#it's wonderfully creepy case fic | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bffsoobin · 4 years ago

Text

Dulce Periculum

➤ Halloween!au, highschool!au, (vague)80s!au, punk!yeonjun x reader, general horror, ghosts, fluff, angst

↳ when yeonjun’s best friend dares the two of you to spend Halloween night camping in the abandoned old school your whole city thought was haunted; you think nothing of it. After all, there was no way the rumors of spirits that would follow you home were true, and you really wanted the prize from winning the bet.

Warnings: general horror themes, breaking and entering, underage drinking and smoking, mentions of drug use, ghosts, mentions of blood, hauntings, creepy shit in general so don’t read if you’re sensitive/not a fan.

Word Count: 4,994

A/N: I hope no one is surprised that I wrote an actually scary Halloween fic 💀 this was so much fun and totally captured all of the things I really love the most! It also felt so good to write another long fic for Yeonjun since I definitely don’t do that enough. As always, I didn’t proof read or edit this, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway! (also pretend this gif is dark hair Yeonjun for the vibes)

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:••:•.•

“Seriously?” Yeonjun lifted a dark eyebrow as he popped a potato chip into his mouth. You held out your hand to silently ask for one that he set in your hand with no hesitation. Your usually populated lunch table was eerily empty today, and even inside the walls of your high school, the chill of the October air had you leaning into Yeonjun’s body to soak up his perpetual warmth. Across the table, Johnny sat on the top of a chair, exaggerating his already insane height as he spoke down to the two of you.

“Seriously, man! The place is haunted. My cousin went there once a few years ago and-”

A laugh bubbled out of your throat at the sight of tough looking Johnny; donning his classic black leather jacket and silver belt chains, a half burnt cigarette glowing eerily orange at the end with a thin streak of smoke leading it’s way to the ceiling, visibly frightened over the idea of a haunted old school.

“You’re losing it if you think the place is actually haunted. Johnny. It’s just a town legend for gods sake. People just go there and get high and fuck. It’s called Grave Academy. You think that shit is for real?” You spat, disbelief soaking every edge of your voice. You loved a good horror story just as much as the next fucked up teenager, but there was no fucking way that half burnt building was actually haunted. Beside you, your boyfriend had reduced himself into a fit of giggles, draping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you until you were almost sitting in his lap. He pressed a kiss to your cheek, the cool metal of his lip piercing making your nose crinkle.

“I love when you act like that,” he whispered, gently biting at the lobe of your ear before laughing even more at the gagging noise Johnny had begun to project into the air. Yeonjun backed away just as suddenly as he had descended on you, taking his scent of mint and smoke with him.

“What’s your point, Johnny? Just tryin to scare us?” Yeonjun asked, balancing his chin on his palms as he stared lazily across the table again.

“The point is a dare,” Johnny began, leaning forward as if he were about to tell a secret only your ears could hear. “I dare you to spend Halloween night at Grave Academy. Then you’ll see how haunted that place actually is.” He took a long drag off of his cigarette, ignoring the pointed throat clearing of a cafeteria worker you knew for a fact smoked at least three a day while sitting in the parking lot. Johnny waved her off and reached into one of his jacket pockets, producing the worn leather wallet that he kept on him like a religious talisman. From its folds he produced a crisp, wonderfully green 50 dollar bill and held it between his fingers. Your eyes widened at the bill, and if it weren’t for Yeonjun’s hand on your thigh stalling you, you would have been launching yourself across the table to snatch it from Johnny. “I bet you,” his voice was muffled around the cigarette, “this 50 dollar bill and a six pack that the two of you couldn’t spend a whole night there without getting spooked.”

You and Yeonjun exchanged incredulous looks as Johnny continued to watch over the two of you.

“Well, yeah,” Yeonjun announced, standing so abruptly that the chair he had once occupied was sent skidding awkwardly against the tiled floor. He extended a paled, jewelry decorated hand across the table and waited for Johnny to meet it in the middle. As soon as their hands connected, the smirk on Yeonjun’s face widened. “It’s a deal.”

-----

Halloween of ‘87 brought along frigid whipping winds that cut to the bone. You and Yeonjun had layered up in all your warmest clothing but he still had to crank up the heat in his old car as the two of you drove to the abandoned school to meet up with Johnny. With your hands tucked underneath your legs, you grumbled, “it’s way too cold for this shit, Jun.” Still focused on the road, Yeonjun hummed in acknowledgement.

“Got another idea for how to make 50 bucks and get a free case of beer?” He finally glanced over to you, eyebrow arched in question as you pouted. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll warm you up when we get there.” Despite the chill of the air, a warm blush sprouted on your cheeks that Yeonjun only smiled at as he made the final turn before crunching the gravel of the parking lot under the tires. Johnny was already there, leaning against the side of his car with a freshly lit cigarette balanced between gloved fingers. Seconds after Yeonjun parked the car, Johnny was next to it in two large strides, leaning down and knocking on the driver’s side window. Yeonjun pushed the door open, forcing Johnny to step back instead of getting nailed in the legs with the heavy metal.

“Hello to you too,” Johnny grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest like a scolded child. “Nice of you to finally fucking show up.” Yeonjun laughed as he rounded the car to pop the trunk and haul out the copious amounts of blankets and pillows you had insisted on bringing.

“What, Johnny? Afraid out here all by yourself?” Your boyfriend teased as you scooped a pile of blankets into your arms. Johnny exhaled through his nose, throwing his hands in the air.

“Well fuck, Yeonjun. I don’t know, is it wrong of me to be afraid of the ghost of the little kid who literally got possessed and killed all of his classmates? Or the fact that all the kid’s spirits are stuck here? Plus, it’s Halloween so you know...the dead walk among us and shit.” He was shifting on his feet, taking intermittent drags from his cigarette as he spoke. You snickered to yourself, the weight of the blankets in your arms making your muscles a bit sore.

“Can we just get this over with?” You ask loudly.

“I would love to,” Johnny nods, patting Yeonjun on the shoulder and gently shoving him toward the old, slightly crumbling building. After the initial fire, the lot had been bought and rebuilt as a halfway house for troubled youth. The company ended up going bankrupt and the building was left to rot.

“If you two make it out alive, my money and beer are yours.” Yeonjun nodded as a gust of wind ripped through the lot, sending a complaint flying from your mouth as you glared pointedly toward your boyfriend. He took the hint easily, maneuvering his blankets under one arm and placing the other at the small of your back.

“See ya tomorrow, Johnny,” he waved him off easily, pushing you forward through the rusted, overgrown gate. You heard Johnny peel out of the parking lot just as you and Yeonjun stepped onto the first cement block of steps. An old sign hung at the top of the entrance, paint chipped off in large strips that have disintegrated with time. For a moment, you hesitated, your chunky black boots seemingly stuck to the surface under you.

“C’mon,” Yeonjun encouraged, walking up the next four steps until he wrapped his free hand around the tarnished iron handle. “Aren’t you cold?” He asked, prompting your feet to move behind him. You wouldn’t admit it to Yeonjun, but a slight feeling of anxiety was beginning to make your palms sweat. Producing a flashlight out of his pocket, Yeonjun readied himself to step into the building.

The door opened with a high groan, it’s hinges crackling underneath the weight of Yeonjun’s push. From your spot just outside the door, it was hard to understand the layout of what was once considered a grand building. Hiding slightly behind your boyfriend’s broad shoulders, all you could see was part of a staircase which surely had steps rotted away from years of disuse. A sudden fear for the integrity of the floorboards shot through you, and if you had had a free hand, you would have clutched it into the soft material of Yeonjun’s jacket.

Forever fearless, he took the first step inside the building and hummed thoughtfully.

“Well,” his dark mass of hair swished around as he looked side to side, “no ghosts that I can see.” You knew he was joking for the sake of your comfort, but you couldn’t bring yourself to rally back as you took a tentative step inside. From this point, you could see the interior of the entry hall in its full glory.

Wallpaper, which you assumed was once a gentle cream color, was peeling in jagged, messy strips to expose the inner structure of the house. A more recent addition, the various colors of spray paint from other visitors, struck a stark contrast with Above you, a dangerously loose looking chandelier hung. It was small enough, but still obviously made with a tough metal that had begun to fall down with the water-logged sagging and cracking of the plaster ceiling. The image of it falling down had your stomach churning. Maybe Johnny had been right.

Slowly, the two of you made your way inside, surveying the floors through the measly yellow light of the flashlight until you found a good spot to place your blankets. Although it was “good” in the sense that there were no massive holes in the wall or ceiling to expose you to the cold, you still felt uneasy. As you set to work laying down a thick patch of blankets to protect you, Yeonjun took a lap around the room to see what he could find. This room, like all of the others, had streaks of spray paint on almost every surface. Most of it was harmless, and it almost gave you comfort to know that so many other people before you had come here and made it back out alive. Not that anyone would miss you or Yeonjun if you didn’t. Another shiver, this one not borne from the cold, ran down your back. Once you’d made a successful little nest, you found the will to walk over to Yeonjun again.

He was slouched a bit, studying something with a surprising intensity. When you walked up behind him and slipped your hands under his jacket-mostly to warm your hands- he startled a bit.

“Did I scare you?” You teased, pushing your face into his back as you nuzzled up closer.

“No, just surprised. Can I steal the flashlight?” Pouting, you handed it over and resumed your snuggling in hopes that he would finally catch the hint. If you were going to be stuck in this creepy house all night you might as well have some fun. The vague thought of stealing a cigarette from Yeonjun’s back pocket crossed your mind, and your hand was well on it’s way until he muttered under his breath.

“What?”

“Just- look at this,” his voice was higher pitched, bordering a bit too close on surprised for your liking. Your mind buzzed as you slid to his side to lean into the point of interest. While you were making up the blankets, Yeonjun had been messing with what seemed to be an inconspicuous old blackboard, shut tightly due to years and years of misuse. Somehow, he had managed to slide it open, revealing a second layer of blackboard underneath. For a second, you were going to make a joke about skipping school and forgetting what a blackboard looked like- until you saw the writing.

Inside the ring of light casted by the flashlight, a sentence made of slightly messy, too close together letters stood.

“Don’t let him catch you.”

Neither you or Yeonjun moved as you processed the words.

“Jun,” your voice was wavering, choked over the tears building in the back of your eyes. “Maybe we should-”

“No, I’m sure it was just someone here before who messed with it. It wasn’t even that hard to push and there were obviously other kids here before us.” He turned on his heel quickly, putting your backs to the wall and taking your hands in his calloused palms. His nose and cheeks were red from the cold, but he still looked the image of perfection.

“Still cold?” He asked, eyebrow cocked as he leaned imperceptibly closer to you. All thoughts of fear vanished, replaced quickly by the heat that swamped you upon seeing the gleam in his honeyed eyes. You couldn’t ignore the way the black metal of his lip ring glinted in the low lighting.

“Y-yeah,” you confirmed quickly, tearing your eyes away from his lips just long enough to get the message across. Swiftly, he pressed his lips against your own, the cold brush of his nose skimming against yours making you giggle. He laughed back, using his hands tangled in your hair to keep you steady as he walked you backwards in a direction only he could see, deepening the kiss until you forgot that you were deep in the heart of Grave Academy.

----

Morning came surprisingly fast after you and Yeonjun had worn yourselves out to your heart’s content. When you woke up, it was to the soft sound of the fall breeze rustling what was left of the leaves on a nearby maple tree. In the stark daylight, the building felt like much less of a scare than it did last night. As you laid on Yeonjun’s chest, blankets piled high over your body for insulation, you almost felt at peace. Even the once ominous looking spray paint on the wall now made you chuckle as you read the curse words and artist tags that overlapped in a rainbow of colors. The movement stirred Yeonjun awake, his eyes blinking slowly until he finally adjusted to the daylight.

“Hey,” he croaked, voice thick and full with a surprisingly restful night of sleep. “Feel up to a beer later? Celebrate our survival?”

You smacked his chest playfully out of reflex, silently reveling in just how easy this bet with Johnny had turned out to be. Your pile of protective blankets slipped down your back, exposing you to a rush of cold that made you frown.

“How about we get going? I’m starving.”

Yeonjun took no more convincing than that, fully motivated by the idea of food. It took almost no time at all to fold up all the blankets and make sure you hadn’t left anything behind.

“Oh, the flashlight!” You stomped your way back over to the blackboard where you’d left it, feeling much bolder in the sunlight. You pocketed the flashlight easily, tucking it away in the jacket that used to belong to your father. As you straightened back up, you came face to face with the same board that had almost sent you straight home last night, only to see that there was nothing written on it.

The blackboard stared back at you, totally blank. The cramped, messy words from yesterday night had completely vanished. Not even a trace of wiped off chalk stayed behind to suggest that Yeonjun may have erased the words without you noticing. A sick feeling washed over you, nervousness balling in the pit of your stomach until you felt like you could pass out.

“Y/N?” Yeonjun called, whining as the blankets weighed him down and his stomach growled. His voice snapped you out of your stupor as you quickly turned, striding toward him in confident steps to assume him- and yourself- that everything was just fine.

----

“Yeonjun,” you hissed, leaning across your desk to better catch his attention. He turned lazily, half asleep as a result of the 20 year old projector video. “Did you steal my pencil?” You accused, slightly annoyed that he would have the nerve to take one of the very few school supplies you still bothered to bring, even if just for show. His eyebrows furrowed and he shook his head.

“No, why the hell would I take your pencil? I stopped taking notes in sophomore year. Are you sure you didn’t just drop it?”

Violently, you shook your head.

“I already looked, Jun! It’s gone! I literally just had it!” Anger bubbled in your chest as you abandoned all reserve. Yeonjun’s eyes went wide with concern as the teacher turned toward you and shushed loudly.

You spent the rest of the day in an angered stupor, having to borrow a pencil from the nerdy kid who salivated over you every day in biology. It bothered you much more than it probably should have, but losing the pencil seemed to set off an odd emotion within you. You were many things, but you were never disorganized or forgetful. There was no way you simply lost the pencil.

----

Senior year crawled by and your missed days of school stacked up quick. You and Yeonjun wasted the days away, sharing cigarettes and liquor bottles until the day was over. On one surprisingly nice winter afternoon, the two of you went for a walk. The route was innately familiar, as you’d been walking it since you were both young children. As you curbed the corner near Mrs. Berger’s house, Yeonjun stopped dead in his tracks.

“Did you see that?” He asked, grasping at your forearm and making you slip a little on a patch of ice.

“Did I see what?”

“That- over there!” Yeonjun pointed toward a patch of bare trees laced with snow. There was nothing odd among them, but he was clearly convinced. “You don’t see that?” He hissed, an edge of fear in his voice that made you glance around for possible threat.

“No, I don’t. Yeonjun, are you okay?”

“Seriously, Y/N, now is not the time to fuck with me,” he pleaded, pulling on your arm harder. He was scared.

“Yeonjun, let’s go, let’s just go back to your house, please, you’re scaring me-”

“SHIT, go go go!” Suddenly he yanked you into the snow covered yard to your right to avoid the slip of ice as the two of you sprinted, hand in hand, not stopping for a second until you reached his home.

Chests heaving, you sunk to the floor with tears in your eyes. Yeonjun slumped into the couch, hand resting on his stomach as he tried to calm himself.

“It was-” he gasped loudly, “a little boy. He was wearing like-like a fuckin’ school uniform? Just standing there like a- a little demon. And then he started to walk, and when I realized he was coming near us I just fucking panicked.”

If you weren’t already breathless, the words would have sucked the air right from your lungs.

Don’t let him catch you.

----

You and Yeonjun had made a vow to never speak of that day again. Silently, you both had an inkling of what was going on, but neither of you wanted to admit it. Who would?

Two days later, the two of you sat in the parking lot of a fast food joint, passing a cigarette back and forth. Neither of you had slept more than a few hours, and you were starting to feel it as the pull of another tension headache came to wreak havoc. Yeonjun said nothing as you closed your eyes for a few seconds, allowing yourself to succumb to a comforting darkness. The pain began to subside as you let yourself tire, the steady sound of Yeonjun’s breathing lulling you even further.

Just as sleep began to invade the edges of your mind, a faint whisper sounded. You couldn’t quite make it out, so you just assumed maybe it was the way the wind whipped or your mind filling in some gaps. Just as you relaxed again, the whisper reignited, louder this time. You couldn’t make out the words, but the voice was childish and made your heart race. In a panic, you tried to open your eyes, but they wouldn’t budge.

“Y/N, why won’t you play with me?” The voice asked. “You came to visit and then you just...left me.” Fear wracked your body the longer you fought against the voice. You knew that you hadn’t fallen asleep. This was not a dream.

Suddenly, the face of a wide-eyed little boy crowded your vision. His eyes were piercing, upturned nose charming enough to distract you for half a second. But it didn’t take long to register the streaks of blood running from his hairline down to his chin, dripping off in thick drops. It was almost like you could feel them falling down, landing with a wet plop every time. A sick grin split his face, revealing a mouthful of blood just as dark and thick as the stuff running down his face. Your heart was hammering loudly, threatening to burst right out of your chest. Hot tears streamed down your face as you fought against whatever was ailing you.

“Don’t you want to play?”

Suddenly, like coming up for air from underwater, you were back to reality. The sunlight burned your already sore eyes, washing out your vision so much that you almost didn’t see Yeonjun hovering over you as best as he could within the confines of the car.

“Holy shit,” he gasped, gathering you into a tight hug as your body shook. “Did you have a nightmare?” He asked, wiping at the tears on your cheeks.

“I-I wasn’t asleep,” you sobbed, grabbing at his arms desperately. “It was him,” you choked out, shuddering at the thought of that demonic little boy whispering to you. Yeonjun swallowed harshly, slumping back into his seat with a shake in his limbs.

----

That night, you both skipped sleep. Yeonjun turned on all the lights in his bedroom and made sure that every single door to the outside was locked before you laid down together. On the small screened television a late night program played nonsense that provided welcome white noise. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t forget the image of the little boy dripping with blood. How he called you by your name and implored you to play.

“I think it’s the same,” Yeonjun finally said.

“The same?”

“Yeah, the same...the same kid. The one I saw outside, the one you saw. I think it’s the boy who-”

“Please don’t even say it,” you whined, burying your face into his shoulder. Deep down, you knew exactly what he meant. It was a million times scarier to hear it out loud.

The sound of the talk show host suddenly quieted, television shut off suddenly with a crackle of light.

“What the fuck,” Yeonjun groaned, getting up to check the outlet he had the unit plugged into. The plug was still secure in the outlet, giving no answer to the sudden end of your background noise. “Maybe the cable went out,” he suggested, dropping the subject as quickly as he began it. He wasn’t much for late night television anyway. On a normal night, he would have tried to make idle chit chat, or maybe even bite a few bruises into the column of your neck; but today he simply laid next to you and played with your hair.

In what first seemed like a stroke of luck, the television set roared back to life. Both of you sat up in alarm, confused at the sudden change, but you had almost no time to ponder it as the rest of the lights in the room cut, plunging you into a sick darkness. Immediately you cried out, indescribable anxiety crawling up your throat and leaving you speechless. Yeonjun tensed, selflessly guarding your body with his as the television flickered static patterns at you. A high pitched whine emitted from the speakers, prompting you to search the sheets for the remote until the sound stalled.

With all other sources of light drained, the television seemed to glow as bright as a full moon as scrolls of distorted text began to roll across the screen. They were a bit hard to make out, pixelated and cramped at first, but soon became clear as day in their full form:

YEonJuN, Y/n

WhY wON’t you PLAy WiTH ME?

YOU CaMe tO visiT mE, BuT yOu DIDN’t StaY.

I aM LOnEly.

i KILled aLl OF mY FriENDS.

Too stunned to react, you simply clutched onto Yeonjun’s shirt for dear life and squeezed your eyes shut in hopes this really all was some awful dream.

“Holy shit, Y/N, Y/N!” Yeonjun yelled, forcing your eyes open just to witness the sight of the same horrificaly thick and deep red blood you’d seen earlier begin seeping from the top of Yeonjun’s bedroom walls. Everywhere you looked, streams of blood stained his walls red, ruining the collection of poster you’d memorized. The room smelled so strongly of iron that it made you gag, the threat of puking right at the back of your tongue. The television began whining again, high and shrieking until morphing into the sickly sweet voice of a young boy.

“Don’t you want to play? I promise I’m nice.”

Upon recieving nothing for a response from either of you, the voice let out a sigh.

“Fine. I guess I’ll just have to force you to play with me.”

The television fizzled out again, plunging the room into temporary darkness as both you and Yeonjun shake with fear. As if nothing had even happened, the lights resumed their warm yellowy glow, exposing completely clean walls.

----

“You two look like shit,” Johnny laughed, picking at the soggy tater tots on his plastic lunch tray. He had recently dyed his hair a deep black, and the dye was still staining the sides of his neck and his hands. “On a bender?”

Yeonjun gave a noncommittal laugh, eyes downcast as you shrugged loosely.

“Jesus, some bad cocaine? Did you buy from Taehyung? I told you he’s the worst to-”

“Stop, please,” you groaned, a tension headache permeating from the base of your neck to the top of your head. “You wouldn’t even believe us if we told you.”

“Try me. I’ve gotten blow from all of Bangtan, they aren’t the most trustworthy all the time, especially that Namjoon guy. He charms you into thinking it’s good and then-”

“We did not buy blow from Bangtan!” Yeonjun exploded, drawing the attention of a few passersby.

“Oh.” Johnny blinked, shocked by his best friend’s sudden loss of temper. “What’s wrong?”

“Grave Academy,” you mumbled, laying your head on the cold tabletop as Yeonjun rested a steady hand on your back.

“Huh? You were there months ago.”

“Yeah, that’s the issue. We were there months ago and we’re both still,” Yeonjun paused, unsure of what to even say. “We’re still getting haunted.”

“You what?” The hurried scrape of his chair had you looking up again just as he crossed the distance until he was right next to Yeonjun. “My cousin...he- he had the same thing happen.” A sudden edge of sadness overtook his voice and your eyes widened.

“Really? D’you think this happens to everyone?” Desperation spilled out alongside your words although you tried to stop it.

“I think...I think that I’m definitely fucking with you.” Johnny laughed, standing back up to his full height as both you and Yeonjun deflated. “My cousin is literally insane. Always has been. So it was no surprise to us when he started ‘seeing ghosts’ and finally got himself carted away.”

“Fuck you, Johnny.” Yeonjun snorted, pulling you up with him as he left the lunch room in a hurry and waltzed straight out of the school.

----

“What do we do?” Yeonjun’s eyes were bloodshot, for once a side effect of nothing but lack of sleep.

“We can run.” You suggested weakly, picking at a loose thread on your sweatshirt. “If we stay here we’ll either get send to the looney bin or murdered. And no one will miss us here, anyway.” Yeonjun knew you were right, but the thought plagued him still. Would running away even help?

“I guess you have a point.” He surmised, glancing around the home that he had come to run basically on his own. Since the death of his mother, his dad had been reckless and absent, only sending enough money for basics in a manila envelope every few months. If he left, the house would be reclaimed by the town and no one would be any wiser to why the two of you left. Just your run of the mill high school dropouts.

“I’d rather run away with you than die here.” You added, shrugging again as you imagined some kind of perfectly twisted life traveling the country with Yeonjun, living day to day. “Maybe you can finally start that band and I can be your groupie,” you joked, running your hands through his greasy locks and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I’ll start packing a bag.”

The next morning, you and Yeonjun said what little goodbyes you had to make. You visited Johnny, telling him an abbreviated lie about a cross-country trip that he bought well enough. If he suspected anything when Yeonjun hugged him for longer than he had in their entire friendship, he didn’t say much.

The two of you made a stop at the cemetery, bidding farewell to your respective parents, before climbing back into his old Chevy. It was kind of hard to believe that all of your belongings fit snugly into his trunk, but it made escaping that much easier in the end.

The town you’d grown up in disappeared in the rearview mirror, and as you held Yeonjun’s hand tightly between your own, you hoped that your misfortune would disappear too.

You would never tell Yeonjun, but even as you drove miles and miles away from Grave Academy, you could still hear the little boy whispering every time you closed your eyes.

382 notes · View notes

jinxquickfoot · 3 years ago

Note

Hi Jinx! Out of curiosity, what were your thoughts on What If as a series? Personally I enjoyed it, though it was still hit-or-miss; some episodes I liked a lot more than others, others I just didn’t really get. (Does kinda make it hard to grade the entire show) Love your work!

I...did not expect this to be my favorite of the Marvel shows so far. But here we are.

This is mostly a personal taste thing; I'm not making a case that it's the best one so far, just my favorite. I loved that there were both no stakes, in that it was a multiverse, while at the same time the stakes felt like they mattered, because things could actually go badly. When you go into a Marvel film, you know what you're getting - a three-act structure with a final big battle and a happy ending (with the exceptions of Civil War and Infinity War, but even so those were part of a bigger arc). The Doctor Strange episode was wonderfully dark and twisted. The Thor one was absolutely ridiculous. And all of it coming together at the end into one arc with the Guardians of the Multiverse? Amazing!

From what I've heard, the people who didn't like the show called it fanfiction. It's not fanfiction. I wouldn't have clicked on any of these fics if I found them on Ao3. I don't come to fanfic for Major Character Deaths and sad endings. I come for character exploration and happy endings. But What If really took their premise and absolutely went for it and it was so much fun.

This is where we get into the personal taste thing. My favorite television moment of 2021 was watching zombie Steve Rogers murder Sharon and then get cut in half by his own shield before being shoved off a train by Bucky with the words "Guess it's the end of the line". You cannot find a blacker sense of humor than a New Zealander's, and I have a pretty dark taste for comedy on top of that.

So yeah, I found it delightfully fun - watching our beloved characters as zombies (another favorite was Zombie!Sam getting sliced in half right in front of Bucky), Ant-Man murdering all the Avengers, creepy-Vision!Ultron. And there were enough moments of sincerity to balance that out - Clint sacrificing himself for Nat and Nat in turn taking out Ultron with his bow, the hint of hope between Peter, T'Challa and Scott at the end of zombies, the Watcher's "Your stories mean everything to me." And hey, there was actually some diversity in there, look at that.

#what if #what if spoilers #thanks for the ask!

17 notes · View notes

nagisa-shiota-worthy-shit · 4 years ago

Text

Hey Mr. Business, How Do You Do?

short fic!

Nagisa is a barista with a very messed up desire. The day has come to make that desire come to life... by causing a death.

this will be coming to ao3 too. Prompt credit to @akari-loves-pudding and @pinklovely05

----------------------------------------------------------

The horrible pay and nearly harassing treatment by customers that come with working in a coffee shop do not justify murder. His job also wasn’t exactly Shiota Nagisa’s reason. What was about to happen came more or less forth out of a sudden urge, a need to try something out. That need wasn’t exactly telling him to “try everything”, but at the very least told him to “try murder”.

He wasn’t a serial killer, for the record. He’d never killed anyone before and, frankly, he probably never would again after this. There was no denying how powerful he felt though, holding the tiny glass bottle between his fingers behind the counter. It was so interesting how such a harmless looking bit of liquid could do so much to the human body.

If Nagisa had been a more poetic person, he’d refer it back to himself. He wasn’t exactly tall, or muscular, or very impressing when judged by looks. However, the truth was that he could very much do harm to people. And he would, as soon as he’d found a suitable target.

The best description for the customers in the coffee shop that day would be ‘average’. The clientele consisted of the usual hipsters, bored elderly, tired students, and business men in a hurry. Of course there were some odd cases that didn’t fit any of the mentioned groups, but they didn’t leave much of an impression on Nagisa. Some people just pushed your buttons more than others.

With every person that came in he judged how annoying they were and how high the chances of him murdering them was. Most hipsters were irritating, but not horrible people. Their orders were by far the worst though, as if they thought ordering a ‘mocha latte mixed with cinnamon and whipped cream with caramel drizzle on top’ would make them so much cooler than the person ordering a plain black coffee.

Of course, the black coffee was mostly ordered by the students and businessmen. The difference? The students asked for at least two espresso shots, and even then Nagisa had caught them mixing it with their energy drinks several times. He didn’t care that much, the only customer he ever stopped was the one that brought their own bottle of liquor to add to their coffee. Not only was that against company policy, it was also 10 AM.

The bored elderly might actually need another title. They were simply complainers, not even always elderly, but at the very least they weren’t young. They’re categorized as bored because apparently their only entertainment left in this world was to complain about every single thing to Nagisa, even if those things were completely out of his control. If he had to deal with one more middle aged lady complaining too much sun shone on the window table he’d break the register right off the counter, because he could, in fact, not “tone down the sunlight.”

After dealing with a certain customer that apparently did not know a macchiato was in fact “milk with coffee, rather than coffee with milk”, Nagisa saw who he considered to be the perfect target. He was annoying, smug, and Nagisa would not miss his daily conversations with this man.

His name was Akabane Karma, and he was a very annoying person. The first time he’d come in, Nagisa had considered him kind of cool. It appeared he had a respectable job, which later turned out to be a bureaucratic function, and he was very good looking. The way his his hair was swept to one side framed his face pretty nicely, and Nagisa wished he could look like that... manly.

However, the second time he came in, his personality shone through just wonderfully. It only took the time of him greeting the taller man for said man to make a very uncalled for comment on Nagisa’s physique. Of course, it wasn’t even like usual cat calling telling him to bend over or whatever, it was the usual stupid calling that tried to inform him on how much he looked like a girl.

“No, but, you’re sure you’re male right?” Karma said to him, after Nagisa had just informed him of his gender after being asked. “You could have fooled me.”

Nagisa had let out a sigh, but tried to maintain his composure, mostly because he didn’t want to lose his job just because some guy liked making comments about a topic he was perhaps a little sensitive about. He reassured him of his gender once more and continued to ask about his order.

Karma, being the bothersome person he was, wasn’t ready to let it go though.

“Okay but you have to admit you look quite like a girl.” He shrugged, still not giving Nagisa his order. Nagisa held his hand on the medium sized to-go cups stack, trying to clarify he wanted Karma to move on already. He seemed to get the hint.

“Fine, blonde roast cappuccino,” He ordered, much to Nagisa’s amusement. He’d ordered a macchiato last time, the guy probably didn’t even really like coffee that much. “And how about for the name, you write down your number.” Of course he couldn’t end Nagisa’s discomfort just like that.

“I’m not doing that, sorry customer.” Nagisa remained smiling as he wrote down ‘Akabane’ on the cup. “One blonde roast cappuccino for Akabane coming up.”

Before he walked away Karma sent one last creepy smile to Nagisa. “But you remembered my name, huh?”

It was safe to say that that one interaction was enough for Nagisa to realize he did not like the guy. To make matters worse, he started coming in every day, even saying cheesy stuff like how he’d come there just for Nagisa. It was not only creepy but also annoying, seeing as Karma’s entire thing seemed to be making teasing comments at Nagisa and ordering something different literally every time.

But this time, he had something very nice with him that would definitely surprise Karma. He’d put away the vile in his apron to make working easier, but the moment he stroked his hand over the pocket of it to casually check it was there, he felt his kind customer-greeting smile grow into more of a grin.

“Welcome to the shop!” He greeted the red head, using his customer addressing voice that showed more enthusiasm than he’d ever be able to feel, the moment he came in through the door. Said customer looked up at him and immediately smiled. He had no idea what was coming for him.

Karma approached the counter and went to lean his elbows on it, resting his head on the back of his hands. “Did you miss me?” He asked, that annoying smirk on his face again. Nagisa hadn’t missed him, but he was happy he was there right then.

“The usual feelings apply,” He replied, hiding any murderous intentions he felt. “are you going to sit down today or to-go?”

“I have time off, I’ll be sitting down and you can be my waiter.” Karma answered. Usually, this would annoy Nagisa quite a lot. If he sat down he’d have to deal with him longer, and being his waiter most of the time meant Karma just kept calling for him for literally everything. Of course, you can’t really tell the customer off. This time, however, he was glad to be able to see Karma enjoy his drink.

He directed Karma to sit down at a free table and told him he’d be with him in a bit. His hand went to the pocket with the vile in it once more, somewhat excited for what was about to happen. He didn’t show anything in his face or posture. If there was one thing Nagisa had mastered, it was hiding his intentions and bloodlust. He couldn’t look suspicious now, he could not be blamed for everything once this was done, even if he was very guilty.

Eventually he went to Karma’s table, notebook and pen in hand. “So what can I get you today?” He asked politely, taking Karma’s attention from the monthly specials paper.

“I don’t suppose you are on the menu?” He asked.

“No, I meant coffee or side dish.” Nagisa kept his smile on his face, trying very hard not to grind his teeth too much.

Karma looked over the laminated paper one more time before pointing at a picture on it. “This… chocolate coffee thing.”

“One chocolate mocha latte, right.” Nagisa wrote down the drink, internally hating on the process of making the drink. It was a little more effort than he really wished for. He supposed it didn’t matter much how it tasted, it’d be the last one Karma would drink anyways. “Anything on the side?” He added, tilting his head as he asked to appear even more innocent.

There wasn’t much of a reaction from Karma as he read over the paper again. “No I think it’s fine like that.” He finally said after a bit. With that Nagisa sent him a last polite smile and went off to make his drink.

When he returned behind the counter Kayano had offered to make the drink for him. “There’s no one in line anyways.” She’d shrugged, but Nagisa refused. With all the extras he couldn’t really throw the poison in last. He turned to grab a coffee cup and pumped in all the syrups needed, waiting for Kayano to turn away before he took the most devious step in his plan.

The moment he held the opened little glass bottle he felt himself start to doubt. There really wasn’t any going back the moment he put this in. He was about to do something as serious as taking someone’s life. The moral implications of it had hit Nagisa before, but at that moment, poison in one hand and cup right in the other, he felt a little insecure about it all.

Of course, he’d thought about the getting caught thing. He made extra sure the poison he got wouldn’t be found when the body was examined. From what he gathered, it would make it seem like the victim had internal bleeding by unknown causes, he’d simply just succumbed to them in the coffee shop.

Nagisa wouldn’t be blamed. Sure, he was the last person to talk to Karma and he’d be questioned, but no one would have any reason to believe he did anything. He and Karma weren’t even in any other relationship other than customer and barista. Why would Nagisa want to kill him? If he was a suspected serial killer, sure, there’d be a reason. He’d be seen like a psychopath.

He wasn’t though, a psychopath. He felt empathy. He felt guilt, at that exact moment even. But some other feeling was stronger than that guilt. It might have edged on curiousity, but mostly it was bloodlust. Everyone had different ways of channeling through their negative energy.

It’s not like anyone would miss an annoying bureaucrat who was apparently so friendless he spent everyday of his life coming to the same coffee shop to flirt with the same barista. No one would miss such a weirdo.

In another universe the two could have been friends. In this one, Nagisa was going to kill Karma.

The vile was in the cup and before he knew it he put it under the machine and started to finish the drink. When it was done it looked and smelt normal. It was overly sweet and could barely be called coffee. Nagisa was a little proud of himself, this really seemed to be working.

He got his tray and walked over to Karma with his drink. “There you go, one chocolate mocha latte.” Nothing about his voice sounded unusual, even if his mind was racing. The other thanked him and before he could make another comment Nagisa excused himself because he did have to go back to work. He promised they could talk later, but Nagisa knew that wasn’t happening.

As he was cleaning and making some drinks for Kayano’s customers behind the counter, he sneaked several glances in Karma’s direction. He made sure to only look when he knew Karma wasn’t, he wasn’t about to be caught acting strange. He just really wanted to see what happened.

And then the moment came. He heard a noise coming from Karma’s table, somewhat distressed and in pain. Nagisa looked up to see Karma grabbing at his chest. He’d gained the attention from several customers around him.

When he didn’t stop with the painful act one customer stood up to ask him if he was okay. Karma didn’t let out any words. The customer looked back at the people at his table and started to ask for his phone, obviously trying to be responsible and call for an ambulance. Before he could Karma suddenly collapsed.

Within seconds there was a mass panic in the shop. People got up out of their seats and moved out of the way, all while staring at the man on the floor. The man who’d walked up to him before apparently had some kind of adrenaline kick and kept helping the other.

He yanked his coat off of a chair and used it to lay Karma’s head on. One of his friends rushed to his side and helped him get Karma in the right position. Eventually the second man checked the passed out person’s wrist and suddenly turned white.

“No pulse” was all he said. Nagisa heard a high pitched gasp from beside him. Kayano. Of course she hadn’t come in to work that morning expecting to see someone die. She wasn’t in the same boat as Nagisa.

Nagisa, who had previously broken the small glass bottle and made sure to throw it away in the wrong trash can, so no one would go look for it. Nagisa, who’s eyes flashed to the coffee cup Karma had been drinking from earlier and who felt a tinge of pride making his heart flutter. Nagisa, who seemingly had no regrets about the current situation.

He held a fake shocked expression on his face as he stared at the collapsed customer. Everyone around him did the same, some still bending over him and one customer even calling the emergency number. Nagisa held his hand in front of his mouth, he knew he wasn’t about to ruin things and smile over what just happened but it couldn’t hurt to be sure. Something in him wanted to smile, however.

He really just killed him.

#Nagisa Shiota #Karma Akabane #karmagisa #assassination classroom #ansatsu kyoushitsu #short fic #fanfiction #coffee shop #prompt #writing #murder

23 notes · View notes

ayma-nidiot · 4 years ago

Text

“Don’t Speak Their Names” - Shrimpshipping fic Chapter 16

This chapter on AO3 can be found here.

Chapter 16 - Anything Else?

~31 August 2005~

“And that concludes my lecture on the formation of the oceans,” Spinos finished. “Be sure to study the notes. Our first test is in three weeks, but that doesn’t mean you should-”

Rex didn’t even let Spinos finish talking before he started running up to the stage. “Wait!” he pushed by the many students who were leaving. “Dad!”

“H-Hello…” Spinos stopped in his tracks.

“You are my dad, aren’t you?” Rex asked when he caught up with Spinos.

“That is correct. I didn’t think this day would ever come, but now that it has…”

“Why, Spinos?” Rex cried. “Why did you have to leave my mom alone? She endured horrible morning sickness all by herself, just to give birth to a kid you didn’t even care about. And all so you could be with some lady friend!”

“I know that there is so much you want to know about me, and where I’ve been the past 19 and a half years. But I want to wait until your mother is here to listen.”

“Well, good luck trying to find her, because even if you did, she wouldn’t want anything to do with you. Anything else?”

“There’s only one favour I ask of you, Rex… My son, please give me a chance. Give me a chance to prove my worth as a father, and to earn the trust of your mother.”

“She was very hurt when you left her, you know? Since you do have a lot of proving to do, you better start now.”

“Very well. When was the last time you were at the doctor’s?”

“About a month ago, not long before school started.”

“Do you know how far along you are?” Spinos gestured towards Rex’s baby bump.

“How did you-”

“I overheard you talking to your mom about it in the hospital, when you were still newly pregnant.”

“...I’m a little more than 5 months.”

“Then it’s important that you get an ultrasound to see how your baby is doing. At this stage, you can not only listen to your baby’s heartbeat through doppler radar, but you can also determine the sex of your baby.”

Rex had never even considered any of these things before. “You know any doctors around here who can do that?”

“Yes. In fact, I am friends with the on-campus doctor who specializes in both family medicine and sonography. I can take you there, if you want.”

“I’ll take you up on your offer, as soon as I call Weevil and tell him to come here. He is the father, you know.”

“Yes, of course.” Spinos waited for Rex to make the call before saying, “Thank you so much for giving me the chance to help not only you, but also my grandchild.”

“...Yeah, sure.”

Rex and Spinos uneasily stood, avoiding each other’s eyes, until Weevil got there. “Hey, hun. Oh, I didn’t know you were friends with Dr. Saurus. I have him in the same block as Amber does.”

“He’s not a friend, he’s my father.”

“What? I mean… uh… P-Pleased to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise.”

Rex didn’t want the situation to turn more awkward, and so he interrupted with, “That’s not the reason I called you here, Weeves. We’re going to get an ultrasound of our baby.”

“I should have thought of the idea sooner… I mean, I would have, but I don’t know of any good doctors around here. But I’m glad I now know of someone who does.” Weevil began to walk with Spinos and Rex in the direction of the clinic.

This campus clinic was a lot larger than Rex thought. He quickly found himself getting lost, but had too much pride to ask the receptionist just where this doctor was. Instead, a man with a long black ponytail and a white lab coat approached him. “Young man, are you lost?”

At this point, Rex was getting tired of walking around. “Yeah. I’m looking for the campus doctor who specializes in sonography.”

“This is he! You’re a shifter, aren’t you?”

“You know about us shapeshifters?”

“Well, I am one. I can transform into Guardian Grarl.”

Aww, I wish I could actually transform into a dinosaur too. “But how could you tell just by looking at me?” Rex asked as the campus doctor beckoned for him to follow him to his office.”

“It isn’t a coincidence that you are intersex. All male shapeshifters are.”

“Really? So does that mean I could get Weevil pregnant? He’s intersex, too?”

“Yes and yes. Though it largely depends. What can you guys transform into?”

“I’m Creepy Coney while he’s Earthbound God Uru.”

“Then you will go into heat far more often than he does. The stronger a shapeshifter, the harder it is for him to get pregnant.” The campus doctor noticed Rex’s frown and started to take his vitals. “But don’t worry, because it’s not impossible! Even though I’m a powerful monster, I am proud to have given birth to three children. ...There. Your vitals are all normal. Have you been experiencing pain, nausea, or other symptoms?”

“I have really bad back pain and swollen ankles sometimes. And I have to go to the bathroom A LOT.”

“That’s fairly normal. For the sake of you both, I highly recommend you do at least some physical activity throughout your pregnancy. Water activities, preferably, so you don’t stress your joints. I also hope you’ve been taking prenatal vitamins.”

“All right! I love to swim! As for the vitamins, my mom made sure to get me started on those as soon as we found out. She also gave me this awesome ginger tea when I still had morning sickness. Not that I have that anymore.”

“That’s good to hear.” The campus doctor finished preparing the fetal doppler and ultrasound device. “Are you ready for the ultrasound?”

Before Rex could say yes, he had just realized that Weevil and Spinos were not there. In fact, they both had come in just then. “Sorry I’m late, doctor. Weevil and I were in the restroom.”

“Ah, Dr. Saurus! Fancy meeting you here. If you need a checkup, it’s going to have to wait until I am done with this young man.”

“‘The young man’ happens to be my son.”

“Even better!”

“And I’m the father of Rex’s child,” spoke Weevil.

“Then you’ve arrived at the perfect time! I’ll do the ultrasound first.”

“Oh. In that case, I better leave you guys alone. I’ll be in the lobby.” So spoke Spinos as he made way for thence.

“Okay, then. Mr. Raptor, was it? Can you lay on this bed and lift up your shirt, please?”

Rex did as he was told. This bed is more comfortable than the one at the hospital, that’s for sure. “Ooh…” He shivered when he felt a cool gel - and a probe - that quickly warmed up. He looked to the ultrasound monitor, and already he could see his unborn child on it. “Well, if that isn’t the cutest thing ever! That’s what’s inside me?”

“How’s he doing, Doctor?” Weevil asked. “Or should I say ‘she?’ ...Wait, we can find out the sex, right?”

“I want to know, too,” spoke Rex.

“Your baby is doing fine,” answered the campus doctor as he pointed out the baby’s heart, limbs, and head.

“Oh my gosh, look at those little feet!” Rex cooed as he pointed at the monitor.

The doctor now switched the ultrasound to 4D mode. “I see no problems at all; she’s doing wonderfully.”

“‘She?’ Do you mean…” Rex began.

“Yup! You’re having a baby girl.”

“Aww…” Rex teared up. “She’s so adorable!”

“I wonder which one of us our daughter is going to look like.” Weevil held his boyfriend’s hand. “And I hope she gets my smarts instead of yours - or rather, lack thereof.”

“Oh, be quiet.” Rex playfully hit Weevil.

The doctor smiled at these parents-to-be. “Last but not least is the doppler radar. It’s a portable one that I’ll send home with you. Mr. Raptor, be sure to check your daughter’s heartbeat from time to time. I’ll show you how to do it.”

Rex normally was horrible at paying attention, but he watched the doctor’s instructions intently. Using the gel from the ultrasound, the doctor took out a much smaller probe. “Unlike the ultrasound, you need to put the doppler probe in very specific spots.” A fairly slow thumping sound could be heard from the radar, but nothing showed up on the display. “And don’t confuse your baby’s heartbeat with your own. A fetal heartbeat is much faster, usually above 120 bpm.”

Just then, Rex could hear a strong and quick sound come from the doppler; “140 bpm” showed up on the screen. “Is that…?”

“ That’s the sound you want to listen for.”

“Oh, gods…” What started as tears-in-the-eyes turned into full-on crying as Rex heard his daughter’s heartbeat for the first time. “Weeves… I have a child growing inside me… and she’s so full of life.”

“I know, hun… I know.” Now, Weevil began to cry too.

After a few more minutes, the doctor packed up the fetal doppler, along with a few other items and informational pamphlets. “Before you leave, Mr. Raptor, there are a few things you should know. Your vagina has the same opening as your anus, which is why you can get pregnant through anal sex. Your birth canal is so small, you've probably not noticed it. But you certainly will when it's time for childbirth."

“Childbirth, huh?” Rex trembled in fear. “In just four months, I’ll… I’m so nervous.”

“I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“So will I, hun.” Weevil kissed Rex on the cheek.

“Now do you have any other questions for me?” asked the doctor.

“No, sir.” After the doctor cleaned up the gel, Rex put his coat back on and started to leave. “Thanks again.”

Spinos was reading a magazine in the lobby when Rex and Weevil arrived there. “So how’d it go?”

“I am glad to know I’m carrying a perfectly healthy baby girl.”

“That’s great!”

It had just occurred to Rex that he somehow managed to waltz out of the clinic without paying a dime. “But what’s not so great is how I forgot to pay the doctor. I don’t even have a job yet.”

“Not to worry; your tuition pays for your healthcare here. And since this university is also affiliated with the downtown hospital, you didn’t get charged for your care there, either. Though most other hospitals around here charge exorbitant costs.”

“And if you didn’t tell me about this doctor, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to see my daughter, or know how to care for her.” Rex glanced to the side before looking at his father. “So thanks, Dad.”

“You’re welcome, son. If there’s anything else you need from me, I’d be more than happy to help. Well, I have to go teach another class, but I’ll see you soon.”

As Rex waved goodbye, Amber happened to walk past and heard most of the conversation.

“Waaah!” Rex couldn’t look directly at Amber, not after remembering what happened at Domino Tabletop Gaming’s last meeting. “Amber… About what happened at the meeting-”

“Never you mind.” Amber spoke as if those events never happened. “I normally don’t lose control of my emotions like that; I can assure you that I’m fine now.”

“Are you sure?” Rex looked at Amber, concerned, and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Enough about me. What about you?” Amber touched the baby bump. “How’s the baby?”

“I actually just got out from a doctor’s appointment. Not only is my baby healthy, she’s also a girl!” Rex chuckled.

“Have you thought of a name for her yet?”

Rex blinked. “No, I haven’t.”

“My dude, that’s one of the first things you should think about when you find out you’re pregnant. Everyone knows that, dino brain!”

“Well, do you have any suggestions?”

“Um…”

“Now look who’s the dino brain!” Rex gave Amber noogies.

Weevil had to admit that this scene made him a little jealous, so he interrupted it with, “Shouldn’t we go home, Rex? Ptera’s waiting for us by the dumpster car loop.”

“Yeah, let’s.” Rex let go of Amber. “See you around, Amber.”

“Wait! Um… Rex, I have a request. Can I… Is it possible for me to go home with you?”

“Why, did you get into a fight with your parents or something?”

“...You could say that.”

Rex knew better than to pry further. “In that case, you’re welcome to join us. My mom is the coolest person around, so I’m sure she’d be okay with it.”

It was quite a walk to said car loop, and Rex was astounded that he didn’t need to stop by the loo on the way there.

#yugioh #ygo #shrimpshipping #ryuhaga #mpreg #rex raptor #weevil underwood #dinosaur ryuzaki #insector haga #this was the chapter I was looking forward to writing the most uwu #Rex finally gets that 20-week ultrasound and his and Weevil's reaction to it is just...#DAAAAAAW

1 note · View note

o0o-chibaken-o0o · 6 years ago

Text

Communal 2018 Drarry Rec List

IT’S HERE, EVERYBODY!!! And it’s long! Thank you so so much to everyone who sent in their favorite fics written in 2018! To make this easier to navigate, I’ve created categories that make sense to me based on this collection of fics — obviously many fit into multiple categories, but I tried my best to place them accurately! I had so much fun looking through these and talking to everyone about their favorite fics, and I’m already super excited to do this again next year!! :D

Note that all recs were written by the person who submitted each fic, and they are in no particular order within their categories :)

ENJOY!

o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

EIGHTH YEAR

The Nightmare Club by Elle Gray / @diligent-thunder (85K)- Hermione and Ron are going back to Hogwarts to do N.E.W.T.s, Ginny isn't. Harry hasn't decided, until he has, in front of the Wizengamot and now he's responsible for Malfoy as well. A tale of enemies who learn to get along, get it wrong and get it on. Everything is purple, some things are on fire and no-one is sleeping properly. But don't worry, there's tea! Wishing you could curl up on a purple couch in an eighth year common room stocked with hundreds of varieties of tea and eavesdrop on our favorite Hogwarts kids as they attempt to adjust to a normal school year? If you love awkward miscommunications, snuggling, open minded acceptance, kind-hearted friends, and—of course—mutual pining, this fic is for you.

Sex and The Art of Castle Maintenance by birdsofshore (15K)- "Come on, boys," Zabini drawled. "You’re only delaying the inevitable." Trouble always had a way of finding Harry, and eighth year was obviously going to be no exception. The antagonism, tension, and heat leaps off the screen, and I could NOT put this story down.

To Hurt and Heal by @cassisluna (21.5K)- They say that everybody who gets out of Azkaban comes out a little mad. After the war, Draco Malfoy spends three months in Azkaban. He just wants to go insane in peace, but Harry Potter finds that he, inexplicably, still can't leave Draco alone. I went into this expecting angst, but by the end I got Eighth Year fluff and a whole lot of eating breakfast. Can't say I didn't love it.

Orbit by HenryMercury (52.5K)- "The classical problem of celestial mechanics, perhaps of all Newtonian mechanics, involves the motion of one body about another under the influence of their mutual gravitation." *They don't like each other. They're not friends. There's not even a ceasefire of any sort because they're fighting as much as ever—but there's definitely something different about it. An added layer of self-awareness they don't dare identify, but which colours every Scared, Potter? and Do your worst; each You wouldn't dare and Then prove it. 8th year fic that does such a fabulous job of bringing Harry and Draco together, that makes their pairing so realistic, even non-drarry shippers would be able to see the appeal.

Once Upon a Time by @fantom-ftnoise (12.5K)- This is the story of Hansel & Gretel - er, that is, Harry & Draco. A wonderful retelling of Hansel and Gretel, with amazing (and delightfully creepy) sensory descriptions, humour, nail-biting tension and a glorious happy ending.

Eighteen Kisses by tigersilver (10K)- Harry is being targeted by a very determined and wily Malfoy, a Malfoy with sly hands and a sweet, sweet mouth. The story features adorably fluffy Draco and insanely flustered Harry, with chocolate and sweet kisses

It takes 36 Questions to fall in love by @gnarf (14K)- After returning to Hogwarts for their 8th year, Harry and Draco can't seem to stop fighting, much to the irritation of staff and students alike. Their last fight escalated and Harry and Draco are forced to room together by a pretty angry Headmistress. They will have to stay in their new quarters until they overcome their differences. But it wouldn’t be McGonagall if she didn’t have a plan. To help them achieve this goal (and to save everyone else from going crazy because of them) she gave them a charmed parchment that will ask a series of personal questions. Over the next couple of days they'll learn much more about each other than they could ever have imagined. A precious they-finally-start-understand-eachother story that left me feeling fuzzy and happy

Oblivious by lealamalfoy / @gregqoyle (17.5K)- Harry doesn't believe his Amortentia's scent is correct, and starts questioning the potion and his feelings. Of course Malfoy, of all people, is the one to answer these questions Harry's lack of communication with the female population and Draco's lack of communication with Harry is infuriating to new levels

Heart of Silver/Heart of Gold by @lettersbyelise (54.5K)- Draco Malfoy, a young demon specialising in school bullying, has lived hundreds of uneventful lives. Until his world is turned upside down by his newest assignment a few days before Christmas: to get rid of 8th year classmate Harry Potter, Defeater of Dark Lords and thorn in the side of all things evil. Trouble is, Draco’s world has been upside down for a while… ever since he started having very human feelings for a certain bespectacled Gryffindor. It’s a slow burn fic where Draco is a demon sent to torture and kill Harry buuuuut feelings are involved; also there’s a Niffler names Jeff and some very amusing Ron moments!

AUROR(S) / CURSE BREAKER(S)

Ten Thousand Reasons Why Not by @lqtraintracks (8.5K)- Harry and Draco are stand-ins for the usual witch who gives the workplace harassment and sexual consent talk to the Auror trainees. Amazingly funny and sexy fic, featuring public UST, great dialogue and banter, and smut to die for.

Changeling by Obscurus343 (86K)- The assignment seems to be an excuse to get the Boy Who Lived away from the press for a while – Head Auror Savage is human, after all. But when they arrive to Barebone Castle, Aurors Potter and Malfoy realize that something sinister may indeed be going on. It's terrifying. It's cursed. It's some next level freaky shit that nobody can explain. But not to worry! Two lovestruck idiots are on the case. warm and funny, with a wonderfully crafted cast, spooky mystery and more handholding and cuddling than your heart can take

Cold Like Fire by @queenofthyme (12K)- Head Auror Harry Potter had no problem with mandatory consent training for his team. He’d actually been looking forward to it, that is, until he discovered who the teacher was. Now, he had no idea how he was going to get through the training without throwing a hex at Draco Malfoy. Or a punch. This fic is absolutely hilarious and full of so many wonderful drarry-y moments!

The Partner, the Rival and the Very Big Case by oceaxe (24.5K)- When Harry and Nott are paired up to go undercover as fake boyfriends, Draco is disappointed not to get the assignment. It's just professional jealousy that's making him feel so upset. Obviously. He's engaged to be married to Astoria, after all.But when he walks in on Nott kissing Harry for 'practice' and has a wild magic outbreak, he starts to think that something else might be going on. Is Nott right? Is Draco a homophobe? Or is there... just possibly... another explanation? Funny as hell and sexy too, it features a Draco grappling with his attraction to Harry, his jealousy regarding him, and his own sexuality, when their partnership gets split up for a case.

Cabin in the Forest by @justdrarryme (23K)- Of course Harry would get partnered with Malfoy when Ron leaves the Aurors, nothing in his life could ever be easy. What he hadn't counted on though were his feelings for the other man. Or, Harry and Draco get trapped in a Bundling Bed and are forced to work their shit out. The art that this fic is based on (by ano-ka-ba) is incredible, and the way these two get out of their predicament is hot as hell.

Still Catch The Tide by @dwell-the-brave, art by Razielim and Apriicat (57K)- When a ravaged body is found on Blackpool beach front, newly partnered Aurors Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are sent to investigate. This is a make-or-break case for Harry - solve the case and not scare his partner away, or risk his career. But when another body appears, and another, this mystery goes far deeper than either of them could have imagined. from Big Bang, this Auror partners casefic has suspense, rich writing with a thread of melancholy, and gorgeous art.

In Our Blood by @secretsalex (38K)- Draco is an accomplished pure-blood curse breaker, and Harry is tasked with accompanying him on his latest job—cleaning up the Van Boer mansion, which has been under a devastating fertility curse for seven generations. reading this is like watching a gorgeously shot, terrifying horror film. Don't let that scare you off - it's compelling and will leave you thinking about it long after you close the tab.

COMING OUT / LGBT+ THEMES

Little Compton Street (One Rainy Night in Soho) by @writcraft (65.5K)- Draco is lonely, Harry hates the press and it won’t stop raining in London. Harry discovers a magical street that’s close to disappearing forever and Draco realises he’s one rainy night in Soho away from finding everything he’s been searching for. This fic is a BEAUTIFUL ode to LGBT culture and community, and was so so moving in addition to being an extremely entertaining read with a great relationship between Harry and Draco

Rookie Moves by Elle Grey / @diligent-thunder (60K)- So the war's over and Harry's a Rookie Auror, and everything seems... fine? I mean, he's single, his life is mostly work and he hasn't been out in ages and he's tired and annoyed most of the time, and he should probably be a bit more social, but the last time he kissed a girl he had to Obliviate her... but that's normal, right? And then Robards throws him a file, yells at him a bit and he finds himself guarding Malfoy of all people, and maybe that little feeling in his gut he thought he'd disproved as indigestion once and for all.... maybe was something else. Something lots gayer. A tragically under appreciated coming out fic that legit made me laugh so hard I cried.

Around You Moves by ignatiustrout / @dracomalfoyofficial (29.5K)- Harry knew Draco was gay when he invited him to move in. He’s never had a problem with this. So why does he feel so weird about Draco bringing men home all of a sudden? a fabulous fic in which Harry thinks he’s homophobic when he hates seeing Draco with other men ... and then he realizes a few things about himself ;)

Harry Potter and the Bisexual Awakening by @writcraft (23K)- Harry is perfectly content being single, heterosexual and living in Godric's Hollow with his very clingy rescue dog, Snitch. When Draco Malfoy turns up on Harry's doorstep demanding that Harry teach him how to drive, things quickly become a lot more complicated. Funny, sharply-written and sexy, HPatBA has everything I love about reading drarry (snark and UST, fantastic prose, emotional connection and hot sex) but brings an awesome new perspective to coming out, in queer fic.

When You Kiss Me (What a Lovely Way to Burn) by @femmequixotic (22K)- A drag fairytale of New York in which Draco wears red lipstick and Potter can’t get enough A fantastic piece of writing that explores a genderqueer Draco, working at a drag club in New York, where he sees Harry for the first time in years. (note from chibi: THIS FIC IS SO BEAUTIFUL IT WILL GIVE YOU A SEXUAL AWAKENING AND I WANT TO HOLD IT CLOSE FOREVER)

DANCING/CLUBBING

Kill, Fuck, Marry by @lettersbyelise (12.5K)- Malfoy leans toward him with a baleful look. “I do believe Pansy Parkinson, my best friend, paid you to spend the evening with me. It’s my birthday, Potter. So you’re going to get off your Gryffindor arse, and you’re going to dance with me. I want to dance. I want to win. I want that bloody trophy on my shelf before the end of the night.” Harry and Draco unexpectedly meet again on Draco’s birthday, years after their last encounter. Incredulity, banter, witty conversation, gin and tonics and impromptu dancing ensue. It’s only natural, of course, that Draco would expect his birthday night to finish with a bang… Perfectly in-character dialogue and great heat during what starts as an awkward, unintended date between Draco and Harry. Two Truths and all those Hidden Lies by @keyflight790 (7.5K)- It didn’t matter whether Draco knew about the Polyjuice or not; nor did it matter what face Harry deigned to hide behind in the club. Draco could spot Potter a mile away. Polyjuice could change his face. It could change the way his hair sat along his scalp, and the color of his eyes, and the shape of his lips. It could change his height and the way his muscles rippled beneath his shirt. It could change the swell of his arse, the length of his... Not that Draco was thinking of that. The fact that Draco can recognize Harry even without his awful glasses and stupid scar warms my heart every time.

Brick by Brick by @agentmoppet (8K)- There’s something between the two of them, something that builds beneath the smoky lights of the club and grows stronger during midnight conversations held on a rooftop high above the streets of London. But Draco wants to wait. deals beautifully with consent and all the waiting the two men go through to build something that is not just sex.

ANGST & HURT/COMFORT

Away Childish Things by @letteredlettered (154K)- Harry gets de-aged. Malfoy has to help him. “You’re crying over that fan fiction about the children again, aren’t you.” -my husband

I could be wrong, I could be ready by @harryromper (57.5K)- (...) Harry Potter left Britain after the war and didn’t look back. Ten years later, when Gringotts discovers a vault containing his parents’ belongings—including their badly spell-damaged wedding rings—he’s forced to face up to friends and family who’ve grown in ways he could never imagine, a wizarding London rebuilt beyond his expectations, and the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s the entirely unforeseen problem of Draco Malfoy. Featuring pureblood wizarding traditions, ancestral magic, open mic nights, marriage equality, a diner in Brooklyn, and the return of Fleamont Potter. I am like ......so overwhelmed by how this fic is so amazing like my goodness

Chocolate and Pastry by @agentmoppet, art by @anemonensblog (50.5K)- When Pansy bets Draco that there is no chance he and Harry could carry out a genuine romantic relationship, he and Harry form a plan. But as their fake relationship progresses, Draco sees a side of Harry he never expected. Harry is struggling with something, pushing it far down inside him where he doesn't have to acknowledge its existence. Draco starts to worry, and then he starts to care, and then... horribly... he starts to fall in love. Fake relationships are always fantastic, but this one just hits you right in the feels, and is so beautiful!!

Things You’ve Told Him All Along by thirdeyeblinkings (19K)- Anonymous fire calls, blind dates, awkward run-ins, and kissing in the d-a-r-k. But besides all that, a story about hiding, coming out, and starting over (and over). It is so wonderfully written with artist!Draco and it tackles mental health issues just beautifully.

you’ve got the antidote for me by Kandakicksass (20.5K)- When Harry Potter unintentionally severs their soulbond before it can fully form, Draco Malfoy resigns himself to a slow death and decides not to burden Harry with a soulmate he's made it very clear he doesn't want. He's never been selfless before, but for Harry, he can try. This fic is wonderful and devastating and one of the best I’ve ever read. I think I cried 5 times while reading this but it’s worth it because it’s so beautifully written.

Antlers and Ivy by @violetclarity (19K)- The thing is, Draco has always known he wouldn’t be able to marry his soulmate. Finding out his soulmate is Harry Potter shouldn’t change anything. Or: soulmarks, a masquerade ball, and gratuitous use of The Daily Prophet as a plot device. A beautiful examination of the soulmate trope, filled with longing that made me ache and a resolution that made me want to cheer.

That Which Marks You by @belleslettres-love (8K)- After the war, Harry is struggling… He knows his heart should be aching from the loss of his loved ones. Instead, he feels nothing. Draco feels everything… cold, hunger, pain from being forced out of the Wizarding world… forced to be a beggar—or worse—just to survive. When Harry sees Draco, shivering on a street corner, he knows one thing: Draco Malfoy is the only one who can make him feel. It starts with dark!Harry which is not my thing usually, but it devolves into cute relationship that we all love.

SLOW BURN

Charming Chocolates by @fantom-ftnoise (100.5K)- The summer following the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter visited his parents' graves and disappeared in a mysterious attack. His wand was recovered but the trail soon went cold and the world moved on. Twelve years later, Remus Lupin discovers James Charming, of Charming Chocolates, a mute man with no memories before July of 1998. James Charming, father of identical twin boys and loving boyfriend to a Scottish Muggle named Monty, is ripped out of his comfortable life and forced to rediscover Hogwarts, magic, and a whole world of past memories. His Mind Healer helps him to balance his new life with his old memories. A rift is formed between James and Monty, and he finds himself wanting to spend more and more time with Healer Malfoy. Meanwhile, Auror Weasley tries to solve the mystery of who is out for Harry Potter's head before it's too late. A breathtaking, heart-warming, story that explores trauma, disability, dysfunctional relationships, family, bravery and love.

Nero su bianco by zuzallove (35K)- September 1997. Hogwarts is under the regime of Voldemort and the Carrows. Finding himself alienated by both his friends and his supposed enemies, Draco puts quill to parchment, and writes letters. He addresses them to the only person he can think of, as Hogwarts rapidly falls into chaos and ruin: Harry Potter. He goes to great lengths to ensure the letters are never discovered, and he’s pretty certain he’s done a great job. Until the day of his trial. Its heartbreakingly sad, beautiful and funny at the same time featuring Trial!Draco required to reveal his feelings/true self in front of the Wizengamot

It actually hurts by @parkkate (52K)- For years, Draco has tried to avoid Harry Potter. He just knows he’ll make a fool out of himself if they spent more than five minutes in a room together. Unfortunately, Potter suddenly seems intent on becoming Draco’s friend, but neither of them are prepared for the inevitable consequences... There is so much love and emotion in this, so much body-positivity and so much pining - it’s simply beautiful.

Never Grow a Wishbone by ShanaStoryteller (65K WIP)- She almost smiles, and true alarm starts to build in his chest. “I’m afraid I’m not here for something so small. Professor Roberts has resigned.” “Good,” Draco says honestly, “Would you like a list of suitable alternatives? I know a number of competent potions masters abroad, but then of course you’d have to hire another teacher to act as the Slytherin head. I’m afraid you’ve dried up all the half decent Slytherin Potions masters.” “Not all of them,” she says quietly. [...] a hogwarts professor au which consists of a lot of world building and lore

CREATURE FIC

Soup-pocalypse and the Great Curry Cataclysm by SquadOfCats (104.5K)- Eleven years after the war, Draco Malfoy leads a quiet, boring, and perfectly respectable life, thanks very much. Or, at least he does, until a sudden and very unexpected veela awakening causes him to throw soup all over Harry Potter in the middle of the Ministry cafeteria. This is a fantastic take on the classic creature fic, which plays into some Veela tropes and turns others on their heads; very funny and warm and realistic drarry, too.

Hush, Darling by @magpiefngrl (23.5K)- Draco is in trouble. To get out of it he needs to seduce Harry Potter. One of the coolest, most original creature fics ever, featuring Draco as an Incubus who's tasked, under threat, with getting something from Harry -- who he makes the mistake of falling in love with.

In The Red by @bixgirl1 (45.5K)- When Harry goes looking for a vampire at a Creature club, the second-to-last thing Harry expects is to find Malfoy working there. The last thing he expects is to fall in love with him. It's so beautifully written I gasped, so hot I died, and so damn good I'm going to reread it for years to come.

ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE(S)

Tangiers by @magpiefngrl (4K)- The one where Harry and Draco are archaeologists, ex boyfriends and seeking the same priceless and possibly cursed object. Featuring a revolver, the spirits of dead monks and a bed they can hardly fit in. Adventurous, sexy and highly relatable, the AU of AUs, ladies and gentlemen, a masterfully crafted tale that feels simultaneously fantastical and down to earth, that includes a substantial backstory that left me wanting more, that presents a version of Harry and Draco that is incredibly true to the characters and kept me on my toes every second.

Purple, Peach and Vibrant Green by @queenofthyme (3.5K)- Draco Malfoy has a waiter pretend to be his date to impress an ex. Of course, it helps when that waiter is exceedingly attractive and happens to be Harry Potter. Solid fic. 5/10. (note from chibi: @jadepresley is very rude to her friends but she actually loves this super cute fic and so will you)

Men Who Love Dragons Too Much by fencer_x, art by @danasauurrr (479K)- [Extensive re-telling of Deathly Hallows] As in Half-blood Prince, Draco is charged by Voldemort with killing Dumbledore—only instead of trying to do his best with the challenge, he realizes he’s been set a futile task and focuses on finding a way to save both himself and his parents. He eventually decides to spend his sixth year studying Animagecraft, convinced it's his best shot at escaping the impossible situation he's found himself in. But just his luck, his Animagus form turns out to be a dragon, and a rather randy juvenile at that, intent on finding its mate: one Harry James Potter. from Big Bang, an inventive and unique story with Draco as a dragon animagus, and a retelling of Deathly Hallows. With art!

Every Me and Every You by @bixgirl1 (69.5K)- Harry liked his life just fine, thankyouverymuch — so it was bad enough when a sly fairy cursed him to leap into alternate realities. But seeing Malfoy in all of them? Definitely way too much. And worse yet: needing the bastard's help to figure out how to get out of of it. It was a disaster waiting to happen, really. Well... probably. Fabulously written, stunningly complex and multi-layered, with sizzling tension between H/D, LEGILIMENCY SEX (and other hot, hot sex), inventively plotted, perfect in every single way.

survival is a talent by ShanaStoryteller (219K WIP)- In the middle of their second year, Draco and Harry discover they're soulmates and do their best to keep it a secret from everyone.Their best isn't perfect. a soulmate au that starts in 2nd year, when harry and draco find out that they’re soulmates - my favorite fic ever

FAMILY / KID!FIC

All I Want For Christmas (Is For You To Stop Talking) by @femmequixotic and @noeeon (163K)- The Niffler's Garden is the most prestigious wizarding nursery school in England and has been for the last century or more. Harry Potter's boys are both enrolled as pupils at the Garden. When he volunteers to assist with the Yule pageant, he has no idea that he'll be working closely with another parent, Draco Malfoy. Although they haven't seen each other much since their own school days, Harry faults Malfoy for not being a hands-on dad to little Scorpius. Will the intense weeks of preparation fan the fires of enmity or something else entirely? This is the most perfect holiday fic ever with children and a pageant and amazing side characters and tons of lovely winter feels!

Sunshine, Fresh Air, Telly, and Time by frnklymrshnkly (32.5K)- Immediately following the war, Andromeda and Harry must look after Teddy. But who will look after them? a wonderfully loving and bittersweet tale of Draco, Harry, and Narcissa living with Andromeda after the war—all raising Teddy as they grieve and heal together.

Failed Application of Thought by RuArcher (67K)- Draco sighed, knowing he would live to regret his next words, “I’m willing to do anything it takes to get Scorpius the life he deserves, even if that means pretending to be madly in love with you, you intolerable buffoon.” This is a fabulous fake dating fic filled with all the feelings you could ever desire, and it has one of my favorite Dracos ever-- I just want to wrap him up and protect him and Scorpius forever!

papa says harry potter helps people by jilliancares (10K)- Draco Malfoy is reintroduced into Harry's life when a little boy enters his shop, lost. The same little boy upends all his bookshelves, which Draco holds himself responsible for. It all kind of escalates from there. contains very adorable Scorpius moments, Harry running a book shop, and Draco and Harry slowly falling for each other.

POST-HOGWARTS

Ynys Afallach (I will give my Love an Apple) by @femmequixotic and @noeeon (42.5K)- Professor Waverley Root's tutorial in the history of magical food is something of a legend at Flamel College. Draco Malfoy wants to apply it to his work in sustainable wizarding agriculture. Harry Potter's taking it for his interest in historical overlap between the magical and Muggle worlds in the West Country. When Root pairs them together, the fireworks (and the apples!) fly. Now if only they can find something original, perhaps they'll make it through to complete their degrees on time. Okay this fic is highly underrated and needs 5x the current kudos- it has university students!drarry, sexual tension out the roof, amazing use of arthurian legend, brilliant magical theory, and is just all around brilliant as fuck!!

Silver Soul by @dracoismytrashson (75K)- It's about a year after the war, and Draco is a bit of a London hipster working at a record store. Harry is lonely and confused about what to do with his life so hanging out with Draco and listening to shoegaze records to pass the time seems like a perfectly viable option. one of my favorite Draco in the Muggle world stories ever. Misunderstandings, softness, snarkiness, shoegaze.

Tell Me the End at the Beginning by @harryromper (36.5K)- St Mungo’s is the last place anyone wants to spend the festive season. Harry finds himself there anyway. Or: Harry's an Auror suspended from duty, Malfoy's wearing the hell out of three-piece suits, Hermione is entirely over everything, and Kreacher just wants to be left alone to decorate for Christmas. Draco Malfoy wears three-piece suits. Like, if that's not enough to convince you, I don't know what is.

Chasing Treacle Tart (and Draco Malfoy) by xErised (23K)- Malfoy, who is sentenced to work as a dinner lady in the Ministry canteen, has an annoying habit of withholding desserts from Harry. Harry puts up with it, but when Malfoy stops him from getting his beloved treacle tart, Harry is determined to do something about it. And Ron? He's really just there for the awkward flirting. This fic is funny, sexy, compelling, and just all around delightful :)

Castle on the Hill by tsundanire/@breathofmine (1.5K)- Based on Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill"Harry takes a "road trip" back to England after spending a few years in Romania working with dragons. It had been 10 years since Harry left, and the honest and pure relationship he built with Malfoy over letters is gorgeous. They both just hope that meeting again after all that time will be just as wonderful. (and it is)

Highly (in)Compatible by @gracie137blogs (37.5K)- Draco’s been shagging The Prat Who Lived on and off for a few months when his soul mark starts to change. Draco’s had to accept a lot of adjustments to his life, but accepting that Harry Potter could be his soulmate is one step too far. It can’t be true? Can it? One of the best takes on soulmates I’ve read with excellent magical theory and an exploration of free will, and which includes a wonderful cast of characters and lots of humour and banter; Draco’s voice here is fantastic.

The Kitchen Thieves (and the Kitchen Herself) by @potteresque_ire (Pie) (67K)- In a deserted cottage miles away from Hogsmeade, two young spirits waited for a new owner to call the place home. One day, Auror Harry Potter bought the cottage. One evening, farm wizard Draco Malfoy showed up to spend the night with Harry...and steal a pepper shaker from the kitchen. Maybe Kate can tell you all about them? She’s the spirit who looks after the kitchen, and she’s got quite a bit to say… Pie took the sentient houses trope and ran with it; utterly unique fic, with incredible rich characterisations and an emotional arc that had me reading the last part through copious (happy) tears.

SMUT

In the dark, the light by Phrynne (32K)- ‘Potter… It’s Malfoy. Do you still want this?’ It started like that. Malfoy’s breath on his ear, his voice low, hot against his skin. Harry shivered, though he could feel the heat from Malfoy’s body just behind him, too close, but not touching him. Even if he could. For the rest of the night, he could do whatever the hell he wanted with Harry. The best bdsm I’ve EVER read.

Whole New Kinds of Weather by @lower-east-side (2.5K)- She’s just as compelling as she’s ever been. Incredible UST, perfect dialogue, scorching, fabulous sex, and Draco as genderqueer: a fic not to be missed.

Kettle by @magpiefngrl (3.5K)- Draco likes to put up a fight. The most tender exploration of hardcore kink within a loving, committed relationship that I've ever read, and hot as hell, too.

In Deep by @lqtraintracks (9K)- Harry isn't sure when he went from hating Malfoy's snide, smug mouth to wanting that mouth all over his cock. Gorgeously hot exploration of BDSM kink in a new relationship that manages to be tender and sweet at the same time.

DEFIES CATEGORIZATION (by me at this time)

Love Him More by @bixgirl1 (17.5K)- A love story. Several of them, really. Delicate, bruising, and uplifting all at once.

The Drarry Sestina by @julcheninred (<1K)- Sometimes I dream I’m bleeding from my scars... This gorgeously written poem took my breath away and left me haunted but ever hopeful for Draco and for the both of them

Dwelling by aideomai (83.5K)- Curses, James and Lily Potter ride again, several Ministry balls, a teenage Summer of Love, a grim young adult dystopian winter, a few different Draco Malfoys, secrets and the problems re: not having any, alternate lives, impossible lives, real lives, allusions to Dirty Dancing, and just because it's not called the Mirror of Erised doesn't mean you shouldn't know better. The most mind-blowing fic I read this year, a story that allows the reader to see how much it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, besides giving us a delightful relationship development and some seriously hot moments, all wrapped in a glorious package of plot and overall awesomeness.

A Holiday in Provence by @dracoismytrashson (32K)- Harry Potter is turning 50 years old and feeling lonelier than ever. Divorced, retired, and learning he’s not quite as straight as he thought he was, Harry reluctantly accepts a birthday gift from his friends for a week’s stay at an idyllic French vineyard. Too bad Hermione and Ron neglected to mention that the owner of the winery happens to be a certain quick-witted blond Slytherin… The world-building and the dynamic between the characters in this is nothing short of magical.

Memories of Draco Malfoy by ImmortalAcorn (14K)- “He had to live, I knew. Without him there would not be much to see. I guess the world would be just ashes and smoke and blood - that's at least how I imagined it. He had to live. Whatever it would take.” a series of short poems (I guess) about Draco and their relationship. There is another one, from Harrys perspective. They are short but perfect. Angst is real and sooooooo good.

‘Til Our Compass Stands Still by china_nightingale (9K)- "It was an unconventional relationship, if one could call it that. It was the way it had always been - bodies colliding while lips stayed closed, dueling and caressing and ripping one another open while hearts stayed locked safely behind cages covered in bruises from curses and kisses. There were never many words spoken. If they talked, chances were that ugly things would tumble from their tongues like they did so easily during their Hogwarts days." Harry and Draco eventually realise that things don't always go to plan, even if it's a plan they've been carefully crafting to keep themselves safe from each other. a little harsh and gritty, but so full of unspoken love <3

Thank you again to everyone who contributed!!: @dracothecupcake @ebbet @keyflight790 @bixgirl1 @magpiefngrl @hogwartsfirebolt @amrame @bonzicatgirl @lillyevans @harryandhislittledragon @hermionejeangranger @lower-east-side @jadepresley @findingsilencetheymadelove @lqtraintracks @queendomcosplay @threeh plus several anons! <3<3<3

I’ve done my best to tag all the writers whose tumblrs I could locate, but if I’ve missed anyone, please let me know so I can tag them!

#communal 2018 rec list #drarry #drarry fanfiction #drarry recs #rec list #chibarecs #sort of?#there are definitely a few of my own recs mixed in here!!!#as well as a few that I would have recced but y'all beat me to ;)#AND SO MANY I'VE YET TO READ YAY!!!#editing this list is so difficult because I keep wanting to read everything #and worrying I will forget this or that one #i'll be honest making this list was a very selfish endeavor hahaha #i think i'm set for months now #yay!#<3<3<3

2K notes · View notes

squidwithelbows · 6 years ago

Note

hey there! if you make the list for wlw books, I would appreciate it. I'd just like to read some good ones that feature well written wlw and not just in the background

I’ve got you! I made a rec list of lgbt books a while back but I knew as I was writing it that not nearly enough were primarily about women.. So here’s a lgbt book rec list, wlw edition! Obvi, this list is FAR from complete but in case you’re like me and you’re struggling to find any books about wlw that you might actually like, I’ve got a few suggestions.

sci fi / fantasy:

Six of Crows and King of Scars (wlw and mlm) – I’ve recommended this before but I’ll keep doing it again and again until the day I die because SoC is my all time favorite YA novel. And the bi woman from SoC is a main character again in King of Scars!!

Not Your Sidekick (wlw, mlm, trans, ace) – A super fun super quick superhero book in which literally everyone is queer.

The Lesson (wlw and some bg mlm) – I actually got to read this one a little before its release but trust me it’s PHENOMENAL. It’s got aliens, it’s got social commentary, it’s got mystery, and it’s got wlw. In the meantime Cadwell also wrote Loneliness Is In Your Blood, which is a horror short story with a wlw protagonist.

Ice Massacre (wlw) – Creepy killer lesbian mermaids!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (wlw and nonbinary) – My friend Janelle described this one as the more inclusive Firefly of her dreams and I think that pretty much sums it up. There isn’t much of a driving plot, but it’s a fun time.

The Expanse series (wlw, mlm, nonbinary) – Full disclosure I watched the tv show of this one and only just started the books but it’s GOOD. It follows a really big cast of characters in a sort of first contact space political thriller in a very casually diverse future.

Ash (wlw) – Gay Cinderella with creepy fairies!

Soulless (mlm, wlw, nonbinary) – A steampunk series about vampires, werewolves, and ghosts that’s just a lot of fun and has a whole bunch of queer characters. Seriously just assume everyone is bi, especially the protagonist. (Fair warning, she is in a relationship with a man but that doesn’t magically make her not bi)

Circe (wlw and mlm) – I’m gonna say up front that the mc does not end in a relationship with a woman even though there’s a perfect candidate right there, but the book is still very casually queer and bi as hell and honestly just really really good.

Strange the Dreamer (wlw and mlm) – On the list because my two favorite minor characters from the first book got the screen time they deserved in the sequel, and their friendship was the wlw/mlm solidarity I deserved!! The most prominent wlw character is only one of a large cast, but the plot unfolds beautifully and the moral dilemmas that the characters grapple with were WOW.

realistic and/or historical fic:

Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (wlw, ace, bg mlm) – This one’s a sequel but the whole series is so fun and charming it’s totally worth it. Tbh I had never found a book that so perfectly encapsulates my absolute ideal life until this one. I can’t even begin to describe all the elements I loved about this book without massive spoilers but just pls pls pls read this series!

Leah on the Offbeat (wlw and mlm) – Another sequel, to Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda, but this one focuses on bi ladies. I don’t typically go for realistic teen lit but Becky Albertalli manages to pull it off.

River of Teeth (wlw, mlm, nonbinary) – An alternate history western where feral hippos have taken over the Southern US and the government hires a team to clear them out. It’s a quick read, the cast is wonderfully diverse, and no one blinks an eye at the lgbt characters.

All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Through the Ages (wlw, mlm, trans, ace) – A short story anthology set in different time periods and cultures. Imo the cutest wlw story was The Dresser and the Chambermaid, it was a snarky period romance and I am a sucker for all those things.

The Haunting of Hill House (wlw) – The book is very different from the Netflix series, but you might be surprised that the book also has a lesbian character! I couldn’t believe no one had ever mentioned that to me, so consider this my way of paying it forward. One of the powerhouses of horror and furthermore the lesbian doesn’t die y’all!!

graphic novels:

The One Hundred Nights of Hero (wlw) – I LOVED THIS BOOK. It’s a series of stories in the style of the Arabian Nights told by a lesbian couple. They’re so consistently scathing of trash men, it’s really got a streak of dark comedy and mythology that I dig.

Monstress (wlw) – This comic is like art deco meets steampunk meets the Warriors series, but with eldritch gods and set in a matriarchal 1900’s Asia. There are women and wlw everywhere, and it’s unapologetically not European. Very dark, very cool.

The Adventure Zone (wlw, mlm, trans) – Complete as a podcast, ongoing as a series of graphic novels, I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that The Adventure Zone is one of my favorite stories EVER. It’s got a large cast of lgbt characters, secret societies, plot twists, and a constant theme of compassion in the face of hardship. It starts off as a pretty screwball comedy so you may doubt how hard I cried over several plot points later on, but trust me it sneaks up on you. So worth it.

Lumberjanes (wlw and trans) – This one’s got puzzles and monsters and mystery and camping, plus it’s by Noelle Stevenson, wlw queen! In her own words, “assume all characters in my comics are gay unless stated otherwise.”

On a Sunbeam (wlw and nonbinary) – Ngl, I bought this book after I saw the first few pages. The art is stunning. The plot itself is pretty simple and jumps around chronologically following two (literal) star-crossed lovers.

Spinning (wlw) – The same author also wrote a coming of age story about wlw and figure skating. You could say it’s… yuri on ice [laugh track]

Prince and the Dressmaker (wlw and nonbinary) – There’s a point in this book where you’re going to think things are gonna go badly, but they don’t!

Em Carroll’s comics (wlw) – Em Carroll has several books (all of which are BEAUTIFUL, srsly she’s one of my favorite comic writers) and though none of her published books focus on wlw she is a queer author and wrote Anu-Anulan & Yir’s Daughter, which is about wlw and just as gorgeous. Check her out if you love horror or if you love yourself.

#asks and answers #lgbt book recs #long post #also im completely serious #PLEASE add more recommendations if you have them #I am always looking for more #Anonymous

320 notes · View notes

aelaer · 5 years ago

Text

Tagged: All about me and fanfic

Thank you for tagging me @dragonnan! My fan fic history is a long one... and in three fandoms. Which is why most of this will be under a cut for anyone who has a lot of time to waste. And is morbidly curious. But there’s some (okay, dozens) of fanfic recs for three fandoms under there too, sooooo.

Tagging at the top so you don’t have to read my verbose-ness if you don’t want to: @amethyst-noir @cairistiona7 @mdcbd @phierie if you’re interested in giving it a shot :)

1. At what age did you start writing fanfiction?

13. You can still find my earliest works online, too; I kept up anything that wasn't completely deplorable (though fanfiction.net deleted my stupidly popular, several hundred reviews of a story I did in 2004 because it was script format. The bastards xD Popular with all the little kids).

2. Who is your favorite author?

Lmaooooo what a question. Okay so for three fandoms. The big thing that’s common between all my favorite authors is that romance is not a primary genre with any of these writers. So if you like gen (of all genres) you’ve come to the right post.

If anyone here is a LOTR book fan (especially Aragorn), let me direct you to storiesofarda.com. It’s an old site, not even mobile friendly. Anyway, go read the works of Cairistiona and Meckinock. If you're more into hobbits and anything fluffy, go read Shirebound. That I remember their names since I was last active in fanfic in LOTR in 2011 speaks to their quality. I've had the honor of meeting Shirebound several times in real life as well, this last time in New York back in April after several years apart (though I'd like to meet Cair one day for sure, as well). I had a lot of favorites years ago but I’d need to reread the old stuff to see what still lives up to my expectations.

Scanning my favorites in Sherlock, Jolie Black , CaffeineKitty, and hollyesque on AO3. Stillwaters1, chappysmom, Radon65, and Morgan Stuart from fanfiction.net. But I have a couple favorite stories from authors who only wrote a couple fics (below).

Now the MCU (okay basically Doctor Strange, let’s be honest), on AO3: Grim Revolution and merrywil (the latter is pretty new and needs a hell lot more attention, she is a great writer). I love those long, introspective character one shots. There's not a lot of authors who don't focus on romance in the MCU with Stephen as a main character -- indeed, it’s partially nonexistent -- so shorter list. ElenaCee wrote some great stories just after the first film but has sadly moved onto other fandoms.

Dragonnan on AO3 is currently my favourite whump writer. Two of my fandoms and lots of my favorite tropes. I feel spoiled. My favorite romance-is-their-primary-genre writer is amethyst-noir for her characterization of Stephen combined with the oh-so-fun (for us) scenarios.

3. Favorite type of scene to write?

I can usually tickle myself quite a bit when I get some really great situational comedy into a story. I can never be fully an angst/whump writer because I adore comedy. So yeah, situational comedy for sure.

4. What is your favorite fanfic?

Stop asking me these questions ahhh. Okay so I'll be mentioning fanfics not by any of the authors listed above (which are in my most favorite stories too but, well, their works are all favorites anyway. Just look at all their works in said fandom for more favorites if you’re lacking reading material and have similar tastes. And once you’re done reading all the works by those authors, come back here for more. Seriously, read the authors above).

I listed these fics in alphabetical order because that seemed most fair.

LOTR (Most are book-verse. I need to reread a lot of these. Most of these authors have several works for the fandom, though I think each of these particular stories have Aragorn as a primary character):

A Proper Course of Action by GadFlyGirl (absolutely hilarious one-shot after Helm’s Deep about ‘the Denethor situation’)

Across the Years by MistyC (a very creative and well-written story that spins an old cliche in a much more interesting way)

Butterbur and the King by Eledhwen (fantastic character one-shot from one of my favorite minor characters)

Conversations with the King by athelas63 (great characterizations, good healing scenes)

Conversion by Pentangle-linnon (for everyone who says that first person can’t be done in fanfic - read this one-shot, then tell me what you think now. A work of pure brilliance)

Crossroads of Light and Shadow by Mirach (this one I recommend simply for the creativity alone; the art she was able to execute with the text in flipping fanfiction.net is really mind-boggling. Very creative!)

Doomed to Live by fliewatuet (it was never completed, but it’s so freaking good that I am putting it here anyway)

For Every Evil by Mirrordance (fantastic modern incarnation AU that spun out into a series)

Greet the Dawn by Neoinean (a great, very long long-shot with two characters meeting and it’s just a great combination of humor and angst. More great characterization)

Helping Strangers by Imaginigma (fantastic one-shot, really interesting OCs, a wonderful scenario)

In Shadow Realm by Legolass Q (original concept, well-developed characters, engaging plot, truly magnificent)

Light Fingers by Aearwen22 (I think this is the only fic here that doesn’t star Aragorn- he’s a pretty minor character. Brilliant brilliant characterizations of the OCs and a look of a part of society often ignored in LOTR fan fic)

Pale-Faced Tark by Carafinwe (everything by this author is brilliant, but the visceral imagery she managed to capture in two short chapters here still blows my mind)

The Patient by Scribe (another fantastic modern incarnation AU that spun out into a series)

Ransom by MP brennan (man I just continue to see how much the LOTR fandom completely spoiled me with all of these brilliant, plotty fics. Another original concept with brilliant OCs and fantastic execution)

Shattered Stones by MCat711 (a very creepy, original, well-executed one shot that keeps you guessing the whole way through)

The Weight of Power by Nefhiriel (does it follow canon as established by the Appendices? No. Do I care? No. The story’s absolutely fantastic and makes those small discrepancies mean nothing. This was also the first story I ever drew fan art for. I then made something for Shirebound a year later, then didn’t make anything again until that Ebony Maw piece I posted a bit back)

With Hope and Without Hope by docmon (AU scenario in that the Three Hunters are captured while trying to rescue the Hobbits. Very well-thought out and compelling plot, fantastic characterizations all around)

Sherlock:

Annie’s Song by Berouge (One of the only romantic-leaning fics listed here [Sherlolly], but that is due to its excellent characterization and execution. Creative one-shot.)

The Case of the Missing Bus Ticket by Unsentimentalf (I think I burst a rib laughing to this story. Long one-shot. Situational humor at its finest)

Constantly by thesignofserbia (great one shot concerning Serbia)

Drowning by Dayja (I like a lot of her stuff. Angsty.)

Firestorm by Dustbunny13 (This is... beyond words. So gorgeous. I adored it from beginning to end. Have read a few times. Sometimes accept it as season 3 alternate canon, it’s just fantastic)

Fortune and Bust by ThessalyMc (a wonderful gap-filler fic, very similar to a lot of my favorite authors listed above in quality and type of content)

The Green Blade by verityburns (excellent case fic)

The Holiday by Scriblit (both whumpy angst and humor and case fic? Yeeeessss. Another I’ve read several times.)

Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus by Caitlin Fairchild (another Serbia fic? Yes predictable of me)

London Orbital (another story, very long one-shot, where I burst a rib laughing)

Rigging screws, size 1 3/8 inch, galvanised by AJHall (another excellent case fic)

World Enough, and Time by StoneWingedAngel (an excellent and creative execution of a trope that you'll realize by the time you get to day three)

Doctor Strange (unless stated otherwise, they’re all one-shots. Need more multi-chapter fics... or just gen Stephen content in general):

The Architect by mudgems (a great what-if with Stephen, Loki, and the Time Stone)

Born of the Same Impulse by GwendolynStacy (WIP multi-chapter. Time stone shenanigans send Stephen and Tony back to just before Ultron and a few months after the car accident, but before Kamar-Taj [the accident happens in 2015 rather than 2016 for this to work. It’s brilliant])

Citizen Erased by Imagined (WIP multi-chapter. One of the only romance-is-a-major-genre story [ironstrange] on the list, but the plot concept is incredibly unique, the mystery is being unraveled so wonderfully well, and the collection of characters is really fantastic and in-character.)

The End of Infinity by FriendlyNeighborhoodFangirls (WIP multi-chapter. It’s canon compliant, only Stephen does a fantastic trick after canon and snatches Loki from the claws of death to go back to 2016 and fix everything. Peter, Tony also co-star. I am very much looking forward to where this goes)

Extracurricular Activities by EmptyHead (I am cheating here and linking a series. But it’s so damn creative, and while Stephen plays a big role, he’s definitely not the starring character. Synopsis is that MJ learns the mystic arts. It’s really brilliant!)

Geniuses by decotex (Stephen Strange's and Tony Stark's backstories, published before IW came out)

Hearth Sorcery by keshwyn (Another cheat here with a series of 5 one-shots, but this is too excellent and undervalued not to link. Excellent OC and world-building, highly recommend)

Holiday Magic by KarToon12 (Stephen plays Santa Claus for sick kids. It's adorable)

i hope you hold the mirror up (to show me what i chose) by CallicoKitten (Stephen and Tony being assholes to one another, published way before IW. I love it)

Like an Old Coat by ValmureEld (Could definitely see this as a follow up scene to the events in the Doctor Strange film. Great character interaction sequence)

Magic In Our Veins by Luna_Heart (the lack of Loki and Stephen interaction stories is criminal. Absolutely criminal. I want more!)

The Night’s First Watch by fathomfive (omg this is so good. So so so good. Excellent character study, I can’t recommend it enough)

of coffee and (questionable) first impressions by Phierie (Ooohh I love this alternate first meeting lots. Beat up on monsters and a coffee break after the work. Great stuff)

Project Code 131793 by StrangeMischief (Absolutely haunting and incredibly well-executed AU. I would adore to see more in this universe, it is so interesting)

Replay by INMH (the horror of Dormammu and coping with it)

You’ve Got Mail by Jadesfire (it’s about the mail situation with the Sanctum. What is not to love about that concept)

5. What tags do you avoid like the plague?

A/B/O, mpreg, not Mary friendly (for Sherlock), not Team Cap friendly, anti-Steve, anti-Wanda (or similar). Any of that anti-character bullshit, but in the MCU those are the two I see the most (and so probably make me rage the most. I once saw anti-T’Challa for instance and that just confused me more than anything). A bit of a rant in the next two paragraphs (I have Strong Feelings on this topic).

I don't tolerate the anti-character crowd. I really don't. Disliking a character is one thing and completely normal (I have my own list), but expanding time and energy to write just how much this character sucks is mind-boggling (and tends to make for really shitty fanfic. So you create a strawman villain of the character you hate for your favorite character to go against? Good job, you’ve made your favorite character appear entirely too stupid to deal with a well-developed character in conflict, and have made your favorite character 2D. Have a gold star). Your energy can be used elsewhere that isn't focused on hate. If you hate the character but aren’t creative enough to present them as anything but a strawman in your writing, don’t bother. Create an OC for your antagonist instead. Stop making canon characters so ridiculously OOC.

The real world is too filled with negativity to have it as part of a major focus in my fandom experience. It actually really, really bothers me that I cannot save a filter that automatically excludes all those anti tags as they haven’t been canonicalized on AO3. What perhaps bothers me even more is the number of kudos those hate-filled fics with incredibly OOC characters receive. The hypocrisy in this crowd is just astounding when you start pointing out the flaws in their favorite characters, too (FYI: All well-developed characters have flaws. I love Stephen Strange for his flaws. Before Stephen made his debut, Tony Stark was my favorite for similar reasons. It makes them INTERESTING).

Anyway, rant over.

6. What AU do you wish to write but feel like you won’t manage?

If I really really really want to write something, I'll write it. That said, there are things that I don't plan to write that I would adore reading (like that unfinished Stephen travels to the HP universe in Harry's fifth year fic ahhhhh I want that it would have made the 5th year so much better. Maybe if I bribe the original writer with fan art... wardmason you’re killing me).

7. Do you outline, or write as you go?

Depends. The outlines only tend to come into play for long stories with several scenes, and writing tends to happen first before outlining.

8. What has been your favorite story to write so far? Why?

Such hard questions! Uhhh I had great fun writing in my youth but I can barely remember it. Within this last year, uh... can I just say all of them? I've written about 100k in 6 months, I'm clearly enjoying myself here. I’ve had vibrant moments of delight in writing or planning several of them.

9. Do you prefer to write one-shots or multi-chapters? Why?

Both. Just depends on the story I want to tell and how long that story is saying it should be. I like posting a variety too; have one-shots coming out while I am working on the longer stories in the background.

10. What is your favorite kind of comment?

Oh those deep analytical ones that clearly took time to write. They're so lovely and really make my day. Every fanfic writer knows exactly what type of comment I am talking about.

11. Why did you start writing fanfiction? Why are you still writing?

I started because I had just seen the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie and I really liked the characters (before the sequels ruined them in various capacities) and I thought, "I should put them in Middle-earth!" 45 chapters and 7 years later that damn fic got completed (after dozens and dozens of rewrites as my writing abilities improved over the years).

Now, it's because I really enjoy writing and I like playing in copyrighted playgrounds with characters and worlds I love. Yeah, I could write an original novel, but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

#personal #about me #fanfic #fic rec #doctor strange fanfic #lotr fanfic #sherlock fanfic

20 notes · View notes

supervillain-smut · 5 years ago

Note

Can you write a fluff fic for Dr. Jekyll please? I’ve been itching for more stuff on him. Can it be where the reader is a famous actor/actress and Jekyll is a fan of their work? Thank you!

I sincerely thank you for your patience and the inspiration, and apologies for the long delay; wasn’t quite sure how to go about it, but now I’ve got it!

You were just wrapping up the meet and greets you usually get backstage with ecstatic fans post performance, tonight's performance was Phantom of the Opera, with you as Christine. It was a tiring, expectant role and the corset was too tight, so naturally you wanted to get out of there and change fairly quickly.

Normally once the croud dispersed, you were left to your own devices; today was not a prime example. There was a creepy looking man waiting just outside of your changing room with flowers, for the performance was your natural assumption. How wrong you couldn't have been as he immediately and awkwardly shoved the flowers towards you.

"You looked mighty splendid tonight, miss (Y/L/N)" The compliment was common for someone of your position, considering it was all based on looks in the first place and you waved it off. That's when he got uncomfortably close "I would like to take you out on the town, if only you'd give such a kind gentleman as myself a chance." You had heard this too many times and like every other, you politely declined him.

"I'm sorry sir, I'm sure you're a gentleman, but I'd rather get out of this uniform and relax for the night." He became angry "Why not? What, got too many other men in that dressing room of yours? I--" Before he could continue shouting at you, a hand firmly gripped his shoulder and a body was put in between the two of you.

"I'm very sure I overheard the young lady express her intents for the night, and it's not very gentlemanly to raise your voice at a lady nor continue with whatever profanities you had planned. Leave her be, she owes you nothing short of whatever she wants to give you." The man skulked off, cursing under his breath as the body turned around, revealing himself to be none other than Henry Jekyll.

He softened whatever expression he had presented the man, and lowered his tone as he asked "Are you alright?" He looked over his shoulder to where the man previously was and continued seemingly to himself at that point "What a horrible way to treat a lady, not right at all." He turned back to look at you and patiently awaited your answer.

You nodded "Yes, now I am thanks to you, Dr. Jekyll." He raised a hand in protest "Please, call me Henry. I loved tonight’s performance, you had such range and you acted wonderfully. Would you like me to call a guard over in case he comes back?" You shook your head with a small smirk "Well thank you, obviously some people loved it a little too much. But as for your offer on the guard I’m going to have to say no, thank you. How about I repay you with coffee tomorrow?" He smiled in return "I prefer tea, but that would sound nice. Should I pick you up at say, 10:30am?" You sheepishly nodded "That would be nice. 10:30 it is." With a bow, he was walking home, a smile evident on his face.

#mod babydoll #sfw #request #fic #short fic #henry jekyll #dr henry jekyll

15 notes · View notes

writcraft · 6 years ago

Text

Rec List #1 Theme: 2018 Favourites (Non-Drarry)

One of my fandom resolutions is to rec more in 2019. I’m going to post rec lists for some of my favourite HP fics divided up by theme/content/ship or whatever I fancy throughout the year, aiming for one rec list a month with two in January. I thought I would kick off 2019 with two lists of 2018 favourites. This first one excludes Drarry because I’ve read mostly Drarry this year and limiting myself to ten recs per list would be impossible if I included all the Drarry I’ve enjoyed within a list of just ten. The second list will be my favourite Drarry fics of 2018, then I’ll move on to other themes for the remaining months.

Usual caveats for recs apply. This is by no means an exhaustive list, I could have recced many more. I’ve read and enjoyed a whole raft of terrific stories and this rec list is simply based on my personal tastes which may not be everybody else’s cuppa. Please heed the content warnings the author has flagged on AO3 in each case, some of these fics contain darker content and I haven’t listed out any warnings in my recs and summaries.

#1. A Radical Change in (Self) Perception by AnyaElizabeth

Severus Snape/Harry Potter | 57,114

Harry should know better than to touch museum exhibits, especially in a magical museum. Now he's in trouble...

My Rec: I haven’t read a huge amount of body swap fics and I can’t remember the last body swap Snarry I read, and I was so intrigued by how the author would handle this premise. I devoured the whole 50,000+ words in one sitting I was so engaged by this charming story. The body swap forced Harry and Severus to spend more time together but it did so much more than that - it enabled them to better understand one another and also themselves, when they saw each other through a different lens. The writing is terrific and if you’re a Snarry shipper this one is guaranteed to give you all the warm and fuzzies. A great addition to the wonderful Snarry fanfic that has posted throughout 2018.

#2. Hallo Spaceboy by @shiftylinguini

James Potter/Teddy Lupin | 10,075

“If this mirror could talk,” James remembers declaring, already one drink down and trying to tidy up his ridiculous costume eyeliner, “it would say we look bloody amazing.”

Teddy’s arm was warm when he wrapped it around James’s shoulder, pulling him closer.

“We always do, love.” Teddy tugged on a long curl of James’s hair before tucking it behind his ear, then smoothing the whole lot of it back. “We’re the fittest blokes at the party, us.”

James’d had to give up on the eyeliner after that; he was grinning too hard, flushed and happy and basking in Teddy’s attention (fit blokes, we’re fit blokes, that’s us), and he couldn't bloody stop.

Or: James kissed Teddy last night. This may or may not be the end of the world.

My Rec: A thoroughly charming fic featuring trans James waking up in the morning and coming to terms with a kiss with his best mate Teddy Lupin the night before. I loved the quietness of this story, the way James being trans was part of it but not the primary focus. James feeding bread to the ducks on a grotty park bench is honestly such a beautiful, persistent and soothing image, and I loved the whole story from start to finish. It’s got lovely, warm coming of age vibes to it and I felt James’ conflict and fears come through so well in the telling of this story. Wonderfully written.

#3. Of Reckoning and Ruin by @half-light-01

Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore | 10,585

"And it is the eternal rule that drops of blood spilled on the ground demand yet more blood."

One year after Lily Potter's death, Severus Snape's Dark Mark comes to life. Caught between a creature that wants him dead, and a Headmaster who needs him alive, the young Hogwarts professor is forced to reckon with his past and negotiate his future.

My Rec: I discovered this terrific fic at the end of this year and boy oh boy am I glad I did. The relationship between Severus and Albus is, in my view, one of the most complex and fascinating of the Harry Potter series. This story explores the darker sides we see of Dumbledore in canon through his interactions with Snape, but most of all it is a complex and fascinating character study of Severus, his grief, his guilt, his inner turmoil. The author really gets into the grit of both characters without flinching away from it and the creature in the story gives it a very unsettling quality which forces us to question who can be trusted, if anyone. A really engaging, well told story with a deft handling of complex characters.

#4. my heart beat a tattoo on my ribs by @candybarrnerd / icarusinflight

Ginny Weasley/Luna Lovegood | 7,403

Ginny can't understand why anyone would want to mark themselves by choice but she still agrees to go with Harry when he says he wants a tattoo.

My Rec: I loved this beautiful story of tattoo artist Luna and a Ginny still processing the trauma and grief of war. The friendship between Ginny and Harry is wonderfully crafted and the dull ache of grief that grips Ginny is beautifully handled - it’s softly done and never overwrought and the story is ultimately one of healing and hope. A really terrific, sexy read and one I’ll definitely return to again.

#5. Distortion by DorthyAnn (JenniferMarie)

Harry Potter Centric (see AO3 for more detail) | 8,924

Harry wakes in darkness. A darkness that goes on and on without end. He can’t see or feel, he doesn’t know what’s happened. All he can do is hold on, replaying his memories to keep him sane. Until it’s over. Until he can go home again.

My Rec: This is horror as I love it the most. A strange, unsettling, superbly written story which grapples with identity, perception of self, loss of identity and evokes a creepy, oppressive sense of things going horribly awry. The Potterverse is so rich with details of magic and potions which can be used to alter ones own perception of themselves and the rest of the world, and the author uses the magic of canon in a deft and eerie way to create a gripping, unnerving tale of psychological horror.

#6. Soft Touch by perverse_idyll

Severus Snape/Harry Potter | 15,167

Harry's love life has been dismal, and he finds himself checking into a therapeutic massage clinic just to get off - the same clinic to which Snape had been delivered three years earlier for physical therapy.

My Rec: Perverse Idyll is one of those authors whose fics I read and they stay with me for a long time after. One of the first Snarry authors I properly discovered on the journals, Perverse Idyll and I see Snape somewhat differently at times (although the meta conversations that results in are always an absolute privilege and pleasure) but I think that’s one of the things I find so compelling whenever I read PI’s fic. Perverse Idyll takes Snape to places I struggle to as a writer, and I find him absolutely captivating. He never loses his sharpness, his bitterness or his moral ambiguity and there is nothing more compelling than reading an unapologetically brittle Snape from the deft hand of a terrific writer who knows the character inside out and has formed deep, intricate views about his complexities and motivations and lets all his flaws sing instead of silencing or softening them in an attempt to make him more palatable. This is such an electric, sensual, sexy story with tension ramped up to the max. Brilliant.

#7. Rooftop Ruminations by @thealmostrhetoricalquestion

Pansy Parkinson/Ginny Weasley | 12,209

Ginny barely registered the evening. The musician, whose bow wrung sounds from the strings with a casual, carefree elegance that Ginny would have usually envied, was just a blur in front of her face. The steps she took to the Rialto Bridge once everyone was ready felt too light and airy, and Luna’s hand in hers was just a wisp of citrus-scented silk. The night grew cooler and Ginny didn’t feel it. Simpering crush, Daphne had said. Pansy had a simpering crush. The words bobbed to the surface of her thoughts and pinched at her wrists and looped around her ears. She kept glancing at Pansy in her velvet skirt and towering heels, and she kept not knowing what to feel.

She wasn’t sure who she wanted Pansy’s crush to be on, and she hated that she didn’t know.

My Rec: This is such a gorgeous piece of writing. The scene setting is so immersive and wistful somehow, there’s a quietness to the pace of the story and the telling of it that made it such a wonderful read. I found myself completely engaged by the unfolding of the story, the richness of the details and descriptions sprinkled throughout, the handling of Ginny’s grief, the sparks and flickers of her feelings as she explores her growing attraction to Pansy and past feelings for Luna. I highly recommend this beautifully told story.

#8. The Frame by mindabbles

Sirius Black/James Sirius Potter | 11,703

What are the ethical implications of falling for a person you're named after? How about the logistical complications of falling for someone who shouldn’t be alive? James would rather, he finds, not look too closely at either, not when Sirius makes him forget anyone else exists.

My Rec: I left a prompt for Next Gen Fest involving time travel and James Sirius meeting his namesake and I was so excited when I saw it had been claimed. This fic was absolutely terrific. The idea of the portrait / painting being suspended on the wall mirrors this moment of James Sirius and Sirius suspended in time and I love that the author chose to end the story when they did, leaving things open and ambiguous but in a way that still felt very satisfying. Sirius and James are brilliantly characterised and there are wonderful doses of humour throughout what is a fairly tragic premise. The sex is hot enough to burn and the story has a gentle hopefulness which left me feeling really warm and content, despite the openness of the ending. We see James Sirius and Sirius in this one, suspended moment, as one might view a painting or photograph. Brilliantly written, with nods to Jeddy and Wolfstar too. I loved it.

#9. Games People Play by kelly_chambliss

Minerva McGonagall/Severus Snape | 5,610

Life is not easy when you are Severus Snape or Remus Lupin. But sometimes, there are compensations.

My Rec: I fell in love with this fic when it posted anon and for this year’s HP Crossgenfest and I wasn’t surprised when the author was revealed to be the immensely talented Kelly, one of my favourite writers of the older women in the Potterverse with a brilliant grasp of Minerva and Severus as characters. The story weaves Remus into the narrative and as ever Kelly’s prose is delightful, the use of second person working particularly well for this story with its shifting POVs. Severus displays moments of his surly, jealous, childish self but also appears a much reformed man although Kelly expertly retains a level of ambiguity around his true motivations in a fully-fleshed out, rich story of human complexity and the ways in which our past informs our perception of the present. If you only ever read one author writing Minerva McGonagall again, read Kelly. Although we are in the heads of Remus and Severus, it is smart, perceptive Minerva who is the star of the show. Wonderful.

#10. Summer’s End by Barry_Manilows_Wardrobe

Albus Dumbledore/Gellert Grindelwald | 9,505

Gellert was the embodiment of summer: sunlit hair, warm skin beneath Albus's hands, and a smile that made Albus feel hot down to his very bones. But all summers must come to an end.

My Rec: This story is utterly breathtaking. The writing is so confident and rich and the characters and their doomed love beautifully rendered. I read the fic with a lump in my throat, a gorgeously angsty, evocative tale of loving too much, too young, of powerful, intelligent wizards losing themselves in one another and the heat of an irrevocable passion which pulls them towards one another before everything breaks apart. At times the writing is so lyrical and poetic, I had to go back and read several phrases over and over, to really take them in. An absolutely stunning tale of lost love and the path that his past sets Albus on as he sets about preparing Harry for his future trials. Captivating, from start to finish.

#recs #writ recs #harry potter #harry potter fic #harry potter fic recs

81 notes · View notes

lululawrence · 7 years ago

Photo

lululawrence’s March 2018 Fic List

Click here for previous months’ fic lists

Hello and welcome back! Once again I am here to appreciate the awesome writers in our fandom in the only way I know how, which is to scream about how much I loved the fics I read this month. So without further ado, here we go :)

The Case Of The (Definitely Not Haunted) Styles Mansion by BriaMaria/ @briannamarguerite I loved this fic so very much and it will definitely be the first of several Marcel fics on here because I did the best I could to read those as they were posted hehe But for real, this fic is mystery and intrigue and I was so surprised when we finally figured out whodunit! It was cute and funny and scary and I adored it.

Save the Last Dance for Me by 1Diamondinthesun/ @1diamondinthesun This one was ALSO SO VERY GOOD because once again, just like the one before, it creates a world that sucks you right in and you just...well I loved it. The back stories, the narration, the feels! I definitely cried. It was epic and I loved ever minute.

Like a Timebomb Ticking in Your Head by Decorationxx (Mitzsie) I wanted an angsty A/B/O and this certainly delivered. It’s fairly open ended as well, so be prepared for that should you delve in, but it does resolve some of the biggest concerns in a way that I certainly desired more but still loved it. Gosh this fic was so painful and beautiful that I just couldn’t put it down.

But Please, Don’t Bite by shyserious/ @shyshyserious Okay what can I NOT say about this? This fic is a ride! Another A/B/O masterpiece, really, and the journey it takes through everything with relation to Harry was intense. It kept me on edge so much that I had to stay up until like 4 am to finish reading it so I could finally relax again hahaha It was one of those fics that definitely stays with you afterwards and I highly recommend it.

Waiting for Daylight by dinosaursmate/ @catfishau This is like a Best Of album but for fics. I was so curious how it could possibly all come together, but the way it does is so perfectly and lovely and I just adored it. Sigh. The journey we go on with Louis is so much fun, whether you’ve read the other fics he journeys to or not, so I suggest everyone give it a read and if it takes you to fics you’ve not explored yet, that’s a great opening to give them a read :)

Just Jump by Jaerie/ @jaerie This fic! So much emotion and growth and sexiness and cuteness is smashed into this. I love it so very much. It is also a fun twist on heats for A/B/O, so I really enjoyed that as well!

An Ever-Fixed Mark by anonymous This fic is amazing and not just because it was written for me, okay? It is SO MUCH FUN and has a side of pure sadness that definitely brings the tears, but also a bit of confusion and mystery and the way it all comes together is so lovely and perfect! A definite must read.

Anybody Have a Map? by 2tiedships2/ @2tiedships2 My IRL bestie decided one day to write an A/B/O fic and then a week later, this was sitting and ready to be shown to the world. I was impressed by the speed she wrote such a fic firstly, especially since she’d never written fic before, but then I read it and it was just SO funny and sweet and just everything I adore about A/B/O fics and I am so super glad she’s writing now. This is such a fun read and story.

Crave by dimpled_halo/ @dimpled-halo Holy goodness, this fic! Jacky had teased us the entire time she was writing it with snippets and it about killed me, but nothing prepared me for the full fic. I was ready for the smut and the steamy sexiness of it, but I was not prepared for the emotions and the journey the characters go on! It was so beautiful and the timing and pacing of it was just. Wow. Yeah. Incredible.

Running Through a Cloud of Steam by allwaswell16/ @allwaswell16 Anitra took on a sort of soulmates that body swap for the soulmate reveal aspect in this fic and omgosh it was absolute and total perfection. The nervous excitement leading up to it all, the surprise when it’s revealed, the fear of what the reaction of the other will be...it’s just so pure and lovely and I adored it.

Buried Like Treasure by anonymous MARCEL HAS NEVER BEEN SO DAMN SEXY! I’m so serious, you guys. This kinky royal Marcel meets thief Louis and it’s just. Wow. This is such a beautiful fic of exploration and discovery and the way it all culminates in the end was unexpected and so fun. It’s such a great read!

Between the Stars by dinosaursmate/ @catfishau Okay, so this fic is kinda cheating because really I read it back in January I think it was, but it wasn’t actually posted until this month hehe I just really love this fic because Harry so absolutely gets freaked out by magic and it’s such a big part of Louis’ life and how they meet in the first place and it’s just so beautiful so see them do what they can to work through that. And when you learn more near the end, I was cackling and giggling while also fanning myself. hahaha As per usual with KK, it’s another perfect mixture of sexy and hilarious.

Stars Will Align For Us by 2tiedships2/ @2tiedships2 The bestie kills it again! Another fabulous A/B/O that is super interesting and so much fun. I love the little things that she adds into her fics that add such depth to them, but in a casual way. In this one particularly I love how Harry is always so in control of his inner omega...until he isn’t. Such a fun dynamic in here and a super interesting take on the relationship between omegas and alphas.

just like he already owned it by anonymous OKAY LISTENNNNN!!! I am such a sucker for fake relationship fics and then they added in teacher!Louis and guidance counselor!Marcel and Lottie getting married and just EVERYTHING about this was so cute and funny and lovely and I adored it. Such a great read.

Talk That Talk by homosociallyyours/ @homosociallyyours OMG okay listen. hahaha Harry is just soooo awkwardly...NOT good at dirty talk, until suddenly he just...gets it? But getting to read it all from Louis’ POV and he is pining so hard for Harry and trying to be cool about it and it’s just such great comedic gold and in the end such a lovely read. I will always and forever love friends to lovers featuring silly, clueless boys in love. hehe

Something in the way by momentofclarity/ @gaycousinlarry Okay listen. I’ve been in love with Sandra Bullock since While You Were Sleeping and Hope Floats was one of her films I loved growing up. This is such a great adaptation and I adore that it was kept in the 90s! The development of everything and the pain felt by Louis as he tries to heal from being so betrayed by his wife and yet the absolute want he feels with Harry is just. Gah. This fic is FABULOUS.

the beauty of the blistering sky by anonymous GUYSSSSS I don’t know why, but I kind of love apocalypse fics. Especially when it seems like the worst has happened, and some have survived and have to figure out what to do now. This fic does such a great job of balancing the fact that they are truly trying to figure out how to survive in this world, but the danger hasn’t completely passed. It is so creepy and intense and lovely. I think it makes the fact that they have found each other even with the despair of everything surrounding them so beautiful and the end is filled with such hope. A wonderfully well rounded fic.

Enjoy the Ride by 2tiedships2/ @2tiedships2 Yes, she truly posted three fics in a single month. Amazing, right? And this one is just as good as the others! Just like I loved in her two previous fics, this fic once again plays a little bit with knowing when you’ve found your mate and the balance of A/B/O dynamics amidst all of it. Add in a road trip and my favorite amusement park and you truly can’t lose.

#mine #march 2018 fic list #fic rec #28th appreciation #fic writer appreciation #my fic rec #fic list

171 notes · View notes