#as always you’re characterization and writing is TOP TIER

[floo-after-dark]

Looking. So. So respectfully. So respectfully

you've got my heart in a holster babe! (EXPLICIT FIC)

happy valentines, take some cowboy au!! art under the cut is slightly spoilery ;]

also papy sketch from the og teaser LMAO

[eupheme]

I wanted to stary of by saying I love your graphic blog as well, and also your writing. Top tier. I was wanting to know if you had any tips for writing smut? You do it so well, please teach me!

hi anon, you are too kind and I am so honored that you asked me! I actually have a list of resources that have helped me linked below, and then I added a couple more personal tips under the cut (and if any writer moots see this & want to add on, please do! I am always looking for tips and ideas!) 💖

— Smut Thesaurus by @/prurientpuddlejumper

A collection of words to describe body parts, sexual acts, and types of dialogue

— Writing Tips & Pointers by @/prurientpuddlejumper

Tips for choosing words and describing actions and emotions

— The Ultimate Guide to Writing Smut by QuinnAndersen

I have this bookmarked - includes an expansive list of body descriptions, actions, feelings and is so helpful!

— 6 Tips for Erotica by S.A. Crawford

Covers the basics - has some good tips about setting up scenes and descriptive writing 

— Writing a Smut Scene by @/youneedsomeprompts

Great quick reference of prompts, descriptions, and words you can use to set the scene 

— 10 Tips for Writing Good Smut by @/saltyshiro

Love the tip about reading other fic and writing empathetically! 

— Smut Words by @/hollandsmushroom

a collection of nsfw-related words

and then some of my own thoughts are below:

For smut, I love the build-up and setting the scene - establishing where they are and how they got there, the longing, and all the emotions that come with it.

And then using that to get into the characters heads. Even when it’s pure or short pwp, knowing what kind of scene it is, how they got there (are they finally giving in after weeks of flirting? or is it a lazy, early-morning indulgence?) helps establish the mood and what sort of feelings and pacing I should be thinking about.

I feel like the “show don’t tell” advice works really well here (or, a version of it). Blend their inner thoughts and how they’re feeling with what’s physically going on - lean into the five senses.

I like adding desperation, too - gruff characters letting go when they finally can lean into their desires, that “can’t get enough” is so fun to write (while keeping in mind characterization).

Writing smut can get repetitive - to switch it up I make notes of different positions I think would be fun to try (something that’s been so fun in my poly wade/reader/logan series). You also don’t have to write out every single beat of what’s happening.

Don’t be afraid to add dirty talk - mix it in, use it as a reaction to what’s going on. And don’t be afraid to get filthy if that’s what you want to write!

If you happen to feel a little embarrassed while writing, that’s totally okay and don’t let it get to you! It’s tough to put yourself out there, but just keep putting words down! We’re all out here peddling smut and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

Most important is to write what you enjoy!! And what you are comfortable with - never feel like you have to include a certain kink, etc, for your writing to be enjoyable. As long as you’re having a good time writing it, then that’s really all that matters.

And when I was starting (and even now) I return to fave fics and books and see how scenes are paced and how certain acts are worded, or what made me like that moment so much (and then how I can incorporate similar vibes using my own words and writing style) 💖

I hope this helped a little bit! If there’s something specific you’d like to know or if you have more questions, my inbox is always open!

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is: starryeyedjanai! @starryeyedjanai has 74 fics in the Stranger Things fandom and 60 of them are in the Steddie tag!

@steddieas-shegoes recommends the following works by @starryeyedjanai:

All things end and all things change.

what lurks beneath

nights like this

if i could hold you for a minute (i’d go through it again)

"Janai is one of those authors that can make absolutely anything hot. I could sit and talk for hours about how they characterize Steve and Eddie. I absolutely love everything they write and always make it a priority to open the AO3 email when the notification comes in!" -- @steddieas-shegoes

Below the cut, @starryeyedjanai answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

These two burrowed their way into my brain and just won’t leave. I can’t not write them when I am thinking about them literally all the time and am brimming with new ways for them to fall in love.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

I’m kind of a sucker for steddie talking via notes, letters, etc. before they ever meet in person. There’s just something so special about them falling in love in unconventional ways before they ever meet in person that hits the spot, you know? I also just really love all the creative AUs that people come up with that I never would have thought of writing.

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

I love writing anything that has friends to lovers and especially if they are so, so stupid about it. Idiot4idiot my beloved. friends/acquaintances to lovers is So fun to explore because there are a million ways to do it. I love a good oh moment where things just click into place.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

It is So hard to pick just one!!! So i’ll list a few: One that I have reread a few times that I just really, really love is All I Do Is Want by novemberthorne. There’s just something really special about it—all the emotion in the beginning and then the smut which is just top tier. like a sack of bricks and literally anything by alligator_writes is great off the beaten path by pukner is also really, really great

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

I have a fic idea that I've been thinking about for a while that involves alternate universes, like the metaverse, because if the Upside Down exists, there are probably other dimensions as well.

What is your writing process like?

It is honestly so variable. For the majority of my ficlets, I get an idea and just start hacking away at it intermittently until it’s done, so it’s safe to say that at any given time, I have like eight ficlets that are partially written. I never used to outline because I didn’t really write fics longer than around 5k, but since I’ve started writing longer fics, it is almost necessary for me to have an outline that hits all the major plot points because otherwise I will forget what I have planned. So for anything that I know will be longer than a ficlet, I’ll write out an outline, even just a few bullet points so that I can reference it when I’m writing and not lose sight of where the story is going. 

Do you have any writing quirks?

I use way too many em-dashes and my sentences are sometimes comically long, but the way I write is indicative of how fast my brain is moving, kind of. I typically headcanon Steve and Eddie to both have ADHD, so any fics in their points of view will have their thoughts coming out as fast as my own typically are. And sentence length and structure can really help convey that.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

I prefer posting once I’ve finished writing because my focus shifts around a lot and it sometimes takes a while for me to actually finish projects (like i had a fic that sat at 16k for months as I worked on other things that caught my attention and then I finally returned to finish the last couple thousand words six or so months later)

Which fic are you most proud of?

I am proud of all of my fics, but I really, really love how All things end and all things change. turned out. Some fics just come together so easily and this was one of them. I outlined the fic and let the idea marinate for a couple months and then I wrote ~20k in about a week and finished the fic.

How did you get the idea for All things end and all things change.?

This fic was for a holiday server exchange so my giftee gave me three prompts and I found ways to incorporate all of the prompts. I saw the prompt for mutual pining roommates and immediately knew I was going to write Eddie taking Steve home to Wayne over the holidays. I originally only planned on using that prompt, but the prompt for a snowy cabin getaway really called to me as I got further along in the fic and needed more tension between them. It was just a really excellent set of prompts.

When writing All things end and all things change., what was something you didn’t expect?

I did not expect it to get so long! My original estimate was 10k, but then I kept adding more to Wayne and Eddie showing Steve how special Christmas could be with people who care about him and then I added the cabin scene which added an easy 5k to the fic and then I was staring at what was, at that time, my longest complete fic. Wild.

What inspired what lurks beneath?

This honestly came out of left field for me because I had only ever written one other fic like it. I was doing kinktober for the first time and had a few different ideas for the prompt for that day and then I saw that the date of that prompt was Joey (@matchingbatebites)’s birthday and remembered her lake monster Eddie ficlet and instantly knew I wanted to explore a different version of lake monster Eddie.

What was your favorite part to write from if i could hold you for a minute (i’d go through it again)?

I really, really loved writing the flashes into the future at the end of the fic. Throughout the fic, there was some yearning and pining from afar and getting to write that everything works out in the end was cathartic.

How do/did you feel writing if i could hold you for a minute (i’d go through it again)?

Oh boy, this fic put me through the ringer. This was written for the steddie big bang and it was the first longer fic that I was attempting to write. I just had so many different ideas for this fic that it made it hard to choose the direction I wanted to go in. I probably have like an additional 20k words that just did not end up in the fic because it contradicted things that did end up in the fic or just didn’t fit with the vibe I was going for. There were times that I felt discouraged and felt like I might never finish it, but I am very pleased with how it turned out in the end! It was extremely rewarding to finally finish it and get it posted in February!

What was the most difficult part of writing nights like this?

Honestly, I don’t remember this one giving me any trouble at all. Once I got the idea in my brain, I think I sat down and wrote all 2.5k in a day. I do not know what my brain was doing during kinktober, but I think I ended up writing like over 60k that month and it was the only time that I’ve ever really been able to sit down and write a ficlet from start to finish like that and it happened with multiple of the ficlets that I ended up writing the day before they were published.

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

I really love the lead up to the smut in my fic catch the embers on my tongue. Like eddie being a little self-deprecating and in awe that steve might feel the same way he does was so fun to write. Also the summary for surface level freak is probably one of my favorite things i’ve written.

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

Some of the projects I’m working on right now are things I can’t really talk about, but look forward to fics from me in the Steddie Summer Exchange, the Steddie Bang 2024, and the ST Sapphic Mini Bang!

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

Whoever nominated me, I am kissing you full on the mouth with tongue (if you’re into that kind of thing)

Thank you to our author, @starryeyedjanai, and our nominator, @steddieas-shegoes! See more of starryeyedjanai's works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[notlikearegularmom-blog]

I love you, Star Wars. It’s ruining my life. 

I resurrected my long-dormant Tumblr to write 2k words on my complicated feelings about the Bad Batch series finale, and I feel better now.  

I love Star Wars. I love this show. Earlier in the season, I went shot-by-shot on how great this series is when it’s on its game. 

Considered in a vacuum, that final episode is great. The sequence on Tantiss is tense and thrilling. The visuals, as always, are top tier. The epilogue hits the right emotional notes... and it all fell flat for me. 

I think my harshest, but most concise, critique is this: The season went in circles on stuff that ended up being irrelevant and ran out of time to tee up the emotional payoff. 

I’m aware I’m in the minority. If you loved this, I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong to love it. I’m glad people loved it; I wanted to love it. This show remains one of my favorite recent Star Wars things, and the fact that the ending didn’t land doesn’t change that. 

I’m genuinely bummed that this didn’t work for me, but here’s why it didn’t. 

The storytelling fails to get us where we need to be for that ending – and there are two main reasons for that: 

Structural issues with the season-long plot arc that have downstream effects on characterization and themes. 

An over-reliance on misdirection to create tension. 

Big time spoilers ahead, obviously.

Structure 

For the first two seasons, the show is episodic – you get these tight little two- or three-episode arcs but there’s never a season-long plot. For the final season, they set up a central story around the show’s mythology (Tantiss). All the action should lead to that end, even if we get some one-off episodes along the way. That’s something they hadn’t done before, and I was really looking forward to it. It’s ambitious to switch things up, and I like it when shows take risks. 

Setting up the mytharc 

The actual plot progression when we get there, though, is weird. No one loves a hunt for a MacGuffin more than I do – you often get some of your best character moments in those stories – but you have to eventually find the MacGuffin, or your audience starts to wonder where things are going. 

It takes nine episodes to get to a significant plot reveal. That’s more than half a season of not giving the audience information – not teasing partial clues, just not giving. And the main thing the characters find is something the audience already knows (what’s an m-count), even if the characters don’t*. The big problem is that there are no breadcrumbs leading to the next part of the story, and I started to get concerned that it was because the central plot wasn’t going anywhere. 

* I find that really hard to believe. In TPM, Qui-Gon tests Anakin’s m-count on his iPhone. There’s an app for that.  

The story arc 

Two-thirds of the way through the season, the arc laps itself and circles back to where we started. 

It’s a decision that could make sense – the basic premise of the show is Omega daddy-daughter bonding with these guys while helping them do their missions.  

You can’t entirely blow that up in the final season. You still need some episodes of exactly that, and that’s why she returns to them early in the action.  

But once she gets taken to Tantiss (again) we basically just do the arc over — and we’ve already had mini versions of that exact arc in both seasons 1 and 2. We’ve been here before and it doesn’t really show us anything new – and, for it to work, it should. 

This is all too bad because individual episodes are fantastic: 1 and 3, and 10 and 11 are all no notes amazing. Episodes 5-7 form a really effective short arc, and 9 has some of my favorite visual moments in the entire series in it. 

But episodes often felt like they’d been written in isolation – excellent by themselves, but they don’t do the thing they need to do: introduce the next progression in the mytharc. 

That isolation also seems to mess with some key characterization. 

Character 

Everyone feels a little inconsistent from episode to episode, but it’s especially noticeable with Crosshair because this is his season. 

Episode 7 Crosshair and Episode 14 Crosshair feel like different guys, both of whom aren’t quite the same character as Episode 15 Crosshair. 

In 14, Rampart says something to Crosshair like “people like us are only ever loyal to ourselves” and he responds, “I’ve changed.” But that’s never been his character’s central struggle. He’s incredibly loyal with deep values even when they’re badly misguided and THAT is his problem and has been for three seasons. He did war crimes out of a belief in something larger than himself. He’s a good candidate for the chip because he’s inherently loyal. They say that explicitly early on in the show.

And sure, maybe Rampart is projecting his own experience onto Crosshair – but then why does he accept that framing and respond like it’s true? And we get a foreshadowing moment like this tension is going to come to a head – but then these two are never in the same scene again and the question about Crosshair’s loyalty never comes back up. 

Also in 14, there’s an exchange where he tells Wrecker that he ‘owes’ Omega for not leaving him behind on Tantiss and essentially that’s why he’s there. 

But my dude has been openly established as loving Omega even more fiercely than the others, all the more for being late to it, since like a third of the way into the season. Putting us back in a place where he’s pretending that he doesn’t care as much about her as he does ignores like nine episodes of character growth.  

This was the point where I started wondering if they’d written the final two episodes first, and then backfilled the rest of the season. 

In 15, he’s willing to throw his own life away for everyone else, and that’s much more in line with the rest of his arc. But... 

This would be a really affecting line, but it kind of comes out of nowhere. I think it’s a moment to create tension: if their team as an idea – and the thing the whole show is centered around – is dead, maybe they’re also individually going to die? Probably, because they end this scene with a visibly injured Wrecker saying ‘we all know the risks.’ But up to this point we’ve gotten nothing about how Crosshair felt about Tech – or even more broadly about their team being irrevocably changed by their experiences. He literally never talks about it, even in scenes where it would have made sense to talk about it. 

(This would have been the perfect time to tee this up.) 

He avoided talking about it so thoroughly that I thought we’d get a watershed emotional moment at some point, like late in the third act of the season. Add 45 seconds of meaningful dialogue to Episode 12 (it’s barely 20 minutes and the shortest of the season, so there was definitely time), then this all falls into place and that Episode 15 line lands perfectly. 

(This is the scene, right here. It’s even nicely framed for it.) 

And I’m just not sure how to feel about the fact that they resolved Crosshair’s PTSD arc by... removing the outward symptom of his trauma. 

Misdirection 

They spent a lot of time on misdirection in order to create tension, like a whole lot. So much so that there’s not enough time spent laying the groundwork for the ending we get. 

These are the main teases: 

Omega is probably Force-sensitive, and that will have big implications. 

I love Ventress but there’s no reason for her to be here. The problems and questions she introduces don’t end up being relevant. ‘Can you grow to your full potential without giving up the people you love?’ But Omega doesn’t end up faced with that hard choice. 

No one ends up facing hard choices – like, have we earned our rest now or do we keep fighting? That’s a really compelling question — but the characters never have that conversation on screen. The choice just sort of happens to them in the space of like 10 seconds, right at the end. They’re not even active participants in it. 

No one is safe; everyone might die. 

Not a bad choice at all for a final season. But we go from ‘you’ll never grow with these guys holding you back’ at the midpoint to ‘you have to live because she needs you’ in the finale with no stops in between. It feels like Episode 15 is the conclusion of a different season than the one we’d been watching — and I think I would have really liked that season. 

CX-2 is someone significant. 

Even if a reveal is a non-reveal, you should still, uh, reveal it. 

The other guys, though, look badass and are cool af, and we should have gotten more than seven minutes from their first introduction to them dying en masse in the dark (in a sequence where it was hard to keep track of who was who). 

If it doesn’t matter who CX-2 is, what were these guys being held back for? 

There are a bunch of smaller moments as well that seem to be leading the story in a direction, never to be addressed again. You know that saying about how if you introduce a gun in the first act of a play, it needs to go off by the third? 

That one’s a literal gun, which is funny — but there are several plot elements that just appear and then disappear. 

Focus  

In the final season of something, you really feel that ticking clock. Where and how the story spends its time feels more urgent, and I thought the choices here were odd. 

We get a few side plots and character cameos that feel like filler, which is probably to be expected. But I think the best example of what I’m talking about is this: 

The comedy villain from season one gets nearly 35 minutes of screen time down the stretch, while Wrecker, a main character whose fate we care deeply about, gets maybe half that.  

And, sure, Rampart’s death was satisfying because that guy is the worst. But I honestly don’t know why they brought him back and chose to spend so much time on him. 

Justice for Wrecker, in general. He gets nothing to do. Echo has more impact on the plot (and possibly more dialogue), and he’s only in a third of the episodes. 

And to be clear, I would be fine spending time on things like past characters if the story had really hit the other beats along the way, but what we get feels unfocused. 

Is the main theme of the season redemption? Loyalty? Self-determination? Letting go of who you thought you were supposed to be? Ultimately, it’s none of those things because it tries, at different times, in different episodes, to be all of them — sometimes in contradictory ways. 

And with that… 

I’m being really hard on something I love here, but... I wouldn’t give this much thought to something mid. I care because it’s really good, even if, ultimately, I feel like the execution could have been better.  

(I went with The Tortured Poets Department for the musical joke in the title, because it’s topical — but Never Let Me Down Again was sitting right there.) 

[saturdaynightghostclub]

Toady’s 2024 Book Awards!

I’m obviously not a BookToker, but I do love watching everyone’s reading wrap-up videos and I want to be included, so here are my 2024 reading superlatives!

(Obviously my opinion is my opinion, if you love a book I hated or vice versa then I love that for you)

Total books read: 46

Top genres: Literary, fantasy, classics

Average rating: 3.98

DNFed: 11 (your girl’s a quitter)

Most Surprising: Just Kids by Patti Smith

I’m not a huge fan of Patti Smith’s music, so I didn’t expect to care much about her memoir when it was recommended to me; the thing is though, Patti really doesn’t seem to think of herself as a musician. She’s a deeply flawed individual whose choices I frequently balked at, but who possesses the unique ability to contextualize her own story within a moment in time. 5/5.

Most Disappointing: The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

Dear fucking god, I hated every second of this. The premise had serious potential, but it was offset by half-assed characterization, clunky dialogue, and baffling narrative and stylistic choices. This is maybe the meanest thing I’ve ever said about a book, but I swear it’s out of love because I truly think this could have been great: this is a classic example of typing versus writing. Meg Shaffer typed an entire book without writing a single thing. I beg you: step away from the thesaurus, read your sentences out loud, and learn how to write a whole person without depending on outside factors to define them for you. 2.5/5.

Wildest Ride: Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner

This filled the Succession-shaped hole in my heart. I could not have put it down if you’d paid me, which wasn’t surprising considering Brodesser-Akner’s track record. This is an author who knows how to grip you, and while she has you she’ll make sure you’re laughing. It’s genuinely so hard to be funny in writing, but she always manages to make me crack up while simultaneously showing me the most vile, embarrassing, horrifying aspects of humanity. 4.75/5.

Most Controversial: The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Okay hear me out. I hated this, but not because it was bad. It wasn’t bad, the premise and plot were interesting and I was impressed that Khaw was able to pace the novella so efficiently, especially because horror tends to want more context than that format allows. The thing I hated (and I do seem to be the only one, so forgive me) was the prose. Every single sentence reminded me of those “Things That Sound Like They Came From the Bible But Actually Came From Tumblr” posts, and while a lot of people seem to enjoy that style of writing, I found it to be completely bogged down in itself. Untangling the mess of adverbs was so tedious that I almost couldn’t follow the plot, and what sucks is that the over-writing really served no purpose. 2.5/5.

I Feel Like I’m Taking Crazy Pills: The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

I have never felt so gaslit by a book in my entire life. The bookish internet would have you believe that this is top-tier worldbuilding, characterization, etc etc etc but I am here to tell you that the entire thing is ass. I couldn’t actually believe how ass it was. And still I see people putting this on their “Best of 2024” lists as if it was anything but shit from a butt. Rated 3/5 stars for the “twist” at the end, but honestly this is a 1-2 star book.

Best Contemporary: The Book of Love by Kelly Link

This did not work for everyone. That’s completely understandable. Parts of it were questionable to me too. However. I was so gripped by Link’s writing style, her depth of character, and the freaky, uncanny charm of the world she’d created that I forgive the more depraved parts of the plot in what I think is a testimony to the fact that, in writing, craft matters. This book pulled me into itself by force; it had been a long, long time since I’d been so engrossed, and I immediately felt like a little kid again, reading late into the night even though I knew I’d be a mess the next day. 5/5.

Best Classic: Stoner by John Williams

This book put words to feelings I didn’t know there was even language to express. I’m stunned that it’s not considered a foundational text in the canon of English literature; having read it, I feel like I can trace the origins of everything from The Holdovers to The Secret History. 5/5.

My Favorite, But: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Okay so the writing is occasionally cringe, yes. Also, it’s weird that the love interest is a real historical figure. Totally. The main character is irredeemable for sure, and the ending is wack. Every single critique of this book is completely valid and I don’t disagree with any of them. And also this is hands-down my favorite book of the year. Nothing I’ve read since has compared, it was like a super-intense dopamine hit that I’ll never be able to attain again. It’s wildly smart, painfully self-aware, genre-defying, and somehow it also manages to be extremely fun and sexy. This may not be your favorite book, but if nothing else it will keep you on your toes. 5/5.

Honorable mentions: Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, The Orchard by David Hopen, The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster, Erasure by Percival Everett, and The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry

Dishonorable mentions: The Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman, The Bellwether Revivals by Benjamin Wood, Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio, and Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

[cellophaine]

before als ends, i would just like to say thank you for writing it or even conceptualizing it at all! i don't frequent character x reader fanfic much, mostly because a lot of reader inserts aren't relatable to me, but i absolutely love how you've written reader in als. and your characterization of art is also perfect to me and is completely in line with the movie and how i view him, so thank you for that! no matter how als ends, i'm so glad i stumbled across it at all!

THIS. THISSS. THIIIIIIISSSSSSSSS!!!! This is so sweet anon!! I AM BAWLINGGGG I AM GRATEFUL

Thank you for your incredibly kind words!! This is why I will write even when I'm sick 😤 I love hearing your thoughts on my fics overall and sometimes I feel like my best isn’t good enough, but you’re always there to remind me that I can be harsh on myself. You like my stuff regardless of my opinion on them and for that I am incredibly grateful for you!! I always try to stick as close to the canon characters’ personalities as possible because I view my work as an extension of the film’s universe.

I’m so lucky to have readers like you who have supported me even though my upload schedule sucks and my writing isn’t top tier all the time! So thank you thank you thank you 😭🫶

[macawritesupdates]

I really badly want to leave long comments in ALL of your works but I’m bad at English and I can’t accurately describe just how awesome it is, how it always makes me laugh, how the characterization was top tier, and I love the jokes and memes you included! But I’m awkward and can’t explain well and I’m a little anxious that what I’m saying might be taken in a wrong way so I could only say short and common phrases 😭 but I wanted you to know that you’re really awesome and beautiful! I’m so excited to always read your works (in fact, I reread the Yuuji Files countless of times)! More blessings and power to you, baby!

You can always leave the comments in another language! I don't mind at all! <3 I will always translate them on my end and read and treasure them just as much!

I'm glad you enjoy my works and I'm honored to have you as a fan of my writing!

[celiastjamesoscar]

Hello to the best Sam writer out there!

Your newest story was absolutely incredible. I love how accurate your characterization of Sam is. She's stern, stubborn yet soft and so caring at the same time.

“Who’s this?” The alluring woman asked, and you could only think, ‘You’re future girlfriend’ with a giant smile. That made me laugh out loud. R is such a charming dork. Your Readers always have such a funny and witty personality, it's really fun to read your stories because of it. Plus, they're always a huge simp for Sam, which same. The way you write her being grumpy and sassy at the beginning and then slowly loosening up and becoming softer is top tier.

And Sam so bluntly stating she won't have sex with R for money completely broke me. That was utterly hilarious 😂.

I really really adore your perfect way of writing Sam's personality.

Sam is a hard ass but she’s secretly a softie. And I love how she slowly warms up to the R if I do say so myself

I always base my Readers off of my personality a little bit, so I will take that as a compliment!!

And don’t worry, we will continue seeing Sam fics for quite awhile, so we will see some more of her grumpiness! <3

I hope you have a wonder day/night!

[catboywrites]

hello! i just wanted to tell you how much i genuinely enjoy your writing. i’ve been with watercolors since the very beginning, and polaroids since about halfway through & im loving both of them so much. your characterization is just top tier in all honesty. i hope you’re recovering well from being ill!! i wish you the best <33

awww thank you 🥺 that's so sweet! i love hearing how long people have been following my stories. it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to know people are always looking forward to an update! and that you enjoy how i write the characters! i get nervous writing some of them but i haven't screwed up yet it seems ��

thank you for the well wishes!! i am feeling much better! kick my sickness into traffic

[anaisanais-stuff]

Ok so you're an experienced fic writer (and reader, I assume) So I have a question for you-What are your least favourite tropes when it comes to Evak? Maybe not even tropes but things that irk you and make you stop reading? Personally, I hate when people portray Isak as some damsel in distress while Even is this tall strong masculine dude Like hello? Have people seen Isak literally lifting Even on his shoulders while doing squats? haha Thankfully, there are not many fics like that written now :)

Hi anon,

Thanks for the ask!

It’s an interesting one, because these things are so subjective, so what irks me as a reader is totally random and won’t irk the next person.

As a fanfic writer, I write completely self-indulgently, and I’m very aware of the fact that my characterization, writing style or fave tropes don’t appeal to all, either. That’s the beauty of fanfic, it’s a glimpse into a plethora of different people’s experiences, interests, style and kinks, so there’s something for everyone. Very cool.

As for your question, what I’d like to do is tell you about my favorite tropes and dynamics in evak fics.

First off is slow burn/pining. I watched Isak’s season in real time back in 2016, and waiting for the next clip to drop/for Even to show his intentions, was the sweetest hell. I think in both reading and writing, that’s, at least to some extent, the feeling I’m always trying to recreate: that longing, the will they won’t they? (But c’mon, it’s Evak so of course they will 😏) Top tier fic material for me.

Next is banter and friends-to-lovers. These two are closely related in my opinion, since, to me, besides the insane, magnetic attraction between them, there was always a genuine simpatico and friendship there. Like, these are the kinda guys that’ll discuss their similar taste in music and go off about their art boy/science boy interests, and banter back and forth about memes and random shit until the tension snaps and they’ll finally realize hey I’m in love with you, and dayummmm you’re so hot we should be fucking… Lesgo, I’m settling in for that 80k fic at 11 pm.

Strangers-to-lovers is another big fave of mine; basically I love to explore the dynamics of their attraction, how they complement and challenge each other and how, in every universe etc etc, they’re attracted to each other ❤️ Good stuff, 10/10.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Please Stop, It's Already Dead

We’re almost a year into Zeb Wells’ run on Spider-Man and we finally got answer as to what the f*ck i going on. The mystery box has been opened and it’s full of f*cking stupid. Stupid, stupid, answers. Answers that just don’t work for the characters that we all know and love. Bro, like, i had a whole goddamn essay written about this, about how Zeb Wells has literally thrown out decades of growth and characterization for some half-hearted shock plot to basically troll the fandom but then i saw the leaks for issue twenty-six and what the f*ck? The death of Ms. Marvel? Really? You’re about to fridge Kamala Khan? Word? The most popular and visible Muslim character in f*cking comics, and you’re going to kill her off just to f*ck with Peter Parker even more than he’s already been f*cked over? What the f*ck is even going on anymore? What are you doing Marvel? How is this a good idea? How are these the optics you wan for your flagship comic book and most profitable hero? It’s like you hate money right now.

Listen, I'll be the first to admit that i didn’t care for Kamala when she was first introduced in the comics. Ma came about during the whole “All New, All Different” debacle and i just couldn’t stand any of that sh*t. It didn’t help that she was pushed so goddamn hard, to the point of sheer annoyance. I couldn’t pick up a Marvel comic without a f*cking Ms. Marvel mention for, like, two whole years. It was obnoxious how prominent this chick was in  comics but, as time went on, i got over it. Kamala is a thing. I’m good with that. It helps that she is unapologetically Pakistani and Muslim. That sh*t is f*cking dope and we can always have more represenation like that. Then she got a show. Yo, Iman Vellani did the impossible and changed my opinion of Kamla altogether.That was top-tier, RDJ-as-Iron Man casing right there. I am still wildly indifferent to Kamala in the books but Ms. Marvel in the MCU is the sh*t. It’s a crime more people didn’t watch that show but i think she’ll steal all of her scenes in the upcoming Marvels flick. Which, coincidentally, is also written by Zeb f*cking Wells so that might end up being a sh*tshow, too. which brings me back to my point: Why the f*ck are we fridging Miss Marvel in the goddamn first place?

Ma is poised o be a breakout star of one of the most anticipated (some would also say infamous) MCU entries to date. What the f*ck is the motivation behind such an ill-advised comic book death? Now, unlike a lot of people out there in the blogsphere, i don’t think this is desperate and lazy “plot twist” is racist or sexist. I can definitely see why people would say that but this, to me, stinks of corporate mandate. This is the Marvel suits making the call, probably to get buzz going for the aforementioned Marvels film because, so far, word is that thing is a goddamn mess. Which isn’t surprising considering that Wells wrote that thing, too. I Just want to hammer that fact home: Zeb Wells wrote the Marvels and is now killing off Ms. Marvel in the comics, for reasons. You would think it be counter-intuitive to kill off a third of your leads in said flick just for hate clicks but you know the old adage; All publicity is good publicity. I don’t think Marvel as a whole, needs anymore bad publicity, though, and this sh*t is the worst kind.

Wells isn’t even killing her off in her own book, man. Kamala Khan’s death, as temporary as it will probably end up being, is just to give “development” to Peter Parker. Her death is a f*cking plot device, devoid of purpose or narrative weight, and that is the greatest crime being committed here. Bad writing aside, do you know how disrespectful this is to the character? How condescending it is to her fans? It’s wild to me that the higher ups gave the green light for this bullsh*t but, i mean, they did hand Wells the reins to the most popular superhero in the world. And continue to let him f*ck it up. Why not throw a little brown girl sacrifice on the dumpster fire, too? Like, it keeps getting worse and I don't know how that's even f*cking possible. How is this Spider-Man run so bad? How does Wells keep making the absolute wrong choices? I don't even understand how someone who calls themselves a professional writer, can craft such an abysmal narrative and put their name on it. Proudly. You should hear this asshole in interviews. HE rally thinks he’s doing something great with this book right now. The delusion and hubris is real. It’s sh*t like this that’s letting manga absolutely massacre the US comics industry.

[wanderleave]

i just spent the day reading where the hours bend ONLY TO FIND OUT IN THE AUTHORS NOTES AT THE END THAT YOU’RE THE ONE WHO WROTE IT??? Are you kidding me OOMF YOU’RE INSANE FOR THIS i literally loved it soooo much!! every single loop was amazing!! when she slapped carol and told steve to shut up, and then all the devastatingly beautiful loops afterwards??! literally a masterpiece!! s1 has always been my favorite season, and my jancy obsession can’t thank you enough for this story. idek how to describe all the feelings it gave me, i cried i laughed i smiled etc etc the hope vs despair of it all MY GOD YOUR WRITING IS TOP TIER !! the characterization & storytelling was perfection too, ahhhh i’m so sorry for rambling i’m just so excited and emotional after this.. i’ll be comparing every fic to this, this is officially the jancy bible

this is too much haha, i'm so happy you liked it! i spent a long time wanting to write that fic and a long time actually writing it (sorry, again, for my delays if you read it as it posted) but to hear something like this is what makes it all worth it!

[honeyhotteoks]

HELLO????????? WHERE HAS THIS BEEN?????? MY GOD!!!!!!!!!! I literally woke up at 2am and couldn’t sleep and decided to scroll the yunho fic tag, as one does lmao and found this…. and i’m gonna be honest i was skeptical of ot8 omegaverse because that’s soooo many dynamics to write and hard to handle and honestly i get the ick with how smut is written so quick so im always skeptical BUT THIS???????? anyways it’s 4:30 i’ve just read every chapter and i am a mess this was so fantastic!!!!!!! the romance is ROMANCING, the tenderness is PEAK 😩 the smut is top tier too but if you know me you know im a tortured romance and angst girl more than anything and this fic delivers.

also….. as a girl who is deeply and concerningly in love with yunho….. let me be selfish here and say specifically about his characterization??? 100/10 - no notes. the scene when she calls him back to the house and he’s like no hesitation i gotta go the girl i’ve been secretly in love with for years needs me - LIKE PLEASE 😭 I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE I LOVE HIM

anyways i know i’ve been on a bit of a writing and reading hiatus but i am so glad i randomly found this fic, and if you’re looking for something ot8 and/or omegaverse, trust me just read this!!!

(also to the author if you ever read this….. you have such a lovely narrative tone that carries a lot of tenderness and empathy. i love your style and please keep writing this fic and many others!!)

DEEP DOWN.

alpha!Ateez x omega!f!Reader

Idol!Ateez x Idol!F!Reader (A/B/O!AU 9th Member!AU)

You've got every right to be upset. How you tossed and turned the last time. In misery, you dealt with it on your own. You've felt so hot for so long with nothing to keep you cold, although it's only your second heat. They seem the worse they can get. You've got whatever you can reach in a vice grip. God, if only you hadn't spent so much time with so many alphas in a cramped area. If only you heard the valcano errupting in your dna. Maybe it'd be different. Maybe you'd still be a beta, living your life normally. Rather than suffering in a cold dim room, keeping yourself away from the 8 guys your silly half omega brain yearns for. Something you never asked for. Yet, deep down you beg for.

Synopsis: When the 9th member of ateez figures out her beta dna changed because she's spent years surrounded by alphas. Now, a late bloomed omega, she finds herself losing control of the reins of her body and feelings. With the alphas hot on her trail, exposing her secret, she can't decide if she's willing to risk letting them in or cutting off the guys entirely.

CW and content; She/her pronouns used, female anatomy, ot8 x reader, polyamorous relationships. MATURE THEMES! A/b/o, implied soulmates, imprinting, marking, mating bites, heats, ruts, knotting, breeding kink, all that jazz. This is purely self indulgent. 9th member! reader. alpha! ateez x beta turned omega! reader. (I'll explain that later) ANGST! lots of it at first. and lots lots lots of fluff. mutual pining(they don't know it yet tho). number of chapters will be updated as I go down the line. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT. PERIOD.

All the content in this story is fictitious. This fanfiction contains mature content. This is an original work of fiction made by seventhcallisto. Do not steal, copy, or plagiarize my works.

WORLD BUILDING— scents.

My masterlist ☆ | 71.8k word count.

Prologue. — 💠 4.5k

Chapter one 6.3k ❝why didn't you answer my calls?❞

Chapter two 6.3k ❝you promise?❞

Chapter three 6.7k ❝meet me halfway.❞

Chapter four 6.1k ❝mirrors❞

Chapter five 11.6k ❝just one.❞ (nsfw)

Chapter six 12.3k ❝lips & hips.❞ (nsfw)

Chapter seven 9.0k ❝your best girl.❞ (nsfw)

Chapter eight 8.6k ❝sensitive.❞ (nsfw)

Chapter nine. Chapter ten.

To Be Continued. 🪼

Comments keep me motivated ! Thank you for supporting.

© seventhcallisto 2023

[m1ckeyb3rry]

I wish there were a more standardized rules for the romanization because the differences are so wild that I go back and read and I’m like what who tf is this…like atp it’d be easier for me to just read it in korean instead if I have to think this hard to figure out who is being referred to…and yes the webcomic def isn’t as deep LOL im ngl I was never like super SUPER into orv like that so I didn’t mind it just being a more surface level easy quick read maybe someday I’ll actually get the willpower to fully read the novel…

Wait you’re so right LOL I totally forgot….also on that note iirc I think yukis bday is late April, I wanna say 26/27….but I could be wrong because I (regretfully) have not paid as much attention to yuki as some others (KARASU cough) but I’m actually laughing so hard sidekick Niko is actually gold I love the dynamic

Oh yeah there’s definitely Kaiser glazers LOL I feel like most of them are also the ones calling ness a glazer which is ironically funny (classic dude bro activity)

I just saw your side by side post and I was gonna say why do they look so similar in those panels LOL ok but hak too >>>>> I also remember seeing scenes of him and being like omg…actually he does kinda remind me of the closeted pining loser..lowk maybe I should go back to reading this again

LMAOO yeah you could never catch me pampering someone like Reo does to Nagi but OOOOOH guys im getting an exclusive sneak peek to peregrine hehe ok but reading this YOU CANNOT DROP A BOMB LILE THAT OMG??? Guys….guys?????!!!! Heavily agree that nagi being with her DESPITE the hassle >>>>>> Nagi being with her because she’s the only one who isn’t a hassle….it makes it feel more meaningful because we all know how much he hates hassles and instead of her just conveniently fitting with his lifestyle in that sense he’s actively willing to actually go out of his comfort zone for her….its the active part fr…I’m crying him biking all the way to meet her is giving me white butterfly hiori and willow tree rin add him into the losers with wild signs of affection club…ok but him actively failing to give the opportunity to her SHSGSHSH Lowk I can imagine her being pissed when/if she finds out but also OHHH ok it’s been a bit since I last read it but the pieces are here so that’s why Nagi’s always been kinda looked down upon because of his soccer career decline…that sounds like a big peregrine installment though LOL excited for whenever you decide to put that out!! I’m all for the tidbits and spoilers though

I was also going to say I remember first reading peregrine and getting sidetracked by chigiri because of the way you wrote him as the bff too LMAOOOO I definitely see the chigiri bff trope used here and there and I haven’t seen any characterizations of him here that are as bad/wild as other characters (like the Itoshis) but yours is def one of my favs miraverse characters on top!!!

LMAOOO “did I miss a tag was this supposed to be some cucking fic” no dw they’ll turn around once they realize it’s not aiku (like me reading Karasu bfb part 2 instead of 1 smh) OR they’ll just convert to (whoever it is) nation from your writing

OOOOOH ok actually that makes it easier for the fyp to do its thing then manifesting some top tier audio!! On a slightly unrelated note whenever I see anything using that audio from the Barou one you showed me I think about the Barou edit and lose it…truly living in my head rent free

Omg so I sent in the reply and went to go look at the source material to translate but got side tracked and completely forgot about it until I read this so umm!!! Going now!!! LMAO luckily they’re pretty short so it won’t take me long as long as my brain has the capacity to remember to actually do it shshjensjs

- Karasu anon

i think i started reading it because of an edit on tik tok (at this point what DON’T i do because of edits on tik tok…) and found out the webcomic wasn’t finished so i just went straight for the novel instead!! and honestly i’m glad i did because it was a much better experience imo…honestly i was lucky in that i had literally nothing else to do so it was easy for me to keep reading which meant i could get to the really exciting parts quicker!! since at first it’s kind of confusing 😰 but i do want to reread at some point because i think it’s one of those stories that’ll be even better when you know the ending?? or like you pick up on things you missed the first time around 🙂‍↕️ however it’s so long that rereading would be such a time commitment idk if i could do it 😭

okay wait yeah he does have an april birthday i was thinking of nagi when i said may!! LMAO agreed the yukimiya facts are not at the forefront of my mind as compared to nagi karasu and barou’s (also barou and i have almost the same birthday this basically makes us soulmates i think)

kaiser glazers are so interesting because 99% of kaiser fans fundamentally misunderstand his character to the point that it’s like…just create an oc…LMAOAOA he’s definitely interesting but i think he has to be viewed in a very particular lens to even make sense as a person 🤔 he’s not solely “evil abusive meanie villain” but he’s also definitely NOT a sweetheart who would be perfect and flirty in a relationship…many layers to that man but i will leave the exploring of them to someone who actually gaf abt him

NO BECAUSE THE RESEMBLANCE IS UNCANNY TBH LIKE WHY DO THEY LOOK SOSOSO SIMILAR?? dare i say nagi might pull up and steal shinah’s story that i always wanted to write but never did…DARE I SAY 🤫 jkjk we will see if i can even make it work because to be honest it might be too dependent on yona lore HOWEVER the crossover could be insane 😨 especially because hak was the second lead so i could EASILY give rin that spot and fulfill my rin second lead dreams 🤩

LMAOOO I NEEDEDDDD TO GO ON THE PEREGRINE RANT WITH SOMEBODY!!! oh 100% it’s like one of the main three fights they have (the first is after he becomes friends with reo and asks her why she hates him so much so she tells him she hates him for not trying and still being better than her because she’ll be stuck in their hometown forever [they secretly become friends and then start dating afterwards], the second is when she finds out he failed on purpose because she’s all like “oh you didn’t trust me now i didn’t even earn it” and nagi’s like “bro what do you want from me 😰”, and the third is when he bikes to her house and asks her to stay and she tells him she has to leave and then literally gets in the taxi and leaves him standing there in the rain watching her go 😭) okay wait more peregrine lore: the reason why she gets with kira is deadass because chigiri reo and may convince her to go to a college party in their freshman year with them for the underage drinking experience and when she’s drunk she sees a tall pale haired soccer player and is like omg nagi??? and goes over to cry and hug him because she misses him sm���meanwhile kira is like WTF but finds her hot so he decides he needs to snatch and that’s why he knows who nagi is even though she doesn’t remember it happening because reo may chigiri were NOT responsible friends and she had a bitttt too much 😓 she says no because she still loves nagi and wants to be with him once she graduates but a week or so later nagi goes viral on social media for mentioning he’s in love with a girl from their hometown — orie watanabe (reader’s best friend from when she was a kid who sold her out to her mother) so she calls kira and is like “ok ig i’ll date you i have no other options” BUT plot twist there’s an interlude which shows the actual interview and all nagi said (in response to the interviewer asking why he’s single) is that he’s still in love with this girl he knew from when he was younger (implied to be reader) it’s just that the gossip sites went crazy trying to find the girl and orie being a clout chaser is like “oh he’s talking abt me” LMAOAOA and ofc as chigiri mentioned nagi doesn’t have any social media so he had 0 clue what was even HAPPENING but that’s why reader thinks he moved on first!!

also wait number one peregrine moment that is yet to come is during reo and may’s wedding…the date of reader’s wedding has been set and she’s dancing w nagi as the best man and maid of honor usually do and she starts crying because talking to may made her realize she actually still loves nagi but she doesn’t know how to escape the hole she’s dug for herself so nagi’s like “wow guys she’s so emotional her best friends are getting married 🙂‍↕️” and they go sit in the corner and he’s like ok why are you ACTUALLY crying and she’s like i wish we were the ones getting married which ofc makes nagi be like 😮 UNFORTUNATELY kira is there and he overhears and starts crashing out but then the goat himself HYOMA CHIGIRI pulls up and diffuses things by dumping a glass of red wine on kira’s head and saying “you’ve always wanted to be like me at least now you’ve got the hair color down 🥱” JFNDJSKS then kira fucks off back to america but chigiri gets home first and he + niko + kunigami get all of reader’s stuff out of their house before kira can do anything…then nagi gets back into soccer but the only team that’ll take him is a really shitty one that’s supposed to be kicked out of the league because they don’t even have a coach and reader is like “yo if you take nagi as a player i’ll get you a coach” and then she calls chigiri so he + kunigami + niko (who still has reader’s cat for some reason) pull up and chigiri gets the job as their coach and he + nagi lead them to victory that season even though chigiri had to quit playing soccer in college because of his leg (hence why kira replaced him) 🤩

YESSS THE AUDIOS GO CRAZY i never know when inspo will strike because it’ll be the most random videos fr but at this point i trust my for you page to lead me to greatness it hasn’t let me down yet!! also omg the barou effect…so real though that edit was PERFECT like the clips they used and everything…lowkey after sae i might do barou’s edition of the oaeu because i cannot wait to write him and also because it’ll introduce niko as aiku’s sidekick which is a must

LMAOOO no worries i will go respond to them now!! hehe you are always on the translating grind my goat fr 😩

[smokeybrand]

Please Stop, It's Already Dead

We’re almost a year into Zeb Wells’ run on Spider-Man and we finally got answer as to what the f*ck i going on. The mystery box has been opened and it’s full of f*cking stupid. Stupid, stupid, answers. Answers that just don’t work for the characters that we all know and love. Bro, like, i had a whole goddamn essay written about this, about how Zeb Wells has literally thrown out decades of growth and characterization for some half-hearted shock plot to basically troll the fandom but then i saw the leaks for issue twenty-six and what the f*ck? The death of Ms. Marvel? Really? You’re about to fridge Kamala Khan? Word? The most popular and visible Muslim character in f*cking comics, and you’re going to kill her off just to f*ck with Peter Parker even more than he’s already been f*cked over? What the f*ck is even going on anymore? What are you doing Marvel? How is this a good idea? How are these the optics you wan for your flagship comic book and most profitable hero? It’s like you hate money right now.

Listen, I'll be the first to admit that i didn’t care for Kamala when she was first introduced in the comics. Ma came about during the whole “All New, All Different” debacle and i just couldn’t stand any of that sh*t. It didn’t help that she was pushed so goddamn hard, to the point of sheer annoyance. I couldn’t pick up a Marvel comic without a f*cking Ms. Marvel mention for, like, two whole years. It was obnoxious how prominent this chick was in  comics but, as time went on, i got over it. Kamala is a thing. I’m good with that. It helps that she is unapologetically Pakistani and Muslim. That sh*t is f*cking dope and we can always have more represenation like that. Then she got a show. Yo, Iman Vellani did the impossible and changed my opinion of Kamla altogether.That was top-tier, RDJ-as-Iron Man casing right there. I am still wildly indifferent to Kamala in the books but Ms. Marvel in the MCU is the sh*t. It’s a crime more people didn’t watch that show but i think she’ll steal all of her scenes in the upcoming Marvels flick. Which, coincidentally, is also written by Zeb f*cking Wells so that might end up being a sh*tshow, too. which brings me back to my point: Why the f*ck are we fridging Miss Marvel in the goddamn first place?

Ma is poised o be a breakout star of one of the most anticipated (some would also say infamous) MCU entries to date. What the f*ck is the motivation behind such an ill-advised comic book death? Now, unlike a lot of people out there in the blogsphere, i don’t think this is desperate and lazy “plot twist” is racist or sexist. I can definitely see why people would say that but this, to me, stinks of corporate mandate. This is the Marvel suits making the call, probably to get buzz going for the aforementioned Marvels film because, so far, word is that thing is a goddamn mess. Which isn’t surprising considering that Wells wrote that thing, too. I Just want to hammer that fact home: Zeb Wells wrote the Marvels and is now killing off Ms. Marvel in the comics, for reasons. You would think it be counter-intuitive to kill off a third of your leads in said flick just for hate clicks but you know the old adage; All publicity is good publicity. I don’t think Marvel as a whole, needs anymore bad publicity, though, and this sh*t is the worst kind.

Wells isn’t even killing her off in her own book, man. Kamala Khan’s death, as temporary as it will probably end up being, is just to give “development” to Peter Parker. Her death is a f*cking plot device, devoid of purpose or narrative weight, and that is the greatest crime being committed here. Bad writing aside, do you know how disrespectful this is to the character? How condescending it is to her fans? It’s wild to me that the higher ups gave the green light for this bullsh*t but, i mean, they did hand Wells the reins to the most popular superhero in the world. And continue to let him f*ck it up. Why not throw a little brown girl sacrifice on the dumpster fire, too? Like, it keeps getting worse and I don't know how that's even f*cking possible. How is this Spider-Man run so bad? How does Wells keep making the absolute wrong choices? I don't even understand how someone who calls themselves a professional writer, can craft such an abysmal narrative and put their name on it. Proudly. You should hear this asshole in interviews. HE rally thinks he’s doing something great with this book right now. The delusion and hubris is real. It’s sh*t like this that’s letting manga absolutely massacre the US comics industry.

[shywhitemoose]

Do you have any good recs for obikin fics? (No aus?)

Hi anon! So sorry for the delay 😩 I generally try to be more responsive but have been on vacation with the family and it's been tricky to find tumblr time!

Let me start by saying I may not be the best person to ask for fic recs at the moment, especially if you’re looking for recent work, because I've been devoting more of my free time these last two years to my art and writing than to reading. Also, a large portion of what I have read lately is obikin outside the galaxy far far away, which is not what you’re asking for. Most of my favorites include some element of smut (and accordingly rated M or E), but I tend to gravitate toward the ones that have a lot of feelings to go with it. To keep this manageable, I’m also only including completed works, although I’m invested in many fantastic WIPs.

Anyway, all that said, here are a handful that hopefully meet your criteria and have left lasting impressions on me:

With a Warm and Tender Hand by @temple-mistress (~38K words) 

After a harrowing encounter with the enemy, Obi-Wan and Anakin manage to save themselves, but they're left on edge, with raw nerves and shaking hands. While they attempt to treat their physical injuries, the tension between them escalates, until they're forced to deal with the intense feelings they have for each other. 

OK this has been around for many many years - I remember reading it on something that was decidedly NOT Ao3, and I’m pretty sure it was my first Obikin fic. It was certainly my most formative, anyway, and it still holds up. I’ve reread it more times than I can count. Sweet, emotional, beautiful dialogue and characterization, lovely description, slow, tender intimacy. The author checked all my boxes with this one!! 

Cross-Wired by @himboskywalker (~4K)

In the midst of battle Anakin's prosthesis takes damage and with no backup arm, it's a problem that needs immediate fixing. But crushed durasteel and fritzed wires equals all sorts of curious nerve responses while his master tries to disconnect the neural receptors.

Everything I’ve read by Tag (which unfortunately is not everything she’s written) is top tier, but this lovely little one-shot in particular just stuck with me. The details in her language paint such a vivid picture, and the sexual tension is flawless. I’m also a big fan of her work Invictus, in which the boys go through a bunch of tropes because the Force just wants them to get together, lol. So so good.

i witness heaven in unholy time by @boonki (~9K)

...love comes in different forms, and Anakin and Obi-wan were intimate with them all. And in a way, they had always known, always bled into each other until their organs ran in union, lungs and brains working as one. They were the ultimate team, intimate in a way that few people would ever experience. Having grown into men together, survived war together, cried together, laughed together—love was unavoidable, really.  But this is not a love story—because it can’t be.

Ok this one is heartbreaking, but in the best way. Unforgettably beautiful. Physical and emotional intimacy written like a poem, balanced with a touch of comic relief. I’ve only read it a couple times because frankly it’s so pretty it hurts, but I can’t leave it off this list because it left such a mark on me.

My Moon After the Tide by LemonTwister (~39K)

After being inflicted with a paralytic toxin, Anakin is unable to care for himself until he recovers. Obi-Wan promises to provide his Padawan with everything he needs.

It’s been quite a while since I read this but this is another one that has stuck with me for years. Again both sweet and hot. It’s a weakness of mine what can I say 🤷‍♀️

Homestead by @jswander and @whohatessand (~46K)

After their failed altercation on Mustafar, Obi-Wan Kenobi secretly stows away with his former Padawan now turned Sith Lord and traitor to the Republic. Or, Obi-Wan deals with a troubled newly widowed Anakin, two twins, and desperately needs a hug.

This was just... god. It was such a great comfort fic for me. The authors here took such great care to weave a story that gives our boys the time they really need to heal after Anakin’s transgressions prior to Mustafar, and I really appreciate the inclusion of the twins as Obi-Wan and Anakin learn how to be together. It is part of a series (the remainder of which I have yet to read but is on my very, very long to-read list).

Swear On It by @dirkygoodness (~7K)

Anakin lets his feet take him a good ways from camp before he actually stops, breathing fast from the memory of his dream. He squeezes his eyes shut tight against it and holds his breath for a moment, trying to get himself under control. Tonight it doesn’t seem to be working, though, because the images of people he knows and loves hurt and bloody and dead just won’t get out of his mind.

A perfect little one-shot where Anakin’s been having bad dreams and Obi-Wan knows it and tries to get him to talk about it. I love the way this author writes Anakin - their dialogue is wonderful the smut is incredible and Anakin’s feelings do All The Things to my heart.

O Trespass Sweetly Urged by @artemisthehuntress​ (~9K)

Anakin and Obi-Wan witness a sex ritual while on a mission. Obi-Wan doesn't understand why Anakin is so scandalized by this, until Anakin admits that he's never had sex.

Obi-Wan...might need a minute to process that. 

Another one shot that has stayed with me long after the first read. Arty is so funny and I love the humor she injects into the dialogue between these two idiots as they fumble their way through their feelings. Sweet and tender, my jam 💜

Good Form by @ranianke (~15K)

Obi-Wan needs help shooting a training video. What could go wrong?

This one has more dom/sub undertones than my other recs, and Obi-Wan is *almost* cruel in the way he teases Anakin, but I had to include this because it is SO well written, the tension is absolutely sublime, and the smut is... so very very hot [blush].

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I’m so sorry that’s all I have in me for now, but please know there are SO MANY GOOD OBIKIN FICS and I cannot fit all my love for everyone and their stories into one post. I will say that @gffa periodically pulls together phenomenal fic recs, though, so I would highly recommend visiting those lists for more recent stuff! Lumi is such a treasure to this fandom!

Thanks for the ask, I hope this helps 🧡 And if you have anything more specific in mind feel free to let me know - If I can’t help I can try to track down someone who can :)