#good lord you fic writers are so brave

[somewhatidealname]

I love your depiction/version of springtrap, i would die to read a fic about ‘em

AUGHH WTF THANK YOU 😭 aoguashgghgfgh my lack of writing experience kills all of my confidence

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is:  @cuips-not-cute! cuips_not_cute has six fics in the Stranger Things fandom on AO3 and all of them are in the Steddie tag!

Our anonymous nominator recommends the following works by @cuips-not-cute:

he could be brave

blood is an aphrodisiac

honeyed affection

blinking red light

cyclical

"cuips is a master of taking the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride. The amount of times I've laughed and cried at the same time reading his fics have been too numerous to count. Especially the depth of the sex scenes and the character beats and growth they portray are gorgeous to read - and also very titillating. I love Steve and Eddie in every one of cuips stories, adore the little mannerisms they are given and the way they interact with each other and other characters. Besides the inspiring prose cuips can pull off a plot like few other people I've found so far - since blinking red light is still ongoing, I'll just point to cyclical for that. I'm very thankful to cuips for writing and posting these stories and for being a very active part of this lovely fandom." -- anonymous

Below the cut, @cuips-not-cute answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

i don’t even know. i was happily in the ofmd fandom when i watched season 4 almost three years ago now (oh god) and then the characters… they got me. i fear they’ll never leave.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

god, so many. they’re all kinda the same flavor though so i’ll list out what i’m always filtering for to find a new fic: bottom/sub eddie, creature/monster eddie, post s4, canon compliant, soft dom steve, sex pollen, spit kink, rimming (perhaps my FAVORITE ever thing to read), switch eddie/switch steve… the list goes on.

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

probably also rimming. there’s just something so romantic about eating ass. and i really love to stick with post s4 canon compliant aus, too, i don’t think i’ve written an actual for real au yet, though i do have an idea for one after brl.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

i don’t know if i can pick!! my ao3 bookmarks host my many all-time faves, but if you wanna go by the fic i’ve reread the most it’s probably the affliction of the feeling. it’s so fucking good.

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

YES!!! i have never written omegaverse!!! which is crazy, ‘cause i like it a LOT. i have a post-s4 omegaverse au kicking around in my head currently, and i cannot wait to sink my teeth into all the messy biology and politics that come with the omegaverse.

What is your writing process like?

chaotic, in a word. usually, i’ll get a fic idea while i’m balls-deep in writing another fic so i’ll shove it to the side and let it simmer while i finish that first one, then i’ll spend a good long while planning it out in ridiculous detail, and THEN i’ll start actually drafting. i like to have a fully fleshed out outline and a couple chapters written and edited before i start posting, and once posting begins i tend to deviate quite a bit from my outline but it’s all good fun.

Do you have any writing quirks?

definitely. i don’t like pointing them out for fear of other folks seeing them in everything i do, but they’re there. one that i don’t mind so much is my absolute abuse of the word “little.” everything is “a little” of this, “a little” of that, but i try to cut my usage down significantly while i’m editing.

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

i always TRY to keep a schedule but… yeah. it never works. i’m far too busy for one, but attempts are made. i’d like to one day write a fic in full before posting it, because i think it’d be a whole lot better if i let it sit for that long but lord, i sure do like getting ao3 comments on every chapter. they make the writing motivation go WAY up.

Which fic are you most proud of?

brl, definitely. that fucker is LONG and i’m barely halfway through it. i think i’ve done a lot of cool things with it and i’m going to do some more cool things and i’ve made a lot of really awesome friends in the process of writing it so it’s got some pretty insane sentimental value to me. it’s definitely going to be a fic i’ll miss writing once i finish it, but that’s what the epilogue series is for!!!

How did you get the idea for blinking red light?

from another fic!!! @racketghost is the author of one of my favorite things i’ve ever read, which is the good omens zach and miri au, closed set (https://archiveofourown.org/works/23320960/chapters/55862155 <- hyperlinked), wherein crowley has been lying about the existence of some angelic sex tapes to all of hell, and then he and aziraphale have to actually make the tapes. it’s awesome. it’s gorgeous. brl is one big giant love letter to this fic, because it means so fucking much to me and i think about it ALL the time. 

When writing honeyed affection, what was something you didn’t expect?

hmm, i don’t know? ha is, i think, a pretty easygoing fic with lots and lots of porn stuffed inside it, and that was all i intended it to be so i cannot think of anything i was surprised by!!

What inspired blood is an aphrodisiac?

i just wanted to write vampire eddie. it was july ‘22, kas theories were everywhere, i had to try it. these days i think i would change a LOT about it because my ideas and hcs surrounding the characters have evolved significantly, but i’ll write vampire eddie again and “fix” everything i no longer like about biaa.

What was your favorite part to write from he could be brave?

…the fisting. i genuinely think some of my best writing is in that scene, and while i feel the same way about this fic as i do biaa, the fisting scene will always hold a special place in my heart. i’m very, very excited to write the fisting chapter in brl because of this scene. fisting rules.

How do/did you feel writing cyclical?

i wrote cyclical during a very weird few months of my life, so writing it was sort of my way of dealing with all the insane shit going on around me, and i think it shows. in a good way, though, because cyclical is a timeloop fic so it needed to be a little angsty and insane. i’m stupidly proud of that fic. @ryeallytired actually BOUND it into a PHYSICAL BOOK and SENT IT TO ME and when i tell you that is the singular most precious object i own, i mean it.

What was the most difficult part of writing blinking red light?

PLOTTING THAT BITCH. GOD. i’m so happy to be actually WRITING it now, the planning was genuinely so brutal. my issue was that i was sticking too close to the plot of closed set (<3) which just… did not work for steddie. closed set’s premise centers around crowley lying about making sex tapes, yes, but he lied about them to PROTECT aziraphale, which is the messiest, kindest, riskiest fucking thing ever. and it’s awesome. in the early planning stages of brl, i was trying to put eddie in the crowley role of lying about having made sex tapes with steve, but it reallyyy didn’t work. there was an oc and i absolutely hated him, plus i didn’t like what that premise was doing to eddie’s character… ugh. it was a MESS. it took several rubber duck-ing conversations with my brilliant friend @lollaika and a rewatch of zach and miri to finally realize that it had to be STEVE who brings up the idea of sex tapes so that he could protect eddie, rather than eddie bringing it up to save his own hide (yikes).

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

oooh, lots. reallyyyy loved chapter 8 of cyclical with all of the pov shifts, that was super fun to write. i also really enjoyed writing the dry humping/sex tape convo in the first chapter of brl, and i’m stupidly excited to write chapters 12, 13, 15, and 17, because of specific scenes that will happen in each.

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

i do!! after brl is completed i’ll have to choose from two story ideas (because i cannot have two wips at once or i’ll get SO stressed), one being a semi-realistic steddie cowboy au based off my own experiences with growing up on a farm and featuring messy, earnest cowboys and not-fully-human eddie, and the other being the omegaverse au i want to write, which will have a very fun mix of vampire eddie, dubcon bitching, and accidental mating bites!!!

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

i cannot think of anything!! this was super fun :D

Thank you to our author, @cuips-not-cute, and our anonymous nominator! See more of cuips_not_cute'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!

[meggiejolly]

How Steve became "Sir Steve the Brave" (Stranger Things - Steddie)

I participated in @pod-together this year, as a writer not a podficer (this time) - though I did take a little role in a multi voice project that will be revealed in a few days - and I got paired with @steddiestories who I already worked with for Voiceteam this year. We came up with a fic idea inspired by the song "Buntes Volk" by Faun and I had a lot of fun writing the fic.

Summary: Eddie tells Steve a story about how Eddie the Banished and Sir Steve the Brave met. It was only supposed to be a fun little story, but it sort of turns into an accidental feelings confession.

»This is the story of Eddie the Banished, Sir Steve the Brave and their merry band of fools.« Eddie started with his usual dramatic flair. He had been stretched out on the bed next to Steve, but now he sat up to do his story - or well, maybe ‚performance‘ would be the better word - justice.

»Their story happened a long, long time ago, somewhere in Europe. A place with castles and fortresses, with princes and knights, bards and fools. The kind of place that only exists in history books and fantasy these days. 

This was the world in which Sir Steve lived in a castle up on a hill overlooking a small town that was ruled by his parents. 

Sir Steve had been knighted a few years ago and fought in some tournaments to prove himself, but nowadays he was mostly stuck on his parents’ estate. Supposedly his father was ‘showing him the ropes on how to take over as Lord Harrington’ but in reality the current Lord Harrington didn’t care enough about his son or his tenants to do anything of the sort,-«

Steve snorted at that and Eddie gave him a disapproving look before continuing as if there had been no interruption.  

»-so instead Sir Steve spent his days practicing his fencing with Sir Tommy, going on rides through the forest or along the fields and sneaking away with Robin, one of the maids that had become his best friend. Sometimes Sir Steve wrote letters to Lady Nancy, his betrothed, but there was only so much one could say to someone he hadn’t seen since they were kids.«

Steve rolled his eyes, “For the last time Eddie, there is nothing going on between Nancy and I.” 

“I know. Any resemblance of characters in this story to real people is complete coincidence, I promise Steve.” Eddie’s eyes were huge with false innocence and he drew a little cross over his heart. Steve could only chuckle fondly. 

“Do you want to hear the story or not?” 

“Of course I do, go on.” 

Eddie grinned and cleared his throat.  

»All in all, Sir Steve’s life was pretty boring. That was until one fateful evening that would change Steve’s life forever. Robin and him had snuck away to their favorite place, a nice little plateau overlooking the village. The only way to get there was hidden by a big bush. Not many people knew how to get there, so no one was likely to disturb them. Steve had nicked one of his father’s good bottles of wine from the cellar and he and Robin were talking about whether or not Robin had a chance with Vicky, the daughter of the local tailor."«

“Wait, you know about Robin’s crush on Vicky?” Steve interrupted the story again. 

Eddie shrugged. “Yeah, she told me a couple of weeks ago.” 

“Oh… I didn’t know she told anyone else about that.” 

“She told you, didn't she?” 

“Yeah, but that’s…” Steve shook his head, it was Robin’s choice, he refused to be jealous of Eddie again. “Doesn’t matter, what happened that fateful evening on the plateau?”

Eddie smirked and leaned back a little, somehow closer to Steve than he was before.  

Continue reading on AO3 or listen to @steddiestorie's amazing podfic version.

[the-lonelybarricade]

I promised I looked but maybe I missed it but do you have a rec list for long feysand UTM fics? 🙏 tysm regardless

I swear this rec list already exists but I can't find it, so I guess we'll start over! A lot of these fics are still wips, so if you dive into them please keep that in mind and remember to be supportive of the authors! 💕

we said hello and your eyes look like coming home by @rosanna-writer - A canon-divergent AU where the bond snaps for Rhys on Calanmai, Feyre unwittingly accepts it, and Fire Night magic proves to be more transformative than anyone bargained for. Feyre drags a mate she hardly knows out from Under the Mountain, then puts him back together as war with Hybern approaches.

eclipsed nova by @shadowdaddyazriel - A retelling of A Court of Thorns and Roses in which Feyre and Rhysand remain under the mountain for much longer, transforming from mortal enemies to soft-hearted lovers and reclaiming Prythian as a team, defeating Tamlin and Amarantha for good.

The Portrait of a Male by HopeLions13 - When the bond snaps into place on Calanmai, Rhysand can't leave his mate in the Spring Court. Instead, he sends her to Velaris, to live and die in safety. But the more time Feyre spends with the Inner Circle, the more she wants to know the male, her mate, they all love. Which leaves her with only one choice.

There You Are by @whatishowedyouinthedark - If Calanmai had gone differently... how would the story have unfolded?

Of the Archer and the Dark by @thesistersarcheron - Feyre Archeron is the youngest member of the Fae nobility trapped in Amarantha’s court Under the Mountain, and she’s never known anything else; nineteen years ago, she was the last of three sisters born in the dark prison. She has never seen the stars, tasted fruit fresh from the vine, or set foot in her home court.

Link by Lyetta - What if the mating bond snapped into place earlier, while they were still trapped Under the Mountain? What if Feyre froze during the second task - would Rhys have stepped in to save her?

Yielding to the Dark by Frufrusc - Under the Mountain Amarantha has figure out Rhysands secret and enjoys herself by making a grand reveal out of it and designings a torture scheme for Feyre threatening to make her fear everything the Nightcourt represents.

A Wall of Stone and Time by nothoughtsonlyfantasy - Feyre is trapped Under the Mountain and thinks there is no way out until a dangerous Fae is put in the cell next door. Rhysand is sent by his father to win the heart of the mysterious daughter of the High Lord of the Dawn Court.

A Court of Faded Dreams by @the-lonelybarricade - In her grief after Rhys sacrifices himself to restore the Cauldron, Feyre accidentally sends herself back in time. Back in her human body, in her early days in the Spring Court, Feyre must be careful how she alters the timeline as she tries to save Rhys and Prythian from Under the Mountain.

A Court Outside of Time by Sonata_IX - Feyre's quest to discover why she can't get pregnant sends her back in time. Can she seduce her mate, who doesn't yet know he's her mate, while pretending to still be in love with someone else and trying not to alter history

If She Had Known by Whattheheckkristen - Feyre accidentally falls through time. Back to the beginning. If she had known of the trials she would need to overcome, and the mysteries she would need to solve, and was still brave enough to do it. If she had loved him all along.

[smolvenger]

I Say Nothing That Frightens Me, Part One

Pairing: Loki x fem! Reader

Summary: As a young Asgardian, you have grown to be friends and secretly pine for the younger Prince Loki. After his fury has sent him off to put himself in danger, his mother sends you on a quest to find him and bring him home. Your quest makes you cross paths with a mysterious group that calls themselves the TVA. There, your mischievous prince can be found. But it comes with a heartbreaking revelation. He loves another.

Warnings: angst a the end, mentions of Sylvie as a romantic love interest. This will be angsty (but have an eventual happy ending, so stay tuned!). Unrequited love and pining! Loki definitely isn't gonna return Reader's feelings!! hahahaha...unless...oop. ;)

Word Count: >3K

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

A/N: Ah- the first fic I ever wrote for the big man himself- Loki! I realized I accidentally inspired this from Bizet's opera Carmen, minus the Punish The Woman ending and the cheating and sexism and antisemitism that can be prominent in the opera's plot, hence the title. I wrote it all the way in 2022 and realized I forgot to post it on Tumblr. For a while, it's been this one part because writer's block hit me early last year. I hope y'all like it and give it enough comments and kudos and responses so I can motivate myself to finish it. Send me good vibes to begin on part two! Enjoy!

Taglist: @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @villainousshakespeare @lovelysizzlingbluebird

I say that nothing frightens me, I say alas that I answer for myself, But no matter how brave I am, At the back of the yard, I’m dying of terror Alone, in this wild place Alone, I’m afraid, But I’m wrong to be afraid, You will give me courage, You will protect me, Lord. (English Translation) - Henri Meilhac, from Bizet's opera, Carmen.

It had been a week and there was no sign of him. No word. Nothing. His father couldn’t care less. He kept on ruling Asguard as if everything was normal. As if the only disturbance was a teapot being knocked over in the kitchen. Something simple and easily fixed and none of his business.

That was not the case for his brother or his mother.

Or most especially for you.

Thor had already gone. And there was no exact contact but whispers. People were dying. There was some grand scheme. Something about even the Tesseract and the Infinity Stones. About Midgard and then the Universe being taken over and at the center of it was your close friend and companion, the missing prince.

You sat alone that morning in the garden, watching the fountain burble. Feeling the bit of breeze and the chirp of birds. It all seemed so beautiful and peaceful. You didn’t know if it was to comfort you or if it was mocking you for your inner turbulence. If only you weren’t so worried so you could enjoy it. You were so lost in thought that a sweet, low voice pulled you out of your head.

“How long have you been here?”

Jumping, you turned and stood up, dipping into a curtsy.

“A while, your highness!” you answered.

Looking up, Queen Frigga smiled. And you smiled back.

“It’s your usual spot, I know. Every other child was training with weapons and swords, but you would run here, crying…”

“If you recall, I kept losing. And I was terrified of getting stabbed.”

“And after you had your cry you came back, and kept on…” she finished, she took a hand to smooth the top of your head lovingly.

Your muscles ached on cue from the memory. Yes, you lost often training on how to fight. Seeing the other warriors glide their swords with ease and grow up to be the pride of the kingdom. You preferred regular studies with reading and culture, history and knowledge, and science. Practice battles often had you thrown to the ground in defeat. But at least when it came to a fight, you returned.

“I had to finish it, that was school after all. It’s how I grew up…” you recalled.

She took a hand to dip into the cool water, tracing a pattern followed by the fish inside.

“You’re worried about…” she started.

“Loki, yes. Is he behind this invasion?” you questioned.

“I don’t doubt it. Loki’s been too angry, too jealous, and without a good outlet. All of his life he kept it inside of himself and now that it’s released, it’s piled up from the years of silence. He’s letting it all out at once…” she said.

“He’s…he’s going to get hurt…” you observed worriedly. Mentioning him in this place made it sadder.

You recalled the day years ago. You ran into the garden at this fountain and accidentally happened upon the dark-haired prince reading. You profusely apologized, saying that you were sneaking out of training. And Loki said that he could help you. Then you asked what he was reading. And such began this friendship between the two of you. He gave you tricks about how to fight and confessed that he enjoyed theatre. You told him what your favorite foods at the feast were.

The memories of you too exchanging books and chatting about them between your classes did not stop in your adulthood. They made you happy, and lately even happier. Thoughts of him switched to private, intimate fantasies as you were alone in your room at night.

Now that he was gone, all that was left was a bittersweet tinge in the air.

“He doesn’t hurt himself when you’re around him…” Frigga commented.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re his friend…so save him. Take him off the ledge, find him…”

“But..but I thought Thor would find him!” you argued, standing up. Remembering your manners, you returned to sitting. This could be seen as an insult to the queen, but her arm dismissed the gesture.

She was different from her husband.

“He won’t listen to Thor. Loki’s always been jealous of him, there will be too much of a fight, too much scuffling. And me, I’m his mother but you…you’re his friend. I’ve seen it. He’s too jealous of Thor. He’s mad at his father, mad at me but……you’re different. You might be able to help him. Talk him out of it…” she instructed.

She put a hand on your shoulder, leaning forward, her eyes big and a little watery.

“Y/N, I charge you, as a queen…as a mother…find Loki, find my son…and bring him back…”

You touched the hand and looked up at her.

“If my queen commands, I will” you replied dutifully.

Although a secret part of you was relieved, thrilled. Not just for an adventure. But to find him.

The queen prepared you for your quest well. There was a special sword and a dagger just in case. You couldn’t use magic yourself, but you knew that you had some strength, and being Asgardian, whatever diseases you encountered would not bother you. As you gathered, with some slight armor over your clothes and bags with an extra set of clothes and rations that would satiate you until you found something more, she did something surprising.

On the hour of your departure, the queen gifted you with a beautiful sword- the hilt was bejeweled but all sides of it were still sharp to cut a foe to ribbons. You placed it in a sheath in a belt tied tight around your waist. She gathered your face in her hands and kissed her forehead.

“Thank you…”

“To tell you frankly, I wanted to…wanted to go…go see him…” you confessed.

She blinked and then smiled. No doubt she could tell you felt warmer mentioning that.

“Really?”

“I miss Loki…I miss him more than anything…” you confessed.

She smiled. “I miss him too.”

From under her long sleeve, she gave you a necklace. Nothing but a small string with a glowing blue crystal on it.

“This will take you anywhere on Midgard. But ask for Thor. If you find Thor, you might find him. Ask if there’s any trouble…that is his specialty," Frigga said.

“I promise…I will be back here with him alive and unharmed!" you vowed.

Clutching the necklace, you touched each other’s hands as a last goodbye.

The necklace glowed.

“Take me to Midgard, please," you guided it.

There was a flash of light. You felt a little heavy for a second. It was as if you were falling, but very still. When the light vanished, you saw that you had landed on a field. The wind blew through the grass as it bowed in return. A big red farmhouse stood quietly. An old man in his rocking chair stood up and squinted at you in surprise, hands on his hips.

Midgard was a large place. It was time to start looking.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

“He took the Tesseract and vanished” Thor explained.

“He did WHAT?” you shouted.

You could hardly believe the words coming through your ears. All those weeks. Searcing everything. The country took forever to get through. Eating grits, checking the news, and finding ways to get to New York City, the most likely place he would attack…and he had vanished.

“But I…I…where could he have gone?” you asked.

Thor shrugged “If I knew, I would have told you, Y/N…”

You wanted to kick something, to punch a wall. But you just leaned over the desk, your hands flat on it, and sighed deeply.

For a day, you let yourself sulk in the guest room. All of that traveling had wiped you out. You were so done. There were blisters on your feet and you could feel the grime from your smell. You spent your day bathing, wondering what on earth you could do now.

New York City was large, still reeling from its recent attack. But all in all, people seemed fine. Not too many casualties. Not zero, but not eighty. Wandering around the city, you wore a large hoodie and pants to cover your Asgardian traveling clothes. There were so many people, sights, and smells, it was dizzying.

Stomach gurgling, you wandered around. Midguardian food did not completely satiate you the way food back home did, but it was better than nothing. And it was a while since you ate, anyway.

Stopping inside, the doorbell rang. You ordered your food, chewing absent-mindedly on the crackers served right before. The wrappers crackled as you tossed them over your shoulder.

It sounded like a song back home. A song they did for dances. Once you go to a party together. Loki disliked social gatherings and preferred to hide away. You managed to talk him into coming down. Talking to one person. Trying the wine. Dancing. Saving one dance for you. He found he liked it. And he was enjoying himself, getting into little fights, laughing, flirting…

The flirting. There was a pretty red-haired boy, a woman with blonde hair, and even another person he kept flirting with that night. It must have been another heir to the throne trying to set a match that night. Even though in hindsight those matches never resulted in a betrothal, the images in your head made you want to vomit. Seeing him made you…it made your stomach turn. You tried to go to sleep that night, but your brain kept racing. Reviewing everything. It meant nothing, right? That words-he was being friendly!? Those phrases weren’t in any way romantic…right? Besides, he was just your friend! Nothing more…

. Ordering their food and drink for the first time for something new. Anything to get your brain off of your search for the misbehaving prince and your past. But it haunted you for a week. You barely spoke with him and buried yourself in school and training. But every morning, you woke up early with those thoughts, that memory still burned in your brain.

“Hey, watch it, dumbass!” someone yelled. It brought you out with a jump.

Getting out, you didn’t notice a person. Slamming into them, they fell right on the floor in their nice suit, their tray of food flipping in the air.

“My lunch! How could you?” he screamed.

“I’m so sorry!" you apologized. "I can pay you!"

"Forget it! Leave me alone!" he fumed.

You turn around to focus back on your food. But your ears could still hear his nasal, tenor voice.

“Look at that mess!” he complained from behind you. “She might as well be another damn Loki…”

Your sandwich froze in midair and you set it down in shock. Your stomach twisted in knots. The words were still forming in your brain. What…no…surely, they can’t mean…

But as you kept your ears peeled back, it occurred to you…they were. They meant it. They were talking…talking about him-him! You finished your food quickly, quietly. Then you got up and followed them through.

They went to an alleyway. Nothing but trash cans and tall brick walls. Children in the distance laughed as they played and cars honked their horns in frustration in the streets a few feet away. Unaware

All you had to do was create a distraction. Digging into your pockets, you pulled out a tiny ball. A favorite of the younger prince when you were children. Briefly, you smiled at the toy. In your adolescence, both of you would try throwing them in hallways to see which maidservant it would spook. It was harmless and would make them jump and squeal and you both would guffaw with laughter.

Looking over, you timed it carefully. The agents in their suits pressed buttons on a device and a portal opened in the brick wall. It was the size of a New York bagel when you tossed the ball- it hit the wall and exploded in a flurry of pink fireworks. The agents turned their heads, jumping when you ran fastly as you could, and jumped into the portal.

You would see him. Him! Him! And soon! At last- you could have cried as blues and yellows flashed through your eyes. You were falling through universes. And perhaps, your heart would be at peace, and you would tell this wayward prince the truth. How you felt. How your body ached for the brush of his fingers against your hand. How you worried for his safety. Despite his many flaws, if he was a poisonous well, you would still drink it. You would find Loki, bring him home, and tell him that you loved him more than life itself.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

When the bright colors faded, all that was were tans. Earth tones. Browns, greys, tans, and whites but all dirtied and plain. This was far from the magnificent palace and beautiful landscape you secretly hoped for. It looked like an average Midguardian office. Except the surreal posters. But at least it seemed to be benign. There were no weaponed guards. As you walked forward, you saw that desks were pushed aside, mugs with coffee stains long since used and stinking from not being washed, and in the distance, there was old music playing and a ticking grandfather clock.

You stepped forward shyly. Just because it looked harmless didn’t mean there was a trap lurking somewhere.

“Well, I’ll be damned, Asgard fashion!” a voice from behind you cried.

Twirling around, you got out your sword. So far, you were lucky to not use it. But that time was now over. You pointed it right into the face of a man in a suit with grey hair and a mustache. He held up his hands in peace and you released them.

His mouth opened into a smile as he glanced over you, eyes trailing down from your hairstyle to your boots.

“Wait, is that…that can’t be! I think I recognize you! Are you Y/F/N??” he asked.

He walked up to you slowly as if you were a predator released from a zoo.

“I am she. Sir, do you know of Loki Laufreyson, Prince of Asguard and God of Mischief? I’m looking for him…” you asked desperately.

The man nodded.

“Like the back of my hand. He’s trying to disband the TVA right now…”

You put your sword back in your hilt.

“I don’t care about the TVA, I care about him…I need to…I need to make sure he’s okay. I need to take him back home, back somewhere safe! I’ve been on this journey forever all for him! I need him! I mean…I need him to go back to his mother!” you explained.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. You caught your breath waiting for his answer. But he said something else.

“Oh, Y/N, you poor thing….” he sighed.

“Oh gods, is he dead?” you asked.

“Probably not…or not yet…but…”

“But what…”

“I didn’t know he had…the clips showed you both together, but there was no wedding…”

“Clips? What do you mean? I don’t know what you speak of…but that doesn’t matter- where is Loki? Don’t play games! I beg of you- take me to where he is!” you cried, ready to grab the man by his collar.

His eyes went soft. You felt suddenly vulnerable.

“Do you love him?” he asked.

Bullets striking your chest would have shocked you less. An electric rush ran through you. You found yourself looking away and feeling suddenly warmer than what was comfortable.

“Love…define love…” you said.

“I can tell, you have…feelings. Not platonic, romantic ones. You have the hots, a crush for this god. That is how we are defining love right now! Do you love him?”

There was silence. The song stopped playing on the speaker and skipped to a trio of women singing about birds.

You felt as if this was a monster to fight. But not a literal one. And you were taught to be brave no matter what.

“I…I do! Now tell me where he is…” you answered plainly.

“I…I know where he is. Call it the end of the Universe and I know a way to get there but…Y/N…I need to prepare you…” he said with a deep sigh.

He walked up and put a heavy hand on your shoulder. His lips curled as if getting ready to spit out a poison he did not want to inflict on you.

“What is your name, sir?” you asked.

“Call me Mobius,” he answered.

You shook your head.

“What could possibly upset me, Mobius? He’s alive and not injured, I have reason to rejoice why would you say that? Loki is alive and once I find him, I will tell him how I feel and-”

“Y/N, he’s there with a woman he’s fallen in love with…”

It hits you like a rock. No. No no no no-no. You began shaking. The world went dizzy except for him. You began to sit down to ground yourself.

“Wha…he’s in love with someone else?”

Mobius nodded.

In spite of your warrior education, you sat down on a chair and burst into exhausted, heartbroken sobs as Mobius watched. Hand still on your shoulder empathetically.

“That’s not even the strangest part about it…” Mobius added on.

[saintsenara]

hello! welcome!

i’m eithne (she/her) and i write as asenora on ao3 [you can find out why i chose this pen-name here]. i'm thrilled that you're here!

please feel free to reach out to me. my ask box is open and you can also find me on: ao3 | discord | reddit

i'm a northern irish millennial harry potter fan-fiction writer who writes for multiple ships and characters. the masterpost of my writing is here, or you can browse:

by ship | by character | by era | metas

fics i recommend can be found here

things i have to say about writing can be found here

my current works in progress are:

one year in every ten

harry potter/tom riddle explicit | 200k words and counting no major warnings apply

a decade on from the battle of hogwarts, after ten years of the wizarding world thinking it’s safe, a serial killer emerges, leaving a trail of dead women in his wake. each of the bodies bears a gruesome, encoded message for the aurors… a message which - once unscrambled - claims the dark lord has risen again. in the face of the mystery, the order of the phoenix is hastily reformed, ron is stoic, hermione is scared, ginny is getting very good at putting on a brave face, death eaters who were never caught are getting ready to crawl out of the woodwork, and the ministry of magic has plenty of secrets of its own for kingsley to worry about… all harry wants is to distract himself from a marriage falling apart at the seams. all lord voldemort wants is to get out of the horrible place between life and death. so much so that he’s willing to agree to help his old enemy solve the case. or so he claims.

masterpost

scylla and charybdis

severus snape/lord voldemort explicit | 15k words and counting graphic depictions of violence | major character death

severus snape is looking for somewhere - anywhere - to belong. he makes the wrong choice.

masterpost

subluxation

rodolphus lestrange/percy weasley mature | 10k words and counting major character death

percy grows up surrounded by a happy family; yet his belonging is not total. percy leaves his family for the ministry of magic, but the dislocation is not total. percy stays in his job once the ministry is seized by the death eaters, and his resistance is not total. percy returns to his family in the shadow of grief, so his readmittance is not total.

percy falls in love. and that is total.

the war of the roses

sirius black/severus snape explicit | 7.5k words and counting no major warnings apply

a butterfly flaps its wings and sirius does not go to the department of mysteries. what follows from that twist of fate is a story about the long, destructive shadow of a schoolboy rivalry; a story about surviving, and how surviving is sometimes more difficult than dying; a story about the fragility of beauty, the gentleness of hope, and the value of choice.

it is also a love story.

masterpost

[madefortherain]

4, 12, 22 for the game ❤️

hi!! <3 putting my answers under a cut bc i started rambling like mad lmao. apparently idk the concept of shutting up

4. a story idea you haven’t written yet

oh, lord, how long do you have? i have SO many ideas HAHA but i after i finish my current wip and my femininomenon fest contribution, i think i’m gonna have to write this au that’s literally taken over my brain atm!! so,,, hear me out: a wolfstar au inspired by divergent. like, no, those books are not literary masterpieces (and the plot went off the rails after the first one) but!! i reread them when i was sick earlier this year and they’re SO FUN. wow. like the first book honestly slaps. action-packed!! trashy!! i eat it up.

now let me explain: so you have remus as tris, right? stuck in abnegation, his father’s on the council, his parents are the perfect abnegation members. remus has never felt selfless enough. he wants more. he wants. he hopes his aptitude test will tell him what to do, but– oh, no… his results are inconclusive. he doesn’t know which faction to choose; the test was supposed to tell him what to do. he’s always been drawn to dauntless, but could he betray his parents like that? could he be so selfish? anyway, then, (uhm…divergent spoiler?) he chooses dauntless. he’s the “stiff”. he’s awkward, gangly, a transfer. not what you think of for dauntless; the opposite, really. somehow, he has to survive initiation. otherwise, he’ll end up factionless. or dead. and, even worse, he has to learn how to hide the fact that he’s divergent. enter: sirius as four. the transfer-initiates’ mysterious trainer, also a faction-transfer, the guy with the lowest number of fears on record, hiding secret family trauma (among other things). and, oh, he’s also hot as fuck. sirius is drawn to remus, finds him interesting, smart, brave. and remus is just as drawn to him. etc, etc!!

notable moments would include: the knife throwing scene, ferris wheel climbing (!!), drunk scene near the chasm “you look good, remus.”, the attack on remus as he starts to rise in the rankings w/ intervention from sirius, “what’s ur tattoo?”, going through sirius’ fear simulator together, yada yada. i’m also picturing minerva as tori, lily as christina, james as zeke, and peter as al (iykyk) ;)

plot would either divert or just end after the events of book 1 bc i really don’t care for the whole genetically pure/damaged thing. but, yeah. i think it would be super fun to write :)

also i’m so sorry if you haven’t ever read/watched divergent bc i fear i did not explain that well unless you have a basic knowledge of the plot lmaooo 😭send me another ask if you want more details. i’m clearly v happy to yap about this!!

12. a trope you’re really into at the moment

ooh, this changes WEEKLY i’m a trope lover!! there will never be too many tropes! i’m gonna go with secret identities (is that a good way of wording it? idk) like, particularly with wolfstar, when they either only know each other by moony & padfoot, not full names, OR they meet online and don’t know that they actually already know each other irl. always delicious to read!!

22. do you ever worry about public reaction to what you’re writing? how do you get past that?

god, yes. yes, 100% i worry about it. it’s a scary thing to put your work out, especially since i have a tendency to find things wrong with my writing after about 5 minutes of posting it. i think mostly it’s helpful for me to remember that at the end of the day, this is just a hobby! i’m doing it because i enjoy it, and i share it because i love the community aspect of fanfiction. if i spend too long worrying about how others perceive my work, it takes away the enjoyment and then it’s not worth it anymore. i’ll stop writing the story that i want, and start trying to write what i think others want. i’m not trying to be a perfect, professional writer or anything, i’m just writing fics for the fun of it :) and as long as i have fun writing, that’s all that should really matter. if other people enjoy it, as well, that’s a really nice bonus! but not everyone will, and that’s okay, too. some of my favourite fics would probably never be professionally published works, but that’s the beauty of them!! they’re weird, and wacky, and niche, and the product of the author’s immense love for the story. and those are the things that make them perfect to me :)

[starfall-spirit]

20 questions for writers

Thank you for the tag @tunaababee and @whatishowedyouinthedark!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

63 (and another in my drafts for omegaverse free day)

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

237,274

3. What fandoms do you write for?

ACOTAR and Fourth Wing mostly, but I'm looking to get more works posted for ToG and Assistant to the Villain (esp with book 2 in hand). Once upon a time I was a Miraculous LB girl too.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Dragons Know Best (Riorgail)

Your Claim on My Heart (Riorgail)

Our Own Little Show (Violiaden)

So This is What Heaven Feels Like (Feysand)

High Lord, Cold and Cruel(Feysand)

5. Do you respond to comments?

Definitely. A single comment can be enough to turn a shitty day or even week on its head and I want my readers to know how much they mean to me. I also just love discussing my work with people who genuinely care about it.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I'm not an angst writer and I haven't looked at this one in a couple of years but my miraculous oneshot Agony has MCD. So does The Night the Stars Fell on Velaris, even if it turns out to just be a nightmare in the end.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Last year for Feysand Week I wrote All's Fair in Love & Paint Wars which is pure HEA tooth-rotting fluff and smut.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I don't thankfully. There have been a few snotty people who claim i should use a beta or whatever, but I have been very lucky to avoid major hate and entitlement to updates. Part of it is probably that I'm not as popular as other writers in the fandom and I keep my Ao3 locked. People don't like to be a bitch when their name is there for all to see.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Oh yes. Both fluffy and dark.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I don't, unless you count combining characters from the SJM universe. In that case I have a worldwalking next gen fic and a modern au for Feysand x Ruhn.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but I'm not opposed to the idea.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes!! You guys should check out the ACOTAR Writing Circle. I participated in the 3rd circle. There's another thing I'm working on with a friend, hopefully for Feysand Week, but we'll see.

14. What is your all-time favorite ship?

Feysand, the Rowaelin. After that, probably the rareships Feyre x Eris x Rhys and Violiaden.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Oof. Um, I've really been struggling to find motivation for Remember me? (Feysand x Ruhn) I started it when I saw an ask @captain-of-the-gwynriel-ship asked, but I'm very much a pantser and didn't do anything more than write one crappy chapter before hitting post.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Banter, I think. It's so much fun to write and since I'm lacking in most other components I let it lead my fics. I've had several people tell me I write great dirty talk, but idk. I just make mean men say 'good girl" repeatedly, so...

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Describing anything. My fics are too dialogue heavy and I'm well aware of it, but I've yet to improve my writing.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I'm great when it comes to learning sign, but I've never managed to hold onto spoken languages beyond English. I'm not brave enough to trust google translate.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

My Percy Jackson and Harry Potter was never published, so probably ACOTAR.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Burning in the Starlight/How Can I Loathe and Crave You? as well as Precious Collateral. Also super excited about my submission for this Saturday.

They're more about the vibes than making a fic that's actually worth reading and there's something so refreshing about just writing for yourself and like, three dark romance/poly fic girlies who hype you up. I'm in my happy little dark!rhys bubble and will be staying here a long while, thank you.

Tagging: @captain-of-the-gwynriel-ship // @panicatthenightcourt // @writtenonreceipts // @thelovelymadone

[lordgrimwing]

20 questions for fic writers

tagged by @zannolin. Not tagging anyone but never let that stop you from doing something.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

98 (100 by early next week. the wonders of posting two short stories a week)

2. What's your total A03 word count?

274,925 (over 100,000 from works posted this year. Again, the wonders of posting two little things every week)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

The exhaustive list (but only what I've posted to public places), in no particular order

The Transformers

Brave Police (Mostly just a beta reader on that one, though)

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Star Trek/Enterprise

The Expanse

Inheritance Cycle

Torchwood

Rowland Sinclair Series (by Sulari Gentill - yes, I will encourage you to read/listen to the series! Also, the smallest fandom for which I write, ie. I created the tags and it's basically mine to control. Gosh, I should really finish my current WIP so the characters don't feel abandoned.)

Redwall (technically, the only things I've posted in a podfic of someone else's story)

Sherlock Holms

Temeraire

Detroit: Become Human

Beyonders (Another WIP I should finish so I can once again say I own more than 10% of the fandom)

Rings of Power (I'll separate it from the works that Tolkien was actually involved in)

Lord of the Rings/The Silmarillion (the source of the 2 stories per week)

-I sure hope that's everything-

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

In order of greatest to least

It Started With A Fever (Detroit: Become Human)

Interruptions (Transformers)

Checking Samples In Real Time (Detroit: Become Human)

Dawson's Christiana (Temeraire)

Scavenging More Than Parts (Transformers)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I respond to every comment. Why? Because I like it when authors respond to my comments and I want readers to know that I see and appreciate that they not only took time to read my story but also to say something kind about it.

Admittedly, I am sometimes very late to responding when I'm busy or the comment left me very flustered (because how do I adequately convey how wonderful the reader made me feel?)

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably, It Started With A Fever. It's a sickfic and the sick character isn't better by the end but there is a plan for diagnostic testing and treatment. So, more open ending than angsty.

Actually, I looked back and realized that Spy in the DMD (Transformers) is angsty because readers don't know what will happen to the characters at the end (live? die? etc). Yeah, so that's probably my angstiest ending.

Though now that I'm thinking about it, Negligence (Silmarillion) is also a but angsty and certainly more likely to actually get people to have feeling over the characters and want a good ending than Spy in the DMD.

Okay, okay, I'll stop thinking about it and just move on (but Dawson's Christiana is--)

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Home (Inheritance). Ok also a little angsty, but the entire purpose is saving a character who died in canon and at the end he finally gets to go home with his best friend, even if he isn't totally healed from everything.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Nope. Most I've had is someone taking the time to comment about how they disagree with the premise of a story/how I interpreted why the directors/designers of a TV show did what they did.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Awkward smut? Like, I've only written it a little so it's probably still pretty clunky for people to read.

But in all seriousness, I write enthusiastically consensual slash and het smut. Basically, I want everyone to be happy and have a good time while I use them as writing guinea pigs. I'm sure that the more I write, the more I'll branch out into trying various things.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I have not written a crossover (beyond crossovers between various series/universes in the Transformers franchise. Does that count? Like, it's canonically established that that's a thing that can happen).

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope (when your writing is only so-so, you fly under a lot of radars)

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope again (see above)

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I am a co-author on two stories (Transformers and Brave Police). For both of those, I was mostly just a beta reader but I did end up writing 2 chapters for the Transformers story when the author wanted a different POV (most of the story was first person and then I did more of an omnipresent third person).

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

Across all fandoms? That's actually very hard. I'm not a huge ship person, like, let everyone be with whoever they want to be with. BUT, if we're going based on ships I've written and that I enjoy writing, Celebrían x [loving and devoted person, usually Elrond] is pretty high up there (Silmarillion). It's good soup.

But also, Carn x consequences of his actions and pinning for Roran is near and dear to my heart (Inheritance).

15. What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

The sequel to It Started With A Fever. I would love to explore how my medical and scientific training could fit with android diagnostics/medicine, and you know I love me some good angst and hurt/comfort with a happy ending. However, I just don't really see it happening because of how much work it will require and the fact that I'm not even reading fics in that fandom now and have my writing time filled to bursting with LOTR/Silm stuff.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I'm reasonably good with grammar? Like, I passed all my English courses and writing classes? I write what I want to read so at least one (1) person enjoys it.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I spend too much time working out exactly how I want to say something and end up not actually writing very much. I'm not very confidence with figurative language, so my writing tends to be quite straightforward and literal (which isn't bad, but I WANT to use more figurative language). Editing, my nemesis.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I'm not opposed to it and I've seen it done very well with non-sense languages from Transformers. If someone does it, I prefer that the narration indicates at least the general idea/mood of what was said so that I don't have to translate it. Also, it feels clunky when the author just writes the direct translation after what is said (if it's important enough that you want the readers to know exactly what is said, why are you using a different language in the first place?).

So, that's my two cents.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Publicly? Transformers.

But way back in the distant years of my youth, before I knew what fanfiction was, I did a lot of fanfiction and story planning for Redwall.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

I am very proud of It Started With A Fever. I put a lot of time into writing the story and even worked with a wonderful beta reader. In the end, I think it really improved my capacity as an author.

On the other hand, I love Home because I SAVED CARN!!! My sweet, pathetic little spellcaster who gave it his best and had a death that was at both times thematically appropriate and sadder the longer I thought about it. *gently hugs him so he doesn't break before passing him back to Katrina and Roran*

[liminal-zone]

DEAR YULETIDE WRITER LETTER 2023

IT’S A YULETIDE LETTER. IT’S YULETIDE 2023, BAYBEEE. LET’S FUCKING GO.

2008. 2009. 2010. 2011. 2012. 2013. 2014. 2015. 2016. 2017. 2018. 2019. 

HIIII. I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU. It’s yuletide; it’s the best time of the year. I’ve been gone for a minute but I’m back, baybeee, back with the matrix fandom amongst others. So let’s fucking go! Thank you thank you and thank you.

Likes (generally): I love kisses and angst and smut and darkfic and tension and hurt/comfort and a good adventure and heroism and sacrifice. I love every flavor of sexuality. I love women in dominant roles (including but not limited to domme). I prefer fics in canon or canon divergence. I enjoy the following kinks: enemies to lovers, sex pollen/fuck or die, Stockholm syndrome, voyeurism, fingering, conditioning. Dubcon and non-con and dead dove is always welcome (pls tag it).

Dislikes (generally): Watersports, scat; omegaverse; mpreg/pregnancy/breeding; submissive female characters; domestic fluff; kid fic and curtains; mundane AUs; super sugar ending; hurt no/comfort or utter hopelessness or despair as the final beat of the story (beloved in the opening or middle of a story!)

It’s Yuletide, baybeee, so if you want to write any of these prompts fully gen: I’m so happy to read it!!

THE PROMPTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Matrix (Movies)

Trinity 

If you could please write me a character study of Trinity; dig deep into the character and show me something vulnerable and new and wonderful about her. 

My favorite things about Trinity: she is powerful, vulnerable, steadfast, competent, anxious, loyal, brave, and a twinge of cunt. She’s my favorite character ever; a touchstone, a rock, an icon. Tell me a story about Trinity. 

If the muse strikes, feel free to ship her with Neo, Ghost, Switch, Bane, or Groff!Smith. 

Very emotional that The Matrix is a YT fandom for perhaps one reprise since ffn.net fics were thrown out re: eligibility. I’m a historied Matrix fandom old; this is bittersweet to be eligible again perhaps one last time. Hi, I love you, Matrix fandom <3

The Wheel of Time (TV)

Lanfear 

If you could please write me a character study of Lanfear; dig deep into the character and show me something vulnerable and new and wonderful about her. 

My favorite things about Lanfear: she is powerful, vulnerable, terrifying, terrible, cruel, full of desire, and that she’s a complete cunt. She makes my heart flutter. Tell me a story about Lanfear. 

If the muse strikes, feel free to ship her with Lews, Rand, Moiraine, Moggy, or Ishamael. I don’t mind book spoilers!

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (TV 2022)

Galadriel | Artanis 

If you could please write me a character study of Galadriel; dig deep into the character and show me something vulnerable and new and wonderful about her. 

My favorite things about Galadriel: she is powerful, vulnerable, terrifying, terrible, kind, and sometimes a bit cunt. She’s the dom femme of my life currently. Tell me a story about Galadriel. 

If the muse strikes, feel free to ship her with Sauron, Gandalf, or Celeborn. 

IDK how TROP was eligible this year, but LFG.

Chronicles of Narnia (Movies)

Edmund Pevensie

Lucy Pevensie

Bless my problematic heart but I really want an Edmund/Lucy fic, like. In that way. Any canon era (I am partial to HHB). 

If that’s too rich for your blood, forgive me, and write me a non ship duet about them. I WILL LOVE ANY FIC WITH THEM CODEPENDENT. 

My favorite things about them together is that they are complementary; he is tainted and a spymaster and Jadis marked him, she is blessed and valiant and Aslan marked her. Tell me a story about Edmund and Lucy Pevensie. 

If the muse strikes, and you need alt ships: throw in Caspian for either, and I have a soft spot for Lucy/Tumnus or Lucy/any woman. Edmund/Jadis is my true love.

A bit emotional that Narnia films are a YT fandom for perhaps one reprise since ffn.net fics were thrown out re: eligibility. LFG.

Willow (TV 2022) 

Elora Danan

Jade Claymore 

Kit Tanthalos

I am desperate to see Jade evolving into Elora’s General Kael; a glorious mirror of her father as a warrior, a leader, and an absolute terror. 

Background (or foreground) Jade/Kit is wonderful, and mixing Elora in there is great if you enjoy that too! My favorite thing about Jade Claymore is that she’s surprise the new General Kael and I’m so obsessed with that concept. 

Dune (2021)

Duncan Idaho 

Paul Atreides

Bless my problematic heart but I really want an Duncan/Paul fic, like. In that way. 

My preference is for the film character dynamic transposed into a book spoiler (so if you know it - that’s my dream; I’d love to see that), and I would also love something messy in current film canon.  

If that’s too rich for your blood, forgive me, and write me a non ship duet about them. I WILL LOVE ANY FIC WITH THEM CODEPENDENT. My favorite things about them together is that Duncan is so loyal (and for what?) and Paul is so needy for that loyalty (and soon, for what?). 

If the muse strikes, and you need alt ships: I also adore me some Duncan/Leto and Paul/Chani. 

//

Xoxoxo love you forever!

[icepixie]

I don't understand the criteria for making this list, but here are mine, with commentary. 51 total.

And yes, I am one of those people who actually read Ulysses, and in fact I enjoyed it tremendously. That said, I don't recommend reading it outside of a class. I took a Joyce class in grad school that was about three weeks of Dubliners and Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man (one of my soul-defining books; I have written so many essays on it and images from it have made it unconsciously into my fic) and then the rest of the semester on Ulysses. As you might imagine, there are entire books devoted to annotating the novel (we used this one, if I remember correctly)

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 2 Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkein 4 Harry Potter series 5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 7 Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte 8 Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell 9 His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman 11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott 12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy 14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (I mean, let's say 75%? Some of the less interesting histories I haven't bothered with.) 16 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien 18 Catcher in the Rye - Salinger (I think you have to read this at exactly the right time in your adolescence, and I did.) 19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffeneger (Did not get the hype over this.) 20 Middlemarch – George Eliot (Eliot is the least Victorian Victorian writer you'll find. She started doing a lot of what the much more readable Modernists worked with in force, and her books aren't a slog the way, say, Dickens is.) 22 The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald 25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams 26 Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh (This is amazing and you should read it if you haven't.) 28 Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck (Reading this in high school turned me off of Steinbeck, but then I read East of Eden after college and it turned me into a fan.) 29 Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll 30 The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame 34 Emma – Jane Austen (The SINGLE enjoyable Austen novel. The only damn one.) 35 Persuasion – Jane Austen (Fuck me but I hated this book in college. HATED IT. Swoon somewhere else, Anne.) 36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis (I don't understand why this is here along with the entire Narnia series.) 40 Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne 41 Animal Farm – George Orwell 42 The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown 44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving (Partial credit--I think I got about halfway through.) 46 Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery (Everyone else loved it, but I couldn't get into it as a kid. Perhaps I should try again.) 48 The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood 52 Dune – Frank Herbert (Read this for a sci-fi course in college that counted for biology credit, it was awesome.) 53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons 56 The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon 57 A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens 58 Brave New World – Aldous Huxley 59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon 63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt (One of the very best novels out there. I wish her other books were half as good. I'll read pretty much anything that gets compared to this book.) 67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy (The best of his novels, though as depressing as the rest of them. Again, it's less Victorian and edging toward Modernism, which as far as I'm concerned immediately improves things. I may be slightly biased.) 69 Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie 72 Dracula – Bram Stoker 73 The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett 74 Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson 75 Ulysses – James Joyce (See above) 76 The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath 79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray 80 Possession – AS Byatt (Another life-defining book. I read it once before grad school and once after, and they were very different experiences, let me tell you.) 87 Charlotte’s Web – EB White 89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 91 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad 94 Watership Down – Richard Adams 98 Hamlet – William Shakespeare 99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl

How many have you read?

The BBC estimates that most people will only read 6 books out of the 100 listed below. Reblog this and bold the titles you’ve read.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 2 Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkein 3 Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte 4 Harry Potter series 5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 6 The Bible 7 Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte 8 Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell 9 His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman 10 Great Expectations – Charles Dickens 11 Little Women – Louisa M Alcott 12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy 13 Catch 22 – Joseph Heller 14 Complete Works of Shakespeare 15 Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier 16 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien 17 Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks 18 Catcher in the Rye 19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffeneger 20 Middlemarch – George Eliot 21 Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell 22 The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald 23 Bleak House – Charles Dickens 24 War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy 25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams 26 Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh 27 Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky 28 Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck 29 Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll 30 The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame 31 Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy 32 David Copperfield – Charles Dickens 33 Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis 34 Emma – Jane Austen 35 Persuasion – Jane Austen 36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewis 37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini 38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres 39 Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden 40 Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne 41 Animal Farm – George Orwell 42 The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown 43 One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez 44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving 45 The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins 46 Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery 47 Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy 48 The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood 49 Lord of the Flies – William Golding 50 Atonement – Ian McEwan

51 Life of Pi – Yann Martel 52 Dune – Frank Herbert 53 Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons 54 Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen 55 A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth 56 The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon 57 A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens 58 Brave New World – Aldous Huxley 59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon 60 Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez 61 Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck 62 Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov 63 The Secret History – Donna Tartt 64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold 65 Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas 66 On The Road – Jack Kerouac 67 Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy 68 Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding 69 Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie 70 Moby Dick – Herman Melville 71 Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens 72 Dracula – Bram Stoker 73 The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett 74 Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson 75 Ulysses – James Joyce 76 The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath 77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome 78 Germinal – Emile Zola 79 Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray 80 Possession – AS Byatt 81 A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens 82 Cloud Atlas – David Mitchel 83 The Color Purple – Alice Walker 84 The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro 85 Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert 86 A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry 87 Charlotte’s Web – EB White 88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom 89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 90 The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton 91 Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad 92 The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery 93 The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks 94 Watership Down – Richard Adams 95 A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole 96 A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute 97 The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas 98 Hamlet – William Shakespeare 99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl 100 Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

[screadingchallenge]

Behind the Keyboard-Volume 15

Please note that Behind the Keyboard will be posted once per week during the Reading Challenge. We’ll go back to twice a week in mid-August.

Behind the Keyboard is a series of interviews with different Schitt’s Creek fanfic authors. The series will last as long as there is interest (from authors) and capacity (from me). If you are an author from the Schitt’s Creek fandom who would like to participate, send a DM to this account.  

Each author was given ten questions. The first five questions are the same for every author, the last five will vary.

Remember, this year’s Reading Challenge begins July 15, so polish up those MFL lists.

Let’s meet our next author:

NeelyO / @neelyo67​

How many fics have you written?

64 total—33 of them in Schitt’s Creek (17 in Schitt’s Creek RPF)

When did you publish your first fic on AO3?

October 30, 2019!

Describe your writing process from “Oh, I have an idea” to pushing publish on AO3. 

I get an idea, open a doc, and then I get nervous! But then I start putting words down—I usually get an idea about how I want something to start off, so I write pretty much in order till I get stuck and then I’ll put brackets for future Neely to deal with. It helps to have a friend scream encouragement, so I usually share my doc with someone I trust so that they can cheerlead for me. If it’s a bigger story, or if it’s for a fest, I’ll have a friend beta for me when I’ve got a pretty good draft done to be sure I didn’t miss anything and that everything makes sense. Then comes the trauma of choosing a title and writing a summary, and then BOOM it’s published!

Tell me about your most recent fic? What do you love about it? Is there anything you think you could have done better?

My most recent fic is 1. He loves his husband. It was based on a prompt that several friends all decided to fill, using 300 words or less. I like challenges like that, I like prompts, so it was so fun. I love that the title for the fic and the idea to make it part of a list came to me almost immediately, fully formed. That was energizing and fun, and the whole story flowed really easily as I was writing. While I know I can always improve and learn and grow, I really like how the fic turned out! I’m super happy with it.

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about publishing their fic for the first time?

Please do it! Write a story that you love, do the best you can, and take the leap. I hadn’t written for pleasure in years and years, and I was really nervous when I first got an idea that I couldn’t shake. I never intended to write fic, I was just going to be a reader. It was so empowering to put something on AO3, something I made. I’d also suggest leveraging your friends to support your writing process and your post-publishing anxiety. I was brave with that first fic because of the encouragement of my friend @this-is-not-nothing​, who kept telling me I could do it! And knowing that I have at least a couple of good friends who will read anything I write, even in a niche fandom where I’m truly writing basically for myself, is really lovely.

Tell me about a story that you wish you could write but that you’re not quite ready to tackle.

I have an idea for a historical AU that would be kinda long, maybe? I’ve gotten as far as the majority of the casting, but I need to get brave and dive into it. I’ve not done a true longfic, and I’m not even sure how long this one would be, but I’m so in awe of all our SC writers who really, really do longfic well.

Alexis is trapped in a drug lord’s palace and you have to convince her captors to read your fic in order to free her. What’s your best sales pitch for your favorite fic?

(Picking one favorite is incorrect, they are all my bebés, but I will play along here.) Hello drug lord people, since you obviously like Alexis, I’d like to tell you about my very fluffy fic We Must Let Go to Know What’s Right. On the night of the infamous barbecue, both Alexis and Rachel are sad. But then they discover that hooking up makes them less sad, and that building a relationship together makes them happy! Oh, and Rachel has two kittens! 

Do you write for any other fandoms? Which ones?

Oo, yes! I’ve written Schitt’s Creek RPF, as I mentioned, along with some Supernatural, Red White and Royal Blue, Ted Lasso, 911 Lone Star, Broadway RPF, and Great British Bake Off RPF.

What is your comfort fic?

Oh gosh—I love all things magical, and also anything domestically fluffy, and so many other genres and tropes…but I don’t have a particular fic I look to for comfort, really. 

Is there someone(s) who has made your writing better? In what way?

We have so many amazing authors in the SC fandom, I feel like all the fic I’ve read over the last three years has made me better. Seeing all the different styles and approaches that different people take with the same group of characters has allowed me to dream and write the things that speak to me in my own way. I also think that being a beta has made me a better writer. I love encouraging, brainstorming, and editing, all of which are things I’ve gotten to do as a beta. Getting an in-depth look at another writer’s process, and being a small part of it, is an honor and a privilege, and has been a great learning experience for me.

[moonlightdancer26]

it's completely baffling how writers ERASE peter as a character in marauder fanfics. like, not only do they reduce him to a "ratty-fatty-ugly" tag along but also remove his friendship with them completely! i read a oc x james fic (curse me, i know) where the oc was best friends with remus and stuck in a love triangle with sirius and james. AND oc apprently "suspected" wormy from the start and always told james, sirius and remus not to associate with him and i was like wtf!???

I know, it’s honestly so disappointing. Tbh he’s probably the most interesting Marauder. I prefer Peter over James because a traitorous, “cowardly” rat is way more entertaining than some rich, arrogant, jock who’s been dead the entire time.

I would’ve loved to read his POV and his thoughts throughout the two Wizarding Wars. Seriously, imagine how interesting it would be:

In the Marauders era: Him seeing James and Sirius’s bullying of Snape and others grow worse and worse over the years, him slowly getting sick of being patronised by them more and more each day, him seeing Sirius’s bullying and cutting remarks turn into attempted murder, him growing to secretly hate James and Sirius as the years went by, him later betraying them without hesitation, him murdering 13 people all at one go, him cutting off his finger in order to frame one of his friends, and him later staying in his rat form for over a decade.

In PoA: Him finding out Sirius escaped from Azkaban and visibly getting stressed, his emotions when Sirius and Remus revealed him in the Shrieking Shack and planned to execute him right there and then, and him escaping with his life.

In GoF: Him working with Barty Crouch Jr. in order to bring Lord Voldemort back, him searching for a disembodied Voldemort, him kidnapping and murdering a Ministry employee, him brewing the first batch of Polyjuice for Barty Crouch Jr, him resurrecting Voldemort and cutting off his hand in the process.

In HBP: Him having to live with Severus Snape—his old bully victim—and having to deal with being bossed around by him, him later dealing with Dumbledore’s death, and him knowing that the leader of the light side was forever gone.

In DH: Him dealing with Voldemort’s wrath due to not being able to find the trio, him giving his life away to save Harry and his friends and making one last sacrifice to James Potter’s son.

And honestly, him being able to live with himself after all the shit he pulled (betraying his friends without hesitation, being responsible for their one year old child becoming an orphan, etc etc) is… actually pretty impressive. Bravery does not always have to be a good thing. It can also mean recklessness for some (*cough* Sirius *cough*). And for others, it can allow them to perform the most horrifying acts shamelessly.

Would y’all have the balls to just directly go to the Darkest wizard of all time and be like him “ok noseless snake-looking dude, my friend is staying there”? Would you even be able to look at yourself in the mirror after that? Would you be able to live the rest of yourself knowing you had done all that?

Peter, like Neville, is definitely not conventionally brave, but he still is, for better or for worse…

Got a little off-topic but anyway:

It’s disgusting how they either COMPLETELY erase him as their friend and as a character, or they put him in but replace him with an attractive, slim guy.

i read a oc x james fic (curse me, i know)

Oh no no, anon! It’s perfectly fine!

*loads gun*

where the oc was best friends with remus and stuck in a love triangle with sirius and james. AND oc apprently "suspected" wormy from the start and always told james, sirius and remus not to associate with him

What the fuck-

[the-lonelybarricade]

since we are on the subject of fic recs…i’ve got to be the one to ask… got and smut recs?

(also you’re very cool and a talented writer)

LB what have you been up to for the last few days you've been MIA from tumblr? The answer is having uni-induced mental breakdowns and sorting through the entire explicit Feysand archives on AO3. I’ve been organizing these rec lists by authors but I've sorted this one by theme so it’s easier for people to find what kind of smut suits their tastes. This is a very comprehesive list so I'm putting it under a read more.

I also tried to be strict about only including compeleted one-shots/two-shots but I did make some exceptions because they are too good not to include. Incomplete fics are marked with a 🙏 because I'm praying that one day the authors will bless us with more glorious content <33

✨= Feyre pov, 🌙 = Rhys pov

Disclaimer: regardless of how I've sorted these fics, please read the tags and the author's summary of the fics themselves and read at your own discretion. 🔞

Canon Compliant smut: Sex scenes with similar vibes to the Feysand sex life we saw in canon. (Very tender and loving, usually involves Rhys being a passionate simp for his High Lady)

Saturated Sunset ✨ - Rhys goes to pieces when he sees Feyre in a new set of lacy underthings (as he should)

Tease 🌙 - set in ACoMaF, Feyre gets revenge for that sexy vision Rhys sent her

Paint Me ✨ - Paintbrush play meets sensitive Illyrian wings

Chapter 55 🌙 - Rhys pov of all that sweet chapter 55 goodness.

Out of the Shadows 🌙 - Rhys pov of chapter 48 (inn scene)

Break ‘Em Out ✨ - Wingplay.

Live Another Day ✨ - An extended look into the tent scene in acowar.

The Wall ✨ - The High Lord and Lady get frisky an an alleyway in Velaris.

From Sunup to Sundown ✨ - What if Feyre had felt the mating bond snap on Starfall?

Moving Forward ✨ - Rhys comes home to see his High Lady admiring herself in lingerie.

You ✨ - An alternate version of the Inn Scene, where Feyre admits she wants Rhys.

Paint Me A Picture ✨ - Feysand find a loophole to a wedding tradition that forbids them from seeing each other the night before they're wed.

A Sweet Treat ✨🌙- a sweet Halloween inspired fic that has copious amounts of smut.

Training ✨ - Feyre got stuck in some rope while training. Oh no, help me step-High Lord I'm stuck.

Like what you see? ✨ - Feyre pays Rhys back for the vision on the roof with one of her own.

Unfinished Buisness ✨ - Feyre has a wet dream and Rhys decides to help it come to life.

Moonshine ✨ - Feyre bathes a very drunken, horny Rhysand (it's surprisngly wholesome).

Therapy ✨ - Feyre massages Rhysand's knee on a rainy day and the two of them get a little carried away.

a united front ✨ - Rhys gets Feyre a sexy gift to wear during an event that keeps them both distracted.

smooth ✨ - Feyre learns about body hair removal and Rhys is happy to help his High Lady feel confident in her body (this one is so sweet 🥺)

Birthday Regards 🌙 - Feyre gets Rhys an extra special present for his birthday.

Something Missing ✨ - Wing kink meets the paint kink. I love this one because it's so playful without sacrificing any of the passion.

This is How I See You 🌙 - Feyre is feeling insecure about her postpartum body and Rhys reminds how beautiful he finds her.

Just Like Her ✨ - an acomaf AU where Feyre and Rhys decided to be honest with each other after the CoN throne scene.

Make love before war ✨ - A closer look into frenzied sex in the Windhaven cabin after Cassian and Rhys finished fighting.

Darling I'd Hang the Stars For You 🌙 - this one is just so stinkin cute. The desperately in love Rhys we all adore, showing his devotion to his High Lady the way he knows best.

midnight blue citrus 🌙 - a power outaged timed perfectly with Feyre being in the shower so Rhys could bravely come to her rescue.

Make Your Good Love Known to Me ✨ - Rhys gives Feyre a very thorough massage to help her relax after a long day of training.

First Time Encounters: Feysand don’t know a lot about one another, but they do know they’re both very sexy people who should do naughty things to each other.

The Rules of the Game 🌙 - AU where Feysand meet in the Hewn city and shameless flirting ensues, among other things.

'cause my kiss goes down you like some sweet alcohol c - A stranger in a bar can't seem to keep his eyes off Feyre.

I could drink a whole damn case ✨ - Feyre goes to a bar to move on from her breakup and happens to meet eyes with the most alluring stranger.

A Letter to Satan 🌙 - Feyre sends a letter to Santa asking him to bring her a good fuck for Christmas... except she might have accidentally swapped a few letters.

Bite Me, Prick ✨ - Feyre is dared to spend the night in a spooky castle, and happens to meet a very interesting resident. (Aka the Feysand vampire smut we never knew we needed).

Frenzy/sex-pollen/calanmai/and other mating-bond shenanigans: besties just can’t control their lust for each other

All the Pieces Fall Right Into Place ✨- Calanmai fuck or die. I put this here instead of in Dub-con because it’s set at a point in the books they both (secretly) wanted each other.

Fire Night ✨ - if the calanmai chapter in acotar had gone a little differently.

Frenzy ✨ - Feyre is in “heat” and her smell drives Rhys crazy

Hate Me If It Helps 🌙 - Acomaf set pre-mating in which Feyre is exposed to an aphrodisiac and Rhys has no choice but to help.

You Don't Know What Hell You've Put Me Through ✨ - human Feyre is effected by sex-pollen and luckily there is a generous High Lord nearby to help her out.

Never Done (At Least For Tonight) 🌙✨ - Set between acomaf/acowar. Feyre and Rhys are both struggling and the mating bond bring them together in their sleep.

In Darkness She is All I See 🌙 - Feyre and Rhys accidentally consume a cherry pie laced with an aphrodisiac while visiting the new High Rulers of the Spring Court. (Part of the Cherry Pie Smut Extraveganza)

All Mine ✨ - Feyre gets jealous watching Cresseida flirt with her mate.

Dom/sub (but still loving): In which Feysand get experimental in the bedroom

Silk Ties ✨ - Feyre and Rhys try out some bondage in the bedroom. (soft dom Rhys)

The Midnight Feast 🌙 - Rhys is awakened by Feyre having a very nice dream about him. (Consensual somnophilia + dom Rhys)

they know you walk like you're a god (they can't believe I made you weak) ✨ - the Feyre pegging Rhys fic that will make my feyre's dick anon very happy.

We're All Just Animals ✨ - Feysand run into Issac in the mortal realm and jealous, possessive sex ensues.

to take, to worship ✨ - Gentle dom Rhys giving his Feyre exactly what she needs. (mild somnophilia + dom Rhys)

Fifty-Six ✨- The Feysand mating frenzy we were robbed of in ACoMaF. Includes gratuitous use of the words "good girl". (possessive sex + spanking)

Topped ✨ - More Rhys getting pegged content, because we deserve it.

Take It Off 🌙 - Feyre goes away on a trip and Rhys can't stand to be parted from her. Rough/vaguely possessive sex ensues when she gets back. (mutual masterbation + rough sex)

say you're mine 🌙- Rhys sees Feyre sitting with Tarquin and feels the need to remind Feyre who she belongs to. (possessiveness + rough sex + spanking)

lost in the way you move ✨ - Rhys comes home late and Feyre decides to "punish" him for it. (Dom Feyre)

you best believe that I got something up my sleeve 🌙- Cassian gifts Feysand a fleshlight and some experimental smut ensues. (cock/ball worship + begging + edging + toys)

Bindings and Blindfolds ✨ - Feyre uses some new toys to take control in the bedroom. (bondage and light BDSM)

I'm gonna make sure I'm the best you ever had ✨ - Another Rhys getting pegged fic because we as a fandom all know he'd lose his mind over his High Lady wanting to fuck him.

Pinned 🌙- Rhys drugs Feyre so she can't talk or move while he has his fun (consensually, ofc). Includes dirty talk that had me sweating.

Lessons ✨ - Feyre and Rhys decide to experiment with some kinks in the bedroom. (blind folds + handcuffs + merciless teasing, they each switch between dom/sub)

all the way down 🌙 - Feyre and Rhys try out their new sex swing.

we don't gotta hide this is what you like ✨ - Feyre and Rhys escape their party for a quick rondevouz in the bedroom. (oral sex + anal sex).

Feysand + guests 😏: for the sake of time, just go into these knowing they're all kinky as shit.

A Solstice to Remember ✨ - Feyre joins the batboys in the Solstice birchin.

Tell Me What You Want ✨ - Feyre and the batboys in their bedroom.

The Birchin ✨ - SJM may be a tease but the Feysand smut authors sure aren't 🙏

A Prythian Fertility Rite - The Inner Circle orgy you didn't know you wanted

Spindle's Thread - Cassian joins Feysand in bed (Cassian's POV)

in the night there is only you ✨ - Cass and Az enjoying Feyre while Rhys watches

follow me down the rabbit hole ✨ - Threesome between Helion/Feysand.

The High Lord, The High Lady, and the Spymaster - A delicious series of fics documenting the bedroom adventures of Rhys/Feyre/Azriel.

Look Who's Wet Now ✨ - Feyre + the bat boys having arguably too much fun in a swimming pool.

New Depths ✨ - Feyre and Rhys decide to try out some new things in the bedroom, including inviting a certain Autumn male to join them. (Feysand/Lucien)

Playtime ✨- Feyre decides to take Rhys up on his offer to have Helion join them in their bed.

Feyre and the Batboys ✨ - it's exactly as the title says and it's absolutely filthy (in the best way).

multiply- Lucien decides to join Feyre and Rhys in the shower. (Luicen pov)

Summerboy ✨ - In a visit to Summer Court, Feysand decide to invite Tarquin to their bed.

Court of Nightmares: either one or both of them assuming their CoN mask (with consent). Again, these are all exceptionally kinky. Please check the tags before you read!

At the Nightmare Court 🌙 - Feysand roleplaying the High Lord and his pet in the throne room.

What I've Shown You In The Dark ✨ - High Lord Rhys reminds Feyre who she belongs to

the world fades away ✨ - Feysand attend a CoN orgy and decide to have some fun of their own.

War Meetings are Dull 🌙 - Feyre gets a bit "touchy" at a high lords meeting and when they get home, Rhys shows her the repercussions.

Till Death Do Us Part ✨ - Essentially, Rhys takes Feyre into his sexy dungeon to have his filthy way with her.

Espionage 🌙 - Set in acowar. Tamlin brings Feyre to the CoN as a means to gloat and Rhys plays his CoN mask to perfection.

I was in the darkness so darkness I became ✨- How the CoN throne scene would have gone if Feysand had the restraint we wished they had (as in none at all).

Court of Nightmares? More like Court of "Pull My Hair" ✨ - Feyre and Rhysand need to find other means of entertainment while at the Court of Nightmares.

What I've Shown You In The Dark ✨ - Rhys takes Feyre to the Court of Nightmares to remind her who she belongs to.

Hate fucking: Honestly I thought there were way more of these fics when I made this category, so please enjoy this apparently very niche smut.

Fuck You, Feyre Darling ✨ - Feysand hate sex UtM

Ride home ✨ - Rhysand asks Feyre for a blowjob in exchange for a ride home. There’s only one issue—she hates him with a passion.

Sinful Chemistry ✨ - Porn actress Feyre Archeron can't stand her new co-star.

I do bad things with you ✨ - Feyre accidentally kisses her roommate. I had trouble placing this one, but I think the tension between them is reminiscent of hate fucking.

Daddy Rhys Supremacy: Tragically underrepresented in this fandom, if you ask me. Everyone drink this kool aid so we can have a longer list.

Can't Keep My Hands to Myself ✨- Written by yours truly. A prompt heavy Sugar daddy oneshot.

i'll take care of you ✨ - Rhys helps Feyre forget about her long day by taking control.

Tempt My Trouble ✨🙏- mafia AU meets sugar daddy AU and very intense sexy times ensue.

The Mist ✨🙏 - Feyre performs as a stripper for the first time and quickly catches the eye of the club's owner.

Guys My Age ✨🙏 - Feyre's steamy one night stand reappears in her life in the most inconvenient way.

Dub-con, dark-fic, dark Rhys: Feminism? Who is she?

In the Woods Somewhere ✨ - Feyre and Rhys share lucid dreams with each other while he's UtM. He decides to take something he wants for once.

Bound for More✨ - Feyre is chosen as the virign sacrifice for her village, but the monster doesn't seem very interseted in killing her...

Where we keep our nightmares 🌙 - An absolutely heart wrenching fic about Rhys overcoming his UtM trauma and Feyre doing her best to help him through it.

Under the Mountain ✨ - After Amarantha finds Rhys and Feyre kissing in the cave, she makes Rhys keep going while the rest of the court is made to watch.

your body reacting ✨ - Feyre's second trail UtM is having sex with Rhys.

Dead Dove: the ones where you learn things about yourself you don’t think you could even tell your therapist about. These are all non-con.

King Under the Mountain ✨ - UtM where dark!Rhys is High King and Feyre becomes his personal pet.

Lead Me Not Into Temptation ✨ - Lady of Spring Feyre gets kidnapped and taken back to the NC to be shared between the batboys.

At the Edge of Forever ✨ - On Feyre's wedding night, Rhysand comes to claim his right to the first night.

Ravenous ✨- Driven mad by loneliness and Amarantha's torture Under the Mountain, and unaware of their connection, Rhys takes young Feyre by force to sate his uncontrollable lust.

june in her eyes, in her heart january ✨ - Feyre and Rhysand break Tamlin's mind and use his body to ensure spring court will have an heir.

[galadhremmin]

We have derived Caranthir liking the Dwarves (and vice versa) because apparently, Finrod succeeds in every field Caranthir fails, and at this point it's clear this derives from the in-universe writer of the Silm and his own biases. Think about it: "Dark Finwë" , a grumpy, prejudiced lordling, and "Hair Champion", most handsome, noble king, have met with the same people!! Yet the king of the first secret kingdom is everyone's friend, but the prince that trades with them regularly is not... seems sus.

Hence, Caranthir is friends with the Dwarves. (But that is just an interpretation, so you're free to think what you wish, I just have several opinions on in-universe prejudice and the almighty narrative.)

I think that 'we' might actually have been Dawn Felagund years ago. Maybe this reading existed even before that, but I doubt that-- she's been very influential in silm fandom and was long before tumblr was much of a thing. https://dawnfelagund.com/caranthir-the-slandered

I wouldn't say it's 'clear' that what amounts to Caranthir's entire documented personality derives from the bias of the in-universe narrator, though as you can see from Dawn's writing it's a reading you can argue for. There are a number of different approaches you can take to the Silm and its biases anyway. One of the few times when it's absolutely clear the text isn't telling the entire story is when it talks about the Easterlings. I've posted about this before but the recorded names are, uhh.... the ones to betray the elves are unlikely to actually have been named things like 'ugly lord' and 'ugly beard.' 'Dark Finwe' on the other hand is a documented reference to his haircolour being dark like Finwe's own; hardly a negative judgement!

I personally think Caranthir can be exactly as ill-tempered and prejudiced as the Silm paints him without becoming an unsympathetic character. If a writer cannot make a moody, deeply prejudiced man an interesting character that is a failure as a writer; there are after all enough books who manage exactly that. That is not to say choosing not to write him that way is a failure (obviously not), but it's not necessary in order to make a reader feel for him at all.

Just going by the text, I think it actually might make for a more interesting narrative to explore in fic to me. Because he does change his mind about something, and at a very specific moment; when he meets the Haladin. That is much less dramatic if he secretly been as nice and popular as Finrod, and got along with everyone all the time already. He's been raised by Fëanor, who said things like 'No other race shall oust us!' and rallied the Noldor not motivated enough by vengeance for Finwë alone by playing on their deep-seated fear of being replaced by the Secondborn. Very unlikely that had no impact. At best it has made him uninterested in humans in his area (while they're not much of a threat to ruling instead of the elves anyway). The text says they paid them no heed.

And yet! Caranthir sees how brave Haleth and her people are. He 'does her great honour.' He changes his mind and offers them lands. His tragedy to me is not that of a slandered figure, but of this deeply, deeply prejudiced person raised to distrust the motivations of human beings -- who overcomes those beliefs, offers friendship, is rejected! then extends that same trust to the Easterlings anyway... and it's those specific Easterlings, not the ones who ally with his brothers-- who betray them all. And cause the disastrous ending of the Nirnaeth. It's the 'to evil end shall all things turn that they begin well' part of the curse hitting him in the least fair way possible. Someone finally changes for the better, and the outcome is treason and destruction.

That is a very good character arc to me, actually. His aesthetics-based scorn for the Dwarves is reprehensible but strikes me as deeply Elvish, and part of his prejudices. Naugrim is too unflattering a name for them for it not to be common. His temper-- well why can't he have one? Sure there's only one recorded instance -- but that's imo because there are hardly any conversations in the Silm! Anyway I like some people with tempers well enough. Personally I think people are missing out on opiniated grouches.

Obviously the biased anti-Feanorian Pengolodh reading is a nice one, and I have enjoyed a lot of stories written based it. But it's not at all a reading that is necessary for me to read Caranthir as a flawed but sympathetic character. He can have serious faults and still, ultimately, be someone I feel for.

What I was asking though was if I overlooked any canon evidence of Caranthir being particularly, personally fond of the Dwarves; and it seems I did not. Also; there is room for Caranthir growing to like the Dwarves over centuries without an anti-Feanorian bias reading this strong, there is simply no evidence for friendship in the rather barebones narrative (I'm not interested atm because it's wildly overdone to me & I like variety).

That said, in my opinion making Caranthir the hidden, slandered Feanorian Finrod equivalent with a dash of Curufin's Dwarf affection is not as enjoyable as simply working with what little canon character is actually there. Because there is one (and it's not the greedy tax collector of some fanon depictions either imo)

1. To start with, wrt Caranthir as the anti-Finrod, I don't think it works that well. Sure sure dark/light, open/prejudiced, repressed/shouty, but different motivations, different locations, plus they meet very different peoples even if both are Edain-- besides, Caranthir's own older brothers do successfully ally with the Easterlings without betrayal, while Curufin (much more so than Finrod! no Khuzdul for Finrod!) is the Dwarves' Friend(tm). Also, a flawed Finrod already exists. That's just the regular edition. He has his own faults and (very different) tragic arc.

If Finrod never seems to have strong prejudices to overcome, and if he's not confrontational (which... look he's a diplomat. Make of that what you will. Pretty awkward there in Doriath, buddy!) he does have trouble facing his own complicity (he wanted to sail those ships despite the murders) until Sauron beats him to death with it. He leaves Valinor with the idea of ruling but he has to give up the crown. He's ambitious, he seems emotionally repressed, he's.. possibly paying the greater Dwarves to drive the Petty Dwarves out of their ancestral home to build a city? Oops. Depending on the version you go with in that case, of course; there's also ones where he's free of the blame of that one. Not of wanting to sail those ships and being uneasy with the guilt wrt wanting to do so despite their being stolen and murdered for though. No he doesn't kill; but he wants to use the result of it anyway, and to make it worse he is actually half Telerin.

There's also (to be fair, only for sure after the disaster of the Sudden Flame because that's the recorded instance) his guards killing random innocent trespassers to keep his kingdom hidden -- yes, that's right there in Silm, yes he's still King at the time. Beren has to wave that ring. People just seem to miss that he'd be killed without it somehow.

I think it's just too easy to reduce him to the golden perfect opposite of Caranthir. Yes he's described more positively; he's also just mentioned more because unlike Caranthir he rules an actual kingdom, the greatest and richest in Beleriand in fact; and does things that have a lot of very longterm effects, like helping B&L steal a Silmaril. They don't 'meet the same people' anyway -- the Haladin have a different culture from the Beorians which contributes to their reaction to Caranthir (and iirc their later fate).

Sidenote: Dawn's essay attributes the Green Elves helping the Feanorians at Amon Ereb to Caranthir's diplomatic skills; but why not to those of Amras or Amrod? This is the quote; 'Caranthir fled and joined the remnant of his people to the scattered folk of the hunters, Amrod and Amras, and they retreated and passed Ramdal in the south. Upon Amon Ereb they maintained a watch and some strength of war, and they had aid of the Green-elves' -- nothing here indicates it was Caranthir who got them that aid. In fact A&A are the hunters, i.e. more likely to have roamed in various forests where they would have encountered Green Elves, imo.

There's also the very desperate times to consider in which this aid takes place. This is just post Sudden Flame, and even if the Green Elves didn't like Caranthir they probably liked him better than Morgoth. Also, speaking of cosmopolitans, Maedhros allies with, yes, Dwarves (Azaghal), Grey elves, Easterlings (and you might say: Fingolfinians); even part of the remaining people of Dorthonion rally to Himring post sudden flame (that means Edain and Arafinwean followers in Himring, at least for a time), and he manages to be friendly with Felagund despite calling him a badger. ;)

Finrod is not the only other leader to forge diverse alliances, and though B&L ends happily his people mostly do not. Caranthir's not much like Finrod in any way. Not in motivations, temperament, tragic arc. That's fine. No hidden kingdom for a dragon to eat either. Finrod could probably do with being a little less like Finrod sometimes, though he's well-intentioned and likable. Caranthir loves to shout and isn't sneaky. Good for him.

2. Curufin also already exists. His love for Dwarves is one of his defining and redeeming characteristics and boy does he need them. He's daddy's favourite, a sneaky overambitious bitchy bastard who is also a talented smith and linguist, and truly considered a Dwarf friend, which is apparently exceptional. He's quite flawed; tries to help Celegorm force a political marriage, laughs with a bruised mouth, seeming to lose his mind while attempting and failing murder after first losing his own stronghold and then the city he tried to take from his cousin. He's just... a personality. Mostly a bad one! You can feel for him though, because he seems like an utter mess. Many 'i would love to study you' feelings on my part. Would hate for him to be real but also I'd pay to be his therapist.

3. And then finally there's Canon Caranthir. A difficult, prejudiced person who despite that (which doesn't at all have to mean there is no despite, the despite is what makes it juicy)

- seems to be responsible for re-establishing (large scale?) trade with the Dwarves, whatever he might think of them (and they of him) to their mutual benefit. I don't think he's greedy either. It seems like a mutually profitable situation. Access to Dwarvish goods seems pretty vital to Beleriand, and facilitating trade is a real service.

As someone pointed out in the replies, the Silm does mention Dwarvish companies travelling east to Nan Elmoth and menegroth various times, but quote wrt Caranthir says 'Caranthir’s people came upon the Dwarves, who after the onslaught of Morgoth and the coming of the Noldor had ceased their traffic into Beleriand' and 'when the Dwarves began again to journey into Beleriand.'

They stopped at some point and Caranthir's people made it happen again.

- which means he's practical. He seems like he's good at organising, and setting his own feelings aside if necessary despite his prejudice and temper (which is an achievement it wouldn't be without his, hm, everything). Also he and his people as well as the Dwarves work together well because ''either people loved skill and were eager to learn,' despite their (initial?) mutual dislike. Those aren't bad characteristics; seems like it was an exchange of skill as well as goods and possibly providing safe travel opportunities.

I don't like the 'greedy Caranthir' fanon and don't think it is even that easy support entirely with canon. 'They had of it great profit,' the text says-- both Caranthir and the Dwarves. They exchanged skills and knowledge and Caranthir seems to have helped them start trading in Beleriand again. That's hardly Scrooge Mcduck.

- Another thing we can say about canonthir (lol) is that he apparently attaches a lot of value to aesthetics (was he a visual artist? is a he a sculptor like Nerdanel? WORSE: AN ART CRITIC?! Feanorian art critic is truly nightmare fuel) and that's why he dislikes Dwarves (of all things...). Either way points to 'aesthetics' as something apparently important to Caranthir. Which makes sense given who his parents are. What is interesting to me is that this apparently DOESN'T matter to Curufin, who is a lot like Feanor in most things. That's interesting!

I've never, never seen this but I think it would be very funny to attribute his aesthetic prejudices to Nerdanel. I love her; but why should her opinions be perfect? I know she wasn't considered beautiful herself, but she's an artist. She's got to have had some strong opinions on aesthetics anyway. I doubt it's the beards; Mahtan had one as well. And 'stunted'...at least some of this comes down to the Elvish obsession with height yet again. Hm.

- eventually Caranthir overcomes what have to be some very deeply held beliefs about human beings and their place in the world, and offers what for all intents and purposes looks like real friendship, not the ruling over Men Feanor seems to have had in mind at best. He's capable of real change!

Anyway his character works just fine to me from canon, and what he achieves and the ways in which he fails are more interesting that way rather-- neither slandered Feanorian Finrod 2.0 nor Curufin 'Dwarf Fan' Feanorion without the sneakiness and murder attempts pack the same punch as a stupidly prejudiced grouchy man doing his best anyway for centuries in this stupid ugly cursed land, eventually changing for the better, opening up-- and being brutally punished for it by the Doom.

Dammit. I hope there's therapy in the Everlasting Darkness.

hm a bit long but that's what I get for trying to gather my thoughts wrt why after considering it a bit transferring Curufin's love for Dwarves to Caranthir is a bit boring to me personally. Though there are still stories that still do it very well.

[lathalea]

Day 28: Ride With Me

Today's fic for the Writer’s Month 2021 challenge (see @writersmonth for more info) is a bit different then the previous ones not only because it's really sappy but also because it's my first Silmarillion story. Haleth is one of my favorite characters in Silm, so I thought I'd play around with her a bit and this is the outcome.

Today's prompt: word: fire

Fandom: The Silmarillion Relationships: Haleth x Caranthir Rating: G Warnings: time flies, I'm not killing off anyone this time, and there's a happy ending too (I know, shocking, right?)

You can read this fic here and on AO3.

Melmenya - (Quenya) my love

* * *

Ride With Me

They say that when I was born, the sky in the east was on fire. An omen.

But no one would tell me what it meant.

When the Orcs killed my father, the fire filled my heart for the first time.

When they killed my brother, it erupted high, all the way to the stars.

We, the Haladin, stood against the Orcs for as long as we could, swords never leaving our hands, fire flooding my veins.

After seven endless days of fighting the Elves came with succour, along with their leader, Caranthir. I looked upon his face only after the enemy was defeated and the death of my kin avenged. As our eyes met, a new kind of fire started burning inside me. But my duty lay with my people, and so, the Haladdin began the journey to find a new home, and the Elves remained within the borders of their land.

We suffered years and years of hardships and perils, but my fire never stopped burning. The Forest of Brethil became a new home for my people, and we were safe at last. The fire smoldered, but had never died out.

***

Countless years have passed and I cannot wield a sword any longer, but the fire still runs through my veins as it did on that day.

The flap of my tent opens and I see him standing there, tall, and proud, and beautiful, the way he was on the first day we met. He is clad in his silvery armor, his glistening dark hair spills over the white fur of his cloak, the same grey eyes rest on me, the same smile graces his lips. Time has not left the slightest mark upon his noble countenance.

“Your people are in good hands. Haldan, your nephew, is going to be a just ruler. It is time. Ride with me to my halls, become my wife, melmenya.”

“Alas! My hair is white as snow and I am in the autumn of my life, my lord, how could I ride with you, my lord?”

“You are as beautiful as you were on the first day we met, and the same fire burns within you. You are the woman who has reigned in my heart since I laid my eyes upon you on that day, o, Haleth the brave and fair. Will you ride with me?”

“I will ride with you, then, my lord Caranthir, for you still hold my heart.”

* * *

Read it? Like it? Spread the love and reblog it!

Fell like reading more? Here is my masterlist for the Writer's Month 2021 event.

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