#i bonked radiance to death

[elluia]

My 2023 fanfic recs [1/5]

This is a multi-part series, with a countdown to the New Year!

Navigation

The best of Ike x Soren fanfics YOU ARE HERE

The best of Fire Emblem fanfics (Genealogy, Three Houses, Engage, Heroes)

The best of misc. series (Omori, Long Live The Queen, Stardew Valley)

The Spicy™ best-of (bonk)

My 2023 works recap (Fódlan and Tellius)

Let’s start with the best of Ike x Soren fanfics! To everyone’s surprise, FE blessed us with a lot of Soren content this year (an alt in January in Heroes, a DLC Emblem in Engage, and we finally won CYL!), and I am SO PROUD of the fandom for all the beautiful fanworks and projects I’ve seen come of it 💙 (I’ve finally received my copy of The Devoted zine 🥰)

A long list below the cut (with links!), and that's far from everything ✨ My eternal respect and gratitude to all the creators who made my year 💖

📚 Fanfics

Daylight by Traincat

This is peak shipping. Their entire journey, told through meals as they grow closer. 10/10, would cry again.

Prince of Shadowed Winds by Theia_Eos

An absolutely incredible Prince of Daein!Soren AU. Amazing use of the lore, perfect understanding of the characters, and still very close and respectful of canon. I can’t wait for the retelling of Radiant Dawn! (I’ll admit, I can’t bring myself to read the last two chapters and “end” for now T_T)

Radiance in Elyos by Azure_Aeraki

Incredible plot and storytelling from Emblem Soren’s perspective, and his hope to meet the Emblem Ike of the world he suddenly found himself in. And incredibly engaging story, get it?

Birdhouse in Your Soul by Aisene

The first fanfic I read in this fandom was from Aisene, is it really a surprise that I love her latest work? In this story, Bird!Yune follows Soren instead of Micaiah, and their bond is both hilarious and heartwarming at once.

Flowers Fall by Measured

Happy ending Hanahaki disease in 2023? Yes, please!

My life for yours by emblem_oracle

Also one of my long-time favourite writers for this ship. Soren takes what could have been a mortal blow for Ike, and this leads to… read it and find out?

Lonely Nightmare by SuperDuperStarry

Add Ranulf for the most wholesome of relationships? Don’t let the title fool you, it ends up really sweet!

And the story's all over you by Toothpaste_Fresh

Last but not least, a short angsty fic, and I won’t spoil it for you.

🎬 Video

I had to. It's perfection.

📝 My contributions

I’ll count them here rather than the FE part of this recap, because the ship is very much implied, they’re just not together yet 😉

A Cutting Truth

In the long summer spent in Begnion, the newly formed Crimea Liberation Army hones its skill before marching on Daein. Among them, the staff officer of the Greil Mercenaries makes a baffling choice. To be promoted as sage, Soren picks up a knife.

A look into Soren’s psyche through the second half of Path of Radiance.

The Strong Survive

A (canon-compliant) retelling of PoR’s Endgame, where Mad King Ashnard touches the medallion, and recognizes Soren. And what better way to make up for lost time than a duel to the death? After all… Only one Daein royal may survive.

Stay tuned for the FE fic recs tomorrow!

[fly-sky-high-bug-games]

Just me thinking but brain compared how I feel about playing Bug Fables to Hollow Knight in this personal experience...

BF feels like I'm trying rollerblades. I suck at it, they seem cool to ride tho and if I take it slowly I can get a hang of it as long as there are no steep paths that will make me lose balance in an instant and tumble over. Learning to break with just feet is hard. No confidence in control, it's up to thinking of every move how I want to ride ahead. More practice will help me get more of that needed speed but not soon enough.

HK feels like riding a bike. Sure I fell down tons of times and hurt myself while learning but once I got the hang of it, the control is where I value it the most: In my hands. I can get more speed and excitement out of the fact that I don't have to think too much to just go! And I don't have to go super fast, cruising alone without worry is amazing.

So while BF really isn't my cup of tea, I appreciate it and I will try to finish the main story line at least. Turn based games don't keep my attention well enough for so long unless they're fast. I'm not good at comparing skills and items to know how to properly use them and while I can give my noggin a shake to do better, I mostly just want to put effort into discovering more about the characters and NPCs rather than the gameplay itself. Puzzles are fun but I am having a lot of issues with camera angle in such a 3D space.

And this isn't me nitpicking mechanics (albeit the camera thing is), it's honestly 100% just personal experience and preference from what I have of the game so far.

It's more of a game I would rather watch someone play (which I will after I am done~) rather than play it myself. It doesn't keep me motivated with this kind of repetitive battle system (even if I played turned based games before like Wakfu lol) but the story and characters are very VERY engaging~

[ruthlesslistener]

I don’t remember you explaining the hc that Pk fell in love cuz Wl tried to strangle him but please do at some point.

Wl, seeing this noodle of a mfer and getting to work: begone pest

Pk, discovering several things about himself in rapid succession: 👀😳💕

OKAY so basically my headcanon for how they met was that PK was a young adult wyrm scoping out territories to conquer, bc he was getting to that age where he had to either had land and followers of his own or become dinner, and upon his burrowing searches he happened to bonk into WL, who was another new pre-ascended god starting to just gain power in Kingdom's Edge, far from the Radiance's sight, but on the verge of discovery. Young WL panicked, of course, because wyrms are notorious for their ravenous hunger, aggression, and intense territoriality (things she heard whispered to her from the network of roots and mycellium she was connected to), so she did the most rational thing she thought of, which was to wrap a coil of root around the back of his head and YANK. She had him in a noose and was strangling him, but because wyrms aren't so easily killed and she was trying to act like she wasn't frightened of being devoured, she acted as cold and as high-and-mighty as she could, and demanded he state his buisness before she destroyed his physical form.

And PK fell for her INSTANTLY because not only was she proving her strength by nearly killing him (which is sexy as all hell to wyrms), she was the first instance of another god-to-be that he'd met who actually demanded to talk to him instead of just straight-up murdering him. So he touched minds with her, conveyed that he meant her no harm, and offered an alliance of sorts, where he would help her ascend, and in exchange, share territory with her. She accepted, albiet warily (because she was now in the human-esque dilemna of 'ah shit i grabbed a venomous snake by the throat and now i gotta find a way to let it go without it biting me), and that's when PK started to court her vigorously, and she became endeared by his gentleness and subsurviance. Because unknown to her at the time, the first stage of wyrm courtship involves an intense mandible-locking wrestling match (which holds the threat of death if one is too weak to impress or gets bored and decides to eat the other), but the SECOND stage of pairbonding after the violence is something closer to what we think of actual courtship, with gifts of meat or fruit, plenty of subserviance, etc etc, and she was so charmed by a supposedly-vicious entity crooning at her and giving her delectible chunks of carrion and infodumping about how he'd build their civilization that she was won over LONG before she realized what made him so into her in the first place

So tdlr, PK got nearly strangled to death after accidentally jumpscaring WL, another young god, and he was so enchanted with the duel combo of deadliness and her actually listening to him that he fell head-over-tail for her. Meanwhile, it took WL longer to come around, but him promising to give her a kingdom and generally being an absolute sap of a vicious world-ending being (and lots of carrion) had her falling for him in turn. A match made in heaven

(Something important to note is that they also had no genders pre-Hallownest, but accepted them later when their bugs assumed the big one (WL) was female and that the smaller one (PK) was male bc they had no clue what they meant. This has no bearing on their actual meetup I just think its really funny to headcanon)

[echovoidheart]

Dsmp as Hollow Knight themes

i would make this into a video but i don't know how

featuring: my attempts at character/story/musical tone analysis! me talking about hollow knight lore way more than neccesary! spoilers for literally anything imaginable about hollow knight (literally so many spoilers) and angst :)

also here's a spotify (or youtube) playlist so you can hear the songs i'm talking about

Tommy: Dung Defender

- this is probably the most cheerful theme in the entire game, to be honest

- a very upbeat & proud battle theme

- i think it fits really well with Tommy's personality. loud and proud and optimistic and a little bit brash

- Tommy always tried to start fights, but always the lighthearted, playful kind. a clash between friends, but never with ill intent (he never wanted it to get so serious. when did it change? why did it have to?)

- i think Tommy and Ogrim would get along. Ogrim is my fave npc to talk to in hk because he is just Fun

Tubbo: Fungal Wastes

- this specific theme just makes me think Mischief

- it's just a mischief theme.

- like yes let us Set Traps and Cause Problems on Purpose

- i just. think tubbo is similar to mr. mushroom

- absolutely fucking incomprehensible

- also the wastes enemies are some of my favourites. like hehe little mushroom dudes go "wAAh!" like waluigi and also bonk bonk bonk bonk bonk-

- (also the wastes lore is just really interesting to me? like idk something about the mushroom clan and whatever the hell is goin on with mr. mushroom is intriguing to me)

Ranboo: Crystal Peak

- this is definitely not favouritism absolutely not no way

- definitely not me putting my favourite theme with my favourite character

- genuinely tho i do think it fits him

- very Mysterious and Intriguing. there are many questions here that may not ever get answered

- like with the area of Crystal Peak you don't really know what's up with the place? it kinda sticks out compared to every other area in the game. these purple/pink crystals everywhere, what are they, why are they there, what do they do? why are people so obsessed with mining it- it's not like it was used as currency. or anything else directly seen in the entire rest of the kingdom. what's the connection with the Moth Tribe and the Radiance- did they use the crystals? if so, what for? there's obviously some connection there, since Hallownest's Crown, the only shrine left dedicated to the Radiance, sits at the very top

-and ranboo's lore is very similar. mostly in that it is just one giant ass question mark. what the fuck is up with that boy

- also i think the action theme for this area fits with the enderwalk

Wilbur (specifically, Pogtopia era): Sealed Vessel

- (volume warning for the intro to this song if you haven't listened to it already)

- ok. so

- if you listen through the theme all the way through (or have seen this fight in the game)

- you can tell. this starts off as a Dramatic Villain Battle Theme

- it's very intense. very dramatic. you're fighting the Hollow Knight, the final boss (you assume)

- but then like.. halfway through

- it just gets so... sad

- because at that point in the battle the hollow knight literally starts trying to stab itself mid-fight

- because it's trying to fight back against the infection within itself. the infection that is controlling it and forcing it to fight you the player

- i just think. it kinda conveys what i saw in wilbur's character at the time. big and bad and lashing out but it's only because there's this pain inside him, this sadness and turmoil that he can't shake so his only solution is to burn everything down to the fucking ground with him inside

- and then comes the very end of the theme. the calm. the quiet. and just. it makes me imagine. Wilbur's last moments before his death. this bitter, twisted sort of peacefulness as he lays in his father's arms bleeding out. it's all gone. it's finally over. he's finally gone.

- ok. end of angst. moving on

Ghostbur: City of Tears

- i think the song title speaks for itself here

- i just think the general area in the game fits Ghostbur

- it's this quiet, empty place. it used to be a city. it used to be full of life. but now it's empty. few remain other than the husks that wander about, and even they don't truly feel whole because who can be whole when surrounded by such loneliness and despair?

- but still. those quiet few persist. they find themselves where they can in the remains of what once was

- it's sad, yes. the city is constantly crying, the rain never ceases.

- but there's a hint of hopefulness, too. that things can get better.

- i miss ghostbur :(

Philza: Truth, Beauty, and Hatred

- Philza is far more deserving of this theme than the hk character that gets it.

- i mostly just thought the song title fit with Phil

- like how Phil is so old compared to a lot of the other characters. He's seen a lot, death, betrayal, loss, fortune, light, darkness. The lens he views the world in is much different than many of the other characters because of this jadedness

- but also just hehe cool battle theme for philza :)

- very good. intense and dramatic but doesn't have the same Fight For Your Life vibe as other battle themes.

Niki: Pale Court

- i actually don't know when this theme plays in-game

- i just. listened to it once and. jesus. this theme man. actually obsessed with it tbh

- the way the theme starts out similar to the White Palace theme. calm, serene, kinda nice

- and it stays that way for a decent while!

- but slowly, gradually

- there's a slight. warp. in the tone

- a descent

- it's gradual

- but it's noticeable

- it becomes less peaceful and more

- painful?

- and then it starts to spiral further and faster

- until it's no longer the same tone at all

- now it's desperation and hurt and

- it tries to return to the same melody but it just doesn't work, it isn't the same

- there's a buildup, a burst-

- and then... calm. not quite the same as before. but maybe it's possible to be something close to it again?

- i just. hope niki is doing ok in the bear smp :( she deserves it. and also maybe some therapy.

Eggpire: Broken Vessel

- ok not a just single character here but more of a Group of Characters

- but like. the vibes

- this is just a good battle theme that feels like. like this is Danger. this is a Fight To The Death

- this is one of those boss fights in hk that to me feels like. this isn't just a random animal throwing itself mindlessly in your direction in the hopes that it hits you. this isn't a test of strength between equals. no, this is a fight. this is an enemy that is swinging its blade with full intent to kill you, specifically you, and there is direction and purpose behind each strike. if you don't fight back you aren't making it out alive. there is an infection spreading and it wants you dead.

- and the worst part is, it's using your own brethren to take you down.

- it's just. the way the vessel looks up at you one last time after you beat it in the game. that scene hurt me :(

Technoblade: Radiance

- boss fight boss fight boss fight

- for techno it was actually between this one and the theme titled Furious Gods

- i just picked this one in the end for two reasons

- firstly and mainly just because Hell Yeah Epic Boss Fight

- i don't actually have that much specific character/lore analysis for techno because for some reason his character just entirely evades my perception i do not know why (i am sorry technoblade enjoyers)

- i just think he deserves an epic boss theme

Dream: Nightmare King

- and here is the second reason i went with Radiance for techno's theme: the parallels

- both boss fights being considered probably the strongest in the game (not counting Pure Vessel) and also the only two bosses with full-screen title cards

- and both techno and dream being considered some of the strongest members of the server

- also just. Nightmare King??? you think i wouldn't immediately tie that shit to the guy literally named Dream??? the guy who i might also mention literally named half of his gear Nightmare (because he is Edgy and Cool and definitely not a complete fuckin Nerd)

- lmao. anyway. nightmare king grimm is an epic, terrifying boss fight and one i will never hope to defeat in my lifetime. i can't even beat this fucker with cheats on like what the hell

- this is a good dramatic villain theme. it just sounds cool

feel free to add on more songs/characters/thoughts as well i would like to hear them

[amuseoffyre]

For the Inverse Omens fans

Notes: This is just a little scene that has been nesting in my brain and I thought I should share it before it ran away :)

The empty bottles stood in a line on the table.

Aziraphale added the latest one carefully, making sure they were all neat, then rattled a spoon along the row with a tinkle like a faulty xylophone.

It had been a good day, all told. Apart from the abduction. And Crowley’s bonk on the head. And the almost-death. But apart from that, scaring Hell and Heaven and everyone was all good. And the Ritz had been very nice as well. As had the many, many bottles of wine.

“’Ziraphale.”

“Hm?” He leaned back on the couch, sprawling against the arm, and squinted at the angel. Crowley was – for once – not balancing on the arm of the couch. He was a bit too wobbly for that. Instead, he was sitting between Aziraphale’s feet against the arm that was usually his perch, one of his legs thrown over Aziraphale’s to dangle down onto the floor.

“C’n’I ask you something?” he asked, eyes all wide and dark and staring.

“Course.” Aziraphale belched genteely into one hand.

“D’you love me?”

The demon blinked slowly, then wiggled a fingertip into his ear. “Pardon?”

“D’you love me?” The angel repeated.

It sounded just as surreal the second time around and Aziraphale was suddenly and very sober. “That’s what I thought you said.” He hoped his smile was convincing. “What do you think you’re doing, springing a question like that on a man?”

Crowley leaned forward, searching his face, his eyes like bottomless pools. “Do you?”

Aziraphale huffed, fidgeting. “Why are you asking?”

“Because.” Crowley shifted onto his knees, leaning closer, one hand groping its way along the back of the couch for balance. “Do you?”

“I don’t see why it’s important.”

“Is,” Crowley persisted, crawling even closer. “Do you?”

“It’s just a word, darling.”

“Not.” A skinny hand pressed to his chest and his world was entirely Crowley’s wide-eyed earnest face. “Do you?”

Aziraphale tried to look anywhere else, shifting awkwardly. “You know demons can’t love.”

“Lie,” Crowley said with the absolute certainty of the angel who had once sat at God’s right hand. “Podular miscomp– miscon– s’wrong. Not right. Feel everything.” He smiled and it was as perfect as a sunrise. “Best thing in the world, love. Like… like…” He shrugged and flopped forward against Aziraphale’s chest, their noses bumping. “Do you?”

Aziraphale lifted his hand to gently brush his fingers along Crowley’s cheek. “Would it make you happy? Having a demon love you?”

“Best thing in the world,” the angel repeated, his expression so radiant that Aziraphale quite forgot how to breathe. Crowley’s hair tangled in messy strands around his fingers and the angel’s heart pattered against Aziraphale’s chest through his thin t-shirt. His whisper was a puff of air against Aziraphale’s lips. “Do you?”

Such a simple word, Aziraphale thought helplessly, stroking his fingers deeper into Crowley’s hair. So simple and yet also the hardest and most impossible thing to give voice. Demons didn’t, shouldn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t, and yet…

And yet…

“Yes,” he replied, meeting those honey-brown eyes.

Crowley’s entire face lit up and for a split-second, the divine radiance of his joy was so dazzling that Aziraphale had to close his eyes against it. “Knew it!” The angel gave a happy hoot and before Aziraphale could open his eyes again, warm skinny hands framed his face and lips pressed to his.

The demon gave a small, startled squeak, eyes popping open, and Crowley drew back, blinking.

“Oh!” His face pinked. “Not like that?”

Aziraphale– words– all gone. Lips shook. Words, not there.

“’Ziraphale?” Crowley, close, worried.

“Like that?” The demon managed to croak. “You? Like that?”

Crowley’s face went redder and he nodded. “Love you.”

Silly darling bit of fluff. “No. Love everyone. N’angel. S’what you do.”  

Crowley’s eyes went all honeyed fire. “Love you,” he repeated and kissed Aziraphale again. “Love you, love you, love you.” Lips and nose and brow and eyelids and cheeks and everywhere. Hands in Aziraphale’s hair, mouth opening over his, kissing him like he meant it.

When they broke apart, breathless, quaking, Aziraphale stared up at him. “Love me?”

Crowley shone. “So much.”

Aziraphale’s eyes burned rebelliously and he sat up, wrapping his arms around the blessed angel, pulling him closer and closer and closer. “Love you too,” he confided as their lips found one another again.