#I already rec’ed the first one but these two go together

[kouichikimura]

Heres another fic rec. I cried...I cry with any Old Kiki fic

Keyleth is very old and she’s very tired. She’s ready to go

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26481331/chapters/64530988

Follow up to that one: she’s home

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27144490/chapters/66289615?view_adult=true

[deanmarywinchester]

my best sf/f/horror read in 2021!

top 5:

The Xenogenesis/Lilith’s Brood trilogy: an alien race saves the last of humanity but also links itself irrevocably to humans’ families, lineage, and culture. themes of love/coercion, paternalism, the lines that humanity in general and men specifically won’t cross. the second book UNZIPPED me.

the sparrow: what if jesuit priests made first contact with an alien species and delighted in the gift of being able to meet god’s other children. what if that mission ended with its sole survivor mutilated and psychologically broken. how did he get that way? where can he go from here? themes of communication, god/fate, purpose, loneliness

ring shout: I’ve rec’ed this approximately ten times already but READ THIS. a group of female vigilantes fight demons who are in league with the KKK. NOT anywhere near as campy as it sounds. themes of anger and who it serves, community, what is a monster

harrow the ninth: what if you were a baby immortal who ascended to immortality to serve the undying space emperor, your God? what if something was fucking with your memory and your brain might be haunted by more than just the beautiful corpse you’re in love with (that part you already knew)? what if the line “hi not fucking dead, I’m dad”? what then. NO themes JUST vibes, insane lesbian wizards, and bones <3

the three-body problem: hey guys? you’ve never heard of this one, right? Obama himself doesn’t have a blurb on the back, right? anyway. read for aliens, what humanity will do in the face of a world-ending threat, and surprisingly well-drawn character moments for a book on such a huge scale. it’s like 500 pages and I finished it in two days

honorable mentions below the cut

honorable mentions:

my heart is a chainsaw and the only good indians: supernatural horror is stephen graham jones’ world and we’re just living in it. the first is about a teenage girl mapping her life onto the slasher movies she’s obsessed with to cope—she thinks a final girl has come to her town, so that must mean it’s about to get bloody. the second is about a group of men being stalked by the ghost of what they did together as teenagers.

the once and future witches: I thought this book would be very hashtag girl power but it’s actually great. a sweepingly large-scale story of witches during the american women’s suffrage movement, by the author of the ten thousand doors of january (also a winner)

the chosen and the beautiful: the Gatsby retelling everyone’s talking about—what if Gatsby were about jordan baker, a vietnamese adoptee and casual practitioner of magic? i’d call the vibe dark academia except that it doesn’t suck and there’s no academia, but you know what I mean.

the ballad of black tom: novella about a street musician who gets caught up in a rich man’s plot to raise a lovecraftian horror. cosmic horror with a narrow focus.

black sun: in a precolumbian-inspired high fantasy world, a strangely ritually-injured man must be conveyed across the sea by a dashing sea captain (xiala my absolute beloved) before a deadline she knows nothing about. across the sea, nobles and religious figures plot. first in a forthcoming series

sorrowland: hello????? hello??? rivers solomon you are kissing me on the forehead with this book. a very human version of gothic horror tinged with folklore with a dash of dystopia and octavia butler — it’s got Parable-slash-Fledgeling vibes. about a girl running away from a cult with her two infants and developing her own life with them. great but Unkindness of Ghosts is still my favorite Solomon.

the terror: is this a “good” “book”? yes and no. do I recommend it if you’ve already seen the tv show? not unless you can erase it from your brain. was it so intense that it boiled my brain and gave me physical symptoms that made me afraid I had covid? absolutely. read this for (relatively clumsy) anticolonial period horror and to feel like you’re there with them, counting out the cans that are left for your desperate journey home as you’re dying of disease and starvation and cold and a monster polar bear. yay

paul takes the form of a mortal girl: a college student uses his newfound ability to shapeshift to take on different genders and identities. irreverent, funny, and with deeply believable characters and thoughts on gender

the devourers: a scholar is approached at a party by a man claiming to be half werewolf, And You Won’t Believe What Happens Next. dark and atmospheric mythology/urban fantasy if the “urban” in question was the seventeenth century and also modern kolkata. love, family, desire, monstrousness, werewolf romance, and eating human souls. what else do you want

the space between worlds: thought this would be another hunger games-esque New Adulty ripoff but it actually Slaps. one of the few people who can step between dimensions leverages this skill to earn her keep in the only wealthy city in a desert wasteland run by crime lords and plagued by hunger

runners up:

machinehood: robot rights activists, gig economy bodyguards, and world governments battle it out in a techno-future. sci-fi action

the patternist novels: in an interconnected but discrete series of novels, one man weaves a “pattern” in thought that keeps the world in order, and others aren’t huge fans of his order. spans modern character-driven novels and futuristic more action-based ones

the faceless old woman who secretly lives in your home: a night vale novel about how the faceless woman came to be, feat. revenge, pirates, secret societies, and a man named craig. the genre is “if asoue were for adults”

a master of djinn, the haunting of tram car 015, and the black god’s drums: a novel and two novellas set in p. djeli clark’s djinn-powered historical fantasy world. the first two are mystery set in egypt, the last mystery-action set in new orleans

split tooth: one woman’s early life is mythologized in a book I can’t describe well at all. folklore/myth set in the modern world.

the invisible life of addie larue: a woman who is cursed to be forgotten every time people look away from her navigates centuries. character-driven historical/romance/fantasy

moon of the crusted snow: in a small anishaabe community, the power goes out and the outside world is in chaos. small-scale community-focused apocalypse fiction.

mexican gothic: haunting of hill house-esque gothic horror with a sci-fi twist set in an isolated manor in the countryside

famous men who never lived: refugees from a dimension largely like our own make sense of their new home. litfic with a sci-fi premise.

sorcerer to the crown and the true queen: regency england’s sorcerer-in-chief must restore magic to england with the help of an unlikely ally. sequel set in the same world is about two malaysian sisters who have to find out why they lost their memory and what magic has to do with it. historical fantasy with the feel of YA (affectionate)

the rosewater trilogy: a sentient alien ship lands outside of Lagos and a town springs up around it because of its power to heal. sci-fi action.

tender is the flesh: a supplier of human meat to the rich has qualms. small-scale dystopia.

the house in the cerulean sea: adorable romance set at a group home for young magical creatures. somehow like if asoue were happy and if good omens didn’t have the apocalypse in it

the night tiger: a dance hall worker in 30’s malaysia finds a finger in a box as a weretiger is said to be on the loose. lush historical fantasy

@narrative-causality your post has arrived!

[narukoibito]

Fanfic Recs: Married

Wow! You guys really want recs for when Harry and Ginny are married! I usually focus on stories where they are getting together because

for me, but! Since there are so many requests, I’ve done my best to cobble together a list for you even though I may not be the best person to ask based on my reading tastes. Also, wow if you have read every single story of the authors I have rec’ed because even I have not yet (you must know more stories than me then!).

All stories with * indicate that it’s a WIP.

Married without Children

I wish I had more of these – if others have recs, please send my way!

gone was any trace of you by @annerbhp

You’re probably all tired of me rec’ing this story, but hey, it’s one of my favorites and it fits the request!

Ginny is injured in a Quidditch match by @floreatcastellumposts​

I love a panicked Harry.

If the Fates Allow by @thebiwholived

In which our favorite married couple work through some of their trauma after the war.

Snitches, Bubbles, and Pizza by little0bird

A lovely slice of domestic bliss, where Harry takes care of an exhausted, busy Ginny. Made me melt a little inside.

Acaronar by @gryffindormischief

Ahhhh, such an adorable, sultry, warm and gooey delight of a story. It made me feel better on a bad day.

Married with Young Children

I aimed for very young, like not in Hogwarts yet young for this section.

Strangers at Drakeshaugh by Northumbrian

A fantastic Muggle outsider POV of our favorite married couple and their children. It’s not primarily focused on Harry/Ginny, but there’s adventure, there’s lots of interesting ways the Potters interact with and are perceived by these Muggles.

The War Isn’t Over When the Soldiers Come Home by keepcalmsmile

Another great Muggle outsider POV when Harry and Ginny are married. It’s the perspective of a new Muggle nanny, who surprisingly has more in common with the eccentric Potters than she first thinks. 

Blackboards and Broomsticks* by @glisseowrites

An absolute delightful professor!Harry story where, in this universe, he decides to become the DADA professor much sooner than we usually read about. The writing is truly amazing, bringing interesting OCs, seeing Harry transition into teaching, and spending more time with his burgeoning family. 

Unsettled Spaces by tosca

Part I | Part II | Part III

Crossover with Batman: Struggling with her place in a new world, Ginny finds solace in a particular case at work that takes her across the Atlantic and helps her examine her life. I actually never read crossovers, but this one certainly captured my attention! I like seeing Ginny in other careers aside from Quidditch and how her and Harry’s choices might cause rifts, and whether they can bridge the distance.

Just Harry by @glisseowrites

Ginny gets Harry an amazing birthday gift. The banter, the humor, the feels –this story hits such a lovely, soft spot.

Coal by @floreatcastellumposts

Two Christmases, a lifetime apart. For all the things we put Harry through, we always want to see him with the happiness he so very much deserves.

quiddity by @gryffindormischief

James Sirius is quiet, and it’s worrying Harry. Gryffie has a bunch of others and plenty of fluff in her work if you crave more!

a collection of drabbles by @fightfortherightsofhouseelves

There are some adorable dad!Harry stories in this collection, including chapters 14, 16, 19, and 21.

How I Met Your Mum by NaruKoibito (me)

Lily Luna wants to know.

Married with Older Children

Between Walls and Harvest Moons by @ellizablue

During Albus’s third year in Cursed Child timeframe. It’s heavily focused on the Al’s disconnect with his parents. Ginny pays him a visit. There are heartbreaking moments of Harry angsting over his relationship with Al, but I have such a soft spot for Ginny & Al stories, and this one hit all of them.

It’s Tea Time Series* by @ellizablue 

If you’re looking for a multi-chaptered story, this is it! (Though you may have read it already.) It features some of my absolutely favorite married Hinny moments. The third part is much more focused on Next Gen than Harry/Ginny, but definitely worth reading. 

Nostos by @thebiwholived

I don’t even know how to describe this story, but it is so good! It has all the angst and feels and bits of fluff that both kept me going and tore me apart. It had me feeling all the Harry/Ginny feels.

The Brain Has Corridors by pale_and_tragic

Ouch, ouch, such a beautiful piece of how time passes, but Harry and Ginny remain haunted.

There’s This Girl by @keeptheotherone

A lovely, hilarious piece where Harry and James Sirius discuss witches.

And Every Day Is A Start by MagEd

A story where an older Ginny still loves Harry but feels unhappy. Not a typical portrayal of Harry and Ginny, but I loved the realistic sense of a relationship that has grown with time, but is it a problem that things have become...routine? How does one keep the fiery passion in a long-lasting relationship? And is that what one really needs?

–––

Feel free to check out my other rec lists if you are so inclined!

All-time Favorite recs

Muggle AU / Coffeeshop AU recs

Post-War Canon recs

Missed Moments recs

Pregnancy recs

Outsider Perspective recs

Amnesia recs

In Every Universe recs

Angst recs

SugarQuill recs

Muggle and Wizard/Witch recs

Rivals to Lovers recs

Humor & Gen recs

[onlythebrave-mp3]

my top 2020 fics!

okay! so i recently jumped back into this fandom after a couple of years, and started reading fic again, and i wanted to rec some of my favorites that were written this year. there’s ten on this list, and i probably could’ve done like 30 but this is already so long lol. it’s kind of in a general order, so #1 is my fav for this year, but i tried not to focus on the ranking too much because it stresses me out and i don’t need any more anxiety so it’s ended up being a pretty vague system.

1.  Our Lives, Non-Fiction (113k) by @indiaalphawhiskey 

listen. I’ve reblogged this fic like 10 times. I’ve read it twice already and it came out less than 3 weeks ago. It is an instant classic, right up there with fics like TIF or Wear it like a Crown. It has gorgeous, gorgeous writing, a thoroughly developed plot and well written character development, and such a compelling story. It is a marcel/louis fic, and I usually shy away from that kind of thing, but i’m so glad i didn’t this time because god, this one is so good. Seriously, if anyone ends up reading it, come and rant to me about it and we can cry together. Halfway through the second chapter, I created a note on my phone so I could keep track of everything I loved, and my comment on that fic is essentially a love letter to @indiaalphawhiskey. It's just so good. If you’re going to read one fic off this list, read this one. 

2. Loving You's a Bloodsport (106k) by @rosesau

okay i’m pretty sure this one made me cry like four times, which is a feat for me because i’m not usually a crier. Its soulmates with a little bit of a twist, and the plot is so well developed. Harry and louis’ feelings and their progression are written so vividly and i wish i could forget that i read it so i could go and read it again for the first time. It's also got some enemies to lovers, which is my favorite trope, and all of the side characters are beautifully developed as well. Prince!Harry, soldier!Louis, angsty soulmates. What more could you want? Oh and if you’re not convinced enough, here is a quote that fucking follows me around because its so beautiful: “Love and hate are two sharp knives balanced on a very fine line and I’ve cut myself on both because of you.” (ohmygod)

3. Mine Would Be You (114k) by @crinkle-eyed-boo

okay this one is listed at number three but it really should be 1c lol. I started this one at 11 pm like an idiot, and i don’t think i slept that night at all. It's Exes to lovers, and it's so well written. It switches between the past and the present, it's  heartbreakingly beautiful, the breakup and resolution are both so realistically written as well, and there's a great ot5 plotline too that i really loved. This one was also an instant classic- i bookmarked it before i even finished reading it. It's also got beautiful art and Louis and Harry are both artists in NYC, which I'm a slut for. Please read this one, it's so good.

okay i just realized how long this got so i’m putting the rest under the cut

4. The Murmur of Yearning (93k) by @mediawhorefics (for some reason tumblr isn’t letting me tag them??) | mediawhore on ao3 

I just finished this one, and my goddddddd it's so good. I read it in a day, and it's essentially 100k. Which isn’t that unusual for me except I did skip a class to get through it (an exam prep class. Not my finest moment but I passed. so.) There are tons of original characters that draw you in, and the whole world that is created is so fascinating and detailed. There's also no homophobia, so if you like historical fics but get triggered by that kind of thing, this is for you! Also, if you’re worried about the non-con elements, I'm sure you could message the author but also feel free to check in with me! I’ll definitely be rereading it in the near future and am totally up for discussing and crying over this fic with anyone.

5. Remember Me Fondly by @bluejeanlouis | kiddle on ao3 

ahhhhhhh this one made me sob too! It's set in both the present and the past, and I fell in love with all of the characters. This one is also heartbreaking, but I promise there’s a happy ending. Also, they way this fic deals with the fame and the homophobia and tours that harry and louis went through -even if it isn’t actually canon and is set in the 90s- is so vividly painful and realistic. It's written half through a journalist’s eyes and half through harry and louis, yet the switch in pov is so seamless and fluid and adds so much to the piece. 11/10.

6. Nothing But You On My Mind (83k) by @absoloutenonsense | nonsensedarling on ao3

okay. I started this in the middle of the night, and told myself I'd read one chapter to see if I liked it and then I would go to sleep. I'm pretty sure I read like 6. It sucks you in right from the beginning, and there's such a well developed plot. And it's so unpredictable and all of the details are so nuanced and tiny and then you look back at everything after you’ve finished it and go oh. Ohhhhhh. This one is also enemies to lovers. Are we sensing a pattern here?

7. An Invincible Summer (44k) by @twopoppies | Brooklyn_Babylon on ao3 

so as you can see this one is only 45k but i just love it so much that i’m rec’ing in anyways. It’s such a gentle, exploratory piece of literal art, and I kind of want to stay in the world that was created forever. Its set in the 1940s on a farm and i know @twopoppies has said that it started off as an excuse for barn sex, but it such a vivid story and its heartbreaking and emotional and uplifting all at once and please please please go read this. The only critique I have of it is that it's only 40k.

8. Somewhere in Between Lightning (99k) by @nauticalleeds, @shiningdistraction, and jassy117 on ao3

So this one's exes-to-lovers as well, and it's written in such a realistic way. Also i’m in love with the concept of louis on love island, despite the fact that he said he hates it. There's a sauna scene that I still think about sometimes. It's got just the right amount of angst and fluff and pining and despite the fact that it's set on a show that is usually pretty dramatic and unrealistic, this is written in a really beautiful but pragmatic way. I love it. i’ve got it  downloaded on my phone so I can read little snippets of it sometimes if I have to wait somewhere.

9. You’ve Got My Devotion (Hate You Sometimes) (95k) by @harryrainbows | lucythegoosey on ao3 

god so this one incorporates some of Fine Line into it, and wouldn’t say it's a song fic so much as it is written as a canon compliant fic that ties harry’s songs into it and its done so fucking well oh my god. Harry and Louis are exes in this one too (lol i'm sorry) and the build up of them getting together and the pining and longing is written really well.

10. At Risk, I Fold (15k) by @bearmustard | clare328 on ao3 

so i know this one is only 15k, but I put this in the list anyways. It's canon compliant, and it does mention the stunts (as stunts), but don’t let that deter you. Harry and Louis are written almost exactly as i’ve imagined them, and this one is such a heartbreaking look into the resilience and love and bravery that they have. It made me cry despite the fact that it’s not really a glum fic. The only reason it is last on the list is because it's shorter and i was mostly intending this to be a long fic rec. The love that they have for each other really shines through in this one, and it’s super gentle and soft and sad and happy all at once and just please go read it.

[dehydratedpool]

hello again!! it’s the beginning of a new month, meaning a new fic rec post!! here are some fics that i read this month that are just... exquisite and deserve all the love and attention <3 

there aren’t as many as last time unfortunately, since i was quite busy this past month, but i promise next month won’t fall short! ((fics that i’ve reread this month are indicated with a **))

Foolishly Laying Our Hearts On The Table [11k] by runaway_train @runaway-train-works 

“You think Harry wants that?”

“Dunno. Maybe. Wanna make him happy.” Harry takes advantage of the red light he’s pulled up to turn and look properly at Louis’ face. He’s not even looking in Harry’s direction though, focused instead on something out of his side window, head drooped, mindlessly playing with the string of his hoodie between his fingers, lost in his own world somewhere. For some reason, it makes Harry’s spine straighten.

“Because he’s your best mate?” Harry questions carefully.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

He couldn’t have heard him right. “What?”

Louis releases a deep breath, still not turning around. Harry wonders who he thinks he’s talking to right now. “He’s so pretty. Want to kiss him all day long. And buy him a big house and give him presents and marry him.”

Or; The one where Harry is in love with his best friend Louis but doesn't think he stands a chance until some wisdom teeth and a rather unusual confession might just change his mind.

--> this is a new comfort fic for me tbh. i got rec’d this after louis tweeted about getting his wisdom teeth removed, and i’m so SO glad i decided to give it a read. it’s so precious and lovely and personally, i found it to be a quick read. it’s the kind of fic that makes me both warm and fuzzy inside but also highly upset that i’m single and will surely be alone forever

Just Let Me [14k] by HelloAmHere 

The party was going well. So well, Niall had already sworn undying love to one multi-tiered chocolate cake, two friendly corgi-poodle mixes, Zayn’s hair, and the entire population of Los Angeles. So well, Zayn had only laughed and ruffled Niall’s hair and not even twitched towards a cigarette. So well, nearly everyone had spilled far past the boundaries of the night’s original plans, extracting bottles of vodka from the cabinets and losing a lot of clothes. Harry had proclaimed that he was finally going to throw a small and very grownup dinner party and of course here they were three hours later, fifty people half-naked in the pool. Soon to be full-naked, if Louis had to guess. Everybody in LA loved a heated pool. Everybody loved Harry.

--> ok LISTEN. as some of you know, i just recently got into reading a/b/o fics and this one is definitely at the top of my fave a/b/o fics out there. it’s an interesting take on the trope, almost a bit more realistic in my opinion, and to quote the author’s note, “’what if a/b/o but less biological determinism?’”. i believe i found this one through a masterpost of “touch-deprivation fics”, so if that’s your thing, give this one a chance!

my ugly mouth kept running [4k] by theankletattoo @hadestyles

Another seed, another try except they know what caused the first wilt. They will be careful, they will be kind and together they will nurture it to life.

sometimes second chances are more important than the first.

--> rori, the author, never fails to disappoint when it comes to all of her works. i’ve said it once and i’ll say it again, she’s so incredibly fucking talented it’s unreal. her imagery is so vivid and real it leaves simultaneously everything and nothing to the imagination. as usual, h and l’s dynamic in this is an addicting portion to this fic that has you anticipating how their dynamic will shift and grow up until the end. if you’ve yet to read any of rori’s work, i suggest you add that to your to-do list for the month, and get a head start to her collection with this one!

**As Wicked As Anything Could Be [21k] by whoknows @crazyupsetter

It starts when Louis decides that he wants to lose his cherry and announces that he thinks the best way to do that is by going to a gay club. Naturally, Harry can’t let him go alone, so he tags along and spends the night rating guys with Louis until someone finally catches Louis’s eye.

Harry shoves him out to dance with the guy, and he can already tell that it’s going to be a quick and dirty hook up, so he’s not surprised that Louis and the guy disappear into the bathroom ten minutes later.

It is a surprise when Louis comes out not even two minutes later, pale and clammy, grabs Harry by the hand and drags him right out the door.

Somehow Harry comes to the decision that it would be a good idea for him to be in the room with Louis while Louis gets laid.

It’s a stupid fucking decision.

--> i discovered this fic a while ago on a whim and i have zero regrets. this is absolutely on my top ten fave fics list (that has yet to exist but perhaps i’ll post it one day). whoknows is a well known author within the fandom, so i’m sure i don’t have to say much about their immense talent, but SERIOUSLY, their plot progression, even their use of dialogue is wonderful in every way. as a writer, i envy them lmao. this fic takes me on a rollercoaster every time i read it, it’s yet another comfort fic of mine and never fails to disappoint every time i pick it up again. please, do yourselves a favor this april and read this.

Keeping The Flame Alive [19k] by whoknows @crazyupsetter 

Recording with One Direction never felt like this. There’s a couple reasons for that, Harry thinks. One is that they did most of their recording on the road, rushed and in busses and hotel rooms, never in one place long enough to really get an argument going. The other, larger and more important one, is that back then he had the sweetest, meanest little omega around to distract him from all of that frustration.

The first time around, when he’d been recording his debut solo album, it hit him pretty hard. He likes to think he’s better adjusted to it now, but frustration is warring under his skin nonetheless. He doesn’t want to be told what to do most of the time, and he especially doesn’t want to be told what to do when it comes to his music.

What he does want right now is that sweet, mean little omega right in front of him with his mouth on Harry’s cock. Unfortunately, the best he’s got is his own hand and a shared toilet. So. That’s really not going to work.

--> yes, for the first time in dehydratedpoolfics history of fic recs even tho i’ve only been doing this for a month i am rec’ing the same author twice, but seriously, how could i not??? this fic took me on a literal journey like... wtf. i have no words. seriously, i have none, i’m just that blown away, go read it for yourself .

**a trail of honey through it all [27k] by bruisedhoney @yvesaintlourent 

The boy in front of him, well really, the man in front of him, was like something out of a confusing wet dream. Built, tall, tan and muscular, his skin glistened with sweat after a long day of working outdoors with his hands. He was wearing a cut up old American football shirt, the bottom hem was torn and the sleeves were cut off to the point where the t-shirt was really just a loose tank top. The shorts he had on had clearly been full length jeans at one point, and were now just crudely cut off above the knee. His white socks were pulled up too high on his calves, and the brown work boots he had on were old as fuck, the leather peeling along the edges of the soles. Curly brown hair stuck out from the edges of his backwards snapback, and there was a smudge of grease wiped along his brow bone. The smattering of hair along his jaw proved that he hadn’t shaved in a week or two, the hair growing in thicker across his upper lip and around his chin. His sinfully bowed mouth was pink and plump, and Louis was suddenly hyper-focused on the way that he chewed at the toothpick stuck between his lips. He looked like he needed a shower. Louis wanted to lick him.

Or, the TPH fic we’ve all been waiting for.

--> okay look. i may or may not have a slight obsession with this fic. i reread it constantly, mostly for the iconic line, “are we fuckin’ or fightin’?”, because how can i not scream over that?? ((also patiently waiting for the sequel)) this is a literary masterpiece, one that defines an entire generation of this fandom i stg. but in all seriousness, hayley, the author, does such a wonderful job of giving the reader a vivid look into “nowhere, georgia”, and as a southern gal myself, i absolutely adore the itty bitty pieces of southern culture embedded into this, the tiny quirks that make this fic authentic. i could probably go on forever on why this fic is so iconic, but perhaps you should read it for yourself instead *wink* *wink*

SO. that’s all for this month!! if you read any of these, first of all, be sure to read the tags and author’s note (if any) before starting, AND please don’t forget to leave a quick kudos or comment, it means more than you may ever know <3

[jlf23tumble]

Hello! I’m wondering if you could rec some 1D and/or Harry fics that involve a proposal and engagement! I’ve read a couple of fics recently that had a proposal, and they were so cute it made me want to read more! I’m definitely not picky about pairings or anything else. Thanks!

Oh, dear, I’m gonna bet, then, that some of these are what you’ve already read? If not, I have others I’d rec--it’s a tricky one because sometimes the proposal’s at the end, etc., instead of being all ABOUT the proposal, but here are some that might help you out, and if you want more, just lemme know, and I’ll give you the ones on the border! Also, you can’t fail with the 28 Proposals Fest, I’d imagine.

Even at my worst, I’m best with you, @kingsofeverything, 3k (HONORABLE MENTION, SAME AUTHOR, It’s About Time, 3k). I love both of these for different reasons--the first one’s all about Louis dodging Harry’s proposal, and the second is some older H/L I would kill to see more of.

nothing better, @turnyourankle, 4.8k (HONORABLE MENTION, domesticated, sky_reid, 6k). I put these two together because they’re sort of related--horniness caused by domestic fantasies, including getting married/having kids.

Three Times Louis Thought about Proposing (and one time Niall did), LoadedGunn, 7k. I feel like my fave LoadedGunn fics differ from everyone else’s, but that’s cool, lucky for us, they wrote a ton of great stuff, including this one, where the title says it all.

Just to Make Life Wonderful, mybeanienandme/radadusta, 8k. Part of a longer series featuring mpreg Harry, the engagement period!

on the same page, @hereforlou, 8.6k. MY ABSOLUTE FAVE IN THIS ENTIRE GENRE, SIGHHHHH (read this whole series, so good).

couldn’t be more in love, cabinbythesea, 11k. Oh, man, this one covers a lot of ground on a lot of different fronts, let’s just say, but I love it so! Proposal, too!

this slope is treacherous, teacuplarrie, 13k. Engagement hijinks!

True Love’s Gold, alivingfire, 27k. Proposal hijinks!

I No Longer Feel I have to Be James Dean, justletmegohome, 35k. I was on the fence between rec’ing this one and one I rec all the time, forever for always, so I opted to go with one you might not have read? Or maybe have? Anyway, lots of proposals!

i’ll make this feel like home, zouisclimax, 49k. LISTEN, I could rec pretty much all the longer “story-based” mpreg fics I love so much because they inevitably have a pretty good proposal, but as with above, I figured I’d rec one that I don’t always rec/see, just for fun.

A Long Way from the Playground, allysavedtheday, 63k. Don’t be scared by the word count, this is actually a series, and both parts have some great proposal/engagement/marriage with a twist bits.

[onlyfangz]

some recommendations of songs that i’ve been listening to a lot/discovered in the month of august! i’ve also been listening to the soundtrack of repo! the genetic opera, but i wasn’t about to include the whole damn thing on this, so that’s also a recommendation for me. (start out with chase the morning -- that’s what my blog title is referencing!!)

why you should listen to each song is underneath the cut bc it’ll be LONG!!

evelyn evelyn by evelyn evelyn tells a Story. it’s a song about conjoined twins, and one wants to separate whilst the other wants to stay together. there’s two singers, and they both overlap each other whilst singing which is like, MY FAVOURITE THING MUSIC CAN DO!!

runs in the family by amanda palmer is for y’all who like strange vocals and Marching Music. if you listen to this whilst walking you’re gonna feel like you’re in a weird artsy movie about Youth and Society and Sadness.

sugar daddy by hedwig and the angry inch bc i’m gay.

joan by heather dale is a guilty pleasure bc it sounds so much like a wlw/ace anthem. it’s a girl singing about how she’s less interested in dating men and more interested in persecuting them for their misdeeds. very celtic sounding if you’re into that.

the cult of dionysus by the orion experience bc i’m gay x2.

i was a teenage anarchist by against me! is actually just the first song i recommend you listen to before you go and listen to all of against me!’s music. if you’re trans and into punk music, you probably already know who they are, but if you don’t, or if you’re cis, i still recommend you listen to this.

dirty night clowns by chris garnaeu just has this kinda... jaunt to it. very good melody to it.

little pistol by mother mother. okay so. this has Big Witch Vibes, if you’re into that. but also “i found brimstone in my garden // i found roses set on fire // i found jesus, what a liar // now i trade licks with muddy waters”, like those lyrics coupled by the swell of the music? perfection.

the masochism tango by tom leher bc i’m gay and edgy.

i am the others by son lux. did you ever want to hear a song that sounds like how falling in slow motion through clouds with the warm sun on your face would hypothetically feel? that is this song.

twice by little dragon is a lullaby for sad people.

devil’s work by miike snow has such pleasing music behind it that you wont even realize that the lyrics make no fucking sense.

yamaha by delta spirit sounds like flying.

solo dancing by indiana is like strip club music, but like, the kind of strip club music that are in movies.

fortress by bear’s den for when you feel sad.

idfc by blackbear for when you feel sad but in an angry way.

love etc., by pet shop boys when you feel sad but in an 80s way. (i know it was released in the 2010s don’t @ me)

venus ambassador by bryan scary & the shredding tears is just a weird fucking song and i’m positive im the only person who’d ever like it ever, but i’m rec’ing it anyways. tells a story about an ambassador who’s literally from the planet venus being put on trial for being different.

animal by neon trees bc i’m gay x3

changed the way you kiss me by example is like... an edm song? i think thats what you call it. but anyways, i saw example live and he was fucking amazing, and this song is fucking amazing and it’s a sad song, but it’s the type of sad song you can jump up and down until you get a stitch to.

claire de lune by flight facilities and christine hoberg and no i do NOT mean debussy. i accidentally clicked on this originally thinking it WAS debussy, but it is NOT. doesn’t disappoint tho. has some good remixed violins (i think that’s what’s happening, anyways.)

kids on the moon by kadie elder is just a really good pick-me-up song. it’s just Happy.

i can’t decide by scissor sisters bc i’m edgy. “i can’t decide whether you should live or die // oh you’ll prob’ly go to heaven // no need to hang your head and cry”. so yeah thats a lot. 

secret by huntington has SUCH a good bass beat in it, and i can only explain the music as... drippy sounding? like it sounds like it’s melting. watch the music video if you love soap opera levels of plot twists.

[camsthisky]

Hi! Bat Fam fic rec? Love your blog! Have a pleasant day!

Of course! I did just make another fic rec post, which you can find here, but all of the ones listed here are specifically Batfam. I didn’t include any that I’ve already recommended in my other post, but I thought this would be a good idea to include the ones that didn’t make the cut last time (mostly because I was dead tired and posting at two in the morning).

You can also look at my fic recs tag!

Again, just a fair warning, a lot of these are going to be Dick Grayson centric.

Keep Losing Sleep by incogneat_ohWords: 2,893Summary: “When’d you last sleep?” Jay asks, curious.“Eleven years ago,” Tim says, at the same time as Dick says, “Tuesday.”My Comments: The batboys trying to help Tim with his insomnia? Heck yes.

Come One, Come All by incogneat_ohWords: 2,047Summary: He sits on the end of the bed, watching the slow expansion of Dick’s chest, frowning slightly. Tapping his fingers on the knees of his jeans absently.Or, the fic where Dick is injured and the family are sticking close by.My Comments: I’m a sucker for Dick getting hurt and his family doing their best to take care of him. This is one of THE best I’ve read. I seriously read it all of the time.

Kill your darlings by ShariArunaWords: 2,476Summary: Fic Prompt!: Brainwashed evil Dick with Batbros to the rescue!My Comments: Man, this fic hits hard. The boys have to fight their brother after he’s dosed with fear toxin and I just feel for them so much.

Manus by ShariArunaWords: 2,002Summary: He knows his family, he knows which people are important to them. And Dick’s been at war with Bruce for the first place in every Robins’ heart for a long time now. Winning, for the most part.My Comments: Okay, so the thing I love about this fic is that it shows that Jason cares for his family without ever really stating the fact. Dick’s injured and Jason feels like it’s all his fault. My heart breaks just reading this fic! Also, check out @unavenged-robin​ for more because they’re amazing!

The Name Game by RascalJoy (DarkQuill)Words: 1,610Summary: Duke Thomas doesn’t have a hero name yet. The Robins (read as: Jason) decide to fix that.(“If you say ‘Robin,’ I will cut you,” Damian growled.“He will,” Tim agreed. “He’s crazy.”)My Comments: This is kind of crack-ish, but I think it’s pretty funny, and it’s such an accurate representation of how done Duke is with the batkids.

Mistlefoe by strikeyourcolorsWords: 10,158Summary: With forced house arrest, a poisoning, a charity holiday lights display, last minute shopping, accidental lipstick drugging, and mistletoe based violence, chaos reigns supreme in the days leading up to Christmas. But the Batfamily? They thrive in chaos. In other words, pointless holiday humor and fluff with some feelings mixed in.My Comments: Okay, so I can hear you asking, “Why are you recommending a Christmas fic?” and my answer is because this fic messed me up. Badly. I thought I was in for a funny, light-hearted fic, but it gets kind of angsty towards the end (like a good kind of angsty that hits you right in the feels).

April 27th by mitch23kWords: 2,694Summary: Just five days before the fifth anniversary of Jason Todd’s death, Dick Grayson gives a risky answer to an interviewer question about his brother. Jason thinks it’s funny, and suddenly, the family finds themselves in a competition to see who can be more dramatic about their brother on TV.My Comments: I love reading how Jason slowly comes to realize that he’s a part of the family and this fic does it really well! It’s a good read!

The League of Extraordinary Bowling Bats by chibi_nightowlWords: 5,065Summary: “What did Dickiebird do? Steal all your other shirts?”The shirt is bright green with wide yellow stripes pretending to be a pin stripe running vertically across it. On the back, in bright red letters, “Timmy” is spelled out.“You’re next,” he spits out, shooting Jason the worst glare he could muster. “He’s got one for you too.”My Comments: A fluffy fic of the family doing ridiculous things like renting out an entire bowling alley. Amazing.

Bruce texts instead of talking, and Dick learns to deal with his home situation by narfiffiftic (maladictive)Words: 1,100Summary: Dr. Hurt shot Dick, and now he has to deal with the aftermath: Make sure you check the stitches before you go to sleep, I saw you for ten minutes today, you realize what nearly happened? Just do as I say, B, they’re on the back of my head, you come check on them. Use a mirror, Dick. Be careful,My Comments: Set between Batman and Robin #16 and #17, where DIck has brain surgery. It really makes you think of how Bruce really hasn’t changed a bit. I feel for poor Dick here, but he’s always got his brothers!

Meet the Family by autumnangelwritesWords: 1,610Summary:It was rare that Bruce got called to handle ‘dad issues’ and, well, Clark honestly couldn’t resist.My Comments: Bruce is so done with the Justice League in this and it’s pretty funny. It is angsty, though, and it makes you think that maybe Bruce actually does know how to parent.

Talon’s Grasp by lowflyingfruitWords: 78,187 (23/23)Summary: Dick Grayson was kidnapped by the Court of Owls. Talon escaped. With no known way to undo what has been done, and the Court trying to reclaim their assassin, is there still a place for Nightwing in Gotham? Is there still a place for Dick in the family?My Comments: I don’t usually read Talon!AUs, but this is a really cool fic and I got sucked into it. It shows how the whole family would react to Dick getting captured and they try to scramble to turn him back, and it’s honestly really good.

So those are all on ao3, but here are a few on ff.net:

Altruism by paganpunk2Words: 4,800 (2/2)Summary: Dick’s day volunteering at a BPD fundraising car wash takes a turn for the delightful when Alfred stops by. T for language.My Comments: A fluffy one-shot where Alfred just wants to support Dick, even if Bruce won’t. This is one of my favs, but of course, all of paganpunk’s stuff (especially the Spark in the Dark series) is absolutely amazing!

Bumper Stickers by FinalArcWords: 3,080Summary: Bruce is back from the “dead”, and not especially tolerant of some of the changes made in his absence. Dick couldn’t care less.My Comments: Someone on ff.net was asking me for a prompt and they rec’ed this to me. And honestly? It’s really good. Bruce has to come to terms that life basically moved on without him, and it’s kind of hard to swallow for him. A really good read.

A Robin’s Gotta Eat by RomanianDollarWords: 3,631Summary:When Jason gets injured in a gang fight he heads to the one person who will receive him: Tim Drake. While there he finds his kid brother doesn’t have the best diet habits, and decides to take matters in his own hands.My Comments: Jason cooks and the family eats together! It’s pretty fluffy, and Tim’s reactions in this are pure gold.

Hope you enjoy reading!

[meganmazing]

An All Phlint Rec List!

One guess which pairing I fell head-first into this time...

Need more time? No problem, I’ll give you a hint. It involves SHEILD’s #1 eye in the sky and his long-suffering, slightly anal-retentive handler. The purple Avenger and the dead-not-dead agent. You know them, and if you don’t already love them, these fics will fix that for you. Sorry in advance for how long this is, but there are so many fics and I have too many feelings.

Some of them even feature Pizza Dog, because we are a blessed fandom.

Most of these are rated Explicit, but not all! I even mention a G-rated fic, and I’m proud of me for branching out my recs. I don’t read non-con/dub-con, and I’m not usually into ABO stuff, so you won’t find any of that here, if it’s a concern. Just in case, read the tags! I also don’t read unhappy endings, becasue I’m not about that life.  

Click the bold titles (sometimes the little lines indicating a link aren’t there, but the link still is) and don’t forget to leave kudos/comments on the ones you love, to spread that love to the authors! And as always, there will always be more fics that I love/bookmark/scream about in my bookmarks page on my ao3 account: megamazing

College AU

Launch Your Assault by foxxcub  Words: 30k  Rating: E

Phil Coulson was more than halfway through his six year plan, and everything was chugging along nicely.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t foreseen a cocky junior Art major waltzing into his life, or his floor.

So this is within the same universe as Bulletproof, a stony College AU fic, but I never read that one. Phlint College AU’s I love, but not so much with stony? I have weirdly subjective preferences when it comes to fics.

However, I will rec this one with my dying breath. It is Phil’s POV, and I have such a soft spot for college age Phil now, thanks to this story. As a college student myself, I felt that everything was really realistic and I believed everything. More than that, I want to give both the boys a hug. They need it after this. 

Also, as you’ll see later on in this list, I love the “fuck buddies” trope with hidden feelings that are so not hidden it’s embarrassing. And heartbreaking. As much as I want to hug Phil, I also think he needs a swift kick or seven.  

Safety Not Guaranteed by foxxcub  words: 4k+ (nearly 5k) Rating: M

Phil was informed of the Sigma Iota tradition of White Elephant two weeks before Christmas break. He’d heard of other chapters on campus having holiday parties and had figured the SI’s did the same.

But he was quickly learning the SI’s didn’t do things quite like other fraternities.

Short, sweet, and funny. Of course this would happen to them, within a group of people where blatant, verbal communication is a practically a foreign notion. I laughed, I sympathetically cringed, and there are sexytimes, too. What’s not to love here, really? (Wade has a great cameo, too, so of course this was going on the list)

I'll Learn To Dance If You Promise Not To Laugh by torakowalski  words: 10k+ rating: E

A College AU in which there are long distance relationships, misunderstandings, and no one actually spends any time in college.

The insecurity in this fic kills me in the best way. Clint puts on an act sometimes, acting stronger and suaver than maybe he feels. When your bf is older and cooler and smarter and too good for you, what else can you do? Naturally, that strategy works great until it doesn’t. 

Thor, Darcy, and Jane are wonderful and I just want more of them! I would never have pictured them as Phil’s roommates, but it works so well and watching Clint interact with them is great. 

Everyone deserves a hug: Clint for being a sweet idiot, Phil for being a well-meaning moron, and the roommate squad for putting up with their shit and making it fun.  

(more torakowalski fics in the final section, because I’m in love with their work and need to throw more at you)

Other AU

Kindergarten ‘verse by soniclipstick (veriscence)  total words: 38k+ Respective ratings: E, G, and E

Kindergarten teacher Clint Barton has never been in a healthy stable relationship in his life. Hell, mostly he doesn't bother leaving his house unless his best friend drags him out for 'socialising'. He's happy with his life as a hermit; he has a dog, and fifteen sticky tiny humans to teach core skills to. That's more than enough commitment for him

But that's all about to change when the new school year brings along with it some major surprises, such as Phil Coulson, the widowed father of one of his students and owner of the bluest eyes Clint's ever seen.

(summary from the first fic in the series)

I am rec’ing the whole series here, because I want to curl up and live in the world the author created. It has everyone you could think of wanting to see from both general Marvel canon and also Agents of SHIELD. Look, as I’m writing this, I want to go back and re-read the first fic. As the author states in the tags, it’s totally Fraction’s Hawkeye, aka my favorite and the best (soz MCU Clint, you’re cool too, sometimes).

This could have been so stupid. It’s a kindergarten teacher AU, it very easily could have been something I read two paragraphs of and clicked away. But it isn’t. When the author says fluff and angst, they mean it. It hurt my heart and made me giddy by turns. Also, sexytimes. But the feelings! I connected so much with Clint in this, and felt so much for Phil, and the payoff feels so earned by the time it happens.

The supporting cast is phenomenal, and it may be my favorite of this whole list, which is saying a lot because I love them all. Even the smaller cameos were hilarious and made me smile.

EVEN IF YOU READ NO OTHER FIC ON THIS LIST, READ THIS SERIES.

Pre-Avengers (mostly)

Slow and Soft by onthewaters  Words: 23k Rating: E 

When Coulson adds Barton to his team, he expects smartassery. Except there isn't any...

This is it. This is the story I was looking for and craving without even knowing it. That may make zero sense, but I don’t know how else to put it. The writing and the storytelling here are on another level, and I mean that in the best possible way. It shows them getting together - including the beginning of the incredible friendship between the trio (Nat, Clint, and Phil) and Nat and Clint's bond - as well as the most believable/subtle pinning I’ve read in awhile. 

Phil's characterization is the best in this one. It’s his POV, and his personality just shines. This is one of the ones I really treasure, and I won’t apologize for how extra I am about it. 

Operation Snapdragon by Laura Kaye (laurakaye) words: 10k+ rating: E

They’d decided to call it Operation Snapdragon, Jasper had explained, because snapdragons meant “deception” in the language of flowers.

It would be more accurate to call it Operation Rip Out Phil's Heart And Grind It Beneath The Feet Of Mobsters, but apparently there wasn't a flower for that.

The humor is on point, and I am a sucker for pining!Phil and sarcasm. It’s a fake marriage fic, where they’re undercover as a couple. Tell me that doesn’t sound perfect for these two. BUT WAIT, there’s more: they’re already a thing before the fake marriage mission, and Phil has been feeling insecure in the relationship! Voicing concerns in a healthy manner is out of the question, naturally. Idiots.

It takes place over six months, featuring flashbacks to how Phil ended up in a strip club run by the mob, smiling lovingly at his husband while a mobster talks about how great they are together. 

Plenty of miscommunication on par with the trope, and you just want to give Clint a hug, becasue you know what’s going on, but Phil can’t catch a hint. It has art at the end, too, which is adorable.

The Clothes that Make the Man by orderlychaos  words: 17k+ rating: E

There was something comforting in the way Clint could focus on Coulson’s dry, deadpan tone as bullets and explosions sounded around him. Come rain, hail or bursts of experimental weaponry, Agent Coulson would be there, calm and controlled in that damn suit, like the personification of order against chaos.

However, contrary to rumour, Phil Coulson was not born in a suit. This is the story of how Clint Barton glimpsed the man underneath and fell in love.

(Or five times Clint saw Phil outside of a suit and the one time he wore a suit himself).

IT’S A FIVE AND ONE, boys, we’ve made it. This my favorite trope in all of fanfiction history. It’s also pre-avengers for the first half, but then kinda after? Coulson isn’t dead and doesn’t appear to ever have been, but in the later chapters, the Avengers are a thing? I’m not sure about timelines. It’s an AU, and it’s awesome. 

The important part is that there’s Clint POV and insecurity on both sides, as well as really sweet moments and pinning galore. Plus, it’s rated E, so obviously that too. It’s fairly lighthearted in general as well (meaning there are feelings and angst but there aren’t feelings and angst, if you know what I mean), and after some of the angst on this list, lighthearted fics are a gift. 

Coulson Lives - Reunion

Give a Dog a Bone by  Laura Kaye (laurakaye)  Words: 86k+ Rating: E

What do you do when your dead best friend turns up alive after three years? a) yell at him b) hug him c) ignore him to his face while following him around the Tower like a creeper d) maybe fall in love with him a little e) all of the above

Best summary, or best summary? 

This does not have enough kudos or recognition. I know it’s at nearly 960, and that’s a great amount, but it deserves so much more! I still think about this story, and it’s another one I want to re-read soon. 

When I mentioned Pizza Dog, this is one of the ones I had in mind.   

And Kate!!! His friendship with Kate is everything I’ve ever wanted. And his friendship with Tony, and obviously Nat. Basically, I love Clint having friends and getting to be petty becasue holy shit he deserves to be petty after everything SHIELD has put them all through. At the same time, nothing feels like Phil!whump or emotionally beating a character down unnecessarily. 

Clint does everything I want him to, and some stuff I didn’t even know I wanted him to do. There is so much pain, as you’d expect, but there is so much payoff and the balance is perfect. I connect with Clint’s characterization in general, but especially here. Just yes. 

Phil’s journey with the loss of his hand and adjusting to life with a prosthetic is also really cool, and something I hardly ever see. Same goes for Clint’s hearing loss. He isn’t deal, but and is completely capable/confident in himself, but there are struggles at times that make me wonder if the author has personal experience because it’s stuff I recognize from my mom’s experiences.  

doesn't matter if I bleed by t_fic (topaz), topaz, topaz119 (topaz)  Words: 25k+ Rating: E

Clint's never pretended to be deep. He's just the guy who sits back and watches, the guy who makes the shot when he needs to. He's seen a lot of crap in his time, sat through a lot of fucked-up scenes to get to where he needs to be, but this, now--he can't stand another second of it.

This feels like an argument for why the pairing works, and I loved it. It really deep dives into the issues all three of them - Clint, Nat, and Phil - have in a way that feels so real and relatable to me, personally, that it cut me right to the core. I still can't get over the incredible friendship between Clint and Nat in this. I loved every minute, and every win was so, so deserved. I want to curl up and live in the world the author created, tbh. Also, there are sexytimes. Can't forget those.

Tony also has the line early on that nearly made me cry: "Someone has some serious fucking explaining to do, because you," he pokes at Coulson, "we fucking buried you." The scene is already so emotionally charged, and then this and it kills me becasue of all the off-page backstory and emotional weight it gives for the rest of the story.

I’m emo and dramatic about all of these, but I mean it when I say it feels like proof for why Clint and Phil work. Just, yes.

Coulson Lives - some point after the off-page reunion

The Best Bad Ideas by copperbadge words: 17k+  rating: M

When Clint Barton put on the Captain America costume for a mission, he didn't count on Phil Coulson's reaction. Coulson didn't count on Clint crashing his new team to do something about it.

Oh yeah, you read that right. It’s just as funny as it sounds, and all of a sudden you get hit with the angst and it works. Even so, this one is a lot lighter and it’s fun. Cap and Co’s reactions are just as funny, and the gossip sessions between the ensemble are some of my favorite bits. (side note: why have I never considered the badass-ery that would be a Nat and Melinda May friendship?) 

Pine Lake Oasis by infiniteeight  words: 32k+  rating: E

When SHIELD gets intel that an arms dealer might soon be receiving Chitauri technology, Fury sends Clint and Coulson undercover to establish surveillance, ingratiate themselves with the arms dealer and his right hand man, and possibly intercept the sale. The catch? The arms dealer and his lieutenant are apparently posing as a couple, which means the best way for Clint and Coulson to get close is to pose as a couple, too. The longer the op goes on, the more Clint wonders which relationship is more real.

MORE PRETEND MARRIED TROPES! We can never have too many, in my humble opinion. This one is very different from the mobster one, because it’s set in suberbia with plenty of nosy neighbors and also some arms dealers who are also posing as a couple. Frankly, I’m not sure anyone is posing as anything in this fic when it comes to feelings. 

The domesticity in this story is so good and it’s so sad watching them get used to it and hearing Clint think it can’t last...but then! And everything feels earned by the end, instead of just tossed in. You watch them get closer over the course of the story and I love it. 

They’re sassy and sarcastic and funny, and so true to the characters we’ve come to love that it all feels so believable. 

Just torakowalski Fics 

(Yes. I did add a whole section just for one author. If I hadn’t, every category would be overrun, and there are so many good fics out there! But this author gets me, and more importantly, gets Clint and Phil, so it had to be done.)

Been Looking at You Forever  words: 18k+ (closer to 19k)  rating: E

Clint and Phil are friends. Friends who have sex. That’s all there is to it. Honestly. 

Fuckbuddies with a healthy dose of accidental relationship because whoops, who knew “casual” sex with hidden feelings would lead to complications and more feelings?? Set post-Avengers movie, and including all the main faves as side characters. 

Guys, I’ll be real with you for a second. I don’t ship either stucky or Tony/Pepper, and yet this has both as background but blatant relationships. And I still don’t ship them, but I believed it within the story and I wasn’t bothered? If that doesn’t tell you how good of a writer tora is...

I am addicted to the way they write Clint and Phil, and the fact that it doesn’t look like they’ll be writing more for that pairing makes me hold on tighter to the stories we do have. Sure, the premise of this fic is a trope, but the relationships between the characters puts it on another level for me. This one will make you crave more of this trope out of all your fave pairings, trust me.

And All the Clocks Came Back to Life  Words: 4k+ Rating: T

Phil Coulson isn't a big fan of birthdays, but they're better than being dead.

Pizza Dog is a character again, and so is my favorite apartment complex in Marvel Comics continuity. This is the sweetest story (it’s also the shortest one on this list *gasp*) and it doesn’t have anything explicit, which I know some people prefer, but trust me. The way tora writes these boys is so worth the read. I have the warm-fuzzies just thinking about this fic again - I dare you not to feel like smiling with this one. Naturally, there are grounded feels too, and I just want to protect Clint with my whole being. Luckily, I’m pretty sure Coulson does, too. 

Both characterizations are on point.

Keeping the World at Bay  Words: 25k+ Rating: E

Finding out that Phil's alive and working with a new team isn't easy for Clint, and neither is helping Captain America track down the brainwashed Hydra assassin that used to be Bucky Barnes. 

This is another one where I still don’t ship stucky, but god damnit I’m here for everything in this fic. Clint gets to be fucking amazing in this one, both physically and on an emotional connective-ness level. It uses his own neuroses and backlog of problem/coping mechanisms and puts them to use in the best way. You know, if you’ve seen the movie Age of Ultron (meh movie overall but there are elements I adored) that Clint has the potential to fill the mentor position so well. He gets to do that here, or at least begin down that sort of path, and I loved it. 

For all my stony babes, I urge you to give it a shot. Just this once, let me peer pressure you.

I am also always here for Clint getting to be pissed off, because HELLO, he’s got a right. And my heart went out to Phil so hard. Guys, it’s a double reunion fic, as well as the first time potential best friends meet, why are you sleeping on this??

Back to The Place You Are  Words: 7k+  Rating: E 

Phil Coulson was sitting two tables over from Clint and wearing his Dress Blues. This was making concentrating on anything else pretty much impossible.

Normally, I am Not A Fan of fics where they are broken up from the get-go. Or maybe I just have to be in the right mood/mind set for that brand of angst. AND YET. This fic.  

It’s Tony and Pepper’s wedding, and naturally Phil has to dress the part right? Clint should have been prepared, but clearly, he was not. This one is pretty much smut with angst and feels, and like Clint, I was not prepared for how much I would love reading it. 

What We've Got Here Is Enough words: 7k+ rating: E

They don’t fuck in the Avengers’ Mansion, that’s rule number one of Having A Secret Relationship With Your Ex-Handler.

This one was great, and involves how the rest of the team finds out about their relationship. Not a ton to say aside from what I’ve already said about how tora writes these two! 

Want more recommendations? Let me know! Maybe I ship what you ship and we can scream about the great fanfic together. 

[delkios]

Tagged by @texelations and (i think?) @ir-anuk approximately four score and seven years ago:

“Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers.”

Because I’ve been archiving my writing for nearly 14 years now, I’m going to be rec’ing my favorite writing I’ve done in my last five fandoms which I’m defining as something I’ve done more than five fics for.

Because this is such an old meme that I’m pretty sure everyone’s already done, I’m not tagging anyone.  Fandomes rec’d: DC TV, Mortal Kombat, Red vs Blue, Transformers and Fallout: New Vegas.

DC TV You Know I’m Not a Saint (ColdWave, warnings for referenced child abuse, trauma and alluded domestic rape)

It only took two more days before Mick was irritable and fidgety again though the dangerous edge he'd get for being away from fire too long was still absent. He drank often, as if making up for lost time, and had taken to working out in the basement- normally something Len enjoyed spectating, watching Mick's muscles work and sweat building up on his skin. Now, though, the sounds of Mick's fists against the punching bag made him tense, the pit of his stomach going cold.

The sounds didn't go away when Mick stopped. They echoed in Len's ears and whenever Mick was next to him, touching him, he felt phantoms pains of fists on his body.

Anyone that’s talked to me about characters knows how much I like thinking about how much is a product of their past.  Anyone that’s heard me go on about ColdWave- either together or individually -knows I love how messy and twisty their relationship can get so it was basically inevitable that I’d examine how Len’s abusive childhood (with a side of mick’s own issues) mixed with that.

Mortal Kombat Always and Forever (SubScorp, no sex but not quite work-safe)

He talked as he finished with Hanzo’s hair, wringing out the water before twisting it up and securing it with a wrap. And he talked as he scrubbed Hanzo’s back, gentle against his neck and over the backs of his ears, rubbing the shell of it, harder against his shoulders, back, making Hanzo arch and sigh. Kuai Liang scraped the dead skin from Hanzo’s elbow down to his fingers as he talked about a minor misunderstanding with Special Forces and a background check with one of the new recruits that was easily cleared up despite the annoyance, rubbing hard between his fingers, sweeping over the palms with a thumb. Hanzo leaned back against him, a warm, heavy yet comfortable weight as Kuai Liang passed the washcloth over his chest, first a little roughly to get him clean, then again, gently, more petting than not, more as an excuse to simply hold him than anything else.

Because I wouldn’t let myself take the easy way and say Ridiculous Old Men in Ninja Love, I had a difficult choice between this and Hope Springs Eternal.  Ultimately I decided Always and Forever because it better showcases what I loved best out of (my interpretation of) their relationship: how attentive they are and how they take care of each other.  They’ve had to deal with such shitty things in their lives that I can’t help but want something good and sweet and pure for them.  Which is why I like this fic so much, it’s just one being there for the other, through hardships and mundanity and wanting nothing out of it other than being able to be there.

Red vs Blue Team Imbalance (gen)

Tucker turned back to the Reds, "Why are you attacking us? You know there's no actual Reds or Blues anymore, right?"

Sarge twisted around until he could put a boot in Grif's helmet for no other reason than because he could. "Of course we know that!"

"Then why are you attacking us?"

"Because I can't trust you untrustworthy Blues to not try using it as an excuse to catch us unawares. So we were preemptively catching you unaware to discourage you from doing something as dishonorable as attacking us when you know we know there would be no reason for it!"

I probably have better written and more compelling fics from this fandom but I can’t help loving this for 1) the best Sarge quote I ever did (as seen above) and 2) Wash’s repeated accidental hostage acquisition.  Even thinking about them randomly makes me snicker to myself.  If only I were that consistently funny...

Transformers What Waits in the Dark (horror, some violence)

He didn't look alright at all. "This thing was collapsed for a reason," he said. "We cannot open it, no matter what! It'll... if there's anything there, it'll be corrupted and deadly and it'll kill everything it can."

The other Wreckers wavered between confused and concerned. "What are you talking about?"

"Monsters. Demons trapped under the rock. Creatures that should be dead but whose minds got twisted instead," Twin Twist was almost reduced to whispering, beginning to shiver under Springer's hand. "Zombies."

There was an explosive sigh as Sandstorm and Scoop relaxed on their struts. "Geez," the triplechanger admonished, "I almost thought you were being serious! Zombies. Good one- too bad Whirl wasn't here for that."

I do horror/suspense pretty rarely and that may be the reason why this is still one of my favorite fics I’ve written even after so many years.  It helps that I was working with my version of the Wreckers who are a very genre-flexible group.  I’m not sure what inspired me to do it, whenever zombies/vampires showed up in either the comics or the old cartoon, I thought it was a ridiculous concept.  The best I can think of now is that, while re-reading IDW to get inspiration for more What’s Wrong with a Little Destruction, I re-read Spotlight: Kup and that made me think of how robot zombies could actually make sense.

Fallout: New Vegas/Courier Faction The Courier of the Wasteland (gen)

"/A lone courier stands upon the broken road; a fearless, brave vagabond, ready to face lands unknown and dangers unrelenting. Well-worn boats crunch against uneven pavement, sharp eyes settling on a line of fire ants marching deliberately up the road./" Another voice came on the line, so exaggeratedly deep that Reggie didn't recognize it. "/Time for you to bug out./" There was a long pause of crackling silence. When Sterling spoke, his voice was harder to hear, like he was attempting to speak off the mic without having actually gotten off. "/What was that?/" "/What was what?/" Ah- the mystery voice was Wyn. "/That voice!/" "/That's my you voice./" "/What?/" "/I'm playing you./" "/Why are you playing me?/" "/Who else would I play- me? I already do that in real life, gotta mix it up a little! Now get back to the script./"

I think what I love the most about this fic is the potential around it.  It stemmed from the idea of if there are radio stations in the Mojave, why aren’t there radio plays?  And, in a meta sense, given there are mods for you to insert your own audio into the game, this radio play could absolutely be a thing.  That knowledge makes me think about the story more- not in terms of details like what’s it’s actually about, but in the ways it would be absurd and surreal, just taking everything in the Mojave and making it ridiculous.  After all, why should Wild Wastlanders be the only ones having fun, right?

[jlf23tumble]

Hey! Can you rec some roommates to lovers fics, if you haven't already done that? Extra points if it's really slow burn. I have a crush on my roommate and want to torture myself.

OH, MY GOD, MY LOVE, WE HAVE ALLLL BEEN THERE, JESUS. Okay, I’ve got you, bb!! Some of these are slow burn, some are short/angst/helpppppp, but all of them are in your current wheelhouse, godspeed, let the happy endings guide you to something similar!

your eyes on me (make me), by momentofclarity/ @gaycousinlarry, 3k, E.  Harry has had a particularly shitty week. His flatmate Louis might be able to help him out. (benefits city, but BENEFITS, you feel??)

No One But You Got Me Feeling This Way, by runaway_train/ @runaway-train-works, 3k, E. His jittery fingers drum lightly on the edge of the keyboard as he stares at the tiny digital clock in the top right hand corner of the screen, willing the seconds to tick by faster. Or the one where Harry has a particular desire that only Louis can fulfill. (angst CITY, you’ll feel this one, that plot twist!!)

hey, you see me down on the floor series, by ballsdeepinjesus, 7k, E. Louis leans in to fit his mouth close to Harry’s ear as he whispers, “Put ‘em on.” Or harry and louis are freshman roommates. they do some things. (my goddd, do I love rec’ing this author, and this is hot hot hot, requited sexi time, lingerie, college dorms, the works)

oh baby, baby, the reason i breathe is you, by ballsdeepinjesus, 9k, E. Kiss his button nose, making it scrunch up in that cute way it does when Harry makes a dumb joke. Kiss his collar bones, maybe nip them a little and soothe them with his tongue. But really, he wants to finally kiss his pretty pink lips he’s dreamed about for too long. He wants it more than anything. Or harry and louis are besties. harry wants a kid. (MPREG, BB, godddd, do I love this one for so many reasons, but yeah, roomies, platonic baby making...until it isn’t)

Cancel your reservations, no more hesitations, by 14hflight/ @silverfoxlouis, 10k, E. Harry’s face is flushed and he looks fucked-out and “I’m sorry!” Louis squeaks out and quickly backtracks, face red, because he wasn’t supposed to see that and Harry’s an alpha but he - Louis isn’t going to judge him. Or Louis is an alpha and so is Harry, but Louis helps him through his rut anyway. (a/a roommates, one of the very best of the genre, READ IT)

the way that you’re thrilling me, by @hereforlou, 12k, E. He didn’t understand how his friends—lovely, soft-skinned, sweet-smelling omegas—could actually want to touch them, or be touched by them. Maybe he was just immature. That’s what his friends said, anyway. Or, the one where Harry and Louis don’t enjoy sex - until they do. (the gaybo fest gave SO MUCH, and this is GREAT ONE, o/o roommates, gettin’ down to it)

Go Nowhere Tonight, by objectlesson/ @alienfuckeronmain, 12k, E. Wants it so fucking badly, and it would be one thing if he could just silently quarantine that part of himself and pine secretly, but instead he’s faced with fictionalized accounts of his and Louis’s nonexistent love life and photoshopped pictures of them being coupley every time he’s on the internet. Or, the aftermath of a very tense dinner party. (JESUS, the bible of pining roommate fic, help)

Talk Dirty to Me, by BriaMaria/ @briannamarguerite, 13k, E. The one where Harry is absolutely terrible at dirty talk so he asks his best friend to teach him. And the one where Louis knows it's a catastrophically bad idea but agrees anyway. (uh, yeahhhhh, it is as it says)

A Little Love (is better than none), by objectlesson/ @alienfuckeronmain, 15k, E. It’s supposed to be no strings attached sex, but Harry’s in love with beauty and tragedy and Louis Tomlinson so there might actually a few strings they’re not talking about. (a four and one, and the very first fic Phoenix wrote in this fandom, GOD BLESS)

You’re My River Running High, by alienharry/ @fourdrunksluts, 15k, E. It’s not that Harry doesn’t believe their relationship would be amazing, because it would be. It’s just, for all that they blend together perfectly, Harry isn’t sure that they’d be sexually compatible. Or the one where Harry moves in with Louis and doesn't know how to take a hint. (stereotypes, amirite? love how this fic turns it all on its head)

Make a Dime Go One Hundred, by @screwstyles, 17k, E. Friends to Lovers AU: Harry volunteers to help Louis experiment with bondage. Things don’t go exactly to plan. (oh, mannnnnnn, i hope this works out for you in a similar way!)

Autumn at My Window, by TheCellarDoor, 20k, M. A canon-compliant AU, in which Harry and Louis are both in the band and have been sharing flats and hotel rooms for nearly five years, but never made the leap past 'friends who are too close for comfort’. Featuring a lot of pining, Louis' addiction to Harry's scent, and a whole lot of sexual tension that might just snap loose when they decide to spend some time together all on their own. (yeah, this one is so visceral, the scents!!)

Instant Pleasure, by @100percentsassy, 25k, E. This fic has everything! College Roommates! Mario Kart! Julie Andrews! Demonstrative Pronouns! Flamboyant Dom Louis! Premature Ejaculation! Niall! (I didn’t write that, that’s the author note, and u know what? SHE IS 100% RIGHT ON THE MONEY, Jesus, the kink support alone is enough to rec it to the moon and back)

Born to Make You Happy, by objectlesson/ @alienfuckeronmain, 25k, E. Harry makes a quiet vow to himself that he will be the very best girlfriend Louis has ever had, even if he never actually gets to be Louis’s girlfriend. (yeah, boiiiiii, get that domestic servitude kink out)

I Just Want You to Stay, by @sadaveniren, 34k, E. That seemed to jolt Louis out of his thoughts and he nodded immediately, opening his arms up for Harry to dive into. “Holy shit, yes. Congratulations. Come here,” he wrapped his arms around Harry and cuddled him close, pressing his nose into Harry’s neck. “Holy shit,” he whispered.Or Louis and Harry have been roommates for four years, comfortable in their routine and their relationship. But all of that is about to change. (this is a recently completed a/b/o advent fic, and I hope against hope for a sequel)

Find You Home, by @kingsofeverything, 35k, E. When Louis lies to his family and says he’ll bring his new boyfriend home for Christmas, his best friend and roommate Harry agrees to play the part. It’s that, or be left alone over the holidays. What will happen? No one knows! Perhaps Santa will swoop in with a Christmas miracle. (oh, I bet I know, lmao, lots of great fic tropes ahoy!!)

Long Before We Both Thought the Same Thing, by allyasavedtheday, 36k, M.  Louis maybe, sort of realises he's in love with his best friend of almost twenty years and he maybe, sort of thinks that said best friend could love him back? A prequel to If You Asked Me If You Love Him (I'd Lie). (I’m such trash for part two, but yeah, part one! watch it unfold!!!)

we’re not friends, we could be anything, by nooelgallagher/yoursongonmyheart, 115k, E. Louis rolls his eyes. “Jokes require laughter, Curls.” Louis glances down at Harry’s thighs again, Christ. “Your pants must be so tight they’re restricting airflow to your brain.” Harry wipes a bead of sweat off his forehead. “Pretty sure yoga is supposed to increase airflow, blood flow, and all that,” he responds dryly, finally jumpstarting himself and walking away from Louis towards his own bedroom. Louis can’t help but stare at his broad back, still sheen with drying sweat, and his perky bum in the tight yoga pants. (those tags, the hat trick of the genre, tbh)