka)

Tihaar? More Like Truth Serum - 118 (Rexsoka)

Hold On to Me - 111 (Rexsoka)

Not Strong Enough - 86 (Gen, Tech centric)

Please Don't Make it Real - 84 (Gen, Crosshair centric)

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hmmm I have a few, but I think Lost Without You is pretty darn angsty. The general premise is that it is a Rexsoka fic I wrote where Ahsoka is in mourning after Rex passes away :(

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I would say Tihaar? More Like Truth Serum has the fluffiest, happiest ending! What can be better than an adorable, drunken Rex admitting his feelings to Ahsoka :)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I haven't yet (and hopefully never will), everyone has been very kind in the fandom, which I appreciate!

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

I don't! I'll write a little bit of spice into my fics but I always tend to keep it pretty mild, and rely on fade to black when anything further is going to happen.

10. Do you write cross overs? What's the craziest one you've written?

I haven't written any cross overs but I am working on an AU of the Bad Batch as Formula 1 drivers, which is probably the closest I'll ever get to a cross over.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not yet, but I have some tentative plans with one of my lovely fellow fic writers to collaborate on a fic for her fanfic universe! Not sure how much I should say about this so I'm gonna leave it at that :)

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

I think its a tie between Crosslo (Crosshair and my OC, Arlo) or Rexsoka! I love both of these ships to death (as you can probably tell from my writing). 

15. What's a WIP you'd like to finish but doubt you ever wilI?

Ahhhh this would be my Kix the burnt out medic fic (that is literally the placeholder title in the word doc)! I really want to finish this but it is pretty heavy on the angst so we will see if I can make it through the long dark that is this fic! I would love to share it, but it's just a very heavy one to write.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Hmm I would say I think I do a good job of characterization and getting into my character's mind sets and pulling out emotion in my writing.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I would like to improve my ability to set the scene in my fics. Sometimes I see the scene very well in my head but forget to write it into my fic XD

I would say I also admire some of my fellow writers ability to write off the charts chemistry and sexual/romantic tension between their characters. Although I think I have some ability in this, I would absolutely love to improve it more as I think I have room to grow!

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I'll throw the occasional Mando'a word in if I'm writing a clone centric fic, and I usually use Star Wars specific swear words but I would never write full passages of dialogue in another language, at least not at this point.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Technically Lord of the Rings, if you count my never to be posted fanfics from a long time ago XD But the first fandom I ever posted fanfic for was Star Wars!

20. Favorite fic you've ever written?

Oooo I am particularly proud of Disobedient Hands, which is the first fic in my Crosslo series for Crosshair and my OC, Arlo. I felt like I really did a good job of getting into Crosshair's mind in this one, as well as creating the beginnings of what has come to be my most favorite OC of mine, Arlo (not that I have many, but of the few I do, she is my fav). I truly love all the fics in this series though, and it's been fun exploring the relationship between Crosshair and Arlo, and watching them grow through my writing. The series is ongoing and can be found here on AO3 if anyone is interested <3

Tagging: @tealmisthams, @acatinwinterfell, @queen-of-mandalore, @melting-houses-of-gold and anyone else who wants to participate!

Unbidden - Part 3

Summary: During a date night, an intimate moment is turned sour when Crosshair is forced to relive some of his darkest memories from his time on Tantiss. Arlo is there to help him through, but he's not so sure how to let her in.

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x Arlo (Original Female Character)

Word Count: ~3,000

Warnings: Panic Attack, Heavy Angst

So this chapter got so long I had to split it into two XD So please enjoy the first part of the last chapter of this fic! The second part will be up later tonight or tomorrow <3

Snip's Stories

This is a masterlist of my writing! All of my fics can be found on my AO3 🧡

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Current WIPs

Cross My Heart and Help Me Heal

Series of one shots & culminating in a long fic (coming soon!!). I tag this series with the tag 'Crosslo' on tumblr and AO3. The AO3 series can be found here.

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x OC (Arlo)

Rating: Variable, G to M

General Themes: Romance, domestic life, hurt/comfort, PTSD, Crosshair's tremor, accelerated aging cure, timeline spans early S3 to post Tantiss

Fics (listed in chronologic order):

Disobedient Hands (T) - one shot

A Chance Encounter (G) - one shot

Shoot Your Shot (G) - one shot

Not the First, But the Best (T) - short multichapter fic

Warm and Safe (T) - one shot

Unbidden (M) - short multichapter fic

Nearly Whole (E) - one shot, newest fic, just posted!

Why? (T) - one shot

A Pabu Tradition (G) - short one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Falling for You (M) - short one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

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Race Force 99

First fic is up, long fic is in progress! Updates coming soon 🏎 🏎

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Pairings: Crosslo (Crosshair x OC: Arlo), TechPhee

Rating: T to M

General Themes: Bad Batch as Formula 1 Racing Drivers AU, racing, formula 1, trauma, PTSD, angst, competition, romance

Fics:

Space Race (T) - one shot

If You're Not First, You're Last - place holder title for the long fic, coming soon!!!

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Completed Works

Rexsoka

That Familiar, Yet Unfamiliar Feeling (M) - long multichapter fic, post order 66, romance and slow burn 🧡💙

Something More, for You and I (M) - first chapter up, more updates to come!

Hold on to Me (M) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

A Well Deserved Rest (G) - one shot

Reasons (T) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Beside You (T) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Lost Without You (T) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

The Beach Can Wait (M) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

Tihaar? More Like Truth Serum (T) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

If Only (G) - one shot

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Fivesoka

Reunion (M) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Impulse (G) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Sweet and Gentle, Let me Dream of You (G) - one shot, gift fic for the great galactic gift gathering

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Assorted The Clone Wars Fics

No Remedy for Guilt nor Grief (M) - Fox x OC, Angstpril one shot

Oh, My Charming Prince (M) - Fives x OC, one shot

No Rest, No Reprieve (M) - Kix-centric fic dealing with burn out, death and loss, one shot

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Assorted The Bad Batch Fics

Please Don't Make it Real (M) - Crosshair finds out about Tech's death from Omega

Not Strong Enough (M) - Tech as CX-2, written for Angstpril prompt

Chaos and Order (G) - Clone Twin Week prompt for Crosshair & Tech

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Other Fandoms

Dragon Age

Alone (G) - Solas x Female Lavellan, Exploration of Lavellan's heart break after the events of DA:I

Bellanaris (T) - Solas x Female Lavellan, exploration of the events immediately after Veilguard redeem ending

Just Like Them (T) - Solas x Female Lavellan, analysis of the parallels of Solas taking on a physical form and Lavellan agreeing to remove her vallaslin

And Always, My Love (T) - Rook x Lucanis Dellamorte, multichapter fic about the love story between my Rook, Delphine Mercar, and Lucanis - First chapter up, more to come soon!

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Thank you so much for reading!

If you read any of my works on AO3, please leave me a comment and a kudos, it is super encouraging to see what you think of my fics! I also love talking about my writing and my OCs, so feel free to leave me an ask or send me a message, I would love to chat 💙

Unbidden - Part 2

Summary: During a date night, an intimate moment is turned sour when Crosshair is forced to relive some of his darkest memories from his time on Tantiss. Arlo is there to help him through, but he's not so sure how to let her in.

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x Arlo (Original Female Character)

Word Count: ~2,000

Warnings: Panic Attack, Heavy Angst

Here is the next chapter of my latest Crosslo fic! I have ended up splitting the last chapter into two, so there is one more chapter to go to wrap all of this up! I will hopefully have it up by this weekend! Hope you enjoy <3

Last Line Challenge

Thanks for the tags @tealmisthams and @queen-of-mandalore !

Here is a line from the upcoming chapter of my newest Crosslo fic from my Crosshair x OC series. The first chapter of this fic can be found here on ao3. Hopefully this chapter should be up by the end of the night, so enjoy the sneak peak :)

Crosshair turned around and debated staying away for a while longer. Morbid tendrils of self-hatred wound around his ribs and snaked their way up his spine before settling at the base of his skull. Crosshair shuddered. He couldn’t be alone right now. He needed to go home. He needed his brothers. He needed Tech.

NP Tags: @ladylucksrogue, @ahsokathegray, @melting-houses-of-gold, @acatinwinterfell, and anyone else who wants to participate!

Last Line Challenge

Thanks for the tags @tealmisthams and @ladylucksrogue !

This is from chapter 2 of my newest fic in the Crosslo series, Unbidden:

He’d had panic attacks once or twice before as a cadet, after some particularly… memorable training sessions, but they’d never been so vivid as he’d experienced tonight. 

The first chapter can be found here on ao3 :)

NPTs: @whyamismall, @saviinika, @acatinwinterfell, @ahsokathegray, and anyone else who wants to participate!

Unbidden - Part 1

Summary: During a date night, an intimate moment is turned sour when Crosshair is forced to relive some of his darkest memories from his time on Tantiss. Arlo is there to help him through, but he's not so sure how to let her in.

Fandom: Star Wars The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x Arlo (Original Female Character)

Word Count: ~6,000

Warnings: Panic Attack

Written for Whumptober Day 1 Prompt: Panic Attack

Not sure if anyone is still following these two cuz I know it's been forever and a day since I posted anything for them, but here is another little thing I wrote for them! Chapter 2 will be up in 1-2 weeks <3

Canon x OC Fanfic Writers are criminally underappreciated.

I refuse to believe that so many amazing stories with incredibly crafted original characters have barely any interaction, terribly lacking in comparison to x reader fics. I love a good x reader fic, smut or not, but so often I see authors on here whose x reader stories get traction while their larger, fleshed-out canon x oc stories aren't read or liked, much less reblogged or interacted with. It's sad to think that these writers spend so much time working on these stories because they are so complex. Crafting characters and full storylines to span tens of thousands of words and multiple chapters...they're out there writing novels and their work so often gets ignored because it's not a quick read and/or the reader won't explicitly see themselves reflected in the story. I always stand behind x reader fanfiction and love me some great x reader smut.

But can we please stop to think that there is so much more to reading fanfiction? With some of these stories, you could get a whole retelling of your favorite show with another character in the board to change the game. You could get parts of your favorite show you'd never see on screen, but they're being brought to life by a writer who loves it so much they're willing to pour their heart out into a story. Can we please stop for a moment and think of how magical these stories are?

Please, go read some Canon x OC fanfiction. Go give these stories love. The stories and their writers deserve all the love. Reblog their stories. Engage. Comment. Support the writers blessing our fandom with brilliant work.

OC ootd Tag Game! 💚

Rules: create an oc wardrobe and outfit of the day (ootd) for the following situations: casual/daily wear, fancy event, on a date, during one of the most significant events in the book

Thanks for the tag @ladylucksrogue 💕

This game is so fun! I did it for my OC, Arlo who is from my Bad Batch Fanfic series, Cross My Heart and Help Me Heal which can be found here on ao3.

All these images were taken from Pinterest and the templates are from canva!

Arlo is a physician, so for her casual wear, I have what she wears outside of work on the left, and her work attire on the right (top pic is what I envision her wearing when she’s in her clinic on Pabu, bottom pic is what she would have worn when she was part of the empire). Her favorite color is green (if you couldn’t tell). Hope y’all enjoy!

No pressure tags (for my mutuals who I know have some beautiful OCs): @lexavalon052, @queenjiru, @leenabb104104, and anyone else who wants to participate!

Excited to see you doing these too! How about 19 for crosslo

Thank you so much for this ask! Sorry for the delay, but life has been so busy. I had the most fun writing this and I did take a little liberty with what it means to be "underwater" but I hope you enjoy! There is a little bit of spiciness in this one, so I'm putting the full text below the cut :)

Falling for You

Kiss Roulette Prompt 19: A kiss underwater

Pairing: Crosshair x oc (Arlo)

“Look, Cross!” Arlo called, wiping the sweat from her brow with one hand while extending the other out before her, pointing to the clearing at the end of the long jungle trail.

Crosshair shook his head, little droplets of sweat flying from his brow as he did so. Picking the hottest day of the year to go on a hike through the jungle on the far side of lower Pabu hadn’t been the finest idea, but it seemed it had all been worth it to Arlo, as she continued to point emphatically into the clearing before her, a broad smile on her face.

Stepping up to meet her, he peered beyond the thicket of tropical trees and bushes and was pleasantly surprised by the oasis that awaited him. There was a large pool of water in the middle of the clearing, fed by a beautiful waterfall, skittering over the rocks a few meters above the pool and cascading down into the clear green-blue water below.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Arlo observed, already wandering across the clearing to the water’s edge, where she promptly sat down and removed her hiking shoes. Crosshair padded up behind her, folding his arms over his chest and regarding her dubiously.

“What are you doing?” he questioned, raising an eyebrow as she pulled the hairband from her golden locks next, allowing her hair to cascade down her back, and then she stood.

“I’m going for a swim of course,” Arlo replied evenly, pulling her shirt over her head. “If I spend a minute more in this heat, I’m going to melt.”

Crosshair stared openly as she threw her shirt to the ground and made quick work of the buttons on her pants. To his surprise, she didn’t stop there. Next came her bra, and then her underwear, until she was standing before him completely naked, without a hint of self-consciousness whatsoever.

He must have worn his shock on his face, because Arlo gave him a suggestive wink before wading into the water. Crosshair watched her with interest. Though they’d been together for years, she never ceased to catch him off guard from time to time. Arlo was a confident woman, but this was bold, even for her.

Huffing a short chuckle, he watched as she continued to make her way towards the center of the pool. When the water reached her waist, she turned back towards him and regarded him with a saccharine smile on her face.

“Care to join me, love?” she asked, eyes wide with false innocence as her hands boasted temptation, drawing his gaze from her face to her chest as she played with her hair, the long golden strands having fallen over her shoulders.

“It looks cold,” Crosshair grouched, even as he set his pack on the ground, fighting the smirk that warred with his scowl for dominance upon his lips.

“Hmmm,” Arlo murmured, flicking her hair back over her shoulders. “I find it rather refreshing.”

“Indeed,” Crosshair drawled, kicking off his boots as he pulled his shirt over his head. Arlo merely giggled softly, dragging her fingers playfully through the water at her hips, watching him with a heated satisfaction in her eyes. Crosshair allowed himself to smirk then, happy to know she liked what she saw.

After he finished divesting himself of his clothes, he followed her path into the middle of the pool. When he reached for her, Arlo stepped back but caught his hand in hers. Tugging on it gently, she led him across the water towards the waterfall.

She looked like something out of a dream, a water nymph, leading him towards what could only be both his pleasure and his doom. Crosshair was enchanted and couldn’t help the smile and laugh she pulled from his lips as she placed her free hand into the waterfall’s path, grinning and giggling as the water splashed across it.

“It feels nice,” she assured him as she backed under the silvery falls, tipping her head back as the cool water slid down her face and neck before trailing down the rest of her body. Crosshair eagerly stepped into the waterfall with her, letting out a sigh of satisfaction as she finally allowed him to hold her.

With his hands encircling her waist, he stepped forward, until her body was pressed against his. The warmth of her skin was a delicious contrast to the coolness of the water running over his body.

“Kiss me,” she murmured. Or at least that’s what Crosshair thought she was going to say. His lips were already on hers, and she kissed him back eagerly, falling into his embrace.

Arlo

color: Green -> a color often associated with spring, life and new beginnings, Arlo embodies all of these qualities. She is vibrant and full of feeling, and her endless optimism allows her to inspire new beginnings in even the most desolate of beings flower: Spring Beauty -> symbolizes cheerfulness, youthful gladness, which is Arlo's general state of being animal: Dove -> this ties into the role she plays in Crosshair's life. Just as the dove is a symbol of peace, freedom and love, Arlo is Crosshair's love, helped him make peace with the scars of his past, and ultimately find his freedom scent: Freesia -> a light, cheerful scent, often associated with springtime song: imperfect for you by Ariana Grande -> this song is the Crosslo theme. Neither is the perfect partner, but they are exactly what the other needs, and are better together because of it feeling: warmth -> a lot of the Crosslo series focusses on Crosshair and Arlo's desire to feel safe and a sense of belonging, and this is often described as the feeling of 'warmth', which Arlo embodies for Crosshair.

This was a fun way to share more about Arlo with you all! For those who don't know her, she is my oc love interest for Crosshair in my Crosslo series, Cross My Heart and Help Me Heal . Please check it out if you want to read their story!

NPT: @ladylucksrogue, @tealmisthams, @queenjiru, @lexavalon052, @leenabb104104 and anyone else who wants to participate!

Credit for the page breaks to @rpiconsgalore

Blank Template Below:

For the kiss roulette:

Crosslo and 32. A kiss while someone watches.

I’m dying to see how this happens with someone as private as Crosshair 👀

Thank you for the ask! I looooove writing Crosslo so I was very excited to write this! I think it's a little different take than you might expect, so let me know what you think!

A Pabu Tradition

Omega’s squeal nearly made Crosshair jump out of his skin, as it was rather unexpected and jarring on a peaceful evening such as this. He whipped around, reluctantly torn from where he’d been gazing at Arlo’s profile as she stood by his side on the balcony, looking out at the ocean. Arlo turned with him, and they were greeted with the sight of Omega sitting on the couch beside Lyana, her hands clamped over her mouth, eyes wide with excitement. Lyana extended an arm, pointing up above Crosshair’s head. He raised his eyes and frowned in confusion at the archway above him. Hanging from the archway was a blue flower with intricate purple stripes along the length of the petals. It was dangling upside down from the arch, which was adorned with garlands and other flowers of all kinds, decorated as it was for the Life Day celebrations. “If you’re standing under the flower, you gotta kiss! It’s a Life Day tradition on Pabu,” Lyana explained, grinning from ear to ear. At this point, Omega’s squeal of delight had drawn quite a bit of attention, as many of the party goers turned and pretended to subtly shuffle towards the balcony, forming an audience in the large living area of Shep’s house where the party was being held. Crosshair narrowed his eyes, surveying the crowd with distaste. There was nothing subtle about it, as far as he was concerned. To Crosshair, intimacy was a private thing; he didn’t understand what everyone was so curious about. Even Hunter and Wrecker were amongst the intrigued onlookers. Wrecker was wearing a shit-eating grin and beside him, Hunter raised an eyebrow, smirking at Crosshair from across the room. Crosshair huffed an offended breath as he watched his eldest brother cross his arms over his chest and cock his chin. It was a silent challenge; Hunter didn’t think he’d do it. He didn’t believe Crosshair would kiss Arlo with so many eyes upon them. Crosshair would have liked to say he’d matured since his days as an army brat in the GAR. He liked to think he’d grown beyond such brotherly competitiveness. But as he turned and grabbed Arlo about the waist, pulling her into his arms, he knew he was the same petty bastard he’d always been. And he wasn’t about to let Hunter be right. Arlo gasped, eyes wide as he leaned in close, their noses nearly touching. “Well, if it’s tradition,” Crosshair drawled, smirking down at the beautiful woman in his arms. Arlo’s bright green eyes, sparkling with exhilaration and desire, drew him closer. Without a second thought he leaned down, dipping Arlo with one hand securely behind her back and tangled his other hand in her long blonde hair, supporting her as he kissed her. The shouts and cheers of the crowd as they kissed brought an unfortunate warmth to Crosshair’s cheeks, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Arlo’s lips were soft and sweet as always, and his heart hammered in his chest as they kissed; he could still hardly believe she was his. When he pulled away, he kept his arms around Arlo, smiling down at her as she let out a shaky breath. The room faded out for a moment as he was struck by how beautiful she was, green eyes scrunching up as she smiled and laughed, her cheeks rosy and warm as she blushed. He knew he was a lucky man. A whistle from across the room had Arlo blushing even more and hiding her face in his shoulder with a giggle. Crosshair turned and glared at Hunter, who made a show of nodding and clapping, deferring to Crosshair as the winner of their unspoken competition. Crosshair shook his head and smirked, then wrapped his arm around Arlo’s shoulders and led her away from the eyes of the gathered onlookers who were finally beginning to disperse.

I’ve seen some writing friends doing this and it looks so fun!

Please send me prompts if you’d like, Crosslo or Rexsoka are the main couples I write but I’d be down to try my hand at foxiyo or techphee if someone wanted me to write one for one of those couples 💕

kiss roulette

inspired by the infamous "i want the k" meme by deactivated tumblr user tastcful. send 🎲 to generate a kiss! potential suggestive/nsf.w themes may appear

A kiss on the cheek

A kiss on the nose

A kiss on the forehead

A kiss to the top of the head

A firm kiss

A gentle peck

A romantic kiss

A platonic kiss

A kiss to the eyelid

A kiss along the jawline

A kiss to the neck

A kiss along the collar bone

A kiss on the chest

A kiss to the stomach

A kiss along the hips

A kiss in the rain

An upside-down "Spider-Man" kiss

A kiss while laughing

A kiss underwater

A rough kiss

WILDCARD! Dealer's choice :)

A french kiss/kiss with tongue

A kiss influenced by alcohol/other substances

A sleepy kiss

A kiss that's an accident

A kiss while one or both parties are crying

A kiss in greeting

A kiss in parting

A kiss to the back of the hand

A kiss to the palm of the hand

A kiss to the inner thigh

A kiss while someone watches

A kiss to a scar, birthmark, injury, or other marking

A kiss after a bite

A kiss against a wall

A kiss to the shoulder

A kiss to the back of the neck

A kiss while one party is carried

A tentative kiss

An impulsive kiss

A kiss out of spite

A clumsy kiss

A bloody kiss

✍️ even more fic writer asks!

This one is a behind-the-scenes dive into a specific fic. Followers can send an ask with a number & the fic they’d like you to talk about ✨OR✨ you can decide what fic you’re focusing on and just ask for numbers. (Or reblog and answer everything like a Q&A)

Start to finish, how long did it take to plan and write? Did you take breaks during the process?

How did you come up with the idea?

Did the idea change at all by the time the fic was complete?

If the fic required it, what did you research in order to write it?

Did you outline the fic?

How did you decide what tense and POV(s) to use?

How did you decide what character(s) would narrate the fic?

Did you cut something out of the outline or an early draft? What was it and why did you decide to cut it?

Did you get stuck at any point? How did you get past that?

How did you approach writing the fic? (e.g. wrote it start to finish in order, started with the ending, starting with the twist)

What was the most challenging aspect of writing it?

What program(s) did you use to write and edit?

Did you write any of the fic by hand? If yes, which parts? Do you find you write differently by hand vs typing?

Talk about the fic’s opening scene & how you approached it

Talk about the characters’ struggles & how you decided on those

Talk about the fic’s biggest moment & how you came up with it

Talk about the fic’s ending. Why did you end it where you did?

Talk about your editing and revision process

While editing, did you kill any darlings? What were they?

Did you work with a beta? How did that affect the finished fic?

Did the fic end up shorter or longer than you had planned?

What is something you learned about yourself as a writer from the experience?

How did you come up with the title?

How did you celebrate finishing?

Share your favorite line

Share your favorite detail

Share a piece of lore you made up for the story

Write a new summary for the fic, but badly

If you made a playlist, talk about the songs on it and share a link

Would you ever return to the story’s universe and write more?

Ah I’d love to do this for Arlo!

oc asks: character design edition

FACE & FEATURES

glance: At first glance, what stands out most about your OC's appearance? What's their distinguishing feature?

face: Describe your OC's face. What's their smile like? Are their orbs cerulean? What would someone notice first when looking at them?

stature: What's your OC's body type? How tall are they? Do they wear clothing to accentuate their look or do they try to mask it?

motion: How does your OC move? How does their clothing help or hinder their range of motion? Are they flexible, coordinated, clumsy?

stillness: How does your OC act while still? Are they fidgety? Do they have any common gestures or tics? Does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?

canvas: Does your OC have any scars, piercings, tattoos, or other markings? Do they display or cover them up at all?

CUT & CLOTHES

night: What does your OC wear to sleep? Do they have a favorite pair of PJs, or are they more the birthday suit type?

day: What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?

formal: What's your OC's formal look? Do they like dressing up? Do they have different looks for different occasions?

informal: What's your OC's lazy-day look? How do they like to dress when they're winding down?

outerwear: What's your OC's outerwear situation? Jacket, sweater, cloak? What sort of weather do they deal with most and how do they protect themselves?

footwear: What does your OC wear on their feet?

road: What does your OC wear while traveling? Do they have high-quality equipment, or are they making do? What does their gear look like?

armor: What kind of armor does your OC wear? Is it well kept? Bonus: where does it come from? Is there a story behind it?

arms: Does your OC have any weapons? What weapons do they carry, and how do they wear them when they're not fighting?

roots: Is your OC's look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?

texture: Does your OC favor any specific kinds of cloth or textures? Is there anything they can't wear or don't like? What sort of fabrics do they prefer?

wardrobe: How big is your character's wardrobe? Do they wear things threadbare, or can they afford new clothes often? Are they any good at mending and repairing their own clothing?

ACCESSORIES & ACCENTS

bling: What jewelry does your OC wear? Does it have any meaning?

hair: How does your OC wear their hair? Does it have some kind of meaning?

makeup: Does your OC wear makeup? How often? What kind? Why do they wear makeup, and do they like it?

favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?

change: Has your OC ever drastically changed their appearance? Significant haircuts, big tattoos, complete wardrobe swap, etc? Why? How do they feel about the change?

alternate: What would your OC's alternate universe look be? If they're a fantasy character, what's their modern look? If they're sci-fi, what's their fantasy look? What AU would you want to see your OC in, and how would they dress themself? Bonus: Prompt an AU!

Writers Truth & Dare Ask Game

🎱 ⇢ post your AO3 total stats  🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?  🌵 ⇢ share the link to a playlist you love 🕯️ ⇢ on a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you enjoy editing? why is that? 🛼 ⇢ describe your latest wip with five emojis 🥑 ⇢ you accidentally killed somebody, which mutual(s) do you text for help? 🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love 💌 ⇢ how many unread emails do you have right now?  🌻 ⇢ tag someone you appreciate but don't talk to on a regular basis 🐇 ⇢ do you prefer writing original characters, reader inserts, or a mix of both?  🧃 ⇢ share some personal lore you never posted about before 🎲 ⇢ what stops you from writing more in your free time?  🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings 🧸 ⇢ what's the fastest way to become your mutual? 🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now 📚 ⇢ what's the last thing you wrote down in your notes app?  🍬 ⇢ post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character 🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project? 🦷 ⇢ share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on ❄️ ⇢ what's your dream theme/plot for a fic, and who would write it best? 🌿 ⇢ give some advice on writer's block and low creativity 🥐 ⇢ name one internet reference that will always make you laugh  🏜️ ⇢ what's your favourite type of comment to receive on your work? 🍦 ⇢ name three good things about a character you hate 🥝 ⇢ do you lie a lot? what's the most recent lie you told? 🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately  🦴 ⇢ is there a piece of media that inspires your writing?  🍅 ⇢ give yourself some constructive criticism on your own writing 🐚 ⇢ do you like or dislike surprises? 🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here ☁️ ⇢ what made you choose your username? 🐝 ⇢ tag your biggest supporter(s) and say one nice thing about them 🌸 ⇢ do you have any pets? if you do, post some pictures of them 🎨 ⇢ link your favourite piece of fanart and explain why you like it 🧩 ⇢ what will make you click away from a fanfiction immediately?

This fandom is alive and thriving as far as I’m concerned, and I plan to keep it that way for the foreseeable future! I have so much writing planned for TBB!

I have an ongoing Crosshair x Original Female Character series that I have additional one shots and a long fic planned for.

I also have a new TBB as Formula 1 Race Drivers AU that I’m writing as well and have a long fic planned for.

Links are below the cut if anyone is interested! Let’s keep TBB fandom thriving y’all! Can’t wait to see everyone else’s art and read everyone else’s fics too 💕🫡

Crosslo series (Crosshair x ofc):

Race Force 99 AU (TBB in Formula 1 AU):

TBB fandom is dying

TBB fans rise up we can't let this fandom die its the last best thing that came in Star Wars

For the ask game, for any of your crosslo stories,

8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

And 13

Thank you so much for the ask! I’m so excited to answer this for Crosslo! 💕

8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

Not that I can think of, actually! Arlo is an oc I wrote that has many characteristics I admire in a person, but I also tried to give her flaws and secrets to make her feel as though she is a real person, and not just some idealistic fairy tale partner for Crosshair. I know we’ve been slow to get there, but I will be revealing some more of her past (specifically related to her scars, and how she defected from the Empire) in my upcoming fic for them.

Another thing I’ve tried to incorporate for Arlo is contrast. For example, she’s a beautiful girl, but she has these horrible, visible scars. She has a sunny personality but carries a sad secret. She came from a wealthy, privileged background only to lose it all over what she thought was right.

Sorry to go into a character analysis but essentially, although she’s not based on a real person, I’ve made many efforts to make Arlo feel real. I hope I’ve succeeded!

13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

Oooo I love this question! I have a Crosshair theme playlist with all of his angsty themes from TBB and a Pabu Happy playlist with all of the happy songs from TBB. I alternate between the two depending on if it’s an angsty fic or a happy fic. Other times I’ll listen to chill music from artists like DPR IAN or eaJ to just vibe while I write.

One of the most recent Crosslo fics about their beach day was actually written while I was sitting on a beach, so I would say setting the tone is very important for me to write!

Space Race

Are you a fan of The Bad Batch? How about Formula 1 Racing? Well, if you answered yes to either of these questions, here is the AU you never knew you needed: The Bad Batch as Formula 1 Race Drivers! This fic is the first of the series, please check it out below if you're interested!

Summary: Race Force 99 has always been an outlier in the Galaxy 1 Racing League, but armed with numerous upgrades, a stellar team and an ace of a driver, Team Principal Hunter is confident his team will climb to the top this season.

Before his first race of the season, Tech contemplates the challenge ahead, and is encouraged by how far they’ve come.

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Character Focus: Crosshair and Tech

Word Count: ~3,000

This is the first fic to launch a long fic I have in the works for this AU! I love The Bad Batch and I am a huge fan of Formula 1 since I was a kid, so I am very passionate about this AU! Please tell me what you think! Comments help motivate me through that long dark that is writing the long fic!