#I'm glad this was the first fic I read from this fandom I cri

[weast-of-eden]

I've been thinking about how I could contribute to the ACD/Granada Sherlock Holmes fandom for a while, seeing as I'm neither an artist, a writer, or anything actually useful lol. But then I realized something I myself always treasure are curated fic recs, which I could actually do! I've read probably like 25% of all the h/w ACD and Granada fics on ao3, so I compiled a short list for anyone who is just starting out with the fandom. Without further ado, may I present

Eden’s Top Picks for Beginning ACD/Granada Fics:

(edit: i made a second list here!!)

The Adventure of the Doctor's Heart by mistyzeo 12k | Rated E Summary: Holmes has observed much of Watson's habits and tastes over time, which is why it surprises him when his friend objects strangely to a folk song sung at the conclusion of a case. Disturbed by the Doctor's unexpected display of emotion, Holmes becomes determined to lift his spirits by any means necessary, with mixed results. Notes: obviously if you're going to read canonverse h/w, you are going to read mistyzeo. this one is just so good and angsty and features music (!!). it's got some steaminess but it also has wooing. basically it has everything you ever need. this is my odyssey, my iliad, my hamlet, etc.

Cameo by what_alchemy 8k | Rated M | For Archive Users Only Summary: Holmes and Watson become embroiled in a case Scotland Yard refuses to acknowledge. A soulmate AU. Notes: i honestly skipped over this fic for a while, since i'm not the biggest fan of soulmate aus. do not make the same mistake i did, because this shit HITS. this fic has hit after hit: soulmate-mark based case for our main duo, angst, hiatus feels, MORE ANGST, and ofc a happy ending. ugh. read this fic if you enjoy being happy.

A Tide That Does Not Turn by tweedisgood 3k | Rated T Summary: Holmes is a very bad patient with a devoted doctor who adores him. Watson wishes it was safe to speak up, but his friend is a tide that does not turn. Notes: do NOT read this if you don't like angst... ok now i'm sensing a pattern. anyways this is the first hurt/no comfort fic i read for this tag and i literally have cried more than enough tears over it. poor, poor watson :( iconic author though, read everything they write!

The Adventure of the Glad Outlaw by radondoran 7k | Rated T Summary: While Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery of a student's disappearance, Dr. Watson is more puzzled by the changing dynamic between his flatmate and himself. Notes: cute pastiche! a nice little mystery and a nice little get-together. ahhhhhh.... this fic is like cotton candy to me, so sweet and fluffy. defo recommend

Hands by MinorObsessions (draculard) 1.4k | Rated T Summary: Naturally, there are some things Watson thinks about Holmes that don't make it into the books. Notes: i'm also in the star trek fandom, so if you know anything about that then you know that hands are kind of A Thing in both circles and ergo i now Have A Thing about hands. so this is a nice little ode to holmes' hands, featuring some doctoring by watson AND a nice reverse appraisal at the end. it's so sweet :)

Conductor of Light by ColebaltBlue  1.4k | Rated T Summary: A Victorian stiff upper lip won't prevent you from falling in love, but it might prevent you from realizing it. Notes: they finally get their shit together! honestly i would recommend this fic to anyone just starting out with h/w fics in any medium. the characterization and dialogue is A1, and their argument is really realistic to me, idk. also features the iconic HOUN quote for its title so props to that!

A (Mis)fortunate Man by sans_patronymic 1.5k | Rated T Summary: December, 1880. Watson writes a note which may be his last. December, 1899. Watson writes back. Notes: READ THE TAGS BEFORE READING. this was a gut-wrenching read but god i cried at the end for watson. don't worry, this one has a happy ending. ugh now i wish there was a second chapter where watson lets holmes read the letters. to sum up: oof, my heart

The Second Smartest Man in London by FairSinner 73k | Rated E Summary: Dr John Watson returns from Afghanistan to Victorian London, wounded, traumatised and alone. When he meets Sherlock Holmes, his life begins to seem worth living again. But Holmes is a man who despises sentiment and Watson cannot seem to expunge it from his heart. Notes: congrats, you've made it to the end!! so now i must confess that it's been a loooong time since i've read this fic, but the private note i left on my bookmark was just "holy shit", so i'm sure it's a banger. i'm also sure it has angst because i love angst and i love bookmarking angst so i can read it again and again and suffer infinitely. enjoy :)

anyways, now that i've put these all here i realized how much i enjoy angst and hurt/no comfort fics. if any of you guys have a favorite fic you want to link or want to plug your own writing, feel free to!

[wolveria]

Girllll…your Kneel Down, and Wonder work with Caesar (I read on ao3)? Obsessed. So obsessed. I could have cried from joy when I discovered it, because the fandom is soooo small but like thank you for writing such a wonderful little series. I wish I could read it again for the first time 😫🫶🏻 do you have any Caesar x reader/OC fics you recommend??

I do! I have a whole rec list here

Oh man that's such a throwback. I regret orphaning that series, so I'm glad I forgot that I put my tumblr in the notes lol both a big brain and idiot moment

You're so sweet, thank you so much <3 I have a very long Caesar x OC fic that I'm 90% done with. If that's something you're interested in, maybe I'll finish it? Let me know!

[macabr3-barbi3]

💗 ♡ Here's a new kind of Sup-port letter: Return to Sender ♡ 💗

Dear @ritualofcirice,

The ideas that you bring forth, whether smutty or sweet, are always a joy to read and are always flawlessly executed. Your writing for various fandoms draws readers in, sets the scene, and leaves us all wanting more, and to have such a way with words is a talent in and of itself.

To then use that talent to support and uplift the other members of a community is nothing short of remarkable. Your kindness and encouragement in the servers and spaces that we all share is appreciated and loved, and you deserve some of that back yourself after contributing so much to the joy of the people who have received anything from you; a heartfelt letter, a detailed and wonderful comment on a fic, a fulfilled request for characters that continue to grow on us.

You are kind and courteous, talented, and a delight to spend time with. To know you is to know the many facets of your person that makes you such an important part of our communities.

That's why this letter is for you- to let you know that your efforts to keep our fandom happy and engaged have not gone unnoticed, and to show that we all appreciate what you've done!

Wishing all the best, and sending all of our love,

The Stand In Sup-port Team xo

My first interaction with you was in the comments section of some of my fics in Ao3- I remember it was like a solid 45 minutes of email after email telling me that you and Renz were leaving these long, lovely comments on my Vox fics, and I was so flattered and happy that I almost cried. Then I got to know you when you joined the server and we started chatting, and you were even cooler than I could have possibly guessed, and I'm so glad now to be able to call you a friend. I can't wait to see what the new year has in store for all of us and to see you continue to grow ❤️

Let's see what other letters arrived for you!

From @kewpikayo ♡

"Cirice is a golden, vibrant flame. You can’t help but be drawn in by her warmth and consideration. Her care, her compassion, and her drive to help and reach out to the people around her is a monumental, sincere gift. She is a genuine, unique and extremely colorful soul with skill. Her writing hits my heart with precision every single time I read her words without fail, and her way of reading them aloud is melodic. She brings her stories alive with the vocabulary she uses and the way she breathes life into them with every utterance. It is a joy to hear her recitals! And her Art! I’ve seen a few of her creations and they are indeed a sight to behold! She is truly a great encouragement and is joy incarnate, and to know her is one of life’s greatest blessings. Thank you for giving me the continued opportunity to befriend you, my dear. You are truly one of a kind~!"

From @primsgirl89 ♡

"Cirice. There is a lot I can say about her. But the second I met her it felt as if I was falling into a well of endless ideas and creativity, that was the very second thing I had noticed about this woman. I want to talk about her creativity first since I enjoyed working with her on her project. It was a one-shot for Lucifer, and she allowed me to have my first experience writing with another author. She is such a talented person worthy of looking up to. The first? The endless amount of care and support she just radiates. CiCi is so wonderful and caring, I wish her the absolute best in her life. How much she gives herself to support others is inspiring. She deserves the post and her own personal cheer squad!"

From @fraugwinska ♡

"Ever since I met Cirice (thanks to the wonderful Renz), she quickly became one of my go-to friends - I can't describe the joy and kindness that radiates off of her. She has this sixth sense of when you aren't feeling your best, and sure as hell you'll have a dm from her asking how your day is going or that she wishes you a happy day and offers an open ear if you need it. Playing dbd with her feels like a throwback to when you met with your friends in elementary to play together - you forget that you feel bad, or that outrside problems exist: Cirice is the embodiement of unadulterated, pure fun.

To add insult to injury she is such a talented writer too - so much time and effort goes into her work. She plans her stories out diligently, invests ages in research and involves Betas to ensure that everything she puts out reflects the heart she put in. And you can feel it with every read word. She is an inspiration, a true value to both my server and my life, and I don't want to miss her friendship now that I've been lucky enough to have it."

From @redvexillum ♡

"Cici, where do I even begin? How can words possibly capture the depth of my gratitude and admiration for you? The love and generosity you pour into the people around you—it’s boundless, and it inspires me every single day. You bring so much joy, light, and warmth into the lives of everyone lucky enough to know you.

There are few people in this world who genuinely care the way you do, who go above and beyond to make others feel seen, heard, and cherished. And somehow, I get to say I’ve met someone like you. That feels like a gift in itself.

Also, let’s be real—how could I not be happy knowing you? A fellow 404 fan? That was fate in the making! But what makes you truly shine is the way you effortlessly build safe spaces and communities, creating sideblogs for so many fandoms, writing for countless characters, and curating events that bring people together. You don’t just *share* your passions—you create magic. You make people feel included, loved, and valued, and you do it with so much grace and humility.

You have this beautiful way of lending an ear to anyone in need, never making them feel like a burden. That kind of empathy is rare. It’s you. You are rare.

I could write pages upon pages, wax poetic about how incredible you are, and still never quite do it justice. But I’ll rein myself in (for now) because I know others feel the same and want to shout their praises too. Just know this: you are deeply loved and appreciated in our little corner of the world. We see you. We cherish you. And we are endlessly grateful for everything you do.

Cici, you're MY superstar! 😏"

From @redfoxwritesstuff ♡

"I haven't known Cirice for long at all but in the short time I have known her, she has been one of the kindest, most positive and supportive people I've ever been blessed to know. There are few shining lights in fandom, no matter the fandom, who make it a point to be supportive of others to the point of being willing to put in the effort to try to shift fandom culture for the better. Cirice is one of those few amazing people and I'm blessed to have gotten to meet her"

Want To Write A Personal Letter?

Cici's official Sup-port tag is #fromsup-port2ritualofcirice

♡ Is it your first time seeing a Sup-port letter on your Dash? Find out more about the lovely idea here ♡

[softodettes]

2024 fic writer end of year round up!

i was tagged by @maethologies and @siobhanbooks (thank you besties!!). if i tagged you in this, take that as a sign that i'm tagging you to participate! 💗

1. How many words did you publish on AO3 in 2024?

as of this afternoon: 89,916 words! i wanted to hit 100k published, but the second half of the year really put me through it.

2. How many fics did you complete this year?

10 oneshots!

3. How many in progress or ongoing fics did you start this year?

i posted 3, and i have 3 more that aren't posted that i'm working on with plans to post next year.

4. What was your favourite thing you wrote?

i really love read it and weep. i love playing Wordle so much, so it was fun to combine that with FW for a cute fluff piece.

i also love i wanna touch you but you're too far away. it was probably the first smut fic that i confidently posted, and it's one of the only fics i've posted that i reread because i just think it's really good.

5. What piece was your most experimental or different from your usual style?

they're both very tame, but visions of sugarplums is my most "out-there" and niche AU. it's 3rd person present, which is something i've played around with in shorter one shots, but this is the first time i used it in a longer fic.

vacation (all i ever wanted) was also different! it was my first poly fic, so trying to balance all 3 people and their relationships with each other was definitely new for me!

6. Did any fics surprise you - either while writing or their reception?

after resurrection for sure!

a lot of people in this fandom hate Brennan (which is valid, don't get me wrong!), so i never expected more than a handful of people to read it. so when it hit 100 kudos a few weeks ago, i cried a little because it has grown above and beyond what i ever imagined, and i'm continuously blown away by the positive reception it gets.

7. Do you have a fic you wrote and loved that went under the radar? (This is your sign to reblog/repost it!)

there is pretty much no plot, but i love the imagery i used in and if i could give you the moon, i would give you the moon. and i'm plugging i wanna touch you but you're too far away again because i think it's some of the best smut i've written.

8. Who is an artist that inspired you?

on instagram: _clxarts, 0jem0, rosiethorns88, cuddlydevil1114, and rosedskies

on tumblr: @ann7av, @taumoebaa, @flaviedub, @rosalynnart

9. Who is an author that inspired you?

@taumoebaa, @maethologies, and @widebrimmedhatsblog all inspired me this year (especially during kinktober!)

10. Who is a new author you discovered?

literally everyone in this fandom! i obviously can't tag everyone, but people like @siobhanbooks, @hockeyspiral23, @pretty-pleaseee, @heartfeltletters-written, @shipmistress9, and @dbac2822 and so many others wrote some of my favorite fics!

11. Did you do any collaborations? How did it start?

i did not! maybe 2025 will be the year of that, who knows.

12. What accomplishments are you proudest of?

that i posted 89K and wrote 123k words. before this year, the most i'd ever written was probably around 3k words for papers, and i managed to blow that number out of the water within the first month of writing.

i also managed all of that while in grad school full time, especially this fall when i was taking something crazy like 20+ units, and i'm just really proud of myself for making time for this hobby that i love. (but it's no wonder i burned out for a bit towards the end of this year LOL).

also posting for kinktober! if anyone remembers my mini crash out in september, i was so, so nervous about posting smut. but @maethologies, @widebrimmedhatsblog, and @heartfeltletters-written were so encouraging when we were all preparing for kinktober, and i'm so glad i posted because writing smut is just so fun lol.

13. What did you learn about writing or creating this year?

writing is hard and it sucks and it can dredge up old emotions and open wounds you thought were healed, but it can also be wonderful and fun and make you feel happy and connect with others, which makes the trade-off worth it.

14. Any advice you’d like to share with new or aspiring writers?

that idea that's been hanging out in the back of your mind? i want you to open your notes app and just start typing, because you might just surprise yourself. writing those first words is one of the most terrifying things you'll do. posting those words is also terrifying. but there are plenty of people who will want to read what you have to say... you just have to take that leap.

also, you will be your biggest critic. it's very hard, but please don't get stuck in a cycle of negativity because it can kill your motivation. i promise that whatever the small voice in your head is saying about your writing isn't accurate.

15. What are your creative goals for 2025?

i want to finish AR, start properly working on suburban legends and reverence, and post some of the fics that have just been sitting in document purgatory. i also want to keep fleshing out my writing style and to improve my grammar knowledge (english is my native language but it's still hard!)

i also want to stop comparing myself to others! it's normal to feel envy and jealousy, but comparison really is the thief of joy, and i want to spend more time celebrating my writing accomplishments, rather than focusing on what i wish i had or the crazy things i want to achieve in the future.

and i want to read more!! a lot of my fic reading fell off towards the end of this year, so i want to make an effort to carve out time to read and comment on works and support other authors.

[ltleflrt]

Hi! Okay so I came across your fic Omega And The Beast completely randomly in a comment section on Tiktok and marked it for later a while ago. Well a few days ago I hadn't slept and was running on a lot of tea and started reading it. It was absolutely amazing! I have not seen Supernatural, I barely know any of these people except for random stuff I've seen on Tumblr but I got so immersed in the fic. I was not expecting that at all tbh. Well...I kinda had no idea what to expect? Since I know nothing about them? So it came as a total surprise when I fell in love with the universe!

Absolutely wonderful fic! I am really busy these few months but I literally could not stop reading any chance I got. My heart broke so much for Cas tbh. In my head, he now lives the absolute best life with no worries at all! All the good things for him! The slow bond that is formed between Cas and Dean had my entire heart! I am an absolute sucker for stuff like that. Ahshfhhff hurt/comfort is soooo good!! My favourite scene is probably their midnight picnic. Dean completely disregarding all the rules to take Cas on a picnic...almost cried! I was yelling at my best friend about the fic the entire time too hdhdhfj. Gonna get her to read it too!

I have now started No Words...I told myself this wouldn't become a thing but I am a liar! It's slow going because like I said life is busy atm but it's such a nice reprieve after a long day! Your writing is so so good and I'm pleasantly happy with my first experience in the spn fandom

Anyway, yeah! I need to get back to work now but thank you for sharing your wonderful craft with the world and allowing it to keep me company on long days and sleepless nights 💜💜

I was at work when you sent this, and I'm stressing out about my first international trip and my first business trip, and was generally having a foggy brain day. But this message cheered me up so much that I kept opening it and reading it, so thank you. You have excellent timing 💜💜

I'm always blown away when people decide to read my stuff when they haven't watched Supernatural. What perked your interest? Are you into omegaverse in general? This was my last spn/destiel fic before I burned out, and I think it turned out pretty good considering it took me a year to write, which is usually long enough for me to forget what I'm doing or lose interest in something. It feels really good to hear that it appeals to a wider audience, because I figured it was really niche lol

(If you ever decide to watch the show, just don't watch the very last episode. Stop at 15x19 and go find more fanfic, you'll have a more satisfying experience lol)

(Also, check out this incredible fanart of Cas from Omega and the Beast by @strwbryshortie that is so stinking cute and captures him perfectly.)

Anyway THANK YOU! I'm so glad you enjoyed OatB, and I hope you enjoy No Words too 🥰

[dadmoriougai]

Hello, hi first of all, i wan to say what a huge fan i am of your dad!mori series i love it soo so freakin much. I mean i really share that view about how Mori is a practical person who ultimately uses the most optimal solution for a greater good kind of outcome regardless of the means. Hahahaha okay, i just have a question, i am fairly new to the bsd fandom n i have read a lot of fanfics (there's too little fanfics where Mori is not a pedophile or sexual assault on Dazau or Yosano) so i actually wanted to write my own fanfic that kinda plays with the idea that Mori may or may not be Dazai's biological father but there's this part/tidbit that resonates deeply for me.. it has to do with theend of the episode where Atsushi is crying over the headmasters' death and he asks dazai what tgat feeling was and dazai replying that usually people cry when their father dies. Soooo, i'm not sure if i read it from another fanfic but i feel like Atsushi kinda ask Dazai if ge cried when his father died and Dazai easily says that his father isn't dead yet. THIS. THIS PART IDK IF I read it in your fanfics or someone elses but I really like that scene and kinda want to incorporate it into my story but i'm scared that people might accuse me of copyright because I really dont remember where i read it from but i realky wanna use and credit it to the original writer😭😭😭so,,, ahhagaha sorry for this really long question and i want to know what you think??? Hahahhahahaha sorry to bother you, though.

Hello,

Thanks for the ask. Glad you enjoy my stories and I heavily encourage you to write something if you want to.

That section you're talking about, I don't think it's in my stories as far as I can remember? And even if it was, that scene is actually just canon.

I doubled checked online and found this screenshot from a conversation about that line. So, yeah canon. Go have fun. You don't need my permission for that scene. It's not mine.

I'm really happy to hear people that are interested in more nuanced takes of Mori. Feel free drop me a link if you write a fic.

[fadelbison]

Hiiii

This is so random but I was just having a moment and I just needed to say just absolutely something to someone but didn't know who to tell what to. And then one of my favorite fics, authored by you, started playing out in my head. (maybe because I was subconsciously seeking some comfort and the fic definitely is that to me (I promise it wasn't one of the smutty ones, although I love them too~))

It was the first ever fanfic I read, and it captured something I've always felt but didn't have the words for. I'm sorry I never commented on it or texted you sooner. But the fic is so dear to me that I downloaded it and saved it among very sacred safekeeps in case one day the internet gods strike and the sacred archives are lost forever. I risked it at Alexanderia. I'm not letting it happen to my new altar.

So ig I just wanted to let you know your writing is lovely, touching. And I look forward to them earnestly. And there are times when I think to myself, I'd like to write like you do, see and feel things with the same depth. Hopefully I get there~

Anyhooo please take care and write when you want and can and love. Byeee!

P. S. Hehe did I mention I ardently love the smut you write?

hi anon you have no idea how much it meant to me when you sent me this I really cried when I saw it because my first fanfic Stand By Me by Edmantra on LJ is in fact lost to the depths of the internet and that fic changed the entire course of my life. I am so glad that I was fortunate enough to be your first foray into fanfic and that you have cherished my work so thoroughly.

im sorry im responding late and I don't know if you're around to see it but I really thought of you when my post about loving gmmtv's bad art inspired a really heartfelt discussion. And I thought of you having mentioned how much you love my writing and hope to one day write like I do and I really believe you'll write even better; you'll write like *you* do as long as you keep writing I know you'll get there.

I want to share an anecdote about myself with you and I hope that maybe when you doubt yourself it will pop into your head and will help you keep going: I started writing fic when I was ~ 15/16 inspired by Stand By Me in the Arashi fandom back in LJ. I think about a year or two of writing consistently, so I wasn't a newbie, I decided to enter a fandom event where people were put into teams and their fics would be scored and even though the winners would always be by group you could actually see the individual scores on the fics and truly my entry had the lowest score.

Out of nearly 50 fanfics I had irrefutable proof that mine was the very worst and I learned two things from that: 1) do NOT do that to yourself do not enter a competition with a grade for fics that is a terrible concept BUT more importantly 2) I just had to write another fic if I didn't want that to be the way I remembered myself as a writer. And well, I guess here I am now getting comments on my fics of people telling me they cried so much their faces hurt.

Keep writing; your heart is always in your art, you'll get better and better at expressing it. My terrible grade F fanfic is just as important as the ones that keep people up at night even if I'm the only one to see that.

If you publish (or if you already have) please send me the link. It would be an honor to have joined you on your artistic journey. P S I hope to entertain you with various dicks and holes (in word format) in the days to come

[akechi-stole-my-heart]

my favorite persona 5 fics

a while ago i made a post that listed all the fics i'd read over the course of my first year in the persona 5 fandom that i enjoyed. i've been thinking about making a post of all the fics i've read since then, but i actually decided to do something different this time. if you want a complete list of every fic i've read and enjoyed, check out my bookmarks on ao3. this, on the other hand, is a list of only my absolute favorite fics. i will continue to update it as i read more fics that i love.

these are the fics that occupy my thoughts to this very day and changed my perception of these characters. that made me cry and laugh and changed me forever. in no particular order, without further ado, these are my favorite p5 fics of all time.

Daredevil, You've Hit the Wall

A Persona 5 Strikers rewrite with Sumire and Akechi. Cookie is a phenomenal writer, and she'll be showing up on this list at a later point. Her characterization of both Akira and Akechi are absolutely godly, and their arcs in this fic are incredibly satisfying for someone who loved Strikers but was left disappointed by the lack of Akechi.

Read this if you like Akira angst, want to see Akechi improve himself and befriend the Thieves (and all the complications that come with that), like Strikers (or don't like Strikers), or love akeshu. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Love is a game (and I only play to lose)

The worst possible outcome to the Interrogation Room. This one is Dark, but the akeshu is absolutely phenomenal. Definitely heed the tags, this one isn't for everyone, but I was hooked from beginning to end. While I don't normally read Hurt No Comfort, I am very glad I gave this one a chance.

watching all the stars burn out

Are you in need of some incredible Royal Trio polycule fluff and angst? Would you like to read some of the most in-character fic I've ever read? Are you in need of a good cry today? Well, then have I got a fic for you!

This is a beautiful, heartwrenching, very sweet Royal Trio polycule fic that takes place during the final week of January when Akechi tells Sumi and Akira about his impeding demise early. It's so good. I cried. You will too. And if you're scared, I promise there is so much fluff here too. My babies,,,

Interminable Ballistics

Time loop of the interrogation room scene. Akira and Akechi are Not Okay. This fic makes me go hnnngh it's so well written the prose is beautiful and everyone is so in character it hurts. I love my bois please someone get them therapy.

goro akechi's waxed asshole

Ehehehe yeah well. This one is nsfw, but it doesn't actually have a whole lot of sex. It's more of a character study than anything, and despite the title and crack concept, is actually really beautiful and sweet? If the title doesn't scare you off please check it out I promise it is incredibly good.

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

AKESHU PIRATE AU!! Goro is a prisoner at a lighthouse and Akira is a pirate. The ways the author plays with their backstories in this AU is fascinating. I'm obsessed with this version of Akira and Goro and I really really wish a sequel existed that explored Sumire because my god-

If you like AUs, pirates, angst, and themes about self loathing and redemption, then check this one out. I think about it constantly.

Flight through fall

Okay....this one is probably the heaviest of all the fics on this list. Severe trigger warning for suicide, self harm, and medical stuff. It's...a lot. But it is also very very good. Akira is Not Doing Well after the events of Royal, and Akechi showing up in his life only makes things worse. This fic is not for everyone, but I personally found it very cathartic and poetic, to the point where I read it two times in a row.

Once More, With Feeling

Another akeshu timeloop, but this time, it's the day of the engine room scene. (I really like timeloop stories.) And then halfway through it also becomes a Palace fic (I won't say whose for the sake of spoilers). I love the characterization of Akechi and Akira here. The way they both handle the time loop is so very Them. It explores ideas of redemption, guilt, and finding a way to move on. I love this Akira so much please someone give him a hug <3

Falling Up

This is one of the only short one shots that have made such an impression on me to make it to this list. Akira and Akechi in the third semester. Akechi has...Feelings about having killed Akira. I don't want to say too much else for fear of giving too much away. Please read this. It's short and powerful and beautiful.

why don't we spin the wheel

Sae Niijima has a cognition of Akechi, and he's really fucked up. Please make sure to heed the warnings, this one's pretty violent. The exploration of Akechi is phenomenal and I think about the ending (and the rest of it) all of the time constantly.

When it's over, you're the start

Everyone starts to forget Akechi ever existed. This longer one shot made me fucking cry. It's so mean, incredibly mean, but don't worry, it has a happy ending. Nothing can erase the power of akeshu.

Please Don't Take My Sunshine Away

A what-if Mamakechi didn't die, but instead was kidnapped by Shido and her suicide faked? The characterization for Misato (Mamakechi) is sooo good, and while this fic does travel some dark places, it ultimately does result in some heartwrenching comfort for both Goro and his mama. I love this fic so fucking much, Misato is such a fantastic interpretation of Goro's mother and the the angst is sublime.

the first step to find your way is to mark where you have been

The best Akechi Palace fic I've read by a landslide, to the point where it's inspired my own Akechi Palace fic quite a bit. I had my kink awakening thanks to this fic (while reading That Scene in the middle seat on an airplane. Sorry, strangers). It's mostly an Akechi character study and an incredibly good one at that. I wish it existed as a game. It did what p5t did with Toshiro with Akechi and it did it so incredibly well. This fic makes me insane. Read it.

Fools Rush In

Akira speedruns Akechi's confidant in a day. This is one of the first fics I ever read, and when I did, I went "this is it. this is Them." The characterization is *chef's kiss.* I'm running out of new ways to compliment incredible writing help-

Pleasant Boy

This fic should be required reading for all Goroboys. No one is allowed to have an opinion on him (especially in third sem) before reading this fic. Akechi is actualized by Maruki in third sem, and Akira hates it. I love this fic so much. It heavily inspired code violet and changed the way I look at and think about Goro forever and ever I love it so much read it read it read it

it takes a village

Or, as I like to call it, The Akechi Fic. I legit had a major hyperfixation on this fic to the point where I read it three times in a row. It's more or less a NG+ where everyone remembers except Akechi. It is quite literally everything you could ever want from an Akechi redemption fic. After reading this I wondered if I ever needed to read another fic about him in my life because everything I ever wanted had already been delivered. There are so many moments in this masterpiece that make me go completely insane. This is my favorite fic of all time. Read it. Read it read it read it Please

[emsuemsu]

@hprecfest day 31: fav among favs

Last day of 2023!! Last prompt of the magnificent HP rec fest!!! This fest has given me so much joy and introduced me to a bunch of new stories to read (which I probably would never even considered to read if it weren't for this fest) for the past month 🥹 December went by so fast, 2023 went by even faster. I’ve been in and out of the fandom for the last too many years, more out than in to be honest, but this year I crashlanded back to HP fanfiction which honestly is my safe haven even after all these years. Further ado, fav among favs which my silly little words will never do justice:

The Brightest Constellations of Our Souls by @thecouchsofa 🩵 256,402 words, draco/harry

Harry doesn’t know how to cope after the War. The only things that make him feel even remotely normal again are taking risks while flying and fighting with Malfoy. It’s not likely to end well. Or, Draco becomes obsessed with ‘Wonderwall’, reads Muggle books, and drives a campervan, while Harry slowly falls in love with Draco. A story about travelling around the British Isles in the late 90s while healing deep scars.

My life can be divided to before and after this fic. I like to think that I didn’t find this story but the other way around - this story found me. And since it is a new fic, posted in the course of last six months I truly do believe it was meant to be I'd come back to the fandom via this story.

This fic is really fucking precious to me and I'm like a healthy-ish amount of emotional about it. First of all it's incredibly well-written, the style of the whole story is very straight-forward but at the same time extremely detailed, immersive and beautiful, sentence after sentence. Even though I love longfics (and this is definitely a longfic with 250k) they can feel a bit dragged out at times, but the way this story is paced and organized I never had that feeling reading this. I felt like each and every word of this story was essential, nothing too much, nothing too little.

This story does come with a little cw from the author. This fic is heavy, really fucking heavy at times, but there is so much light and eventual happiness to balance it out. One of the reasons I love this story so much is that it feels so relatable, it's raw and real to me in so many ways. Harry is my ultimate favorite character out of all the fandoms and characters out there, and the Harry we get served in this fic is godsent. His gradual healing with Draco during their little travels is really moving and touching. Babes.

It's extremely slow burn. Like the burn is so slow the fire is completely out most of the story. But then there's these small things along the way; like Draco's wet left shoulder from the rain and getting almond croissants all the way from Edinburgh that feed the flame and just wreck the shit out of me. And this fic drags you through the mud and minefields right before (and/or during) getting to the part where something actually happens between them. The way their relationship builds along the story is magnificent and emotional. And when we finally get to part where the slow burn pays off and flames lick every inch of my rotten body this fic has some class A smut that I file in the category of "so good I cried". Although, I did manage to cry for nearly the entirety of this story.

This fic definitely is a journey, and it's a long, at times difficult and gut-wrenching, but in the end it's a journey I'm really fucking glad I took. This is a fic I think everyone should at least give a chance to, it'll steal your heart.

All in all, this is a very, very dear story to me on every level possible. Thank you so much @thecouchsofa for writing it, I'm beyond in love with this story and I'm so glad I happen to exist on this planet at the same time as you and your brilliant, beautiful stories 💕

[lost-tanuki]

Hi!! I just finished reading ur college au of the rk1k fic and let me tell you I cried many times. Idk how I can thank you enough for writing such a gut wrenching beautiful story of these characters but I just want to sit here and appreciate ur hard work for a second bc that fic is now definitely something I think about from time to time… your portrayal of abuse is just so raw and realistic and I can’t express how much I loved reading that fic series for the first time. Thank you for writing such a beautiful fic!!! I am so glad you exist in this fandom 🩷🩷

Hi pumpkin, thank you very much for your heartfelt message! I'm glad my story spoke to you like this. Thanks for taking the time to let me know :)

[voxofthevoid]

Hi Vox! I saw your post mentioning your sickness and I hope you're feeling better! If it’s any consolation, I've been sick as hell too. Misery loves company right? This is werewolf anon, BTW.

So now that I'm more on top of the JJK story, I read another JJK fic of yours. It's the one where Gojo gets released from the prison realm into the future but a 1000 years in. I must admit I saw the tags/summary and thought "Ahhh yeahhhh all 20 fingers assembled!". And I was getting ready for some filthy imaginative smut by you...and it DEFINITELY had that...BUT I WASN'T READY FOR THE FEELS???

Because I legitimately cried!!! You left the ending open enough that it could go a few different routes but you just captured the utter bleak loneliness that Yuuji had been enduring and what a monumental shift it was for Gojo to show up. I finished the fic and had to hug my pillow because it got me so emotional. So yeah, thanks again for destroying me lol!

I'm glad my silly Yuuji meme edit gave you a laugh!

Also now that I know Steve is your fav, I see your Stucky fics in a whole new light. Not in a bad way! Just more like "Ah ha! I totally get why these lines of Bucky talking about Steve hits so hard." I'm so sorry that Endgame did us dirty and it undermined your fandom. My personal fav is Bucky and I basically live in my La La Land where "canon" can kiss my ass. Especially because the MCU seems determined to keep character assassinating Steve and derailing Bucky.

For JJK, I still like Gojo the best so the manga events are DEVASTATING. But I've gotten pretty good at ignoring canon (No thanks to Marvel) so I'm gonna keep trucking on loving Gojo.

Also fucking random question but you're the only one I talk about JJK...do you think I should spell their names Yuji/Yuuji or Gojo/Gojou?

Stay hydrated!

Werewolf anon! I didn't see this ask until now. Didn't check my notifs for a day or so while sick, and the app is glitchy as hell with numbers. Opened the desktop and saw that shiny "1." As always, it's good to hear from you!

A sad high five for the sickness 😔 I hope you're feeling better now though.

And won't lie, I'm slightly evilly gleeful that serpent tongue got you in the feels. It was my first JJK fic—don't ask me why I chose that mindfuck of a premise to figure out the characters and dynamics—and I did intend for it to pretty much just filthy imaginative smut (thank you btw 💗) with a four-armed Yuuji, but well, you saw what the bulk of the story became. As far as first fics in a fandom go, it's one I'm very happy with, especially the ending. It's very, very gratifying to hear that it affected you enough to make you cry.

(If it's any consolation, this fic is the "kinder" continuation of it, now with 200% more porn. They're not in a series because they're both standalone works, and the second fic is one of two possible spiritual sequels, but still, it's overall less bleak compared to the first fic.)

Haha, that's very interesting to me tbh. I'm not subtle about my favoritism, though the way it manifests varies (the only constant is that they get hole lmao), and I'm always curious how readers—especially those with differing but complementary tastes—perceive it.

And you have very good taste! I adore both Bucky and Gojou too, and they're a hell of a lot of fun as characters. Props to you for the enviable ability to tell canon to suck it and keep going 💪 Stay strong.

As for the names, Yuuji/Yuji/Yūji and Gojou/Gojo/Gojō are all accepted romanizations, so pick your favorite. Personally, I prefer Yuuji and Gojo, but I am anal about internal consistency, so I use Yuuji and Gojou—plus Getou, Yuuta, Shouko, etc. The only exceptions I make are for Chōsō and Tōdō because Chousou and Toudou make my eyes bleed.

[spectralarchers]

Hi there. I found your fic, Exit Wound and it's wondrous. I found it nearing it's end, wondering many a day and nights what the ending would be like at Chapter 29: Sight. Unfortunately, life got a little busy but now that I finally had time, I read the last chapters and I feel nothing short of wonder, joy, anticipation and inspiration.

Your writing was beautiful with a storyline that leaves images flitting through my mind as if I was right there in the story, watching and feeling it all. I cried, sobbed, laughed and smiled with them, feeling fear and relief when they felt it in their moments. The start pulled me in, drawing me to read further, push deeper and understand the lore of this story. The middle of the whole story gave me so many emotions that it gave me whiplash—in a good way. The ending has me burning alight with fear, anticipation, worry and interest.

I only know of a few backstories, gleamed from other fanfictions I've read while going down the GhostSoap tag on Ao3 but the characters were well chosen for their roles, matching up similarly to what I've seen from the bare bits of clips (mostly GhostSoap, I admit without shame) . I admit again, I didn't expect El Sin Nombre to take the role they did or for so many characters to appear and draw me in so effortlessly. I met many new characters in this story, found the old familiar ones and learned more of them along the journey in this story. It appears I'll have some research of my own to do in this fandom before I'm fully invested, seeing as I only know the reboot (my favourite version no less).

I won't say much, as is proper no spoilers etiquette, but I adored your fic all the way through and still do. I'll be revisiting it again and again, but oh, what I wouldn't give to travel through this marvellous story again for the first time. I may or may not have lost a few nights' worth of sleep, but the dreams that followed of the scenes you painted with words were worth every second.

Although I'm not all that invested in the Call of Duty fandom, your story drew me in with the details, the carefully written characters and the plot of the story.

If I ever do decide to write a story in the fandom of CoD, please know that you are my biggest inspiration for it.

Sincerely,

A new Ao3 user too shy to comment.

PS: Sorry for the long ask. And many more apologies for the messy message ":]

Oh my god, Nonnie. I have no words to express how much joy your ask brought me when I opened the app this morning for my morning paper read.

I'm sitting here staring at your ask with a blue to my cheeks and I want to hide my face and kick my feet because I don't know how to respond to such incredibly kind and heartwarming words?

I am so happy that my story managed to make you feel things and that I didn't bore you half to death with all my detours. I am so glad to hear that the wide array of characters I pulled in from other Call of Duty franchises (& comic backstories) felt like they fit in.

I'm sorry I caused sleepless nights, but if the price for those were dreams that you consider worth it, then I'll retract my apology.

I am so immensely honored to have been on the receiving end of such a message, filled with praise that might actually make me cry. So thank you, sweetheart. From the bottom of my heart ♥

If you ever write something, please, send it my way, I would love nothing more than to read it. And if you ever feel comfortable to not be too shy anymore, my DMs are always open and I don't bite - much ;)

I can't wait to take your hand through another Call of Duty adventure. I can't promise it'll be as good as this story was, but I can promise that it'll be an entrancing ride nonetheless ♥

[scoops404]

⚠️Spoilers for “See the Elephant”⚠️

So I read “See the Elephant” last night, and I cried the whole fic.

It’s not really one of your more angstier fics. It’s actually rather typical angst for a Scoops classic. But about 100 words in, I started crying and didn’t stop until the end.

And honestly? A big part of it is due to the Gogtroversy stuff. I’ve been trying to be positive and open-minded about the whole thing (and I have been!) Despite that, it’s been really tough being in this fandom and enjoying being in this fandom for the last few weeks. I’ve been so busy experiencing all the stuff that I couldn’t really do what I love in this fandom.

And that is explore the relationships between Dream, George, and Sapnap.

I’ve been reading fanfics over the past few weeks, but yours was the first that made me remember how much I love them. The way George’s love for Dream is selfless. The way Dream remains stubborn and hopeful. The way the two of them fall into each other again and again and again and again and—

It’s just so beautiful. And without fail, you capture it every time.

I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: you have always been a talented and ingenious writer. You capture emotion with a skill that I’ve never seen. You weave stories like you were born to do it. You craft masterpieces that deserve to be loved (and they are). No matter where you go as a writer, I will always be touched by your words :)

Sincere thanks from your friend,

-Rei

Holy shit this is so unbelievably sweet :DDD

I can't believe you cried through the whole thing. I'm so glad you're back to loving and appreciated the relationships between them because I certainly love exploring those in the writing side of things.

I'm so moved by your words about my stories. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you, Rei <3

[palepinkgoat]

TAG GAME WEDNESDAY: FANDOM EDITION (ok, it's Thursday, but let's roll with it)

Thank you @juliakayyy and @energieviefor tagging me!

your name: Karen

your age: possibly as old as your mom, youngsters

your first fandom(s): I was OBSESSED with Buffy in the mid season in particular, but I didn't really know how to connect with anyone, and our internet was very, very slow because we couldn't afford the better kind. And the computer was unreliable. Different times.

your current fandom(s): Shameless

how did you first get into fandom? I saw a clip on YouTube of the van kiss, which led to the kiss at Svetlana and Mickey's wedding, and then I was like WHAT and bought the 3 available seasons via amazon. I fell in love with every character, but we all know who ruled that show for me. At the time I was recovering from a serious injury where I couldn't really walk and had a lot of complications, so I spent a lot of time in bed re-watching the episodes and fan-videos/montages. Then I joined Tumblr, where I had 9 friends. I just lurked because I felt shy.

how long have you been engaging with fandom spaces? Oh sweet Jesus, since 2014. Not plugged in to social media for seasons like 7-9 just for reasons but I remained obsessed. The night the club kiss happened I seriously yelled and cried. I'm glad I could see that live because it was literally UNBELIEVABLE that that would happen and it was like a high intensity fandom moment. A group meltdown.

how often do you read fanfics? every single day

top 3 characters from your current fandom(s): Ian, Mickey, and I actually love Lip because JAW is fantastic and quite handsome.

have you ever written a fic for a fandom? if so, shout it out. I'm pink_ink on Ao3! My first fic was written in 2014 and I was so prolific in 2014 and 2015! I can't believe how much and how fast I wrote some of that stuff.

have you ever drawn fanart for a fandom? Oh man, that would be amazing if I could. But I can't draw anything other than a puppy I learned how to draw in the third grade.

share a personal headcanon that you feel very strongly about: Mickey was born at home and he has foreskin (aka was never circumcised). And Ian LOVES it. I will die on this hill. And despite Ian's disparaging comment in that highly stupid "carl is not circumcised" plot line (of course they would know he was intact, they would have seen his penis a million times in diapers and in dressing in close quarters, etc) he loves Mickey's dick just how it is. Which is with foreskin, obviously. It's (head)canon.

you’re trying to convince a friend to get into your current fandom(s) with you. what episode, clip, or scene are you showing them? I'd show the wedding kiss because it shows a bit of the intensity of the plot, and it's one of the first things I saw.

and finally, what does fandom mean to you? I've met some amazing people who are truly my friends as much as those in "real life." I'm still meeting new people who are becoming fast friends as well. We are connected by this love that makes us all so happy, and that's an incredible root of relationships. I've met a couple people in person and there are so many of you I'd love to meet someday! There can be drama in any group, but I'm too old for that shit. So I stay on the sunny side and love it over here.

[ujunxverse]

hello, my name is r! I understand that you're done with enhypen now, but i really hope you could give me a chance; there's nothing else i could ask for.

two years ago, i began actively using tumblr—which I've had from earlier but didn't really use—a fee months after getting into enhypen around late 2021, the dimension dilemma era. it was love at first sight for me when i saw riki in that wig; you know the one, the really cute ombre blonde wig. the first member to catch my eye was sunghoon, but once i saw dimension : dilemma Charybdis riki, it was all over for me.

as for enhypen/kpop (but i really only pay attention to enha, occasionally i spare attention for txt, skz, nct) tumblr, you, or rather your fic "a distant journey" was my first ever love. i recall reading it about the first few days i was on here, and i was completely new to kpop and/or real person fanficfion. a distant journey shattered my heart into pieces, and built me back up into life again. i cried to it and reread it at least twice. I've never once forgotten it, i even made a playlist in my phone's music player with the few songs i had just for it and named after it too.

back then I wasn't familiar with how tumblr worked, so i quickly lost the fic when you deactivated orpheyeux. I didn't remember your url. but afterwards, i read welcome and you were orochxi, i believe. I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE THE SAME PERSON. i did leave a really long reblog if you remember! i was devastated (in the best way possible;your writing is pure magic) and i recall you saying it's not your position to say what of heeseung's fate after the ending. i saw my comments again and i cringed—so fucking embarassing and annoying, now that i look back on it. but I don't regret that i showed you how i felt about your writing, i just hope i didn't leave a negative impression. i apologize again. it was so fucking cringe, i wish i worded my overwhelming emotions better.

anyhow, i should've realised that the two most profound stories ive ever read within the first half year of my being on enhypen tumblr were written by you. they were both very impactful and left a dent in my life when everything else i read didn't even come close to leaving a touch, a stain, a scratch, a mark. nothing. i could barely even remember now what i read back then save for a few fics, two of which were yours.

i thought you were inactive, based on your oiwa blog. ive only just found you active and well now. i was sad to see that you've discontinued writing for enhypen, but i completely understand and respect your decision. it simply doesn't bring you joy anymore, and letting it go was for the best. im sorry that it happened to you, the fandom expansion that let in shitty people and changing the knitted community you were familiar and were happy with. but i can say that i am glad you are still writing, and writing so much at that too! i truly wish you well and happiness. you're awfully creative, and i admire that so much. i look up to you and your penmanship abilities.

i am sorry for taking so long, here's where i get to my point. i saw your orpheyeux archive and saw that you had several fics, a sunghoon one i believe about 47k too! all of which were gone, and my curiousity peaked. is there ever a chance you will archive or reupload elsewhere all your previously published works? i felt so overwhelmed at finding you again and upset myself over finding out that only a few of your works were still available to read. i know you've left it all behind and that the possibility of your return is still undetermined, but i wanted to have hope. that's all i want to know.

thank you so, so much for taking time to read my very long ask. even if you choose not to reply and delete it, i accept it. i genuinely wish you so much love and admiration, your writing prowess deserves the recognition.

🪽

hey! i'm sorry i got around this ask very late. nice to meet you, r!

first off, i just wanted to thank you for taking the time to read my works! i'm glad that they had such a profound effect on you and that you continue to remember them for quite a long time. a distant journey was just a tribute piece to the 3.11 earthquakes because i've built a tradition to write one every year when i was still active. i wrote one for yuta in 2021, and i wrote one for riki in 2022.

ah, that's a first! usually people can tell it's me with the format or writing style, but it's a relief to know that i can manage to hide my identity very well. and don't worry! you didn't leave a bad impression at all! it was a nice thing to have a charged response to my work, given the nature of the themes i tackle. don't be embarrassed at all, really, and i'm honestly glad i was able to see an honest reaction to my work.

thank you so much for the compliment, it's really the highest form that i can receive. i don't necessarily mean to leave such an impact through the works i write, but i'm glad you think of them that way, and i'm also happy that the two works i've written are important to you. i was the same as well, where a lot of what i read don't really impact me in such a way or are remotely memorable. i think the few that i can think of off the top of my head is the really popular beomjun fic on ao3 and a few works from my vkook days and some really good satosugu aus i found on the site as well. the problem that a lot of fanfics often go through is oversaturation, and as someone with more of a literary (fiction and non-fiction) background, it's really difficult for me to get into works unless they read like novels, which tends to be a problem for a lot of oneshots i come across.

unfortunately, i think even oiwxa will be shut down for good after i migrate umazane misli onto ao3, where i'll primarily be writing from here on out. i just don't like the audience on tumblr in general, seeing as it's not necessarily a site made for longer-form works or chaptered fics. tumblr was always more geared towards headcanons, art, and drabbles even in its hay day, and if i want to rekindle my writing or find the write audience while acknowledging the problems i have with this site (plagiarism, prominence of y/n or reader insert fics, preference for college!aus or more romantic/sexual works), i think it's been long overdue for me to move to ao3 for good. i find that it's less of a fandom issue now (though i do agree the people on here are just horny), but more of a demographic issue. the stuff i write was never catered towards the audience here, and as a result, my constant disappointment didn't lie with the fandom, but how the site worked in general. and with the influx of people from twitter migrating and only liking works without reblogging or adding any comments, i think it's time for me to leave, though i did have fun here while it lasted.

once again, thank you so much for your kind words! i will reupload some of my works as i think i've written too much to let any of it go to waste, but i won't be uploading them here. they'll be on ao3, under a new fandom (either txt or zb1) and will be formatted to remove the reader. i think my biggest qualm was how restrictive reader inserts were in my creative process, and it would be nice to have some leeway and freedom with that. i know those who read on tumblr aren't the biggest fan of ships, but if you want to read my works, you're free to visit my ao3 and start there. the sunghoon fic, miracle aligner (which was originally written for doyoung) will also be on there, but it's yeonbin.

much, much love to you as well, and once again, thank you for taking the time to send me a message. i appreciate every single word.

best,

vivian

[hms-tardimpala]

For the love your fandom game: 2, 11, 16

Whatever fandom you choose!

The game, for anyone interested

Thank you for playing with me, Nara! I had to wrack my brain to answer these, but it's fun!

2. A headcanon you weren't sure about at first but have come to like!

I either dislike or love headcanons on the spot, generally, and it's pretty definitive, so I don't have that progression of getting to like one. But many ideas have come up in the FPA fandom that I love and consider canon myself. It's not the happiest, but Fetch having maybe been sexually abused during his captivity at Hank's casino is a favorite of mine. It's a thing I'm glad Luke left up to interpretation, it was a smart choice on his part, and I like how it's been interpreted in the server. I was glad to know I wasn't the only one to have read it that way!

11. If you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

I haven't been writing for a while, and I'm kinda struggling to find pride in the fics I wrote a year ago. But you know what, I am an artisan (I don't use the word "artist" for myself) and I'm very proud of my progress in bookbinding. My Saw collection is my latest darling.

16. A tiny detail in canon that you want more people to appreciate

This is difficult because the FPA fandom is so good at discussing media that we leave no detail untouched, and I don't feel like there are injustices done to the characters or the canon here. So I'll use another fandom.

Saw: Mark Hoffman cried. He asked when they would stop doing this. I'm staying vague to avoid spoilers, Nara, but this is the one detail that changes everything for me and that I think gets ignored often. Sometimes fandom simplifies characters, even when it doesn't bash them, and it takes nuance away from them. This detail gives the character a level of depth that makes him much more interesting to me.

Thank you so much for the ask <3