Extended Progress Update: 12 July 2024 (Patreon)

Hi Returning Visitors,

Key highlights of this update and reminders:

• My typical gentle nudge to remember to add my email address can be found here. It's important for the TFS character portrait inquiries and welcome message I promptly send out. Also, remember to check your spam folder and to reach out to me, if needed.

• The Corvin family dinner is done, but that's not all! 🥰💙☎️🧁

• More content is on the horizon as we make our way through this month, though I'm especially looking forward to 'Heatwave Wholesomeness' and the DA reference post.

• ('DA' as in Dragon Age, not district attorney.)

• This massive chapter should be at a close soon enough; we'll get into that more!

• Book Two Snippet: An emotional scene for J. Corvin!

It has been a while since our last Extended Progress Update, partially because I moved it for my schedule and then you'll notice today it's a smidgen later than our usual time! 💐 That's because I was enthusiastically wrapping up a section yesterday to include mention of it. :D

As I had hoped, the Corvin family dinner was completed within the the time frame I last shared, totaling about 142k words. The chapter isn't finished yet as you'll learn!

Towards the end of the dinner, there's a choice-dependent A/B scene for those of you with this relationship dynamic triggered. I broadened the choice set for this to make it more tailored to you. There has been a potential development that your MC can react to in about 10 or more different ways, including how comfy/reticent/excited B is to tell you what went on.

The variation for that scene took time to capture a variety of reactions/exchanges! I believe you will have fun with it. I included a couple outlandish options for a smile/laugh too.

Aside from coding the dinner, which took a while because we've already gone into how R. Verner's invite is optional and the sheer scope of everything involved, I've been writing to bring this massive chapter to a close. As of now, it's the longest in Book Two! 💚 (Although I feel Chapter 10 or 11 might be like: 'Hold my beer' and be longer, but that's okay! I've got two hands, except beer isn't really for me so: 🧃🧃.) Your Returning Visitor returns to the B&B to learn that S. Dorran has made a connection about something afoot in town, although it's very possible you as the reader have an inkling as well at this point! There is also a phone call for R-mancers to share a moment with their beloved in addition to potentially visiting S. Dorran's room, if you're close enough to them. I loved writing out their room description; naturally, S is a Dorran, so we know their room is going to be one-of-a-kind and so cool! They were given total creative freedom from their mom with its design theme. (Perhaps your MC might learn something heartachingly caring while within the space.) I enjoyed this section!

See? My emojis in the second bullet make more sense now. The cupcake is an obscure reference to a choice-dependent 'outing' in the next chapter most of you will go on!

(In most cases, your RO(s) will accompany you (unless you let down/let go of R. Verner, solo or poly. 🙃) I wouldn't call it an 'excursion', but it's a way to sate your curiosity!)

Anyway, that's in the future! Once this publishes, I'll be working on coding what I've written thus far to not let it stack up too much. After that, my undivided attention will be on some potential MC character development choices that dovetail into an intense nightmare. It's the last part of this chapter (unless I broaden anything else, lol.) This means it should hopefully be finished by the end of this month, so yay! 😊

Writing and coding aside, we do have more content on the horizon for you to delight in as we get through July. As I said in the Content Schedule, I hope you're staying cool/hydrated if it's hot where you live. 'Heatwave Wholesomeness' is a writing I'm looking forward to because it has pool shenanigans and cuteness that I'd personally covet right now (also J and R. >.> I could say that about all of my ROs; I'm understandably a wee bit biased. 😉) Speaking of hot* stuff, I'll likely share C's inspo next month rather than doing a poll about who's next.

(*Also, yes, 'hot' because they're objectively attractive or because some of you would like to fling them into the sun. Either one works. Maybe both at the same time for a select few.)

[Spoilers Ahead!]

Here's an excerpt from Book Two:

James

After that admittance, there's a tangible pause that's filled by James watching you with as much intent as a distant galaxy. It doesn't last—the quiet wonder bordering on mystification of what's far beyond his reach, except he is touching you. You're here; you're back in Fernweh after years apart. When James breaks eye contact as if to retreat, you nearly reach out until he gingerly takes your half of the friendship necklace between his fingers, grazing your chest in the process.

It's a simple, modest touch, yet where he's concerned it sets your skin alight and sends your heartbeat fluttering from absence.

(Nothing has been thoughtless or automatic since your return; however, he cares.)

"You kept it," James murmurs.

Jane

After that admittance, there's a tangible pause that's filled by Jane watching you with as much intent as a distant galaxy. It doesn't last—the quiet wonder bordering on mystification of what's far beyond her reach, except she is touching you. You're here; you're back in Fernweh after years apart. When Jane breaks eye contact as if to retreat, you nearly reach out until she gingerly takes your half of the friendship necklace between her fingers, grazing your chest in the process.

It's a simple, modest touch, yet where she's concerned it sets your skin alight and sends your heartbeat fluttering from absence.

(Nothing has been thoughtless or automatic since your return; however, she cares.)

"You kept it," Jane murmurs.

I wonder what happens if the MC tells J they no longer have their necklace? Oof. (I wrote those variations along with J's (and sometimes R's) reactions to your reason/the circumstance.)

Thank you for your support. Wishing you all a lovely and safe weekend! 💚🥰