#am I thinking of an au of this au where brienne and jaime are wed but he keeps his distance because of his sister?

[ddagent]

Yes,please write about Jaime falling down the stairs while trying to seduce Brienne

"Your Grace, may I walk with you for a spell?”

Queen Brienne, first of her name, spun on her heel. Her forehead wrinkled rather unattractively as she realised who had called upon her; smoothing quickly in an attempt to appear polite to Tywin Lannister’s son. “If you must, Ser Jaime.” 

“Thank you, Your Grace.” 

He came alongside the Queen and offered his arm. It was customary, gentlemanly, despite the woman wearing breeches and a blade who had seen as much blood as his own, if not more. Jaw jutting forward, Queen Brienne took his arm with a barely concealed huff. She was rather unlike the young ladies who had been foisted upon him at Casterly Rock. Still, no matter her faults, she was to become his bride if Jaime’s father had any say in it. 

Well, he didn’t. Which was why he had sent Jaime to King’s Landing to seduce the young Queen. 

Unfortunately, the Lannister machinations were not going according to plan. “Your Grace, I wish to apologise for our first meeting. I know I didn’t paint myself in the greatest of lights—”

“—you stared. Practically laughed.”

Jaime tried to recall Tyrion’s scroll that had arrived earlier that day. He caught the Queen’s eye, as instructed. Not a bad place to look. “I did not wish to mock you, Your Grace. I was simply overwhelmed by your beauty.” 

This time it was the Queen who laughed. “Do you think me blind, Ser Jaime?” 

“No, Your Grace. If you were, your prowess in battle would be even more legendary than it is.” 

“Ugh.” The Queen wrenched her arm from him and gave him a sharp shove backwards. “Stop, Ser Jaime. Please.” 

He cleared his throat, trying desperately to right this situation. “Your Grace, if I have caused offence—”

“—you’re lying to me, Ser Jaime.” Those blue eyes of hers were suddenly ice; Jaime felt a chill despite the summer air. “Ser Jaime, you are by far the most handsome man I have ever seen. I am ugly, monstrously so, with three failed betrothals to go along with my many victories. I do not know why you are so hellsbent on forcing our acquaintance, but I beg of you to stop. Or, at the very least, be honest.”

With a flick of her cloak, Queen Brienne stormed off. Fuck. He was completely, overwhelmingly out of his depth. In his nineteen years, he had never once seduced a woman. No handmaidens, no serving wenches, no daughters of his father’s bannermen. Just his sister, but in truth, she had seduced him. He didn’t think sneaking into the Queen’s room in the middle of the night and removing his clothes was the right path to take. 

But he had to try something. He couldn’t return to Casterly Rock without being the Prince Consort. He couldn’t hold his sweet sister until he wed Queen Brienne in the Great Sept of Baelor. 

Fucking fuck. “Your Grace!”

Jaime jogged after Queen Brienne, hoping to reach her and spew some more of the sentimental drivel he had been sent by raven. He caught a glimpse of white-blonde hair ducking through a small entryway hidden by bushes. He followed, realising far too late that the entryway led to a staircase. Jaime tripped, and toppled down multiple steps. He tried his best to protect his head; the stabbing pain in his chest telling him he had suffered at least a broken rib. In seconds, he reached the ground. 

He coughed against the dirt. “Fuck.”

“Call for a Maester!” 

Jaime heard the patter of running feet, and then two gentle hands were turning him onto his back. One brushed the hair from his face. He blinked; the image in front of him settling quickly. The Queen. Brow furrowed; blue eyes soft. Oh, and her hands were so gentle. He couldn’t recall if anyone had touched him so tenderly before. 

She held a number of fingers in front of his face. “How many fingers can you see, Ser Jaime?” 

“You’re bloody ugly,” he coughed, head spinning. “But good men would go to war for your eyes.” 

And that smile, too. It was probably the head injury, but he’d fight an army to see that smile again. 

[kiraziwrites]

j/b 2021 fic exchange recs

Okay, reveals are almost upon us and I’ve read half or fewer of the exchange fics, but here are my favorites—from the main collection, I’ll do another post for Lil Oathkeepers—so far. There’s a lot of great stuff out there, but some of these are not getting nearly as much attention as they deserve, so don’t sleep on:

something different

My utterly GLORIOUS and PERFECT gift fic, which is, among other things, a brilliant character study of Brienne’s gender feels, a post-canon reconciliation fix-it that made me sigh with emotion, and a tour-de-force of the best kind of scorching hot smut—the kind that uses the sex to illuminate and expand our understanding of the people having it and the relationship between them. And there’s pegging, to boot. I have been so blessed!

show me where your skin begins

I do not even know where to BEGIN describing this incredible enemies-to-lovers space AU with bonus extremely hot-and-tender bondage. I would read a whole novel set in this universe; the worldbuilding is rich and the plot is compelling and the romance hits all my favorite notes for these two and did I mention it’s also incredibly hot? and tender? tl;dr I am in awe and have publicly challenged the author to a duel.

in the dark, i thought i saw you

A beautifully angsty S7 canon divergence where the sept explosion is the breaking point for Jaime, and both he and Brienne end up in King’s Landing afterwards as captives of a slowly crumbling Cersei, who in turn finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Brienne. The J/B arc is wonderful, but but the great achievement here is one of the best takes on Cersei I've ever read. 

electric boogaloo

An unusual fantasy AU with stunning worldbuilding, clever structure, and some lovely, vigorous prose—plus the atmosphere between Brienne and Jaime is quite literally electric.

Respect

This is a story about how much Jaime enjoys watching Brienne beat the crap out of men who don’t respect her—a premise I naturally find delightful—but it’s also a striking bit of character work, and the writing is excellent.

Second Hand News

I’ve always wanted more fic focusing on how Jaime and Brienne’s relationship developed in the journey from Harrenhal back to King’s Landing, and this missing scene focused on how they react to the news of the Red Wedding really delivers—it’s sad and tender and evokes their growing intimacy beautifully.

however long the night, the dawn will break again

A short but surprisingly capacious story of Jaime and Brienne as undercover agents in a wartime occupied Westeros—I’m astonished by how much story this manages to fit into 3.5K words, and it’s vivid and hot and full of yearning.

safe

A very sexy, exquisitely-written, exes-to-lovers TRAIN HEIST story, with loads of competence kink and a compressed slow burn that finally ignites to exhilarating effect. Just delightful, and I loved the bonus introduction to safecracking 101.

Ding Dong Ditch, Baby

An accidental baby acquisition—the baby is of the nephew variety—fic that delivers both hilarious hijinks and surprising emotional depths. this feels like a classic screwball comedy, but also the beginning of a tender romance.

ain’t no one in this room alone

You might not think a Ted Lasso/Game of Thrones crossover could work, but this story is here to prove you as wrong as anyone who ever doubted a Ted, or a Brienne (and it’s very funny to boot, with some delightfully clever choices made in meshing these worlds together).

with all the years between us 

I SWORE I wasn’t going to start reading this while it was still a WIP, despite the premise being basically catnip to me—a S8 fixit with slow reconciliation and political marriage and complicated family dynamics—but I gave in and inhaled all of the existing chapters today. It’s even better than I’d hoped.

[brynnmck]

J/B Exchange 2021 recs, part 1

I have so many fics left to read but before reveals for @jaime-brienne-fic-exchange, I just wanted to make a quick recs list for a few of the ones I’ve read so far that I think could use a little more love than they were getting at the time I read them:

electric boogaloo (11K, rated T) - My gift fic!! I’m glad to see this making the rounds on some rec lists but I still want MOAR PEOPLE to shower it with love, so. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend it!! The worldbuilding is wonderful, it’s swoony romantic with some nice bite for contrast, the prose is gorgeous, the character details are so smart and flail-inducing, and there is a MASQUERADE and DANCING and STARGAZING and YEARNING and ANTI-CAPITALISM and I love it very very much.

Second Hand News (6K, rated T) -  A wonderful missing slice of canon where Jaime hears about the Red Wedding and has to pass the news to Brienne. Jaime is an excellent combination of snarky and protective and self-deluding, and Brienne is so brave and also protective and forthright and forgiving, and there's bed-sharing, and it's lovely.

right here, forever (5K, rated M) - An AU of The Martian! It’s SO inconvenient when you get trapped on Mars with your ex. :D I love how both their skillsets (and the way they complement each other) get highlighted here, how their history appears in bits and pieces and sketches. There's also delightful wry banter and so many simmering feelings and a nice little punch of heat, too. This packs a lot into a small space! (Well, okay, the actual space space is very big. But YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.)

Meet Me Cute (3.7K, rated T) - An adorable modern AU where Jaime and Brienne are bodyguards for Margaery and Sansa, who have their rom-com meet-cute and fall in love while Jaime and Brienne look on. The Margaery/Sansa is a particular treat, including their different approaches to get Jaime and Brienne to admit their feelings, and their affectionate/frustrated outsider POV made me giggle SO MUCH. 

safe (11K, rated E) - TRAIN HEIST AU. This was such a fun read, with great character notes and some beautiful prose and competence kink galore and simmering tension the whole way through. And VERY hot, too. Whew.

let me crawl inside your veins (7K, rated E) -  A very sweet and a little sad first time on the way to confront Lady Stoneheart. The trust between them is so palpable and the whole fic is very gentle even in the more difficult parts. Warm-fuzzies and heat with some nice achy bits for seasoning.

In the woods dark and deep (5K, rated T) -  A candiv featuring a different way Jaime and Brienne could have come to trust each other on the way to King's Landing; it features good atmosphere and tense action and Jaime and Brienne both being brave and honorable, my heart!

one good honest kiss (7K, rated T) -  A sweet canon AU where Jaime and Brienne meet and bond and then part as younger kids, then meet again later. I am SUCH a sucker for that format--I love the way they meet in canon, but I also love the idea of them meeting for the first time before they have quite so much weight on them--AND there’s a masquerade in this one too, and watching their relationship develop is lovely. 

[sdwolfpup]

I have finished reading all of the Smut Swap fics!! I’ve still got Summer Exchange fics to finish (not to mention at least half, if not more, of the chillfest), so I’m feeling accomplished for once. Heh. Anyway, here is my list of recs. Just short blurbs for each one because there’s a lot of these so it will be long as it is. In no particular order except very vaguely the order I read them in and even then I did some jumping around.

Thrust Exercises - canon AU where Jaime and Brienne have known each other for a long time because Selwyn brought him to Evenfall. It’s their wedding night, and Jaime Has A Plan to make sure his new, eager wife enjoys their bedding. The smut is hot but what especially sticks out to me is how full of AFFECTION this fic and the characters are. It’s a wonderful mix.

Second Chances - modern AU, Jaime/Brienne/Addam. Brienne and Jaime are happily together, Jaime and Addam have a history of casual hookups, and this time they want Brienne to join. She is more than happy to do so. Great history between all three, incredible sexual tension, and Brienne is an active and eager participant in this delightful trio.

Diplomatic Relations - post-canon where Jaime and Brienne are very happily married and go around Westeros (for work) having noisy sex (for pleasure). A really fun and very sexy read. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Nights Avoiding Things Unholy - modern AU where Jaime and Brienne had an unexpected hook-up in the breakroom at work and now three weeks later, they’ve barely even talked. At a work event, they spark against each other until they catch fire in a scorching-hot scene in an empty office. The imagery is...A LOT. And even with all the heat (of which there is PLENTY), it’s clear there’s more simmering under the surface for these two. I hope the author is considering a sequel. And a prequel. I’m open to all the -quels for this.

what is dark in me illumine - modern AU where Brienne is an ethics professor (!!!!) and Jaime is a demon exiled to earth (!!!!) and their sexual tension is U N R E A L. There is a scene in this fic that is in, as I have dubbed it, the Horny Trinity of JB scenes. (The scene from Astolat’s Pretty where he rubs his thumb down his cock is the second, and the third part of the trinity is in the next fic in this list!) This fic is bananas good -- the world-building is incredible, the language is fantastic, and the sex is incendiary. Jaime and Brienne’s joy in each other comes through so strongly, too. I cannot throw enough superlatives on this boat. I would also love to read more of this in whatever form the author would provide.

Hush - modern AU where Brienne is a researcher in the far, cold North (think the Arctic) and Jaime is a pilot and they have lots of INDESCRIBABLY HOT SEX. This is the third leg of my Horny Trinity, and it involves a blowjob and a belt and it made my life a little better having read it. As with the other recs in this list, the sex is amazing but the connection is superb. They clearly adore each other, beyond just the physical attraction, and I found myself smiling a number of times. (Count this as a third request for more of this universe.)

Apart, Together, Together Apart - post-canon fic where Jaime is in the Kingsguard to protect Tommen and Brienne is the Evenstar. They’re lovers, separated by distance and duty, and Jaime is visiting Tarth for seven days. They make the most of it. I have thought about this fic SO MUCH since I read it; I’ve been keeping myself from re-reading since I wanted to finish a first run through, but now that I have I think this might be my first. Each day is so lovingly handled, not just with sex (which they don’t have every day), but their quiet joy and devotion to each other. This fic is full of tenderness and a little melancholy and a lot of love.

Can’t Get Close Enough (To You) - This is a modern AU where Jaime and Brienne are a happy couple invited to vacation with their friends, and when Brienne has a surprise for Jaime on their last day, things get a little out of hand in a VERY sexy way. The characters are so cute in this, and their connection is so clear, and the ending is really fun. I can’t believe this is the author’s first fic; it’s a fantastic start. I’ll never let you go (if you promise not to fade away) - This is a space AU where Jaime and Cersei are alone on a ship in the galaxy and they bring mechanic Brienne onboard. JBC is a trickly threesome to make work, especially when Jaime and Cersei are still twins, but using Cersei as the narrator and emotional throughline here works unbelievably well. Every part of the triangle gets time, and Brienne becomes a way for Jaime and Cersei to even work out their complicated relationship without feeling like she’s just filler; they both adore her and for good reason.  This fic is only 2.5k and yet it does SO MUCH. It’s incredibly good.

Getting Lost In You - modern AU where Jaime and Brienne are a wonderfully happy couple who are spending a lazy Sunday morning in bed. This is almost entirely sex, but the history and love between them are so rich, it adds a wonderful dimension to this fic. The whole thing has a delightful, hot glow.

Today Will Die Tomorrow - canon AU (or I suppose post-ADWD canon!) where Jaime and Brienne come together just before the Long Night. The author uses jumping back and forth in time to parcel out the moments of intense hotness and sweetness in a perfect mix. Their language is gorgeous, there are some beautiful emotional punches scattered throughout, and the sex is fun AND tender AND sexy.

we used to wait - modern AU where Jaime and Brienne are in Harrenhal on the same negotiations but for different companies. This author’s style is FANTASTIC the descriptions are spare but so vivid, the feelings are restrained but so intense, the sex is so hot and so emotional. A truly marvelous story.

The Waters and the Wild - modern AU where Jaime is a prince and Brienne is in his Kingsguard. They crash and have to walk their way to safety. The author gives us hints of their backstory as we go - they knew each other in the armed forces, they had a super hot affair - and we get to see them realizing that all of the weight of those feelings are still there, waiting to be acted on. Good thing they’re alone together for a few days. The waterfall scene in this is VERY GOOD.

And! I’ve already rec’d this once but it’s well worth doing it again: the fic written for me, Good Night, My Love. A modern AU where Jaime and Brienne are camping, and we discover they’ve had sex once before and now are in a tense, desperate limbo about where to go from here. Jaime is besotted with this Brienne and so am I, and the way they slowly circle around and into each other through each of the nights is so lovely. I adore this story!

[virareve]

Jaime x Brienne Fic Exchange Recommendations

The time to cram has come! T-minus 12 or so hours until the author reveals so I thought I’d make a little plug for some stories I enjoyed that came out of the @jaime-brienne-fic-exchange

First off, I am VERY behind on reading the collection. I received a concussion around the time that the fics came out so my reading has been limited first by the light sensitivity, then the work catch-up in week 2 ( I had to take off work due to the concussion), and now me on short weekend vacation (yay!). I’ve perhaps touched thirty fics at this point (I still have to get to my gift fic which was posted today :D ) so this is by no means a whole evaluation of what’s been put out. The whole collection has been extremely high quality and I hope to come back later and post some more recs. I thank the mods for taking the time to wrangle with keeping this so organized. It’s been a blast.

Modern AU:

Man With a Heartbeat  You’ve likely seen this story come up in recs a million times but it’s Just. That. Good. With a unique writing style, and a cast of characters that includes some cameos by some personal book faves (minor as they are), this one is sure to sweep you off your feet with it’s very different take. I mean...antique dealers? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fanfic touch on this before and I was 100% here for this. Also Brienne was highly relatable lol.  Lesson Learned: ALWAYS plan your proposals or at least make sure the desire for marriage is clearly communicated and understood between both parties. #rip

To a Distant Stranger Jaime is super hot rocker who runs into Brienne again and again and again, despite her attempts to create distance between them after their implied (crazy off the charts, soul-mate inducing chemistry) hook-ups. Eventually he drops his rocker life and takes up as a bartender and true lurvvvveeee blossoms. :D  Lesson Learned: No bartender experience is needed when the course of true love doesn’t run smooth.

all these people think love’s for show (but I would die for you in secret) The author wouldn’t know this but the majority of my first bookmarked fics on AO3 were spy AUs. This sexy piece hit a very weak point for me since spies and schmexyness makes me go weak in the knees. (Also this title is prob my fave line from my fave TS song, did Author have to go so hard at me like that? It was a double whammy T.T) Jaime and Brienne are BRIMMING with sexual tension and from the first meeting I was already sitting on the edge of my seating thinking “Now kiss!” The author makes it worth it with some very bonding, emotional adventures that make the payoff feel so worth it. 

if one thing had been different (would everything be different?) I just adore the premise that Jaime is Brienne’s landlord here. Lots of sexiness going on and feels where Jaime’s been nursing a crush for one LONG hot minute (read: several years) on B and our girl is sure he’s been bullying her FOREVER (tbr Jaime’s flirting isn’t as clear cut as the boy would like to believe)

Just as Sweet (just as thorny)  OOOHHH this had me feeling many things because I just wanted Jaime and Brienne to be in love but man, many feelings having to be sorted out since Jaime and Brienne met and developed feelings under the cover of Jaime’s fake persona. Selwyn Tarth also makes a fun cameo that helps Jaime’s chance at making it with his girl and Brienne’s life at the end of the story is on the up and up (romantic relationship aside. Did I mentioned I love spy AUs? This read is a MUST.

My Best Friend’s Wedding Brienne hires a professional party date who is (of course) our man JamLan. I have a huge weakness for fake relationships so this just knocked me down after all the spy AUs I read from the exchange. It’s all the parts you love about the movie The Wedding Date and more. The fic also gave me a lot of feelings about one of my favorite places in the world Mackinac island which I was delighted to find out in the AN actually served as a source of inspiration for this fic. :D

Backpfeifengesicht I know you’ve seen this recc-ed before so I’m going to say that what everyone says is accurate. It’s funny, it’s sexy and the friendships are top notch. I’m personally rather proud that I posited a question about the type of table mentioned in this fic and sparking a discussion that descended into who the author might be based on height of various authors around the fandom. Yes, I will take credit for that madness XD 

The Knight and the Thief Cat Burglar AU. There’s a bunch of sneaking around here that hit’s me the same way as it does with Spy AUs. Of course Jaime wins the day with his biggest steal yet, one sapphire-eyed wench. 

The One That Got Away Jaime and Brienne meet in College after knowing each other in high school. Reading Jaime try and fail to convince Brienne of his affection was a humorous trial and half. Favorite line in this fic: “You’re not just the one that got away. You’re the one. Period.” A very swoon worthy story that builds up perfectly. 100% worth the read!

Jaime, Brienne, and the Bachelor Party on Wheels Having attended uni in a college town where partying was the main event, seeing these bicycle drinking carts was a common occurrence and I knew as soon as I saw the title, this fic was going to be a must read for me. Jaime and Ygritte as good friends was the friendship I didn’t know I needed and I am totally taking notes now to put it in fic at some point. There’s a lot of rowing references I wasn’t familiar with but all the innuendos were very clear in their intentions. ;)

Book Canon AU:

A Matter of Honor Oh man this one is sexy as hell. This fic delves into ‘what if the Tarth’s were the wealthy noble house with royal favor and the Lannisters were the disrupted, down-on-their-luck Lords Paramount?’ A lot of fun is involved in this battle of wills, whether it’s Brienne, deciding to stick by her vow to marry despite her reservations about her husband-to-be,  Selwyn Tarth, trying to convince to break her betrothal, or Jaime, trying to decide if maybe he actually is into his potential new wife. There is so much fun and sexiness here that I couldn’t get enough. I may have also read this three times...XD

A Wench’s Kiss Have I ever mentioned how much I love a clearly communicated  sex scene where both parties involved know each other’s needs? Well you do now! While the roles here are clearly defined as to who is who in this Dom&Sub role-play dynamic, it is very clear that every action done is done as communicated by the partners preferences and needs. 

Other AU

Brienne Tarth and the Quest for the Lost Swords  Brienne is Indiana Jones and Jaime is the Nazi lady from movie three with a better heart and better intentions (in the end). Fortunately, the end for these two is much better then it was for Indy and his doomed lady love (Jk I was always team Marion but stillll). 

[swordmaid]

Any jb headcanons about your eros/phyche au?

OH I have so many !!!

• the way that cersei!aphrodite heard about a mortal that’s supposed to have a beauty that exceeds hers is through gossip. after ronnet left tarth, the nickname ‘brienne the beauty’ spread throughout the land to the point where the mocking nature got twisted, and people really believed the most beautiful woman in the realm lived in the sapphire isle but few were only allowed to look at her because she was too beautiful.

• bad weather plagued tarth shortly after. the stormbreaker’s bay started claiming more ships, and the storms got worse to the point that it ruined farms and houses. the villagers pleaded the gods for mercy but none were enough to soothe the goddess’ ire. alysanne and arianne blames brienne for upsetting the goddess, and when a seer told selwyn that the only way to get forgiveness is for brienne to marry a hideous creature in the highest hill in harrenhal, they had no problems in sending her out.

• eros!jaime WAS tasked to make brienne fall in love with the creature—a monstrous bear—however, he grew curious and decided to take his time. he watched her from afar and he wondered how she was able to still be kind and good despite withstanding the bitterness of others. when the time comes for her to be wed, he followed her from tarth to harrenhal and at night, he asked the wind god to take her away and hide her in his domain.

• unlike in the original myth, they never consumate UNTIL after her sisters visited her and told her to look upon his face with the candle. besides that, they would spend their evenings talking to each other in the dark and jaime grew more and more intrigued by her. jaime knew love as something carnal, but what he felt towards her was something different entirely so he was intrigued. brienne, on the other hand, had never experienced such kindness in her life. she was thankful for everything he gave her, but she still didn’t trust him because she’s never seen him as they only meet in the dark. a part of her wondered if it’s because he won’t have to see her hideous face this way, and then she wondered if it’s the same for him since she still thinks he’s the hideous creature the gods betrothed her to.

• arianne and alyssane ARE alive in this AU and they DO tell her that she should light the candle and if he is the monster she was meant to marry, they give her a knife made from Ser Galladon’s sword to slay him with. And because J and B only fuck after their visit, they’re the ones who tell Brienne that she should sleep with him so when he’s fast asleep after she can use that opportunity to look upon his face

• which brienne does, and when the wax from the candle spills on him and wakes him up, Jaime realises that Brienne slept with him for THAT reason so it makes the betrayal even more heartbreaking )-:

• brienne DOES perform the three tasks but honestly I can see her doing it all by herself so no talking ants to help her out lool. but I like the interpretation of eros helping her out from the sidelines so jaime is doing that too (-:

• am i thinking that dany is persephone? maybe so !

[shipping-receiving]

Jaime x Brienne Fic Recs: Master Post

LAST UPDATED: 16 August 2020

All the J/B fic recs by yours truly. I am no longer updating this post as I have been doing very little reading and reccing over the past year or so.

Just a note that these are mostly suggestions just to start readers off, it’s not meant to be a comprehensive database. I’ll occasionally add to past answers/lists but part of the fun of reading fic is discovering stories on your own! Here’s a messy AO3 search tips post that might help you out.

All my tagged recs List of asks that could use more recs

SUBSTANTIAL LISTS

Modern AU Part 1

Modern AU Part 2

Slow Burn AU

Canon!verse Endgame(-ish)

Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience

One-Shot Smut

Over 100k words

JB Fic Starter Pack

Parental!JB Part 1

Various bed-sharing scenarios

Brienne disguised as a man + genderswap

Non-modern, non-canon!verse AUs

Modern AU Part 3

AUs based on a gifset by @frucienforever

J/B Investigate!

Fics based on movies

Starter pack for someone who has only watched the show, including S8 fix-its but no modern AUs

Book!Canon master post

J/B Classics

Medium-to-long one-shots

Super soft fics

S8 fix-its

PERSONAL FAVOURITES

My go-tos

My personal list of most beautifully written canon!verse fics

IMO, fics with the Best Jaime / Best Brienne / Best Jaime x Brienne

Best 2019 canon!verse fics (as of mid-2019)

Best 2019 AUs (as of mid-2019)

JB Fav Fics

RESPONSES TO ASKS

Historical/fantasy (including canon!verse) arranged marriage AUs + Regency AUs

Parents/Adoption

Sex worker

High School

Brienne as Evenstar, Jaime goes to Tarth

Canon!verse Pregnancy

Tywin approves of Brienne

Professors

book!Jaime being jealous of Hyle Hunt

Daemons, sort of

Angst

Hogwarts

Jaime keeps his sword hand

Jaime as military strategist / Jaime & Jon

Threesome / Brienne with Jaime’s children / Non-relationship obstacles

jealous/possessive!Brienne: part 1 / part 2

Brienne & Tyrion

Phone Sex (also see comments on post)

doctor!Brienne

Pregnancy angst

Soulmates/soulmarks + more

Brienne has friends! (besides Jaime) / Brienne is BFFs with Sansa

Childhood/teenage friends

Spies? Sort of?

Pegging (also see comments on post)

FWB

Morning after

Fluff

Tending to injuries

Jaime nicknames Brienne something other than “wench”

Spending time in King’s Landing

Age difference + Brienne is still a virgin

Reincarnation

Getting back together after a break-up

Brienne dies

Drinking games/getting drunk (no S8 recs)

more jealous!Jaime (including show!canon and AUs)

Bath sex

Post-bear pit

Exploring J/C as abuse

Jaime jealous of Renly

Sparring

crack!fics

Meeting at tourneys

Jaime being upset about Brienne considering marriage for the sake of Tarth

J/B get married after the war

Jaime is jealous of Oberyn

Scenes in between fighting the Others/Night King

Time travel

Canon divergence before Season 8

Coffee shop

Jane Eyre / Jane Austen / Regency

Funny canon!verse fics

J/B travelling together

J/B choose to get married, Cersei has to deal

Jaime being needy and in love AF

Brienne isn’t a virgin when she gets with Jaime

Modern AUs where Brienne loses her virginity to Jaime

Sports

During Robert’s Rebellion

J/B’s first time around S2/3

No incest, but Cersei’s still... Cersei

Galladon is alive / insecure Jaime

Jaime thinks Brienne died but she’s alive

Jaime jealous of Tormund

non-Tyrion-friendly

Best friends to lovers

Canon!verse but J/B meet as nobles under ‘normal circumstances’

Dirty talking Jaime

UST to explicit RST (AUs)

Outside POV

Politician AU

Post-S8: Brienne moves on / Jaime has to earn her forgiveness

Fake dating

Brienne & Arya

Attending weddings as each other’s dates

J/B’s first time, show or book verse

Armour removal 1 / 2

Angsty masturbation

Jaime & Arya

Meadows of Tarth

J/B fulfil each other’s sexual fantasies

Jaime is insecure about Renly

Jaime crying

Daven Lannister

Jaime gets emotional during sex

Cersei poses a direct threat to Brienne

College AUs

Trial by combat

Cersei survives, Jaime chooses Brienne

Brienne is older than Jaime

Jaime gets to be a parent/parent figure to Myrcella and Tommen

Face-sitting part 1 / part 2

Single-chapter soulmate fics

J/B fics in Spanish

Lannister siblings grow up with two parents

Season 1!Jaime interacting with Brienne

Secret marriage + more

Drinking game

Jaime is a playboy

Tyrion marries Brienne

Everybody coming together to celebrate

Cersei walks in on J/B

Jaime doesn’t relinquish his title/serves on the small council

J/B have kids before falling in love

J/B go to the Wall

Brienne loses her hand

Cersei is supportive

Jaime gets along with Catelyn

Jaime denies his feelings + more

J/B fight side-by-side as a married couple

ghost!Jaime

Brienne gets pregnant out of wedlock but not in S8

Brienne as a lady

J/B as kids

Alternative to S4 White Book scene

Brienne holds her own with Cersei

Jaime courting Brienne

Brienne stands up for Jaime against Cersei

Jaime is brought up on Tarth

Brienne loves Jaime to the point of being self-sacrificing

Jaime kissing Brienne’s rope burns

Jaime seduces Brienne

Jaime starts out very harsh/cruel to Brienne

Modern AUs where they only sleep together after they begin a relationship

Set during the journey to Harrenhal

Pod as a pet

King/Hand/Lord!Jaime

JB act like a couple but are not

Older but still innocent/shy Brienne

Dirty talk

Demisexual!Jaime

Riverrun/tent scene AUs

Outdoor sex

Brienne giving Jaime a blowjob

Mythology AUs

Knighting scene

P&P + Regency AUs

Canon!verse but with no JC incest

Dancers AU

Brienne might be Targaryen

Divorce

JB fighting the odds as a team

Reality TV

Quiet Isle

JB meet before Season 1

Art/artist AUs + Selwyn appearing in modern AUs

Canon!verse fics where Brienne acts like a mother to Pod

Brienne has a tattoo

Brienne is friendless

Halloween

Cersei tries to ruin things

Roommate AUs +1 +2

J and B get together around S2 or 3

Tormund helps J and B get together

Verbal affirmations of love

Jaime being particularly annoying

Arranged marriage; first time happens on wedding night

Angst with a happy ending, minimum fluff

Modern AUs with book!canon elements

[onefenix]

17 Short Fic Recs

I’ve been mostly a fandom lurker for the past five months (since the Game of Thrones Series Finale). Since then I’ve been reading some of the best fanfiction I’ve ever read. I’ve been a part of some very small fandoms before and can say the J/B fandom is lucky to have many very talented writers. I wanted to make a list of my favorite stories so far for J/B Week, but life… so here it is now. I’ll try to be brief (I anticipate I am going to fail at this) and not spoil the stories.

These are all stories with less than 14k words. The division between short and long fics is a bit arbitrary but necessary due to the length of this list. I am sure there are better ways to classify these stories that I may get around to later on.

Sorry in advance for the overuse of words such as beautiful, perfect and spectacular, the Jaime/Brienne fandom writers are that good. Also, English is not my first language, so sorry for any mistakes.

I’ve tagged the authors whose handles on Tumblr I know. If you wish to have your tag removed or added (I’d love to follow you!), let me know.

You can find a long fic rec list here.

41 Nights and a Day by rhye

This one reads like a collection of drabbles, one for each day Jaime and Brienne spent together in Winterfell. It’s lovely and intimate and we get to see them discover everything about each other in this new facet of their relationship.

no sweeter innocence (than our gentle sin) by sameboots @agirlnamedkeith​

This is a short post S8E3 episode one-shot. It’s a story about loss and comfort. Jaime taking care of Brienne and being tender with her always does things for me. This story is poignant, beautiful and much better than what the show gave us in episode 4.

A Whole City Suffers by Mussimm

A Whole City Suffers is a collection of seven post-canon ficlets, one for each of the deadly sins. Each ficlet is a wonderful dip into Jaime’s mind. It is part of a really creative series called Works and Days which include the seven heavenly virtues from Brienne’s POV which is a fantastic companion to this one.

The Stranger Catches Us All by Miss_M @miss-m-calling​

This is a very bitter-sweet short story. Jaime and Brienne’s personalities and loving relationship are perfectly captured in this Post-Canon short story where they worry about their future.

Ball and Chain and Golden and True by Miss_M @miss-m-calling​

These two stories were in my reading list for quite a while. Reading the description only I wasn’t sure I would like, but boy am I glad I decided to give it a shot. In this story, Brienne is a cop who has to arrest and repeatedly interview Jaime Lannister. The level of the uncontrollable, contained sexuality in this is off the charts, but somehow the story manages to also delve into the trust and intimacy between Jaime and Brienne.

Mercy in You by Miss_M @miss-m-calling​

I love a story where Jaime and Brienne are in an established relationship but are still learning to navigate it and eventually, they have to confront those lingering fears and insecurities. That is beautifully handled in this story. The characterization in this piece are fantastic. Miss_M is very true to both Jaime and Brienne’s characters.

A Woman's War by Lady_in_Red @ladyinredfics​

I can’t say a lot about this story without giving away the plot. It is a wonderfully written and moving short piece. The two chapters in this go beautifully together and Jamie's love for Brienne shines through in both of them. Lady_in_Red  manages to pack a lot in, but the story flows quite naturally.

He Wants (he wants) by ShirleyAnn66

This is one is, I believe, the shortest story in this list. However, it does a perfect job depicting Jaime as a character and dissecting all of his flaws and insecurities. I particularly love that the story touches on the book version of his parting with Tyrion.

Catch Me if I Fall by JustAGirl24

I’m starting to think most short stories I love are more than a little sad. This story has a modern setting. It’s angsty but beautifully written. Please heed the warnings before reading. I love that the story doesn’t shy away from describing how a couple copes and manages to get through dark times together.

Spoken to Skin by SandwichesYumYum

This is a Pennytree to Stoneheart one shot. I love how from the very beginning Jaime knows Brienne is lying but his trust in her never waivers. Brienne is quite hurt at this point and Jaime is incredibly soft and tender with her. The tension and intimacy in this piece are superb.

Salt Wife by Lady_in_Red @ladyinredfics​

This is a post ADWD story where Jaime is banished to Casterly Rock with the constant threat of Daenerys’s wrath. The story is perfectly paced and structured. It reads like being inside Brienne’s head and the ending (however bittersweet) never fails to make me smile.

Same Old Auld Lang Syne by Lady_in_Red @ladyinredfics​

I said it in the long fic rec, but I’ll repeat it here: Lady_in_Red is a true MVP. This story has a modern setting. After a  very volatile relationship with Jaime, Brienne seeks stability with Hyle. This story explores where Brienne is almost six years later in a beautiful, heart-wrecking manner. Also, the short glimpses of songwriter!Jaime are to die for.

A Love Song by ozmissage

This one is very angsty. We are in Jaime’s head as Brienne suffers from amnesia. It’s amazing how even with her lack of memories ozmissage’s Brienne feels so in character. This is a very original, moving story. Each sentence hits right in the feels.

the battlefield between us (isn't here tonight) and no war is enough (to keep me from you) by robotsdance

This is late Season 7/Season 8 Secret Marriage AU. It is incredibly romantic and written in the most beautiful style. I’m so on board with this version of events. The wedding could not be more fitting for Jaime and Brienne. Jaime and Brienne being already married in the dragon pit scene? Yes, please. And the knighting scene is absolutely breathtaking. I love that Jaime's feelings for Brienne shine from start to finish.

once it ends (so it begins) by nubbins_for_all

This is probably a post S8E3 story. It is a great exploration of both Jamie/Brienne as a couple and Brienne and Sansa’s friendship. Brienne has to open up and manage to put her feelings into words in order to be there for Sansa. Every little scene between Jaime and Brienne serves a purpose and is beautifully written. The dialogue in this is honest, teasing and funny and it’s a joy to get to see Brienne learn to verbalize her wants and needs and feelings. 

Madness by RoseHeart

This is a Quiet Isle story. It has almost every Jaime I love: worried/caring!Jaime, jealous!Jaime, and exasperated-because-Brienne-doesn’t-see-how-much-he-loves-her!Jaime. The story is very indulging and filled with every trope and post-ADWD hope of any Braime shipper but it is beautifully executed. 

A Keeping of Oaths by lodessa @lodessa​

This is a Season 8 fix-it. This story gives a much more satisfying ending for almost every character. It’s fluffy and hot and funny but still manages to realistically explore Jaime’s feelings of unworthiness. It has some great Bronn, Aunt Genna, Daenerys and Jorah appearances.

[dame-lazarus]

Tagged by @seethemflying — thank you!

rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you’ve brought into the world. tag as many writers/artists/etc as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

Joke’s on all y’all, though, because I only have 5 fics out there, so enjoy this director’s commentary on my entire oeuvre 🤪

1. Lost and Found — I used to not really like modern AUs in this fandom, but now they are all I read and write. This one is my favorite fic I’ve written: narrated by Sansa Stark, backwater oil heiress, it’s the story of her rescue after being kidnapped by Petyr Baelish and her slowly-going-off-the-deep-end mother. Operation Qarthi Freedom vet Jaime and champion biathlete Brienne meet (reluctantly) on a dating app, and on the second date, Jaime tries to impress her by taking her out in his private plane. It fails: Jaime crashes the plane in the Riverlands and they are rescued by the Brotherhood without Banners—a cult with whom Sansa has been living this whole time. This came together from two separate prompt ideas, and I am very proud of the result. It was so much fun to write: the juicy darkness of the modern iterations of LSH and the Brotherhood; the transposing of different US regions onto Westeros; the hilarity of modern J/B in the Riverlands; and hearing Sansa’s sassy commentary on it all. Plus I got to use all my esoteric cult knowledge! I do love putting Jaime with religious extremists; he just laughs in their face, and my teenage self is delighted.

2) The Red Thread — a post-season 8 AU and my first fic in the fandom. Jaime survives the collapsing of the Red Keep by accidentally time traveling to the future, where various people send him on a quest and he has to deal with facing Brienne and the world he left behind. It is a canonverse AU loosely inspired by the Netflix show Dark, where people time travel through mystical caves and have to deal with the fact that time is unchangeable, despite how much they want to be able to fix terrible things in their lives. (If you know Dark you know I GREATLY simplified the weirdness of this show.) I originally had this fix-it idea where Jaime ended up in Essos raising his son by Cersei after she died in childbirth, and then when the son was a teenager, they stumbled upon another teen who looked like Cersei, claiming to be his kidnapped niece, sending him on a path back to Westeros. The son got cut, and time travel got added; last fall/summer there were a number of fics where Jaime and/or Jon gets sent back in time to do it all over again, and I remember thinking that if they had seen Dark they would know it was futile! I am very smug at my cleverness at sneaking in snark at the show, Jaime snark at the ridiculousness of his circumstances, and iconic Dark lines/images in a Westeros setting. The shipper in me enjoyed exploring a J/B reunion with a time gap for Brienne only—they are both amazed at the second chance and just need to work themselves up to it. I also cannot! believe! I finished it!

3) Loyalty — another LSH modern AU, though this time with the worst possible outcome. Brienne and Jaime are on opposite sides of an organized-crime-family-feud conflict and he is coerced into becoming a double agent, which he secretly feels is the right thing to do. He falls for Brienne, but knows he won’t survive the circumstances. This story was inspired by a scene from the book Say Nothing, about the IRA’s Disappeared. Dolours Price was responsible for driving people to their execution; she recounts being devastated when she had to take her good friend to die and they both went through with it (in part because of their devotion to the cause and in part because not doing it would be worse.)

4) Meet Cute — this is a metafic about two people who meet on a neighborhood watch app and transition from enemies to lovers by flirting in Game of Thrones jokes. I liked the idea of exploring how pop culture brings people together; academics and pundits always talk about how sad it is that all our relationships are mediated by mass culture and digital technology, but there is a lot of joy to be found in it too.

5) Tamed — Jaime and Brienne receive a mysterious lion as a wedding gift, and hilarity ensues. This fic is short and fluffy but it had me giggling maniacally the whole time I wrote it. I love Lannister humor. I think this is the most fun I have had writing anything.

Tagged: @djeli-beybi @scoundrels-in-love @robotsdance @nire-the-mithridatist @kurikaesu-haru @tawktomahawk

[ajoblotofjunk]

Top 7 Comfort Movies

As tagged by @pretty--thief​

Listen, these are COMFORT movies so like. Back off.

1. Ever After - I’ve seen this whole movie so much I could probably recreate it, including blocking, from memory.

2. Music & Lyrics - Most of these are going to be Drew Barrymore romcoms because if I’m upset and want comfort, that is where I turn. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Hugh Grant is actually really charming in this and except for the entirely unnecessary subplot about her sister’s weight loss company (which...sigh), the rest of the movie is genuinely delightful. (Also I’m kind of into the age difference okay?) (Also this would translate SO PERFECTLY into a Jaime/Brienne AU and I literally only realized that this second, um.) (Now I’m gonna spend the rest of the today thinking about Jaime as an aging pop star who performs at county fairs.) (And Brienne comes and helps him write this beautiful love song.) (And they pick on each other but work together so well until the fall in love.) (Oh no.)

3. The Wedding Singer - the most charming I have found and will likely ever find Adam Sandler! They’re friends! He helps her plan her wedding! It’s set in the 80s! Billy Idol makes a hilarious cameo! This one is always good. Just pure happiness.

4. Never Been Kissed - Look. I KNOW that the premise of Michael Vartan’s teacher being even R E M O T E L Y interested in Josie as a pretend high schooler is wrong on eight thousand levels but. I have watched the last ten minutes of this movie more than most things and every time I’m caught up in the ~drama~ of “will he arrive in time???”. I just have to overlook a lot of problematic stuff to get there (David Arquette’s character actually hanging out with a high school girl is so unbearable I do have to fast-forward through anything with him, though. I cannot.)

5. You’ve Got Mail - I just fully adore this movie. Meg Ryan is so cute and they have such a great chemistry and I love Tom Hanks being kiiiiind of a dick, it’s something he was really good at in a way that isn’t offputting.

6. Galaxy Quest - This movie is good EVERY SINGLE TIME. Everyone is funny, it’s eternally quotable, the story is fun. Speaks to my fannish heart.

It’s impossible to choose the last one; I want to shove five different movies in here. (No dance films?? No Disney films?? No Princess Bride??? Who AM I?) But ultimately I had to go with a musical, because I’m always happy watching musicals.

7. Singin’ in the Rain - There is no scene in all of cinema that makes me happier than Gene Kelly’s dance in the rain. The ULTIMATE pick-me-up.

Honorary shout-out to Richard Gere’s remake of “Shall We Dance” for this list, too, because the tango scene in that movie is scorching hot.

OOPS I was supposed to tag people. I don’t know how many. Hee. Uhhh: @ladyinredfics​ @samirant​ @it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined​ @slipsthrufingers​ @nossbean​ @bethanyactually​

And of course anyone who wants to do it! Just say I tagged you, I’ve got your back!

[angel-deux-writes]

Groundhog day AU where Brienne is the one who keeps reliving the day over and over and over and over and over and over and...

I am WEAK for Groundhog Day AUs, so Y E S. this one took some thinkin’, BUT

1) Brienne dies for the first time in a random attack against King Bran, as she’s serving as Kingsguard. She saves his life, but is bleeding out in the attempt. Pod runs for help, but Bran tells her that it’s what’s supposed to happen: he was never supposed to be King. Things were supposed to be different, and now Brienne can fix them. 

2) Brienne is sent back to the morning of Joffrey’s wedding, purely because I feel like there are so many hilarious ways for her to die during that wedding. If she doesn’t die during the attempt, the day always resets at midnight no matter what, so she’s stuck here with NO fucking clue of what she’s supposed to be doing. 

3) Her least favorite death is when she’s pretty deep into it, getting increasingly frustrated, and she just straight up kills Joffrey herself and tries to kill Tywin, too. Jaime tries to stop her and ends up stabbing her. He’s horrified, she’s horrified, I’m horrified

4) She avoids Jaime as much as possible, because she still misses him. Bran basically told her years ago that Jaime didn’t think he deserved to be happy while his twin and unborn child died, and that he couldn’t stay in Winterfell until he had done everything to save her, etc etc. Basically he was going to come back, if he hadn’t died. He just wanted to see Cersei to safety first, and he knew he’d probably die anyway. Seeing him again is Rough Stuff and she hates interacting with him because she wants to save him but she doesn’t know how!

5) Obviously the key is telling Jaime everything, which she only does in a moment of extreme frustration. He somehow is convinced to believe her, and he helps her smuggle Sansa and Tyrion out of Kings Landing before Joffrey dies, and everything changes! 

send me a possible AU and I’ll post 5 fun facts about it!

[ddagent]

So in your Office-esque headcanon would Hyle be Brienne's Roy? I think that would be an interesting dynamic for a Braime fic, Jaime pining over an engaged Brienne who he works with. Am picturing the Booze Cruise episode where Jim works up the nerve to tell Pam how he feels only to have Roy interrupt by finally setting a wedding date.

YES YES YES! 

Hyle is definitely Brienne’s Roy. And he’s been putting off setting a date, and Brienne doesn’t push because she’s reminded constantly how lucky she is to even have a fiancee. And then there’s Jaime, her co-worker and best friend who gets her through the day, and so what if she has a little crush on him, it’ll never be returned, and it’s just a daydream to get her from 9-5pm. 

I just...I need to write/read all the fic of Jaime pining over a taken!Brienne, whether that be modern or canon au. 

[chickren]

Hi there! Maybe 8, 9, 10? Thanks! :)

ok, i’m sticking to jaime x brienne fandom for all of these

8. Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

ha! well, probably my fav “dialogue” is more of a monologue i can’t believe i got away with, but for actual dialogue idk. this one from Buried in Snow (HTR) always makes me happy. ‘proud’ seems like a stretch…

“Ser Hyle.” Brienne’s voice called softly from outside.

“My lady?” Hunt responded, sounding out of breath.

“Ser Hyle, can you see me?” Brienne asked.

Hunt laughed. “Of course, my lady. You’re standing right before me.”

“No, I… Can you see my face clearly?” she asked.

Jaime almost glanced out the door, but something kept him where he was.

��I can see you’ve been dunked in the snow,” Hunt said quietly. “I can see that someone has tugged your hair free from where it was pinned. I can see your lips are freshly kissed.”

“Oh,” Brienne replied in a whisper Jaime barely heard.

“Have I need to defend your honor, Brienne?” Hunt asked with no playfulness.

“No,” Brienne said.

“Marry me,” Hunt said. “Be my wife.”

Brienne gave a short, bitter laugh. “I may never recover Tarth, ser. As far as I know, I am orphaned and penniless with only the clothes on my back.”

“We would do well enough, I think,” Hunt said. “If Tarth is never recovered, no matter. I’ll take service with some lord or other.”

“Ser, you do me great honor, but I will never wed,” Brienne said solemnly. “I will never forget your friendship to me and should you ever need my help, you need only ask.”

9. Which fic has been the hardest to write?

oooh. depends on your definition of hardest, i guess? i put a lot of effort into ITL. it was a lot of work. the most work i think i’ve ever put into fic. and the response was not always fun. it was a really tough time. the story itself wasn’t a huge struggle, though.

i mean, as far as actually getting the fic out of me? in this fandom it was that dumb mod au. i’ve never hated writing more than with that mess.

10. Which fic has been the easiest to write?

hmmm. in some ways HTR, but i fought myself and didn’t want to continue that story for a long time, so that kind of complicated it.

weirdly, this latest fic (YCSH) has been easiest in a lot of ways? the canon is frustrating af (obvs) so the research is annoying, but it’s been kind of nice letting my obsession with trying to write in-character drop. that’s always the toughest thing about writing fic to me. but like who even knows what ic is for jb on the show? lololol

[brynnmck]

J/B Smut Swap recs!

I come bearing @jb-smut-swap recs! Presented mostly in posting order because that’s mostly how I read them, though first, my wonderful gift fic:

Jaime’s Game by @catherineflowers29 - SOFTEST BONDAGE EVER. I have told multiple people that reading this story felt like getting a warm hug, but with ropes. And a crucial part of the softness is the vulnerability between them, the way they’re so clearly building their trust in each other, taking care of each other, and there’s just a little bit of adorable awkwardness too as they negotiate this new thing together. It made my heart so glowy and happy. Cathy, thank you so much for volunteering to pick this up and delivering something so well-suited to my requests; I could feel the care you took with this and I appreciate it so much! <333

More recs below the cut ‘cause this got long (as did Jaime, HEYOOO); if I missed anyone’s Tumblr handle, please let me know!

Binary Explosive by @sdwolfpup - Okay this isn’t in posting order but I DID read this first and also it’s my blog and I make the rules. Am I biased about this fic because it’s SDW and because it was inspired by one of my favorite due South episodes? Yes. Does that make this fic any less amazing? IT DOES NOT. This is battle couple/mutual competence kink/danger kink at its finest, crackling with banter and absolutely dripping with (literally potentially lethal) sexual tension, all wrapped up in an entirely swoonworthy established relationship. The cocktail of soft and horny here is thoroughly intoxicating, and it’s so much FUN, with just the right hint of crack, and the ending makes me kick my feet in glee every time I read it (which has been, of my own volition, SEVERAL TIMES). LOVE.

Thrust Exercises by @nire-the-mithridatist - STRIP SPARRING. We’ve all said it but also oh my god STRIP SPARRING. WHAT A GENIUS THOUGHT. This is a fabulous combination of fun and sexy, and they’re so FOND in it, too--nire hits such a beautiful note of playful competitiveness and also a little shyness/awkwardness and a LOT of heat and, has been very correctly noted, a VERY wonderfully slutty Jaime. (Jaime’s premeditation regarding their wedding night is both very horny and very sweet/thoughtful, and thus very Jaime, and also his line about how he quite likes her loud face is right up there with my favorite love confessions, as well as being a thing that Jaime and I very much have in common. AGH SO GOOD.)

Second Chances by @firesign23 - I love me some JAB and the setup of this is so delicious, that Brienne is given a second chance at an opportunity she once turned down. This is another one where all three of them just LIKE each other so much--the J/B is so solid and lived-in and warm, and the history between Jaime and Addam is delicious, and the Brienne/Addam has that little thrill of newness and “oh my god we actually get to do this” (there is a kitchen kiss that is GOOD TIMES for me). So much trust and love here, it’s lovely.

crosslines, the scratches and stains by QuixoticChloe - One of two sex bruises fics in the swap, and SCORCHING hot. This whole thing has such a teasing vibe to it, and a sense of dirty discovery within an established relationship, and the whole “we’ve got a sexy secret and we’re gonna torture each other with it as much as possible” aspect was A LOT. Damn.

Diplomatic Relations by @eryiscrye - In which Jaime and Brienne get married and proceed to scandalize/delight/horrify the entire continent with their loud married sex. IT’S GREAT. It’s Eryi’s so you know it’s gonna be super hot, and she really touched on so many of the greatest hits here: cave sex, armory sex, water sex, quiet sex, alcove sex, SO MANY GOOD CHOICES and so much sweetness to go with them, too. And the other characters’ pained/pleased observations were hysterical. SO much fun.

Apart, Together, Together Apart by greenmtwoman - Oof, this one made my chest ache in the best way. It’s so soft and romantic and LONGING and full of equal parts Brienne and Jaime’s devotion to each other and devotion to their respective duties, which feels incredibly true to them. The way this story builds and releases and then slowly builds tension again is lovely, and it’s bittersweet, but very full of hope for their future.

left your fingerprints all over me by @writergirl2011 - Friends-with-benefits-to-dating, yessssss. The banter in this was adorable, and the connection between them was so palpable, and it was delightful to watch them finally acknowledge their feelings. 

Good Long Line of Praises by @aliveanddrunkonsunlight - In which Brienne discovers that Jaime has a praise kink and we ALL get to benefit. Actually the praise goes both ways here, and the result is lovely--they take each other apart at the same time they’re holding each other very closely, and it’s a wonderful mix of sweet and sexy. Another established relationship fic that included so much joy of discovery built over a strong foundation.

Nights Avoiding Things Unholy by @forbiddenfantasies1 - I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of this one and when I tell you that it has been living rent-free in my mind ever since... this is LUDICROUSLY, brain-cell-incineratingly hot, with so many delicious horny details, but also with FF’s trademark gigantic heart behind it (I feel like heart + hornt is basically FF’s brand and I love this for all of us). Again, you get such a strong sense that these two LIKE each other so much, even when they’re a little resentful and a lot scared about it, and the filth is so full of genuine affection that it makes it all the more devastating. I literally read this and was like “shit, I gotta up my game” regarding my own draft, lol. SO GOOD.

Light My Fire by @wildlingoftarth - While I fully respect and celebrate the union suit kink, I don’t have strong feelings about it, myself, but this fic made me a convert. The painstakingly sexy descriptions here were SO MUCH, and I’m also such a huge sucker for the slightly chaotic camp counselors vibe of this, that sort of euphoria and recklessness that overtakes you when something time-bound is about to end. The banter was adorable, there were so many moments that made me giggle, and of course it was hot as hell too and I’m very glad that these two dorks FINALLY figured it out.

Clothes (un)Make the Man by @aviss - CLOTHES-SWAPPING YESSSSS. I am such a sucker for that and Aviss delivered on it beautifully; seeing the progression of their relationship was so delightful and the feelings built so well throughout, and there were a couple of lines that made me laugh out loud, and, again, both the tension and the smut were super hot. LOVELY.

I’ll never let you go (if you promise not to fade away) by LadyRhiyana - This fic is going to HAUNT ME in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY. For one thing, I have checked the word count MULTIPLE times to make sure it’s not ten times as long because the world here is so vivid and so affecting that it’s like some sort of magic. I adore the setting here, and Cersei’s POV is spectacular--she’s all sharp edges and frustrated longing for the things she thinks she can’t have and I felt for her SO MUCH. Both she and Jaime are just incredibly, helplessly horny for (HOT MECHANIC) Brienne, and I loved the way that LadyRhiyana made it so clear that having Brienne there shifts the balance for Jaime and Cersei just enough that all their spikes can slide together a little better instead of just eviscerating each other all the time--and yet this happens without ever making it feel like Brienne is just a conduit or a means to an end for them; all three sides of the triad feel thoroughly distinct and important (including a very deft hand with the Jaime/Cersei aspect). It’s also EXTREMELY hot, and the Jaime/Brienne aspect has so much softness to it, and Brienne is so forthright and so kind and so curious, and AGH. I loved this.

a grip so tight I couldn’t tear it apart by @janiedean - The other sex bruises fic, and this one ended up (coincidentally, I assume) being a perfect bookend to the other one--if the modern AU is all about sexy secrets, this canon-based one is all about Jaime and Brienne’s pride in each other and joy in not having to hide their relationship, gleefully declaring their love and desire for each other for everyone to see. I was so happy for them!

with those who know secret things by @sdwolfpup - This has been recced widely and DESERVEDLY SO. The amount of CARE in this fic is overwhelming, and it’s full of all of these subtle details that suddenly come into sharp focus at just the right moment to really devastate you, and by you, I mean me. The prose itself is also gorgeous--the description of Brienne in her ad came directly for my throat (as well as some other places)--and it’s beautiful to watch these two surprise and delight and take care of each other. They’re both so GOOD and Jaime is so soft and vulnerable and Brienne is so kind and incisive and THEY LIKE EACH OTHER AND WANT EACH OTHER SO MUCH I CAN’T. The whole thing is lustrous and wonderful and I adored it. 

Today Will Die Tomorrow by HNJ - This fic also DESTROYED me. The way the time shifts are handled so that we slowly put the pieces of the night together and feel the full impact of each moment, the understated delicacy and very obvious love with which both Jaime and Brienne are handled, the multiple lines that made me catch my breath with how TRUE they were, the way their love for each other uncurls and opens up to the light over the course of the story... it’s really gorgeous and just burrowed right into my heart. I also loved that this was a canon-based first time that focused more on Brienne not knowing what to do emotionally than not knowing what to do physically; I’ve read and enjoyed the latter a bunch of times but the former felt really fresh and fascinating; it was an excellent take. 

Hush by @kiraziwrites - I have a thing for quiet sex anyway, and like everyone else, I will be suing kirazi for the fact that this fic left my brain a smoldering wreckage with nary a coherent thought left for the comment box. The sex in this is so deliciously varied and dirty and every bit of it feels somehow decadent and completely necessary at the same time, and watching their relationship build as they try each new thing is wonderful, and there are so many images in this that have burned themselves into the empty space where my brain used to be and taken up permanent residence. I could list MANY, but a sampling: the glacier comparison, and Brienne’s teeth-marks in Jaime’s jacket, and also Brienne DROPPING A CONDOM IN JAIME’S POCKET AND PROPOSITIONING HIM ARE YOU ACTUALLY TRYING TO END MY LIFE, KIRAZI. It’s also so funny and so fond and the fact that it’s literally exactly 5K is such a flex, I can’t even. Gah. TOO MUCH.

we used to wait by @it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined - I was reading things in update order and I kept thinking that I hadn’t read one yet that I could clock as jencat’s, and then kirazi was flailing about this fic and how beautiful the prose was and how strong a sense of place it had and I was like aha without even having read it yet. And this fic is indeed those things, as well as being sexy as fuck; Jen just drags the tension out and out in this very deliberate-yet-spare-yet-somehow-also-lush way until you want to claw your face off (and then she makes it totally worth the wait, too). Their relationship had some wonderful details, too, to show how well-matched they are--Jaime increasing the speed on his treadmill to match Brienne’s, rather than to exceed it, wasn’t what I was expecting and worked fabulously in this context--and the image of Jaime leaning against the wall at a crucial moment was SO MUCH. Whew. Just lovely.

The Waters and the Wild by LadyRhiyana - The last entry in the swap but by no means the least! This was another one where I couldn’t believe how much happened in such a short space; the descriptions were so vivid and cinematic, I could see the whole landscape unfold in my head, and it included some high-quality competence kink, too. We get just enough backstory to be fully invested in this version of Jaime and Brienne, including their delightful hidden-identity initial meeting, and the tension and affection and trust and frustration between them just simmers and simmers until it inevitably boils over and it’s incredibly satisfying. I also thoroughly adored the ending--including Brienne being as indignant as Jaime at [redacted]--and I would buy this movie so fast if it actually existed. 

[firesign23]

32 + 50 please thank you! ❤️

Okay, I thought about setting this in the sort-of-yonder-sequel universe because I’ve gotten weirdly attached to that AU, but decided to go for a more traditional arranged marriage setup. And then proceeded to write a 2200 word fic because I forgot I was supposed to be writing summaries. I don’t even know what this is, other than a weird mish-mash of tense (deliberate), long (not deliberate), and the most twincest I’ve bothered to imply in a story. I apologise in advance.

Fanfiction Trope MASH-UP

Pregnancy Fic & Arranged Marriage

In the years to come, Jaime would say that the marriage was entirely the fault of his wife. He’d been doing perfectly well avoiding all marital entanglements, despite his father’s plotting, until some stubborn sword-wench arrived in King’s Landing and upended everything. Brienne, for her part, would bluntly point out that she sparred at night specifically to avoid attention from half the knights in the city, and if he’d left when she’d asked him to, his father never would have found them and arranged their marriage before either of them had time to object.

“I’m grateful for my stubbornness, then,” he would reply, usually accompanied by a kiss to her cheek that inevitably made her blush.

But that was several years into the future. The day of their wedding, it was a toss-up over who was less impressed with the experience. She’d stared stonily at him the entire time they were in the sept, and spoke no words to him or anyone else during the feast. Jaime leaned towards her when Tyrion began a particularly long-winded speech.

“Follow me,” he whispered, snagging her hand beneath the table; she pulled free immediately, the hand above the table closing over her knife. Stubborn beast. “If we leave now, we can avoid the bedding. Unless you’re looking forward to it?” His eyes flicked over her appraisingly. “Mayhaps you’d enjoy it, being stripped of your clothes and manhandled. But if that’s the case–” he licked his lips here, deliberately lewd and goading, “I’m strong enough to do it myself.”

“I would kill you where you stood if you tried,” she replied levelly, glancing around the hall and weighing her options. “But very well.”

And so they had slipped from the hall and towards their chambers, where Jaime poured himself a goblet of wine and asked his new wife if she’d like one as well. She stood stiffly by the door, looking rather like a startled creature but refusing to run away.

“No, thank you, Ser Jaime.”

“Relax, wench,” he said, taking a drink and sprawling into a chair. “I won’t bed an unwilling woman. Your virtue is safe with me. I’ll prick my finger so people will presume your duty done.”

“I have no maidenhead,” she said boldly.

That was a surprise.

“Man? Woman?” he paused. “Horse?”

The woman blushed. “I meant that fighting and riding had taken care of it years ago, and if it hadn’t my fingers would have.”

It was a thing of false bravado, her chin tilted high and her face a bright red, but Jaime found himself imagining it–those long, broad fingers of hers between her legs, pumping relentlessly as she gasped and writhed, her other hand cupping her near-nonexistent breasts. He imagined she’d grunt as she did while fighting, feral and without regard for politeness.

His heart belonged to another, but his cock seemed to have no trouble with the idea of bedding the Maid of Tarth.

“Still,” he said, draining his goblet of wine, “it is best to be thorough.”

***

Cersei hated his new wife, her green eyes narrowing whenever the two crossed paths. And while he loved his dear sister and had no more than a begrudging respect for the poor woman so unfortunately wed to him, Jaime found he had little patience for her cruelty.

“Leave the poor beast be,” Jaime would softly reprimand when they were alone. “I am yours as I have always been. I do not goad Robert so.”

“Robert is the King, foolish brother,” Cersei would softly reply, nibbling at his ear. “Your wife is nothing.”

***

“Your father says I am not to spar until I have produced an heir,” she told him three moons into their marriage, clearly furious. “So I shall never wield a sword again.”

“I didn’t take you to be the type to listen to such proclamations.”

“I am not,” she said. “But every halfway decent swordsman in the keep is, it seems. No-one will fight with me.”

“I will,” he said. “If he quarrels, we’ll tell him it gets our juices flowing. He’s desperate enough for an heir he won’t forbid it.”

He saw her weighing her distrust of him against her need to fight, and come to the same conclusion any warrior would.

In the silver moonlight, her brow damp with sweat as she raises her sword once more, he thinks she is almost beautiful.

***

They had been married nearly a year when she came to him, wearing a nightgown he knew was not her usual sleepwear.

“An heir is required of us,” she said. Still blushing furiously, still brave despite it, as she had been the night they wed. “It can be yours or I can seek… You said you will not bed an unwilling woman and have stayed true to this, and I will offer you the same courtesy.“

“Come here, Brienne,” he said. Kissed her. Touched her.

“I know…I know this is duty,” she said, near-trembling in his arms. “There’s no need to play at enjoyment.”

He growled. Stubborn wife. “I have every intention that we will both enjoy this.”

Jaime, she cried when he finally found his place between her legs. Jaime, Jaime, Jaime.

***

“I hear congratulations are in order, dear brother,” Cersei said, trailing her hand across his shoulders. “You finally braved the beast and got her with child.”

He thought of Brienne, of the tiniest swell of her stomach that he’d mapped with fingers and lips only that morning. Thought of the way she’d laughed, scolding him for his nonsense. Thought of the way she still sought his bed more nights than not, for affection or simply to sleep, though she had already done her duty. His heart belonged to Cersei, of course it did; it had for so long there was no longer a choice, even as she grew crueler by the day. But more and more of his life was with his stubborn sword-wench. His wife.

“So the maester says,” Jaime said. Neutrally, lest his sister read more into it than there is. “But I’ve gotten you that way three times.”

“With any luck she’ll bear you a healthy boy and die in the process,” Cersei shrugged, lowering herself onto Jaime’s lap and moving to kiss him.

He pushed her away.

“That is my wife,” he said, standing. Strode towards the door. “I’ll thank you not to speak of such things again.”

“Jaime, I only meant–”

Whatever she said after that was said to an empty room.

***

“He’s kicking,” Brienne said in wonder, a hand pressed to her stomach. “Come, Jaime, feel him.”

Jaime crossed the room and bent before her chair, placing his hand where directed. There was a soft thump against his palm and he smiled. That was his child, the one he could hold and teach and love openly, the one that would bear his name. A son who loved swords as his parents did, or a daughter with her mother’s eyes. Almost certain to be stubborn, and tall. And whoever they were, they were right there, beneath his hand, a gift he’d never imagined.

“Thank you,” he whispered in a choked voice, rising to press a kiss to her forehead.

***

He should have known Cersei would retaliate, but he hadn’t. And time had gone and he’d allowed himself to become complacent, taken Cersei’s cold silence as unimportant. But the moment a harried messenger had sought him out, telling him Lady Lannister had been attacked by three men and been taken to their chambers, he knew. He knew Cersei had arranged it, and knew she expected him to go to her so they could quarrel and fuck and he would forgive her once again. He knew and he did not care; his only thought was to head to their chambers to see Brienne.

The maester was leaving as Jaime arrived.

“My wife?” he asked.

“The babe is well, Ser Jaime.”

Jaime had to suppress the urge to grab the man by his robes and shove him against the wall.

“I did not ask after the babe,” he growled, “I asked after my wife.”

“A broken nose–not her first–and some bruises. I have given her something to keep her calm, but she will heal,” said the maester. “She informed me that she would have fought better if she had her own sword, instead of needing to take it from one of the men.”

That did sound like Brienne; Jaime swore to himself that she would not go unarmed again. Thanking the maester distractedly, Jaime pushed past him to enter the chambers. The curtains were drawn to make it dark, but there was enough light to see Brienne in the bed. She looked paler than usual, and whoever had cleaned her injuries had missed a smear of blood near her hairline. Jaime moved to sit on the edge of the bed, taking her hands in one of his, and brushing her hair from her forehead with the other.

“I will kill her,” he said, quietly but not quietly enough.

Whatever the maester had given her had made Brienne sleepy, because she looked at him with confusion. “Kill who?”

“The one who ordered this,” he said, not willing to burden her with the details.

“Your sister.”

She said it with such certainty that Jaime wondered what cruelties Cersei had inflicted when he was not around to witness them.

“My sister,” he confirmed. She had clearly forgotten that even tame lions had teeth and claws, and for the first time in years he was feeling far from tame. He would rend her limb from limb for this, would not rest until he’d tasted blood.

“Can you stay?” Brienne asked quietly, sleep inching up on her. “The maester says I will sleep for hours, and I don’t want to be alone. Without defense. I know…”

Jaime removed his boots and sword, then slipped beneath the sheets and drew his wife close as he dare. His sister would face his wrath, but it could wait.

***

Within a sennight, Jaime had taken his wife from King’s Landing. He offered to take her to Tarth, to see the island she spoke of so fondly and the waters said to rival even the blue of her eyes, but she declined.

“Not with these bruises still apparent,” she said. “My husband might have been deterred from killing a queen in retaliation, but I’m not certain my father would be. Take me to Casterly Rock; we can visit Tarth once the babe has arrived.”

The maester insisted she ride in a wheelhouse, given her condition and recent injuries, and so Jaime rode with her. The motion of the vehicle lulled her to sleep, her head resting on Jaime’s lap. Her stomach had swelled in the past days, as if the child was determined to make their survival apparent in the face of adversity. He watched her in slumber, her once-ugly features so fondly familiar to him now, and wondered when, precisely, his heart had been entrusted into her gentle care.

He kissed the crown of her head and rested his hand on the sword he’d gifted her days before, the golden lion on its pommel declaring her a Lannister.

***

The servants of Casterly Rock love her more quickly than Jaime had, but with the same fierce devotion. Brienne seemed overwhelmed by it all, especially when Maryn, who had run the whole of the castle since Jaime had been a boy, looked between the two of them and smiled.

“I never knew it was a love match,” she said happily. “Anybody who wins over our Jaime…”

“That’s very kind,” Brienne said, blushing furiously, and Jaime thought bitterly of the love he’d once wasted on his sister. “But no, not a love match.”

“Ahh,” Maryn said, nodding wisely. “When it grows in the aftermath, it is all the stronger.”

“Thank you, Maryn,” Jaime said, placing a hand on the small of his wife’s back and escorting her away.

That night in their chambers, he helps her undress.

“I do, you know,” he says, trailing his knuckles against her neck and watching the way she sips in breath when he does. “Love you, I mean.”

She does not reply, but her kisses tell him all he needs to know.

***

The babe arrived shortly after sunrise, a squalling, healthy girl that Jaime immediately declared had her mother’s eyes.

“All babes have eyes like that, Ser Jaime,” said the midwife patiently. “They’ll likely change before she’s a year.”

“I hope not,” Jaime replied, stroking the babe’s soft cheek and then looking to Brienne. She looked remarkably well for a woman who’d endured hours of pain; her eyes were bright, her cheeks flushed, a huge smile on her face as she looked between him and the babe. “And to think, wench, if you hadn’t been so determined to show off your skill with a sword, we would hardly be here.”

She rolled her eyes, her smile turning fond. “I trained at night so as to avoid showing off my skills, Jaime. If you had not been so determined to gawk at the freakish woman, or left one of the first seven times I asked you to, your father never would have found us that night. You have nothing to blame but your own stubbornness.”

“I’m grateful for my stubbornness, then,” he said, leaning over to kiss his wife softly once, twice. “Truly, truly grateful.”

[anniebibananie]

oh hello it's me here for no reason but while i've got u what about a braime wedding date au

a/n: for those of you who have NOT seen the wedding date 1. i am sorry 2. here’s the trailer 3. essentially debra messing hires an escort to go to her ex’s wedding with her as a pretend boyfriend. it’s excellence (there’s also like a hot boat sex scene that isn’t featured in this fic but i think about on the daily)

“You’re telling me…” Margaery began, pausing to take a sip of champagne from her flute, “he’s your date.”

Brienne shuffled from foot to foot before adjusting the neckline of her dress which kept slipping down. It wasn’t as if she had much to worry about spilling out, but she still wasn’t used to showing so much skin.

“You have to wear it, darling,” Jaime had said as they checked into the hotel room. He had a fancy suitcase, the sort with compartments and built in organization, and he kept pulling different fine outfits out of it like some sort of Mary Poppins’ suitcase.

“I don’t wear stuff like this,” she grumbled, turning in the mirror. She felt large and clumsy. “Don’t call me darling.”

Jaime came behind her, his head peeking over her shoulder. They were about the same height, maybe her a few inches taller in her small heels. He was the sort of attractive that felt more fitting for a print ad than real life.

“I’m your hired boyfriend,” Jaime said. He rested his head fully on her shoulder now. “What pet name would you prefer I use?”

It had taken a near half hour of argument for them to decide on sweetheart, babe if it was used in a “non-lewd” setting, and, begrudgingly, darling. Brienne had assured him she was not the sort to use pet names, though, and he had conceded easily enough. Though, Brienne had learned quickly that Jaime Lannister didn’t really make anything easy.

“You stepped it up,” Margaery continued. “I’m proud of you, really. I wouldn’t have judged if you didn’t show up to your lousy ex-boyfriend’s wedding, but you showed up with the hottest date of us all.”

“He’s your brother’s fiance,” Brienne reminded her.

Margaery shrugged and grabbed another champagne as the tray passed, passing one to Brienne as well. “Yes, but he was sort of an asshole, wasn’t he? I mean, coming out on your two year anniversary? Nan and I were one hundred percent on your side for that, obviously.”

“Thanks,” Brienne said, throat suddenly tight as she watched Loras and Renly smiling and holding onto one another as they talked to some distant relative.

It wasn’t that Brienne was mad, even. Maybe not even embarrassed, exactly. The saddest thing was she was more lonely than anything else. Renly had been her best friend, and he still was in a way, but she had let him see all of her. She had thought he loved the all of her.

Then he had turned away and loved Loras. They were perfect for one another, and Brienne couldn’t be mad at Renly for not loving her even if she wanted to be. She had just wanted everyone to stop giving her those goddamn pitying looks. There was nothing Brienne hated more than pity.

As if sensing her discomfort, a hand came to graze at her lower back. When she turned, Jaime was giving her a soft smile. “There you are, baby.”

Brienne’s eyes narrowed. They had not allowed baby because you did not birth me, Jaime. It’s just creepy. He seemed to know the exact words running through her head because he smirked a little, satisfied with himself. He pulled her a little tighter into his side.

“We were talking about what a catch you are,” Margaery said with a tilt of her head and a mischievous smile. If Brienne didn’t know her better, she might have thought Margaery was flirting with him.

She was, actually, but Brienne knew her well enough now to know she did that with most of everyone.

“Oh, but I’m really the lucky one, aren’t I?” Jaime looked to her again and caught her eye. Brienne wasn’t very good at this whole prolonged eye contact thing. What was she supposed to do? Look at him lovingly? Smile? She felt like rolling her eyes, so she did that. He laughed lightly. “You can see she’s overjoyed by that.”

“You lay it on too thick,” she replied, barely thinking. “We all know I’ve tricked you into this, anyways.” It was close to the truth, but she played it off with a shrug.

“Do I look like I’m anywhere I don’t want to be?” he asked in a soft sort of way, something that tugged at the taut strings of Brienne’s chest a little. Gods he was good

“I’m… going to die alone,” Margaery said. Brienne had nearly forgotten she was there, and she blinked as she looked back to her friend. “I mean, this is fucking adorable. And I… am going to die alone.”

“I mean the Stark boy over there…” Jaime began, but Margaery was already pushing her shoulders back and reaching for another champagne glass as if a soldier readying for a fight.

“You’re right.” She tilted toward the two, and she reached out to pat Jaime’s cheek. “I’m going to go fall in love. Take care of my Brienne, she is the very best of us.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Jaime asked, but Margaery was already walking away. Brienne wasn’t sure who he was even saying it for.

__

“It was just a little kiss,” Jaime said with a roll of his eyes. “I was improvising.”

Brienne brought a finger up to push into the crease between her eyes. Coming to this wedding single could not possibly have been more painful than this, right? “I wish you wouldn’t improvise.”

“Oh please, it couldn’t have been that bad. I’ve been told I’m an excellent kisser. Not to mention, when was the last time you got any?”

Brienne did not feel bad about stomping onto his foot with her heel. Not a single bit.

___

“Brienne,” he cooed into her ear only an hour or so later. She was at the bar trying to decide if she wanted a mixer or it was late enough she could have the alcohol straight and no one would care. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t gentlemanlike, and I apologize.”

She sighed. She turned to look at him, and he looked genuinely sorry. His eyes were wide, his lips turned up the barest amount in an apologetic smile. Part of Brienne thought she might be a little mad still—he was probably used to smiling like that and getting his way, girls falling over themselves to accept him for his looks and charm. She’d never gotten anything without fighting tooth and nail.

“Accepted. Maybe,” she said. The bartender came over, and she was more than happy to smile at him. “Whisky. Straight.”

There was no way she was going to make it through this weekend with mixers slowing her down.

__

Jaime was in the shower, and she was sitting on the closed toilet seat lid as she used the small mirror in front of her to do the barest of makeup. She felt like a clown painting herself, but she at least liked the way the mascara made her eyes pop.

“Have you ever wanted it all?” she asked, the thought coming to her out of the blue. There hadn’t been much of a time where she had ever contemplated domesticity—marriage, family, life. The only time she’d gotten close had been with Renly, and now she knew how foolish it had been. “Love. A wedding. The whole to-do.”

His humming behind the curtain halted, and the two of them were left with nothing but the sounds of water. “Once, maybe,” he said. It was hard to hear through the shower, even harder with the way his voice softened. “I thought I was in love once.”

She grunted in agreement, feeling too embarrassed to say yeah, me too. It was nagging her, the idea that Jaime, though arrogant and sort of annoying, couldn’t find a partner despite all his advantages. “All the dates you go on, though, you haven’t found anyone who you thought might be worth sticking around for?”

“It’s a job.” The shower turned off. “Most of my clients aren’t like you, Brienne. They’re insipid or have more money than they know what to do with. They’re desperate and everything about us together is fake.”

Her throat went dry. She wasn’t sure why her name, why the distinction, seemed to matter. “And what am I?” She tried to keep it light, and when the curtain pulled back she bent closer to the mirror so she didn’t have to look at him.

“Everything about you is real,” he said as if it was as simple as reciting a grocery list or telling her a piece of sports trivia. It was just true.

She looked over then, because she couldn’t seem to not, and his chest was glistening with water, a towel held around his waist, and with all his physical beauty on display all she could seem to see was his face. It was earnest. There was no joke hiding anywhere.

You paid for this, she reminded herself. “Oh, you’re good,” she threw back, because men like Jaime Lannister did not say things like that to her. Even if it seemed like he was being genuine, even if she dangerously hoped it was true, she had to remember that this was his job. He was probably good at acting this way for anyone, even an unorthodox client like her.

He shrugged and turned away. The easy energy of the air seemed to evaporate. “You should try the pink lipstick, it matches the blush of your cheeks beautifully.”

She threw up her middle finger, and he laughed. She did not watch the muscles of his back as he exited the bathroom.

__

“I do,” Renly said.

There was too much emotion swimming in the room. Brienne felt a little like she was suffocating, and when Renly and Loras bent forward and kissed—the perfect sort of wedding kiss that was sweet and light and joyful–she felt herself clench. Jaime’s hand found her own, intertwining their fingers.

She looked over at him, and he was decidedly looking forward and away from her. When she didn’t turn away, he raised a brow and met her eyes. “What? Is holding hands not allowed now, too?”

“No, it’s…” she trailed off, turning her head back around to watch the happy couple walk down the aisle. “It’s fine.”

Her hand tightened against his. He clasped tightly back.

__

Brienne was surprised how long it was before her and Renly spoke, actually. The reception was going off without a hitch, and they had just about done the first dance to get the dancing going. Jaime had been politely speaking with Margaery again, though it was clear they got on as thick as thieves, and Brienne wanted more alcohol.

Renly appeared next to her, shooting her a goofy sort of filled with bliss smile. He was happy, and that made her happy. It was all the other stuff that was awkward—the fights they had never really addressed and the way Brienne still heard people whispering when she passed sometimes, hurtful words like she’s the one that turned him gay.

“I’m so happy you made it,” he said. The bartender brought him over a beer without asking and went to top up her own whisky. “I was worried you wouldn’t want to, but you’re my best friend. I hope you know that.”

“Of course I’d come,” Brienne said because that much was true. “You know I love you.”

His smile widened. “I do. And I love you, though clearly I will have to start competing for yours and Margaery’s affections with the way your boyfriend has won you both over.”

“He’s a real headache,” Brienne as as they both turned, backs to the bar, and watched the two of them laughing about something or other. They were the sort of people that made sense together—beautiful people who the world seemed to bend toward and for. 

“Oh, you’ve got it bad Brienne Tarth,” he said with a laugh. “I’m glad you’re happy. And for however much it matters, I hope you know how sorry I am about how everything happened.”

“I know.” She nodded, reaching out and giving him a big hug. When she pulled back she grabbed her drink and took a step away. “Go find your husband, Renly. I’m certain he’ll be missing you.”

“Husband.” He straightened his shoulders. “I do love the sound of that.”

__

“You alright?” Jaime asked.

Brienne smiled. She took his hand and leaned into his side, feeling light and daring. Feeling not all that much like herself. “Excellent.”

__

She was perhaps a little drunk. Maybe tipsy was better, but she was certainly struggling a little as the two of them giggled their way back to the hotel room. At some point she had kicked off her heels, and he was holding them from his fingers along with her purse. She pulled the hotel room key from her bra, ignoring the way his eyebrows went high on his forehead, and pushed the door open.

They stumbled their way through, and he tossed her things onto the small side table. Then he was holding her elbow to help keep her balance, but he was right there and she could smell his cologne as if it was everywhere. His eyes dipped to her lips, and though she was pretty bad at picking up signals she was fairly sure she wasn’t imagining this one.

One of his hands came up to her cheek. Her breathing halted.

“What– what are you doing?” she asked.

“Kissing you,” he answered, and he swallowed whatever words were going to come next from her mouth with his lips.

Brienne shouldn’t give into this. It was all fake, she reminded herself. She had paid for this, but he really was a good kisser and she was tired of giving up things she wanted. She was tired of having to fight all the time because the world was so very angry. She reached her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.

It was a little sloppy—wet and hurried—but then his hands came to her waist and he slowed it down. She felt as if she was in the hazy in between of moments. As if somehow they were in the blackness between freeze frames, and the world hadn’t kept moving forward yet.

The back of her knees hit the mattress, and she fell back with him shouldering his weight on his hands. He sucked on the lobe of her ear before moving to drop kisses down her neck. Brienne had never felt like this—like her body could no longer hold her, like she was pure want and wanted in return.

It didn’t feel real, but she wasn’t ready for that to end that. She flipped him around so she was straddling his waist, and when she caught a look of his face he looked like a man in prayer. 

“You are…” he began, hands reaching up to her face, her shoulder, anywhere he could touch, really.

She kissed him quiet, unsure if the words would ruin it. He didn’t need him to say it, anyways. His actions seemed to be showing her just fine.

__

In the morning, she woke up to find an empty bed beside her. She sat up, startled. His suitcase was still on the chair, though. He wouldn’t have left. They were quite literally on the same flight home. He didn’t wake up, look over at her, and regret everything, did he?

The door opened, and Jaime looked at her with a wide smile as he held a coffee cup in each hand. Brienne tugged the blanket up a bit higher, though he had obviously already seen it all.

“I brought coffee,” he said as if it wasn’t obvious. “Yours is black because you hate things that taste good, apparently, but I respect all your wrong choices as equally as my right ones.”

She laughed, the sound sudden and brisk. “I thought you might have left.”

He scoffed as he handed her the coffee. “Oh, Brienne, after a night of sweet love making like that? Who do you think I am?”

Jaime kicked off his shoes and sat back down into the bed. He looked at her then—softer, more free. He pushed some of her blonde hair away from her face and dipped to kiss the bare skin of her shoulder.

“Last night wasn’t about the job,” he said. “I’m here for whatever you want. I’d like to try.”

Brienne still had a hard time believing any of this could be real, that she could even deserve it, but he was looking at her like she was beautiful and she felt it. She felt like she had begun to open that door again, and he was peaking in and he liked what he saw. She felt as if she was doing the same in return. 

She leaned back against the headboard and drank a gulp of the coffee. “We’re going to have to negotiate the terms of endearment again, because frankly I truly can not stand baby, but—”

His lips cut her off. At some point, she was going to get really annoyed with him halting her words with his lips, but for now she was just happy to let him kiss her.