#aliquistis

[galaxyostars]

My Archive Of Our Own Wrap-up

I wanted to put together a thank you to all the fanfic writers who have gotten me through this year.

This wrap-up is me going through my history month by month to see which fics I'd visited the most (because you can be damn sure I read through them over several days).

So this is a celebration of the wide variety of fics I've read and/or bookmarked and/or subscribed to. Thank you to every writer on this list for keeping me entertained.

My first fic of 2023: Finding the Balance, by Amberlioness

Summary:

Events following ‘Bound’, leading up to ‘Demons’. Trip and T’Pol begin to explore what their bond means and how it affects them. Follows “Beginning in Earnest”. I’ve tried to keep as close to canon as possible, while filling in events and back story as the muse commands.

2023 in fics I kept returning to by month

January

Brand New Day, by cecilyjones

Star Wars Rebels, rated T. Completed 2023-03-29.

The Force wasn’t the only great power in the Galaxy. There were also the laws of physics. Kanan was strong in the Force, but the bind he had gotten himself into had to do with physics. (My inevitable “Kanan lives” story. He survives, and the story unfolds from there. Some of it resembles the story we already know, and some of it doesn’t. The ripples travel out.) Update: Chapter 1-8 is a complete story, you can stop reading there and get some nice closure. After that, I’m just kind of adding as I get ideas. Mostly I just like seeing Kanan get to be a dad so that’s what I’m doing. Thanks!

February

Synced To You, by TuppingLiberty

Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, rated E. Completed 2017-04-09.

Canonverse but Omegaverse: Though everyone can choose whomever they want as mate, your one true mate, the mate with which you 'sync', is your one best match in the entire galaxy. Poe recognizes Finn as his sync-mate immediately, but Finn is reluctant - extremely. Chapter 3 and various chapters thereon are explicit. This fic is now in epilogue-mode. Everything after Chapter 13 is epilogue. I will come back to it as it pleases me, which, right now, is often. :D

March

Poor Wayfaring Stranger, by lithos_saeculum

Final Fantasy XV, rated T. Last updated 2022-08-04.

Out on a mission, Cor Leonis finds a teenager, lost and sick and partway to becoming an MT. Against the advice of all and sundry, he brings him back to Insomnia. There's not a lot of love lost for MTs in the Citadel, but some of its inhabitants may still be young enough to put aside their prejudices.

April

Three Bullets, by The_Midget

Grand Theft Auto V, rated M. Completed 2021-01-27.

After Michael is shot in the street, his friends and family can all agree that it was an act of retaliation. However, none of them can agree on who pulled the trigger.

Bookmark note: The one where Jerry White is a piece of shit and also Trevor, Michael and Franklin have to deal with white supremesists. I don't think that's how supremesists is spelled. Lemme look into that.

May

Over And Over, by Nightwinging_it

Borderlands, rated M. Completed 2020-12-17.

Timothy Lawrence has resigned himself to his fate as Handsome Jack's property, even if it means losing himself. When an attempt by a friend to rescue him lands him in trouble with Jack, Timothy is banished to the casino as punishment. Angry and betrayed, Timothy is all too eager to seize the chance to escape, even if it comes in the form of a brash Operative. When Zane Flynt is hired to steal weapon schematics from Hyperion, he finds himself needing the help of Handsome Jack's Eridium addicted doppelganger. It's supposed to be a simple job, and he and the doppelganger will part ways the moment it's over. Only Zane didn't expect to get so damn attached to Timothy. (OR: Zane accidentally adopts Timothy, and chaos ensues)

Bookmark note: The one where Timothy's made to be hooked on eridium and Zane basically nurses him back to life.

June

Finding Home, by Iha_1419

9-1-1 Lone Star, rated E. Last updated 2022-08-08.

TK Strand’s life has been filled with pain and rejection. His parents, extreme traditionalists, hate him for being a male omega and have kept him isolated for most of his life. When he finds out that he is going to be bonded to an alpha named Carlos in his Uncle Owen’s pack, he doesn’t know what to expect. Years of enduring verbal and physical abuse from his parents have left him withdrawn and wary of his new mate. Carlos is determined to get the omega to trust him, but TK’s scars run deep and old habits are hard to break. Can Carlos and the 126 help TK overcome his past and embrace his future?

July

Ultraviolet, by @five-7

Borderlands, rated E. Completed 2021-11-11.

After all the shite they'd been through together, Zane doesn't quite know what to think of them. Amara might have an idea. [Shameless and massive Zane-centric fic]

Bookmark note: The one where Amara and Zane have a friends with benefits thing that accidentally falls into something more serious but then shit goes a little wrong and there's a few chapters where they're fucking dumb but it's okay because they eventually work it out.

August

Bless Those Tired Eyes, by thenewradical

The Martian, rated T. Completed 2015-12-20.

Johanssen suggests that Beck sleep in her bunk since it's closest to the med bay and Watney. This goes exactly as well as you would expect.

September

Sick Days Not Needed, by Jillie_chan

Star Wars Rebels, rated G. Completed 2015-02-21.

“You’re sick.” Kanan said, resting his hand on the back of the seat. “So?” Ezra asked, resting his head on his fist. “I’m not holding you back.” “Not holding us back?” Kanan echoed. “On missions,” Ezra clarified, “It’ll pass in a few days.”

October

True Colors, by Cinderpaw1, dancer4813

Critical Role (Vox Machina), rated E. Completed 2017-08-26.

Vex knew her father hated them. It had been obvious when he left their mother alone to raise a pair of twins by herself. But she had never imagined he would hate them enough to stick them in foster care only a few months after losing her. Now Vex is scraping by on the streets, using her artistic talent to make enough for her and her dog to eat, searching for the twin brother who had been taken away from her because of the system. She didn't realize that when her search took her to Emon, the bustling city held both promises for the future and ghosts from the past.

November

Struggle, by ela11

Mass Effect, rated M. Completed 2014-12-06.

Two people would have no idea of the struggle ahead of them… For their existence. For their love. (Femshep/Kaidan from Mass Effect 1 to 3 and a little beyond.) Contains canon, altered events, and new events. Alternative ending.

Fics saved in 2023 (My notes in bookmarks)

Two for the Road by Spacewidget - The one where Daryl and Connie pose as a married couple to gain access to a group. [The Walking Dead]

Run by justtakemehome - The one where Michael and Amanda De Santa get a bounty attached to their head and they basically have to Mr & Mrs Smith their way out of trouble. [Grand Theft Auto V]

Witch Ways by @aliquistis - The one where a druid learns to put up, like, and maybe even love Gale. [Baldur's Gate]

you can fake it for a while by nighimpossible - The one where Percy creates Vex's titles and a fake marriage, and they fall into a legitimate relationship. [Critical Role (Vox Machina)]

And They Lived Happily Ever After by @ginger-floor-goblin - The one where Keyleth and Vax get their happy ending. But also consequences to deals made. [Critical Role (Vox Machina) / The Legend of Vox Machina]

Pieces Still Stuck In Your Teeth by @howlsmovinglibrary - The one where Astarion lost all the kids in the divorce. [Baldur's Gate]

We Circle by Night by @insanitysilver - The one where Caleb goes back in time to fix his past, only to accidentally save Mollymauk from his demise. [Critical Role (Mighty Nein)]

I'm finishing 2023 with...

Ship to Wreck by Snailsol

Witch Ways by Aliquistis

Pieces Still Stuck In Your Teeth by howlsmovinglibrary

Resistance by ela11

Thank you to every fanfic writer whose work I've had the pleasure of reading this year. <3

[aliquistis]

Think I was half a child when I met you

eyes too wide for sea and sand

Think I of the years that we knew

the distance between the sea and sand

Think of you 'neath skies, violet or blue?

fingers curled in sea and sand

Think on what was lies and what was true

dream of desert heat ‘cross sea and sand

Think of days that will never go to plan

Think of the absence in sea and sand

For I have never met a man, who steers so well, of both sea and sand

--

Poem I wrote for my Val Serano fic, trying out a different style and writing it from my protag's perspective. Idk how far I will go with this one but it's nice to write again since I haven't done so in weeks! Maybe this will break the rain clouds.

[dujour13]

Tagged by @aliquistis @silversiren1101 @rollofleaf and @dragonologist-phd for the last sentence challenge. Thank you all so much!! So many tags I couldn't not do it but I've been writing smut so yeah. Waiting until I got something I could share without dying. (still kind of dying though)

"RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence."

Instead he raised his lips to Siavash’s and kissed him desperately until the tide of emotion receded enough to find his voice.

I don't know who's left to tag, so no pressure tagging @undyingembers, @tenmillionbees, @spyridonya, @dmagedgoods

[bharv]

Answering my own reading questions!

because I can! feel free to do these as asks or just fill them out I'm a nosy bitch.

How many BG3 fics did you subscribe to or bookmark on A03 in 2023?

22 bookmarks and 9 new authors subbed to! There's been so much great stuff out there.

Did you have a favourite canon character to read?

I love a good Gale fic, but actually it's default Durge, if that counts. If not, Gortash.

Do you have a favourite OC of somebody else's that you fell in love with this year?

Oof, a tough one but I've gotta say that I love @mordymord's Labrys and @popiellart's Wormwood like AIR. Both have some similar traits in a lot of ways, being lean, clever demigods, but both are also so distinct. I don't think I've read any other characters like them. There's SO many good Durges but I fell for both of these fic-first.

Which fic that you've read has been the most popular?

Probably @aliquistis' excellent Gale/Tav fic Witch Ways, which has one of my other favourite OCs. Echo is excellent, and the fic is SO well done. No wonder it has 25k hits!

Which fic has been your hidden gem that you think deserves a wider readership?

I can't choose one, so have three: I'm coming around all of your houses with print outs of Intimate Connection by @plethomacademia because it deserves a HUGE readership. I think Concentration (a moment's silence) by @smoreofbabylon (and all of 'smore's fics) are just excellent. And please, read @des-no9 the one who bleeds, it's fucking beautiful.

Was there a fic you read that was completely out of your comfort zone, but you absolutely loved?

Loook I'm not a monsterfucker but. Also! I'd say that Subjugation by @say-lene is not my usual dynamic but I ADORED it. And I loved Voyeur which again was not something I'd ordinarily reach for but I think @rowanisawriter is SUCH a talented writer, I gobble up everything.

Is there a piece of description from a fic that you particularly loved?

this from FIRE WALK WITH ME by @todderwodders

Enver suspects his parents do not fully appreciate that she is a middleman. Her eyes, wine dark as they were, and her fine, perfectly kept curls may be charming, but there is an air of servant that comes clear as she speaks in winding language that seems intent on sewing confusion. No patriar or lord would sit down to a cobbler’s dinner. No patriar or lord would deny themselves a drink, or read paperwork aloud to lay people. This wine dark woman is a warlock, and he roughly knows the vague mechanics of warlocks in the makings of a deal with someone of more importance and as a result benefiting in magic and boons. That she should be as she is makes a kind of sense, then. That interests him, draws him in, even as his mother has that glazed look she always gets when she only half cares to listen to what people say to her. She has counted and recounted coin, measuring and remeasuring where it is all meant to go on her abacus. Sometimes he suspects her mind wanders without permission if she is not kept busy. Often, she comes back to the present sharply, eager to needle endlessly over past slights or gossip, over the current conversation. He wants to explain things to her in a clearer way that she will listen to, to ask questions of this dedicated warlock where she numbly nods along. 

Is there a piece of dialogue from a fic that has stayed with you?

Listen I sometimes find myself doing everyday life things and stopping and thinking about this exchange from The Dark Urge sleeps alone by @popiellart

"You remind me of my sister."

"What's a sister?" Lae'zel demands breathily, and drops her hips down, spearing herself on him without hesitation, drawing a desirous, possessive growl from his draconic muzzle.

His eyes, half-lidded with hunger, have that foggy, far-away look that vexes others, but she doesn't mind.

He is living, yawning death on the battlefield, his scales turning regal crimson whenever he's bathed in blood, and when he violently grips her and slams her down on the crumbling altar, bruising her back and cracking this font of worship to some dusty, dead god with the roaring fire of their living, he is a dragon red enough for her.

"I don't know," he admits, finally. "Something sharp, I think."

What was your overall most read type of fic in 2023? Were there tropes you particularly loved? A pairing that you adored?

Dark as shit Dark Urge fic. GOD the fandom has just taken all of the little strands given by Larian and run with them. The endless invention, expression, interpretation of the fans has been extraordinary. I love you guys. Never change. Keep weird.

What would you like to read in 2024 if you could wave a wand and get exactly what you wanted?

More Jaheira/Halsin. Just ANYTHING I am desperate for more of this.

Something with Wyll/Karlach which is very, very sexy and very queer. Top Karlach! More t4t!

More Gale/Lae'zel that reaaaally leans into her alien qualities honestly. I love this ship and might start writing it.

Filthy, filthy Ketheric stuff. FUCK THAT MAN TO DUST.

[sunkissedsamurai]

Pinterest Aesthetic Challenge

For Edranna, my all time OC and FF14 wol!

Let's do some tagging: @castleschrade, @endren09, @ivoryvee, @catsolas, @imadvamain, @aliquistis, @magesupremacy and anyone else who wishes to do this!

Big thanks to @shroudkeeper for the tag!

[beewiildered]

commission for @aliquistis !

[silversiren1101]

Tagged by @aliquistis and @cassynite (omg thank you guys) for the last sentence challenge.

"RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence."

This will probably be two sentences once I go through revisions since this is just a draft but

He cast one last gaze down the hall where Trever had gone, carrying Minovae in his arms—one broken Hellknight cradling the body of another—and wondered mournfully if there was any other fate for those that donned that blackened armor.

Now I am NOT tagging that many people (god can you imagine like I know that many writers) but I'll give a good tag spray: @dujour13 @dogsjaw @iaspideus @dmagedgoods @baneschosen @turbulentpumpkin43 @three-of-crows @rollofleaf @starlightcleric @camelliagwerm

Tag yourself if I didn't tag you!

[eeldritchblast]

Big recommendation for Aliquistis, say_lene, witchadjacent, vashnoi, lilith_morgana and rowanisawriter over on ao3 for a mix of tavs and durges with origin characters. Largely Gale and Astarion with a bit of Halsin thrown in.

(For self plug, I have some Gale x Tav buried in the durgetash)

Thanks for the recs!

[bg3zine]

🗡️Contributor Spotlight🗡️

Today, we wanted to spotlight one of our talented scholars, @aliquistis! Amber is going to create a stunning story about our journey and we can't wait to show it to you all!

[intothestacks]

See?

@aliquistis knows what's up.

Children's librarian here: This is, in fact, 100% the kind of question I'd expect from a kid Matilda's age.

[fictionfavs]

Saving it here so I can read it later

[catsolas]

Fic Wrap-Up Meme 2022

Tagged by @Aliquistis! <3

WORDS PUBLISHED: 41,079

FANDOMS: FFXIV

3 FANFICS WITH THE MOST KUDOS IN 2022

Encore - 102

Spirits Without - 15

Apotheosis - 13

FAVORITE OPENING LINE FROM A FIC IN 2022

From a short chapter in my FFXIV Write 2022 prompt responses:

“The moon is falling.

Briony Del can do nothing about it.”

this opening had been haunting me for a while, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to make out of it until I threw something together for an extra credit day.

FAVORITE CLOSING LINE FROM A FIC IN 2022

From a little origin story for my WoL Briony, from the perspective of her mother:

“If they could stay this way forever. If she could press this moment against her heart and safekeep it through all the turnings of her soul—

If the gods would grant her just one miracle, this would be it.

“I know,” she said again, and closed her eyes to better hear their laughter on the wind.”

FIC I’M MOST PROUD OF IN 2022

Encore for sure, though technically I started it in 2021 etc etc. Even though it started as a one-off chapter, it ended up being one of those rare things where I had an idea of where I wanted to take the story from point A to B to C, stuck to the plan, and was satisfied with the execution. Writing it honestly helped me process my grief after my divorce as well – I’m also guilty of being a sentimental fool who is afraid of letting things end or change, and this story helped me to see the beauty in endings and transformations. Outside of being my first fanfic in years, working on Encore helped me grow and reflect irl.

NEW THINGS I TRIED IN 2022

I played with a lot of different tenses and POVs – obviously 2nd person has become a favorite of mine after previously never using it EVER (except perhaps in the olden days of Quizilla??). I’ve become a lot more comfortable with trying out different narration styles to see what fits the work best, and even if I end up returning to 3rd person past tense, I always feel like I come in with a better idea of the character voices after doing those little exercises.

I’ve also been involved with fandom for the first time since I dunno…Dragon Age, and it’s been really wonderful to meet and engage with so many passionate creators. It’ll always be incredible to me how people from across the world can share the same deep feelings about stories and characters – that shared experience of humanity is so special wherever you find it!!

GOALS FOR 2023

I’d like to write the long fic I intended to do for this year’s FFXIV BB, so I’ll keep the idea close to the chest for now in case I use it for next year’s challenge. Basically, if I write anymore FFXIV fanfic, I want to keep focusing on characters that I feel like haven’t gotten enough love, or to explore specific stories in ways I haven’t seen as often by the fandom in general. I have a bunch of personal projects I want to work on as well and those would take precedence lol, but if I feel like my voice can add something different to the mix then I’d like to put my thoughts out there, and hopefully they reach people who feel the same way or have been looking for the same things as me. And, of course, I’d love to participate in a zine again – these community projects have felt like the most fulfilling group projects ever :’)

Tagging any friends who wanna talk about their fics! ;)

[bharv]

So @ohmypawsandwhiskers tagged me in the last sentence challenge! RULES: Post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic / original / anything) and tag as many people as there are words in the sentence.

For once, luckily, I don’t have a run on sentence:

“Her first taste of magic was the touch of a man.”

11 people. It could have been like 36!

So tagging @smoreofbabylon @thievinghippo @senseandaccountability @rowanisawriter @mythrae @aliquistis @vitanithepure @anoras @habit @flymm @flymmcargo

[dujour13]

I'll also ask 28 and 29 as well then for the fanfic asks ✨

Thanks again Milk! There should be asks like these for artists too...🥰

28. longest fic you read this year

I’m going to talk up the three longest fics I read this year because I love them so much:

My Lovely Husband Part II The Master Warlock by @undyingembers (59k) PWOTR crossover – I’ve been following the post-game adventures of Lenarius/Leonosa and family with delight

Left of Heaven by @aliquistis (150k) PWOTR – wonderfully written slow-burn Lann romance

Follow You by @arendaes (200k) PWOTR – fantastic Daeran romance starring Ariadne, one of my favorite OCs of all time

29. shortest fic you read this year

A gift that has a special place in my heart: Liars by @dmagedgoods (518 words). Reread it a couple weeks ago and cried like a baby again.

[bharv]

So here’s a couple of fic recs for some stuff with very strongly drawn original characters in BG3 that I’ve particularly enjoyed recently - I’m probably forgetting some as there’s some great stuff happening. It’s gonna be a lot of Gale stuff…

Dawn, come again by an anonymous author is Gale and a Druid called Merrill, who is definitely a match for him in intellect and is probably a tad bit wiser than him, too.

Witch Ways by Aliquistis is another Gale fic with Echo, who is very much a foil for him - as described, she is a mushroom hermit and is delightful and odd. I warmed to her very quickly.

You’ve been on your way (please stay) by transjarlaxe is another Gale romance. Kaine is a menace. In the best way.

Blaze me a Sun by Lillith Morgana. Astarion and Elnys, another soul seeking survival. You knew this would be here, read all the fics.

Night Hunt by Wheelies4urFeelies is a spicy Lae’zel and Bor, a not so bright himbo. I don’t think I’ve ever read a character like him, I really enjoyed their dynamic.

[dujour13]

Fic Wrap-Up Meme 2022

Thanks for the tag @turbulentpumpkin43!! 🥰

WORDS PUBLISHED - 127,445

FANDOMS - Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Pathfinder: Kingmaker

3 FANFICS WITH THE MOST KUDOS IN 2022

The Lark and the Crow (38)

Hollow (15)

Fallen (11)

FAVOURITE OPENING LINE FROM A FIC IN 2022

“…so we talked the dumb dwarf into carrying it. Boy, he had no idea what was in that sack.” from Hollow

FAVOURITE CLOSING LINE FROM A FIC IN 2022

“Woljif couldn’t stop smiling, his tail whipping in anticipation. Fresh air in my lungs and cobbles under my boots. But at last, no longer alone.” From The Lark and the Crow

FIC I'M MOST PROUD OF IN 2022

The Lark and the Crow! Very first fic uploaded to AO3. Started as a couple vignettes and ended up 115,000 words. It’s treacly and weird and I’m absurdly proud of it, like a little kid with a fingerpainting. Lovingly magneted to my heart’s fridge forever. ❤️

NEW THINGS I HAVE TRIED IN 2022

Joined AO3 in June 2022 so everything’s new about putting my writing out there.

The big victory was slapping down that little gremlin in my head that says things like:

“You can’t write action/battle scenes, it’s boring! You can’t write an Abyssal sea shanty, that’s dumb! You can’t write smut, what if someone sees it!”

GOALS FOR 2023

To keep writing, even when my black hole job starts back up next week.

I have some ideas for a post-Fifth Crusade / ascension ending fic I thought would be impossible to write until a week ago – some plot to iron out and then it might happen. It’s a lot more ambitious than writing through a game story, so a worthy challenge.

Tagging @spyridonya, @silversiren1101, @aliquistis and anyone who wants – consider yourself tagged!