#author: BlueSimplicity

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: He does not have a name. He has been called many things over the years; a weapon, a ghost, HYDRA’s Fist, the Soldier, and from what they have told him his work has shaped the century. But he does not have a name. His name, like so many other things, has been taken from him, stolen. Forgotten. Until the day it is not, and remembering, he breaks free, killing his handler and making his escape in a desperate bid for freedom. Frightened, lost and hurt, he seeks out the last person in the world he can trust, his baby sister, now an almost eighty-year-old widow, somehow knowing she is the only one who can help him. It is a difficult journey, one filled with pain, tears, and things that should not be possible. But also with recovery and redemption, rebirth and miracles, family and hope. — This story is a love letter between Bucky and his sister Rebecca, the world, and eventually his childhood best friend, Steve Rogers, the boy he once loved. But ultimately, it is the love letter Bucky writes to himself, as he reclaims who he once was, discovers who he is now, builds a new life for himself and realizes he might, just might, be as strong, as beautiful, as precious as a pearl.

Author: @bluesimplicity73

Submitter: @themundanemudperson

Note from submitter: Honestly is probably my favourite Bucky recovery fic

[lookofhisoceaneyes]

Fics that I read the last weeks, that are Per-fect!

Some fics that I have read recently and that I liked and can recommend.

Marvel Fandom

1. A Year in the Life of Sarge's Person by BlueSimplicity

A Year in the Life of Sarge's Person - Chapter 1 - BlueSimplicity - Captain America (Movies) [Archive of Our Own]

This is the tale of a year in the life of Sarge’s person, AKA James Buchanan Barnes, as he tries to recover from everything that’s happened to him over the past eighty years. During that time, he is forced to deal with bad therapists, people with their own agendas, memories he doesn’t want, horrible losses from his past and almost insurmountable odds.

But this is also the story of all the crazy people Bucky meets along the way, who help him when he’s at his lowest, point him in the right direction when he feels lost, make him laugh, grow to love him for who he is, and most importantly, give him hope when he needs it most.

It’s a long and difficult journey, as Bucky works not just to let go of his past, but to also rebuild his own identity and a future for himself. And with Sarge at his side, Bucky slowly comes to realize that not everything he once loved is lost, and if he can just have enough faith in himself and those around him, he might, just might, get his very own happy ending.

Bucky IS Sarge’s person after all. As the once abandoned puppy Bucky saved one night from freezing to death, he knows, more than anyone, just how much Bucky deserves it.

—

Main Ship: Steve Rogers/James “Bucky” Barnes

Oh my, I loved this so so much! 

I love fics that involve dogs (or animals). Bucky has a horrible therapist at the beginning, but not later on. His character development is so beautifully written, from the mechanical Winter Soldier to Bucky Barnes. The supporting characters are also great and not existing characters from the Marvel Universe but original characters from the author. Loved it!

2. The Trials and Tribulations of the Watermelon Werewolf by BlueSimplicity

The Trials and Tribulations of the Watermelon Werewolf - Chapter 1 - BlueSimplicity - Captain America (Movies) [Archive of Our Own]

It’s not easy being a werewolf, but Steve Rogers knows he’s lucky. Lehigh's doing well under his care, the humans and werewolves thriving. He doesn't have a mate, but a bonding like that is rare, and with all the members of his Pack already mated, he knows it’s not going to happen for him.

Until the day it does, the realization literally knocking him on his ass.

That’s fine; he can deal. He’s an alpha after all, and while there are rules to courting when one’s mate is human, he knows he can prove his worth. Except no one told him how hard it would be. And Steve is really bad at this. Really, REALLY bad.

After a couple of rough years, Bucky Barnes is back on his feet and ready to start a new phase of his life. He’s been given a second chance and while Lehigh might not be as big as NYC, he loves his apartment, chonk of a cat, new job and crazy neighbors.

Except things have started to get weird. Maybe it’s because of all the werewolves in town, although he’s never had a problem before. Yet he can’t help but notice things have changed, with people staring at him wherever he goes, asking him strange questions, and stealing his lunch.

And it all started when a watermelon was left on his doorstep.

—

Main Ship: Steve Rogers/James “Bucky” Barnes

I liked the worldbuilding so much! Rarely read such a cool werewolf fic. Steve doesn't appear in the first few chapters because we get to know Bucky first. I loved it so much, I read it so quickly. Definitely worth reading!

3. Empire by Isnt_it_pretty_to_think_so

Empire - Chapter 1 - Isnt_it_pretty_to_think_so - Multifandom [Archive of Our Own]

Natasha and Steve go to couple’s therapy. There are a few complications. Their counseling clinic is a front for a Hydra cell that’s seized northern Manhattan. More importantly, they’re definitely not dating.

Also, Steve may or may not be in love with Natasha.

OR:

“I resent being compared to Peggy Carter,” Nat tells their therapist. “Yes, Steve— I assassinated a few people and committed every war crime in the book. That doesn’t make me a bad person.”

Steve knows this is all scripted, but he finds himself getting angry for no logical reason.

“I don’t think you’re a bad person.” His voice rises. “If I did, I wouldn’t be dating you. This isn’t about Peggy."

“It’s always about Peggy.” Nat flips her gaze to the therapist. “He says her name in bed sometimes."

Steve’s hands clench into fists. She’s going off script, damn it, and now he has to go off script, too.

“Nat cheated on me with Tony and Thor,” he improvises. “That’s what she was doing while I was checking my pal Bucky into a rehabilitation clinic. She's emotionally distant.”

“Once again, Mr. Rogers.” The therapist sounds tired. “Let's try our best to keep this constructive.”

—

Main Ship: Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov

I don't read Steve/Natasha that often, but this was such a great fanfic! I love therapy fics and I thought this was so great! Definitely read it, I highly recommend it.

JjK Fandom

4. No Surprises, Please by vroomvroommic

No Surprises, Please - vroomvroommic - 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

omotesando queen @ nobanova

why did u give me a fucking b on the midterm. @ nanaminluver69

494 Likes

ily nanamin <3 @ nanaminluver69

Please refer to my rubric for grading guidelines. All further grade disputes will be reviewed upon my return to Tokyo. Best, Gojo Satoru.

omotesando queen @ nobanova

@ nanaminluver69 I will fucking end u

54 Likes

—

Main Ship: Haibara Yu/Nanami Kento, other Side Ships

I love, love well written Twitter fics. They are a weakness of mine. I enjoyed them very much and also liked the normal text in between.

Percy Jackson Fandom

5. a rose by any other name by IzzyMRDB

a rose by any other name - IzzyMRDB - Multifandom [Archive of Our Own]

It wasn't Poseidon who met Sally on that beach on Montauk, but rather a far older, much more ancient version of him.

Percy is born far older and younger than he should be.

Percy Jackson & Poseidon 

I love darker Percy Jackson and this was so well written. Give it a shot!

Hannibal Fandom

6. shadowing by StratsWrites, YouAreMyDesign

shadowing - StratsWrites, YouAreMyDesign - Hannibal (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

“I’m very strict with my interns,” the doctor says slowly, his eyes on Will’s, never drifting. “In fact, I had asked them not to assign me any more. Unfortunately, I was the only surgeon available to take on extra duties. My expectations for you and your behavior will be high. I have fired interns before, and while I didn’t relish the experience, I won’t hesitate to do so again.”

Main Ship: Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter

I'm having trouble finding Hannigram fics, because the characters are misrepresented or simply because the show has already done such a good portrait of the two. I liked the fanfic. At the end Will is in Heat, so check out the tags. But I liked it for in between.

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (27 Oct-2 Nov 2024)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😊 The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Mr. Darcy & Miss Tilney #3) (Claudia Gray, author; Billie Fulford-Brown, narrator) - A really enjoyable cozy mystery in this austenverse. I did genuinely want to keep reading to find out the solution. However, I'm finding the will they/won't they/miscommunication/misunderstanding BS about Juliet & Jonathan's relationship is really starting to grate, even though the reasons for all the non/miscommunications are marginally reasonable & in character. But I was still quite annoyed with it, and I think I might be over this series for it. By the end at least J&J had talked and are on the same page about their feelings - now the obstacles are external at least, which gives me a bit more patience with it? probably my annoyance will be faded by the time the next one is published & I'll be happy to pick it up again.

😍 A Year in the Life of Sarge's Person (BlueSimplicity) - 189K, incredible post-WS recovery fic - loved how Bucky-focused this was (steve doesn't even appear until like 2/3 of the way thru the fic), loved his found family and of course I loved Sarge. Instant forever fave, stayed up until 2am reading which at my age is no small thing.

🙂 Specks of Silver (vanderloo) - 82K, lightly magical Suits fic- liked the 'small magic' style of this world

🥰 King & Queen (RELIC #3) (Maz Maddox, author; Kirt Graves, narrator) - dino shifters AND drag queens!!!! dino shifters AS drag queens! so much fun!

💖💖 +108K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

an outlier that should not be counted (dadvans) - 9-1-1: bucktommy, 7K - fluffy, cute, very 🥰

Conquest (the_deep_magic) - The Eagle of the Ninth: marcus/esca, 7K - 🔥🔥🔥

Let Me Be Your Porch Light, Baby (AidaRonan) - Stranger Things: steddie, 7K - fuck yes mothman! here for all the monsterfucking!

A Dream Through Open Eyes (neapeaikea) - 9-1-1: bucktommy, 16K - cute, cute, cute!!! love a teacher!Buck AU

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Would I Lie To You? - s8, e6; s16, e5,7

Insert Name Here - s3, e4

8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown - s19, e3

Decoding the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Tombstones With Dr. Nicky Nielsen - Session Session 2: Making Stelae & The Offering Formula

Spirits, Saints, and Souls: The Secret History of Halloween With Lisa Morton - Session 3: Halloween As We Know It

Seas The Day: Life Lessons From Cephalopods With Dr. Sarah McAnulty - Session 3: 300 Ways to Be a Squid: A crash course in all the lifestyles squid have carved out over their long history

The Sam Sanders Show - From Indie Videos to Hollywood Hits: Alvarez & Koenig on "English Teacher"

Handsome - Abby Wambach asks about getting back to yourself

Handsome - Pretty Little Episode #11

What We Do In The Shadows - s6, e1-3

Only Murders In The Building - s4, e9-10

D20: Misfits & Magic 2 - "Code Crimson" (s23, e6)

D20: Adventuring Party - "I'm A Good Boy" (s18, e6)

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

Re: Dracula - October 27: Souls and Memories

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Spooky Week: Elmer McCurdy’s Nine Lives

Re: Dracula - October 28: Awful Straits

Off Menu - Ep 268: Jessica Hynes

The Curious History of Your Home - Sheds

Persuasion by Jane Austen - Persuasion 9. | A Surprise Engagement

The Curious History of Your Home - Baths

Re: Dracula - October 29: Something is Going Out

The Fandom Show - Special Effects Makeup

Switched on Pop - Where are all the scary songs?

NPR's Book of the Day - Al Pacino's memoir 'Sonny Boy' is a story of adventure, starting in the South Bronx

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Agatha All Along

The Allusionist - 202. Singlish Singlish

Re: Dracula - October 30: Council of War

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Spooky Week: Places That Give Us the Creeps

Morning Edition - After nearly 4 months, Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' drops from No. 1

Morning Edition - It's almost Halloween -- a good time to look at the science behind the sound of fear

⭐ 99% Invisible - How the World Ran Out of Everything

Shedunnit - Vanishing Corpses

The Curious History of Your Home - Lights

⭐ Song Exploder - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Our House"

Re: Dracula - October 31: Latest and Truest Thought

NPR's Book of the Day - 'American Scary' documents a cultural obsession with horror in the United States

Re: Dracula - November 1: Instinct with Resolution

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Tom Hanks' Movie Here And What's Making Us Happy

Dear Prudence - My Wife Won’t Stop Correcting My Grammar. Help!

Dear Prudence - Prudie Plus: A Celeb Died. My Friend’s Being A Ghoul.

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Spooky Week: The Story of the Mad Gasser with Colin Dickey

⭐ Wild Card - Kathryn Hahn feels more powerful than ever

Wild Card - Seth Meyers on waiting to propose and Kathryn Hahn's early career struggles

Welcome to Night Vale #257 - Traffic

Re: Dracula - November 2: Deadly Peril

Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me! - Brian Jordan Alvarez

Betwixt The Sheets - What Made You Ugly In The Ancient World

Fresh Air - Alex Van Halen On Eddie, Fire & 'Feeling It'

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Presenting Gordon Lightfoot

Presenting Reba McEntire

Machines of Loving Grace Radio • Popular

The Very Best Of Patsy Cline

Halloween Salsa

Sunshine Soul

Teenage Werewolf Rock

Classic Hard Rock Workout

[merlinfanficquotes]

But Merlin was only nodding as if he completely understood, and his smile was as wide and as bright as it had been before. Then something in him seemed to shift suddenly, and he was no longer gangly and adorable. Instead he became all lean lines and intense focus.

Twitch Your Whiskers and Pull My Tail by BlueSimplicity

[stuckylibrary]

Group Ask 181

What is a group ask?

Previous Group Asks

AO3 Search Tutorial

Please send us an ask stating which group ask and which person you are replying to. Thank you so much in advance!

agustdynasty said:

Hello you lovely lovely people, I’m looking for a fic that I was in the middle of reading but couldn’t finish because one of those annoying “you have a virus” webpages that it would not let be back out of . It took place during the war and I believe that the commandos knew about stucky’s relationship. There is a scene in a church where an orphan child I believe asks them to put on a performance of Snow White and Bucky and Steve have to kiss since Bucky is Snow White. Thank you so much!

Anon 1 said:

Hi!! I’m trying to find a fic I read a while ago. Steve was an Omega and is set up to live with Alpha Bucky. It’s in a modern setting and they never met each other as kids. And they get really domestic and it’s super cute. Sorry I don’t remember much about the story

emmalostinwonderland and possibleplatypus sent in Season of all things* by Claudia_flies (complete | 26,466 | E) *chose not to warn

Anon 2 said:

Lost an au fic where Bucky was a SHIELD agent but Steve has still been frozen and Steve was lying/had designation problems in a D/S or A/B/O world. Bucky is an alpha and Steve is pretending to be but it makes him struggle a lot and they jerk off in the showers together because that’s normal for alphas/doms but Steve accidentally marks Bucky and it’s a huge insult in their culture so he’s offended and does it back and miscommunications until he figures out Steve is really an omega/sub

erika55wolf said:

Hi! I'm trying to find a post-winter solder fic where Bucky is on the run or homeless and doesn't even remember who he is. He was learning to be a person again and goes by the name Steve for a while because that's the only thing he remembers and feels strongly about. It was quite long, don't remember if multi-chaptered. It's possible Bucky was discovering he was gay and had sex for money, though I might be mixing it with another fic. Hope you can help!!! Thank you for everything you do

princessniitza sent in The Needle and the Killing Done* by spitandvinegar (restricted, oneshot |  7,549 | M) *rape/noncon

Anon 3 said:

Hey y'all! I read a fic a while ago where Steve painted all the avengers as saints or something along those lines and I can't find, I don't know if the author deleted it. Do you know any works like that?

Anon, princessniitza and skarabrae-stone sent in Ain’t No Grave (Can Keep My Body Down)* by spitandvinegar  (restricted, complete | 107,076 | M) *past rape/noncon, heed the tags

cyndagoaway said:

hey! haven’t looked at tumblr in a while and i was so sorry to hear about your last account! i’m looking for a fic so if you could help me out it would be cool. it’s a college au i’m pretty sure, bucky is a prostitute that meets steve at a bar, he’s hooking to pay off his student loans or something. so steve picks him up for the night and the next day when he starts college bucky is in his science class and they’re partners. sorry if it’s kinda vague.

Anon sent in Ain't No Rest Universe  by Kellyscams (series, ongoing | 314,093 | E)

Anon 4 said:

Ok this might be a bit vague but there was a fic I read a while ago where Steve and bucky were friends and then bucky moved away. Then Steve's looking for a flatmate and bucky comes to live with him. I seem to remember Steve had a stepfather that hurt his mum? Maybe guy called victor or smth? Thank you so much!

keepyourelectriceyeonme sent in G.I. Joes and 2AM Diners by OhCaptainMyCaptain (complete | 100,481 | E)

foolhappy said:

I’m looking for a fic I read a long time ago (I think just here on tumblr in a post?) where winter soldier Bucky doesn’t remember Steve but has habits left over from fighting alongside him, like keeping stuff in his pockets on one side, or describing things by shape instead of color because Steve was colorblind. Can you please help me find it again? 😭🙏

telvian said:

So I'm thinking my ask got lost in the move, or tumblr ate it. I'm looking for a fic with Viking bucky who falls in love with steve who is unknowingly the heir to some kind of irish land. He has a sheild birthmark and currently pierce is ruling his land. Bucky finds steve working in a brothel. Natasha is adopted by bucky after she tried to pickpocket him. Bucky is working on Thor's ship. Bucky is one of many sons to a Jarl, I believe this is shown at the start of the story. Thanks in advance!

agentseventyfive said:

Hey there. Thanks so much for all your hard work. Can you help me find a fic please. Bucky is staying in Clint’s apartment. Either injured or in recovery. He’s finding people interactions hard but starts to bond with Clints dog; sleeping on the sofa with the dog lying on him. Steve turns up & I think sleeps beside him on an air mattress on the floor? I’ve looked through the Lucky (Hawkeye) searches but the dog may not have been tagged despite having a big role. Thanks.

Anon 5 said:

Hi! I've been looking for this fic for almost an hour & it's driving me crazy, I was hoping you guys could help. So the details might be a bit off but it was shrunkyclunks. Bucky and Steve meet at a coffee shop where Becca works. It's Dom/sub and Bucky is a history(?) grad student (or some type of student) who ends up writing about captain america/the avengers and he ends up with a grant to open his own museum about the avengers. I think it also has Sharon&Wanda in a background relationship.

Anon 6 said:

hello there! I'm looking for a fic I read a while ago. It's post tws, bucky goes by James I believe but isn't really recovering the way they all hoped. Something magic happens and James somehow erases himself out of existence (?) So that Steve gets the old Bucky back. Somewhere at the end they get James back and Bucky goes back to his own time. I remember there was a scene in which Bucky enters James' old room and it's covered in papers and there's a gun with one bullet near the bed.

princessniitza, noneofusthesame, skarabrae-stone and drjezdzany sent in Memory* by orphan_account (oneshot | 23,934 | T) *chose not to warn

Anon 7 said: (past HTP)

There's a fic I lost where Bucky can't get off on being touched in any "inappropriate" zones because of past htp, and he can only orgasm when Steve touches him in innocent places (like arms, shoulders, etc) and praises him. Do y'all know what I'm talking about? Thanks!

keepyourelectriceyeonme sent in Need to Mean It, Concede It* by hjbaltimore (oneshot | 2,758 | M) *HTP

Anon 8 said:

Hello! I'm looking for this post-tws fic in which bucky moves into a friendly neighborhood before he meets steve again. i remember his neighbours were a lesbian couple and a woman he'd see run past every day. there was also some colourful clothing involved and a dog i think.

Anon sent in A Year in the Life of Sarge’s Person by Angst_BuriTTo, BlueSimplicity (complete | 189,125 | E)

Anon 9 said:

Hello :) I have been trying to find a fic, where the main theme is Bucky's arm and spine being operated on, so to speak, in order for him to recover after WS. I remember Tony putting together the best of the best surgeons from all over the world. I've searched through my bookmarks and my ao3 history but nothing jumps out. I remember something about Steve and Wilson finding Bucky being jumped near a lake i NY, but I'm not sure its the same fic. Can you help? Thank you.

drjezdzany and noneofusthesame sent in Thawed Out* by auburnnothenna (auburn), eretria (complete | 159,341 | E) *heed the tags!

[epicstuckyficrecs]

1-35 :-)

Woman! You gotta leave some for other people! XD

I kept you for last so that I could just answer everything that hasn’t been asked yet :P

3. What’s your favourite rare pair fic?

I don’t really read anything that’s a rare pair? My fave ships are usually big ones. 

5. What’s your favourite genre?

Romance of course :P

9. Fluff or angst?

I love me some angst!

12. Has a fic ever made you cry?

Yes! I think I get emotional relatively easily. 

14. What’s the longest fic you’ve read?

Damn, idk. Lemme check. 

Soooo I think if I sort stucky fics by word count on ao3, it’s Of Broken Dreams and Mended Hearts by Kellyscams! 

15. Has there ever been a trope you thought you’d never enjoy reading, but then eventually you did?

Hell yes, and because of great writers like @quarra, @xantissa, @cleo4u2, @bettenoire, I’m now an avid reader of Tentacle fic! 

16. Top 5 fics under 10k?

Was tough to choose again!! In no particular order:

Slide To Answer by relenafanel

(You Can’t Choose) What Stays and What Fades Away by Taste_is_Sweet

M is for Murder by rohkeutta

Down Into The Golden Lands by alby_mangroves, Speranza

Friday I’m in Love by betts

18. Are you currently reading any WIPs?

Yes, although nowadays I do try a little bit more to wait until they’re completed to start reading... doesn’t always work XD but I’ve started some fics from the Bang that started posting, which is always nice because you can be pretty sure those will be completed XD Here’s a few WIPs that I’m reading atm and that update pretty regularly:

Reconcilable Differences by NachoDiablo 

The Maze by deadto27

The Blooming by BlueSimplicity

19. What fandoms do you enjoy reading fics from?

Stucky and Evanstan obviously! My OG tumblr ship is Harry/Louis from 1D, although sadly I don’t read much of it these days. I also sometimes read Damen/Laurent from Captive Prince, and even more rarely, Eric/Jack from Check!Please.

20. How do you find fics to read?

Authors I’m subscribed to, what ends up on my dash… 

23. Has anyone ever written a fic for you?

I was lucky enough that my fandom-turned-real-life bff @mediawhorefics wrote a fic for me 💕

26. What’s the most obscure pairing you’ve ever read?

Damn… like I said, I don’t really read rare pairs? XD It might be so obscure that I don’t even remember it…

27. Do people outside the fandom know you read fanfiction?

Yeah, sometimes I say I read fanfic if it comes up in the conversation.

28. How often do you comment on fics? 

I try to comment on everything I read that I liked, even if it’s the simplest thing.

29. Which fic have you re-read the most?

Boy, idk... One fic I did re-read recently and that I’ve read multiple times in the past is a HP one, “This Means War” by Jeconais. It hasn’t aged as well as I remember it, but it’s quite hilarious :P 

In the Stucky fandom, I’ve re-read NEC once or twice at least, the Like O, Like H series by luninosity as well... There’s probably a ton of fics that I’ve read at least twice, but more than that? I can’t remember specifically... 

30. What’s your favourite fic rec blog?

thestuckylibrary is great! I don’t visit it regularly but they have an incredible tagging system, way better than mine XD

31. Have you ever sent a message to an author on tumblr to compliment them on their fic?

Probably? I tend to stick more to ao3 comments.

32. What ship do you think needs more attention?

I don’t really know since my OTP already gets quite a bit of attention :P of course I wouldn’t say no to more Evanstan fic... 

34. Have you ever strongly identified with a character from a fic?

Not that I can remember specifically? 

[meganmazing]

Merthur Fic Recs

I’m studying abroad in Scotland and so of course that meant I’d fall head first down the Merlin rabbit hole again. Da and I are doing a Ablion/Athurian type tour later this semester as well, becasue we know no chill. As you’d expect. 

Here are just a few of my favorites, and the ones you need in your life right this minute. This fandom is a genuine treasure and I love you all <3

Beware the tags, always check! What is a squick for me might not be for you, and vice versa, though I was in a homsesick-y mood at the time I was reading, so there aren’t many heavy fics in this list. Also, don’t forget to drop some love to the authors, becasue by god, do they ever deserve it. Recs below the cut are broken up into AU, Post Show, and Canon Era, and all fics are 10k and above!

Modern AU

Within Your Skin by BlueSimplicity      Words: 45k+  Rating: E

In the end, Arthur decided, it was all Gwaine’s fault. These things usually were. But when Arthur looked back, trying to find the pivot point, the moment where everything shifted, there was Gwaine in the center of it all. And it all started with a tattoo.

**This is the story of Arthur and Merlin, and what happens when Arthur, at Gwaine's recommendation, goes to Merlin for a tattoo.**

Okay. To be fair, I did not fully read the tags, and so the plot of this had me gasp when it happened, and it was the best surprise. So I love it a bit more becasue I Was Not Prepared. But also, I was going to love any story where the description starts with “...it was all Gwaine’s fault”. 

And Will! I love what the fandom has done in bringing Will into more content, tbh it’s one of the best parts of Modern Day/Reincarnation AUs.

Tulips Are Better; Dragons Are Best by sweetiejelly    Words: 58k+   Rating: E

Arthur loses a bet with Morgana and ends up on The Bachelor. As he identifies as bisexual, the pool of candidates is quite diverse and includes one Merlin Emrys, his ex. Arthur thinks it's fate. Merlin thinks it's bollocks. Thus begins (again) their courtship.

I may not have seen the Bachelor in years, but my god do those tropes lend well here. Not only is there charm and fluff galore, but there are feelings? I didn’t come here to feel attacked but WOW, OUCH. Am I a sucker for stories that show the previous breakup in flash-back-like scenes that are interspersed between what’s happening in the present day? Absolutely. So I can confidently say I loved the shit out of this. 

And the supporting cast? Three cheers. I related more to Arthur (*cough*cough* closet) but you just want to hug poor Merlin. Plus there’s magic. And FAMILY.

It's Only Time (Why Would I Stop Loving You A Hundred Years From Now?) by  SlantedKnitting    Words: 10k+    Rating: E

Merlin tries to find his tie, but finds a strange remote instead. Then he's suddenly somewhere else entirely. Modern AU. 

Time-hopping! For a second, I thought, “Oh god, is this Click”, but it is not Click, have no fear. So much fun to read, and a cool take on their reincarnations. 

(They were roommates...)

Bespoke by  Thursday_Next   Words: 10k+   Rating: E

Merlin is a jeweller. Arthur is looking for the perfect engagement ring.

I love a good pining fic, and Arthur in this one pines like crazy. Plus a touch of Morgana-Meddling, which I live for. You will want to slap Arthur a bit, becasue idiot, but he gets it together. It’s the right amount of angst with great pacing, and cool jewelry. 

Post-Canon

i'll break and forge the stars anew by  MsImpala67  Words: 11k+ Rating: E

Merlin is waiting. He's been waiting for, well, he's lost track of exactly how long. Eleven hundred years? Twelve? And then, just like that, Arthur is back. No neon signs or clapping thunder to announce his return- just Arthur, standing in the middle of the sidewalk.

Merlin knows he should be more worried than he is about the reason for Arthur's return. What danger or threat or pressing need has called him back? But while Merlin and Arthur try to figure it out, there's no harm in being glad, is there? After all, Merlin has missed him. Maybe more than he realizes.

UGH. In my bookmark for this, I wrote that is was my fave reunion fic. And I stand by that sentiment. I also put, ‘MY HEART’, so three cheers for my ability to write after having my heart explode in my chest with love, yeah? But honestly, the tags the author put read: ‘porn with feelings’ and if that doesn’t convince you to read it, nothing I say will. FEELINGS. REUNION. Yes.

Where I’m Meant to Be  by mischiefmanager    Words: 41k+  Rating: E

The silhouette is backlit from the headlights on the Mini Cooper and he’s maybe hit his head harder than he thought because it almost looks like…

“Merlin?”

And Merlin feels as though his heart is exploding in his chest because that voice and his real name and as he looks up...the golden hair reflected in the light from the car.

Arthur Pendragon is standing, completely starkers, in the middle of the road leading up to Lake Avalon.

*STOP THE PRESSES, MERLIN IS WELL-ADJUSTED* No but really, it is so lovely to see him not be a emotionally crippled mess of a shut-in, I would have loved this story for that alone. But the lovely doesn’t stop there, because we have a whole Enchanted situation where Arthur is Amy Adams except far grumpier and demanding in general, and Merlin is my favorite. I just. Ugh. 

I’m also a sucker for the whole ‘so...you know when a man likes...not a woman...’ conversation, becasue I also loose all vocabulary when discussing feelings. And there are discussions of feelings! And Harry Potter references that are the exact right amount of cheesy. 

Writing is great, Arthur’s characterization is my favorite, and there are so many tears shed, it’s great. 

Canon Era AU and Otherwise

In Want of A Wife by syllic      Words: 43k+  Rating: E

When Merlin first hears that Arthur has been betrothed, his ribs pull inwards with an odd little hitch, and he only allows himself a second—which he needs in order to coordinate spinning in place without falling on his face—before he’s running to Arthur’s chambers.

Beautifully written, and some of the best irony/"reader clearly fucking knows what's going on but the POV character is PAINFULLY OBLIVIOUS, OH MY GOD".

And Arthur in this is fantastic. I especially love the snippets of his conversations that Merlin overhears. And oh, Gwaine, bless him. Forever a fave.

Dower the Stars by  RurouniHime     Words: 40k+  Rating: E

During a time of great prosperity in Albion, the Druids offer Emrys a precious gift. Arthur is not amused.

(aka, "The Great Conjunction is at Hand, Everyone Kiss Merlin!")

An undeniably incredible work. I mean. The way this author writes just sings, and the story kills me, as well as the fantastic, well-rounded characterization. Usually it's Merlin that I latch onto in this pairing, but this author nails Arthur like nothing else I've read. Oh my god. He is my whole heart. I'm a mess and I read it weeks ago. Can I shower the author in kudos forever? WE WILL SEE.

This rules, and it made me love the ‘horde of suitors’ trope so much more. There are lots of emotions in this one, mostly from Arthur, but Merlin sneaks in there with the feels in the end and it’s great. The best kind of sappy. 

If Ever, Now by Athena1919   Words: 16k+  Rating: M

Merlin realizes that Morgana has magic and that he needs to help her before anyone else realizes it, too. He agrees to give her illegal magic lessons on top of all the work he does for Arthur and chores he handles for Gaius.

Arthur hears rumors of something going on between Merlin and Morgana and isn't pleased.

To Merlin, it just seems like the prince is determined to monopolize his thoughts- as if he didn't already. With even more secrets to keep, Merlin is glad he knows how to juggle.

Great jealous!Arthur, and amazing Merlin/Morgana friendship. There is never enough Mergana friendship in the world, and this story is exactly what everyone who watched the show WANTED Merlin to do, I mean HONESTLY. I’m not over it, clearly. My fave kind of canon divergence is the kind where they become friends. 

[lionheartlibrary]

Thanks anon for the rec!

Twitch Your Whiskers and Pull My Tail

Author: BlueSimplicity

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 62k

Summary: This is the story of Arthur, a vet who has recently moved to Ealdor to get a new lease on life, and Merlin, the local animal lover who becomes Arthur's favourite client.

Warning - This story includes a drunk bunny, sad little guinea pig, ninja kitties and an evil chicken. Symptoms may include blushes, fluffy tails and twitching eyebrows.This is also the story of Arthur and his love for his mother, as he tries to find his place in the world and someone to love him as he is.

But mostly, it's about the eyebrow twitching. Just ask Arthur.

[howshitgoes]

Author: BlueSimplicity

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 61k

Summary: This is the story of Arthur, a vet who has recently moved to Ealdor to get a new lease on life, and Merlin, the local animal lover who becomes Arthur's favourite client.

Warning - This story includes a drunk bunny, sad little guinea pig, ninja kitties and an evil chicken. Symptoms may include blushes, fluffy tails and twitching eyebrows.

This is also the story of Arthur and his love for his mother, as he tries to find his place in the world and someone to love him as he is.

But mostly, it's about the eyebrow twitching. Just ask Arthur.

Comment: This is honestly such an uplifting and sweet fic, my cheeks always hurt from smiling after reading it and I'm not embarrassed to admit that it made me tear up in some parts. It’s an amazing story. Definitely one of my favorites stories.

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (14-20 Jul 2024)

these eps are not getting any more hinged i will tell you that for free

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😍 Baby Steps (BlueSimplicity) - 115K, stucky - really excellent fic with Steve having to step up and take care of a de-aged Bucky, which he fails hard at initially but then sorts himself out and learns to rely on his team. Just so, so good!

😊 Triple Sec (TJ Alexander, author; Jeremy Carlisle Parker, narrator) - I liked all the characters but found myself not really connecting with any of them so I kept putting this down to prioritize other things and took me forever to finish; @81% made decision to get ebook to complete and then when the hold finally came in I finished it in like an hour. AND I really liked that last 20% a lot -- Mel felt a lot less annoying to me. So for this one, audio was not the format for me, though I don't have any complaints about the narrator. I ultimately did enjoy the plot overall even as Mel kind of got on my nerves.

😊 An Assassination on the Agenda: A Lady Hardcastle Mystery, Book 11 (T.E. Kinsey, author; Elizabeth Knowelden, narrator) - Flo & Emily, always a romp. This is a series the reverse of the above, where I don't think I'd enjoy them nearly as much if reading text.

Descendants of Cyrano (letmetellyouaboutmyfeels) - 55K Buddie canon divergent where they work out their feelings via D&D - super entertaining. Never has the tag 'the rituals are intricate' been more appropriate

💖💖 +67K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

Collection: Corroded Coffin Fest (thisapplepielife) - Stranger Things: Corroded Coffin, sometimes Steddie, 24K (ongoing) - a collection of loosely interconnected 1000 word stories mainly about CC & its members - I really enjoyed this author's vision of the band. Also hitting that 1000 word precisely every time is an achievement.

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Taskmaster - s4, e4-8; s12, e1-5

Smartypants - s1, e7

Um, Actually - s9, e11

Monét's Slumber Party - s1, e1

D20: Never Stop Blowing Up - "Under the Night Sun" (s22, e4)

D20: Adventuring Party - "Gender Cascade" (s17, e4)

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

⭐ Hit Parade - Song(s) of the Summer Edition

Consider This - A would-be assassin targets Trump. What it could mean for America.

Short Wave - The Dubious Consent Question At The Heart Of The Human Genome Project

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Mother Jones and the Battle of Blair Mountain

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Longlegs is a (satanic) panic

The Sporkful - 2 Chefs And A Lie: Deconstructed Coney Dog Edition

WikiHole - Bruce Springsteen (with Ted Danson, Rashida Jones and Mike Schur)

WikiHole - Mondegreen (with Vanessa Bayer, Anthony Atamanuik and Gil Ozeri)

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - My Life in Three Places: Dylan Thuras

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Exploding Kittens is a simple card game turned wild cartoon

Vibe Check - Do It While It’s Still Legal

Outward - Can you love the bigotry away? Queer Advice with Mathew Rodriguez

If Books Could Kill - Breaking News Re-Release: "Hillbilly Elegy"

⭐ Decoder Ring - The Secret Life of Lawn Ornaments

⭐ This is Love - Switched-On

Pop Culture Happy Hour - We unpack the 2024 Emmy nominations

Re: Dracula - July 18: Trouble Ahead

⭐ 99% Invisible - A River Runs Through Los Angeles

Wild Card - LeVar Burton is learning to embrace the chaos

Re-Creative - John Scalzi

Re: Dracula - July 19: Present Craving

Pop Culture Happy Hour - Twisters and what's making us happy

Dear Prudence - I Am Swamped With Plans and I Hate It. Help!

Dear Prudence - Prudie Plus: I Am Having A Hard Time Separating the Actions of My Neighbors From Their Race. Help!

It's Been a Minute - The rise of the AR-15; plus, why do comedians play so many cops?

Switched on Pop - The music industry's AI fight

Consider This - USA Gymnastics made a miraculous comeback — but is it actually safer for Olympians?

Re: Dracula - July 20: Most Difficult and Vital Aspect

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Songs of Summer 2024

All-Time Summer Jams

'80s Pop Party

Rock Radio • 1970s

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (12-18 Feb 2023)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😊 "List of People Who Disappeared Mysteriously at Sea" (Jen Myers) - nicely eerie short story

😊 In The Market For Murder (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #2) (T.E. Kinsey, author; Elizabeth Knowelden, narrator) - again, I'm a fan of the breezy 'not-super-serious-about-historical-accuracy-in-the-small-details' tone; I really like that Flo & Lady H have this backstory/history that we only find small bits about here and there

😍 Same As It Ever Was (QuokkaFoxtrot) - 62K, Steddie - EXCELLENT time-loop fixit AU

🥰 Cabin Pressure - Series 1: Abu Dhabi to Fitton (John Finnemore, author; Stephanie Cole/Roger Allam/Benedict Cumberbatch/John Finnemore, voice cast) - entertained again by the crew of MJN Airlines

😍 Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Steve a Match (BlueSimplicity) - 209K, shrunkyclunks - omegaverse (but fairly nontrad, no mpreg) - the slow burn tag is not inappropriate but also it kind of doesn't FEEL that slow! deep worldbuilding, excellent epistolary component, incredible OC's, the differences/subversions of trad omegaverse tropes gave me clowfish AU vibes, which I loved

😍 Will Wonders Never Cease (PorcupineGirl) - 56K, zimbits AU, You've Got Mail/She Loves Me fusion - magic's real, Bitty's a tech witch with a very cute familiar - read this in one sitting and my face hurt when I was done from smiling so much

🥰 Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue (Cat Sebastian) - novella, set in 1953; to paraphrase the official description: two best friend pro ball players finally figure their shit out, featuring: inclement weather, only one (real) bed and some hurt/comfort. Technically this is set in the Cabot Universe but there are zero Cabots in this one. Cat continues to score home runs on vibes alone. I love her books so, so much!

💖💖 +189K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

I Want You to Find Me (PorcupineGirl) - Check Please!: zimbits, 23K - canon-divergent AU where Bitty's a camboy that catches Jack's attention (while also still being his former teammate and all)

Ruin me (rainbow_nerds) - Stranger Things: steddie, 11K - absolutely cannot get enough of a reunion/2nd chance fic!!!!! fluffy AF!

Critical Feline Mass (Kryptaria, zooeyscigar) - MCU: stucky, 39K - no-powers AU where they're both retired military, Steve rents an apt to a still-struggling-to-reintegrate Bucky & sparks (and feelings) fly. also there are a lot of adorable kittens.

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Tom Scott & Gavin Free - "We tried the Hot Ones sauces. It was painful."

Queer Historical Romance panel with KJ Charles, AL Lester & Lex Croucher presented by The Portal Bookshop

Poker Face - s1, e5-7

Our Flag Means Death - s1, e8-10

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

⭐ Vibe Check - NFL = National Fenty League

Digital Folklore - Monsters and Mental Healthcare - Vivian Asimos & Kathleen Hale

The Sporkful - Alan And Arlene Alda Bonded Over A Fallen Rum Cake

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Henry Miller Memorial Library

You Must Remember This - 1984: "Vioporn," Body Double and Crimes of Passion (Erotic 80s Part 7)

Switched on Pop - “Flowers” and the art of the response song

Digital Folklore - Hidden Meanings (Haunted Videogames, ARGs, & Folk Groups)

Strange Customs - Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro—The Rock

It's Been a Minute - Unlocking desire through smut; plus, the gospel of bell hooks

⭐ Vibe Check - There’s Dog Years, and Then There’s Queer Years

ICYMI Plus - The Internet’s Black Emo Renaissance

99% Invisible #525 - The Chinatown Punk Wars

⭐ Fated Mates - S05.22: Trailblazer K.J. Charles

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Pushkin’s Duel

Welcome to Night Vale #222 - Makarov the Magical

Shedunnit - Bonus: Tana French on Josephine Tey

Fated Mates - S05.14: Band Sinister by KJ Charles

Writing Excuses - 18.07: Deep Dive into THE SPARE MAN

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn

Writing Excuses - 18.05: An Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal

Ologies - Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT) with Tina Lasisi

You Must Remember This - 1985: Fear Sex. Jagged Edge & AIDS (Erotic 80s Part 8)

Endless Thread - The Journeys of Two Russian Anti-War YouTubers

Strong Songs - From Bach to Miles Davis, with Emily Reese

You're Dead To Me - Early Medieval Papacy

It's Been a Minute - Kelela's guide for breaking up with men

Dear Prudence - My Partner Might Be in Conversion Therapy. Help!

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Rihanna

The Celtic Spirit

my 'Thumbs Up' playlist

Tropical Dance Pop

Hi-Scores

[merlinfanficquotes]

But Merlin, Merlin was looking at Arthur like he always did, as if he was Merlin’s last, best hope, and that Arthur was the only one who could possibly make this right. Arthur sighed.

Twitch Your Whiskers and Pull My Tail by BlueSimplicity

[merlinfanficquotes]

Arthur was struck speechless, and he found that he was now the clumsy one as he stumbled after Merlin, as if it were Merlin who held his lead so gently in his hands. And he wanted to ask if Merlin knew about feelings that were too big for words, and if there were animals that he had been quiet with, when the world had become too much. He knew so little about Merlin, this man that had become the focus of so many of Arthur’s thoughts and fantasies. And he was desperate to know more.

Twitch Your Whiskers and Pull My Tail by BlueSimplicity

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (16-22 Jan 2022)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey #10) (Dorothy L. Sayers) - love how much Sayers brings her actual day job knowledge into this one. And that Wimsey is sort of a natural at advertising.

🙂 On The Back Of A Raindrop (musette22) - 52K, modern no-powers AU with single dad Steve and landscaper Bucky -

😍 [Podfic] ain't really quaint (quietnight, reader; AggressiveWhenStartled, author) - 44K, fantastic podcast of a forever fave, the well-known 'Farm Hell' fic with fake farmer Steve trolling the hell out of a younger Bucky. Featuring white cotton tank undershirts, freckled shoulders, frog umbrellas, strawberry print bloomers and a feral cow

😊 Hunting Party (Willful Wolfmate #1) (Robin Moray)

😍 The Nine Tailors (Lord Peter Wimsey #11) (Dorothy L Sayers, author; Ian Carmichael, narrator) - while most of the bell ringing stuff really does go over my head, I can tell it's all stunningly accurate. Plus one of the most memorable methods of death ever.

😍 A Tapestry of Two (BlueSImplicity) - 157K - absolutely stunning post-WS recovery fic featuring knitting, Greek mythology, cooking, a demon kitten, trauma healing. This fic has instantly become one of my forever faves, one of the ones I'd put on the desert island list. 💗💗💗

😊 With Love In Mind (TuppingLiberty) - 81K, original fic romance novel - BDSM, sugar baby/daddy -

💖💖 +135K of shorter fic so shorter work shout out to these I really loved💖💖

[Podfic] Bucky Barnes and the Embarrassment of Spidermen (quietnight, reader; AggressiveWhenStartled, author) - MCU: Stucky, 29K - interdimensional spider babies and a velociraptor + some hilarious X-Men cameos

And I Have Seen Evil (Gement) - The Addams Family: Gen, 1.2K - Wednesday joins a horror movie club at college

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Queens of Mystery - s2, e3-4

Golden Girls - s1, e9-10

All Creatures Great and Small - Season 2

Around The World in 80 Days - s1, e2

Encanto

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

One Year - 1977: Roots: The Saga of Alex Haley

One Year - 1977: Jesus on a Tortilla

One Year - 1977: More on the Music, Movies, TV, and Culture of 1977

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Relampago Del Catatumo

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Lily Dale Spiritualist Community

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics - Clytemnestra

You're Dead To Me - Mary Wollstonecraft

99% Invisible #473 - Mini-Stories : Volume 14

Twenty Thousand Hertz - Sul Sul

Ologies with Alie Ward - Screamology (LOUD VOCALIZATIONS) with Harold Gouzoules

Grim & Mild Presents - Sideshow 1: Gaff Daddy

This is Good for You - Ep 23: Sports Fandom Is Good For You - loved that Nichole shouts out Queens of Mystery as her recommendation!

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Razzouk Tattoo

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Encanto (Original Soundtrack)

my Moana soundtrack (original soundtrack + score)

Cinematic Ambience

The Hits: '70s

Bat Out Of Hell [Meat Loaf]

Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell [Meat Loaf]

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (13-19 Feb 2022)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 His Boy Next Door: #38 Top to Bottom (RJ Moray) - another lovely episode of Jack & Channon's story

🥰 Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood (Mark Harris, author; Lloyd James, narrator) - "Explores the epic human drama behind the making of the five movies nominated for Best Picture in 1967-Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Graduate, In the Heat of the Night, Doctor Doolittle, and Bonnie and Clyde-and through them, the larger story of the cultural revolution that transformed Hollywood, and America, forever." This was fascinating & well-told & I thoroughly enjoyed it but my overwhelmingly my thought, multiple times through the whole thing was, the more things change, the more they stay exactly the same.

🙂 Whiplash (CBFirestarter, TrenchcoatBaby) - 142K, Destiel dystopian BDSM AU -

😊 Haven werewolf 'verse (YumeArashi) - 96K, Haven OT3 no-Troubles, werewolf AU - 37K is main story, the rest is vingettes/deleted scenes/notes and outline for intended sequel -

😍 The Trials and Tribulations of the Watermelon Werewolf (BlueSimplicity) - 147K, werewolf/soulmate AU - FANTASTIC fic: funny, fluffy, hot, great characterizations (esp of supporting characters as well) - instant forever fave

😊 Murder in First Class (Miss Underhay Mysteries #8) (Helena Dixon, author; Karen Cass, narrator) - this continues to be a quietly enjoyable cozy mystery series

💖💖+119K of shorter fic so shorter work shout out to these I really loved💖💖

Fierce (leveragehunters (Monkeygreen)) - MCU: Stucky, 15K - gorgeous little fantasy AU

Maybe the Real Gold Medal Was the Friends We Made Along the Way (thedishandthespoon) - MCU: Stucky, 18K - Olympics AU

TWO new episodes in the fabulous To Be Seen Aright verse by Deastar! Ours Will Still Be Hot (1.9K) & this braided business (10K)

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Explained - s1, e1

The Larkins - s1, e3-4

Agatha Raisin - s4,e3: A Spoonful of Poison

Star Trek: Discovery - s2, e1-4 - started back up again with these nerds

The Brokenwood Mysteries - s1, e1-3 - shout out to @door for convincing/reassuring me to give this a shot, it is delightful.

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

The Present Age - Climate journalist Eric Holthaus believes in a better world

Last Seen - Episode 4: Africa’s Lost Year of Hope

Desert Island Discs - Leslie Caron, actress (literally did not realize Leslie Caron was still alive! also they last interviewed her in 1956 which makes this the longest gap between interviews in their history)

Lore - Episode 192: Time Will Tell

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Panorama of the City of New York

Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities - Fill In The Blankenship

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - International Cocoa Quarantine Center

The Present Age - Joe Galbo is the man making memes for the U.S. government

99% Invisible #477 - Call of Duty: Free

Ologies with Alie Ward - Cycadology (RARE PLANT DRAMA) with Nathalie Nagalingum

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Extreme Travel with Dave Seminara

Shedunnit - Bonus: Jennifer Morag Henderson Interview

FILMS TO BE BURIED WITH Patreon Crew! - Ellie Taylor!

Twenty Thousand Hertz - Pirate Radio

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Last Sears in New York City

Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities - The Right Word

You're Dead To Me - Eleanor of Aquitaine

This is Good for You - Ep 25: Collecting Sneakers Is Good For You

Strong Songs Bonus Episodes - And Now, Some More Beatles Covers

Grim & Mild Presents - Sideshow 4: A Living Curiosity

Endless Thread - Space Heist! (Or, How to Steal a Planet)

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Presenting Debussy

Video Game music (station) - this ended up being a random mix of pop songs, occasional video game tunes in the mix; good but not what I was expecting

Presenting Backstreet Boys

Gentle Latin Electronic

Golden Age of Boy Bands

Mamma Mia: Original London Cast

Dancing Queen

CREDITS: Diane Warren

Tell the World: The Very Best of Ratt

Whitesnake

CREDITS: Charli XCX

Waiting To Exhale (Original Soundtrack Album)

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (20-26 February 2022)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 Stardust - BBC Full Cast Dramatisation (Neil Gaiman, author; Dirk Maggs, adapter)

🥰 A Marriage of Ice and Fire (Mystrana, author; alby_mangroves, art) - 75K, medieval AU - enemies-to-lovers, forced marriage, bedsharing, bedsharing with an even smaller bed, well-written battle scenes

😍 What's in a Name? (levi_cas_tho, author; maichan, artist) - 85K, very satisfying post-WS recovery fic

🙂 A Literal Human Unicorn (starbunny, author; MsPooslie, artist) - 41K, shrinkyclinks AU with smol baker Steve and a mysterious unicorn

😊 Move Before We Lose It (dontcallmebree) - 59K, no-powers modern AU, office romance

😊 The Sordid Socialite (The Adventures of Nick & Carter #4) (Frank W. Butterfield)

🥰 The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club #2) (Richard Osman, author; Lesley Manville, narrator) - another delightful escapade with the Thursday Murder Club and their found family. These are books you read for the characters, who are amazing, and not the plots, which are ridiculous.

😍You Are Responsible For What You Tame series: Part 1 & 2 (BlueSimplicity) - 125K (pts 1&2), post-WS canon divergent recovery fic - so, so good with Bucky & Steve renovating a rowhouse and learning to trust each other and heal and to love Puerto Rican food and churros and steamed buns. Part 1: The Hunt, 18K and Part 2: The Taming, 105K

💖💖+221K of shorter fic so shorter work shout out to these I really loved💖💖

a traditional courtship (Helenish) - X-Men: Cherik, 12K - brilliantly done a/b/o, absolutely fucking with status designation & presentation - highlights are the in-universe academic & pop culture articles/ads

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

The Brokenwood Mysteries - s1, e4

Agatha Raisin - s4, e4: There Goes The Bride

The Brokenwood Mysteries - s2, e1-4

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics - Medusa

You're Dead To Me - The Haitian Revolution

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Ponyhenge

You're Wrong About - CSI: Junk Science w. Josie Duffy Rice

Lore - REMASTERED – Episode 22: Over the Top

You're Dead To Me - Grainne O’Malley

You're Dead To Me - Zheng Yi Sao

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Sites of Vision with the Places Team

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Vermontasaurus

Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities - Ruined

Song Exploder - Sarah Kinsley "The King"

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Lake Karachay

Ologies with Alie Ward - Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD) Part 1 with Russell Barkley

Shedunnit - A Second Century of Whodunnits

Richmond Til We Die: A Ted Lasso Podcast - BONUS: Reluctantly Charmed by Ted Lasso (with Nadia Bolz-Weber)

99% Invisible #478 - Art Imitates Art

Last Seen - Episode 5: Belly Up

Hit Parade - We Invented the Remix Part 1 & 2 - this was a fascinating trip through the history of remixes

Endless Thread - Dogs in Elk [shoutout to the staff at WBUR for dramatically reading the iconic Dogs In Elk thread]

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Feelin' Good in the '00s

Presenting Schumann

Presenting Lizzo

Fun & Funky

Presenting Sublime

Freaky Styley [Red Hot Chili Peppers]

Mother's Milk [Red Hot Chili Peppers]

Grieg

New School Divas

Presenting P!NK

Presenting Cardi B

Presenting Jennifer Lopez

Presenting Bach

I Love Me

Presenting Lenny Kravitz