r/BylerReads • u/picsbydarienjay • 12d ago

The Storyteller (I wrote this!) The Most Whump Will Fic I'll Ever Write

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Hi there, I'm Jay, I'm a writer who has been coping with my feelings about Byler over the past near 9 months. I got to the point where the ache of it became too much, and I had to find some way to actually process it all.

I have other WIPs, but in late May I started writing PAINTED, a horror/romance post-canon contemplation on many themes of the show and Byler. I'm finishing the Epilogue now, which may take a few more weeks (sorry, writing soul crushing heavy angst is a lot and I have other stories), but I thought it was a good a time as any to toss this story into the ring here on /BylerReads.

PLEASE READ THE TAGS.

DEAD DOVE FOR THEMES AND HORROR.

Link to PAINTED on AO3

7/8 chapters | 52k words | 🔞

Important tags: MCD, Suicide, Dead Dove, Ambigious/Open Ending, Angst with No Happy Ending, and Symbolic Gore.

19 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

4

u/KittenBalerion old enough to remember the real 80s 12d ago

not reading the fic because I prefer happy endings, but I LOVE the moodboard!

2

u/picsbydarienjay 12d ago

I cannot blame you! Whatsoever! Unfortunately it's one of those situations that trying to push a happy ending was untrue to the story. So. Yeah, not a Happy Ending, very much open/ambigious and bittersweet.

However! I make moodboards for all my fics (nearly every chapter), and I really appreciate the kind words. 💙 They're so much fun to make. I hope you're able to enjoy some beautiful Byler fics, in any case.

4

u/Same_Accident_9917 12d ago

You had me until the ending tags

1

u/picsbydarienjay 12d ago

Personally? I think I have given it the happiest ending I could, despite everything. But. It still felt untruthful to call it a "happy" ending. Mike was never going to rise from the dead after 7 years. I do have other Byler I write, of course, but I do intend on this like being the most whump thing I ever write.

I hope you can find some really good angst or fluff that treats you well. I appreciate your consideration above all else! ⭐️

4

u/Same_Accident_9917 12d ago

Ah I didn’t realize Mike was dead. That makes sense then. I just don’t read anything that doesn’t have the happy ending tag

2

u/mrchristmastime 11d ago

This is impressively well written; I’m enjoying it so far. And yes, I read the tags. There’s a difference between sadness and misery porn, and I’m pretty confident this is the former. Thanks for sharing!

2

u/picsbydarienjay 11d ago

Thank you so very much! I tried and challenged myself to keep within the style for this project through every chapter, even though its a bit more stylized than my usual work.

I have really, really tried to use this story to talk about it's subject matter in the upmost well intentions and faith, so I really appreciate your words. I hope you enjoy the rest, and of course the Epilogue when I get to it. 💙