#literally the only type i likely wont read are modern AUs

[baker-boy]

please please please may i have bagginshield fic recs i'm starting to run out

popular fics, underrated lesser known fics, long and short, gimme them all,

[alfredolover119]

zukka fic rec list (post-canon)

howdy! i’ve been collecting zukka fics i like since uhhh june and now i am sharing my lists with the world. i’m splitting it into three posts so it hopefully wont be too long. this is the second one: post-canon fics! the other two will be canon era and modern au. [side note!! if youd like a specific type of rec list,, i.e. soulmate au, fake dating, ambassador sokka,, hmu and i’ll post a list !!]

within this post, the fics are in word count order! also, if you’d like a soundtrack for your reading, i might recommend my zukka playlist :^) happy reading!

speak ill by @moonsongdotmp3

-4111 words, teen

-developing/established relationship, ozai hate <3

"I hate your dad so much,” Sokka considers for a second. He tries to mix it up as often as he can when they play this game. “That I have considered starting an official petition begging Aang to reconsider his commitment to nonviolence.” // It’s quiet for a beat. He’s afraid he’s miscalculated, but Zuko laughs, broken and sincere. // (Or: 5, 8, 15 years after the war, Sokka talks shit about Ozai.)

Friends Don’t Let Friends Fake Date Each Other by @d-naggeluide

-5349 words, general

-fake dating, coming out, kinda crackfic

Toph demands that Zuko fake date her. This goes just about as well as can be expected. Sokka steps in to show them how it's done, and this goes a bit better than expected.

Oh, How We Find Our Way by @donvex

-6043 words, teen

-bed sharing, hurt/comfort, domestic fluff

In which Zuko doesn’t sleep nearly enough once he takes up the throne, and Sokka isn’t having it. And maybe they get to fall in love on the way, as a treat.

(let me be) there for you by @bisexuallsokka

-8471 words, teen

-friends/idiots to lovers, mutual pining, getting together

Sokka pulls out a clean piece of parchment and starts to write: Reasons Why Sokka Would Be A Great Bodyguard for Lord Zuko // He smiles in satisfaction at the title. Seeing it in writing only makes him feel more confident in this brilliant, two-minute-old idea of his. Zuko is one of his closest friends, and Sokka is a great fighter, he would be the perfect bodyguard! He has the entirety of his trip in the Fire Nation to prove it to Zuko. This is going to be a piece of cake.

This Isn’t My Idea of Fun by @khaleeseas​

-8921 words, explicit

-royalty/moon spirit!sokka, childhood friends to lovers, no war au, mutual pining, fluff and angst

If you asked Zuko, he and Azula saw far too much of Chief Hakoda of the Northern Water Tribe’s children growing up. It wasn’t until they were older, and Azula pointed out that - duh - their families were trying to set them all up, that he realized why. // He was told by his mother to be polite. These people were their friends and allies, and though their nations were as different as they came, harmony between nations was the most important thing. // It wasn’t his fault the Chief’s children were so annoying.

the thing about dancing by anodymalion

-9713 words, teen

-trans sokka, family angst

The first time a attendant spills Zuko’s tea and doesn’t immediately fall to her knees, begging the Fire Lord’s forgiveness, it is not anger but a resounding warmth that fills his chest.

Will You Fake Date Me (But This Time For Real)? by AlyssiaInWonderland

-10520 words, not rated (teen, i think)

-fake dating, mutual pining, idiots to lovers

Zuko is determined to convince his Uncle that he is not, in fact, pining after Sokka. // Sokka is desperate to convince Katara and Aang that he is not, in fact, pining after Suki. // When Sokka's scheme to avoid pity means Zuko and him must fake date for an entire diplomatic event, shenanigans, realisations and confessions ensue.

i could (never) give you peace by @zukkababey​

-10540 words, mature

-ambassador!sokka, friends to fwb to lovers, angst with a happy ending, miscommunication

Zuko almost said it. He almost said the words I think I’m in love with you, but he choked them back down at the last second. // Zuko would never be able to be what Sokka wanted. They might have needed each other during the summer, when two boys with too much weight on their shoulders found comfort in each other in the only way they knew how. // But now Zuko was Fire Lord, and Sokka was leaving.

Operation: Get the Fire Lord a Boyfriend by @rejectscanon 

-10679 words, teen

-established relationship, attempted matchmaking, fluff, hurt/comfort, 5+1

5 times the people of the Fire Nation tried to get Zuko and Sokka together, and 1 time they realized they already were.

a study in matchmaking by @verdanthoney​

-12218 words, general

-friends to lovers, mutual pining, idiots in love, bg bakoda and kataang

Zuko and Sokka try to play matchmaker, but things don’t go exactly as planned.

Always read Your Peace Treaties Carefully by preciousbunnynoiz

-14039 words, teen

-arranged marriage, miscommunication, found family, fluff, non-linear narrative, angst with a happy ending

Zuko and Sokka have been engaged to be married since the peace talks. Only they were the only ones who didn't know. // Everyone else thought they not only knew but that they had already been dating the entire time. // This is also news to Zuko and Sokka who have definitely NOT been dating but maybe they aren't as uninterested as they are protesting.

this love burns so yellow (becoming orange and in its time, exploding) by @meliebee​

-18767 words, teen, major character death (NOT ZUKO OR SOKKA OR ANY OF THE GAANG)

-found family, slowburn, fluff and angst, hurt/comfort, mutual pining

Ten months after Zuko is crowned at seventeen, he faces his first coup.

All the Little Things by @voidcenturyscholar and @romancedawning

-23575 words, general

-fake dating, friends to lovers, mutual pining, bed sharing, fluff, miscommunication

Sokka receives an offer of an arranged marriage from the Northern Water Tribe. On the one hand, accepting would strengthen ties between their tribes. On the other hand, Chief Arnook has suggested Hahn as a potential match, and Hahn sucks. But with the future of the Southern Water Tribe Reconstruction project relying heavily on the good will of the North, Sokka doesn’t know how to say no. // (Katara doesn’t have to deal with this. Katara is dating the Avatar.) // Zuko has a solution. Sokka just wishes he’d realized he was in love with the Fire Lord before he agreed to pretend to date him.

isn’t this the vision that you wanted by @goldrushzukka​

-34633 words, teen

-pining, matchmaking, coming out, friends to lovers, bed sharing, internalized homophobia

Firelord Zuko - ender of the Hundred Year War, ruler of the Fire Nation, payer of respects and reparations - takes advice and counsel from representatives of every nation, division, and specialty. // But teenage boy Zuko - friend of turtleducks, wielder of fun looking swords, stumbler over words and feet in the presence of cute boys - only listens to two people, and they are conspiring together to ruin him.

(do you take this jerk to be) your one and only by @jatersade​

-55855 words, teen

-enemies to friends to lovers, (not actually) unrequited love, slowburn, sharing a bed, alternate universe, arranged marriage, huddling for warmth, fluff

Under the leadership of Fire Lord Iroh, the Fire Nation has made every attempt to restore peace and make amends for the harm they inflicted during the Seventy-Year War. Their newest proposal is a literal proposal: a marriage to unite the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes. // The Fire Nation offers Prince Zuko’s hand. // The Water Tribes offer Princess Yue’s. // Sokka is apparently the only person in the world who has a problem with any of this.

Wooing the Water Tribe by @dameferre​

-56839 words, teen

-didn’t know they were dating, i mean IDIOT idiots to lovers, ambassador!sokka, mutual pining, himbos istg

Zuko is courting Katara, and with every passing day finds new and insane ways of showing that he would quite literally move the spirit world and earth to make her happy. // In hindsight, it probably would've been better if Sokka had realised he was in love with Zuko at literally any time before this. Or preferably, never fallen for his best friend in the first place.

In the Soft Light by @voidcenturyscholar and @romancedawning​

-83901 words, teen, graphic depictions of violence

-moon spirit!sokka, ambassador zuko kinda, hurt/comfort, slowburn, pining, canon divergence, miscommunication, sickfic, huddling for warmth, angst with a happy ending, enemies to lovers, underage drinking

As the newly appointed cultural liaison to Northern Water Tribe, Zuko is the first Fire Nation Citizen to step foot inside the city's walls in nearly a century. He's determined to prove himself—to the Fire Lord and to his father—even if the Water Tribe's spirit-touched prince seems to want nothing to do with him.

[blxetsi]

modern levi ackerman dating headcanons

lowercase intended !

levi ackerman x gn!reader

- firstly, lets get love language out of the way

- i think his love language would be acts of service

- so like, he'll brew your coffee for you and set out your favourite mug when he goes to the kitchen to make his tea (bc we all know he'd wake up earlier than you 🙄)

- or he'll pick up a muffin from your favourite bakery on his way home

- or if you ask him to remind you to do something later, he's immediately writing it out on a sticky note and sticking it somewhere youd notice

- he notices youre getting low on your favourite moisturizer ? or lipbalm ? he's taking a picture of the packaging and getting it the next time he drives past walmart or smth

- he just does little things that help make your day better

- now i feel like a lot of people say this already, but he is NOT very comfortable with public displays of affection

- its not that he doesnt like it when you touch him, or hold his hand, or kiss his cheek, he just gets flustered and feels like everyone is watching you two

- but one thing he does allow is looping your arms together while you walk, especially in crowded streets

- it doesnt mean he doesnt like being close with you, he just hates doing it public. when youre alone ? hes ALL OVER YOU.

- "will you play with my hair ?"

- "levi im working."

- "okay can you multitask ?" motherfucker 😐

- doesnt matter if hes the big spoon or little spoon, just being close to you is enough.

- also would try and get used to your love language

- if your love language is physical touch hes genuinely surprised by how many times you put his hands on him each day (NOT in a sexual way) like even his mother never touched him as much and he's a momma's boy 😳

- when you wake up your coming out to the kitchen to fill your coffee, but not before kissing the top of his head as you walk past

- then youre guzzling down your coffee like its water before putting it in the sink and walking back, petting his head in the process

- you'll hug him while hes cooking, or brushing his teeth. youre giving him kisses before he leaves and when he comes home, just little small acts of love, but it happens so frequently that levi cant help but notice it

- your love language is verbal affirmations ? youre getting your coffee while saying "goodmorning beautiful"

- "i love yous" are thrown at him a lot, they never fail to make him feel better

- youll compliment this man and he short circuits for a second, quickly gets used to it as time goes on

- also too i think he'd be taller in a modern au, but not very very tall like erwin, im talking 5'7" to 5'9"

- and he's fine with his height, it doesn't bother him that much, he's the average height of a man so what's the big deal ?

- also he really doesnt care about height either. youre shorter than him ? cool, that means he can bend down to give you little forehead kisses. around the same height as him ? awesome, that makes it easier for him to give you a peck on the lips. taller than him ? mf he'll climb you like a tree if he has to. really doesn't care.

- also doesn't have a preferences for body type or anything. he thinks that character is way more important than looks 100% and he'll always find different things about you beautiful. your laugh is weird ? k now he's making you two watch a john mulaney special to so youll laugh. hate your belly and wanna lose weight, he's holding you and telling you to only lose weight if you genuinely want to be "healthier" and not so you get skinny. your acne scars bother you ? he's kissing your cheeks a lot more than usual, but you can't complain. literally Loves Every Part of You

- also i think his family would absolutely ADORE YOU and his friends for that matter

- miss kuchel is pulling you into a hug the first time she sees you, and is so accomodating and sweet. shes genuinely interested in your interests and what you do for a living, and will NOT hesitate to get levi's baby pictures out if you ask.

- his uncle ? he probably wont be there for the family dinner, but then kuchel's gonna call him up like "levi's s/o ?? absolutely spectacular !!" and then hes like "huh maybe i gotta come visit to see the runt and his lover"

- also i think in a modern au, kuchel wouldve gotten really sick when levi is a boy, so kenny would have came home to take care of his sister and try and take care of levi. in the end she got better, and he went back to his own home, but now she requests that he come for at least one family holidy so they can all spend it together

- BUT back to mr. ackerman

- idk what he'd do in modern times, i used to think he'd be a good english professor for a university, but then i saw a headcanon that he'd go into law school and become a lawyer, and honestly ?? it makes sense

- after a long day at work he just wants to come home to you, he'll find you on the couch reading or doing some of your own work, so he'll just slip off his coat and blazer and undo his tie while slipping off his shoes by the door. before plopping his head in your lap and requesting you to play with his hair.

- if you don't live with him hes taking a shower and then immediately calling you asking to come over. if you can ?? great he'll be in bed waiting to be spooned. if not, thats fine, but levi would like to facetime and rant.

- also has the absolute WORST road rage

- "that little prick cut me off !"

- "levi he's taking his driver's test !"

- "so ? i hope that instructor doesn't give the idiot a pass 🙄" and then will immediately honk his horn at the poor kid.

- also wouldnt be a clean freak like in canonverse. his whole "everything has to be spotless" stuff stems from trauma, specifically being left in an apartment with his decaying mother for weeks on end, but since kuchel is alive that never happens

- were things a little hectic during the time she was sick ? sure ! but kenny always tried to tidy up a bit when he saw it was getting to levi.

- levi just likes things to be neat and tidy, he doesnt do a deep clean of his apartment every two weeks, but always makes sure to clean up his messes as soon as they happen

- also doesnt like to fight

- his mom raised him with the idea that communication is key, and always encouraged him to "explain why hes upset" so they could work together to come up with a solution

- its something hes taken with him to adulthood, and even though sometimes he sounds like hes talking to a child when hes trying to get you to "use your words" he really doesnt mean to

- if youre yelling at him he'll stand there like 😐 and wait until youre out of breath so he can say "okay lets talk about this"

- is also very handy

- have a hole in your wall ? hes coming over to fix it

- need a lightbulb changed ? hes got u dont worry

- you need to assemble a piece of furniture ? he glances at the step by step guide once before hes putting it together

- hes so great at that stuff, and you only have kenny to thank

- literally when kenny first came to stay with levi and kuchel when she was sick, the kitchen light went out and he asked levi to screw another lightbulb in, the poor kid stood there like 🤨 and when kenny said "what ? you don't know how to change a fucking lightbulb ?" levi shook his head and said "uncle kenny im seven 😐"

- kenny was APPALLED. and immediately made it his mission to make levi as handy as himself.

- also, dates with him are rlly lowkey.

- he likes being in your company, so staying home and ordering take out is AWESOME in his opinion. sometimes he'll dress up and make a fancy meal with you.

- if you like going to carnivals and stuff, he's reluctant but eventually caves. wins you a lot of the prizes.

- "fuck. this shit is rigged y/n"

- "sorry levi, lets go do something else !"

- "what ? no. give me another dollar im getting you that fucking turtle"

- hange always wants to see you. levi makes it his life mission to keep you away from them as much as possible. not because he doesnt want you to get along with his friends, just because he knows that hange will spill some embarassing secrets from his college days.

- erwin ? hes okay but hes on thin fucking ice.

- also is very gentlemanly. will not only hold the door for you but for everyone. hes waiting in line for his order and someone comes up behind him and asks him to scootch so they can get some napkins ? mf its grabbing a handful himself and handing it to the person, wishing them a nice day with a small smile. hes just like,, a genuinely good person

- his singing voice ? immaculate. will he sing for you ? no.

- he also loves playing board games with you. like chess or checkers. you love playing board games with him and his friends, specifically monopoly. hange makes moblit form an alliance with them. mike is a lone wolf, and erwin and levi are always helping each other out until erwin betrays him. lots of trust is ruined between these game nights, but you literally cant bring yourself to care because its so fun to watch it unfold

this is my first headcanon thingy !! im v excited !! hope u all enjoyed 🤩✨ should i do more headcanons like these ???

- all in all, levi is a cool guy, and a cool bf.

[pabotofus]

A Long and Screamy Rant

So this is a rant dedicated to @apvrrish's fic (aknightley on AO3) 'calling me to come back', a gem of a fic and a sincerely gorgeous work. (If you haven't read it yet, go do it here and now!! Seriously, you won't regret it)

I was originally going to make this only about how I felt, but she writes so well I have to put something about her writing style there

Spoilers for the fic under the cut!!

1. Her worldbuilding

Literally once the fic started, I had such a good idea of what the shop looked like. Even if it may not have matched her mental image, it was so clear in my head (which is extremely rare for me). Apvrrish also does amazing descriptions, and it's like I'm actually living in the moment. It's so awesome!!!

2. Characterization

She nailed it. Completely and actually nailed it; bullseye after bullseye; on point. Shiro and Keith's relationship, later on Keith and Lance's relationship, Pidge (idk why I really liked the mental image of Pidge with a bun. I just did) staying up really late to help Keith, the way pIDGE CAN USE HER MAGIC THROUGH ELECTRONICS HDKCKSKCKFD

3. Lotor and Honerva/Hagar

Honestly, I was going to make this a side note on characterization, but this is so good it deserves its own topic. Honerva is so extra and I love it? I mean obviously it's not cool that she literally tried to kill Lance so that Lotor could go to a school. But that is something that she would totally do, and I can't really express my love for the all of this.

I also love the way aknightley wrote (or rather, mentioned) Lotor. Here's a beautiful beautiful quote: "Lotor was evidently interested in genetic science, something that Alfor specialized in, but Alfor was also specialized in avoiding people he didn’t care for, something Keith found enviable."

So maybe that quote doesn't focus on Lotor specifically, but it's such a GOOD SENTENCE. It wasn't the type of funny that would make me burst out into laughter, but the kind of brilliant genius that made me stare at my laptop screen and re-read that sentence five times, because it's that good.

4. While we're on this topic, QUOTES.

"Scrolling to a number that’s only labeled with a small bird emoji and a poop emoji, he texts, Can you do some research for me?" It isn't really the quote itself that I liked, per se, but the idea that Pidge's contact name is a bird and a poop emoji. That is perfect?? And I love it so much???

“Am I wrong, Sunshine?” Lance asks, tilting his head and smiling slyly." Lance calls Keith Sunshine. LANCE CALLS KEITH SUNSHINE OH MY GOD I CANT??? !!!!!!!

"You don’t need it to look pretty, Keith thinks, unbidden." Do I even need to explain here? Seriously, look me in the eye and ask my why I love this quote so much, I dare you. KEITH ADMIRING LANCE'S BEAUTY IS MY GODDAMN JAM

"“Sure, kiddo,” Shiro says, taking a sip of coffee with raised eyebrows." This. THIS!! The amount of pure goodness in this line is enough to make me cry. Shiro knows. Shiro knows!!!

"“Besides the obvious reasons,” Shiro says, raising his eyebrows. Keith gives in to pettiness and uses his magic to fling the pieces of cereal still on the counter at his face, grinning when they nail him directly in the nose." THIS IS THE GOOD BROGANES CONTENT THAT I LIVE FOR DID YOU KNOW??? Again, with characterization,, such perfection.

"“A customer,” Pidge says, doing air quotes. “A customer you dream about and who makes you go super smiley when he calls you on the phone.”" PIDGE KNOWS. SHIRO KNOWS. THEY ALL KNOW AND STILL KEITH REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. A GOOD TROPE. I VERY MUCH APPROVE.

"“So I guess I should -- um -- take this off?” He pulls lightly at the material over his chest and Keith feels his own face heat up." FLUSTERED KLANCE IS BEST KLANCE. NO, I DONT ACCEPT OTHER ANSWERS. THIS IS LAW.

"Lance leaned in close so he can peer into Keith’s face.

Across the room, a cedar branch catches fire." AGAIN. FLUSTERED KLANCE IS BEST KLANCE. NEED THERE BE ANY MORE PROOF? (Also, I hope all these quotes convey the immense love I have for aknightley and her writing)

“I’m going to have to buy her something very sparkly,” Keith murmurs to himself, smiling at the little heart she’s drawn next to her name.

Just,, sparkles!! ✨✨give Allura all the sparkly things 2Kforever please and thank you :)

“I’m good, Sunshine,” Lance says, stretching a little. “In fact, I kind of feel lucky right now.”

OHHHHHH BOY. THIS IS THE CLICHE BUT WONDERFUL TYPE OF THING THAT A HERO GENERALLY SAYS BEFORE THE BIG SHOWDOWN AND I LOVE IT A LOT??? ITS BEAUTIFULLLLLLL GIVE ME EVERY AND ALL THE CLICHE TROPES

5. Keith taking off his protections so that he could talk with Lance in his dreams

I'm probably reading way too much into this, but Keith literally let Lance inside all of his defenses. This is his how much he likes Lance. He stripped down all his protection that he's had for like, forever and let himself be vulnerable ALL FOR LANCE. I CANNOT BELIEVE,, THE SHEER EMOTION AND TRUST SHOWN IN THIS SCENE,,, UGH MY HEART

6. Similarly, the garden scene

This is Keith's private place. This is where he goes to remember his parents, and he let Lance come with him. Again, probably reading way to much into this, but Keith is actually letting Lance in? I mean it's never stated explicitly in the fic but I don't think Keith really goes around sharing the garden with people... wHICH MAKES THIS SO MUCH MORE SPECIAL HDJCKDKSKC I WAS LITERALLY CLUTCHING MY CHEST I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS

7. Keith giving Lance his mom's jacket

Keith didn't even let Shiro, his own brother, keep some of his parents' books from him. Granted, it was a different situation, but still. Keith is incredibly protective of anything and everything related to his parents, so the fact that he let Lance wear and KEEP his mom's jacket?? Is like the equivalent of other people literally ripping out their heart for someone else. The Klance here is absolutely wonderful.

8. The 'fuck your emotions' scene

WELL DAMN, APVRRISH, FUCK WITH MY EMOTIONS WONT YOU?? THEYRE BOTH SO GODDAMN SELF SACRIFICIAL??? LIKE LANCE I GET IT YOU LOVE HIM AND DONT WANT HIM TO GET HURT BUT DONT PUSH HIM AWAY LIKE THIS PLEASE,, ON ONE HAND THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH LANCE CARES FOR KEITH AND WANTS HIM TO BE SAFE BUT ON THE OTHER HAND 'FUCK YOUR EMOTIONS' LANCE QUOTES LIKE ITS NO BIG DEAL... stop taking both mine and Keith's hearts and stomping them into bits you HEARTBREAKER

9. "The bell, when it rings above Lance's head, still cruelly sounds like laughter."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. CATCH ME SCREAMING INTO THE VOID BECAUSE DAMNNNNNNNN. THE HOLY UNION OF BEAUTIFUL WRITING AND ALL OF THE FEELS IN THE WORLD. My eyes do not deserve to see the glory that is this sentence,, I had to give it a separate topic from Quotes because it was just. So good,,, Even now I feel like I'm not doing it justice, but it's so MIND BLOWINGLY AWESOME that I just can't. 👏🏻👏🏻 you did good, apvrrish.

10. Keith realizing he loves Lance

Need I say any more? Literally ALL I could dare to ask for. It's beautiful and I love it a lot. I also like how you didn't make it this big panicky moment for Keith, because honestly? Finding out that you're in love with someone isn't supposed to be all 'oH MY GOD WHAT DO I DO THIS IS BAD'. If realizing that you're in love with someone is bad, well, why are you in love with that person in the first place?

I kinda went off on a tangent there but anyways!! My main point- I really REALLY liked you portrayal of this scene and the way you wrote it. *swallows down the screams of the damned my emotional heart*

11. The dandelion

They're soul bound. They're soul bound, and Keith used a love spell thingy to track down Lance because he loves him and holy hell they're SOUL BOUND. I mean, the whole soulmate thing is low key overdone, not just in this fandom but everywhere. Yet apvrrish manages to put her own unique spin on the whole thing, incorporating magic and the idea of 'marriage bonds', which is really unique.

12. The idea of modern magic

Okay so I've been trying to go in chronological order but as I keep reading I just find this world so so cool. Most times there's a magical AU, the characters are somehow in the past, or it's a different world. But this, this is a combination of modern tech and somehow also these awesome magical abilities. There are potions with real life ingredients (certain types of wood, flowers, stones or minerals, etc.) and for realistic purposes. This is so realistic that I can actually imagine it happening, which is GREAT because it shows just how good of a writer that apvrrish is, but at the same time, makes me wish so so hard that I could be part of this world. Modern magic,, hdjckskc stab me in the heart with everything I've ever wanted, won't you?

13. “True love or some shit, I think,” Lance says cheerfully, and waves his hand.

Another quote too good for the Quotes section. He says this so nonchalantly?? It fits Lance's character SO WELL and so was really funny (idrk why it just made me smile a lot). Also, they're in LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE~

14. Red!!

Beautiful cat child is cute and deserves all the love. I ADORE witch familiars, and Red helping Keith out with the exorcism thing was really pleasing to read. Also,, Red and Lance interactions. The pLaYFuL bAnTEr between Keith and Lance. Hhhhhhhhhhhhh I love this so muchhhh

15. The ending

tHE ENDING, OH MY GOD THE ENDING. THEY LITERALLY RODE INTO THE SUNSET ON A MOTORCYCLE. IM CRYING ITS SO CLICHE BUT BEAUTIFUL??? ME, SOBBING? ITS MORE LIKELY THAN YOU THINK BECAUSE THIS IS A GORGEOUS CONCLUSION.

Also! "“Why not?” he says quietly, leaning back against Lance’s chest. “We’ve got time.”"

That. THAT. I've already said this in a comment on the fic itself, but this is so good it needs to be said again. This entire story has kind of a recurring theme of how Keith doesn't have enough time with his loved ones (his parents and Lance because of the curse). But now that he broke the curse, he finally had time to be all cutesy and happy with Lance because they have time. Lance is no longer in danger of dying, and so they can take the long way and enjoy life just because now, they can. Catch me screaming into the void again because THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

A last note- I found a song that kinda fits for this fic. The lyrics match the best, but in general the song is also super pretty!! So if you have time give it a listen because it's,, so good (jUST LIKE THIS FIC).

I still feel like all this ranting isn't enough to do this work of art and perfection justice, but anyways!! Apvrrish, continue being the awesomely amazing writer you are.

~Paladin

[the-king-of-science]

(( Ok so about the post-modern vampire AU I thought about. I will write this down so I don’t forget the points, but I will leave it on a ‘read more’ because this will be quite long.))

((I may edit this later to add or change, fix details and stuff ))

(( About Blood and Blood Market (( About FAQ (( About blood consumption and etc Map

Inspiration? It sprouted right after I remembered a movie that I only liked the 30 minutes, and hated all the rest, making me hate it for how much potential it was thrown into the trash, movie called Daybreakers.

What is it about? Basically, human society got replaced by vampires after slowly but surely most global population turned, which had happened at least 100 years ago at the timeline.  The vampires are not hungry beasts, they actually act as any normal human would, you know, they are civilized. With new technologies and improvements and adaptations.  With the technology they have they made ‘blood farm’ sectors, serving to farm blood of not only animals but humans that initially began as ‘life in prison’ criminals, to keep it all, they use artificial breeding to ensure they don’t run out, making the vampire society stable, if not better than human society ever was in terms of advancements, as now, their great minds could no longer age and die, and their technological advancements made them have an amazing supply, and their immortality through time made them incapable of suffering from many diseases.  Vampires are just in the place of humans and live just like they used to do, movies, jobs, games, sports, food, arts etc.

Vampire traits?

 Vampires are nocturnal.

 Vampires requires blood or meat to keep themselves healthy and not starve. Human blood is the best, but animal blood can replace.

Vampires can eat other food items like sweets, vegetables, fruits etc, however they provide very little nutritional value and are seen as treats and side dishes.

Vampires can get fat, just because they are in an stasis sort of state doesn’t mean they do not accumulate fat.

Impaling a vampire through the heart won’t kill them, but exploding one certainly will, basically, destroy the body beyond repair and the vampire is gone.

Vampires have a better healing rate.

 Standing on the sun wont kill a vampire immediately, it will stead cause: Bad eyesight if not wearing sunglasses, skin rashes, skin burns, tiredness, dehydration, burning sensation that increases the longer they remain on open, full midday sunlight. Effects like the skin, tiredness and dehydration issues usually happens if the individual exposes themselves for too long, ex 1 to 2 hours of exposure, more or less, depends on the vampire’s resistance.

Vampires are considerably faster and stronger than humans, due to their undead-yness, allowing them to push their bodies further than a human normally could.

Vampires needs much less sleep, infact, they don’t fully require it, they can spend their resting time watching tv or related. They sleep out of habit and because it recovers them from tiredness much faster.

Vampires have a much better sight in the darkness

Vampire eyes have a faint reflective glow while in the dark, which decreases the longer they remain without blinking.

What are the blood farm sectors? The blood farm sectors are full farms or just part of a farm specialized in blood harvesting before the meat is cut and separated, there are areas for just specific types of animals, ex, cows, chickens, sheep, humans etc.  Humans are a much more controlled sector, since humans were not initially made to be adapted into farm life, they need to be contained with more care and breeding must be done artificially so that new offspring can be raised.   Due to humans not being domesticated for farming as cows and others were, they are also prone to diseases, which currently are being studied and worked to be cured to prevent deformities and other things that could lead to a waste of human product.

What happened to humans? Vampires now attempts to call humans ‘natives’ in an attempt to not break away the idea that all of them are humans, just with modifications. With the human population now just a pathetic spec of what it used to be, vampire, much like humans had done with the native north and south Americans, made protected/reserved lands where no vampire government is allowed to build unless they have authorization, except for population control.  Those protected lands humans are able to keep their own little society running, though very limited as now the whole global power are vampires, human freedom is now a controlled freedom, again, much like the old native americans.  The protected lands having human’s own things like their own radio stations, markets, farms and such, but still, pathetically smaller. Most humans tend to resort to simply watching the vampire television and radio channels stead.

What is the population control? Population control is made to regulate the amount of vampires and humans living.  If humans breed too much and grow their population more than the threshold allowed and refuses to take on the warnings to stop the growth, authorized personnel are sent to confiscate the infants, elders or adults if needed, resisting such act is considered a crime and it can lead to the human that resisted aggressively to get arrested and confiscated as well.  Population control also happens to vampires, it is a crime for vampires to bite humans, the vampire may face charges depending on the severity. Vampires can only have artificially made children if the data bank has slots left, aka, when other vampire died and such, to keep the population from over-saturating. Failing to follow this and if SOMEHOW someone has the equipment and knowledge and makes an infant, the infant would be confiscated and the person plus the ones that assisted may face charges.

What are the adaptations?

Vampires adapted most of the cities to support a healthy lifestyle for vampires. Cities now have underground//subway sections, allowing vampires to go to stores and more underground though a much more complex subway transportation system.

Many buildings have connected bridges for access and to prevent direct and excessive exposure to sunlight.

Cars all have adaptive tint to their windows, regrettable from the inside, however in case of damage the car will turn full tint on detection of sunlight, while the inside of the windows are see through, basically, one outside the car cannot see you, but you can see them from inside.

Many clothes are made to protect a vampire from extreme sun exposure if the vampire requires to travel on plain daylight without any other protection, ex: Researchers, biologists and such that needs to travel to study wildlife.

there are installations on the cities and towns to warn about the dusk and dawn hours.

several vampire meals have now blood added to the mixture, so that even side dishes may give some nutritional value.

School/college and other teaching systems are adapted to provide growth supplements for vampire infants when they pass the grade to allow them to grow.

Hospitals also exists to fix severe accident and health damages, damages that cannot easily heal or too severe like gangrene.

How did it start?  It had started as initially a scientific oddity after a research group found buried deep below in old slavic lands. Temples that were not before touched by explorers, finding bodies that were tied down, mouths with their jaws missing and more. It also had a completely different set of cave dwelling species.  Samples were taken of those species and bodies along with photographs to identity its age and study the new animal discoveries.  Things took a turn when the biologists, historians and scientists that made part started having bad health symptoms, it led to the very first cases of vampirism. Many of those little creatures had managed to bleed through the forests now with the temples open. However it was not seen as a problem, as after the initial symptoms, the person seemed fine, except their odd need for blood sustenance that could easily be animal blood, but things took a turn as it started spreading across.  Infected people being looked down by society started getting movements to aid them, protests and communities were built and forming the vampire union, basically a ‘vampire lives matter’, to support those that were affected, keep them with just as equal rights as anyone else, while scientists kept working on attempting to find ways to fix this issue.  Problems raised, stopping research as it was seen as discrimination, the vampirism was not seen as a disease anymore, but just as any other human, just with special needs, now stead prevention methods were being made along with attempts to contain what was spreading this.  As much as they tried, it kept increasing, many people that didn’t want to die and leave everything, or to lose parents, children, loved ones, opted into vampirism, it was the cure to cancer and HIV, better to become cold and ‘pulse lacking’ than to completely expire, many thought, and this thought bled into higher societies, owners of corporations, industries, politics, now able to live forever as long as they opted into vampirism. People were literally paying now to get the little creatures that caused vampirism // which were becoming rare with the attempts to extinct them// just so that they would have a ‘way out’ of a certain death situation.  It soon followed into the military, vampires were stronger, way more capable, and now with the heads of corporations and governments also vampires, at least most, military soon followed.  Vampires had equal rights as humans, but it was slowly changing towards vampires having higher rights, as they ‘required more special needs’. It created protests and riots, which was once a movement to create full acceptance, now had broken them in two, humans however got the shortest end of the stick, as vampires now had much more favor, conflict broke out of scale, vampires having the upper hand and humans losing faster and faster. It all eventually ended with the vampire rights rising over and winning, humans that committed atrocities against vampires would end up arrested and sentenced for life in prison for murders and terrorizing population.

 The prisoners had to contribute in some way, the way was to have them be obliged to donate blood, which created the first concept of the human blood farms, and as years passed, it became official. Now prisoners became farm humans, there to provide blood for the population, and soon meat, when vampires perfected artificial breeding, for law stated that it was against the law to hunt down humans as food source as long as they were free of severe charges.

The remaining humans, to have protection, were given to by the vampire society, ‘human rights’ in which protected lands, much like ecological reserves were set, where humans would be safe and allowed to build their own town and society, as long as no crimes would be inflicted against vampire kind and population numbers are kept stable. Those lands are much like the sacred native american lands from the past.

 With now the conflicts dying down to simple activism about returning rights, all minimal in comparison to how vampire society became, the society flourished, a new era of safety and prosperity, new technologies made, evolution of sciences allowing those that became vampires as children to grow up with stimulants and supplements, vampires allowing through artificial means to have children, adaptations on the cities for the safety of vampires.  Rebellious humans and vampires still stands, as well as groups made to protest against such separations and against the use of humans as food.

Human society was completely replaced by vampires. Humans now are the few remaining stands of ancient history that still lives.

[kristnirpresti]

ooc: so I am all about soulmate AUs, kay. But I saw that one for polyamory and legit wanted to do something like that with Athelstan and Ragnar and Lagertha, or at least write about it in a fic or something cause it like wont leave me head. But I’m gonna post about here just cause I can...

EDIT: This turned into a fic type thing (so its going under a read more), i’ll post legit headcanons about soulmates later. But i’d totally do an AU based off this

So like lets just look at modern (Cause canon is a whole nother thing okay).

So lets also narrow down the AU to just the writing on your skin where whatever you write on your skin shows up on your soulmates skin (i’m going to lovingly ignore if tattoos count for that for now)

So the first time it happens, Athelstan literally freaks out, because he’s in undergrad and its a language he hasn’t studied yet, so he has no idea what it says. He asks a friend, who almost loses there shit because the recognizes two sets of handwriting. Athelstan swears his friend to secrecy. But he finds out the language and begins to learn it.

He keeps it to himself mostly. What is written is fairly easy to hide. He also keeps it to himself because he is active with church and have three soulmates while not unheard of isn’t the most accepted thing, not like they would kick him out though.

After about a year or so, he finally has a good enough of a grasp on the conversations that he always sees to understand what they are saying. He can pick out who is who, he doesn’t know their names though, just knows their personalities.

When he takes art classes he only uses blending sticks only (which means sub part art for him at least) for fear that the charcoal would tell his soulmates that they had a third. They seemed happy, he had no desire to ruin their relationship. Besides if he wrote should he write in English, or Danish, would they understand him if he wrote in the prior.

He keeps track of their conversations, occasional notes graze his skin like pick up Gyda, or get Bjorn to do his homework before TV. They have kids, and Athelstan knows he can never reveal himself, and ruin that. Despite the longing to do just that, to let them know he is lonely especially now that he knows about them. But he can live with the snippits of the life he sees played out before him in writing.

Then one day he sees it, an argument, and it sounds violent, and Athelstan almost feels bad for spying on there life for at least 2 years now. Athelstan feels like he has to do something. He doesn’t know why they fought just that the pleas from the messier hand writing are almost pathetic.

He takes out a pen, and it hovers over the skin on his forearm for a good minute or so. And finally writes, in English so they dont get any wild ideas about the fact that he may live in their country because he most certainly doesn’t. Its a few simple words, “Your love for each other is stronger than one argument. You will be okay.”

He caps the pen, prays that he doesn’t go and wash his arm off immediately hoping that neither of them notice, and tries to forget about it.

He doesn’t wash his arm, but the ink comes off when he showers. And that’s when he noticed no knew writing has appeared. It makes him sad, but he doesn’t think to much about it. When it comes to months with no new writing people start to notice that something is upsetting Athelstan even if he says he is fine.

Its a particularly bad night, and he had cold pizza for dinner, when he gets his pen, and writes in Danish this time, “I’m sorry.”

Again he thinks nothing of it. Either the two no longer wish for him to see their relationship, or they are no longer soulmates, which he didn’t think was possible. He moped a bit longer, at least when they wrote he didn’t feel as lonely, even God couldn’t help him.

Eventually he decided he would not let himself wallow in a pity party. They didn’t want him that much was clear. But that would not hinder his life, he stopped using smudge sticks for art, and let his fingers become covered in charcoal, occasionally it covered his face too. He had a mishap with a drawing he was inking and he was covered in black ink, and ruined his favorite shirt in the process.

When he went to classes he doodled maps on his arms in history, and drew out pictures of what he thought characters looked like in literature. Some days he went with nothing on his skin at all. But usually it was charcoal on his hands and fingers. Some times he thought what his two soulmates thought, but they had been silent ever since he first wrote something. It never occurred that now it could be there turn to watch him.

Athelstan went about his life, then one day in class he saw their writing again, this time it was names. Ragnar, and Lagertha. He almost fell out of his desk and asked to be excused. He rushed to the bathroom and splashed water on his face.

He fumbles for a pen in his pocket, and writes out his name. He returns to class, and has to deal with the waiting game.

He gets a request next, draw a picture of himself. He responds no. They converse like that for a while, they never ask Athelstan where he lives and he never offers it up.

Then one day he gets the message they are coming to London. He freezes not sure what to do. They say they want to see him. He asks why London. They say they did some research his spelling indicted where he from. Athelstan retorted England was not the only place with certain word spelling. They said he also mentioned once where he went to college, they then give him a time and their flight number and expect him to be there at Heathrow to pick them up.

athelstan legit panics and debates not going. He goes anyways. He can’t borrow a car in time, so he takes the train and hopes they don’t mind. he’s poor, but he has found decent enough clothes, and is in his warmest jacket and waits for them at their gate. 

When he first sees them he knows its them. They are walking together, and he just knows. He immediately turns around to walk away, but he finds both of them on either side of him. He feels tiny compared to them, and significantly less good looking, not like he ever thought much of his appearance before, but Ragnar and Lagertha were something else.

he was in awe and speechless, but they didn’t seem to mind, in fact they seemed to share identical smirks that worried Athelstan a little more than it should.

[allorganichome]

An Old Fashioned Christmas

An Electronics-Free Christmas? We Did (And We Survived)

Around here, we’re an organic, granola-crunchy, natural bedding-sleeping, plastic-free (okay, plastic-reduced…this keyboard I’m typing on has outed me there all by itself) family.

And honestly, I’m proud of us for this. It has taken a long time, a lot of research, and tons of substitutions (and trial and error) to get to the point where I can legitimately say my family lives as natural a lifestyle as possible, within the limits that the modern world imposes.

Through the years, when it comes to the natural life, Christmas has been our final frontier. What can be more glittery, more plastic-y, more brightly lit and more deliciously, deck-the-hallsy faux than Christmas? Not in spirit, of course. (That’s a personal matter, and can be a very meaningful and deep one.) Rather, I’m talking about its materialistic practicalities.

Because yes, “natural” or no, like so many other families, we absolutely love all the trimmings of the season, right down to tinsel (yikes!), non-LED lights (come on, we HAVE to buy new lights?), plastic-wrapped candy canes, DVDs (and “24 Hours of a Christmas Story, of course”), made in who-knows-where Elf on the Shelf…the list goes on.

You can see how such a schism was bound to make me, Granola Mommy, feel a bit, well, hypocritical. So last year, I decided we would have a true old-fashioned Christmas…with NO electronics.

(Pausing for a moment of silence here. I know, I know. Hang in there, it’s not all bad, I swear.)

Granted, depending upon just where you go with “old-fashioned,” one could be talking about lead tinsel, non-child-friendly paints and plastic everything…even when one goes quite some way back in time. So we went way-er back than that (is way-er a word?) and decided to shoot for a Victorian (or even pre-) holiday.

Want to know how we did it…and laughed about it (and in the end, decided to make it an annual tradition)? Curious about trying it yourself? Here’s how to have your very own old-fashioned, au naturel Yuletide. Hint: it’s not all twigs and berries (though they’re there too ) and it definitely won’t be perfect, but it WILL be fun. That much I promise you…and it’s my gift to you.

1. Douse the Lights

That’s right. All of them. Just for the day and night, mind you. Yes, you CAN live without electronics. We did it, and we only considered Xanax a few times. (Maybe a few dozen?) You can do it too!

Christmas is all about candlelight…especially a Victorian or heck, a Renaissance Christmas. Of course, if you’re concerned about fire, you can cheat and get battery-operated flameless candles. (I’ll give you a pass on that one.) We went halfsies: for candles closer to small(ish) hands (our littlest was five), we used the battery type, and for the rest, we used the real deal – beeswax, in fire-safe dishes and well away from décor.

I know, I know…it’s sad to see an unlit Christmas tree. One thing I will NOT recommend to you is a traditional Swedish tree decked with, literally, candles. This is intended to be an old-fashioned Christmas, not a fire department one. Emergency response personnel have families too…spare everyone and skip the (literally) lit tree, just for this one night.

2. Bake Up a Storm

I’m a scary baker. I’ll admit it. (Hey…weren’t we just talking about the fire department a minute ago? Hashtag coincidence.)

But because I have taken us back to basics, I’ve had to learn to cook. For our traditional, unplugged Christmas, I didn’t use any ingredients I couldn’t spell.

It’s easy to make anything delicious without adding anything weird to the mix. Trust me. A little organic cane sugar, something flour-ish (we used rice, tapioca and potato flours as we’re gluten-free) and you can make anything taste good…well, except the turkey.

I forced my kids to help, but despite themselves, they loved it. Pull your little ones in, and any friends you can gather. If you have an electronic stove, okay, that’s a cheat too…so do your “big baking” the day before, and be set with wonderful cookies, pies and other goodies on the Big Day.

3. Make Your Own Décor

You may not be the Pinterest queen (goodness knows I’m not), but you CAN make adorable Christmas décor.

Ever seen a movie or read a book that described the family making tree garland out of popcorn and cranberries? Yes, that can really be done. Take my advice, though, and use thimbles. Just…trust me on this one. Then sit everyone in a row with a heavy thread, needle and lots of popcorn…and start threadin’.

This takes forever. For. Ev. Er. But wow, is it fun to think of things to talk and laugh about…and get back to family basics with.

More do-it-yourself décor: pine cones and berries on the table; cardboard cutouts of reindeer, stars, trees, gifts and Santa; snowflakes cut out of organic coffee filters (fold the filter four times and cut small semi-circles and triangles, then open back up); and grapevine wreaths stuffed with bits of pine twigs, dried fruit, and dried flowers.

4. Learn to Sing

I love to sing, and I’m not terrible. But how many families sit around and sing for their entertainment nowadays? We did, and after a few uncomfortable glares at Mom’s tremolo (don’t judge), my children, wife, in-laws and I were trilling up a storm in no time.

What do you do without electronics? Well, what did people do BEFORE electronics? Putting aside more unsavory possibilities, like competitive rock-throwing or stall-mucking, I’m going with: they sang. Remember Pa from Little House on the Prairie, getting his family to sing and toe-tap to his fiddle playing? Yeah, it’s like that. And yes. It IS fun. Try it.

5. Play a Game

There are all sorts of non-electronic games you can play to make the evening fun (or, as my 13-year-old said, “Less skull-crushingly boring.” Isn’t he great? I just love that little dude…hyperbole for the win).

Remember charades? Jokes? Twenty Questions? Those and more are all games that would have been played in days of old. You don’t have to play a Victorian game…just play a game. One that doesn’t involve any buttons, except the ones of Dad’s you’ll push by making a bald joke or slipping a swear word into your turn at charades.

It’s amazing how close a family can get from playing a silly game and laughing about it…and being competitive about it…and losing but not caring because the win was just so darned clever. Depending on your age, you probably played games with your family. Remember the fun? It’s still there…bring it back. Don’t remember the fun? (Oh you Millennials…) Start fun of your own. Make up your own game and make it a tradition.

However you celebrate Christmas, enjoy…and have a happy (and natural!) New Year!

Your Home.Your Life. All Organic.

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