#lm inspired au

[ladychandraofthemoone]

Finally after an 1000 years I’ve finished this: Bear’s got scary guard privileges in his best friend . Someone’s got get whooped by Rebecca “Imma throw hands” Eastleigh Seong.

In a totally unrelated incident: Local tender LMS Ivatt Class found dead 💀 ☠️ in Sodor. But an apology letter was delivered a few hours later.

Rebecca’s design was inspired by shachizaki on Twitter.

[freezingwhitefire]

This one is fighting me a little but here is a small blurb of my current project that I am focusing on.

“What have you brought me this time? Another Hero to save?” She asked, her tone almost scornful.

He knew she disliked him for how he survived after his time should have passed and he accepted it. This was not the time for her dislike of him to stop what needed to be done though. So he shifted forms again, this time pushing further to assume a ghostly form that only ones with high magic potential could see.

“He was poisoned, I can fix it but he will not survive until I do so without help.”

“Why should I help?”

“Because if you don’t, the hero that saved us and defeated your trial will never be born.”

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Unknown's Chapter 353

Brief summary: Discussion about RPOG's influence in Earth 3. Talks about Transparent Corporation's honorary chairman. Cale's group meets Ahn Roh Man.

==========

We got the last of the background info today, explaining how RPOG was a global hit, played by hundreds of millions of players. Because of that nations and companies vied to control it, but Transparent Corporation stood adamant, refusing outside interference and stating that they only want to focus on the game.

They allowed ads for companies and national policies though, done stealthily that players wouldn't outright recognize it as an ad. Because of that, the fields of entertainment, sports, gambling, and so on also entered RPOG.

As someone who read Legendary Moonlight Sculptor, it made me think of Unicorn Corporation and its virtual game, Royal Road, in terms of its influence to the real world. Who knows, perhaps our author, YRH, read LMS and used it as the inspiration for Transparent Corporation and RPOG.

There was some talks about how the Transparent Bloods minimized the damage of monster attacks in Earth 3 because they settled here. It made Cale and Alberu wonder the state of Earth 1 and Earth 2, and if it had become peaceful there too like Earth 3.

Is this a foreshadowing that Cale will revisit Earth 2? And what about Earth 1? Please, author-nim! I want Cale to meet OG Cale! 🥰

Next up was the presidential elections. The honorary chairman of Transparent Corporation was Han Taek Soo, and his win was almost guaranteed. There was some parallels here, like Ahn Roh Man (ARM) represented the war-ridden past while Han Taek Soo represented the peaceful future.

People were tired of the war against monsters, so when RPOG was released, showcasing a "new world" that was peaceful and did not affect reality, it became a massive global hit. Thus, its honorary chairman became a symbol of "peace." He was also a known philanthropist and citizen of Roan.

ARM had a trusted aide who knew his secrets, and this aide was Earth 3's counterpart of Mary! She was described as a dull person with a mechanical voice. But she wore glasses, and called ARM as "oppa."

Cale's group finally met ARM, and they were dressed in branded black suits! And when ARM offered drinks, Cale asked for tea while Rosalyn asked for Americano which she found addictive. 😂

Wait, remember that character checklist Modern AU something that RIDI released as a bonus content for the LCF Korean volume bundle? In that checklist, it wrote that Rosalyn liked iced Americano! So if Earth 3 was a Nameless 1 parallel world, perhaps that Modern AU checklist might become reality?! 🤩

Here's a link to a summary of that checklist I posted here in the past: TCF Modern AU Character Checklist (Official)

Ending Remarks The two Alberus finally meet! And Cale, Alberu, and Rosalyn in suits! I'm excited to see more Earth 3 counterparts of our Roan characters! 🥰 Next chapter would be ARM's talk with Cale's group. I wonder, did ARM really not receive the Emperor Quest? Because when E3 Mary asked him if he received it, he did not reply and only thought of our Alberu.

[ikaishere]

Pinned post!

Name is Ika, i use all pronouns, but more info here (również w języku polskim tutaj!)

Drawing prompts through asks are currently open!

IKADTIYS

My modern au masterpost!!

I will mostly post art here, occasionally writing. My main interests are all kinds of Linkverses (though, usually I post about LU and LM), plus, the source material itself, TLOZ.

I post a lot about Sky, Hyrule, and recent days Ravioli (ALBWLinkxRavio), so again, expect that!

I'm also very proud to be working on @eternalfrostau with my dear friend and an amazing writer @kovacs-on-ice, a Zelda-inspired fan comic, which I'm encouraging you to check out!

Never be scared to dm me or send an ask, I always respond to them! I may be awkward at first, but I promise, no ill intentions ever. I'm open to talk about anything, for constructive criticism as well.

Please be mindful of the fact that this blog is a safe space - for queer people, people of colour, disabled people, people of any beliefs, etc. As long as you don't shame other people, you are welcome here. ANY kind of antisemitism, racism, ableism homophobia, transphobia, etc. is NOT welcomed here. You will be blocked and reported. Thanks:)

[daamazingmeepers]

I keep forgetting to make this post, but for my fellow duck peeps who are into that sort of thing, I made some Disney duck playlists! I’ll post both the Spotify and YouTube links since I have some mutuals who I know only use one or the other.

Drakepad (this has songs for both ‘91 and ‘17 drakepad)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5x5s3yh2WHfSjAaB2yNVIj?si=21W_V6zfTuOI6KnjmyPfeQ

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL25BiOmOO6N_U6KhBwil7_S4p1WDUszDa

Scroldie (this has songs for both ‘87 and ‘17 scroldie)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qB2l39NgY3ZCWQpyyorU1?si=6LJbybCMTzWjbjKoa1Ao_w

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL25BiOmOO6N-eYfhrrXWgNnFg6Ga0dpsa

Donald Duck (specifically for ‘17 Donald)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3a1n64IGvQRtSEaY0AXDv7?si=IOO_xsd9RJKYud25C3F_xw

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL25BiOmOO6N-wif5vMcuUMePA1vnNG3BD

Donzé (this one is for a specific unrequited love AU I’m writing so feel free to avoid this one if you don’t wanna be sad, I just didn’t wanna leave it out lol)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0oKj2rOnVKdg9G5W5USxME?si=8og5GwhFSv-KqApGb_Q21A

YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL25BiOmOO6N-Lm-26gtf1X1q3vOpZutjB

If you listen to any of these, please tell me what you think of them! I really love making fandom playlists and I put a lot of thought into the song choices and the order they play in (I recommend listening to the songs in order instead of shuffling), so it would mean a lot to hear that other people were enjoying it!

As of right now these playlists are up to date, but I’m constantly adding songs and rearranging their order as I find new ones, so don’t be surprised if it looks a little different if you come back to them later.

Also if you have Disney duck related playlists of your own, feel free to add yours to this post, because I love listening to other people’s fandom playlists as well! (I’ll also sometimes will add songs from other people’s playlists to mine if I think it was an especially inspired choice, and I encourage anyone who wants to take songs from my playlists and add them to their own to do so as well!)

Happy listening!

[moomoorare]

Redrawing an old au I made inspired by svtfove (magic and cheekmarks really, the rest is mine lol) and they looked mostly human but now I'm. Like. I need to give the lm animal attributes grrrrr, GIVE THEM A TAIL AND FLUFFY EARS!!!!

[traveleroffarawayplaces]

Edits/My Art Master List

Main Navigation Center

LU/LU inspired:

(LU) Four (Red) aus! ((Also four swords adventure/four swords (fsa/fs)))

(LU) Uh oh, someone called Four short again.

(LU) How tired can we make Time challenge'

(LINKED MAZE/LM) A red boi not having a good time. ((TW: blood and Death))

(LM) Time is so hot he's burning!!

(LOTS OF RAVIOS / LOR) I can't stop drawing Unity!

(LOR) More Unity my precious

(LU) Dink's going to throw some bricks at you angst ((Its a LU joke from the discord))

(LU) Wild meme format

(LU) Four get off of Twilight!

Nintendo Stuff:

(pokemon) Xerneas, the nuclear pokemon; Type swap

(pokemon) Sandile, the tiny crocodile pokemon: type swap

(pokemon) Tentacruel, the seaweed pokemon; type swap. ((NOTE: I only take credit for the tentacruel, the tentacool is NOT mine! I got permission to make its evolution))

(Four swords adventures) Red and Blue’s entire dynamic.

Amphibia:

So many Marcy Aus

Wait so Andrias is Isabella from Encanto???

Minecraft youtubers:

(Double life) What does Pearl have there? And also, here's the orginal post its from

(HermitCraft) Scar checking to see if Grian did something.

(Hermitcraft x Empires) Run Jimmy. Run for your life.

The Edge SMPs:

(Mythical Edge) Universe is Poor

(Mythical Edge) Summary of Season 28, Mythical Edge

(Mythical Edge) Cooper's Choice

(Life and Death Edge) Friendships never last

My Aus:

(LU) The Lost Chain ((Could also be any other Legend of Zelda Link))

Others/No fandom:

Patterns: 1, 2,

Just an old drawing

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond! Cast: Turbo the Alien Hedgehog

Replaces: Ben Reilly / Scarlet Spider Origin: Sonic the Comic

WARNING!: This character is not to be mixed up with a controversial user on other social media, who has absolutely no say in how this AU goes. Any similarities between that user's "OC" and Turbo here are purely coincidental.

"My name... is Turbo! ...I gotta come up with a better name to be in line with these guys someday."

Turbo is a character from Dimension STC-1993, having once served as a rival in a Space Race, with his family on the line thanks to an alien race known only as the Vargz. He had took on Sonic in this space race, though got himself into danger. Though Sonic ultimately lost this race, he was still able to rescue Turbo from harm's way.

Just like the blue blur, Turbo is quite determined, very fast, and also has a reason for doing what he does. In Turbo's case, he fought for the lives of his family and for freedom. He also has quite the fondness for adventure, but had little to no sympathy for defeated challengers.

Of course, these similarities caused Turbo to be branded as a recolour or fan character out-of-universe, but despite this, he developed into quite the fan favourite, hence why he's a part of this AU. And fans were definitely happy when he came back for Sonic the Comic Online (STC-O).

During the events of "The Universe Game", Turbo was summoned as a warrior by The Void to combat Sonic, and he revealed he wasn't even brain-washed to do this. He managed to overpower Sonic, but was imprisoned as well for demanding a rematch. It just so happened he was in it because he missed the thrill of that race a while back.

Together, the two broke out of the prison and punched out The Void at light-speed, hence saving Lumina the effort of sacrificing an entire galaxy to stop her. In the aftermath, the two hedgehogs agreed to meet again at some point, both eager to have that rematch.

Now, as for where he is now in this AU. I'm sure you've seen his manchild tantrums in one of the prior posts, and obsessing over powerful stuff like Ben 10. Well, before joining the Quill Society, he got inspired to be more like Sonic from playing a stripped-down SEGA Genesis version of Sonic Superstars, hyperfixating on all the little details.

As such, this side of Turbo's personality is a parody of other recolours, but don't get the wrong idea. Just because his personality here's deemed a mockery does NOT mean I take offense to recolours. For anyone starting out at that stage, just know that I have faith that you'll be able to evolve them into their own characters at some point.

In a way, this personality is more of an affectionate parody and lighthearted riff around characters representing their creators, and how they would be like when they're in the same universe as their favourite stars. So while he does get on some people's nerves for it, Turbo is still a respected member regardless.

Problem is, he had been on the side of Lost Memory Sonic and his canon event theory, hence being less savvy about some genres compared to others and sticking to what is depicted. As such, he's one of the few trying to stop OMT!Tails from disrupting the "canon" requirement of letting OMT!Cream perish to Crimtake under the guise of "stability of the multiverse".

During the chase, however, Lost Memory Sonic was SO hellbent on killing OMT!Tails that the evil hedgehog threw his former ally to possible death. Needless to say, Turbo was REALLY angry about this and wasn't hesitant on branding LM!Sonic as an enemy and challenger.

After Crimtake is destroyed, Turbo decided then and there to make up for the mistakes he made alongside Fiona, who had both been badly swayed by LM!Sonic's manipulative tactics. After everything that happened, their happy ending's better deserved.

[ladylooch]

i love lm this content! ur such a great writer

Thank you so much!!! I'm smitten with this whole AU. IT's fun, creative, and a different change of pace. I'm feeling so inspired 🥰

[tornrose24]

Yeah, Tamatoa made an awesomely funny, charismatic and terrifying Ursala in your fanfic. If Tamatoa showed up in once upon a time, how would you have written him and the Moana cast into the episodes?

Oh God I loved writing him! I love writing big diva characters like him because he was fun and it was easy to figure out how he’d react and what not.

Ok... so I was PISSED that the final season of Once upon a Time had Maui’s fish hook, but none of the characters showed up. How did it get its ability to break barriers? How did it end up with the good guys in the final two episodes?! Heck, there’s so many Polynesian myths that you could have chosen from to use. They had plenty of time to squeeze in Frozen right when it first came out, but not Moana for even one episode?!

Oh also, Ahab had Maui’s fish hook. Ahab as in ‘famous one legged sea captain who had a serious grudge against a powerful being.’ That could have been Tamatoa in disguise!

There’s too many possibilities to choose from. We could have seen an extra part of the journey that happened that tied into OUAT’s main storyline somehow. We could of had Maui meeting Moana’s family (which would have been hilariously awkward, given the stuff Maui pulled on Moana, like going to ditch her on the island he was trapped on). Tamatoa could of had his revenge, etc.

Then there’s the question of the ‘present day’ part. Both Storybrooke (and Seattle) take place by the ocean, so there’s already a lot of possibilities. Moana’s cursed identity could of either still longed to go into the ocean or have the irony of being afraid of it for some reason.

One of my ideas was that Tamatoa was able to capture Moana out of revenge and had her turned into one of his collectibles (like a statue or something). So Maui snuck into our world, used a fake identity, and tricked a lot of people to find a way/object to save his friend.

And it wouldn’t of been that hard to bring Maui to life. Yes he has all the tattoos, but if you’re worried about offending someone, then they don’t have to be on the actor (and if it’s ok to have the tattoos, I’m sure they could of used the right process to apply them onto the actor’s body within a reasonable amount of time). Plus if he had a cursed counterpart/land without magic identity, he’d be able to easily hide them either with clothing or magic. (I’d imagine him as a tattoo artist, fisherman, surfboard shop owner–something that ties to his real identity).

And UNLIKE the Frozen characters, no one has to look one hundred percent like they came straight from Disneyland (which was SO STUPID! I wanted to see inspired costumes, not Disneyland costumes!)

As for Tamatoa... his chances of showing up would have been low, but I was open for a scary realistic crab monster version of him.

Overall, we were horribly cheated out of something wonderful, and we could have had real live action Polynesian actors play the Moana characters. 

[acdooodles]

Thinking about an AU...

One in which the story takes place in a time of war caused by a few greedy vampires who enacted their plans at the same time. Thinking about an AU in which our pureblooded princess Yuuki has been alone to fend for herself, her position as the current head of the Kuran family and the leader of an entire population of vampires and hunters during a time of crisis. The Kiryuu twins are alive and her bodyguards, her ancestor is still asleep in his eternal coffin, and the hard times of loneliness made Yuuki into a fierce leader who’s charming enough to get away with a few thrown insults. I’m thinking that she’d wake her ancestor and convince him with a gun pointed to his head to become her advisor, often reminding him that this was not his war, that what was valid 10k years ago was no longer valid nowadays, and that he should keep his hands away from her title as the head of the family if he wants to keep all of his fingers in place.

There’d be a lot of sarcasm and blackmail, because who has the time to let their guard down and cry? Not sure if there’d be much shipping here, but harmless flirting to sell an idea might happen.

I’m not sure if I’d draw or write this AU. I just want my adorable crybaby princess Yuuki to be a bad bitch queen that would make everyone WANT to kneel before her.

Like.

Please.

[weisbrot]

#2 Inktober 2017

[idiopathicsmile]

hey, I was wondering, what DO you think are the best fics of the les mis fandom?

oh gosh, keeping in mind that i am terrible at mentally ranking things:

i think skill-wise, @arriviste is definitely up there with the best of the best. she wrote what is in my mind THE f/f Enjolras/Grantaire fic. i tend to prefer her modern AU stuff, because her canon-era work will break your heart and i am a simple creature.

secret agent man and generally stuff by @soemily is so full of life and heart and beauty.

under my wings you will find refuge by @fivie was a classic when i was starting out. it left a huge impression on me and i say that as someone who never made it through a full episode of supernatural.

lag time by @nonmodernists inspired me to write three different songs, i love it so much.

(i should also say that these are the ones i like best, but i do also think there was a breed of LM fic back in the day that was canon-era and thoughtfully done and extremely sad, and some of these were objectively excellent but i don't remember them that well because my brain shies away from sad fic.)

[gundamcalibarney]

Gold Whistle AU Steam Team info:

Featuring; Engines 1 to 8 and 12.

Inspired by @asktrio516 ‘s redo post.

(Quick Note: in the brief Pre-Sodor descriptions all of the Engines are non sentient and faceless, which is why they‘re personalities during those times won’t be mentioned and why they will be called the engine or variations thereof with the exception of Emily.)

Thomas:

- Thomas was a modified E2 tank engine meant for lighter loads and at the time worked for the LBSCR as the youngest of his fleet, the E2 was sent to Sodor as an attempt to save the last remaining E2 after all the other E2s were scrapped, the engine was given G.D coal a day before being sold to the NWR and on the ship there was told a Lot about the Mainland.

- The Current protector of the Island of Sodor (succeeding Lady). He possess some of Lady’s magic because of this.

- He’s very snarky and is basically the sassy lost child though this kind of leads him to be rather immature and stubborn at times. Thomas is also rather mischievous, playing pranks and teasing literally anyone and Everyone (Edward and Toby are sole exceptions).

- Thomas is rather stressed about his position as Protector and Hero of Sodor, having to deal with D10’s nemesis complex and having to be the main problem solver for certain magical problems and sometimes on Top of his usual work. It Really puts a strain him, he won’t make it obvious though as he just wants to get the job done.

- Despite his ‘problem fixer’ role, he’s not so great with dealing with emotional problems. He’s more headstrong and usually thinks of How to deal with the problem rather than attempt to support the person dealing with it, he’ll Try to provide emotional support but those attempts were rather stilted.

- The Culture of other countries interest him, thats partially why he wants to go around the world and because he finds staying in one tiny island in Britain boring, he wants to see the world outside of the tiny island he’s in. His feelings toward the Mainland are similar but he knows what to expect because to him, the Mainland is just Sodor but bigger.

- He’s really into music too! Mostly rock and classical but he digs all kind of music, he’s currently learning how to play a guitar.

- Became very popular after the RWS books got published and has taken railtours to the Mainland during the books anniversaries.

Edward:

- Was locomotive that worked for the Furness railway and briefly for the LMS, not much is known about him other than that he was a modified K2 with D21 features (though he is not a hybrid between the two locomotives). The K2 was sent to Sodor to run one of the first standard gauge North Western passenger lines. Whats worthy of note is that he was awakened weeks before Lady disappeared.

- Is often called the railway’s disappointed dad seeing as how he sighs and facepalms every time someone does something stupid. He is however, understanding many people’s problems and often considered the best at moral support. He has issues of his own but he rarely opens up about that.

- During his younger years, he was an Ass. Playing tricks on other engines and staff, being a bit of a smooth talking piece of shit,and teasing other Engines, being pretty much what Thomas currently is. He grew out of it after Lady went missing. He looks back on his younger days with contempt.

- He knows Lady personally, he worked with her during his early years on Sodor and had her as his mentor as well.

- Edward is infamous for destroying hats, he seems to have a hatred for them, He says it’s because he doesn’t want his hair to get “Worse than it already was.” though many suspect he has a legitimate reason for not liking to wear hats.

- It’s very hard to make Edward lose his cool or make him angry, most you’ll get is his disappointed face. However, he seems to snap every time a comparison between him and Lady is made, this is a result of Nick/98462 and River/87546’s relentless bullying towards him and their many remarks about being ‘Lady’s replacement’. So any remarks about it Will throw him off.

- He’s also Really into History, wether it be Sudrian or something else he’ll want to learn more and has worked with the Rev W. Awdry in writing the books.

- He smokes, usually casually or as a stress reliever.

Henry:

- Henry was/is the a flawed experimental prototype of the A1s, his blueprints were stolen from Sir Nigel Gresley by a unknown locomotive builder. Once the engine was built it proved to possess steaming problems but they can’t exactly scrap it because building it was Very pricey, it was then sold off as an ‘Atlantic’ to the Fat Controller, of course it wasn’t an Atlantic and the Fat Controller had no choice but to keep it due to the Locomotive shortage.

- His personality is a mix of the snarky cynic RWS+Early TV series and the soft anxious Late TV series, snarky cynic being the default and soft anxious whenever there’s heavy snow fall or when there’s something wrong with him.

- Henry has mild Chionophpbia (Phobia of snow) after the Flying Kipper accident, the accident itself costed him an arm. He also has a mild phobia of the rain however it’s not as severe as his snow phobia, he said that the Actual reason he doesn’t like the rain is due to his Already present mechanical problems and he does Not want to them make them worse than they already are.

- In this AU he’s (technically) brothers with Gordon, 87546,and Scotsman and a relative of the other Gresleys. He’s considered a half relative to the Stanier locomotives after his rebuild.

- Really likes playing board games and soon in the 21st century plays Video Games and soon becomes the best gamer among the Sudrian Engines. Has a rivalry with James.

- He’s into Botany, while some details can be rather ‘gross’ to him he will always listen to discussions about Plant life with intrigue.

- Also into gardening, he has made his driver’s backyard pretty looking to the point where it’s basically Henry’s garden (his driver’s cool with it though), his driver said that Henry somehow improved his backyard.

- Henry sometimes doodles on his prosthetic, usually when he’s bored but he will sometimes do it as a way to relieve stress. He’ll decorate it for special occasions.

Gordon:

- Gordon was the first A1 made in Doncaster, the engine worked as an express train. The green A1 and another would be bought and sent to Sodor where he would then be given Sodor’s coal and work as the mainline passenger locomotive.

- He is egocentric, telling that He’s the most important engine for pulling the mainline express train.

- Thinks he’s a logical and diplomatic engine, in actuality he’s a Leroy Jenkins.

- Though he denies it, he really likes animals, dogs especially, Percy teases him because of it.

- He’s afraid of being scrapped, it’s a common fear but for Gordon it feels like he needs to strain himself to Not get considered for scrap. Gordon fears of having a similar fate as his siblings leaves him Very on edge, he sometimes uses the “I’m a VERY important Engine!” as a bit of a self calming quote to reassure himself that he Isn’t going to be scrapped.

- After learning about the scrapping of nearly all his siblings, he usually tries to keep in contact with his cousins. Though he has a rather rocky relationship with the majority of them and they dislike him for constantly calling. Mallard,Bittern,Ryan, and Scotsman are the only ones who he Doesn’t have a rough relationship with.

- Is in fact, Scotsman’s older brother, Scotsman just calls him ‘little brother’ to annoy him.

- Gordon‘s a singer, He rivals Scotsman in the “how heavenly does your baritone singing voice sound?” department.

James:

- During his time as a faceless locomotive, the engine briefly worked as a passenger locomotive for the L&YR and LMS before being sent to Sodor. The locomotive was modified for unspecified reasons when it first arrived on Sodor and was also painted in the furness Indian red livery.

- James is vain, vain about his appearance. He’s rather proud about having a livery that’s different from the norm or regular. This is partially the reason why he loves wearing red and was momentarily pissed about Rosie or other colours sharing his colour and refuses to be any Other colour. Pink is an exception, but only if the shade chosen is not eye searing.

- The Golden Whistle originally belonged to a Tank Engine named Theodore, it was first given to Thomas then he gave it to James after the Journey Beyond Sodor incident as a thank you gift. James says it looks like wind instrument.

- Contrary to popular belief, he Isn’t that much of a beauty expert on both humans and engines. That role goes to Edward, James himself is more of an interior and outfit/costume designer.

- He‘s arrogant and has this somewhat “I’m the Only one of my class!” type of pride, on the inside though he’s rather sad that he doesn’t have anyone else of his class to talk or bond with.

- The Scarring he got came from the Breakdown Train crash (the one shown in the Adventure Begins specifically). At first he was self conscious about it until some kid told him it looked cool and now he takes pride in it, the scar is there when he’s an engine.

- Has a hatred for insects, Bees especially ever since getting stung on the nose and getting painted in a bee’s colour. He isn’t cool with arachnids either.

- Knows how to cook and bake, a lot of the food he makes tastes good. He’s best at making biscuits.

Percy:

- He was a shelved Locomotive made by Avonside and sent to Sodor as a back up locomotive in case something goes wrong, he wasn’t steamed/awakened until the Trouble in the Sheds strike.

- Sweet boy/engine. The downside to this is that he can be easily swayed, he got over this though.

- Sometimes acts like a spoiled child.

- Gold Whistle used to belong to the narrow gauge engine Proteus. It was given to him by Thomas after the events of Day of the Diesels as an apology gift.

- Despite his overall sweet nature he is Very mischievous, he’ll work alongside Thomas in pranking the others.

- Percy Hates D10 after the Day of the Diesels incident, it was the One time he felt important but [No] D10 just Had to rope him into some manipulative plan to take over the Steamworks and Then Sodor. He’d sock D10 in the face if he saw him.

- He has a bit of an inferiority complex, seeing as how Thomas is THE Protector of Sodor, and how the other engines have done or have been in some kind of big event while all he gets are the humiliating ones, it makes him think that he’s not special.

- He likes ghost stories! Both listening and telling spooky stories to scare everyone, halloween’s his favourite holiday strictly because he can finally scare the engines he doesn’t like.

Toby:

- Toby was a J70 tram that momentarily worked for the LNER and had it’s own line, the tram would then be ridden by soon be famous Sudrian historian and writer of the RWS books Wilbert Awdry. It was then shipped to Sodor where the loco was then awakened and given his own tramway line there until it closed.

- The Grandpa™️.

- Very understanding of the people and engine’s problems, he was usually the first engine that some engines and staff go to vent their personal troubles and feelings too.

- Toby doesn’t like water, drowning (or the Engine equivalent of such) scares him. Floods are worse for him.

- Being a museum piece is also another fear, not being on the rails being unable to move? That’s already a pretty scary thought, he tries his absolute best to not end up in a museum.

- He knows a lot of Sodor’s lore and mythology more than he lets on, while he sometimes ends his tales with “but that’s just a story.” he knows that there’s something More to them. The story of Lady is one of them. He usually tells them to the Ffarquhar kids or Ryan.

- Toby bird watches during off times or if his engine self is in repairs. He really likes Cardinals and finches.

- A really good at trap making despite their simplicity, it worked on D10 and if worked when they catch bears. In general he’s just really good at planning

Emily:

- She is one of the (at the time) two outside-sodor Gold Dust infused engine (the other being City of Truro), at the time she and Truro were the Only sentient engines in the Mainland before the 1930s. Emily used to pull passenger express trains and sometimes freight but after an accident involving points and snow she was left for scrap until she was bought and sent to Sodor.

- Emily is one of the last two remaining Stirling Singles, the other one being the one in the National Railway Museum. She has never met her brother though.

- Generally bossy and a bit of a “Listen to me because I know more than you!” attitude, but she’s an overall nice engine. And due to her lack of knowledge of the shenanigans that go on in Sodor it (somehow) gives her the ‘Only sane engine’ position. She’s sometimes prone to having petty rivalries though (Molly can attest to that).

- Since she’s the newest engine in Sodor, she was at one point Very left in the dark about the whole Magic Railroad situation, so she (at the time) didn’t know and get why everyone’s freaking out over this pink tank engine that makes gold glitter and why this diesel with a giant claw is after her.

- Has rather low self esteem despite her bossy nature, she thinks that anyone that Isn’t her is a Grand engine (except James), so when she’s told a compliment it Kinda goes up her funnel and treasures that compliment forever. She has somewhat gotten over this as she’s Less compliment hungry but from time to time she self deprecates.

- Being the safety engine puts a bit of weight on her, if she isn’t able to help during an accident then she’ll consider herself useless, especially if it’s a serious accident like a derailment or a crash. So she pressures herself to do Harder and Better at her job as the safety engine.

- She’s a fan of weapons, usually blades and firearms. Muskets and rapiers are her considered favourites. And yes she Does know how use them though she prefers using the firearms, “They’re easier to use!” she says.

- Knows City of Truro, mostly for the fact that he was the only Other engine like her at the time. Her and City of Truro are pretty close friends.

Ryan:

- Used to work at the LNER alongside the A1s and worked as a passenger locomotive, the locomotive at one point was damaged then shelved for years until the engine was shipped to Sodor to make room for the diesel locomotives.

- Ryan is an affable young engine, friendly but naive being the youngest engine in the gang and a bit of a people pleaser though this has also been his downfall seeing as how many engines can and will take advantage of his naïveté.

- He was in the same situation as Emily, not knowing about Sodor’s prior shenanigans and being Very left in the dark about the whole situation. Ryan however was filled in after an associate of Boomer stole the lost treasure. He was surprisingly quick to believe the explanation.

- Really into all things fantasy related, novels? Yes, those in-universe bestiaries? Absolutely! Dungeons and Dragons? Hell Yeah. He tends to collect shiny rocks and gemstones in a “Oooh this might look nice as a sort of Magical Amulet or something!”, Which is why he believed Thomas so quickly. He’s also been studying all the supernatural

- He’s Gordon and Henry’s cousin, more so the two weren’t Aware of him being his cousin until they were told. Mostly due to the fact that when they Were together on the Mainland they weren’t even Alive per say.

- Ryan is surprisingly popular among visiting Mainland engines and is friends and is either friends or relatives with said Mainland engines, this is possibly due to his few Mainland supply trips where he has conveniently met other famous engines,Gresley reunions,and Railfest appearances alongside his brother.

- Serves as Thomas’ foil, while the blue E2 is very headstrong and immature, the purple N2 is diplomatic and kind. Edward has noted how they each highlight each others’ flaws, Thomas lacking the emotional understanding and Ryan being too submissive.

- He sees Toby as his grandpa, and he went to him when Thomas was giving him the cold shoulder.

🚂✨——————————————✨

The Steam Team in General:

- Despite they’re constant bickering and the snarky remark here and there, they’re all good friends and if you try hurting one the whole gang Will [FIGHT YOU].

- They have weekly movie nights, it’s usually a better less stressful way to get to know each other, sometimes others are invited.

- Henry’s driver’s backyard is their hang out place, they usually go there during off times.

🚂✨——————————————✨

AAAAAA

I spent a Lot of time on this (on both the drawings and general headcanons).

I do hope it’s at least ‘Cohesive’ and such ehehe ^^’.

RBs are Greatly appreciated!

[mayonnaisetoffees]

Mayo's Fic Recs

List of my favourite fics below the cut; this list is a WIP and completely personal taste; a mix of fandom classics and lesser knowns

Please remember to leave comments and kudos for the authors and podficcers!

*shows particular favourites

Fandoms currently included: Spn, Merlin, Les Mis, BatFam

Fics That Changed Me Fundamentally

Loaded March*** by Footloose. Merlin | E | 1.26M(Series)/ 35k (First part) | 188k hits (First part)

The reason SAS Captain Arthur Pendragon can’t keep a communications specialist in Team Excalibur because none of them are good enough. And then Lieutenant Merlin Emrys gets assigned to his squad, and Arthur does everything he can to prove that Merlin isn’t good enough, either. Except he is.

You can read all about my thoughts on Loaded March here, here, and here. Basically this fic series is beautifully written, has absolutely delicious UST, has found family, magic, and high stakes. It’s been part of my life for almost a decade now, I made friends through LM that I still have to this day, and it genuinely changed me as a person. Plus there are 78k of Extras to itch that I Finished Now What scratch. Parts 1-5 have been podficced and you can find them in works inspired by this one in each part.

Down to Agincourt*** by Seperis. Supernatural | E | 1.12M(Series)/ 154k (First part) | 73k hits (First part)

The world’s already over and they’re already dead. All they’re doing now is marking time until the end.

S7!Dean is transported back to the aftermath of where 5x04 The End left off. Much like LM, DtA was one that I avoided for a while. I didn’t think it would be my thing. I’m not usually into End!verse, it sounded so bleak from the summary, and it sounded so long for something I wasn’t sure about. If you’re reading this and nodding along? You are as much a fool as I was. Yes, it’s the end of the world. But it’s not over yet. This is a beautiful journey in what it means to be yourself, how to survive the end of the world, a How-To for Coups, and a study in food as a love language. I only read this fic this year, but like LM, it has genuinely changed me. Map of the World has been podficced.

Supernatural

Let’s start with the current hyperfixation. All of these are at least passively Dean/Cas unless otherwise stated. I've split into ones from my first time around in the SPN fandom and more recent ones because the vibes are actually really different and it took me some time to adjust (Not in a bad way! In a time has passed they have grown as characters way)

Old-School SPN (AKA the Classics my first time around)

Canon-Compliant or Divergent

Home in Motion* by nomdeplume13 M | 232k | 48k hits

Castiel swore he was done with spur of the moment decisions that permanently changed Dean Winchester's life. A year after the angel's most disastrous, his newest may present the largest challenge of dean's life: Fatherhood.

Did someone say kid!fic in canonverse? This is perfect. Canon divergence from the end of S6. Cas saves a baby from a neglectful mother and gives him to Dean to raise. They all move in with Bobby. Great OCs. Bobby considers Cas his son. Listen everything I say here will not be able to begin to encompass how much I love this fic. Just trust me on this one.

Named* by RC_McLachlan M | 95k | 95k hits

Jesus Christ is dead. Somehow, that isn't the worst part of Dean's week.

With a summary like that, need I say more? No but I'm gonna. This is one of the funniest fics I've ever read, but it doesn't take any emotion from the serious moments, if anything it heightens them. There are so many quotes from this I think about all the time. It was written in 2010 and so there's a bit of misogyny/character assassination of Anna in places.

Second Childhood by CloudyJenn (read by exmanhater) G | 16k (1h30) | 10k hits

"Dude, I can't do this whole thing by myself," Dean said with far more desperation leaking into his tone than he liked. It would just be too much to make it through hell and death and Lucifer only to have Castiel bail on him because of a frigging baby.

They beat the Apocalypse (OG-S5) and then Sam gets de-aged by a spell. I've listened to this so many times I know it by heart, it's an ultimate comfort fic to me.

Defy Any and All Expectation* by Tenoko1 (read by Tenoko1) M | 138k (14hrs) | 37k hits

Chuck's newly released books tell of another war between Heaven and Hell. Team Free Will sets out to try to defy prophecy, only to realize there is a lot more at stake and amiss than the not-quite-accurate words of one Prophet of the Lord. Along the way, Dean and Cas' relationship continues to evolve into something neither expected or were prepared for, all of their lives transforming in ways no one could have expected. But with no shortage of cases, monsters, and mayhem, it's going to require the help of new friends and old enemies if they're to have a hope of saving the world one more time. Alternate Season Six.

So this is a re-written version of Tenoko1's The Path We Choose which I don't think is around anymore. By the time I was reading the re-write as each chapter came out, I knew every single line of TPWC and it wasn't all that much shorter. It's such a perfect canon divergence because they are all 100% in-character. If you're into podfic, you already know what an absolute gift 14 hours is, but if you have never tried podfic before, Tenoko1 is a fantastic place to start. Her voice is soothing and energetic and her Cas sometimes comes to mind when I'm reading fic in Misha's place (sorry Misha)

His Fucking Kids 'Verse by 8sword M | 96k(Series)/ 3k (first part) | 26k hits (first part)

Jesus, the school should just have a parking spot labeled, “Reserved for the Novak-Winchesters,” because Dean’s getting sick of having to cruise around the parking lot looking for a spot every time he gets a call from the principal about Emma.

Emma survives and Dean and Cas are raising her and Claire. This fic series will make you laugh, make you cry, and (nowadays) make you wish Emma had survived to be a part of Wayward Sisters.

One Species Too Many by wallmakerrelict E | 22k | 37k hits

While Dean is laid up for a month after breaking his leg on a hunt, Cas decides that it's a perfect time to adopt a litter of kittens. But even though he's gotten better since Purgatory, Cas still isn't quite the same as he was before fixing Sam's head, and being trapped in a cabin with him for weeks on end is making that all the more obvious to Dean. When Sam takes off on a hunt, Dean has to figure out on his own how to navigate his new relationship with Cas while also helping to raise a bunch of fuzzballs that aren't even cute. Not even a little bit. (Well, maybe a little bit.)

Dean breaks his legs, and honey!Cas brings home some kittens to foster. It's achingly sweet and also painful because you know Dean wants to fix Cas but there's nothing to fix. It is tagged for ableism for this.

Tripping* by Hatteress E | 49k | 78k hits

That time the universe decided Dean belonged with Cas and wasn't afraid to pull out the big guns to make it so. Big guns in this case being obsessive fangirls, archangels turned tricksters and overly enthusiastic cupids. Welcome to Dean's life.

Alt!S5 and it is beautiful. Also any fic with Missouri is an automatic win.

Broadway Musical by Grifitings M | 12k | 79k hits

This is the day that marked the Holy and Blessed Union of Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle. The merging of prominent bloodlines is always a grand occurrence, but breeding pedigree hunter families like Winchester and Harvelle is something to be rejoiced. It is also something to be meticulously planned, which thankfully the Host is very good at. Or, the romantic comedy where Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle are destined to get married, Castiel is given the task of playing matchmaker and fails terribly, the entire Heavenly Host becomes a sitcom audience, God warns against male pregnancy, and Jimmy Novak is incredibly unimpressed with angels in general.

Jimmy deserves a sainthood and frankly I don't even want to hear about crack if it's not on the level of the Host yelling at Cas not to touch the butt.

Classic AUs (AKA AUs from my first time around)

Try Something Tuesday by almaasi E | 48k | 144k hits

Dean Winchester teaches a third-grade class. He's new to this whole ‘bisexual’ thing - but by pure happenstance, he meets Castiel: a particularly dapper male librarian who moonlights as a substitute teacher. Dean's curious and Castiel is willing, so why the hell not? Except, fate never intended it to be one-time-only...

This was one of the first spn fics to really really stay with me and it never really left.

Rock 'n' Roll Queer Bar by ChasingRabbits E | 127k(Series)/ 8k (Part1) | 29k hits (Part1)

Ellen and Jo Harvelle run Harvelle's Roadhouse, a bar that unintentionally becomes a beacon for wayward queer souls. Her employees: Dean, the smartass runaway with a big heart and bigger mouth; Castiel, the college drop-out turned hippie; his (surprisingly heterosexual) trouble-making brother Gabriel; and Charlie, who has been told several times that the back room is not to be used for after-hours Dungeons & Dragons games. But there's a lot of love in this place, and a new family for anyone who may otherwise be without.

This series. If you've ever felt unsure or out of place or anxious or just really felt like no-one understood you, this fic is for you. I first found this series when I was coming to terms with my queerness and I genuinely think it was invaluable. Also I am a sucker for the go for a dinner at Cas's family and end up storming out trope.

Play It All Night Long by janie_tangerine (read by Tenoko1) NC17 | 43k (4hrs)

The rom-com-ish one where Dean hosts a late night radio show, Castiel is a regular listener of his who starts calling one day and ends up calling more often than not and Dean finds himself liking it. This, until one day Castiel calls for not exactly petty reasons (just before Dean's brother Sam is visiting with his girlfriend for spring break) and things get very, very crowdy at his place. He also doesn't know it's just the beginning of it. Also features Gabriel, Chuck, Andy, the Roadhouse crew and a huge amount of music quoted. Especially Bob Dylan.

Again, this podfic has got me through many a night of insomnia. Cas calls in after a particularly shitty day and it all goes from there.

New-School SPN (AKA post-2014)

Canon-Compliant or Divergent

Tall Grass by aeli_kindara E | 57k | 28k hits

“I think we should have a garden,” Cas says. Dean looks up from his beer. He hasn’t had that much to drink, but Cas still has a vague look of unreality about him, a splash of living color that doesn’t fit in the bunker’s echoing stillness. Dean didn’t hear him coming. A lot of the time, Cas is so unobtrusive it feels like Dean has the bunker to himself, with Sam away. Dean shakes his head to clear it. “A — garden?” he repeats.

There is a reason you will see this recced time and time again. It healed parts of me I didn't know needed healing.

So Says the Sword* by komodobits E | 85k | 73k hits

The briefing was simple: ‘Stand guard over the Michael Sword until the battle is ready to commence. Await further instructions.’ Castiel doesn’t mind working security duty; he was briefed shortly after the initial salvation of the Sword from the pit, and again before taking up his position. He knows what to do. However, it’s easy to forget that the green room isn’t real. Time moves differently there, the space ever-changing to make a prison of mountains, cathedrals, salt flats, orchards, and whatever Castiel was led to believe about Heaven’s greatest weapon—Dean Winchester is something entirely unexpected

I saw ssts mentioned in like every single If you're getting back into the fandom READ THIS rec list. For good reason. It's described as "canon-adjacent in that seasons one to three happened exactly the same, but when Dean goes to Hell, he is not raised by Castiel". It's one of the most interesting concepts I've read and it's one of those fics where the writing style will stick with you. Castiel POV in a way you've never read before.

Aching in the Absence of You* by sobsicles E | 95k | 9k hits (in 5 days)

Brittle and battle-worn, Cas looks at him over coffee one morning and says, "I need to go," and Dean instantly knows that he's not coming back. He's not really sure how he knows it, but he does. It settles into the pit of his stomach, curling hot and tight like something he instinctively wants to tear out with his bare hands. He takes a breath, and it gets stuck in his throat, hitching there. It hurts, hurts, hurts when he finally exhales. "Yeah," Dean says, "of course you do," and he nods jerkily as he looks down at his phone. He doesn't say goodbye. He doesn't look up from the screen when Cas gets up and leaves the room. He doesn't finish his coffee, or move for a long time. By nightfall, Cas is gone.

If you don't already know sobsicles, I am delighted to introduce you to the person who will smash you to pieces with a hammer to put you back together Kintsugi-style. This one is post-finale but without 15x18 (it'll make sense as it goes). Cas says he's going to leave again and again Dean doesn't ask him to stay. Full of lines so beautiful they'd make Shakespeare weep, Sobsicles has this way of writing that is so evocative and paints such a clear picture. Fair warning, if you're Dean-coded, this might be A Lot.

dumbassery, denial, doing (the three d's to the destination)** by sobsicles E | 108k | 25k hits

Freedom is just one adjustment after the next. ~~~ Cas hums again. "I think you already have. It's been months since everything settled. All that's left to do is...get used to it, and perhaps—" His voice stalls out, uncharacteristically, and his gaze roams Dean's face with intensity. When he speaks next, his tone is a little raw. "Perhaps what one does with peace is...whatever they want." "What if I don't even know what that is?" Dean grumbles, arching an eyebrow in challenge. "'Cause I know damn well you don't just mean good food and a good bed and time in Baby, not simple wants like that. You mean—ya know, the big things, the wants we didn't get to have before." "Yes," Cas agrees. "If you're not sure, figure it out." "Easier said than done."

Yes, two sobsicles recs back to back. This one I read first and it still holds such a special place in my heart. A sign of a good fic is being able to picture it perfectly. The sign of an amazing fic is that when reading this I was so in Dean's shoes I could feel a pool cue between my hands and Baby behind my back. And I sobbed like a baby in this. It has probably my favourite ending ever. It's genuinely beautiful. If you don't read another on this list, read this one.

Teaching Poetry to Fish by aeli_kindara M | 52k | 14k hits

In which Castiel teaches poetry to fish. Also, himself. Also, eventually, Dean. (A series-long story, diverging slightly from canon after S14.)

The ultimate Cas character study and interwoven with poetry.

So There It Is, I've Said It All by PorcupineGirl (read by Ceewelsh) G | 4k | 13k hits

"Why, do you have something you need to say to me that you don't think I'll like?" I think I'm in love with you. "Yeah. I guess so."

Dean figures out he's in love with Cas then can't stop thinking it. This is genuinely beautiful and if you've ever had trouble actually saying the thing you're thinking, you'll relate to Dean here. I recently did the podfic for this.

you won't find this place alone by amidsizedfrog G | 9.5k |

When Claire said she was dropping out of college to pursue hunting full time, Dean said, “right,” and left the room. Or, the cross-generation conversation about formal education, choosing your own path and figuring out what it looks like to find a family. Or, in other words: "But what I do have is a GED and a give-'em-hell-attitude, and I'll figure it out." - Dean Winchester

This is a beautiful look at education in the hunter world, and I love anything that looks at Dean and Bobby's relationship and this does it perfectly. Also best cameo ever.

Seek to Know You Better by ahurston E | 33k | 23k hits

Dean and Cas, a long stretch of highway, and 36 questions empirically designed to make two people fall in love. As if they weren't already.

This is perfect. It has a lovely slow pace like it has the vibes of an indie film if that makes sense? Like it's two guys going from place to place talking. It was an instant favourite.

Newer AUs (AKA more recent AUs)

And This, Your Living Kiss* by opal_bullets M | 57k | 69k hits

Only a very few people in the world know that the celebrated and reclusive poet Jack Allen is just Kansas mechanic Dean Winchester, a high school dropout with a few bucks to his name. Not that it matters anymore; life has left him so wrung out he never wants to pick up another pen. Until, that is, a string of coincidences leads Dean to auditing a poetry course with one Dr. Castiel Novak. The professor is wildly intelligent, devastatingly handsome...and just so happens to be academia's foremost expert on the poetry of Jack Allen.

When I asked which fics were absolute must-reads for someone who'd been out of the fandom a few years, this was said repeatedly. But what really got me to read it was everyone actually told me more about what it meant to them than just the summary. It's a study in poetry, a study in learning who you are and who you used to be, and a reminder that it's never too late.

The Graveyard Shift* by riseofthefallenone, PurgatoryJar E | 620k | 175k hits

Dean’s favourite coffee shop, The Graveyard Shift, is only open after the sun goes down. Which is perfect for him, because that’s exactly when he craves coffee the most while doing the overnight at the fire hall. The coffee shop’s owner is pretty perfect too, but it’s kind of a bummer that Dean never gets to see Cas during the day. In a world where the supernatural live more or less in peace with the rest of humanity, it’s a little impolite to ask Cas just what he really is - or what his dark past entails.

A fantastic magical realism fic - magical creatures live and work with humans. Gabe and Cas run a coffee shop, Dean is a fireman, and the burn is slow and delicious and the intrigue kept me reading for like a week every single spare minute.

Painted Angels by WinJennster E | 106k | 162k hits

Author Castiel Novak has finally hit the big time, with a book based on his failed college relationship with a brilliant painter. He's put all his pain behind him, but at a book signing, he comes face to face with Dean Winchester for the first time in twelve years, and the reunion doesn't go like Cas hoped. Dean's a broken man, with a lot of scars and secrets, shoulders weighed down by his demons and self loathing. Cas sees a second chance with the man he's never stopped loving, but Dean's moved on, and is about to get married. Sam launches a "brilliant" plan to reunite his brother and his best friend, but Cas is worried it will all blow up in their faces, and he'll go through the agony of losing Dean a second time.

The first part of this I actually saved back when I was first in the fandom but I never got around to reading it (I had a To Read folder of 100+ fics that I absolutely dove into when I got back into spn) and the rest of the series finished in 2016 so I'm counting it in this section not the other. On the one hand, I wish I'd read this when it first came out. It's beautiful and heartbreaking, and so visual. On the other hand, I think I appreciated it a lot more now than I would have seven years ago. The parallel of me coming back to the old fandom that I loved dearly with Cas coming back to see someone and places he loved so much really hit. (Although coming back to the spn fandom was much easier and much less heartbreak!)

Finale Fix-Its (yeah fuck you Dabb that this has to be a whole category)

The Goldenrod Revisions by aethylas M | 66k | 15k hits

A rewrite of Supernatural’s final two episodes, expanded into a five episode arc - in which Chuck needs to be defeated, Castiel deserves to be saved, and the characters in this story get a very different ending.

Script format re-write of 15x19 and 15x20 into a 5-episode finale fix-it. As far as I'm concerned, this and chocolatecakecas's American Pie fanvid are the Supernatural finale.

break the skin (to break the barriers)* by sobsicles M | 30k | 9k hits

The first time she meets him, he's nothing more than an almost-missed appointment. ~~~ Dean is silent for a long, tense moment, then he gruffly says, "It's not for banishing the angels. It's to summon them. So, it doesn't—it's not to get rid of 'em, but to draw 'em in." Mitzi can't help but glance up at him at that. His voice is so heavy with so much unexplained pain, and she doesn't understand why, or what angels have to do with it. She knows religion can impact people. She's very aware that it can get complicated, and that it can be a huge source of pain for someone, but Dean sounds grievously wronged, somehow, as if it's a truly personal thing. She pushes through, focusing back on her job, clearing her throat before murmuring, "Well, I guess we all want angels to visit us sometimes." "Just the one," Dean mumbles. "Your guardian angel?" Mitzi asks. Dean breathes out, "Something like that. As close to one as an angel will ever get."

Therapy through getting tattoos and telling your life story to someone who obviously doesn't think it's real. Outsider!POV not just done well, but done literally the best.

Kingdom Come by ahurston E | 17k | 10k hits

Cas wakes up on the coast of Maine. He makes his way home.

I don't know if this counts as finale fix-it as it's more fuck the finale we're ignoring that. There's just so much love and care in this fic.

The Family Business by chai_lattes M | 16k | 5.5k hits

It's all over. It's been weeks since Chuck's defeat and Cas' return from the Empty. There are no threats on the horizon, no apocalypses to stop, but there's something that keeps the Winchesters from being happy. Something that's maybe always been there. On their way back from a hunt, they find John Winchester, back from the dead.

If you're anything like me, you start rubbing your grubby little hands together at the tag John Winchester's A+ Parenting like yes let's address this! This is one of the best examples of John coming back and how it jars with the life that they have built. Also Claire and Jack getting to share screentime!

Merlin

If I have a forever fandom, it's Merlin. I've always kept one foot in this fandom, and it introduced me to fandom, and most importantly to podfic which kinda had an impact. All Merthur unless stated.

Canon-Verse

Seven Magpies by syllic (read by lunchee) E | 33k (3hr15) | 58k hits

Arthur opened his eyes a minute later to the sight of seven magpies streaking across the top of the clearing, their shapes dark against the white clouds and the muted grey of the sky. He tried to remember what it was that seven magpies meant—he'd had a nurse who had sung the rhyme to him as a child—but couldn't. Arthur wakes up somewhere he doesn't recognise, but where he clearly belongs.

Okay so this is an AU but it's Canon-AU so it's going here. Fantastic role reversal fic that you will be thinking about for weeks.

and from your grace, i fell by TheDragon (read by Ceewelsh) T | 4.6k (41mins) | 13k hits

“Where’s Merlin?” he asks the maid. “Where’s that idiot of a Court Sorcerer?!” “Begging your pardon, Your Majesty. I thought you knew,” the maid replies, not daring to look him in the eyes. “He’s taken ill.” “And he couldn’t be bothered to tell me himself that he would be unable to attend today’s council meeting?” Arthur questions, voice full of acid. “He hasn’t woken since he collapsed two days ago, Sire,” the maidservant says, blissfully unaware that what she’s saying the power to stop Arthur’s heart in its tracks.

When I first read this, it had me completely transfixed. I could not stop reading. It was so raw and so full of emotion. I was then lucky enough to get TheDragon in our exchange, so I did a podfic for it and it's probably the most proud I've been of one.

Modern AU

The Student Prince* by FayJay (read by FayJay) M | 145k (15hrs) | 696k hits

A Modern day Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love...

A classic is a classic for a reason. I'm also pretty sure this introduced me to podfics so like special place in my heart x2. Did you know if you filter AO3 by hits on Merlin, this has 426k more hits than the second result? Now that is a Fandom Classic.

Drastically Redefining Protocol* by rageprufrock (read by lunchee) E | 46k (5hr30) | 269k hits

In which Prince Arthur meets Merlin and all hell promptly breaks loose.

As I always say, if this can happen to me and I still love the fic, nothing is going to change that. Arthur hides from his duties in a cupboard and gets stuck in there with a chainsmoking med student.

Fundamental Imperfections by Starlingthefool (read by bravenclawsome) M | 12k (1hr35) | 123k hits

In which an argument about Dickens leads to a Twitter scandal, broken bones, midnight conversations, and transatlantic longing. (Or, an AU with Arthur and Merlin as moderately famous authors.)

This fic has everything: Charles Dickens, long distance texting, Morgana choking a Sherlock cosplayer with his own scarf. This is the ultimate comfort fic and I compare all fics to this even when they're incomparable. I never read the sequel because it was WIP and I was waiting for it to complete, it hasn't been updated since 2015 and apparently ends on an unhappy note, so if you're going to read the sequel you have been warned.

Les Mis

Modern!AU

Overzealous Oddities by YassHomo e/R, Courf/Cosette/Marius, Comb/Ép | G | 6.4k | 4k hits

Courfeyrac: Remember when I smashed our tv and we laughed about it? Enjolras: No. Courfeyrac: Let me rephrase Courfeyrac: I've smashed our tv, lets laugh about it.

I love me a text fic and this is in my opinion the best one around. Just look at that summary. I have quoted that so many times.

But Paris was a very old city and we were young* by GingerNinjaAbi E/R, Courf/Jehan | M | 99k | 42k hits

Perhaps somewhere in between all the cups of coffee, shots of tequila, sunny March days, terrible lumpy jumpers, love, cigarettes, drunken nights and the desire to change the world they'll all leave Paris with a degree in something. Or not. Grantaire's money is on no. But he's a pessimist who's hopelessly in love, so perhaps his opinion shouldn't count.

The ULTIMATE modern!AU tbh.

Tagged by Salomonderiel E/R, Courf/Jehan | E | 155k | 28k hits

So there's this artist. He could probably be compared to Banksy, but he's a lot more... cynical. He shares rooms with a poet who braids his hair with flowers, in a flat near Covent Garden they rent from a short-tempered shop keeper with a penchant for fans and who'd do anything if you mentioned Poland. Sometimes, the three of them will go and deface public buildings in London whilst completely smashed off their heads. And then there's this, shall we say, 'revolutionary'. He has a band of other revolutionaries, who all meet at this cafe by Borough Market. He shares rooms with his best mate, a philosophy student, spends too much time with a flirty guy who has a thing for poets, goes boxing with a guy in a red vest, wants to punch the wet sop who drools on the blonde waitress and is getting tired of this guy who keep breaking his laptops through sheer dumb luck. Thank god the hypochondriac's there to keep an (slightly too) attentive eye on their stress levels. The revolutionary thinks the graffiti artist's work is a waste of space. The artist thinks the revolutionary's campaigns are a waste of time. And all the while, the poet and the flirt drool over each other in the background...

This is perfect and it's funny and it's beautiful and it rips my heart out multiple times.

Canon

To Be Free by kjack89 (read by Ceewelsh) Gen, Cosette/Marius | T | 3.8k (32mins) | 375 hits

Three blows from a bayonet had transfixed Combeferre’s breast, followed by a fall from the barricade as he rapidly lost first blood and then consciousness. But neither of these, it seemed, was enough to kill him, as much as later he might perhaps wish that they were.

I read this because it was on a list kjack89 did of their favourite fics which don't necessarily have the same hits traffic. It's nothing I would have usually read (canon era, not e/R, MCD) but I am so glad I gave it a go. It's a study on what if Combeferre had survived the barricades too and the guilt. This stayed with me for days afterwards until I eventually messaged kjack89 to get permission to podfic it.

BatFam

Canonish (I don't know differences between canons but these are all they're superheros fics)

Robins United by laceymcbain (read by reena_jenkins) Gen | T | 49k (6h15)/ 19k (2h25) (First part) | 103k hits

Bullets, knives, a three story fall, even a fucking crowbar hadn't managed to keep Jason down permanently, but Dick Grayson (and the rest of his "family") was going to kill him with kindness.

The ultimate batbros series. Also if you haven't heard reena_jenkins' podfics before, you are welcome. Pre-pandemic I took a lot of public transport and reena_jenkins kept me sane.

batcoons by drakefeathers (read by reena_jenkins) Gen | G | 6k (49mins) | 14k hits

Jason and raccoons have a lot in common. (Additionally: his so-called family are much bigger pests than the stray animals hanging around his safehouse.)

This is funny, it's heartwarming, and it's a really good character study.

AU

Here Comes the Sun by batsy_rocks Clark/Bruce | T | 19k | 20k hits

Clark Kent is a kind-hearted reporter working in the big city. Bruce Wayne is a stressed dad of four with no idea of what he's doing. Then they meet.

Bruce Wayne is a Tired Single Dad™. It's genuinely such a sweet fic.

[altura-learning-australia]

Today we’ll recognise Altura Learning as a provider of online care training courses, however that was not always the case. If we teleport back to the 1980s, we’ll realise that the so-called internet we currently have was not even accessible to the public. Believe it or not, the Altura we love today started off on the television as a satellite training network broadcasting throughout Australia with their main target audience being doctors and pharmacists.  

So how did they become what they are today? In the 1990s Altura discovered a gap in the market in the care sector in which there was a lack of inspiration, quality information and best practises on how to support the elderly. Hence the Aged Care Channel (ACC TV) was launched in 2003 in Sydney as an innovative learning channel. Wait, so Altura wasn’t called Altura? ACC TV became so prevalent across Australia that nearly two in every three care facilities became ACC members - a whopping 66% market share. So what next? In 2009 ACC was launched in the UK with their main focus being residential care providers. New Zealand & Ireland welcomed the arrival of the Aged Care Channel in 2017. A year later in 2017 ACC rebranded and became Altura Learning as we recognise today with their new-high software and video technology. Why the name Altura? The word ‘Altura’ was inspired by the two words ‘altruism’ and ‘altitude’ conveying a genuine passion to aim higher and the desire to improve the quality of life of the elderly by educating Care providers through their media-rich aged care courses.

Let’s discuss Altura’s shift from traditional broadcasting on TV to a more modern, digital approach. The Digital industry has progressed rapidly through the 00s and the 10s, so much so that Altura changed their approach by creating their videos and uploading them on their website through a Learning Management System (LMS). We have a Learning & Development team on site when we film real-life scenarios as well as interviewing real people to ensure its relevancy and relatability; maintaining high quality practises is what makes Altura, well Altura.

Now we know how & why ACC became Altura Learning, let’s say it’s been an innovative journey. What is LMS? A Learning Management System is a software application allowing you to gain access to online courses with the ability to track and assess a learner's progress. Altura takes this to the next level with an innovative ‘Bridge LMS’. Usually, you will either have to sacrifice quality content or a quality Learning Management System, with Bridge LMS, Altura’s care providers neither have to sacrifice content nor a quality Learning Management system, meaning that you can access our courses anytime, anywhere and on any device. One of the reasons we recommend Bridge LMS is to help you develop your employees through high quality, never-ending learning & development. 

However, if you have your own LMS system you can access our entire library of aged care courses by downloading our SCORM file and uploading it onto your LMS. You can access Altura Learning’s entire course material at www.alturalearning.com.