your pal finn
LightNews LightNews
banner
attorneytrash.bsky.social
your pal finn
@attorneytrash.bsky.social
710 followers 290 following 470 posts
finn. writer. artist (allegedly). i mostly talk about writing, books, and games (ace attorney especially, but also whatever i'm into and you will put up with it) also attorneytrash on tumblr. header by ministarfruit
Posts Replies Media Videos
attorneytrash.bsky.social
possibly the most rewritten sentence of my novel and also the favorite child. chapter one line one i adore you
1. MAX Normal, Illinois, six in the goddamn morning, Max Reilly—yes, that one, he who had once been christened America’s Boyfriend—was a sprawl of limbs on his mother’s couch, watching his own funeral for the nineteenth time.
November 11, 2025 at 10:26 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
ohhhh this prompt is ideal for me. my boys are both public figures (Max being literally known as America's Boyfriend), but Nico especially has a capital-R Reputation
EXCERPT: Nico Mariani. Clickbait in the form of a man. Max knew him only by reputation, of which he had plenty, mostly for being a platinum-tier bastard. Despite competing on at least ten reality shows and winning exactly zero, he had more name recognition than most Emmy nominees. For—it bore repeating—being a platinum-tier bastard. Max hadn’t seen the newest season of Affinity—if so much as a teaser for it popped up he’d bolt from the room like it was the Ring video—but he had looked into Mariani a little. Just a little, okay, no one could say he wasn’t a dyed-in-the-wool masochist. It was the same doomscroll urge that saw him archiving his own hate mail. He’d read half a listicle titled Twenty Nico Mariani Villain Moments We Had To Watch Through Our Fingers While Screaming, and he’d only read half of it because he’d reached number ten and remembered that he only had one precious life. Anyway, the guy sucked. The listicle was subtitled (Number Six Will Make You Say No He Did Not Out Loud), and it was true.
September 25, 2025 at 1:54 AM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
nico realizes that max won't be so easy to manipulate... among other things.
EXCERPT: The door to the greenroom flew open, ricocheting off the opposite wall. Nico whirled around to find one of the stage techs, looking like she’d just brawled her way out of a mosh pit. “Your mic,” she hissed, close to tears, “is hot.” Max’s head swiveled toward Nico, eyes rounded in gosh-golly-gee dismay. There was Rory Harper, in the fucking flesh. Oh my sweet lord, two-hundred something people heard you! Ain’t that awful! Nico stood rooted to the spot as the tech rushed forward to switch off the mic box. His ears were ringing. He was practically fuming out of his skin. Maxfield Reilly—this mopey little mumblecore hermit crab with an attention allergy, this little nothing—had just played him like a five-string. Shit, Nico thought, somewhere way down deep, under the layers of horror and outrage. What a fucking turn-on.
August 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
Post an old illustration you still like!

from 2022 i think? idk i just really like the flow of this one
digital art of jinxie tenma from ace attorney. she's standing with a card raised, surrounded by glowing ghosts.
August 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
i LOVE subtext in dialogue and yet it's one of those things that just doesn't come naturally to me. i have to actively work to make my dialogue less direct. in my side project there's a musical motif, and i try to make sure when they talk about music they're always talking about something else...
EXCERPT: “It’s…” he drummed his fingers on the counter. They wanted to play along with the recording, uncouple the keys until sound escaped like trapped steam. Hit the notes like he was trying to leave a bruise. “… Staccato. It can sound playful, or it can sound…” “Like this.” “… Like this. When you keep the notes apart long enough, it makes the legato dreamier.” The word didn’t taste right, and he frowned. “No. Not dreamier, more… unnatural. Inevitable.” He could feel the man’s eyes on him. “Isn’t that a paradox?” “It is. The whole piece is.” His fingers stopped drumming as the notes began to smudge, scrape together, wearing each other’s rough surfaces smooth. “That’s why it won’t let you alone. It’s irreconcilable. You want it to finish what it starts, but it never will, no matter how many times you listen.”
August 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
LAST ONE FOR THE VILLAIN EDIT!! decided this was a perfect chance to FINALLY choose some comp titles...
#questpit #W #R #LGBT
COMPS: Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall ("Good Guy" MMC x "Trashy" MMC, Com-heavy romcom, Reluctant celebrity) UnREAL (Reality TV-style manipulation, Toxic mentorship, Behind-the-scenes vibe) Love, Hate & Clickbait by Liz Bowery (Enemies to lovers, Tabloid/social media speculation, Unforgivable (?) behavior) OTHER VIBES/ASPECTS Early 2000's tabloid culture + modern social media Antics. Hijinks. Shenanigans, even. This? (image of a tumblr post from catmask, reading: not gay not bisexual but developing a new sinister sexuality where im looney toons level obsessed with a single guy and put him into contraptions)
August 6, 2025 at 3:48 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
#questpit number two... the beginnings of the first two chapters, introducing my boys! #W #R #LGBT
EXCERPT (1, MAX) Normal, Illinois, six in the goddamn morning, Max Reilly—yes, that one, he who had once been christened America’s Boyfriend—was a sprawl of limbs on his mother’s couch, watching his own funeral for the nineteenth time. Two and a half years ago, Max would have been greeting this unholy hour in a trailer with his name on it. Furiously brushing his teeth. Trying to ignore the PA threatening to smash his door in and drag him to hair and makeup. High-tailing it to set, script in one hand, nothing in the other, so he could wave at the revolving pack of fans loitering outside the gate. Back on the Affinity set, the clock struck six and he was Rory Harper, ready or not. EXCERPT (2, NICO) Nico Mariani had a hangover and a broken nose on a weekday. He was reading about it on The Sneak. Nothing like getting the dish secondhand about your own shitty night, especially when it hadn’t actually happened. Well, he was hungover. But it was a bumper, not a beater. And his nose was fine, though The Sneak was selling him on the idea that he made bruising look sexy. Maybe he should try and get decked for real next time? He’d look into it.
August 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
disgraced actor formerly known as America's Boyfriend VS. serial reality TV villain. three weeks, three fan conventions, and a whole lot of antics.

❤️romcom (com heavy)
📺celebrity hijinks
😈characters behaving badly
🌈mlm enemies to lovers
#questpit #W #R #LGBT
an illustration of two boys, pictured from the shoulders up. One is blonde with an annoyed expression, the other is dark haired and grinning, making a peace sign with one hand and poking the blonde's cheek with the other. below, superimposed over a smartphone, are the words THE VILLAIN EDIT (attorneytrash) At twenty-six, Max Reilly is already ex a lot of things. Ex-star of Affinity, the TV drama he led for three seasons. Ex-fiancé of Holly Aveline, his costar, who hasn’t spoken to him since the scandal that tanked his career. And ex-darling of the show’s fan base, who went from love letters to death threats faster than the speed of cable. Most of all, Max is exhausted. The last thing he wants is to be back in the public eye. But when offered a deal to get out of his contract for good, it’s hard to resist—even if the catch is a pre-season publicity tour with Affinity’s current cast. Even if that means weeks on the road with not only his former castmates, but also the show’s newest cast member: Nico Mariani, a scandal-happy reality TV transplant known for exclusively playing villains. It’s only a few weeks. A few weeks facing crowds of people who actively hate him, of being hounded by gossip columnists, of being trapped on-and-offstage with Nico, who Max can’t shake to save his life. Because as it turns out, Nico has his own deal with the producers—and soon angry fans and nosy reporters will be the least of Max’s problems. EXCERPT: Nico’s first thought on seeing Max Reilly in the flesh had been, damn, this dude’s tall. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Rory Harper, maybe, that archetypal boy-next-door who’d bit the dust at the end of Affinity season three. There was this one publicity still of him—white t-shirt, jeans, flannel tied around the waist, artistically placed smudges of grease—that was pinned to the vision boards of church-and-chevy girls nationwide. Oh my god, so dreamy, fuck me in a hayloft, etc. Max Reilly was a very different creature. Nico had him cataloged in one go. Indoorsy, sleepy eyes, hair unfortunately cut with the roots grown in. Skittish. Bad posture. Cargo pants (seriously). He didn’t dress like America’s Boyfriend, or anyone’s boyfriend, honestly, if we were being totally honest here, if we were being candid. He was, to put it nicely, nothing to write in your diary about. Tall, though, damn. And those freckles. But that was the devil talking.
August 6, 2025 at 4:03 AM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
not totally sure what this technique is called, but it's my go-to for beginning chapters or scenes. starting with a line that needs context or immediately raises a question, so you have to keep reading to get the answer. i used it in the first two chapters of the villain edit to introduce my MCs.
EXCERPT (1, MAX) Normal, Illinois, six in the goddamn morning, Max Reilly—yes, that one, he who had once been christened America’s Boyfriend—was a sprawl of limbs on his mother’s couch, watching his own funeral for the nineteenth time. EXCERPT (2, NICO) Nico Mariani had a hangover and a broken nose on a weekday. He was reading about it on The Sneak. Nothing like getting the dish secondhand about your own shitty night, especially when it hadn’t actually happened. Well, he was hungover. But it was a bumper, not a beater. And his nose was fine, though The Sneak was selling him on the idea that he made bruising look sexy. Maybe he should try and get decked for real next time? He’d look into it.
August 3, 2025 at 1:23 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
my boys....... they are about to despise each other so bad #WritingPrompt #Romancelandia
EXCERPT: Nico stopped a few feet away, that lazy smile still idling on his face. One of his canines had the point chipped off. “Hey. Is your name really short for Maxfield?” Max bristled. “Where’d you hear that?” “So it’s true, huh? That’s a riot.” Nico rocked inward a little on his heels, looking up through his lashes. Max was pretty sure he was wearing eyeliner. Cologne, too. He only caught a whiff of it before Nico rocked back again, and the scent made his body want to follow, like he was being tugged on a leash. “Wikipedia,” Nico said. Max blinked. “Huh?” “I read it on Wikipedia. Your name. It’s not, like, a secret.” Nico peered a little closer at him. “Are you starstruck, dude? Want me to sign something?”
July 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
tried to pick one from near the exact middle without spoilers...
EXCERPT: Words echoed in Max’s head, tangled up in images, golden-brown light through bottle glass windows, Nico shivering in the cold, plucking fries from Max’s carton, bumping against him like a friendly cat. It is always—and I mean always—better to seem malicious than pathetic. Well, Max was feeling pretty malicious now.
July 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
LAST ONE FOR THE VILLAIN EDIT!! another excerpt. this one of Max dealing with ~The Fandom~ #BluePit 📖 #A #R #W #LGBT #BluePit📖
EXCERPT: And considering how horrible his suits were, and how horribly he wore them, maybe he could distract without lifting a finger. He could still recall the gleeful reactions online to his last formal event: Max Reilly vs. my cousin’s 6th grade orchestra recital: who wore it better? (mean, but fair) Max, if you’re gonna buy a spirit halloween accountant costume, at least get the sexy one next time (decent burn) Never thought I’d say this, but my need for Max Reilly to strip just became sound and rational (weirdly flattering) Essentially, it’d been sartorial open season. And that was before the fandom even hated his guts.
July 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
HELLO ALL and for my next #BluePit trick... the beginnings of Max and Nico's first chapters, respectively! #BluePit📖 #A #R #W #LGBT
EXCERPT (1, MAX) Normal, Illinois, six in the goddamn morning, Max Reilly—yes, that one, he who had once been christened America’s Boyfriend—was a sprawl of limbs on his mother’s couch, watching his own funeral for the nineteenth time. Two and a half years ago, Max would have been greeting this unholy hour in a trailer with his name on it. Furiously brushing his teeth. Trying to ignore the PA threatening to smash his door in and drag him to hair and makeup. High-tailing it to set, script in one hand, nothing in the other, so he could wave at the revolving pack of fans loitering outside the gate. Back on the Affinity set, the clock struck six and he was Rory Harper, ready or not. EXCERPT (2, NICO) Nico Mariani had a hangover and a broken nose on a weekday. He was reading about it on The Sneak. Nothing like getting the dish secondhand about your own shitty night, especially when it hadn’t actually happened. Well, he was hungover. But it was a bumper, not a beater. And his nose was fine, though The Sneak was selling him on the idea that he made bruising look sexy. Maybe he should try and get decked for real next time? He’d look into it.
July 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
disgraced actor formerly known as America's Boyfriend VS. serial reality TV villain. three weeks, three fan conventions, and a whole lot of antics.

❤️romcom (com heavy)
📺celebrity hijinks
😈characters behaving badly
🌈mlm enemies to lovers
#BluePit 📖 #A #R #W #LGBT
an illustration of two boys, pictured from the shoulders up. One is blonde with an annoyed expression, the other is dark haired and grinning, making a peace sign with one hand and poking the blonde's cheek with the other. below, superimposed over a smartphone, are the words THE VILLAIN EDIT (attorneytrash) At twenty-six, Max Reilly is already ex a lot of things. Ex-star of Affinity, the TV drama he led for three seasons. Ex-fiancé of Holly Aveline, his costar, who hasn’t spoken to him since the scandal that tanked his career. And ex-darling of the show’s fan base, who went from love letters to death threats faster than the speed of cable. Most of all, Max is exhausted. The last thing he wants is to be back in the public eye. But when offered a deal to get out of his contract for good, it’s hard to resist—even if the catch is a pre-season publicity tour with Affinity’s current cast. Even if that means weeks on the road with not only his former castmates, but also the show’s newest cast member: Nico Mariani, a scandal-happy reality TV transplant known for exclusively playing villains. It’s only a few weeks. A few weeks facing crowds of people who actively hate him, of being hounded by gossip columnists, of being trapped on-and-offstage with Nico, who Max can’t shake to save his life. Because as it turns out, Nico has his own deal with the producers—and soon angry fans and nosy reporters will be the least of Max’s problems. EXCERPT: Nico’s first thought on seeing Max Reilly in the flesh had been, damn, this dude’s tall. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Rory Harper, maybe, that archetypal boy-next-door who’d bit the dust at the end of Affinity season three. There was this one publicity still of him—white t-shirt, jeans, flannel tied around the waist, artistically placed smudges of grease—that was pinned to the vision boards of church-and-chevy girls nationwide. Oh my god, so dreamy, fuck me in a hayloft, etc. Max Reilly was a very different creature. Nico had him cataloged in one go. Indoorsy, sleepy eyes, hair unfortunately cut with the roots grown in. Skittish. Bad posture. Cargo pants (seriously). He didn’t dress like America’s Boyfriend, or anyone’s boyfriend, honestly, if we were being totally honest here, if we were being candid. He was, to put it nicely, nothing to write in your diary about. Tall, though, damn. And those freckles. But that was the devil talking.
July 13, 2025 at 4:04 AM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
#BluePitHype #Romancelandia I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING YOU TO PLEASE LOOK AT MY BOYS,
an illustration of two boys, pictured from the shoulders up. One is blonde with an annoyed expression, the other is dark haired and grinning, making a peace sign with one hand and poking the blonde's cheek with the other. below, superimposed over a smartphone, are the words THE VILLAIN EDIT (attorneytrash)
July 9, 2025 at 1:33 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
Writers, describe your WIP in the worst way possible.

using a tumblr post for this one because it's worse than anything i can come up with. no rules baby
tumblr post from catmask: not gay not bisexual but developing a new sinister sexuality where im looney toons level obsessed with a single guy and put him into contraptions
July 5, 2025 at 1:58 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
#LGBTQWriteAThon lovingly bullying my characters is my passion
EXCERPT: And considering how horrible his suits were, and how horribly he wore them, maybe he could distract without lifting a finger. He could still recall the gleeful reactions online to his last formal event: Max Reilly vs. my cousin’s 6th grade orchestra recital: who wore it better? (mean, but fair) Max, if you’re gonna buy a spirit halloween accountant costume, at least get the sexy one next time (decent burn) Never thought I’d say this, but my need for Max Reilly to strip just became sound and rational (weirdly flattering) Essentially, it’d been sartorial open season. And that was before the fandom even hated his guts.
June 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
#LGBTQWriteAThon MY TIME TO SHINE gosh i love making book covers. please look at my boys
an illustration of two boys, pictured from the shoulders up. One is blonde with an annoyed expression, the other is dark haired and grinning, making a peace sign with one hand and poking the blonde's cheek with the other. below, superimposed over a smartphone, are the words THE VILLAIN EDIT (attorneytrash)
June 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
Nico isn't very good at this but he's hashtag trying
EXCERPT: Nico scrubbed the very white, very fluffy hotel towel through Max’s hair like he was drying off a dog. He was pretty sure he could hear sniffling under there, but pretended not to. A guy needed some privacy when he was recovering from a caramel brown sugar latte to the face. “At least it was iced,” Nico offered. Max sniffed in response. “Don’t let this put you off iced coffee, dude. That’d be a true fucking tragedy.” “…I honestly can’t tell if you’re trying to help or not,” Max mumbled, sulky but resigned. “I’m always tryna help. I’m a helpful guy.” Max let out a derisive snort, somewhat undercut by the fact that he was leaning hard into Nico’s hand like a head-butting cat. Domestic sorta thing, toweling someone’s hair dry. Maybe Holly used to do it for him. Maybe it was her touch he was chasing.
June 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
Nico is my bad bi rep king. he really said not all bisexuals are slutty i am though. i will not be fighting stereotypes because i'm too busy getting just so unbelievably laid
EXCERPT: Nico’s love life seemed geared exclusively toward maximizing attention: date someone famous for two weeks, get in a fistfight with their ex at a nightclub, have a messy public breakup, date their sister. Or their brother. Or their ex that he got in a fistfight with. It was actually sort of incredible that that’d happened more than once.
June 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
if you see this, qrp with queer art! 🌈

i have a lot but this is one of the few i haven't posted here yet. read some gay cooking manga this month. or any month. it's good for you
digital fanart of the manga What Did You Eat Yesterday? with two men, one smiling, one drinking from a ladle. there are illustrations of food and ingredients in the background, as well as the title in Japanese.
June 1, 2025 at 1:07 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
✨bookish checkpoint💙📚

✧ last book you read: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
✧ your current read: The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum
✧ last book added to your tbr: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
✧ next anticipated read: A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
cover: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett cover: The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum cover: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir cover: A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett
May 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
self-proclaimed "breakup artist" gets in over her head when she's hired to prevent the engagement of mafia princesses from feuding families.

🌈f/f/f romcom
🔍old-school PI vibes
😈everyone is slightly terrible
#WIPpit #R #A #LGBT
digital illustration of a woman smoking a cigarette; in the background are two pendants in the shape of a broken heart, each half containing the image of a woman's face. over the image are the words CONTRACT CUPID. Syd Hart is a “reverse matchmaker” or “breakup artist”, a professional who uses any means necessary to end other people’s relationships. She has a wide variety of clients: jealous exes, disapproving parents, and even members of the couples themselves. A dyed-in-the-wool cynic, she considers it her calling to put the break in heartbreak. Also, it’s a living. Syd has always maintained she can handle any client—right up until she’s hired by the patriarch of a (definitely not organized crime) family to prevent the engagement of his (definitely not mafia princess) daughter to her (definitely not mafia princess) girlfriend, who also happens to be the scion of his business competitor. His totally normal and above-board business competitor. With the help (and hindrance) of her thrice-revoked PI’s license, her bright-eyed and bushy-tailed intern, Barnaby “Bunny” Wimberly, and a whole slew of meddling definitely-not-mobsters, Syd throws herself into the job—only to find that the biggest challenge of all, to both her heart and her life, might be the happy couple themselves. Chapter One: I NEED TO STOP MAKING ENEMIES Somethin’ a lotta people don’t know about Cupid is that he’s got two sets of arrows. The first set’s the classic: gold, love-drenched, ethically dubious. The kind that hits you in the ass and makes you go heart-eyed for Matt from Advertising, or Matt from Accounting, or just generally Matt from Anywhere who’d never get a date without divine fucking intervention. The other set’s lead. The toxic kind. It doesn’t make the Valentines cards, but it does make divorce lawyers—and me—a pretty decent living. Mostly off chumps with an excess of cash and a shortage of brainpower. “Hang on.” Bunny held up a hand to stop my dictation. He frowned bemusedly at his laptop, which was about two sizes too small for him, and gestured with his mug, which was also two sizes too small for him. Altogether he looked like a dad at a toddler’s tea party. “I don’t know that this is the best advertising copy, boss.” This is what you get for bringing on interns. One minute they’re all let me fix the copier, boss and need a hangover cure, boss? and the next they’re on their high horse telling you how to do your job. “What’s wrong with it?” I asked. “Telling potential clients they have a shortage of brainpower is a little…” He wobbled his hand in the universal sign for iffy. “Also, you’re pretty much guaranteeing no one named Matt will ever hire you.” “Not seeing the problem. We don’t need clients named Matt.” “Our last client was named Matt.” “Yeah, and he sucked. That’s where I got the idea.”
May 23, 2025 at 10:09 AM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
#MayWeDance Max left his ex-fiance (and costar), Holly, at the altar, for reasons known only to the two of them. as for Nico, his dating history is best summed up by the following:
EXCERPT: Nico’s love life seemed geared exclusively toward maximizing attention: date someone famous for two weeks, get in a fistfight with their ex at a nightclub, have a messy public breakup, date their sister. Or their brother. Or their ex that he got in a fistfight with. It was actually sort of incredible that that’d happened more than once.
May 20, 2025 at 10:57 AM
attorneytrash.bsky.social
and now a little first encounter excerpt of my boys not getting along immediately. love to see it #questpit #W #R
EXCERPT: “Hey, Maxfield.” “It’s Max.” “Maxfield’s funnier.” Nico peered a little closer at him. “Are you like, starstruck, man? Want me to sign something?” Max’s ears went hot. “I’m not a fan of yours.” “You sure?” Nico absentmindedly combed his fingers back through his hair, letting it fall around his face and neck in an effortless salon tousle. “Don’t be shy. I won’t be, like, creeped out.” “You—” Max stared at him in affronted disbelief. “You’re the one reading my Wikipedia page.” “What, you haven’t read my Wikipedia page? Now you’re just hurting my feelings.” Max took a breath, started to compose a retort, then decided it wasn’t worth it. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked off toward the station. Nico put in a little half-sprint to catch up, his voice tipping over into amusement. “C’mon, Maxfield, don’t be like that. Hey, gimme your number.” Max bristled like he’d been asked for a pint of his blood. “Why?” “In case you go somewhere out of shouting range.” “…I don’t have a phone.” Nico took a deep breath and blew some loose hair out of his face. “Wow. That’s a new one. Usually I just get fake digits, or like, I’ve got a boyfriend and he’ll kick your ass or something.” “I really don’t have one.” “A boyfriend?” “A phone. I dropped it in a decorative pond.” Nico looked vaguely mystified. “Why’s it matter that the pond was decorative…? No, don’t answer that, don’t care. I’m s’posed to keep track of you on tour, so gimme your number or I gotta chip you. Like a cat. Dealer’s choice.”
May 7, 2025 at 5:23 PM