#bug juice: jaime and brienne's summer at camp

[everydayescapeartist]

I’m much too late in sharing this (I think? Did I post it before? My tired brain needs help, lol) but @hillaryschu did such an amazing job and was really sweet and wonderful to make this L’il Oathkeeper gift for me above and beyond her awesome Bug Juice fic.  So, you all need to go check out this lovely JB art please and give the accolades it deserves.  Happy weekend, everyone!  Hope we all get to enjoy some JB fics/fanart during it!  :-D

[writergirl2011]

Jaime x Brienne 2021 Exchange Fic Recs!!!

Hey there! While I haven’t quite gotten through all of the fics in this year’s Jaime x Brienne Fic Exchange, I wanted to go ahead and get this rec list posted ahead of the reveal tomorrow night. I plan to add to it once I finish the final batch of stories and go back and reread a few I bookmarked. So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are some of my favorites:

Desserts. [Modern AU] This wonderful story was written for me and it’s a lovely character study of chef!Jaime and his growing relationship with Brienne (who is his sous chef even if it takes him forever to admit it). But what will Jaime do when Hyle Hunt walks into his restaurant, stating that he’s Brienne’s fiancé? Jaime’s response is epic, so don’t miss out on this one!!

Bug Juice: Jaime and Brienne’s Summer at Camp. [Modern AU]. A story with a Myrcella POV! This author did a fantastic job of combining a 90’s children’s show with a GoT Season 8 fix-it. Myrcella’s running commentary on the last episode of the season is hilarious as she finds out whether her Uncle Jaime will finally get together with Equestrian Director Brienne!

Come Home. [Show canon divergence]. This was so beautifully written. When Selwyn sends Brienne an urgent message for her to come home, Brienne doesn’t know what to expect. What she finds is that Evenfall Hall has a very problematic guest that’s inevitably going to attract trouble when the world finds out he’s there. To say more would spoil the surprise.

On Paper. [Modern AU]. Poor Addam Marbrand, forever stuck dealing with Jaime’s perpetual inability to flirt effectively. One of the funniest stories I read in the exchange.

Safe. [Modern AU]. Oh. My. God. The train heist story. Electric sexual tension between Jaime and Brienne, competence kink, and a wonderful backstory woven throughout. Guh.

Ding Dong Ditch, Baby. [Modern AU]. Jaime needs Brienne’s help when someone leaves an unexpected package for Tyrion on his doorstep. Complicating matters is that their one date was an absolute disaster, not that that will keep the sexual tension at bay!

Unrestrained Summer Fun. [Modern AU]. Jaime, Brienne, and Cleos spend one memorable summer together as children, and are reunited about twenty years later. The author cleverly recreates their trip through the Riverlands in a series of misadventures only kids could have. I loved this story so much!!

Has the Past Passed? [Modern AU]. Jaime and Brienne were driven apart by a misunderstanding. Ten years later, Jaime returns—as Brienne’s on the verge of marrying another man. It’s not every story that has you feeling sorry for Hyle Hunt for a while, and the author handles the sticky situation deftly.

they say your body is full of sin (it’s the door through where peace begins). [Modern AU]. Take a premise that could’ve been a pretty quick, hot-and-heavy PWP (5+1 masturbation fic). Throw in Jaime’s complicated history with his father driving him to become a camboy, lonely journalist Brienne tuning into his channel, and don’t forget the feelings. Lots and LOTS of feelings. And baked goods. Have I left anything out? Probably. This story is amazing.

Where I Cannot Stand. [Firefly AU]. I must admit, I’ve never watched Firefly. That will soon be rectified as this story was fantastic. Jaime and his ragtag crew take on two passengers for their trip to the Twins. One of them is a tall, mysterious blond acting suspicious and bringing along a large crate. To quote Jaime at one point in the story, “What could go wrong?” (Seriously, Jaime, you’d think you would know NEVER to say such a thing.)

right here, forever. [The Martian AU]. MARTIAN AU! MARTIAN AU!!! Brienne finds herself stranded with Jaime on Mars—not ideal considering they’ve got a complicated history. One of my favorite movies mashed up with my favorite OTP? That’s my catnip.

Thanks to the @jaime-brienne-fic-exchange mods for putting this together!!

[everydayescapeartist]

JB Fic Exchange Recs - AU Oneshots

Well, I’ve gotten through about half of the @jaime-brienne-fic-exchange fics at this point, which is both not nearly enough for my liking and also pretty impressive for me, lol. I wanted to get some recs out ahead of the reveal because the wealth of talent in this fandom should be celebrated and shouted from every rooftop...and here we are down to the wire.  Haha!  Obviously, there are SO many more awesome fics available, so take this as just a lovely sampling.  Thank you dear authors for sharing your talents with us all!

Bug Juice: Jaime and Brienne's Summer at Camp - THIS IS MY GIFT FIC!  READ IT NOW!  Okay, even if this wasn't my gift fic, I would absolutely love this fun romp of a fic.  My prompt was basically summer camp with JB flair and my author took that to such a level of creativity and snark, it was just beyond perfect!  This one is in Myrcella's POV...I didn't even know I needed this, but I really did!  She's watching the season finale of a reality tv show that's set at summer camp.  Everyone is riveted by Jaime and Brienne's will-they-won't-they, enemies-to-lovers subplot, Myrcella included, even though she does have a bit of insider knowledge naturally.  I love the way this is written like reality show segments, with Myrcella's brilliant reactions/commentary/texting of her uncle from her couch.  There are commercial breaks that will crack you up.  A very serious discussion about Capture the Flag is had.  The GoT show digs are fantastic.  Really, this is the fic you need to read if you like smiling for long periods of time and laughing potentially so hard you spew your drink.  Oh, and also if you enjoy a good ole reality show HEA.  Excerpt 1: “When Daenerys took over as Camp Director mid-session, I was worried,” Jaime says to the camera, running his good hand through his hair. “I have a complicated history with her father and she doesn’t trust me. The young Starks don’t exactly either, but Brienne has fought for me. She insisted that I am good at my job—good with the kids. She said that I am a good man.” Jaime’s eye twitches just a touch as he stares straight ahead, his face otherwise a mask of calculated neutrality. Myrcella picks up her phone, about to text her uncle to make fun of how sappy he is when the scene switches to Brienne. Excerpt 2: Brienne takes a long sip, eyeing Jaime skeptically over the rim as she lowers her cup. OMG, when are they going to make out? Just kiss him! Ugh, they better kiss or I’m going to lose my damned mind. “You keep it warm enough in here,” he complains with a sigh, brushing past Brienne, who slowly sets her cup down and turns to him. She wipes her wide palms on her shorts and watches his back as he struggles to shed his hooded sweatshirt. Excerpt 3:

“Nooooo!” Myrcella screams and falls off the couch. She lands on the ground with a thud. She scrambles to untangle herself from her blanket and clamour back up onto the couch to grab her phone. She sends Jaime a shouty text.

Score - Jaime, Brienne, and bar trivia!  Also, face-sitting goodness...what's not to love?!

Excerpt: “And because I was right and you were wrong, I demand you two go on a date.”

“Excuse me,” Brienne squeaked. Was Tyrion trying to humiliate her? How could he suggest something so absurd without a cruel intention?

To Jaime’s credit, he had the decency to look mildly embarrassed. He even blushed. “Stop it, Tyrion,” he said, annoyed.

“I’m serious,” his brother replied. “You two have been flirting all night. Do something about it or this trivia arrangement will not work out in the long run.” Privilege - Jaime coming up with ridiculous lawsuits so he can keep spending time with his lawyer, Brienne (and a couple not-so-ridiculous ones too).  This one is hilarious and clever and also very sweet.  Do yourself a favor and read it!

Excerpt: “Jaime. At this point, I have known you for eighteen months—”

As their drinks appeared, he tapped his mochaccino against her tea. “Cheers!”

“—we have never not been in court! Seven Hells, Jaime, last month you had me sue Stoneheart Press because you didn’t like the representation of Goldenhand the Just in their line of historical fiction novels.”

He took a sip of his coffee. Anyone else would look ridiculous drinking what was essentially a dessert in a three-piece suit. But not Jaime. Jaime just…looked good. “And you won all those cases, Tarth. You’re good. Occasionally graceless while dealing with opposing counsel, but good all the same.

I hope our paths will croissant again - the way to my heart is baked goods...no, really, my hubby's a good and generous baker.  So, any story where Jaime has baking skills is going to appeal to me.  That said, this one is sweet and funny and has some pining and dare I say it was delicious?  Go enjoy it!

Excerpt 1: “She didn’t hire me,” Jaime says. “She’s holding me hostage, actually.”

  She stares at him for a moment, and then realizes he’s joking, and he laughs uproariously at the look on her face. 

“I’m good at my job. Why’d she hire you? ” 

Excerpt 2:

When Jaime comes back to work, he teases her again, though lightly, and she assures herself that whatever she felt in his apartment that evening is something that he can’t possibly reciprocate and nothing is ever going to come of it, so they can just be coworkers and it will be fine. She scrubs the kitchen countertop very aggressively when he comes to help her with a batch of coconut cake and hopes he doesn’t see her blushing. Thankfully, he then spills coconut flakes all over the kitchen floor and she has to get the broom and by the time she comes back her heartbeat has slowed down properly. She tells herself she’s being very, very stupid. The stupidest, really. Absolutely top tier stupidity. 

On Paper - Addam is wingman extraordinaire, guiding is best friend through some unintentional sandwich wrapper flirting.  

Excerpt:

He knew better than to bring a date to Tarth’s. It was a surefire way to ruin a good thing in case of nasty break up.

Bringing his best friend along should have been safer. Less risky.

It would have been if his best friend wasn’t Jaime Lannister, that’s for damn sure.

Meet Me Cute - J & B are bodyguards to Sansa and Margaery and are forced to be around each other following their charges’ meet cute and all that follows.  This is told through multiple POVs and is so fun!

Excerpt:

“Margaery, can you tell Jaime to stop using ‘our’ when referring to me,” Brienne replied, opting not to engage with him directly.

Margaery sighed and turned towards her girlfriend’s bodyguard. “Jaime… why does Brienne hate your guts?”

“Not what I said.”

Jaime shrugged, “Don’t know.”

“Don’t know?” Brienne exclaimed, snapping her head up to glare at him. “You don’t know?”

“I don’t have a clue,” Sansa chimed in. “And Jaime has told me a lot about you.”

“You shush,” Jaime said. Sansa simply laughed.

vellichor - This mesmerizing story of a world-renowned violinist and a used-bookstore owner is told via before & after segments that reveal the development of the characters and of this beautiful relationship.

Excerpt:

So he does not let himself falter as he surveys the audience, sketching out a half-bow before lifting the violin and settling it against his shoulder. His bow is still loose in his right hand, and it trembles when he goes to raise it, the scars protesting a motion he has done a million times.

Those watching will see his hesitation as part of the show, the spectacle—a prolonging of his grand return is what the articles will say tomorrow morning. They will not see the terror that jolts through his body, the fingers of his left hand pressing harder against the strings. They will not see his eyes wandering over to a box on the left side of the hall, the box where a few people he has carefully chosen sit, leaning forward along with the rest.

They will not see how he searches for a tall woman sitting among them, nor will they see the ache that takes hold of his heart when the spotlight blinds him and he is unable to push through the curtain of brilliance to see if she is there.