#I have things for s1 and s2 as well but someone in ao3 already got stuff for s1 and I thought they did better than me

[yetanothersillyboii]

if cooking was a crime, I’d be a law abiding citizen

[blindmagdalena]

On the injecting V thing I actually read a more twisted fic of this, sadly the author got rid of their ao3 so no more updates but he put y/n on a pedestal like Madelyn in a sense. In his eyes she was very strong for a non supe like not strength wise obviously but personality ect. And he wanted her to become even stronger. She was with a god already why couldn't she become one too? Obviously she'd never be as strong as him but they could be unstoppable together. Y/n didn't want to tho, she liked her mundane life which he didn't understand. He kept saying like "why do you want this shitty mundane life you could be so much more why are you wasting your life" so of course he just kept pressuring her and then tricked her and she ended up letting him inject her with V not because he wanted it but to protect herself from homie more than anything else. There was some other things that happened between all this but will not say in case someone is uncomfy with that. Lots of back and forth toxic but lowkey one of my fave fics I read tbh 😭 sad the author is gone. He was attached to y/n but this was kinda a play on how impulsive he is. He was more thinking on he wanted her to be a supe like him and strong too and live longer with him than what she wanted and he was impulsive. He knew the risks where it could kill her, but he kept being like "Well she won't die I know she can pull through i want this" and didn't care enough.

i can totally see the appeal and why people are able to come to the conclusion that Homelander would feel the need to elevate someone he pedestals and make them more like him.

although despite the huge amount of V in his system, it's doing nothing for his lifespan. if anything, he might actually be aging faster than he should be. Stormfront seems to be something of an anomaly in her agelessness. Soldier Boy was just frozen the entire time. so there's no reason for him to think V would increase his s/o's lifespan. i can see him being arrogant enough to assume that someone he chooses would definitely get a cool ability/be very powerful just by virtue of being his "chosen" lol

either way i'm glad there's fic out there that explores this! i think i have a tendency to lean into the Homelander we see most in s1 where he's less impulsive and more calculating/manipulative. he's not quite as consumed by the idea of "supe supremacy" that we start to see in s2 and onward.

[pynkhues]

🔥 fav brio fic one shots

I feel like a lot of my favourites are pretty popular, and that I've done a lot of rec lists in my fic recs tag, so to make it a little different, I thought I'd limit it to one-shots I love that I also think are super underrated. To give that a sort of yardstick, I've kept this to fics with under 100 kudos on ao3.

I've popped a whole bunch under the cut. :-)

Silent Wars by alittlespy. Beth x Rio. <1k words. Set during s2.

God, this fic is just sexy. It's little glimpses of their power plays over the months that they know each other, and every sentence seems to crackle. I love it a lot.

Leftovers by deinvati Beth x Rio. 2k words. Set during s1.

This is such a rich fic, centred on Beth's feelings of neglect in her marriage and the new charge and attention she gets from Rio. There's some really great banter in it and a push-pull that feels familiar and fresh all at once. Just a great little fic.

Broken Facade by brokensatellites / @bensonstablers Beth x Rio. 2k words. Set during 4.06.

A sexy, angsty look at what was going through Rio's head when he was with Beth in his grandmother's study. It's evocative and emotionally rich and leaves you wanting more.

I See the Rainbow and the Darkness at the Same Time by dragontortuga / @dragonturtle Beth x Rio. 4k words. Set over s1-s4.

I’m a sucker for a five/six/seven things fic, especially when they circle themes or ideas instead of acts, and this one embodies that so well, being based around seven times Beth thinks about Rio's name. The author does a wonderful job of weaving through canon moments, and really exploring Beth's evolving feelings. It's a really lovely fic!

I, You, He by FakePlastikTrees / @nakedmonkey Beth x Rhea. Beth x Rio. 3k words. Set between s2 and s3.

Any fic where Beth is bi is a winner to me, haha, but especially one that explores the twisted sort of intimacy Beth found in Rhea. The author always has a wonderful bounce to her fics, and really great dialogue, and both are on show here. Magic!

Found My Thrill by s_t_c_s / @sothischickshe Beth x Rio (x Turner, kinda). 2k words. Set during s1.

Outsider opinion fics are seriously one of my favourite things in the world, and I especially love when they're so well done. The Turner voice here is so fun and rich and emotionally dynamic, and the way the author uses it to explore Turner's burgeoning obsession with both Beth and Rio is perfect.

Hate, Love and the Steps Between by @mamey2422 Beth x Rio. <1k words. Set during s3.

We don't have enough s3 fics in this fandom, especially ones that explore the complicated shifts in Beth and Rio's relationship. There's this really great sense of interiority in this fic that the author the author captures, and it makes this short little fic feel big.

I Want to Play the Game by prettylittlementirosa / @hypermania Rio x Turner, background Beth x Rio. <1k words. Set between s2 and s3.

This angsty little fic where Turner watches Rio jerk off while he has him recovering and snitching in the hotel lives rent free in my head. It perfectly balances the fucked up potential of Rio x Turner and I just love it a lot.

Sure am Using You by aniara Rio x OC. Beth x Rio. 2k words. Set during s1.

I talk about this fic all the time, and I still can't believe other people aren't obsessed with it, haha. As you can probably tell from this list already, I'm just super into it when the dynamic between two characters bleeds over into other relationships or becomes a point of curiousity. This fic does that so well, as Rio's casual hookup starts to realise he's got someone new in his life, and how their hookups start to become informed by that. Love it.

Send Me a 🔥+ a Topic, and I’ll Tell You My Honest Opinion About It

[sunsetcurve]

learn to love without consuming (1/4)

fandom: knight squad relationships: arc / ciara, minor or one-sided arc / oc and ciara / oc word count: 4,603

a/n: eek. it's finally here. if you follow me here you know that i've been working on this for a few weeks (months?), but the idea has been sitting in my drafts for basically forever. almost since i watched the show to begin with. the recent resurgence of the ks fandom prompted me to dig this back up and gave me the motivation to actually try and finish, because fuck it! i love my babes and i want more of them.

so quick note is that this picks up pretty soon after the season 1 finale but disregards basically,,, everything that happens in s2. s1 and the finale proceed the same way except prudy never finds out ciara's secret, so she and warwick don't know at the moment. this chapter was initially gonna have more scenes that drove the plot/romance arc but once i got upwards of 6k with a few major scenes left i decided it would be best if i split the chapter up, so for now it’s just a lot of me trying to work around the convoluted knight squad lore to establish my own. i know that's not exactly what everyone is here for, but i promise things on the romance/action front will pick up soon. i'll place warnings as detailed as i can get without spoiling in the tags and notes as i go, but just anticipate fairly significant violence by chapter 3.

anyway! i have talked enough. the title is from thus always to tyrants by the oh hellos, the rating is t for swearing/violence, there are three more chapters that are in the process of being written, and reviews are like crack as far as i'm concerned. i really hope you like this! thanks for reading <3

dedications: this fic is first and foremost for @ciara-knightly, who is not only my amazing beta but also the whole reason this fic exists. she helped me so so much with the development of the plot and worked through it with me even way before i decided to really start writing it, and i wouldn’t have been able to do this without her. all of the notes she left after beta-reading were so so helpful and really made this whole fic make sense so basically i owe her my entire life. she inspires me to be a better writer all the time and i love her. everyone say thank you shona!!! also tagging my lovely friends and some people who have expressed interest, who are in no way obligated to read this; @juliesdahlias @mistyskiesrambles @dr-rigatoni @willexs @taylorswiftrulestheworld @onplanetmars @neshatriumphs @zackmartin @julies-molinas @soni-dragon @yagorlemmalyn @hopefulbeautifulfool @cactus-con @waterisntreal @onetwothreefarkle @bitchmilsky

summary: “Now that Ryker isn’t a threat anymore, the councils are supposed to resume as planned, and Astoria is set to hold the first one two weeks from now.”

“Okay,” he says slowly. “That sounds exciting.”

Ciara nods. “It is! I finally get to meet some of the other nobility, and actually get to be involved in Astorian politics for once. But my dad won’t let me go without an escort,” she says, and then hesitates. “Which is where you come in.”

read it on ao3

The morning before training that day, Arc is testing his skills against a heavy bronze padlock when Ciara enters the squad room and drops a brown paper bag on the table in front of him. 

“These,” she announces as he raises an eyebrow at her, “are for you.”

He pulls open the package and is instantly greeted with a rush of warmth and the smell of vanilla. “Dragon puffs?” he says, half in awe. It’s a clear bribe, but he can’t help but shove a sugar-coated sweet in his mouth anyway. They’re an Astorian original and possibly the best thing he’s ever tasted; he’d tried them once at a bakery near the castle and hasn’t stopped thinking about them since. 

“Okay, what do you want?” he says then, words muffled around the cream and pastry.

Ciara pulls a face at his manners, but still manages to blink innocently at him. “Can’t I just do something nice for a friend?” she tries, but it’s half-hearted.

He swallows and grins at her. “Nice try, Princess. Your dessert deliveries always come with an ulterior motive.”

Huffing a sigh, she sits down next to him. There’s this subtle air of anticipation lingering around her, one he can only sense based on how in tune they are after so long of being teammates. The two of them have this easy way of reading each other now; they’ve been spending more and more time together, something having shifted in their dynamic after the battle against Ryker. He can’t quite place what it is, but he knows it’s only brought them closer. “Do you know what the Council of the Five Kingdoms is?” she asks finally.

He shrugs. “Sure. Nobles from each kingdom used to have a big ball every year to talk trading and politics and other boring stuff…”

“Except there hasn’t been a council since Ryker’s invasion, because the kingdoms have been isolated and preoccupied with their own safety,” she finishes for him. Her fingers tug at the lacing of her leather gauntlets; she’s nervous, but he still isn’t sure why. “Now that Ryker isn’t a threat anymore, the councils are supposed to resume as planned, and Astoria is set to hold the first one two weeks from now.”

“Okay,” he says slowly. “That sounds exciting.”

Ciara nods. “It is! I finally get to meet some of the other nobility, and actually get to be involved in Astorian politics for once. But my dad won’t let me go without an escort,” she says, and then hesitates. “Which is where you come in.”

Arc chokes on his second dragon puff. “You want me to be your escort,” he says flatly, once he’s finished coughing, “to the Council of the Five Kingdoms?” Normally he’d jump at the chance to spend a night dressing up and eating castle food. But the council is a decidedly different scene; there’s a set of formalities, politics underlying everything, and too many chances for him to expose his lack of knowledge when it comes to Astorian customs. Not to mention that Catalias’ royals will be there. He doesn’t know if he can stomach looking them in the face, knowing what they did to Seagate.  

Ciara grimaces. “Look, I know it’s not exactly your thing, but my dad won’t let me go alone. And this really means a lot to me.” Her eyes are pleading, and Arc feels his resolve chipping away.

“Can’t one of your actual guards go with you?” he tries. “Or, Prudy or Warwick or someone?”

“I’ve already talked to my dad about it,” she explains. “You’re the only Knight School student he’d let protect me, because you already proved you could when Ryker invaded. Besides, if something were to happen…you’re the one person who knows I can handle myself as Ciara.”

There’s this brief stretch of silence where Arc works his bottom lip, and Ciara looks as though she’s debating something. “Also,” she adds finally, with the soft flicker of a hesitant smile, “I thought it might be fun to go with you.”

Arc blinks at her, caught off guard by the admission. There’s this sudden buzz in his chest that he can’t push away; in truth, he doesn’t like the idea of her spending the night with someone else either. Maybe, by some miracle, this will actually be a good thing. “Alright,” he relents. “I’ll be your escort.”

Ciara’s face breaks into a grin. “Yes! Thank you!” She throws her arms around him, and he’s shock-stilled, a rush of warmth flooding through him as he hugs her back. When she pulls away, her eyes are shining with excitement. “Okay, I’ve gotta go tell my dad you said yes, and there’s a million things to do, but I’ll see you at training later. You are the best.”

“I expect dragon puffs for life!” Arc calls after her as she disappears through her passageway. He leans back into the couch, lightheaded, and in that moment, he realizes abruptly that there’s almost nothing he wouldn’t do for her. 

And he is so completely screwed.

*

Two weeks later, Arc is standing outside Ciara’s bedroom, waiting for her to finish getting ready.

It feels odd to be out here in the open. Generally his visits to her chamber are accompanied by an air of secrecy, but tonight, he’s a guest in the castle. He’s dressed like it, too, decked out in the guards’ typical formal wear: pressed brown pants, a white shirt laced up the front, and a navy leather jacket trimmed in gold, with Astoria’s crest on one shoulder. He looks kind of dashing, honestly.

Despite the confidence boost his new look offers him, his hand keeps drifting to the hilt of his sword. It’s sheer force of habit; he only associates this brewing sense of apprehension with battle, and his muscles are responding in kind. He’s glad, at least, that he turned down the other guards’ offer to lend him one of their ceremonial blades and instead has the familiarity of his own. Hopefully he won’t need it, but it’s a steadying presence all the same.

“Almost ready!” Ciara calls from inside, and Arc carefully unclenches his fingers from around the leather grip of his sword. He has to keep it together tonight; she’s made it clear how much this means to her. The last thing he wants to do is embarrass her in front of nobles from all five kingdoms.

Well, four, he reminds himself. Seagate won’t be attending. There isn’t anyone left to represent them. 

The thought makes his stomach twist. 

He’s saved from having to dwell on it by the sound of Ciara’s door unlatching. “Better prepare yourself, Princess,” he teases, leaning against the wall, “I look pretty good, and the last thing we want is for you to get too smitten—”

He breaks off as she emerges from the doorway, all the air in his lungs leaving in a sudden rush. He’s trying hard not to be the cliche of a guy scraping his jaw off the floor at the sight of a pretty girl in a dress, especially not like this, with Ciara—but he can’t help but think that it’s ridiculously unfair of her to come out looking like that. Her dress is a pale blue, falling gently off her shoulders and cinching at her waist, and her tight curls are weaved with strands of gold and tied into a low knot, some of them falling loose to frame her face. There’s a crown of gold leaves and rosebuds settled in her hair. 

“You...um…” Arc searches for his voice, “you look amazing.” His mouth feels dry.

Ciara smirks and reaches up to adjust the collar of his uniform. “You don’t look so bad yourself. I’m definitely smitten,” she jokes, like it’s nothing for them to be flirting openly. It should be nothing. Except his skin burns where her fingers brush against his neck, and he suddenly wonders if she can hear his heart pounding.

He clears his throat. “We should probably get to the ballroom.” 

She nods. “Give me your arm,” she says, looking at him expectantly. When he raises an eyebrow, she continues, “You’re my escort, remember?” 

“Oh, right.” He lifts his arm obligingly, his cheeks warm.

“I really wish we’d had more time to go over Astorian customs,” she breathes as she takes it, more to herself than anything. “Between training and helping with preparations, I’ve been so busy…” His nerves must show on his face, then, because she squeezes his arm gently and amends, “Sorry. You’ll be fine, don’t worry. Just stay close to me, okay?”

“Not a problem,” he grins without missing a beat, and Ciara scoffs and shoves him, the smile tugging at her mouth taking all the bite away from it. 

They can do this, he thinks. The two of them have kept up appearances for each other for months now, have fought and trained and battled Ryker together. They’re Arc and Ciara, unstoppable duo. One little party should be nothing.

As they make their way down the hall towards the ballroom, flanked by guards, Ciara lowers her voice. “When we get there, most of the nobles should be inside already. The herald will announce my father first, then us, and then each of the other three kingdoms. We’ll be beside the thrones as they come in—you’ll stand by me, left side—and once they’ve all been announced, we can leave the thrones and mingle. Bow to each of the rulers as they come by.” 

They had, at least, practiced his bow. Arc swallows back the dread in his throat; all he has to do is stand beside her and greet the other royals, it’s easy enough. For a moment, they linger outside the entrance to the ballroom, until an official-sounding voice announces the King. “We’re next,” Ciara whispers to him, eyes glinting with excitement. “You ready?”

He nods back at her, and the voice calls, “Accompanied by Sir Arc...Princess Angelica of Astoria!” They step into the ballroom, greeted with applause. Arc doesn’t think he’s ever been in a place this lavish; the walls are white, accented in deep gold, and the floors are polished to a gleam. The ceiling looks hand-painted, ornately decorated in constellations and swirling designs, and crystal chandeliers dangle over their heads, casting a golden glow over the whole room. He tries not to look too awe-struck. 

They make their way to the platform on which the thrones rest, Ciara nodding and smiling and waving at the other nobles as they pass. She stands next to her father, and Arc takes his place on her other side, placing his hands behind his back and trying, for all the world, to look like he belongs there. He wonders suddenly if he’s stood too close to her, and if it would make things worse for him to shift over now, and if his indecision is showing on his face—

And then, almost imperceptibly and hidden from the ballroom’s view by the folds of her dress, Ciara reaches over and links her pinky with his. It’s a tiny gesture, a friendly reassurance, but Arc feels a tide of warmth swell in his chest all the same. He lets his gaze flit to her for just a moment, and her lips are graced with a small smile as she tugs his finger gently. 

His breath hitches, and he fights to keep his face a passive neutral as the herald announces the next kingdom and he turns his attention back to the doorway.

“Presenting King Hugo, Queen Luciana, and their son Prince Isaac of Catalias!” 

Arc’s stomach turns as the couple enters, trailed by their son, all three of them swathed in lavish red and gold. Their reputation precedes them; he knows little about the prince, but the king and queen are infamous for their hoarding of wealth, their favorance of the rich nobles and landowners of their kingdom over the common people. Arc knows them best for what they had done to Seagate. 

His hand twitches for his sword, but he fights against the instinct.

True to form, the two have a haughty look about them, all starched clothes and stiff smiles as they bow to Ciara and the King. The two of them return the greeting with Arc following their lead—grudgingly.

“I am so pleased you could join us tonight,” the King smiles, a little tight-lipped. “It is high time that Astoria and Catalias united again.”

King Hugo nods back. “I couldn’t agree more. The honor is ours.” 

Arc detects a veiled sort of tension between the two of them, hidden well underneath the cordial formalities. He glances at Isaac, whose eyes are trained intently on Ciara even as he and his parents move to greet the other guests. Something about it is unsettling.

He’s so focused on Isaac that he almost misses the herald’s announcement of the next kingdom. “Queen Damyanti, and her children Princess Aadhya and Prince Kavan of Khurjan!”

Queen Damyanti is the picture of elegance, draped in silver silk that almost seems to glow against her dark skin. Aadhya looks around fifteen, with the same deep eyes and regal expression, and Kavan must be ten or so. He grins toothily as the three of them approach the thrones and bow.

The King’s expression is much warmer now. “Queen Damyanti. It has been too long. I trust Khurjan is doing well?”

“Not quite as well as Astoria, perhaps,” she replies, and it’s teasing, no sharpness to it. “This ball is absolutely lovely. Princess Angelica, you look so beautiful. Just like your mother. I was so sorry to hear of her passing.”

Ciara’s eyes go soft. “Thank you, Queen Damyanti,” she nods back. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you.”

“You as well. It’s a shame your sister couldn’t make it, but hopefully we’ll all gather again soon.” She gives a small, departing nod and joins the rest of the nobles, Aadhya giving them a bright-eyed smile and Kavan waving enthusiastically as they follow her. Ciara laughs. 

“And finally...King Jesper of Vysalt!”

Arc is confused for a moment; he wonders if he had remembered the name of Vysalt’s king wrong. Then a young man with a head of dark curls and a smattering of freckles against tawny brown skin enters, his crown just slightly crooked. His eyes are wide and dark, and a jagged, white scar cuts across his cheekbone. He can’t be much older than they are.

“He’s the king?” Arc whispers to Ciara under his breath as Jesper makes his way over to them. “How old is he?”

Her expression twists a little in sympathy. “Seventeen. He wasn’t supposed to inherit the throne so soon. His parents were killed when Ryker’s army took over his kingdom.”

Arc isn’t sure what to say to that. He knows what it’s like to lose everything to Ryker—he can picture the flames every time he shuts his eyes. But he hadn’t known about Vysalt or the fate of its royals. They had been close allies with Seagate at one point, one of the only other kingdoms without much wealth, and their king and queen had been known for their generosity. 

Somehow Arc had thought the damage had been done to Seagate alone, but now he wonders how the other kingdoms fared, if they suffered just as much. If any of them came out as unscathed as Astoria did.

“Your Majesties,” Jesper says as he bows, and there’s a note of pity in the King’s expression as he returns the gesture. Arc can only imagine how he feels about someone so close to his daughter’s age having to run a kingdom on his own. 

“King Jesper. How are you doing?” 

It’s a more personal question than he had asked the other royals, Arc notes. Jesper smiles easily; it’s soft, highlights his deep dimples and makes his dark eyes glimmer. “Well, thank you. Vysalt is recovering with time. As am I,” he adds, voice quieting for a moment.

The King nods back. “That’s good to hear. Let us know if there’s anything Astoria can do to help.”

Something flickers in Jesper’s expression, hard to read and gone so quickly that Arc wonders if he imagined it. The young king bows again before moving to join the others, but not before he catches Arc’s eye and smiles warmly. It surprises him—the other royals had hardly given him a second glance—but he returns it with one of his own. Beside him, Ciara lifts an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of amusement and something else he can’t place. 

“What?” he asks quietly, and she shakes her head, glancing away. 

“Nothing.”

He wants to pry, but the King is clearing his throat, getting ready to address the room. The chatter dies down as all eyes turn to him.

“My fellow Astorians,” he says in his deep, booming voice, sounding more formal than Arc has ever heard him, “and my guests from our neighboring kingdoms...I am honored to welcome you to our castle, and so pleased that we could all be in attendance tonight.”

Not all of us, Arc thinks, but no word of Seagate comes up. 

The King continues, “For decades, our kingdoms have been isolated and divided by Ryker’s armies. We have long suffered under his forces, but his threat is gone for good. Thus, tonight is more than a council; it is a symbol of our victory, a symbol of our unity as we move forward and rebuild. So enjoy yourselves! After all, we have so much to celebrate!”

To Arc, the sentiment feels hollow. He got his revenge, and of course he’s glad that Ryker can’t hurt anyone else, but it doesn’t change the fact that Seagate is in ruins. It feels suddenly difficult to celebrate with the weight of his village’s absence lingering in the air around him. The rest of the partygoers don’t seem to share his hesitance, though; the room breaks into applause and cheers, several of the guests raising their goblets jovially. 

Ciara gives him a subtle nudge, jolting him out of his thoughts. “Now we get to mingle,” she grins, leading him off the throne platform and towards the crowd. 

He follows dutifully as she heads toward the table where the other kingdoms’ royals have gathered, Astoria’s king staying behind to greet the other royals. Queen Damyanti is in conversation with King Hugo and Queen Luciana, but she doesn’t seem entirely pleased about it, and Jesper and Kavan are laughing at something Aadhya has said. Isaac hovers next to them, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. He has his father’s golden hair and clear blue eyes, but the frown on his face is entirely his mother’s.

It disappears, though, the moment he sees Ciara approaching them. “Princess Angelica,” he greets her, with a little too much enthusiasm for Arc’s liking, “I’m so honored to finally meet you. You’re even more radiant in person.” Before she can say anything, he takes her hand and kisses it swiftly. Arc narrows his eyes.

Ciara gives a forced-sounding chuckle and curtseys, pulling her hand back. “Thank you, Prince Isaac. I’m glad you could make it. Allow me to introduce Sir Arc, my guard and escort for the night.”

Arc bows—and if he never has to bow to another pompous royal again, he thinks, it’ll be too soon—and Isaac offers him a dismissive sort of half-smile. Any further interaction they would’ve had then is thankfully avoided by the other royals noticing Ciara’s arrival.

“Hi, Princess Angelica!” Aadhya says brightly, with a neat little dip of a curtsey, “I’m Aadhya.” When Ciara and Arc begin to return the gesture, she waves her hand with a tiny scoff. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. Formalities. Just come sit.” She returns to her chair and pats the seat next to her, and Arc decides right there that he likes her.

Ciara takes the offered chair, and Arc takes the only other open spot, in between her and King Jesper. As Ciara launches into conversation with Aadhya, Jesper turns to him. 

“Hi,” he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I’m Jesper.”

Arc bites back a laugh at the unnecessary introduction. “I know who you are, Your Highness,” he replies lightly.

“I know. I was just trying to give you an opening to tell me who you are.”

Oh. That’s unexpected. There’s no prerogative behind his words, no assertion; Jesper’s grin is almost bashful, his voice easy and bright. He doesn’t sound like a king, just a seventeen-year-old boy trying to flirt. Arc can’t help but return his smile.

“I’m Arc,” he says. “Normally I’m a student at Knight School, but I’m the princess’s guard and escort for the night.” 

“Wait,” Aadhya pauses her conversation with Ciara to lean over and look at him, “You’re the Arc who defeated Ryker?” 

“I helped,” Arc says with a shrug, and the princess’s eyes go wide. She turns to Ciara.

“Were you there too?”

“I was—” Ciara pauses for a moment, “hiding. I was hiding. Arc got me to safety.” 

He grins a little at her, tongue between his teeth, knowing it must be killing her to hide what she was actually doing. She narrows her eyes and kicks his leg under the table in response, a silent shut up. He lifts his eyebrows, like, I didn’t say anything, and she rolls her eyes in an entirely non-subtle manner. 

Across the table, Queen Damyanti is watching their exchange with a raised eyebrow, Arc notices belatedly. She has a mildly amused look on her face, but doesn’t say anything about it. Instead, she states, “Battling Ryker face-to-face must have been quite the experience.” 

“What was it like?” Prince Kavan asks eagerly from beside his sister.

Aadhya elbows him. “Kavan,” she hisses, but Arc just grins.

“No worries. It was…” he trails, trying to think of what to say and suddenly aware that all the royals’ eyes are on him. He shifts in his seat. “It was scary, obviously. He had the Armor of Astoria, and a whole army with him, and most of the Astorian knights under his spell. But, y’know. We Knight School students are pretty formidable. We all took him on together. Wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise. I wasn’t half as scared as I would’ve been without my squadmates watching my back.”

He glances at Ciara, who smiles softly and nudges his foot, gentler this time. Jesper has that same unreadable look on his face and Aadhya has her chin propped in her hand, her expression amazed, but Queen Luciana gives a snide sort of scoff. 

“It’s a wonder it took so long to defeat him, then, if a group of students cut him down so easily,” she says. “Perhaps Ryker was never as great a threat as we all made him out to be.”

There’s a cut of silence across the table in which Jesper visibly stiffens. “With all due respect, Queen Luciana, Ryker’s attacks were devastating. Or have you forgotten what happened to my parents?” he demands, without any respect at all. His eyes are blazing. 

“I’m merely pointing out that the only real damage done was to the less...fortified kingdoms,” she sniffs. “Ryker only breached Catalias’s walls once, and he was driven out rather quickly.”

“Well, not every kingdom has Catalias’s resources.” Ciara sounds like she’s choosing her words carefully, frustration masked well behind them.

King Hugo gives a huff of a laugh; his blue eyes are cold. “My dear princess, you have no cause for indignation. Astoria lost the least to Ryker, what with your,” he waves a hand, “magic bubble.”

Ciara opens her mouth but falters, brow furrowed, and across the table, Queen Damyanti speaks up. “Nevertheless, Ryker was still a formidable enemy to all of us. We were only prepared for his attacks because he targeted Seagate and Vysalt first. And Seagate’s destruction is a clear example of his power.”

“Oh, even you can’t argue that Seagate was rotting long before Ryker got to it, Damyanti,” Hugo replies swiftly, and Arc’s breath catches in his throat. Queen Damyanti shrugs in agreement, her expression passive; Arc almost stands up, but Ciara’s hand on his leg underneath the table stops him. 

“Don’t,” she hisses, just barely loud enough for him to hear, “Let me handle this.”

Though as it turns out, she doesn’t have to. Before she has a chance to speak, Jesper is already bristling, his voice sharp: “As if Seagate’s corruption justifies the destruction of its people?”

“It’s thieves and criminals, you mean?” Isaac scoffs. “Seagate was a wasteland. The kingdoms are better off.”

The words ring in Arc’s ears, alongside the pounding of his blood. They sound painfully similar to what Ryker had said to him on the mountain—rats and thieves, I did the five kingdoms a favor—and he thinks fleetingly that he’s going to be sick. He’s always known that Seagate was looked down on by the other kingdoms, but hearing them say so casually that what happened, the flames and the destruction and all of the death, was deserved—

“The people were only thieves and criminals because Catalias took advantage of them,” Jesper argues. “I hope I don’t have to remind you that it was your government that poured money into the gangs of Seagate for their own profit and allowed them to stage a coup in the first place.”

The words are deadly and cold, but Arc feels a flash of admiration for Jesper; the king has no obligations towards Seagate, and yet defends it like his own. King Hugo’s gaze hardens. “You’re blaming Catalias for Seagate’s problems?” he says with a derisive laugh. “If anything, Ryker’s attacks only revealed that Seagate was a kingdom full of people that weren’t worth saving.”

“That’s enough,” Ciara says abruptly. Her hand tightens on Arc’s leg, and he can no longer tell if he’s the one trembling or if she is. There’s this burning fire behind her eyes; she looks, Arc thinks briefly, the same way she does in battle. “What happened to Seagate was a devastating tragedy, and I won’t let you treat it as otherwise. Those who disagree aren’t welcome here.”

It’s a weighted statement, one she doesn’t entirely have the formal authority to make, but no one dares to contest it. A heavy silence settles over all of them. Arc doesn’t know how long he can sit there with all the heat under his skin; he doesn’t remember when his hand found the hilt of his sword, only that he’s gripping it tight enough that the leather bites into his palm. He wants to stand up and tell them that none of them would be here if it weren’t for him, a thief from Seagate. In truth, the only thing holding him back is Ciara. In a battle between her steady hand and the storm in his chest, she wins without even trying.

He doesn’t say anything or look at her, but her gaze flits to him for a moment and she just knows, standing up. Before she even opens her mouth, Isaac is on his feet too. “Going so soon?” he asks. “Would you care to dance, Princess?”

She looks at him coolly for a moment. “I would, actually.” And then, she turns to Arc, offering him her hand, “Sir Arc, dance with me?”

Arc blinks up at her and takes it as he stands. “Absolutely, Princess,” he says, letting her lead him away from the table and glancing back only long enough to catch the dumbfounded expression on Isaac’s face.

[mylifeiskara]

fic writer asks

I was tagged by @she-who-the-river-could-not-hold and @burninghoneyatdusk!

Name(s): queenemori (though there’s an underscore on Twitter)

Fandom(s): The 100, though I used to write for the webcomic Check, Please! and I wrote one Stucky fic and some Harry Potter things that I hate now lol.

Where you post: AO3

Most popular one-shot (by kudos): My actual most popular one-shot is for Check, Please, but if we’re just counting t100, then it’s In Dads We Trust! This was a Bellarke/Memori prompt in which Bellamy and Murphy are stay-at-home dads with a Youtube channel and they get in a feud with Josephine, a popular mommy blogger. It was so much fun to write, and I’m glad people enjoyed it!

Most popular multi-chapter (by kudos): That would be You’re Already Breaking My Heart, aka my Bellarke To All the Boys AU, aka the reason this fandom trapped me in the first place, because it was my first fic. I hold it near and dear to my heart because it got me writing again after a long period of just not and I would not have the many other fics I have written for this fandom without it.

Favourite story you’ve written so far: We Don’t Need To Say It, my Memori actor AU! The longest fic I have ever written and the one I had the most fun writing as well. There aren’t very many long Memori stories and I knew I wanted to write one. This was rather self-indulgent, but I’ve gotten a lot of nice comments and other people seemed to enjoy it which makes me incredibly happy.

Fic you were nervous to post: Probably you’re the last best thing i’ve got going or danger has a hold on me (but i’m safe in your arms). The first, because it is my first Murven fic and I was not sure how some people would react to me posting for a different ship than I normally shout about. I’m pretty big on multi-shipping and I know some people are not lol, but I have gotten some nice comments on that one that have made me excited for some other Murven things I have in the works. And the latter because it is smut and I do not enjoy writing smut/do not like the smut I write, but I had the idea and it would not leave me alone so I had to get it written. 

How do you choose your titles?: Typically song lyrics, but a few of my titles are more based on the idea or something someone says in the fic.

Do you outline?: Yes, I outline obsessively (I’m a Virgo). We Don’t Need To Say It had two full outlines, one for the fic itself, and one for four seasons of the fake TV show I created for the story lol. 

Complete works: 25!

In-progress works: Currently one (but not for much longer). Piece Me Back Together is my Definitely, Maybe AU, featuring dad!Murphy, so it has Clurphy, Murven, and Memori all in one.

Coming soon/not yet started: Some holiday fics are mayhaps on the way 👀. A bunch of prompts that I need to catch up on, including another dad!Murphy story where he has a TikTok cooking show and a Memori Anastasia AU, among others! And in terms of multi-chaps, I have finally started the Bellarke Emma AU I kept talking about this summer, and I hope to post the first chapter in the coming week. And I’m working on my Gossip Girl rewatch for my Murven/Bellarke s1-s2 AU of that. It will most definitely be more Murven than Bellarke because I have not been paying attention to Dan and Serena on this rewatch but I feel like I’m okay with this outcome.

Prompts?: Yes! I’m accepting one-shot and WIP prompts through @t100fic-for-blm! There are a few prompts that are mine on our prompt ideas board and you can also check out our carrd for more general info. I typically write Memori, Bellarke, AU Murven, and I guess I dabble in Clurphy now too. But I’m honestly happy to write anything if Murphy is there.

Upcoming work you’re most excited about: I’m excited about a lot of things, but probably the Anastasia AU because I love that movie so much and I had actually been thinking about a Memori AU for it, so to actually get to write one is going to be a lot of fun!

Tagging/sending love: @mobi-on-a-mission | @bookwormforalways | @imunbreakabledude | @stealing-jasons-job | @useyourtelescope | @sparklyfairymira and whoever else wants to do it!

[royaltealovingkookiness]

ATLA fic rec master-list

A place to organize the ATLA fanfic I like.

I tend to like Zuko-centric stuff, and stories that focus not exclusively on romance (though I do read many different ships as well). As it will become apparent, my taste is rather eclectic, so there can be things in it for everyone. 

Most links are to AO3, I just prefer it that much to the layout of ffnet.  Also, if I haven’t tagged someone in Tumblr correctly, please give me a shout.

General AUs / Gaang/ adventure (various ships)

The Worst Prisoner  by @emletish-fish  (WIP) (Zutara) - in this AU starting already from S1, Zuko becomes friends with the Gaang much, much sooner, which means there is lots of amazing 

Zuko’s Tiny Dilemma by @botherkupo (slight Zutara) S1 Zuko agebending story featuring Iroh as a teapot!  Tiny, grumpy Zuko gets the Mumtara treatment and has great Gaang content. It sweet and funny. Now with an Azula-centric spin-off No Returns, No Refunds

The Undying Fire series by @botherkupo  -  (there are some ships, but the main focus is Gen) This is an epic Zuko is a firehealer, AU starting with The Blue Spirit, and spanning through each season. Extremely good, lots of Gaang focus, great Aang and Zuko friendship vibes and so much more. I don’t want to spoil it, other than, if you haven’t read it, go read it now!

Another Brother by @awesomeavocadolove    (Gen, WIP) Zuko is adopted by Hakoda, grows up as WaterTribe, as another sibling of Sokka and Katara. 

The Avatar Makes Three by @awesomeavocadolove (Gen, WIP) - Aang loses, but before he dies, he divides the Avatar spirit between Zuko, Katara and Toph.

Ozymandias, King of Kings by @Think_of_a_Wonderful_Thought (WIP) - (Zuko/Sokka) This is a pretty dark AU, where instead of exile, Zuko was sent to a work camp before he’s freed by Aang and the others. The Zuko of this story is a pretty traumatized fellow, who is simply sick of everything. 

Southern Lights by @colourwhirled - (WIP, it’s Zutara, but it’s so much more). An AU world, where the Avatar has disappeared, the empire won the war. Iroh sets up a specialized unit with a chill airbender, a waterbending prodigy, a run away earth-bender and a banished prince.  There is politics, intrigue, adventure, cross-bending, and while the world is different the characters remain very recognizable.)  

In His Shoes by @awesomeavocadolove (Zuko/Sokka) It’s a bodyswap AU in Ba Sing Se. I love Ba Sing Se era Zuko and I love any AU where the Gaang sees this version of him. 

We Ourselves Must Walk the Path by @winterskywrites  (Gen) - short S3 AU where the Gaang really takes Zuko as prisoner in The Western Air Temple.

Fight by Electrons (Gen, WIP ) Zuko chooses differently in Ba Sing Se - now he’s the Gaang’s tour-guide to the Fire Nation. Lots of world-building around the Fire Nation. The story is on hiatus, but it’s still well-worth a read.

Unchained Melody by @awesomeavocadolove (WIP) (Zuko/Sokka), Sokka is stuck in spirit form, only Zuko can see him, S1 AU where Zuko and spirit-form Sokka are forced to hang out together. I mean how could it be wrong?

Little Zuko v the World by @muffinlance (Gen, WIP) Zuko finds Aang when they are both 12 in this S1 AU, which is written with a sweet humour. 

Fate Deferred by @catie-does-things  (WIP, Zutara) In this story Aang sleeps for another ten years before Zuko and Katara find him. It’s a story of Dadko and Momtara taking Aang to get his training in a world that ended up in a very different way after Sozin’s comet. It weaves together past and present masterfully and it’s as fun to follow the new adventures as it is to follow the past story of Zuko and Katara and see how things ended up as they are.

A Tale of Ice and Water by @soopersara (WIP) (pre-Zutara) - a canon-close AU featuring Avatar Katara, who still finds Aang in the ice. 

Zutara

Frozen @Aris Merquoni   - The ultimate Zuko gets captured at the North Pole fic. 

The Descent @chromeknickers  - S1 AU - Katara goes down to the spirit world to drag Zuko back to the living. A cranky waterbender, a pissed-off pony-tailed spirit and a very vivid spirit world. 

The Fifth Coloumn @chromeknickers (post-series Assassin AU) Katara is imprisoned by a secret society. A mysterious assassin infiltrates them. This has some dark / mature themes,  but a fantastic story overall.

Once Around the Sun  by Eleventy7 An amazing post-series eventual Zutara story, focused on Katara, Zuko and Azula. It’s a journey, both inside and out and it is amazing. Soul-searching, bonding, changing, adventure.

Mending Wounds by  FictionIsSocialInquiry  S2 AU, post-Chase. While lost in the Foggy Swamp, searching for her brother and her Avatar, Katara is haunted by visions of the Fire Nation's disgraced prince. Visions of peace after war, visions of honour and secrets...Katara has some interesting visions in the Swamp)

Stalking Zuko by @emletish-fish  Oldie but goldie, Zuko joins the Gaang, Katara takes up stalking. Sweet, funny Zutara fic from the Western Air Temple days.

I Don’t Speak Meow Language by @botherkupo   (Boogum)  Ba Sing Se-era, Zuko is a tea-server, Katara is a feisty cat AU - sweet, sweet silliness (I adore any fic where anyone from the Gaang gets to see up-close and personal, the sweet, awkward mess tea-shop Zuko is and you can’t get much closer than being a cat)

The Little Adentures of Katara (and One Giant Prince) by @botherkupo (WIP) An early S3 AU where a tiny Katara is stuck with her big princely saviour. I love this one because it gives a rare glimpse into Zuko’s palace life through Katara’s eyes, at the time when Zuko returns to the Fire Nation.  

so let us melt, and make no noise by littleloststar - a very moody AU, where Zuko is haunting for the last waterbender and Katara lives alone in an ice-palace. It feels like a Nordic myth with swirling snow and lots of darkness and ice. 

Fire Nation Royal Family

Lovable by LadyCharity (Zutara) A very emotional post-series Zuko & Azula story, which is also a Zutara story.

Azula’s Search by crowleyhouseplant (series) (slight TyZula)This story is just my absolute favourite post-series Azula-centric story, featuring an epic Azula/Mai/TyLee/Suki roadtrip to look for clues about Ursa. There is a little background Maiko and TyZula, but it is mostly about Azula’s road to redemption.

The Suns Inside of Us by @crowleyhouseplant   - (WIP) this is a sequel to Azula’s Search as she keeps searching her lost firebending, and perhaps her redemption, as she’s trying to figure out her place in the post-series reality, her relationship with Zuko, Mai, Ty Lee and others, but above all, herself.

Call “Uncle” by @jaggedcliffs  - (one-shot, Gen) The Gaang slowly adopts Iroh as everyone’s uncle.

Decorum by @sometimeswarrior (Gen) writes many good Iroh-centric one-shots. This one with Iroh & Ozai after the agni kai is my favourite.

stained in tea-colours by sangi - (one-shot, Gen) After the War, Azula eventually comes to live in Ba Sing Se with Iroh. A soulful story about Iroh, Azula and Zuko, and all the wounds they carry and the ties that bind them. It is a fantastic take on post-series Azula and her relationship with Iroh. Sangi has many great one-shots on the Fire Nation Royals, and they are really worth checking out.

There All the Honour Lies by @shastafirecracker (Gen) Iroh & Zuko oneshot, about the immediate aftermath of the Agni kai

our curse by @gaynasas and the last dragon by @runrundoyourstuff (Gen) OK, these are very dark, but very good takes on what would have happened if Ozai made a different decision about Iroh’s fate post S-2. Check out the tags before reading!

Choices by @catie-does-things  (Gen) Very interesting one-shot looking at Aang’s decision to spare Ozai’s life from the perspective of Zuko who now has to decide his fate.

Bloodline by monpetitpois (Gen) Multi-generation history of the Fire Nation Royals starting with Sozin to Izumi. It’s well written and in character and has a lovely forcus on Zuko’s and Izumi’s relationship. Character-focused, canon-compliant.

Zuko-centric (various ships & friendships)

the beginning of a new and brighter birth by  @captainkirkk (aloneintherain) (Gen) My favourite take on post-series Zuko becoming Fire-Lord. None of that comic nonsense. Very solid political plot, lots of heart and really it’s just the story that had to be told.

The Problem With Zuko by avocadolove (Gen) AU where Lu Ten didn’t die, and Zuko is just an overlooked lesser prince. He is put in charge of imprisoning Aang and his companions.

The Revenant by @achievement-bender (Gen) Zuko helps the Gaang, but in a very different way. A sad, but so good, Ghost!Zuko story. (check out the rest of their stuff - I also love Catch and Release, which is an AU where the Blue Spirit gets captured by Zhao

ribs by @gaynasas (oneshot) (Gen) There are simply not enough Zuko & Aang friendship stories in the world. This one is a great one about bonding over firebending and learning about Zuko’s scars. All of her stuff is very well written and worth reading.

a night at the theatre by @captainkirkk  (one-shot) (Gen) Fire Lord Zuko meets the Ember Island Players

A Candle to a Dragon by @achievement-bender  (WIP) (Gen) Non-bender Zuko AU. Wow, what a ride with a bookish, sweet, heartbroken Zuko, training with Piandao as he’s trying to figure out who he is without bending in a family of prodigies. 

Heartlines by @kuchee  (WIP) Zuko loves Katara. Katara loves Zuko. Aang loves Katara. Katara loves Aang. Aang loves Zuko. Zuko loves Aang. It doesn’t have to be a love triangle if everyone has two hands? A lovely Zuko/Katara/Aang OT3 with lots of pining set during a post-series Earth Kingdom natural disaster.

Antebellum by @veliseraptor (Gen) A Zuko & Aang friendship oneshot (did I mention I have a thing for these? Set during the Western Air Temple days.

Towards the Sun by @muffinlance - (Gen, WIP) Zuko is Fire Lord AU  - Zuko got imprisoned on the Day of the Black Sun, so never joined the Gaang. After Ozai’s defeat, he becomes Fire Lord by default. So when the Gaang and Iroh show up to hammer out peace, things get complicated. (WIP)

Home We’ll Go by themanofmanyhats - (Gen) This is a post-war take on Zuko’s path crossing again with Lee and his family from Zuko Alone. What can I say? Post-war Earth Kingdom reveals are my jam.

there is fire in me by @suzukiblu  - (Gen) - Firebender!Jet with Ba Sing Se era Zuko and Sokka makes for a very unlikely, but great bonding story

Modern AUs

Pulse by @isnt_it_pretty  I rarely read modern AUs, but this one caught my eye. It is set in a modern era, but the characters feel really on spot. Warning! it’s super angsty

Welcome Heat by @cowlicklesschick  - (Zutara, Sukka) firefighter Zuko and pre-med Katara, with a good side helping of sweet Sokka & Suki romance. It’s fluffy with just the right amount angst, and a reimagined modern world where all the characters fit right in.

---

[flynn-it-up]

(1) I'm brand new to this fandom and damn I forgot how batshit crazy ship wars are, accusations of buying views(wtf), crazy letters about how shipping Flynn is terrible and think of the children! About people discovering Timeless and shipping Lyatt, well I did, until the S2 then I was all about Garcy so don't give up on your friends lol

(2) and idk, I must be missing something but Garcy seems pretty damn popular, not as popular as Lyatt yet but they had S1 so idek why is surprising that the only Garcy video has that many views and more important, I think it has the second  amount of likes, on AO3 Lyatt has more fics but they had a head start but now it’s very even, here there are as many post in both tags, Garcy gifsets get as many likes, from someone who just got here, Garcy is a very solid ship.

It kinda feels like everything heated up a little as soon as I joined, lol.  Typical, amiright??  Honestly though, these are some pretty tame ship wars if I do say so myself.  The accusations of buying views/likes/social media related things I’ve dealt with before, and I’m already laughing at that one.  I’ve also dealt with ridiculous letters from fans who think that people take fiction as seriously and literally as they apparently do, so that’s nothing new either.  As for my shipmates, I hold out hope that they’ll ship Garcy come season 2, but if not it’s not that big a deal.  I was just poking fun, lol.  It would be nice to have some old friends to flail with about a new ship though, especially since OUAT is over now. 

I think that Garcy is very popular all things considered.  I just think that most of us aren’t all that loud and keep to ourselves, accepting the fact that we aren’t the most popular ship in the fandom and resigning to simply enjoying our ship in peace.  Lyatt did have a head start on Garcy, but I think things took a turn after season 2.  We had a lot of people jumping ship, or at least multishipping.  I think it’s a solid ship as well, which is why some people I think are starting to feel so threatened that they feel the need to write ridiculous letters and accuse us of “cheating” in order to make Garcy look popular.  It’s a sad reality, but the fact that people are giving us a such a hard time just proves how solid Garcy really is.  If they didn’t feel threatened, they wouldn’t be doing any of this.

At the end of the day, people just need to recognize that this is all supposed to be fun.  If you get so worked up by people enjoying their ship to the point that you feel the need to make them feel bad, or make them feel invalidated, then you need to take a step away. 

[tonystarkbingo]

Weeks 14 - 16 roundup

More delicious Tony Stark goodness for us all to enjoy! 

Title: Iron Man and Doctor Doom versus the Teenage Vampire Girls  Collaborator: @tisfan Link: AO3 Square Filled: T5 - Image of Doom offering champagne Ship: Victor VonDoom/Tony Stark Rating: teen Major Tags: enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, vampirism, goth tragedy, dark, comfort sex, off screen sex Summary: Doom has a problem. A vampire problem. And he turns to the only person he can think of who can help him. Word Count: 3,315

Title: You are What You Do  by @laufeysonthor Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: Peter Parker, Tony Stark, James “Bucky” Barnes Additional Tags: Bucky is just mentioned Summary:

“Perfect that’s enough time to talk about what’s on your mind,” Tony tells him looking towards him so intently that Pete has to look away from Tony.

Tony Stark Bingo- K3 Picture of Tony fixing up the suit.

Title: To Pardon or Not to Pardon by @laufeysonthor Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: James “Bucky” Barnes, Tony Stark Additional Tags: Pre-Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 (Movie), Canon Divergence - Post-Captain America: Civil War (Movie) Summary:

“You realize they don’t have to be pardoned right?” Pepper asks incredulously that her best friend is even floating the idea around.

Tony Stark Bingo 2018- K5 (Tension)

Title: Learn My Lessons Well by tisfan Link: AO3 Square Filled: K3 - spanking Ship: Bucky/Tony Rating: E Major Tags: role-play, spanking, paddling, crossdressing, Teacher/student dynamics, established relationship, negotiated kink off scene, age gap play, power dynamics play Word Count: 2,038 Summary: Mr. Barnes was warned that Tony Stark was a bad student, disrespectful and a handful of trouble. Well, Mr. Barnes is going to give him some trouble.

A/n: Tony and Bucky are in an established kink relationship that includes age-gap play and roleplaying. Bucky is NOT Tony’s actual teacher, and Tony is his actual age (late 40s). The stepping out of the shoes thing is their pre-arranged check-in that says Tony is done being paddled and wants to move on to the sex now. They have safe words.

Karaoke Night by @novarain01

https://www.patreon.com/novarain

Marvel fanart: Tony and Rhodey drunkenly singing their hearts out in a karaoke booth. They’re so wasted they’ve lost their shoes somewhere. Created for Tony Stark Bingo Challenge 2018. Topic was “voice,” expressed via singing.

Experimenting with a different coloring technique where flat color, shading, and highlighting are done on the same layer. Perspective was a bit difficult, but the direction from nearest to farthest starts from bottom to top.

Title: Like Dust I Rise, by @dracusfyre Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark Characters: Pepper Potts, Tony Stark, Friday (Marvel), James “Rhodey” Rhodes Additional Tags: Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 (Movie) Spoilers, POV Pepper Potts, Pepper Potts: Codename Rescue, grieving Pepper Potts Series: Part 17 of Tony Stark Bingo Challenge Summary:With Tony Stark missing, possibly dead, Pepper has little time to grieve before she realizes she has to try to fill the (gold-titanium) shoes he left behind.For the photo prompt in square S2: Tony holding a holographic version of the Captain America shield.

Title: Soulmates aren’t just Lovers by @celtic7irish Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: James “Bucky” Barnes, Tony Stark, Red Skull (Johann Schmidt), Steve Rogers, Pepper Potts, Natasha Romanov, Clint Barton, Thor, Bruce Banner, Sam Wilson (Marvel) Additional Tags: Forced soulbonding, Imprisonment, Abandonment Issues, winter soldier programming, Bucky Barnes is still in there, Tony Stark is the most stubborn, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Bucky needs a hug, Soulmates, TWS on never happened Summary:Hydra wants Tony to build them Stark/Chitauri Hybrid weapons. When Tony refuses, they decide that they’ll make him more pliable. By forcing him into a soulbond with the Winter Soldier. After all, his programming should supersede Tony’s stubbornness. Right?

Chapter 12: Working on the Car Together

Title: Winter the Murderkitten by @voodoofee Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark, Winter Soldier/Tony Stark, James Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark/ Winter Soldier Characters: James “Bucky” Barnes, Tony Stark, Winter Soldier Additional Tags: Fluff, ace char, Ace!Winter, There’s Two Of Them, Winter is a big cat, Tony Stark Feels, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Bucky Barnes has a heart, They Are Idiots, Idiots in Love Summary:The Winter Soldier was in Tony’s lap, purring and headbutting the man as if the murderous thing was a giant, snuggling cat instead of a murderer and security threat. It made Bucky’s blood boil seeing the man like that, already succeeding in getting Tony to sneak a hand into the long brown hair to scratch him behind his ears. The genius had his STARKpad in the other hand and was reading the newspapers, discarding his coffee- His godforsaken coffee!- to pet the former assassin. Winter, or Snowflake as Tony called the soldier, purred happy and closed his eyes, his back open and vulnerable to Natasha who watched it all with silent curiosity. square T2 Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier 

Title: All I ever Wanted by @voodoofee Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, James “Bucky” Barnes Additional Tags: High Heels, Tony Stark Bingo 2018, Crossdressing, Tony needs Bucky Summary:

Tony knew he wouldn’t be able to get James. It wasn’t the first time he wouldn’t get what he desired and it wouldn’t be the last. He would get over the heartbreak. Somehow.

Square filled - S2 “writing format: perspective flip”

Title: Art Fill by @voodoofee

Rhodey’s always there for Tony. That’s why he loves his platypus so much. NSFW contains nudity.

This is for the Stark Bingo R4 <3

Title: Any Old Music Will Do Collaborator: @tisfan Link: AO3 Square Filled: O4 – Character is a Stripper | T3 - Canon Divergent AU Ship: Bucky Barnes/Tony Stark Rating: E Major Tags: anal sex, bad safe sex etiquette, stripper, fix it fic, what if Tony was never Iron Man, Winter Soldier, masturbating, stripping Summary: The soldier was bored, and he had plenty of money. What he needs now is someone to take off their clothes and not ask any questions. Well, Tony’s good at ONE of those things.

Title: Delivery Avengers by @rebelmeg Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Tony Stark and his Bots, Tony Stark & Avengers Team, Mentions of Pepperony - Relationship Characters: Tony Stark, Dummy (Iron Man movies), You (Iron Man movies), Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Bruce Banner, Jane Foster (Marvel), Darcy Lewis, Steve Rogers, James “Bucky” Barnes, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Clint Barton, Thor (Marvel) Additional Tags: Autobiography, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Sort of a bot fic, Protective Avengers, Avengers Family Summary:Tony’s been talked into starting his own autobiography, and his first story is about the time the Avengers teamed up for the best cause: slightly petty revenge.

R4 - Writing format: autobiography/biography. 

Title: A Cinderella Story by @dracusfyre Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: James “Bucky” Barnes, Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Obadiah Stane Additional Tags: Modern Cinderella Story, Based on the tween movie, not the fairy tale, winteriron, ableist slurs, Phone Sex Summary:Tony Stark comes home from his parents’ funeral to find out that both he and Stark Industries were on the brink of bankruptcy. After months of slaving away trying to save his family’s company, he decides to let himself have one night of fun at a masked ball to benefit military veterans.Bucky Barnes doesn’t know much about the sexy stranger from the masked ball, except that his name is Tony and he has an ass that makes him want to get on his knees and give thanks. When he ends up with the man’s cell phone at the end of the night, he hopes that this will give him a chance to learn more.

Title: One Lab Accident from Supervillainy by @rebelmeg

Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Steve Rogers & Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Steve Rogers Additional Tags: Tony Stark Has A Heart, Steve Rogers & Tony Stark Friendship, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Steve Rogers Is a Good Bro, We got cheated out of this friendship in the MCU, Tony-centric, Post-Avengers (2012), Tony Stark Bingo 2018 Summary:

On bad days, Tony amuses himself by thinking up all the ways he could end the world. He’s not gonna do it… but he knows how he could.

square S1: One lab accident from supervillainy

Title: Just Like any Other by @shi-toyu Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Tony Stark & Avengers Team, Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Jarvis (Iron Man movies) & Tony Stark Characters: Tony Stark, Jarvis (Iron Man movies) Additional Tags: Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hurt No Comfort, Light Angst, Depression, Depressed Tony Stark, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Tony Stark Has Issues, Tony Stark Feels, Tony Being Tony, Tony Stark-centric, Robot Feels, Protective Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Awesome Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Jarvis (Iron Man movies) Feels, Worried Jarvis (Iron Man movies) Summary:It was incredible, honestly, how quickly they could come upon him. Even after all this time, Tony still felt like each one was a surprise. He could be going about his day, completely normal or even the rare good one, and then everything would change. For no explicable reason, his mood would plummet, his motivation would dry up, and his energy would peter off into nothing.Square Filled:  A3 free square

Title: Breathe your Life into My Soul by @shi-toyu Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Tony Stark Characters: James “Bucky” Barnes, Tony Stark, AI Tony Stark - Character Additional Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Canon - Comics, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, Hurt Tony Stark, BAMF Tony Stark, Tony Stark Has A Heart, Tony Stark Needs a Hug, Tony Stark Has Issues, Tony Stark Feels, Bucky Barnes Feels, Bucky Barnes Needs a Hug, Bucky Barnes Recovering, Bucky Barnes Remembers, Hurt Bucky Barnes, Touch-Starved, Captain America Bucky Barnes Summary:There were an awful lot of advantages to not having a physical form, Tony had to admit. He never had to worry about fuel anymore, for one thing. He’d always been forgetting to eat or drink enough, not to mention all the time he had to take out for bodily functions. As an AI, there was so much more time for his work, which was a huge plus, especially where Riri was concerned. That kid was really going places.There was one major drawback, though, and that was the inability to touch anyone.

Square filled - S3 square: canon compliant 

Title: Stress Relief by @cat-zy Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Jarvis (Iron Man movies) & Tony Stark, Tony Stark/His Right Hand Characters: Tony Stark, Jarvis (Iron Man movies), Pepper Potts Additional Tags: Masturbation, Iron Man Suit Kink Summary:

There was a delicate pause. “Well, my research shows that humans sleep better after an orgasm.” Tony grinned. “Why, JARVIS, you sly dog, are you telling me to have sex with someone in order to sleep?” “Another person is not necessary for the release of pleasurable endorphins.” “You want me to literally go fuck myself?” JARVIS said primly, “It is just a suggestion, Sir, for your own good.” Tony chuckled. “Alright, I might as well give it a try.” Exactly what it says on the tin - a short fic about Tony giving himself some love all in pursuit of sleep. The vibe is steamy, but low key - if that’s a thing.

Tony Stark Bingo 2018 Fill: A1 - KINK: masturbation

Title: Take what was wrong (And Make it Right) by @polizwrites Square Filled: K4 - Flight Rating: General (at least for now) Warnings: angst, injury Summary: Afghanistan took more from Tony Stark than most people understand; the surgery in the cave stealing his ability to fly. But in the wake of the Battle of New York, Tony discovers an unexpected sympathizer. The revelation of the Winter Soldier’s identity and his recovery spurs Tony to reach for the skies once again. Eventual WinterIron -- possibly Stark Spangled Winter/Stuckony

So, we have one blackout card “winner” (Tisfan) and one new participant. You should get your badges Very Soon :D thanks everyone for participation, even if your mod has been crazy missing in action!

[delkios]

*singing* It’s the end of the year fic review as we know it and I feel slightly headachey but fine~

Dog Days (DC TV, Mick, Len, Lisa) Monitor Duty (Transformers Rescue Bots, Chase, Heatwave) A Sight to Behold (DC TV, Len, Mick) Something of Your Own (DC TV, Mick, warning: animal death, trauma) Extra Credit (DC TV, Len, Mick) Date Crasher (DC TV, Barry, Len, Mick) Another Interruption (DC TV, Barry, Len, Mick) Fightstarter Karaoke (DC TV, Len, Mick, Lisa) Future in Our Hands (DC TV, Len, Mick) Date Night at the Aquarium (DC TV, Len, Mick) A Place to Rest (Mortal Kombat, Kuai Liang, Hanzo) Something Wonderful in You (AO3 link) (DC TV, Mick, Shawna, Mark, Hartley, Len, Lisa, warning: child abuse) The Weight of My Mistakes (Transformers, Blast Off, Onslaught, warning: taking advantage of mind violation/manipulation) The Shovel Talk (DC TV, Lisa, Len) Tropical Contact High (DC TV, Len, Lisa, Mick) LoT Rewrite: Riots of New York (AO3 link) (DC TV, S2!Legends) Best Served Cold (DC TV, Mark, Clyde, Len, Lisa) Untitled Shower Reblog Fic (DC TV, Mick, Len, S1!Legends) Take a Chance on Me (DC TV, Lisa, Mick, Len) Rest Your Tired Body Next to Mine (DC TV, Len, Mick, Lisa, warning: mildly-NSFW) Show for Me (DC TV, Len, Mick, warning: NSFW) A Secret Well Kept (DC TV, Mick, Len, Lisa) The One that Got Away (DC TV, Leo, Mick)

Overall Thoughts:

This year my emotional state was incredibly erratic, often for extended periods of time which made it difficult to create.

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d predicted? In comparison to previous years, it’s about average or a little less but I think I might’ve had more longer works than I normally do.   

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January? Onslaught/Blast Off has been a low key ship of mine for YEARS and honestly I’m not sure why as I normally Do Not Like superior/subordination relationships (hook/scrapper is an exception as i see them more as a partnership in part because i don’t see the constructicons as military but that’s a different thing).  So when Til All are One happened, that ship was like a slap in the face because messed up is probably the only way it COULD happen in canon. What’s your own favorite story of the year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you happiest? Best Served Cold may be my favorite because I think the premise of it is HILARIOUS.  Thinking back on it now, I still kind of shake my head and go, “You very pretty idiots”.  Also just about anything with Lisa.  I love Lisa. Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them? I guess that episode of the Legends of Tomorrow Rewrite I co-wrote.  It was a very ambitious project, the scope of which (writing-wise) I don’t think I’d been part of before.  Plus writing with someone I didn’t know was rather daunting on its own but I’m very happy with how it turned out! From my past year of writing, what was… My best story of this year: I would probably go with either Fightstarter Karaoke or Take a Chance on Me. My most popular story of this year: Fightstarter Karaoke. Story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion: Best Served Cold, maybe.  I’d say The Weight of My Mistakes but that’s kind of a niche audience anyway. Most fun story to write: Hard to say but I’m very fond of the ColdWave Role Playing Date Trilogy.  I’ve been thinking about doing another entry in it but haven’t done more than figure out a vague idea. Story with the single sexiest moment: Rest Your Tired Body Next to Mine.  If only Lisa didn’t interrupt *shakes fist* Most “Holy crap, that’s wrong, even for you” story: Something of Your Own.  I don’t know if I feel worse for what I did to Mick or the rats. Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters: I don’t think any story really did that for me this year.  The closest would be The Weight of My Mistakes which, really, was me thinking about what could be done with mnemosurgery and what Airachnid would have to do to make this plan work.  I already loved the concept of mnemosurgery in Transformers (i’ve played around with similar ideas in fics before) but the thoughts that led to this fic really cemented how horrifying it could be to me. Hardest story to write: Either Something Wonderful in You or Riots of New York.  The latter because, again, ambitious scope and writing with someone I didn’t know, the former because the idea exploded and I had no idea where it was really going. Biggest Disappointment: I didn’t really have disappointments this year.  Everything came out more or less (and some soooooo much more) as I planned. Biggest Surprise: Something Wonderful in You for getting away from me as it did and A Place to Rest for being an unprompted Mortal Kombat story. Most Unintentionally Telling Story:

I think the fact damn near everything I wrote is either fluff or fun is telling enough.

[sillygoofyboii]

so, I’ve gotten a side blog

if cooking was a crime, I’d be a law abiding citizen