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salpiformeucalyptus · 19 days ago

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fics that have changed my life/i think about often/i love more than anything

This is a short list of my all time favorite fanfics, sorted by fandom for convenience, because if I have over 3,000 saved stories between ao3 and fanfiction.net it’s the least I can do to share some of the joy they’ve brought into my life!

Star Trek (AOS):

Graduate Vulcan for Fun and Profit, by lazuli song. Words cannot describe how much I love for this fic. The writing style is just pure delight, every sentence, I can’t even handle it. It’s so humorous while dealing with such heavy topics on and off, and Jim is a brilliant genius full of sass, and the rest of the crew is amazing, and the OC is just a delightfully sassy Vulcan who basically raised Jim for a while and it shows, everyone keeps being surprised by Jim, Jim just wants to live is life without things going pear shaped god is that so much to ask, and the pacing is beautiful, god i just love it so much. I come back to this fic again and again when I want to hurt in like, a really enjoyable way, and laugh my way through every paragraph. I wish my inner monologue sounded the way this fic is written.

Switch, by Ceres_Libera. This is one of the most incredible longfics i have ever read in my entire life. It’s the best development of Jim and Bones’ friendship over the Academy years you will ever read, and shows a beautiful slow burn of them eventually falling in love slowly, through the victories and mistakes and misunderstandings and all. It’s INCREDIBLY rich in plot, science, and world building, and written from Bones’ perspective, which as a delight. Absolutely worth the time if you like Kirk and McCoy’s dynamic at ALL. The Holy Grail of McKirk fics while being well worth it to even people who don’t ship them. Ceres gets all the characterizations spot on, and even has some rad OCs here and there. Lose yourself in this one and you won’t regret it. (pairings: slow burn Jim/Bones)

You Don’t Have TO (Say Yes) by @famous-wwi-flying-ace. This fic absolutely wrecks you and builds you back up. Much like what happens to Jim. Please please heed the tags on this one, but oh my god. What an incredible story. It’s all about the impact that the time on Tarsus IV and what happened there had on Jim and his behavior and mindset for the next many years of his life, but it’s all about way more than that too, and it’s a treasure trove of found family, hurt/comfort, Real Literal Therapy Techniques and Lessons Disguised As Story and Dialogue, recovery, healing, riveting plot, and so much goodness. In the words of Ron Weasley, you’re gonna suffer, but like, you’re gonna be happy about it. I read this at least once every year, and spend at least 2-3 days afterwards processing the story I devoured and all the emotions it brings up. Incredible. (pairings: eventual Jim/Spock, several others including Jim/Kodos so be careful about that if you need to)

Atlas, by @distractedkat. Unbelievably beautiful longfic, the best examination of AOS Jim Kirk’s potential as a character that you will ever read. Kat does every single character justice, weaves an unbelievably rich world and background around all of them, and hooks you so well with the plot that you’ll keep clicking “Next Chapter” over and over until it’s half a day later and you’re drowning in awe and emotions. I can’t recommend this enough, I don’t want to spoil it, just know that it’s beautiful and complex and exhilarating. (eventual pairing: Jim/Spock, but not the focus of the fic. FOUND FAMILY BABY) (please also read West of the Moon if you get a chance, it’s so good, so so good, such a plot twist, I won’t spoil anything, it hurts so much and then is SO GOOD)

The Button, also by @distractedkat. LISTEN. LISTEN. I was lucky enough to read this fic AS it was being posted and it ROCKED MY WORLD. Do you love Jim Kirk? Do you love Coraline? Do you love INCREDIBLY rich modern supernatural/fantasy universes hidden in and enmeshed within what we normally view as our ordinary modern world? Do you love rich characters and developing found family ties and a slow sweet young relationship developing through shared perils? Then this is the FIC FOR YOU!!!! Deliciously spooky, beautifully warm. Come for the Jim-as-Coraline feels, stay for the joyfully satisfying character development and incredible plot. (pairings: eventual Jim/Spock, very light and sweet)

something like i love you, by sparkycap. this is the softest modern au crew-as-family, Jim Kirk as a pastel space boy who learns to love and be loved by a family of his own, college-au, comfort fic you’ll ever find. Just beautiful. Makes my heart happy every time I read it, please give it a shot. (pairings: none)

Secret Garden, by Mijan. Mijan is always a beautiful Star Trek writer, tbh. But this story in particular is just…it’s such a beautiful way of getting a glimpse into Jim as a person, in little moments of time as Captain, and learning about his past through them all the way till the end when suddenly everything is so clear and it hurts but in a comforting way, much like how Jim is feeling at that point. It’s a beautiful unfolding story, well worth the read. (pairings: none)

Illogical (√π233/hy7) series, by waldorph. This is one of my all time favorites for good reason. It’s long, it’s got all kinds of stories in it, it follows Jim starting basically Good Will Hunting style on through MANY MANY adventures and misadventures and new friends and family and some saving the world. Many of the fics focus on many other characters besides just Jim, including his brother George, his parents, Chris Pike, etc.! The world just gets built up more and more and more, and the Tarsus IV fic in this series is one of my favorites of all time. I love the author’s writing style so much, it’s such a delight to read, and I love how they portray Jim’s family, biological and not. So good. (pairings: literally so many. Jim/Spock is a recurring theme, and complicated lol)

Warning Labels (are meant to be ignored) by gammadolphin. If you like McKirk, this fic is incredible. It’s a soulmate AU with words, and oh my goodness the ANGST and character development and slow burn and dealing-with-issues and developing friendships and learning to TRUST and the PLOT. SO GOOD. This is not a fic you regret reading. Hurts so good, sweet at the end. (pairings: Jim/Bones)

Batman (let’s be real, it’s p much just batfam stories):

Cor Et Cerebrum series, by @audreycritter. These fics changed me as a person. I didn’t know anything about the batfam before reading these. I only knew Bruce, and I had seen Dick in the Lego Batman Movie and knew “Robin” existed. I read Developmental Milestones first, actually, and Dev is my favorite character of all time now, and he’s the OC! He’s a doctor who cares so much! He plays video games! He scolds Batman! He works through trauma and helps the others and bonds with everyone and is so smart and kind and good and has tea with Alfred weekly and is British and a POC and incredibly incredibly sarcastic and funny and prone to cussing for emphasis except when things are really really bad and he’s a DELIGHT. This series starts off with Bruce having a brain tumor and that whole saga, and then just keeps going from there. It’s a REALLY interesting premise, and handled beautifully by someone who has done ALL the research. Every person is characterized SO well in this series, PAINFULLY well, even. The batfam, Dev, the Justice League, everyone. There is enough content in this series to last you days even if you’re spending all your time consuming it. In the past three weeks, I’ve read the main 3 fics about. 6 times. Not kidding. These stories feel like coming home. I would live in them if I could. I can’t recommend this series enough if you’re wanting to get into the Batfam, whether you know the characters already or not. I want to buy this as a book series. I want to be as good a person as these stories make me feel like I can be. Thank you for my life, audrey. (pairings: none, ALL THE FAMILY FEELS. Well, there are canon relationships, like the Kents and Clark/Lois, but it’s about FAMILY AND FRIENDS and delightful)

Mistlefoe, by strikeyourcolors. This is just. So funny?????? I laughed my way through this fic, and you will too. It’s a hilarious twist on the classic mistletoe tradition. I’ve already come back to this story a few times when I needed cheering up. (pairings: mild Selina/Bruce)

Stargazer, by LemonadeGarden. An incredible Jason and Bruce father/son reconciling fic. Really dives into Jason’s trauma, and it’s just a beautiful long painful story of reforming the foundations of bridges that have been shattered and shaking for far too long. Lots of pain but a good amount of hope at the end. Jason lovers will love this. (pairings: none)

why im not a bad brother and why damian owes me a trix yogurt and why bruce also owes me a yogurt for keeping a secret from alfred and why alfred owes me a yogurt bc i had to deal with this mess and JEAN SHRIMPTON WANNABE CAN GET ME A SPOONand also cass won’t share her cheese nibs and bruce doesn’t love me and i think?? that i deserve better??? than this???? i’m moving to alaska where NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT TO DO are by an anonymous angel but HOLY SHIT they are the funniest things I’ve read in YEARS okay the formatting the sentences the careful syntax and diction choices the scenarios please just do yourself a favor and read these they are SO FUNNY I had to figure out how to explain to my PARENTS why I was LAUGHING SO HARD AT MY PHONE. the second one especially just had me in STITCHES. new fave bad day pick-me up short fics. SO FUNNY. (pairings: none. or I guess, Tim/ridiculousness?? realistic scenarios described in the most ridiculously hilarious possible “story time” ranting ways??)

one shot, two shots in the night, by discowing. This. FIC. It is so good. Bruce Wayne writes a (heavily censored autobiography, and it’s all about how much he loves his kids. Oh, and he has to learn how to process emotions and be a better person along the way, and everyone loves roasting him, and he loves his kids, and his kids love him, and his kids love roasting him. The Justice League is nosy, but Bruce loves them anyway. The whole world may be a little bit in love. Bruce just wishes he hadn’t been so obvious about how much he’s secretly a sap. And also considers writing a Batman autobiography, and also did I mention gets sassed by his children and Alfred who love him very much? A real emotional ride. So good. (pairings: none)

The Ol’ Switcheroo, by @autumnhobbit. Self-sacrificial brothers are self-sacrificial!!! There’s an attempted assassination. There’s introspection. There’s family coming together, there’s sibling love, there’s healing, there’s great plot, there’s spot-on characterization–SUCH A GREAT STORY. Hurt/comfort in the best kind of way!!! (pairings: past Bruce/Talia, who shows up for a hot second)

Color Palette, by @audreycritter. I WAS ABSOLUTELY FLOORED BY THIS. Bruce, eras, subcultures, makeup, Stephanie, youtube, hidden skills, DELIGHTFUL humor, breaking the internet…you name it, this fic has got it. I had to stare at the wall for a few minutes when I finished because it was that awesome of a ride. I didn’t know what I expected going in, but what a ride. I love this. It’s a really fun reminder of how multifaceted people usually are and also just a hilarious read with truly delightful dialogue. Wonder Woman even gets some makeup advice from Batman in civvies, how can you pass that up? (pairings: none)

Liminal Space by Calamityjim. If you love Tim Drake, and you love hurt!Tim and Tim being loved and getting a good family and also being brilliant and stupid, this is the fic for you. A Batman has been multiverse-hopping. He sees a lot. Including a Tim who’s been treated pretty terribly by that universe’s Batfam, and he’s really worried about that Tim. So he decides to do a humane catch-and-release with him, like a wild animal rehabilitation. Except Tim is a human, and a genius, and really prone to distrusting Bruce, and so things are definitely not that simple. Lots of hurt, LOTS of comfort, a found family miracle of a fic. This is a joy to read and understands Tim’s character so well. So much brotherly bonding, too, and WHAT a satisfying ending. Tim is so bad at caring about himself. Good thing he has others to do it for him while he learns why he should. Also Tim is grounded for like, a million years, because he can’t keep from getting tangled up in reality-ending schemes and trying to stop them without asking for help. He’ll learn! This fic also involves Young Justice and the Justice League, for extra fun. I love reading this lately when I want to feel comforted, lol. (pairings: none)

Voltron:

Truce series, by kyanve. This is just. An AMAZING longfic series. I spent DAYS reading this, nay, devouring it. The author has a psych degree and it SHOWS. This is the most in-depth dive into the paladin’s heads, their bonds, the plot, their motives and feelings, just everything, that I’ve ever found. You’ll get lost in this one. It’s incredible, follows the show plot, but like, in an if-this-were-actually-a-novel-series-with-tons-of-character-introspection-and-consequences-and-feelings way. Everyone is done justice. WOW.

One More Hot Chocolate Vigil, by @the-ghost-of-kirishima-eijirou. Friends. This fic absolutely wrecks me in every good way it is possible to be wrecked. It hits every beautiful need you can have for found family, character growth, people with issues Trying Their Very Bests, support, conflicts being dealt with, realistic people realistic problems realistic slice-of-life, delightful references to games and such, plot that really gets you invested, traumatized kids and traumatized adults trying to help them (and succeeding), healthy growth, love making things better, BEAUTIFUL writing style and voice, absolutely delightful dialogue, foster kids found family modern au, coran coran the eccentric grandpa man, and more. And, of course, lots of hot chocolate, and a very good recipe for it too. I’ve used this fic AND the hot chocolate recipe to get myself through really rough times. I can’t tell you how much you’ll love this one, even if you don’t like Voltron or have never heard of the characters. (pairings: none, or at least no main ones currently happening) (Also read the sequel that’s in progress! So good!)

True Love or Something series, by @deerstalkerdeathfrisbee. THIS SERIES. IS THE MOST RICH DELIGHTFUL SURPRISING MODERN AU YOU COULD ASK FOR. At every turn, things are going to take a delightful twist you never saw coming. The characters are perfect. All the friendships and relationships of every type are lovingly developed. It’s HILARIOUS. The dialogue is fantastic. The author’s writing style is a joy to read. Please read this if you like Keith/Lance and found family and crazy shenanigans and tired nurse Shiro and accidental child adoption and long-lost family members and alien hunters and community center heroes and accidental neighbor maiming and terrible, terrible friends who you love Very Much and sometimes get your toaster broken by. Literally just read this series it’s Good. (pairings: Keith/Lance, past Adam/Shiro, Allura/Shiro, Keith/books (just kidding lol))

Pokemon:

A Professor and a Student, by LeDiz. A story where Ash stays with Professor Kukui while he’s in Alola, going to school and generally living his Ash life. An incredible, beautiful examination of Ash, his history and hidden skills and traumas, and Kukui, with his intelligence and compassion and wrangling of many children every day. Gloriously rich world-building and character development. (pairings: none)

Marvel:

sometimes this city is nothing but smoke by bysine. This fic is a delight. It’s mostly following Steve, after he retires from Avenger-ing. Peter is in the mix as a permanently-exhausted young adult. Bucky is alive and kicking and living his best life, which includes carpentry. Steve is lost, and depressed, and keeps coming back to fighting, but they all (and I mean ALL) slowly help him heal and build a new life he loves. There is trauma processing. There is GLORIOUS dialogue. There is laughter. There are “are you kidding me, AGAIN WITH THE END OF THE WORLD ATTEPMTS” shenanigans, there are NYC residents being NYC residents, there is gardening, there’s civil activism, it is delightful. (pairings: none)

at least the war is over series, by @quilliumwrites. Fam. THIS SERIES. OKAY. Ash and Lego BB8 especially. IS SO GOOD. DAMN. Peter learns to cope after the trauma(s) of Infinity War! Tony learns to cope in general! FRIENDS AND FAMILY BEING SUPPORTIVE ABOUND! Tried and true Real Therapy Truths and Techniques are scattered all throughout! Realistic portrayals of a) trauma and mental illness and all that and b) being a human person and c) specifically being a young human person are rich in this. Listen. I just. love these fics so much. Good for coping. Great for enjoying. Reconciliations happen! THERE IS EVEN A FIC DEALING WITH WHEN YOU FEEL ANGRY AND HELPLESS ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE WORLD AND DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT. quillium I feel so SEEN thank you for these very specific things you put into your writing that mean so much. (pairings: none)

Sometimes We’re Holding Angels, by @theoceanismyinkwell. Hi! Hello! This fic is definitely one of the ones that has changed my life! I’m not gonna spoil anything for you but it has badass Pepper Potts, relatable Peter Parker, dealing with dissociation and emotions, healthy coping skills, Concerned Dad Tony Stark, shenanigans, May/Pepper friendship, holla, and A Little Bit of Healing and a Lot of Hope. So good. I literally read this seven times in three days the other week. Peter hurts, but then he learns he’s not broken OR alone. God BLESS. Thank you for helping ME cope better too, with this. The writing style is absolutely lovely, beautifully paced and achingly gentle. Did I mention how awesome Pepper is? (pairings: Pepper/Tony)

#reposting to check these out later

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