#anerdobsessed

[omfgreylo]

I Love It When I Fall for That by aNerdObsessed

Two years after the events of My Favorite Color Is You

Kylo’s new life as one of the best bounty hunters in the galaxy has been carefully constructed to avoid anything to do with his past. That is, until Poe Dameron drags him into a desperate quest that Kylo wants nothing to do with.

Kira Ren is fully committed to her choice and has become the feared enigmatic enforcer of the First Order. She is unflinching in her mission to wipe the memory of the Jedi from the galaxy and destroy the weak fragments of the New Republic.

Unfortunately for both of them, their paths are set to collide, and the aftermath is something neither of them could predict.

60,143 words / 189 pages

Fonts: Lora, Planet N

standard, flatback

I lucked out having paper that complements the prequel that I bound last month. 

[sofondabooks]

Thank you to @a-nerd-obsessed for your time and gracious participation!

[angstywriterangst]

Public Service Announcement!

I have just beta’d the next few chapters of My Favorite Color Is You by @a-nerd-obsessed and I am dead. She takes your feelings, wrings them out, then lifts you up, and then stomps on them hard, leaving you and your dead feels a puddle of your former self. This girl can write ppl. My beta work was mainly me highlighting paragraphs and screaming! If you haven’t been reading her work you need to rectify that stat!

[angstywriterangst]

Happy 2 years of collaboration to my dearest friend, @a-nerd-obsessed 💜!

Beta'ing for you has been a complete honor, and becoming your friend an even greater joy. Thank you for all you have taught me, for taking my advice and putting up with my nitpicking (I swear it comes from my love of this beautiful epic story!), for giving advice on writing and life, beta'ing my work, and for your endless support during my health struggles (something which is very hard to find in this world, and I value it more than you can ever know).

Love you forever ❤️ looking forward to many more collaborations

And thank you @jasoka-artz for your amazing work! What incredible interpretations of the writing! We spent a lot of time reading and confering back and forth to get it just right. I don't think I appreciated just how difficult it is to interpret a piece of someone else's writing and bring it to life. Luckily the descriptions were so vivid! And can you believe this is her first commission?! The TALENT!

Here is a commissioned piece I did for @angstywriterangst as a gift to mark 2 years of beta'ing for @a-nerd-obsessed who is the author of Light Rises...and Darkness to Meet It quartet. It’s a dark ray fanfic on ao3 go read & if you loved diasterisms Sword of the Jedi duology you'll love this series! ❤️💙🥀

[galacticidiots]

First of all, I’d like to thank the creators in our fandom for every word written and every piece of art drawn. You’ve helped us heal and you’ve inspired us to dream of a better, kinder world for our beloved characters. 

Without further ado, here are (some) Fix-It Fics to help soothe the burn left by TROS. This list is a work in progress, so feel free to send in or reply with your recommendations. Happy reading!

way down we go by KyloTrashForever (Complete, E)

a limial space, a world between worlds by hypraeteia (Complete, M)

i kill giants by diasterisms (WIP, E)

do not go gentle into that good night by Lumiera (Complete, G)

All About Waiting by azcendio (Complete, T)

Feels Like Somewhere by FancyKid (WIP, M)

Like Sunshine, but Brighter by SpaceWaffleHouseTM (Complete, M)

Tethered by Perry_Downing (WIP, M)

You Are a Memory by liftingrocks (WIP, T)

things I have loved, I’m allowed to keep by voicedimplosives (WIP, M)

the rise by manbunjon (Complete, T)

Between Worlds by reylomancy (Complete)

Make It Through the Night by ReyloTrashCompactor, SouthSideStory (WIP, M)

the Light will wipe out all the scars by martistarfighter (Complete, T)

after the fall [we rise] by SenLinYu (Complete, E)

so long lives this and this gives life to thee by crossingwinter (WIP, E)

each one is a burning sun by jeeno2 (Complete, E)

meet me in the afterglow by akosmia (Complete, T)

Home by thegeekypoet (Complete)

Together by lionwolves (Complete, G)

a place you can take me by Weatherbug02 (Complete, E)

Be With Me by TazWren (Complete, T)

Coming Home by Dagagada (Complete, T)

Warmth by QueenOfCarrotFlower (Complete, E)

A Strong Enough Foundation by ANerdObsessed (Complete)

Rey Solo by luminiscentglow (Complete, T)

beyond rightdoing and wrongdoing by the-reylo-void (Anysia) (Complete, T)

Binary Sunrise by threekisses (Complete, G)

buried in broken dreams by yegelsecaller (Complete, E)

In No Hurry by TheAfterglow (Complete, M)

Otherspace by EllieCarina (WIP, T, please mind the tags)

don’t you notice how hopelessly I’m lost by acreatureofhope (Complete, T)

*Updated 12/28*

Through the sorrow, all through our splendor by Ever-so-reylo (Complete, E)

Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow by greyorchids (Complete, E)

The Temple of Our Gods by Trebia (WIP, E)

This to Our Blood is Born by Slantedsunlight (Complete, G)

A Blaster in a Locket by Shieroello29 (Complete)

Together by Kharon (Complete, T)

luminous being are we by politicalmamaduck (Complete, G)

smoke and mirrors by kylo_bae (WIP, E)

Picking up the stitches by songofproserpine (Complete, E)

The belonging you seek by CallMeAlessandra (WIP, E)

Happily Ever After by citra_talugmai (Complete, E)

be with me by HopeRebel (Complete, T)

Saving Me by spitfiresparrow (WIP, E)

When You Were Mine by Quixcy (WIP, T)

But I Do by daughterofthesun (WIP, T)

Like Life Itself by HarpiaHarpyja (Complete, M)

A stitch in time by adelheid (WIP, M)

Wait For Me by ReyloRobyn2011

back to the light by janie_tangerine (Complete, E)

However this ends, we end it together by Sylvesterelle (Complete, G)

So Now Get Up by Lilander (Complete, E)

One Small Eternity by KeyloTrashCompactor (NextToSomething), SouthSideStory (Complete, E)

*Updated 01/14*

Convergence by sciosophia (WIP, E) [currently living for this, dying for an update]

Better Than a Dream, Sweeter Than a Memory by SpaceWaffleHouseTm (Complete, T) [domesticity is my kink *sobs*]

Love Like Ghosts by Yours_Truly_Commander_Shepard (Complete, E) [this one is the emotional ice pack I needed after TROS]

Any Way the Wind Blows by cellardarlings (Complete, M) [the ‘angst with a happy ending’ tag is my home]

broken things [we are] by bitterbones (WIP, E) [also currently being attacked by this and thoroughly enjoying it]

Final Order, First Steps by HarpiaHarpyja (Complete, T) [Ben has some stuff to take care of before he can join Rey and live happily ever after. these kids are adorbs.]

Across space, across time, across the stars by brianaa_c (Complete, E) [this is my canon now, thank you]

Orpheus by Rinnagirl (WIP, G) [WBW hive let’s goooo!]

second time’s the charm by Space_Samurai (WIP, T) [After Exegol, Ben travels back in time to TFA Jakku - and to Rey]

Fracture by Flaignhan (WIP, T) [fills in the gaps between TLJ & TROS]

Shatterpoint by roguewn (WIP, T) Picks up 5 years after TROS and so far the world-building has been amaaaaazing.

I’ve also been made aware that there are a couple of collections on AO3 you can check out if you’re craving some more fic therapy! Here & Here.

[shewhospeakswiththunder]

Perhaps you’re feeling bored at home or, if considered an “essential” worker like me, you need a little fun and stress relief. Here is my masterpost of fic recs from my two years of reading so far. Maybe you’ll find something new, or reconnect with an old favorite. Either way--

Enjoy! 😷💕

Reylo Fics that Deserve All the Love

Near Kinsman by englishable

Englishable is just one of the best writers I’ve encountered in fandom. This historical western mail order bride AU is top notch quality.

The Masochism of Self-Defence by greyorchids

The Reylo dynamic in this Boston PD AU is steamy, but also heartfelt. 

So Much Thin Glass by walkingsaladshooter

Never knew I loved modern day Gothic AUs until I ran across this one.

Heaven Forbid by DarkKnightDarkSide

I was stunned by the author’s creativity in this Priestlo fic. So smutty. So... inventive 😉🔥

Sonder by deathbyhumidity

Two strangers passing each other by on the train. Soft, dreamlike, somber, poignant. Modern AU.

And Still I Would Remember by Inmyownidiom

A Victorian era AU of two souls that parted and come crashing back together.

So, You've Decided to Glamour a Human Girl. by selunchen

Faeries AU! Ben, a fae, and Rey, a human. Shenanigans ensue.

Live Long, and Prosper by SaintHeretical

For the Reylo Trekkies. Hell, even if you don't do Star Trek, read this. PHENOMENAL.

Mr. Solo & Miss Wellfound by LinearA

“Regency/Victorian AU, Ben sees Rey's stockinged ankle by accident.”

Diyari by Nervoustouch

Modern archeologists AU. Snarky banter with dashes of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and Sahara vibes.

Drawn to the light of your burning sorrows by Kyriadamorte

The Mothlo AU you didn’t know you needed. Both gritty and soft.

Crown Glass by RebelRebel

Fantasy AU, with lots of beautiful imagery and engaging character dynamics.

Kohelet 3:16 (Call Me A Cab) by LinearA

NYC Jewish Leia and Ben. Skillfully layered plot, nuanced characterization. Smut is HOT.

By the Shores of Varykino Lake by hipgrab (merrymegtargaryen)

Unhealthy dynamics, definitely read the tags. “There’s a lot of fucked-up-ness”, in the author’s own words. But it’s good writing. Fair warning.

Let Me Put My Darkness In You by ArdeaJestin

Canonverse. Hux is an insufferable, pompous ass and Kylo Ren writes terrible, melodramatic poetry.

Wintertide by Zabeta

Whimsical and primitive in turn, this lives up to the style of a true fairytale AU.

The Forty Thieves by PoetHrotsvitha

Peaky Blinders/Gangsters AU. Rey starts as Ben’s bartender and ends up as so much more.

I Said to My Soul, Be Still by LinearA

Dark!Rey takes her man. 🥵🔥💕

Hux's Rousing Pep Talks by Riels_shorts

This fic is hysterical. It’s not Reylo, and I don’t care. My list, my rules.

It's All I Can Do To Leave You Alone by TazWren

Office AU. Silly, spunky, with a bashful Ben. 

Sip the Honey Sweet by dietplainlite

Anne of Green Gables-esque/Edwardian era AU, the title really says it all.

The Pull to the Light by HarpiaHarpyja

Entrancingly macabre. This modern/fantasy/monsters AU catches your attention from the get-go, and never lets you off the hook.

lay then the axe to the root by sciosophia

All the Bronte goodness, plus smut.

The Golden Age by TourmalineGreen

Golden Age of Hollywood AU in which Ben is a jaded actor in serious need of an image fix, in the form of fresh-faced actress Rey.

Never Be Your Curse by Kate_Reid 

Kylo Ren is a go-go dancer in this AU. That was enough to get my attention 😘

Gallows God by Killtheselights

Bursting with deliciously grim imagery, an intelligent take on Norse mythology.

Thunderstorms, Clouds, Snow, and a Slight Drizzle by aNerdObsessed

Who doesn’t love an ugly sweater Christmas party? Ben Solo, that’s who. All the nostalgic wintertime feels in this modern AU.

Though My Soul Has Set in Darkness by englishable

It’s not long, but it’s good. A lyrical dive into the mindspace of child Ben Solo. A true gem. Also not technically Reylo. Still don’t care.

I Dare You by tinylittlebrain

Daredevil Kylo has pissed off ER doc Rey Kenobi for the last time. Spicy!

stuck in colder weather by redbelles

Professor Ren stops grad student Rey from biking home in a snow storm. And takes her to his home. You can guess where this goes 😉

Between Sky and Sea by nessalk

Serious Indiana Jones vibes with a Caribbean flair. Painstakingly researched, and moments of true beauty and joy.

But Before Tomorrow by Kate_Reid

Such good writing. Canonverse.

The Sword of Prince Hector by englishable

Exploration of what redemption might feel like for Ben, canonverse. 

if compassion be the breath of life, breathe on me by Victoryindeath2

All the angst and unknowns that we were left with in the wake of TLJ are soothed in this canonverse piece.

build a ladder to the stars by redbelles

An exploration of events post-Crait. Fantastic, beautifully written.

nor are we forgiven (which brings us back) by TolkienGirl

Both Kylo and Rey get to see what life would have been like if they both got exactly what they thought they wanted after TLJ. Fascinating read. 

Forsworn by Erulisse17

This Mando/ST crossover has everything you could want--action, witty banter, space romance! So much fun!

Reylo Favorites & Classics

One Shots

59 Minutes by delia-pavorum (literaryminded)

For Science by KyloTrashForever, ohwise1ne

He Made It Through the Wilderness (somehow he made it through) by LovesBitca8

light carries on endlessly by lachesisgrimm (olga_theodora)

Grey by ocjones

The Idiot's Guide to Flirting by Violetwilson

High School/College AU

I Caught Fire by KyloTrashForever

Mountain Springs High School by animal

Epithumia by pontmercy44

Soul Searching by OptimisticBeth

Office/Workplace AU

Sensual Storytime by andabatae

The Food of Love by LovesBitca8

Historical/Dystopia AU

Hiraeth by Ferasha

a manner of virtue by neonheartbeat

The lamb's thirst by animal

Wanted by Inmyownidiom

She Who Would be Queen by sasstasticmad

go i know not whither and fetch i know not what by voicedimplosives

ABO

Knot My First Time by KyloTrashForever

Canonverse/Canon-divergent

variations on a theme of you by diasterisms (Reydar)

i will be the wolf by diasterisms

Sky Marked Souls by AnonymousMink

The Death of Kylo Ren by nymja

World In My Eyes by sasstasticmad

i'm always in this twilight (in the shadow of your heart) by diasterisms

Catch Me I’m Falling by violethoure666

Sword of the Jedi by diasterisms

You'll Be the One to Turn by postedbygaslight

Dark Crown by Violetwilson

Harry Potter AU

Nocturnal Studies And Other Peculiar Magic by WaterlilyRose

Otherwise Modern AU

Pretense by Celia_and

Insta-heart by slipgoingunder

Serotonin and Dopamine by pontmercy44

The Elusive Mating Dance of the Porgus Adorabilis by andabatae

Hanging by a Moment by crossingwinter

WAR DOGS by fulcrumstardust

miles from where you are by Mooncactus

Charcoal by luvkurai

Stay by jeeno2

coarse and rough and irritating by frak-all (or_ryn)

Blades Crossed by the-reylo-void (Anysia)

Embers by sciosophia

Mitan, Midi by animal

Janus by englishable

Say My Name by Graendoll

Thank You for The Music by hipgrab (merrymegtargaryen)

darling, so it goes by akosmia

This is the Sign You've Been Looking For by RebelRebel

Broken Things by midnightbluefox

One-Night Stand by delia-pavorum (literaryminded)

The Rebel Side of Heaven by jeeno2

On The Bumpy Road (To Love) by violethoure666

we could plant a house, we could build a tree by Like_A_Dove

I’d Like My Obituary to Hint at a Sequel by Violetwilson

Only If You Want To by Violetwilson

Not Reylo, Still Awesome

Gingerflower/Gingerrose, Armitage Hux/Rose Tico 

Between Sand and Sea by Brit Hux-Tico (birchwoods01)

If Ever I Would Leave You by Weddersins

Her Yellow Rainboots by Weddersins

Merrical, Cal Kestis/Merrin (Jedi: Fallen Order)

The Stars Alight by FlyingMachine

Heavy Ice by FlyingMachine

Caltrilla, Cal Kestis/Trilla Suduri (Jedi: Fallen Order)

No One Else by xanderwilde

call it what you want by xanderwilde

tear you to pieces by xanderwilde

Dramione, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter Universe)

Now Is A Gift by SenLinYu

Sex and Occlumency by Graendoll

Zutara, Katara/Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

oracle bones by an orphaned account

Fics by Me

Virtue Ethics

Reylo College AU (completed)

Dr. Ben Solo, adjunct philosophy professor and part-time martial arts instructor, discovers a young woman in his Intro to Philosophy course whom he thinks may not actually be enrolled at the University.

Chiasmus

Reylo Role-reversal canonverse AU (WIP)

Scourge of the galaxy, Kira Ren, is tasked by the First Order to eliminate the last of the Jedi. When she captures hotshot podracer Ben Solo to extract Luke Skywalker’s location from him, things do not go according to plan. 

This Dance of Light, This Sacred Blessing

Snapshots of a modern Reylo AU. Smutty, prosey one-shot.

Listen Up, Kid

Canonverse Reylo Post TLJ one-shot

The ghosts of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren's past are back to haunt him with a vengeance. A well-meaning, familial kind of vengeance. Or, A Star Wars Carol.

Ben’s Body

Reylo Modern AU (completed)

Rey is an up and coming sculptor specialising in human shape and form. Her new next door neighbour has a body to die for and she's determined to preserve it in marble forever. Now she just has to convince dashing and reclusive Ben to model for her. Preferably naked.

Growin’ Up

Reylo High School AU (completed)

Ben Solo was supposed to only be ruining his own life with his bad decisions. Rey Niima was just trying to pay attention in class. Both get stuck in detention.

Seven Texts, 2 AM

Reylo Modern AU, smutty one-shot

Ben has good reasons not to have sex with his neighbor, Rey. She has other ideas.

Song of the Forest

Reylo Fantasy/BatB/Fairytale AU (completed)

Once upon a time, a girl with an unknown past appeared on the doorsteps of a lord’s manor, and now the forest at the edge of the lord’s property is calling to her.

A Season of Frost & Warmth

Modern Reylo P&P AU (completed)

When Ben shows up to a Halloween party with no costume, it only confirms Rey’s certainty that he is the world’s biggest jerk. Until it comes to light that maybe... he isn’t. 

Follow Me Home

Modern Werewolf Reylo AU (completed)

Rey gets stone drunk and brings home a big cute husky she found in an alley. The next morning, she finds a naked man built like a fridge sleeping on her living room floor, and no dog in sight.

The Gentleness That Comes

Reylo Modern AU one-shot

Underground boxer!Ben is resigned to his life of violence, until he meets a pretty new bartender one night.

Unlikely, Unbidden, Unbound

Gingerflower canonverse AU (WIP)

General Hux is imprisoned by the Resistance when the First Order falls. He had known his death was coming, it was simply a matter of course. He’s disappointed to learn the Resistance has other plans, and an unwavering policy of giving people second chances.

@thereylowritingden @reylofic @nancylovesreylo @grlie-girl @lilia-ula @greyforceuser @tazwren @mhcalamas

[enigmaticpsych]

catch up game!

tag 9 people you want to know better/catch up with. Thanks for the tag @taralkariel!

last song: I’m cheating with more than one, but Golden Dandelions (acoustic) as well as Fire (acoustic) by Barns Courtney. I’ve got both going on a loop. If we’re including instrumental, Resilience by Secession Studios.

currently reading: Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo, technically. I read the Prologue/Before back in the beginning of March I believe and then put it on pause because college work got busy. Now I just need to summon the willpower to read first person pov all over again (I hate first person but enjoy the story and characters enough). Two fanfics I’m currently reading are I’m Standing in Front of You by aNerdObsessed and Knighted by Sweetestcondition.

currently watching: nothing at the moment. I’m taking suggestions if you have any (preferably no comedies though)! I just finished Hannibal the other day and finished Shadow and Bone last Wednesday. For movies, I watched The Woman in the Window on Sunday. And I’ll be watching Lucifer season 5b once that drops next week.

currently craving: blueberries and red and/or yellow bell peppers.

Tagging: anyone who would like to participate!

[omfgreylo]

My Favorite Color is You by aNerdObsessed [142 pages]

“Hey!” she protested. “Put me down! I can walk on my own!”

“You’re going to hurt yourself again if you don’t let the swelling in your ankle go down, which it won’t if you keep walking on it. Besides, you’re holding us up.”

She wanted to keep being angry, but found she was too tired.

“You can’t protect me, Ben,” she said, pressing closer into his warmth, breathing in his familiar scent. It smelled like ink and grassy fields and like that first rain in the summer. “I can take care of myself.”

“I know,” he said, tightening his grip. “But that doesn’t mean you should have to.”

51,691 words

Fonts: Lora, Planet N

[tazwren]

Hello!! Do you know of a Reylo fic where Ben is a smuggler and Rey a bar owner on Jakku. He meets her there and asks her to go with him but she continually says no (until the very end 🥰)???

Hi Nonnie! My absolutest fav fav is Smuggler!Ben 💙

It sounds like you're looking for so a smuggler walks into an orphan's bar... by @eleanor-writes-stuff. I ADORES this fic.

Also, there are a ton of Smuggler!Ben fics out there—here are a few I've come across and really like:

Tethered by bitterbones (Rated E, 5/5, TW: Pregnancy, baby) : In which Ben visits Jakku while on a smuggling run with Han and finds himself strangely connected to an obstinate scavenger girl. What happens next can only be the will of the Force.

Akaanir ner ara at gar kar'ta by @hellomelusine (Rated M, 3/?) : Mandalorian!Rey meets Smuggler!Ben - A DOUBLE FAV!

the world's not perfect but by aNerdObsessed (Rated T, 1/1) : What would happen in a galaxy where the New Republic never got off the ground and the First Order choked before it started? MORE Mando!Rey and Smuggler!Ben that I loves.

The Smuggler and the Scavenger by kyoloren (Rated M, 2/2) : When Ben Solo accidentally loses the Millennium Falcon in a bet, he has to travel to the backwater Inner Rim planet of Jakku to try to get it back. While there, he meets a young scavenger named Rey who just so happens to be in possession of the droid his mother has been looking for…

Never Tell Me The Odds by @aquawolfgirl (Rated M, 24/?) : He was just the supply runner and information gatherer, really. He didn't mean to get swept up in this Force mumbo-jumbo. Then again, his father hadn't meant to either, and look where that got him. An AU where Ben's not Force sensitive.

dar'manda by @nite0wl29 (Rated E, 3/?) : After abandoning his training to become a Jedi, Ben Solo thinks he’s more than ready to take on life as a smuggler with his father Han Solo. Not only does the pair become entangled in First Order secrets, but how does a young smuggler deal when he’s also bound by the force to the daughter of the galaxy’s most notorious bounty hunter? Not to mention she was also hired to kill him.

Your's truly also has a Smuggler!Ben/Dark!Rey fic—Steal Me From Myself (Rated E, 1/1) : Smuggler Ben Solo tangles with the wrong person when he tries to put one over on the mysterious woman with a blazing red saber.

There are many many more fics on this Ao3 search for Reylo Smuggler Ben fics.

Enjoy!💙

[angstywriterangst]

Thankful to everyone at the reylo finish your fic anthology! You guys have been so supportive and kept me motivated to write and provided me with the battlefield to fight glorious word wars to earn my spot in Valhalla once I start posting on Sunday, December 1st!

And to my dear friend @a-nerd-obsessed , who I has been the biggest gift this fandom has given me. We've been working together for 1 1/2 years, and it has been a pure joy, you have taught me so much and helped me grow as a writer. Beta'ing for you has been one of the best things I've ever done! Honestly, your story has become my baby, I care about your characters and story as if it were my own. I couldn't be more honored to have you beta for me again. I love that you are a deep editor who's not afraid to rip my shitty chapters apart and rebuild them into something readable.

Also thanks to @qotsisajakk ! First time working with them, and I'm so glad the anthology matched us up! Your insights and critiques have been invaluable. Thank you for also being a brutal editor! Thats what I look for in a beta, and I love that you're so thorough.

I'm honestly terrified of posting... and realizing now that I'm posting in two days makes me want to puke. But I've got the best support system from all those mentioned above, so no matter what happens, I know they've got my back.

Today we are highlighting AngstyWriter, who is participating in our Finish Your Fics project this November!  You can go here to read profiles of other participating authors.  

What Reylo Fic are you working on this November?

Out to the Last Night

What got you into writing Fanfiction?

The Last Jedi got me into Reylo, then I ‘accidentally’ read a Reylo fanfic, The Dark Moon Rises series by AnyaVoss (no really, it was an accidental click on a link and before I’d finished the first chapter I was hooked and was like, well I guess this is my life now lol). I hadn’t read fanfic in years. Eventually I got hooked on diasterisms’ Sword of the Jedi series and I just couldn’t resist the itch to write anymore! I’ve also beta’d a lot which really helped my writing skills grow, and now I sort of feel like I’m ready to give back to this fandom that has meant so much to me. I’ve written novels and short stories before, but never fanfic, and honestly I find the research aspect for writing SW to be one of the most appealing things. I think the vastness of the world to play in was a huge aspect that drew me into wanting to write within the SW universe.

What are you most proud of in your Fanfiction?

The fact I’m writing again lol. Also my extensive research and blending of old and new canon, and the fact I came up with an ending for once!

What fic that you’ve written are you most proud of?

This one! I’ve started others that I will hopefully post on ao3 one day, but this story is my real baby that I’ve had in my head for two years, and is the story I’m most passionate about.

Thank you for participating and happy writing, please support @angstywriter this month!

[angstywriterangst]

Not a GOT fan, but isn’t this every writer lol? It’s certainly me for sure! And little miss @a-nerd-obsessed has been doing a great job recently of putting my feels through the ringer as her beta. Just read through the latest chapter today and boy are you kids in for a doozy

[ao3feed--reylo]

Memories Turn Into Daydreams

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2U0L5Hu

by aNerdObsessed

Kylo Ren is tired of feeling alone and desperate to be free of this pain. He thinks he’s ready for change, to really let go of the past, but his last effort to convince Rey to join him goes about as well as his previous two attempts – actually it goes a whole lot worse.

A canonverse one-shot

Words: 5239, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Sequel Trilogy

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Characters: Rey (Star Wars), Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Ben Solo, Kylo Ren, Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa

Relationships: Rey/Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Rey & Ben Solo | Kylo Ren, Kylo Ren/Rey

Additional Tags: Ben Solo Needs A Hug, Ben Solo is also an idiot, Post-TLJ, canonverse, An experiment in What Ifs

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2U0L5Hu

[reylofanfictionanthology]

TO FIND YOUR KISS IS NOW LIVE!  

Authors will be revealed next week!  For now all fics are anonymous.  Treats can be posted through author reveals on 2/21.  We will post an updated masterpost at that time.

To Find Your Kiss collection on AO3 | Treats Masterpost

GIFT FIC MASTERPOST

- Reap the Stars for abbytheatre08

The prompt: After Ben's death, Rey goes mad and turns to the dark side. Only Ben's not dead anymore. ----------------------- She is consuming fire, magnificent in her rage. She will burn the galaxy to its foundations, until the ashes rain down and pile high as mountains. She will gather them into bouquets and scatter them like petals upon his grave.

He will be remembered, and they will not.

Call him The Light Bearer and Joy Giver. Call him He Who Loved and Laid Down His Life. Call him Ben.

- we are question marks that hang above the endless unexplained for AlwaysEverlark

The first time she walked into his club, she was looking for a job. Kylo took one look at her—the stubborn pout of her lip, the determined glint in her eyes, the ruddy glow of her face where the sun had kissed it—and swallowed a lump in his throat that was shaped like the words you’re too good for this place.

They needed a singer. Kira Johnson could hold a tune, knew the old standards, and had a knockout pair of tits to boot. A few slinky ballgowns and a touch of lipstick, and she’d more than do the trick of distracting suckers long enough to part them from their money.

The club solely needed to break even; anything they made on top of the Syndicate’s cut was gravy, and Kylo Ren had been lining his pockets with his own take for long enough that he could see Kira for the lump of clay that she was: rough-hewn, misshapen, but soft and supple and sure to curve under his touch.

- Eighty Bucks Says Sweetheart for Amoreusou

Ben likes puzzles. Rey needs help with a bunch of them. Good thing it's a slow day at the office.

- Seldom Visions for Andrina_Nightshade

After visiting an old Sith temple, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren has fallen into a deep sleep when he pricks his finger on the point of a red crystal. Rey become is the first to find him, but his rescuer isn't just any general or pilot, it's the woman he shares a soul with, who haunts his waking hours, who still sees him even in his sleep.

- The Dyad for aneighthdomain

Based of the Prompt: Groundhog Day scenario. Ben and Rey keep getting sent back to the first time they met and no matter what they do, Ben always dies so they stop trying to change events and just live a life time in the year between and couple of weeks and run away together.

- Saudade: The Love That Remains for AnneAnna

- The Delegation for aNerdObsessed

A humanitarian delegation from Naboo arrives at Niima Outpost. Rey is skeptical, to say the least.

- i don't want you like a best friend for anopendoor

It’s not like she hadn’t seen this coming—Rose told her weeks ago that he was invited. It was an inevitability Rey was always going to have to face, she just didn’t think that Rose would be so merciful as to also give every guest a plus one.

But Rey can’t really be upset—and she is totally, unequivocally not upset—that Ben's bringing someone because, well.

She is, too.

- Love is Weakness for bittersnake

“He’s someone I found on my recent trip to Corellia,” Rey replies placidly, her face practiced in its boredom. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Love is weakness,” her grandfather reminds her, the way he has for years. It’s why he doesn’t love her. He will not be weak. It’s why she doesn’t love him, either.

- in sickness and in health (with health being less likely) for BlueButterflyKisses

Deciding to spend the rest of their lives together is the easy part for both Rey and Ben; the trouble is in how to propose.

- Snowed In for Blueyedgurl

Never in her wildest dreams did Rey Johnson think she would ever get to meet her favorite other Kylo Ren. She also would have never entertained the idea of the scenario she found herself in. How did a hike in the woods lead to a snowstorm and taking shelter in a remote cabin in the woods? The idea was so ridiculous but had become reality. Stuck inside with a handsome stranger surrounded by a winter storm, Rey wonders what will happen with no power and only one bed. Will they be polite co-habitants stuck in a strange set of circumstances or is there room for something more?

- Curses, Comforts and Capybaras for Bombastique

Arrogant CEO bites off more than he can chew when he angers a witch... And suddenly finds himself transformed into a capybara. Can kindhearted wildlife rehabber Rey Niima help him break the curse?

- To Heal a Broken Soul for Cat2000

Ben survives the fallout of Exegol, but his connection to the physical world is in danger. Rey tends to him as she searched for a way to heal him.

- holding me like water in your hands for Ceallaigh

After Hux finds out Ben killed Snoke, Hux encases Ben in Carbonite. Rey refuses to let Ben stay frozen forever so she mounts a rescue.

- Like a Thief in the Night for chagrins

Their bond won't let them be alone. At least this time it's the middle of the night and they can't get into a shouting match.

- The Chance for Crysania

When Rey and Ben, long time co-workers who have never been able to admit their feelings to each other, go on a weekend retreat to work on a movie adaptation script together, a Nor’easter leaves them snowed in. On Valentine’s Day.

- Awake for cuddlesome

Something inside him is awake, and something inside her is about to wake up.

An alternate interrogation scene.

- darkness rises, and light to meet it for czechia

After the throne room, Jedi Ben Solo and Kira Ren meet again a year later.

- Not Quite a Fairytale for DarkMage13

Rey lets a stranger use the phone of the café she works at late one night. It changes the whole course of her life.

- You Won't Escape Me ('Cause I Set You Free) for DoorKeeper9

- The Canvas of Your Skin for darlingreadsalot

She was incapable of touching him without drawing blood, it seemed. Lines like vermillion paint streaked where her fingers sketched down the contours of his face, his back, and now his chest.

In which a Force bond is splintered, a resurrection goes wrong, a kiss is forgotten, and two almost-lovers avoid speaking for the better half of a year.

- Fleeing the Storm for driverfever

As the granddaughter of an merciless aristocrat, Rey’s life hangs on a thread at the hands of the French Revolutionaries. When her childhood friend, Ben, offers to platonically marry her in order to take her to his home in England to safety, she has no choice but to accept.

But her suitor and revolutionary Hux won’t give her up so easily. Hounded by revolutionaries and falling in love, Rey and Ben must use all their wits to flee Paris and make it to England.

- Equal Measure for dustoftheancients

When Princess Rey of Coruscant calls upon the cursed Sir Kylo Ren to help her escape her grandfather the emperor’s political machinations, she discovers freedom in the ancient familial magic that binds them together.

- Benimina Solo's Late On-Set Force Ability for Evangel10n

Benimina Solo has never, not even once, had an ounce of Force Sensitivity. She's done a great deal to move on with her life after failing out of her uncle's Jedi training school. So when Rey Palpatine comes into her life and suddenly everything changes, she's not a happy camper.

- Splatter for expendable

“You’re Palpatine’s girl,” he says coldly.

“His chief of staff, yes.” Rey’s eyes narrow. “And you have your hand on my ass, Kylo. Kindly take it off.”

“Or what?”

AKA powerful corporate rivals Kylo and Rey put the hate in love/hate.

- The Haunted Mirror for FangirlintheForest

When Rey travels to UK to attend the reading of his grandfather will, a grandfather she didn't know existed until that very moment, she finds a house, and a old story that will haunt her...

- i'm your secretary for firelord65

Kaydel pressed her lips together in a thin line, passing a pile of datapads over the desk. “I don’t know what that pretentious nerf herder has put into your brain, but these are tales of the key roles women have played in past rebellions.” She stood, tapping the pile. “They’re great reads,” she added, with a pointed raise of her eyebrow.

- and they danced across the sky for flipflop_diva

When he was still a child, he constantly watched the blue butterflies as they danced in the sky.

They seemed to be calling him, aiding him each instance that icy-cold darkness flowed through his very veins. The magnificent creatures saved him from the voices. They drowned out the incessant chatter in his head. Temporarily cleared away all the anger. During those brief respites, watching those blue wings flutter in the sky, Ben felt free.

But that’s another life. Another world. Another time. Another, another, another.

And Kylo's no longer a child.

No. He welcomes the darkness now. Embraces it.

- Finding The Answer for FrenchMartiniPlease

Rey pines for Ben Solo…so why does her soulmate mark always drain of colour whenever she gets close to him?

- Almost Unforgettable for HopeRebel

The woman in the mirror has blood on her clothes, cash in her bag, and a letter from her husband telling her it's better to forget. Well, he got his wish. She forgot everything-- including her name. And she wasn't the only one afflicted.

It'll take the combined efforts of gumshoes, a flatfoot, a washed-up Hollywood starlet, and more to get to the bottom of this bad business. In the end, these things always come back to the beginning.

- The Curl of a Sigh for irridesca

During the last song in Maxine’s set, a song she announces is called “Soul Companion,” Ben heads back out to the lobby to look for Rey. He finds her not with his eyes but with one broad shoulder, when he bumps into her and knocks her gig bag out of her hands and onto the plush carpet.

- and they were roommates for Lady_of_Haven

When Ben loses a bet to his roommate, Rey, he has to eat her out for 30 days.

- torn away from you (my heart is broken) for lakerose

The Force binds more than minds.

- If You Take Me for literallynoonecares

She sighed wistfully as she watched her two friends lean in toward each other as they danced, their lips meeting and melding together as they seemed to become one person instead of two separate beings. She had seen them kiss so many times, but this kiss … it was special.“I just want someone to kiss me like that,” she mused softly to herself, her eyes not leaving her friends.“I could make that happen if you wanted.”

- 3 Days in Vienna for Like_A_Dove

Kylo Ren, trained mercenary Alpha assassin, is on a mission—assassinate Chancellor Palpatine and bring his underground authoritarian regime to an end. It’s what the First Order demands, for the better of society.

It should be an easy task. He’s been getting close to the Chancellor and his cronies for years. So how is it that the unexpected appearance of an Omega, with a seemingly similar mission—and a wholly inconveniencing scent—become a distraction he hadn’t accounted for?

- Confidence and Desire for LittleLostStar

“Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually, the confidence will follow.” - Carrie Fisher

- Love brightens even the most monstrous parts of ourselves for LRRH17

No one knows since when the giant, black bear has lived in the forest near Theed. Many stories about the origin of Kylo Ren circulate in the small village. After Rey has run away from Jakku, and arrived in Theed she has heard them all of, but has never actually meet the creature. This changes when her and her friends get attacked by bandits on their way back from Otoh Gunga.

- Your Sweetness Comes With Sugar on the Side for Lutrosis

Rey's daughter loses her mother as she wanders around the Supermarket. Ben finds her and the two connect over both being Type 1 diabetics. They find Rey, and Ben and Rey are instantly smitten. As they date and fall in love they discover that Jade and Ben are connected more than they thought and healing is brought to the Solo/Skywalker clan.

- Allegories, or Allusions to Real Life for maq_moon

“Boys, please stop arguing.” Rose rubbed her temples. “Poe, we get it, you’re childhood best buddies, you’ve got a better grasp on his character than some rando of a rando you met at a party. Finn, for fuck’s sake, we’ve been working with Ben for months. I’m pretty sure if he’s a serial killer or whatever, it would have come out by now.” Finn sat back in his seat, grumbling. “Not how serial killers work.” Rey was going to have a headache if this continued any longer, so she lied through her teeth at the reality of a new player joining their D&D party. "He seems nice." She didn’t trust a single inch of skin on that man. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

- A Mad Man, with a Box for MBlair

Rey and Ben meet, move in together, get engaged, and marry.

- Invite the Wild In for midwinterspring

Kylo Ren, the mysterious senator who appeared from out of the deserts of Jakku and somehow brought them back to life, has spent a long and unproductive session on Hosnian Prime. Now, it's time to go home. After all, there's someone waiting for him and so much for them to do together.

(The ancient Sith had some interesting rituals.)

- Purim Party for MissCoppelia

Rey goes back to visit her foster mother for a Purim celebration. She meets Ben Solo who's visiting his parents, who are friends with her foster mother. They have an attraction to each other right away, but try to play it cool.

- The Banished Heart for misszeldasayre

On Rey of Niima’s nineteenth name day, Jakku gains a new wizard.

Jakku is a withering outpost of the kingdom, and its people hope the new wizard - the mysterious Kylo Ren - will bring them the rains the land needs to heal. Rey is a lonely, clanless girl living in Niima, and she has a secret. One she hopes the wizard will be able to help her with too.

- The Smuggler's Bride for MyJediLife

Miss Rey Nemo is the new mistress of Manor Takodana, left to her by the late Lord Skywalker. When a strange man named Kylo Ren appears on her doorstep, she decides to hire him as her new groundskeeper. As Rey faces sinister threats and secrets are revealed, Kylo Ren may be the only person who can save her.

- Annabel Lee for myownlittleinfinity

Rey keeps finding these ... notes in her locker. She doesn't quite get them. They seem like love notes, but she doesn't know who they could be from. Meanwhile she's paired up with Ben Solo (who hates her despite her gigantic crush on him) for this English assignment. Who knows how THIS will go.

- with my body i thee worship for niennathegrey

Miss Rey Nemo is the new mistress of Manor Takodana, left to her by the late Lord Skywalker. When a strange man named Kylo Ren appears on her doorstep, she decides to hire him as her new groundskeeper. As Rey faces sinister threats and secrets are revealed, Kylo Ren may be the only person who can save her.

- the losing game for no_big_deal

Sith Princess Rey Palpatine is given a peculiar gift for her Life Day: a Jedi. Not only that, one who is boorish, spirited, and stubborn. But, he presents an opportunity: one that could liberate her from a life under the thumb of her grandfather. She has seven weeks to change his heart before all her freedom is taken from her - forever.

- standing right in front of you for notkellymarie

When Senator Solo's engagement is pushed forward, he and his Jedi bodyguard, Rey, travel to Naboo alone for the announcement ball. The pair despise each other, constantly bickering and disagreeing with each other, which makes spending extensive amounts of time alone together all that more difficult. Until of course, one of them breaks...

- the good, the bad, and the smuggling for OccasionallyCreative

Ben Solo is a seasoned smuggler. And he’s not bad at it, either. But when bounty hunter Rey offers him a temporary partnership he can’t refuse, Ben will find himself pushed to the limits of his skill, patience, and resourcefulness on a job that’s dangerous enough to be his last.

It’s like his dad used to say: bounty hunters are nothing but trouble, kid.

- Whatever our souls are made of...his and mine are the same for Padawan_Writer

Ben and Rey meet only after Kylo has defected from the First Order and returned to the Resistance and his mother. Will the dyad still find a way to be?

- They say that only the dead have seen the end of war for politicalpadmé

“He traded his life for mine,” Rey choked, stomping back and forth in front of him so fast he could barely keep track of her. “He died. He died so I didn’t have to—and it’s not—it’s—after everything he’s gone through—it’s not fair.” Tears were running down her cheeks now, and Poe wanted to do nothing more than hug her, but there was nothing he could say—nothing she would want to hear. Poe remembered all the people he’d lost, all the times he had raged and screamed and cried about the unfairness of it all. “Leia sacrificed herself to bring him back,” Rey declared suddenly, ceasing her constant pacing around the fire as she looked straight at him. “And he sacrificed himself for me—and now no one’s going to know. All he’ll be remembered as is Kylo Ren, but he was—he was so much more.” She exhaled with a shudder and whispered, “He was a part of me, and I—I don’t feel whole without him.” ~

A Force Ghost Ben/Rey love story, with a side of rebuilding the galaxy.

- Cicatrix for Priestly

Getting cut up by Rey on Starkiller awakens something in Kylo.

- I Will Always Be With You for Prix

But she wouldn’t be able to hide her pregnancy for much longer. She was starting to show, and her friends would start asking questions. She would have to give them answers, some of them would not understand, and none of them would accept.

She carried his child. The tiny spark of light woven with darkness, just like her. Just like his father.

—————

The world has gone dark More times than you Or your mother Or your grandmother Can remember. And every hurricane That was meant to be The end of it all Had instead ended In sunshine again.

So believe me When I say; You will survive this And the next one too.

World’s End—Nikita Gill

- all my daydreams are disasters for QueenOfCarrotFlowers

During her search for the infamous Luke Skywalker — the man who predicted a devastating earthquake in New Madrid, Missouri — Rey finds herself entangled in Luke’s family history and with his brooding nephew, Ben Solo.

- on what ground I was founded (when I first saw you) for redbelles

Kylo dreams of Rey after the Battle of Crait. And the yearning is mutual...

Some Force Bond dream smut inspired by "Shrike" and "NFWMB" by Hozier.

- Last Summer for Reykenobi68

Rey had started to get used to Ben not living next door anymore by the time the holidays came around. Then he's back for the holidays. Rey is really expecting things to go wrong after the way he left at the end of the summer. ut is it really going to be that bad.

- The Long Way Home for reylotrash711

In the aftermath of Exegol, Ben and Rey are divided by misunderstandings.  It will take time and danger for them to work things out.

- Under the moonlight for shariling

I don't know why I followed you here. She wanted to reply. Maybe because you're so tall I couldn't help but notice you. Maybe it's because of your hair or the way you move, or maybe it's because of that kind of melancholic look in your eyes. There is something about you that I find terribly attractive and I don’t know what it is: maybe the moon or the alcohol or the wolf I have met before infected me with some strange parasite and now I am hopelessly attracted to dogs, I do not know. She could have said one of these things, any of them, instead she said: “I've never bitten anyone before, and I want you to be my first.”

- Fallen for shipperofdarkness

Prompt: Devil!Ben and Angel!Rey or Angel!Ben and Devil!Rey. How do these two on completely opposite sides fall in love and defy worlds to be together?

- come away with me for silentfleur

Rey owns a tinker shop, but her life changes when she meets Ben Solo and is cursed by a witch. Not necessarily in that order.

- A Picture of Me Without You for SpaceWaffleHouseTM

"I suppose I'd somehow struggle through / But I'd hate to picture myself without you."

It's impossible not to have a soulmark. It's not a big deal, not in the lax and gin-soaked speakeasies of 1920s Manhattan, but it's still a heavy weight to bear, as Ben Solo and Rey find out side by side.

- Lips Raw With Love for stellardarlings

Their kiss on Exegol wasn't their first kiss...

Nor would it be their last.

- Everyone Makes Divine Mistakes for Takekurabehime

Jedi Knight Ben Solo is sent to Naboo on an errand of mercy (and to visit his grandparents). He arrives in springtime; but will he be able to complete his mission without finding himself distracted and bewildered when love and intrigue waft through the fragrant air?

- Glitter & Gold for TearoomSaloon

Rey is lead singer in an up-and-coming glam metal band. They've finally got steady performances, but that means playing at the same club as the Knights of Ren, whose lead singer definitely isn't interested in any competition.

- To kiss like lovers do for the-reylo-void (Anysia)

Ben and Rey spend their formative years growing up together in Medieval Scotland and it looks like they will end up together. Circumstances intervene and Rey loses her chance to be with him. Devastated, she carries on until the day clan Ren attacks Castle Jakku lead by the notorious killer Kylo Ren.

- Snow Turns To Rain for thehobbem

For a moment, he wanted to ask what she meant, but if he was being completely honest, he already knew.  He asked himself that same question over the years, and none more often than tonight, since seeing her again.  Was leaving worth it?  Was going their separate ways worth leaving each other?

 “I’m not sure,” he said finally, shaking his head.  “I’m happy...” he said, and she tensed a little, so he continued, “with my work.  I’m glad I’m doing what I love, but....”

 “But?”

 “But it wasn’t the only thing I loved.”

- Change the Dance for theresonatinglight

- Meet Me in the Woods for thewayofthetrashcompactor (BriarLily)

“What do you mean no one goes in there?” A chuckle. “It’s haunted. People see all sorts of weird things in there and some don’t ever come out. You’re better off living with your curiosity.” Rey wakes in a shadowy forest with no memory of where she came from, only her name. With the help of the resident guardian she takes a journey to figure out her past, and maybe even discover her future.

- permanent calligraphy (your name on me forever) for Thursdaygirl

As they continue to work together, two things become clear. One: Ben Solo is an enigma. He’s preppy yet humble, privileged yet introspective. He’s the opposite of lazy; she kicks herself every day for assuming otherwise. And two: Ben Solo will never love her.

- show me the stars. for tmwillson3

“I don’t hate Christmas, I just don’t love it the way you do.” Lifting his head, he pulls a face, loosening up a tangled ornament of a poodle with pink, curly fluff. Rey snatches it from him possessively, tossing it back to the cart. “No one loves it the way you do, to be fair.”

“Now that’s the truth,” says Poe, who Finn invited about half an hour ago to keep him company.

“People have bad taste, I don’t know what to say.” Huffing, Rey scrolls through her phone with more intent. “Neither of you are helping me, anyway.”

“What’s the problem?” says Poe.

“Rey thinks her hot neighbor hates her —”

“He does hate me.”

“ — When really he’s been flirting with her for the past, oh I don’t know, how long have you lived there?”

- I realized that I need you, I wondered if I could come home for VR_Trakowski

Rey is doing exploration work for the Resistance, searching for force sensitive planets so any force sensitives that they find have a place to train.

One day, midflight she finds a slip of paper with the elegant scrawling words of the ones that came before. The ones that she found when Ben still roamed the galaxy.

When she lands on a dark and barren planet she is forced to face the feelings she thought she buried.

- Shadows of the Moon for walkingsaladshooter

The hallways got darker, the corridors grew longer. Shadows stretched across the walls. The ghosts of Breha Manor grew each night.

Rey clutched her necklace. Ben met her gaze.

And every night, there was weeping.

- show the way (the world could be) for writergenie

In the aftermath of the Battle of Crait, Rey struggles to find her place among the Resistance. However, her lingering Force bond with Kylo— Ben— whatever name he calls himself— complicates things, blurring the line between friend and foe.

When the tension threatens to boil over and a desperate plan goes awry, Rey begins to wonder whether there really is a line between light and dark after all.

(Stars do burn brightest in the blackness of space.)

- why don't we go (somewhere only we know) for XarisEirene

The bond snaps back into place, even stronger than before. He is here. With Rey, yes, but with Luke - Luke, who is looking at them now with that same dangerous glint in his eye that haunts Ben’s dreams.

- renewed, transfigured, in another pattern for yodalorian

Rey mourns on Tatooine while Ben is stuck in the World Between Worlds. But neither of them are alone, and blue butterflies light a path back to each other.

[angstywriterangst]

Omg I’m so proud of @a-nerd-obsessed ! I’m so glad her works are starting to get the appreciation they deserve! I cannot speak highly enough about her writing, her talent, and her friendship. Even though I’m her beta, working with her has made me a better writer!

My Favorite Color is You: The Emma of Reylo Fanfiction

I have a new favorite fanfic and it’s @a-nerd-obsessed‘s WIP series “Darkness Rises and Light to Meet It,” a Dark Rey/Jedi Academy AU. This is the first in a series of posts that serves my deep need to talk about this fic and its themes. Please share your thoughts! And if you haven’t read it, do yourself a favor and check it out.

When it comes to Reylo and Jane Austen comparisons, Pride & Prejudice is the novel that’s most often mentioned. This makes sense not only because it’s Austen’s most famous work but because it’s so easy to see Elizabeth and Darcy in Rey and Ben.

That said, as a Jane Austen fan, Pride and Prejudice has never been my favorite. I’ve always been partial to Emma. The thing I always loved about the novel is that its romantic center, Emma and Knightly, were close friends long before they were romantically attracted to each other. They grew up around each other and developed a distinct brother/sister dynamic. I’ve always had a soft spot for romances that began with friendship, and I’ve heard some people interpret Rey and Ben’s scenes in TLJ this way, that what we’re seeing is first and foremost two people empathizing with each other, not necessarily romantic attraction.

This is why I was OVER THE MOON to run across what I consider the Emma of Reylo fanfiction, anerdobsessed’s story “My Favorite Color is You.” In this canonverse AU, Luke finds Rey as a child on Jakku and immediately recognizes her potential for darkness. He takes her into his academy in the hopes that he can guide her along another path. Here, she meets Ben who quickly becomes something like a big brother. He’s a little annoyed with her but also extremely protective as only a big brother can be. It doesn’t take them long to form a bond over a shared struggle: they both have a dark presence inside them that they’re deeply ashamed of. They can only talk about this, and the mysterious voice they hear in their minds, with each other. As a result, they develop a relationship based on empathy and understanding. Together, they create a safe haven, the only place where they can be themselves.

As I read this story, more than once I thought, “you know what? I don’t even care if these two get romantically involved.” Of course, they ultimately do, and of course, I love it when it starts happening, but when it does, it’s really just a garnish. It was this experience that got me reflecting on Reylo and why I’ve become so fascinated with the ship. When I think about it, it’s not the romance. It’s the beauty of seeing two people recognize each other’s humanity and connect over it, even across a large ideological and spatial chasm. It makes me think about all the people in my life who I love even though we see things very differently. Getting into Reylo has given me an opportunity to reflect on the important role human connection plays in bridging ideological gaps. To me, THIS is what attracts me to the ship.

I’ve been shy about sharing this in a fandom that’s focused on romantic, especially physical, attraction. But as the lovely anerdobsessed once pointed out— “what about affection? Real, deep, heartfelt affection?” Romance is all well and good, but as someone nearing the decade mark in a long-term relationship, I can tell you romance is not what got us here, affection is. It’s not his touch that keeps us together. It’s the way he listens to me without judgement. It’s the way he tries to understand my point of view. It’s the way he makes me feel like I’m not alone. This is what Reylo is to me, and why I love @a-nerd-obsessed‘s fic so much.

Does this resonate with anyone else? Do you have other fic recommendations that spend a lot of time setting up friendship before romance?

Please do check out My Favorite Color is You. It’s beautiful, heart wrenching, and you’ll be wondering how it could have flown under your radar! Take the time to thank @a-nerd-obsessed for this incredible contribution to the fandom!  

[reyloforcebalance]

Hello Chridder! Hope you're alright and safe! Bonded fan here, I was wondering if you're thinking on writing a new story😊

Hey there! Thanks for asking. I have fifty stories in my head, but none of them make it to the page (three chapter Bonded epilogue, an Illiad AU, a modern ABO, etc). I’m hoping I’ll have more time and motivation when summer rolls around. Knowing someone’s interested certainly helps! 

In the meantime, if you’re looking for long cannonverse epics to get you through quarantine, here are some recs:

 Conceal Me What I Am series by Killtheselights and Theladyofthehouse

Darkness Rises and Light to Meet it series by anerdobsessed

Day Follows Night; Dark Follows Light by lyricalriot

Force Destiny by edenwoodsparker

Scales of Fate by altargaryen 

Enjoy! I hope you’re safe as well! 

[greysideforceuser]

Title: My Favorite Color is You

Ao3 User: anerdobsessed 

Link

Kudos: 119

Comments: 184

Summary: a Dark Rey/Jedi Academy AU where Rey and Ben grow up together and develop a special bond based on the fear and shame they feel  about the darkness inside them. Haunted by malevolent voice in their heads, they can only turn to one another for support and refuge. They don’t know who it is or what it wants… All they know is they’ll do anything to protect each other from it. Part one of a two part series “Darkness Rises and Light to Meet it.” Part one complete (55738 words).