#long story short: gay and not modern

[wangxianficfinder]

I'm in the mood for...

July 31st

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1. Hii I'm kinda new here but if you can help me it would be awesome!! So basically, I don't know if there really a fic like that exactly, but anything close is great. I'm looking for a fic where lan zhan locks wei ying (probably in the cloud recesses), and for some reason, wei ying can't see/has eye cover. The idea is based on the scene where lan zhan says he wants to take someone (wei ying) and hide this someone. Thanks a lot😁 @untamedlover

A Way Out by pinkquilts (E, 143k, WangXian, Angst with a Happy Ending, Living Together, Canon Divergence, Slow Burn, First Love, Locked In, Major Character Injury, Fluff, Sharing a Bed, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Tension, Drunken Shenanigans, WWX misinterprets literally everything, Miscommunication, Mutual Pining, Eventual Smut, Fix-It, Injury) Lan Zhan takes an unconscious Wei Ying back to Gusu and locks him in a warded cottage in A Way Out so it's close to the request but not quite what they ideally wanted.

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2. Hi! I would love recommendations for Wei Wuxian/Nie Mingjue if anyone has any! I loved “Better Things To Do With A Flute In Wartime” for the sexy times but mainly for the feeling like Nie Mingjue recognized that Wei Wuxian was more than just a troublemaker, he saw that Wei Wuxian was a strong, capable, smart man. Would love any recs people have for this duo! Thank you!

An Elegant Solution by giraffeter (E, 205k, niewangxian, canon divergence, arranged marriage, friends to lovers, fix-it, everyone lives au, courtship, polyamory, smut) unfortunately I don't have any nmj/wwx, it's nmj/wwx/lwj but I found the fic very enjoyable!

I’ll grow you a garden (in my fortress of stone) by Lyna_Mei (M, 16k, WIP, MingXian, Canon Divergence, CQL-Verse, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Cultivation Sect Politics, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Past Child Abuse, Self-Esteem Issues, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Not Jiang Family Friendly, JYL is Not Angelic, No MY redemption, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Slow Burn, Age Difference, Sporadic Updates)

When Night Falls by aspiratixxn (M, 28k, MingXian, canon-divergent, depictions of war, mild nudity, Slow Burn)

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3. hi there. this is an itmf request for baoshan sanren coming down from her mountain and claiming wwx as her grandson/disciple. in front of gentry would be great, but other instances are also welcome. thanks for all your hard work!

Become Tomorrow by ShanaStoryteller (Not rated, 39k, wangxian, BSSR/LY, Alternate Universe, a story full of tragic pining gays, and one chaotic gremlin, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, WWX is BSSR’s disciple)

Can't Tell Me Nothin by natacup82 (T, 35k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, Everybody Lives, Family Feels, Communication, BAMF Women)

🧡 Ghosts Shouldn’t by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 15k, WangXian, Grief/Mourning, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending)

🔒Through the Storm by marhikit (T, 33k, WangXian, WX/OMC, Not JC Friendly, Canon Divergence, Not Madam Yu Friendly, Not Jiang Family Friendly, WWX gets big siblings that love and adore him, JZX ends up with someone different, No Golden Core Transfer, Creepy JGS, JZX & WWX Friendship, WWX in a different sect)

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4. Hi!! 👋🥰

It's me! I'm on vacation finally, I missed you all so much, but I couldn't read fanfics during my exams (it's too distracting). But now I'm free again, so I'm here to ask a ITMF! Yey!

Lately I'd like to read fanfics in which:

A) LQ discover about the absence of WWX's core and decides to help WWX and the Wens. And bring all of them to Gusu.

B) LQ discover about the abuse of Madam Yu and decides that WWX will stay in Gusu. (I love when this happens during the Cloud Recesses Study Arc, but it's ok if this happens in other moment).

I like happy endings, and I prefer when the good people live (Wens, JY, JC...) and only bad people dies. Long fics if it's possible, but shorts are ok too. No modern fics.

Thank you for everything! 🤟🥰💕 @wangxiansgirl

4A)

Righteous at a Cost by thunderwear (G, 21k, wangxian, LQR & WWX, Canon Divergence, Fix-It, no one dies, LQR finds out about WWX’s core, WWX and LQR are friends??, In My Fic?, its more likely than you think, LWJ in the bg like whats happening?, Fluff, WWX goes to Gusu, Mutual Pining, Golden Core Reveal)

Weep You No More, Sad Fountains by athena_crikey (T, 59k, WangXian, LXC & LWJ, LXC & JGY, Canon Divergence, Fix-it fic, Whump, Curses, Fever, Delirium, Stabbing, Loneliness, Confessions, LWJ's emotional repression, WWX giving everything as always, LXC realising sympathy is not support, LQR Being an Asshole) Not quite the request, since it's LXC who ends up inviting WWX & the Wens to come to CR, but iirc LQR grudgingly agrees the Wens need help & can stay? So may be close enough to scratch that itch

Discordant Rhapsody by nirejseki (T, 49k, LQR & WWX, wangxian, JC & WWX, WQ & WWX & WN, LWJ & LQR & LXC, canon divergence, fix-it, hurt/comfort, trauma, politics, protective LQR, protective LWJ, protective WWX, LQR centric, whump, angst) 4a similar. It's been a while since I read the fic so I don't remember if there's an eventually Golden Core reveal, but it's not the reason LQR has for inviting WWX and the Wen to the Cloud Recesses. But hopefully this is similar enough that the requester will enjoy it anyway.

No Strings Attached by stiltonbasket (G, 3k, WangXian, NieLan,Canon Divergence, Fix-It, LQR is a good uncle, Smitten LWJ, Golden Core Reveal)

Righteous and Devoted by thunderwear (T, 7k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Fix-It, Golden Core Reveal, LWJ's POV, Barely Any Pining, thanks lqr, Fluff, lots of fluff, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies)

4B)

Lessons relearned by Iamnotawriter (T, 44k, WangXian, LQR & WWX, Not Madam Yu Friendly, Time Travel Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Inventor WWX, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, No Golden Core Transfer, YZY Bashing)

🔒🧡 rain falls and soaks into the earth series by RoseThorne (T, 57k, WangXian, WIP, Near Death Experience, Attempt Drowning, Madam Yu Bashing, Recovery, No war AU)

💙 Holding shreds by barisan (T, 5k, WangXian, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, No Sunshot Campaign, Body Swap, Not for sexy shenanigans, Chronic Pain, Hurt WWX, Hurt LWJ, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Abusive YZY, Bad Parent YZY, Bad Parent JFM, Good Uncle LQR, Hurt/Comfort, Medical Inaccuracies, POV WWX, Angst with a Happy Ending, Jiāng Family Bashing, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Getting Together, Smart WWX)

🔒 Warming up (to him) by barisan (T, 9k, LQR & WWX, WangXian, Hypothermia, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Temporary Character Death, Medical Inaccuracies, YZY Abuses WWX, JFM Bashing, pre-wangxian, Good Uncle LQR, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort)

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5. Hello everyone! I am on the search for case fics which are spooky and creepy! The kind of thing you would want to read to set the mood for Halloween, but it is actually July and thunderstorming and the wind is howling and you want to curl up with a scary story and a cat on your lap. Preferably everyone lives in the end, but I am down for angst or temporary character death in the in between. Thank you!!

You are what you eat by deliciousblizzardshark (E, 17k, WangXian, Graphic Depiction of Violence, Major Character Death, Canon Divergence, Eldritch WWX, Horny LWJ, Body Horror, Possession, of a sort, Cannibalism, kind of, Mild Gore, Teeth, When the eldritch abomination possessing you is less of a pining idiot than you are, I did not expect there to be so much fluff when I started writing a fic about an eldrich horror, Fluff and Humor, Smut, LWJ is so fucking thirsty, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Monster sex, Switching, Light BDSM, Rimming, Self-Lubrication, Seriousness treated Crackily, Implied/Referenced Torture, Dead WWX, Podfic Available) Eldritch horror!WWX

build me no shrines by occultings (microcomets) (M, 54k, WangXian, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, First Time, Getting Together, Confessions, Sharing a Bed, Hair Washing, Sentient Burial Mounds, Case Fic, Post-Canon, CQL Compliant, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Light Angst, Flashbacks, mild body horror, foot washing, Happy Ending, Non-Sexual Intimacy..., then sexual intimacy, playing fast and loose with mdzs lore, WWX learning to accept intimacy without deflection, occasional LWJ humor agenda, 🔒 [Podfic] build me no shrines by flamingwell)

in your skin by darkredloveknot (enheduane) (E, 10k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Pre-Relationship, Getting Together, Horror, Body Horror, Blood and Gore, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Love Confessions, Non-Consensual Body Modification, kinda??, Reflections over death and self-worth, mentions of canon suicide, Near Death Experiences, 🔒 [Podfic] in your skin by flamingwell)

爱不释手; never let me go by yiqie (E, 68k, WangXian, Case Fic, Blood and Injury, Demons, Body Horror, [Podfic] 爱不释手; never let me go by argentumlupine)

lan wangji sees dead people by mountainrain898

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6. Hi, I'm ITMF a fic where; (a) teenage wangxian meets adult wangxian maybe during cloud recess study arc and older wangxian time travel on purpose or accidentally and find themselves itn cloud recess (or something similar) (b) the other sects gather to plot against wei ying and they spy on burial mounds or find a way to view wei ying's memories (similar plot to seek and ye shall find) (c) do you know any au's where wangxian are professional gamers or play gaming competitions. @purplefuzzypickle

6A)

River Stones by littlesystems (M, 18k, WangXian, Time Travel, Post-Canon, Cloud Recesses Study arc, Junior Quartet, Oblivious WWX, Suffering LWJ, Voyeurism)

How did I end up with this Frozen Heart? by Grace_ShadowWolf (TaubeLePigeon) (T, 53k, WIP, WangXian, Time Travel, Fix-It, PTSD, Angst with a Happy Ending, YP!WWX, twin prides of yunmeng are horrified at the relationship between their future selves, YP!WWX has short hair, Canon Divergence, Self-Indulgent, wangxian get together early, Songfic, JC Bashing, LXC Bashing)

Timely by apathyinreverie (T, 8k, WangXian, Time Travel, Domestic WangXian, Fluff, Fix-It, Post-Canon, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Mutual Pining, wwx is sunshine personified, Smitten LWJ, Genius WWX, Romance) I'll also throw in Timely which just has Lan Wangji's spirit traveling from his teen years to when he's married to Wei Wuxian.

6B)

💖 The Path by Seastar98 (Not Rated, 279k, WangXian, CQL Verse, Golden core reveal, Fix-it of sorts, Angst with a happy ending)

6C)

simping for hanguang-jun by defractum (nyargles) (T, 6k, WangXian, Modern AU, YouTubers WangXian, Fluff, Among us game, Streamer AU)

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7. Hello, could you please recommend works where WY and LZ meet for the first time when they are older. For example over 30.

Thank you!

The Fault in Our Stars by Vamillepudding (T, 17k, WangXian, Modern AU, Getting Together, Romantic Comedy, Comedy of Errors, Misunderstandings, the title makes it sound like a cancer story, it's not a cancer story)

International Baby by AceBij (E, 21k, WangXian, Modern AU, Pilot!LWJ, CFO!LWJ, Regional Manager!WWX, CEO!LXC, CEO!JC, CFO!JYL, Secretary!WQ, Meet-Cute, baby!A-Yuan, baby!JL Mpreg, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Carrier!WWX, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Mild Hurt/Comfort, WWX's canonical breeding kink, LWJ's Canonical Breed WWX Kink, Communication, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment, It's only at the start and will not go into much detail, Love confessions)

Deep Dive by MimiSpearmint (E, 24k, WangXian, Modern AU, Twin Prides of Yunmeng Feels, Are Bad at Communicating, LWJ is a Panicked Gay, Therapy, Fluff and Humor, Getting Together, Angst with a Happy Ending, Career Ending Injuries, counsellor!lwj, give lwj friends agenda, background NieLan, Melbourne, Eventual Smut, Crack, Baby JL, domestic abuse is discussed but does not happen, Baby LSZ, Baby LJY, Anal Sex, Blow Jobs, Good Sex Practices, Implied Slight D/s, WangXian Have a Breeding Kink, Cameos by various minor characters)

Breathless by tiptoe39 (E, 69k, WangXian, Fashion & Models, Modeling, Getting Together, drunk lwj, Cranky LWJ, Model!LWJ, stylist!wwx, Happy Ending, WangXian Endgame, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff and Angst and then fluff again, Mustache-Twirling Villainy Just Off Camera, JYL Deals With So Much Brother Shit, LWJ Is Working Through His Own Shit, WWX is WWX, LWJ's Bunny Obsession, MianMian Is In Charge of Shoes, JC's Issues Have Issues)

不屈从于天 | not submitting to fate by starborst (E, 20k, WIP, WangXian, BAMF WWX, God!wwx, dream of red tower, Chinese Mythology & Folklore, but loosely based, there's a lot of oc characters & gods, Character Death, time skip, from when wwx was dead and also a god, lots of landscape description, it'll be really really slow paced) Technically it's god!WWX meeting reincarnated!LWJ bit if it's just about their relationship then this might fit! LWJ shows up at the end of chapter 3 and chapter 4 is basically just about their interactions in different situations. Might also fit for #10, seeing as LWJ is a reincarnation (I asked to make sure)

We Meet at the Thousandth Step by Admiranda, Rynne (T, 316k, WangXian, CSSR/WCZ, Canon Divergence, No Sunshot Campaign, CSSR & WCZ Live, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Different First Meeting, Night Hunts, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Plot, Romance, Drama, Fluff, Strangers to married, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Unresolved Romantic Tension, Everyone Lives, Developing Relationship, Minor Violence, Case Fic, Mystery, Flirting, WWX's Canon-Typical Flower Flirting, Arson, There Was Only One Bed, Getting Together, First Kiss, Meeting the Parents, Resolved Sexual Tension, Resolved Romantic Tension, WWX Is a Good Big Brother, New Relationship Bliss, Chinese Mythology & Folklore, Blood and Injury, Yiling siblings, Married WangXian, Honeymoon, Wangxian's Baby Fever) I can't remember how old Wei Ying & Lan Zhan are in We Meet at the Thousandth Step but I'm quite certain they're at least in their mid- to late-20s when they meet.

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8. itmf a wangxian fic where Jin Guangyao is forced to apologize to Lan Xichen for tricking into helping with Nie Mingjue's murder. Preferably a fic where wangxian comfort him afterwards. Any lxc ship is OK (xicheng, nielan, xiyao), I just want Lan Xichen to get a proper apology and for jgy to acknowledge how truly messed up it was and accept responsibility for being an asshole to poor lxc (and nmj tbh)

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9. Hello! For your next ITMF, could you find me some baby trapping fics please? Whether LWJ traps WWX or WWX traps him ����

(and I'd love you forever if you manage to find a fic where Lan Qiren think Wwx is baby trapping his precious cabbage and either it's all Part of LWJ's Plan or the baby was a mutual decision from the both of them)

Thank you!!

truly a love story for the ages by sweetlolixo (E, 4k, WangXian, Modern AU, Dark LWJ, Dark WWX, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Dark!Wangxian, Power Couple, Happy Wangxian Ending, slight daddy kink, Humor, Crack, Pregnant WWX) Of course I gotta rec the mutual baby trapping fic

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10. Do you have a comp fic of reincarnation? If not can you make this for next ITMF? (No comp as of yet though it is on the list! ~Mod L)

不屈从于天 | not submitting to fate by starborst (E, 20k, WIP, WangXian, BAMF WWX, God!wwx, dream of red tower, Chinese Mythology & Folklore, but loosely based, there's a lot of oc characters & gods, Character Death, time skip, from when wwx was dead and also a god, lots of landscape description, it'll be really really slow paced) (link in #7) Technically it's god!WWX meeting reincarnated!LWJ bit if it's just about their relationship then this might fit! LWJ shows up at the end of chapter 3 and chapter 4 is basically just about their interactions in different situations.

the recluse at the end of the moonlit path by beesinspades (T, 28k, WangXian, Modern AU, Reincarnation, Post-Canon, Jack of All Trades Artist WWX, Immortal! LWJ, Mutual Pining, Light Angst, Reunions, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Implied Sexual Content, Asexual Character, good vibes, [Podfic] the recluse at the end of the moonlit path by b_ofdale by Beria1021)

🧡 We Were Never Strangers by NeverEnoughWangxian (M, 36k, WangXian, Modern AU, Reincarnation, Modern Cultivators, POV WWX, (mostly), College Student WWX, Rogue Cultivator WWX, Immortal LWJ, Immortal LSZ, Dreams, Pining, Sharing a Bed, brief mentions of wwx's past death(s), WangXian.mp3, Getting Together, I guess getting back together technically, Happy Ending, Sexual Tension, Sexual Content)

🧡 All Old Things are New Again by The Feels Whale (miscellea) (M, 51k, WangXian, Reincarnation, Modern AU, canon still happened, extreme post canon, Sugar Daddy, Kink Negotiation, gentle dom!LWJ, canonical levels of consent play, Modern Cultivators, cultivators can recognize important people from previous lives, vaguely, this started out as a cute sugar fantasy and got just incredibly horny very fast, blame LWJ)

忘不了你的爱 (can't forget your love) by PorcupineGirl (G, 25k, WangXian, Time Travel, Modern with Magic, Modern Cultivators AU, Canon Divergence, Time Traveler WWX, discussion of canonical character deaths, a whole lot of handwaving, conveniently localized fires, Discussion of Canonical Suicide Attempt, mostly happy but slightly bittersweet ending)

Closer Than Eternity by Netrixie (T, 26k, WangXian, Modern AU, Reincarnation, an unhealthy addiction to starbucks, Immortals, cultivation is -kinda- commonplace, Self-Doubt, POV Alternating, Minor Original Character(s), Canon Compliant, Post-Canon, Temporary Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending, not for jc fans, This is not a reconciliation fic)

Have We Met Before by thelastdboy (T, 7k, WangXian, POV WWX, Modern: No Powers, First Meetings, College/University, Reincarnation, Strangers to Lovers, Slow Burn, Getting Together, Developing Relationship, Love Confessions, First Kiss, CSSR and WCZ Live, WWX Has a Family, Older Sibling WWX, Queer Themes, Demisexual WWX, Parent-Child Relationship, Friendship, Heteronormativity, Pining WWX, Fluff, Madam Lan Lives)

living in my memory/living in my mouth by tardigradeschool (T, 32k, WangXian, Reincarnation, Canon Divergence, College/University, Modern with Magic, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Sharing a Bed, Nightmares, Light Angst, Epistolary, (sort of), POV Alternating, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers)

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11. hi everyone! I am looking for modern cultivation aus where, this may sound redundant but ya know, cultivation is used in tandem with modern living. For example, I really liked in “The Shade of Old Trees” by Kryal how WWX used his cultivation to do sick tricks on a skateboard. Or in "Truth Will Out" by KizuKatana how the night hunts were filmed and uploaded to an internet forum. So yeah! Cultivation working with modern things, cool magic in tandem with modern science and tech. thanks tlm!!

speeding up my heartbeat by plonk (Not Rated, 24k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Gyms) has cultivation specific gyms and sports, with WWX doing cultivator level parkour

🧡🔒Night of the Living History (an edutainment special!) by Aerlalaith (T, 51k, WangXian, Modern with Magic, Workplace Relationship, Fluff and Humor, Museums, living history, Some Plot, Slice of Life, Injury, a minor haunting) has cultivation working (or not, as the case may be!) alongside modern tech

A Different Yarn by donutsweeper (T, 1k, WangXian, Urban Fantasy, Yarn store AU, Modern with Magic, Modern Cultivation) it's really short but in it knitting and crochet is used for talismans

Hear a song this deeply by so_shhy (T, 87k, wangxian, modern cultivation, academia au, music, kid fic, action/adventure, canon-typical violence, canon-typical JGY behavior, slow burn, fluff & angst, happy ending) has modern cultivation history researcher LZ and municipal cultivation employee WWX working within (or not, on occasion!) modern day cultivation rules, laws, and customs

and so my heart beats wildly by lily_winterwood (E, 106k, WangXian, JYL/JZX, Modern Cultivation, Rivalry, Competition, Competition-Set Fic, Athletes, Multimedia, Miscommunication, frenemies to lovers, Rivals to Lovers, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, Seemingly One-sided But Actually Mutual Pining, Oblivious WWX, Competitive Cultivation, Anal Sex, First Time, Angst with a Happy Ending, Olympics, Inappropriate use of an Olympic gold medal, Breathplay, Rough Sex, Food Porn, Tanabata, Lily's back on her Qixi bullshit, Switching, Bottom LWJ) has cultivation Olympics

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12. Hi all! Im in the mood for Jiang yanli bashing! I want her to also be angry and entitled like Jiang Cheng and then get, well, bashed for it!

Dispersing Clouds by dreamingofcake (E, 283k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Genius WWX, Inventor WWX, Not Jiang Family Friendly, Abusive YZY, Canonical Child Abuse, Hurt/Comfort, Slow Burn, Eventual Sex, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm (Background Character), Background Character Deaths, child deaths, Canon JC, Good Uncle LQR, Accidental Baby Acquisition, Cultivation Sect Politics, Homophobia, Heteronormativity, Feelings Realization, WWX is Not Oblivious) I wouldn't say she's angry, but she very much expects WWX to be a doormat for the sake of keeping things how she is used to them being

Hua Xianle by Tiffany_Guinne (Not rated, 260k, hualian, wangxian, TGCF, canon divergence, not Jiang friendly, madam lan lives, WWX adopted by hualian, WWX with different name, overprotective hualian, hurt WWX, WIP) crossover with TGCF, Hualian raises WWX, plenty of Jiang bashing all around

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13. for the in the mood for, may i have your most gutwrenching jiang cheng & wei wuxian sibling hurt/comfort please. preferably with reconciliation. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

ransom by alessandriana (G, 3k, JC & WWX, Hurt/Comfort, Dizziness, Fainting, Character is Injured while Protecting Another, Yunmeng Shuangjie, Yunmeng reconciliation, [PODFIC] ransom by Gwogobo) 

love lies beyond words by acrosticacrumpet (G, 4k, JC & WWX, Post-Canon, Whump, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, canon-typical dysfunctional relationships, Yunmeng Shuangjie Reconciliation, not a completed reconciliation but the beginning of one, Twin Prides of Yunmeng Feels, Self-Worth Issues, WWX's notoriously poor self-worth vs JC's legendary rejection sensitivity: FIGHT, painful conversations with a tasteful smidgeon of, Cuddling & Snuggling)

we’re starting at the end by Miss_Enthusiasimal (M, 92k, WangXian, JC & WWX, Time Travel, Canon Divergence, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Golden Core Reveal, Burial Mounds, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Starvation, emaciation, Cannibalism, Self-Harm, Amputation, Suicidal Thoughts, Sunshot Campaign, let JZX and WWX be friends club)

JC and WWX's Get Along Sweater series by newamsterdam (T, 29k, JC & WWX, Trapped In A Closet, Cultivation as Plot Device, Reconciliation, Miscommunication, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Panic Attacks, Unresolved Emotional Tension, Novel Spoilers, Post-Canon, Canon-Typical Violence, Night Hunting, Ghosts, Action/Adventure, Brotherly Love, Complicated Relationships, Yunmeng Shuangjie)

In The Dark Right Now by phnelt (T, 10k, WangXian, graphic depictions of injuries, trapped in a cave, Near Death Experience, fatalistic thinking, established wangxian, Family Feels, mention of unnamed illness of an offscreen character, Nobody dies in this fic, Alternate Universe - Modern AU, jc and wwx are caved in and lan zhan talks to them through the radio, Hurt/Comfort) if modern AU is acceptable

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14. For the next itmf, can you please recommend to me some fics where Jiang Cheng raises both Jin Ling and Wen Yuan . Preferably where both or at least A-yuan knows his father is Wei Wuxian

What Remains After the War by Swan_Song (T, 44k, JC & JL, JC & LSZ, JL & LSZ, WIP, Canon Divergence, LSZ is a Jiang, Good Uncle JC, Cousins JL & LSZ, JC Needs a Hug, JC Needs Therapy, The juniors solve a mystery, Junior Ensemble Shenanigans, Good Uncle LQR, he tries his best, LSZ Needs a Hug)

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15. itmf fics where instead of lan xichen, lan wangji becomes sect leader/king/emperor/etc. With happy ending for wangxian! Any length and rating works and if there's smut, can I get top plan wangji please? And nothing where lan wangji is with someone else romantically/sexually even for a bit in the course of the fic I don't have any other triggers/squicks!

The Wrong Man by Remma3760 (Not Rated, 103k, WangXian, WIP, Sect Leader LWJ, Evil JGS, Canon Divergence, Golden Core Reveal) Not exactly LWJ becoming sect leader *instead of* LXC, but does have LXC getting killed off in chapter 1, & LWJ becoming sect leader & instituting sweeping reforms. Still a WIP but the main story is over & is a happy ending (WWX is actually alive in this, so no having to wait for resurrection)

I Am Happy I Met You by Bhargavee00 (Not Rated, 34k, WIP, WangXian, Get a Happy Ending, Sect Leader LWJ, Chief Cultivator LWJ, Dragon LWJ, Top LWJ/Bottom WWX, Madam Lan Lives, Minor Madam Lan/Qingheng-jun, Qingheng-jun, Lives, Dark LWJ, Protective LWJ, Protective Gusu Lan Sect, Protective LXC, Protective LQR, Good Uncle LQR, WangXian Are Soulmates, WWX Goes to Gusu, Yunmeng Jiang Sect Bashing, Jiang Family Bashing, LWJ is So Whipped, Older LWJ, Good Older Sibling LXC, Sunshot Campaign, No Golden Core Transfer, WWX is a Lan, WWX is So Whipped)

The Straightest Path by meyari (T, 30k, WangXian, NieLan, MingLi, ChengSang, war and death, Grief/Mourning, Politics, plotting for neuroatypicals, Autistic LWJ, WWX Has ADHD, Non-Canon Relationship, No Yīn Iron, Sect Leader LWJ) LXC and LQR die leaving Lan Zhan to becoming Sect Leader

🧡 Discarded by teawater (E, 260k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Dying Lan children, Hurt/Comfort, YL WWX, Golden Core Reveal, Case Fic, Depression, Family Issues, Self-Esteem Issues, Self Confidence Issues, Self-Worth Issues, Angst with a Happy Ending, and it's not always dark, POV Multiple, BAMF WWX, dubious morals in the Lan sect Feels, Pining, Grief, Fix-It, BAMF LWJ)

golden when the day met the night by glitteringmoonlight (Not rated, 95k, slow burn, sugar daddy LWJ, light, angst, fluff, developing relationship, eventual smut, WIP)

Temptation by Karmiya (E, 23k, WangXian, JYL & WWX, WIP, Sect Leader LWJ, domestic abuse) LXC dies after the Sunshot Campaign and LZ becomes Sect Leader

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16. Hii!! does this count as an itmf? if anyone knows a fic where LZ gets married or bethroted during the thirteen years but then WY comes back anything like that ?? if it doesnt it definitely should ill take anything similar tho @yesibest

patching the road with vague intentions by loosingletters (T, 39k, WIP, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Humor, Developing Friendships, WWX Resurrected By Others, Trans WWX, Case Fic, POV WWX, POV LQR, Family, Good Uncle LQR, Hurt/Comfort, Golden Core Reveal, Slow Burn, Canon-Typical Violence, MXY Lives) To be fair, LWJs wife is the one who summons WWX into her body so it might not fully fit

Love Song In Reverse by timetoboldlygo (T, 237k, WangXian, Amnesia, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Falling In Love, Slow Burn, agressively mixing and matching novel and cql canon, No Homophobia, Mentions of Starvation, Parental WWX) For 16, if what you're looking for is wangxian struggle with their feelings for each other post ressurection while lwj is already commited to someone else, you might like Love Song in Reverse where WY comes back but without his memories so he believes he's MXY and he and LZ navigate their feelings while LZ is still commited to his feelings for WY.

~*~

17. for the next itmf what about a fic from when lwj and jc are searching for wwx when he was in the burial mounds

in our respective ways by Lise (T, 5k, JC & WWX, JC & LWJ, Missing Scene, Bonding, (sort of??), POV JC, Canon Compliant, that brief period of time when lwj and jc were solidly on the same page, JC's jealousy could be a third character, Twin Prides of Yunmeng Feels, Brothers, Canon Era, Not Friends to Still Not Friends, canon typical abuse of pows)

waiting, shivering by kornevable (T, 2k, JC & WWX, Introspection, Missing Scene, background wangxian)

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[thesonicpunk]

My favourite SNS fanfics (part 1)

Someone in the comments of my own fic asked for NaruSasu recs, so I thought I'd also make a post compiling my absolute favourites here! I've been so fortunate with the response to my work on AO3 so I hope this is a nice way to share the love around:

Inside this place is warm by magma. One shot, a cozy night in with Sasuke and hokage!Naruto where they figure out what they are to each other. It's short, so well written and the author really grasps the subtleness/complex nature of their relationship! (the author is @magmavox on tumblr!)

Swimming against the current by GODZILLA90095. Part 1 of the series with the same name. College AU. When I tell you I devoured this fanfic........ Lowkey-emo!Sasuke, hockey-player!Naruto. It's funny, it's got lots of pinning, it's got feels, it's got Naruto figuring out his sexuality in the most typically Naruto way, basically it's got IT ALL. And the writing is amazing. It was the fic that inspired me to get on the website and post my own work.

Tears don't fall by GODZILLA90095 (again bcs they rule). Part 1 of the series A different way but just as good. Modern AU. It's kind of a Naruto and Sasuke get a second chance in their 30s after a huge break-up. Naruto has kids with Hinata, but he's gay. It's heartbreaking, raw, real, beautiful.... fuckkkk read it!!!

The Symposium series by candlewix. Told from the perspective of ace!Kakashi. We see Naruto and Sasuke's love story across the years from his eyes. No one, I mean NO ONE, is as funny as this author. The way they write Kakashi's POV is hilarious, but so well balanced by the profound and beautiful descriptions the author writes about what Nart and Sake mean to each other. ugh.

We Deserved a Better Ending My Love by narutophobia. Reencarnation babyyy! Naruto and Sasuke in modern times, but everything that was in canon was real just reaaally long ago. Naruto remembers, searches for Sasuke (who doesnt remember!!). SHENANIGANS ensue. Beautiful love story and such an interesting take on things.

love like this is forever by moonplums.  Part 1 of the series forever. It's set in Boruto era/world - I am not usually into that tbh, it gives me anxiety to think about Sasuke and Naruto not getting together after the war BUT this series does it quite nicely, kind of like they have their awakening later in life and it's very cute how they have a family with the kids. Sarada's POV. Worth reading for sure!

when it all comes together, there's just you by kintou.  It's short fragments of both Naruto and Sasuke discovering their sexualities across the years, with and without each other. Super cute and interesting, and smutty! I love the concept. (author is @ao3-kintou on tumblr!)

I might one day make a part 2 to this, but so far these are the ones I've read that I really love! I hope it was ok to share these on here, if you are the author and would like me to remove (or tag you!) just message me.

If you read any of these and you like 'em, remember to leave a comment (any comment!). You can make the author's day with just a little emoji. <3

[midniiights-garden]

Modern!Mizu General Headcanons!!

I have so many many ideas for Modern!Mizu omg you don't understand (I wish she was real...)

Ok, so first of all I wanna start out with some HCs about her past and her mother.

I think she probably grew up in rural Japan, her relationship with her mother basically still the same as in the show.

Due to not being exposed to very many foreigners her relationship with her peers was strained because of her blue eyes (ofc. hate discrimination smHHH)

Anyways, although Mizu doesn't have to hide her gender, and I personally headcanon that Modern!Mizu wouldn't hide it, she still has some internalized mysogyny.

This is namely due to the huge issue with sexisim in Japan, sexual harassment and sexualisation of women and so on. Mizu grew up wishing she was a boy because she didn't want to feel like a piece of meat to be eyed up and down and sold.

I HC that she meets the Swordfather when she attempted to run away from home. Probably due to another bullying incident or something.

In my head she actually moves to America or Europe to study something related to craftsmanship or to become a professional martial artist. It makes the most sense in my head at least.

She got into Uni on a scholarship lol. I mean, translated into a modern setting I do think her skill would be enough to warrant a large scholarship.

University was a rough time in the beginning for her due to the many changes that come with moving to a new country, as myself and most other third country kids will know.

Mizu had to juggle learning English, beating racist asshole and school all at the same time.

Due to her reluctance to socialize she also struggles to learn English in the verbal sense. She learned how to read and write in English much faster than to speak it because she had no one practice with. That, and she refused to talk to anyone.

As for how she met Mikio...

Modern!Mizu probably met him because he was a teacher at her Uni.

Long story short when he finds out how she was concieved and how strong he is, well, big strong man gets emasculated and throws a fit and Mizu leaves him (as she should)

And then she realises she's gay lol

I think it'd happen in a pretty similar fashion as to Canon!Mizu but you can look at my headcanons for those if you need them.

I think the main differences between Modern!Mizu and Canon!Mizu would primarily be in how she deals with her rage. Of course, Modern!Mizu isn't allowed the luxury of just stabbing people to get revenge so I believe she may resort to a lot of physical exertion in the gym or just a lot of lashing out towards people in general.

(A/N: Yayayayayya second post for the day!!! As usual, if anyone has any requests or anything feel free to ask!! Happy holidays everyone!!! <3)

[rosenkranz-does-things]

About the Mike Flanagan discourse:

I've personally seen people complaining about Flanagan at least since the trailer for his adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher, and before that, he's kinda infamous for his adaptations of Hill House and Turn of the Screw for his tendency to take these stories, scoop all it makes them them, keep only the names and some references and do whatever he wants.

His adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House is kinda egregious due to him taking a story about the typical family structure is a source of horror to those who can't fit into it (like Theo for being gay and Eleanor for being a childless spinster) and turned into a show about an evil house breaking apart this nuclear family, only for them to overcome their inner demons and grief via the power of love, and that's without touching how he sisterzoned Eleanor and Theo, who in the original book got attached to each other really fast, with Eleanor even dreaming of U-Hauling with Theo.

I think the reason you're seeing more and more hate for Flanagan is because people are getting more and more tired of his shit, though I admit it can be kinda extreme. However, there are still lots of people excited to see his takes on Carrie and The Exorcist on his main tag.

Hope this explains the situation.

well, that's one opinion and I appreciate it! however I never understood people complaining about Theo and Eleanor being sisters in the show, given that Theo is still a lesbian and gets a girlfriend, but you do you. I guess I've seen plenty of adaptations of my favorite books that didn't follow the original closely, so I've learned to keep these two things separately. in Flanagan's case, those aren't even adaptations really, they just take some inspiration from the source material and put their own spin on it, and I don't see what's so controversial about it. why can't he do with them whatever he wants? is there a law against that? this discourse reminds me of people complaining about modern adaptations of the things they loved as kids, claiming that they "ruined their childhood" (she-ra is one example I can think of right now). but the source material is still there! it's not ruined! Flanagan didn't burn those books, you can still go and read them. "tired of his shit" sounds so funny to me, I'm so sorry, but it feels like he's personally making you sit through all his shows. long story short, adaptations are allowed to be different, and yes even wildly different. if Mike's work is not your thing, maybe try The Haunting (1999) where Eleanor banishes Hugh Crain to hell and then ascends to heaven, that for sure sounds less sanitizing, right?

[ladykailitha]

Across a Crowded Room

*grumbles* I can't believe this IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CUTE AND SHORT! Not only has it gotten a little angsty in middle there, it's about to breach 10k words. And I'm not even CLOSE to the ending.

The fuuuucckkkkk.

I was meant to be working on other things. Like editing a story to be beta'ed so I can put it on AO3 for you all, extending Batshit soulmates because I was skipping over too much, and wrapping up Glitters.

Guess who did none of those things because this story consumed my soul?

ME!!!

I will be posting this on Saturday as it's not one of my regular WIPs.

Enjoy. *sniffs* I guess.

Summary: Modern, no monsters AU. After they all graduated from high school the older teens drifted to other parts of the country. And while Steve and Eddie have made short trips to see each other, usually with the whole, they really haven't spent much time in the same room in years.

That all changes when Eddie is able to spend a week in Chicago with Steve and Robin.

But when Eddie sees Steve for the first time in years, he gets scared. Will have the courage to walk across that crowded room to be with Steve?

@mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

Eddie hadn’t seen Steve in years. After high school when they became friends through mutual parenting of six absolutely terrifyingly smart teenagers, they kinda went their separate ways.

Steve and Robin had gone to Chicago for college and Eddie and his band had gone further west to LA to try and make it as metal artists.

This is was the first time in a really long time that their schedules lined up. They talked all the time. Friends on all their social media. But they hadn’t seen each other since they said goodbye in Steve’s driveway four years ago.

Eddie was standing at the bar entrance where he was supposed to be meeting Steve, just staring at him.

God, he had been gorgeous in high school. Because of course he was. Captain of the basketball team, co-captain of the swim team, and the baseball team’s best hitter.

But he looked even more so now.

His honey colored, wind tussled hair had grown out a bit. A lock of hair flopped devastatingly in front of one of his hazel eyes. He had filled out some, once thin and wiry, now deep chested and toned. Even in the winterscape hell that was Chicago, Steve’s skin was warmly tanned.

He was laughing with a group of people and never had Eddie felt more out of place in his life, and that was saying something. He had been dropped off at his Uncle Wayne’s when he was twelve. Been nicknamed the “Freak”. And had always been flamboyantly himself: a big, gay, metal loving geek.

Eddie was about to turn around and go back the way he came when a familiar voice called his name.

He turned around and there was Robin Buckley. Steve’s platonic soulmate and best friend.

“Hey,” he croaked.

“Did you just get here?” she asked brightly.

Eddie nodded. “My flight was delayed three times. I haven’t even been to my hotel yet.”

Robin winced. “That sucks.” She looked at him more closely and he gulped. “You weren’t thinking of cutting and running were you?”

“Me?” Eddie said, dramatically clutching his hands to his chest. “I would ne–”

She raised an eyebrow at him, effectively shutting him up.

“I wasn’t gonna,” Eddie said mournfully, “until I got here. He just looks so happy. He doesn’t need someone like me coming back into his life like a wrecking ball.” He pulled out his phone and waved it at her. “Once I can get this charged, I’ll message him and tell him my flight got canceled and that’ll we’ll reschedule.”

She looked at his phone and then back up at him. “What happened to your phone?”

“My charging cable port snapped,” he grumbled. “And it died after the first delay.”

Again she winced in sympathy.

“You’re in love with him,” she said, “aren’t you?”

Eddie sighed and looked back over at Steve. One of his friends must have told a joke because Steve was laughing so hard his eyes were mere slits. He looked back at her and he sighed.

“The sky is blue, Midwestern winters suck,” he muttered, “and I’m in love with Steve Harrington.”

Robin rolled her eyes, then she got this calculating grin on her face.

“Uh oh.”

“I’ll tell you what,” she said slyly, “you let me do a little experiment with a small wager. If I win, you man up and tell him how you feel. If you win, you can tell him that your trip has been cut short and you have to go back in a couple of days and blow out his life again.”

Eddie pursed his lips and looked at back at Steve.

“What’s the experiment?” he asked.

Robin jumped up and down with glee. “I’m going to text Steve that I found you. You aren’t going to take your eyes off him the whole time. Then when I’m done, I’ll show the conversation.”

He licked his lips. “And what’s the wager?”

“You think he’s happier without you,” she said. “If that’s true, he’s not going to show a lot of excitement. He’ll be relieved and happy that you’re here, but no real enthusiasm. Right?”

Eddie just nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

“I know he’s going to flip out,” she continued with that sly grin. “He’s going to be jumping up and down and looking around for you, trying to find you in the crowd.”

“What if it’s somewhere in the middle?” Eddie asked honestly.

Robin cocked her head to the side. “Then you stay the full week and suss him out.”

Eddie let out a long sigh. “All right. You’re on.”

“Good!” she said. She grabbed him by the arms and moved him a little. “There. Now he won’t be able to spot you immediately.”

He had let himself be manhandled because he had long since learned that Robin could and would kick if he didn’t do what she wanted.

“Now, keep your eyes on Steve.”

Eddie scoffed. “Easiest thing in the world.”

Robin snorted and got out her phone.

He really wanted to look over her shoulder to see what she was typing because he was eaten up with curiosity about what she was sending Steve. But he did as he was told. He kept his eyes on the most beautiful boy in the world.

Steve pulled out his phone and then his head snapped up. He looked around excitedly. He started flapping his hands and talking animatedly with his friends. Eddie watched as he smoothed down his hair and wiped his hands on his jeans. He pulled out a breath mint out of his pocket and ducked his head when his friends obliviously teased him for it.

He looked over at Robin in shock.

“What the hell did you tell him?”

She turned her phone around and he read their conversation.

-Guess who I found by the door looking like a lost puppy?

-He’s here?

-Eddie’s here?

-Where?

-Why didn’t he text me? :(

-lol

-Calm down, I’ll bring him to you.

-The idiot’s phone died and his charger broke.

-I can’t be calm, how can I be calm? He’s here! He’s finally here.

“Oh.”

The little frownie face at the end of the “Why didn’t he text me?” message did Eddie’s heart in.

He cleared his throat. “Um...if I were to, say, I don’t know, go over there and kiss his lights out, would I get hate crimed?”

Robin laughed. “No. And there is no one in his friends that would be nasty about it either.”

Eddie nodded. “Lead the way.” He bowed and waved his hand dramatically so that she would go first.

“Nerd.”

Eddie cackled as he followed her to the table. Steve was on his feet the instant he saw him.

Eddie was a weak man. That had been pretty well established tonight. So he thought he could be excused when he picked Steve up by the waist and swung him around.

“Eddie!” Steve giggled.

Robin scoffed. “Gays are so disgusting.”

“Says the lesbian,” Steve said when Eddie had put him down.

“Lesbians are a different flavor of gay and thereby aren’t disgusting,” she said with a half shrug like it was a truth universally acknowledged or some shit.

He shook his head and turned back to Eddie, who had yet to let go of his waist. “I missed you, too, Eds.”

“I missed you so much, Stevie,” Eddie whispered back.

“Yeah?” Steve asked, hopeful.

“Yeah,” he breathed and lifted Steve’s chin. He pressed their lips together and suddenly Steve’s crowd of friends erupted into cheers.

Steve broke the kiss and stared up at Eddie in awe.

“Wow.”

Eddie giggled. “You like that?”

“Yeah,” Steve said, more than a little breathless. “You’re stuck now. That’s how I want you to greet me every time now.”

Eddie’s face split with a large grin. “You got it, baby.”

Robin cleared her throat. “May I remind you two that we are in fact in public?”

Eddie and Steve looked over at her and then back at each other. Robin isn’t sure who started it, but soon they both were laughing like children.

Steve introduced him to the small group of friends.

There was a sofa near the table Steve’s friends were sitting at so Eddie sat down there, so Steve could cuddle up on his side.

“How long are you in town for?” A punky Asian girl with pink and purple streaks in her short cropped hair asked. Steve had introduced her as Maria Nguyen. They had a couple of classes with each other.

Steve looked at Eddie as if he had been wondering the same thing.

Eddie chuckled. “That’s the surprise I was telling you about, darlin’. Me and the boys got a record deal and their headquarters and studio is right here in Chicago. So I will be moving to the fair Windy city.”

“You’re staying?” Steve asked, his voice rising with excitement.

“I’m in town for about a week to look for apartments and shit,” Eddie amended. “Then I will move here at the end of the month.”

“Holy shit!” Robin said, glaring daggers at him.

Steve picked up on the latent hostility, but Eddie shook his head and whispered, “I’ll tell you later.” He pressed a kiss to Steve hair.

“You have a band?” a large young man with freckles and braces asked. He had red hair and wire rimmed glasses. Steve said his was Jason, Justin...Jarren! That was it.

“Sure do!” Eddie said. “Corroded Coffin. Me and my three closest friends, besides Buck and Stevie here, have been out in LA playing our hearts out.”

“Buck?” Maria asked, rearing her head back.

“Buckley!” Eddie explained.

“So what kind of music do you play?” Jarren asked, leaning forward, very interested.

“Metal.”

Maria snorted. “Like that’s Steve’s least favorite kind of music.”

Steve sat up. “It is not! There are all sorts of music I don’t like. Metal can be good. It’s just the screamo shit I can’t stand. Corroded Coffin isn’t like that.”

“Yeah,” Robin agreed. “Hell, Steve would put pop music below metal and you know how much he loves Tears for Fears.”

Eddie groaned. “I still can’t believe of all the 80s bands out there to be your favorite you pick Tears for Fears!”

“What? They’re great.”

“Stevie, darlin’, love of my life,” Eddie said sweetly. “You cannot honestly tell me that their version of ‘Mad World’ is better than Gary Jules.”

“Wait?” Jarren said. “They did a cover of ‘Mad World’?”

Steve shook his head. “They sang it originally. Here let me show you.”

He pulled out his phone and handed it over. Robin, Maria, and Jarren huddled around the phone as they watched the video for it.

“That was trippy as hell,” Maria said, handing the phone back to Steve.

“I know, right?” Eddie said.

Steve rolled his eyes. “He does have a point regarding this one song. The original version is too fast for what the song is about.”

Eddie cackled with glee.

“I still maintain that Shout, Head Over Heels, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World are absolute bangers,” Steve huffed.

Eddie kissed his cheek and Steve blushed.

“Wait!” Jarren said, “Do my eyes deceive me or is Steve Harrington, the man, the myth, the legend, blushing?”

Steve rolled his eyes. “Not that again. I don’t believe it was ever a thing.”

Eddie sat up on the sofa, too and looked Steve in the eye. “What’s this, babe?”

“Stevie here made a girl come just by talking to her,” Robin said with a grin.

Eddie licked his lips slowly and Steve blushed deeper. “Did you now?”

“No!” Steve insisted. “That was just the excuse she used for running away after I badly flirted with her.”

Maria scoffed. “Dude, I was there, you did not flirt badly.”

Eddie pulled Steve close to his side and murmured in his ear. “I fully expect the full Harrington Charm experience, sweetheart.” His voice dropped really low. “Because I bet you could make me come just from the sound of your voice.”

Steve’s eyes went wide and he ducked his head.

Maria shook her head. “I can’t believe that King Steve got out rizzed by this swagless loser. How in the hell?”

“Maria!” Jarren hissed. “He does not look like a swagless loser. You take that back. He’s cool.”

Eddie turned to Steve. “Looks like you’re going to have to be the tie-breaker, sweetheart.”

“How’s that?” Steve asked. “Robin hasn’t said anything yet.”

“Ah, but that’s because I think I’m cool,” Eddie said holding up one finger, “and I know that Robin would vote for swagless loser.”

Robin snorted. “Damn right I would.”

“So it’s girls verses guys,” Steve said thoughtfully.

Jarren snorted. “More like lesbians verses the gays.”

Steve cocked his head to the side and then nodded.

“I dub thee my really cool metalhead geek!” Steve said solemnly.

Everyone’s eyes narrowed at him.

“Babe...” Robin said. “Did you just go down the middle of the road to avoid an argument?”

Steve batted his eyelashes at her. “Maybe...”

Eddie huffed and crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouting. Steve leaned forward and kissed the bottom of his jaw.

“How about my very cool, gorgeous, metalhead boyfriend?” he murmured softly.

Eddie looked down at him eyes wide. “Holy shit, you mean that?”

Steve nodded.

Eddie swiftly brought their mouths together and kissed Steve deeply. “That is acceptable.”

Steve giggled.

The night past in good company and drinks.

Eddie had duck out early because he still had to check into his hotel, but he kissed Steve goodbye and left with a spring in his step.

****

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Also, also. I forgot to mention that the title comes from a song by Counting Crows called Long December. So in my head I was singing, It's been so long since you came to (Indiana) I think you should!

Never mind they're in Illinois and the actual lyric is California.

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @danili666 @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @i-must-potato @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @justforthedead89 @vecnuthy @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @dragonmama76 @scheodingers-muppet @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

[duckprintspress]

Fandom 101: The Origin of the Citrus Scale

A guest post by Aeryn Jemariel Knox. (@jemariel)

Ah, the citrus scale. It’s like a cryptid roaming the edges of modern fandom communities. Long-tenured veterans speak of it with affectionate mockery while newcomers google curiously. A relic from a bygone fandom era, the citrus scale saw a brief resurgence in 2018 during the Tumblr porn ban, suggested as a way to avoid the new bot censors trawling for posts with the NSFW tag—though never, I think, in seriousness. 

That may have been jocular and short-lived, but it does point to the reasons why the citrus scale was created in the first place. Certain fandom activities have always had to fly under the radar to one degree or another. Whether you’re trying to evade legal action or simply avoid deletion based on explicit content, a certain level of obfuscation is sometimes worthwhile.

It’s not hard to find the generally agreed-upon definitions of the citrus scale’s levels. According to Fanlore, KnowYourMeme, and others, this is more or less the “official” citrus scale:

Orange: Light stuff, kissing, nothing below the waist or under the clothes. 

Lime: Groping, implied sex without details, fade-to-black, no intercourse or intimate contact.

Lemon: Sex, in full detailed glory. Woo-hoo! Regardless of the actual acts performed, if you can tell who had an orgasm (or, perhaps, had an orgasm denied), how, and where, it’s a lemon.

Grapefruit: We’ll get into this later.

But these tidy categories are clear thanks to the benefit of hindsight. In the Wild West of the early internet, it was not so easy to pin down exactly what you might be getting into based on which term was used.

At its origin, the citrus scale wasn’t a scale at all. It has its roots in hentai (and was always more popular in anime fandoms), stemming from a specific early hentai film by the title of Cream Lemon (1984). Hentai being what it is, this led to certain subculture communities referring to any story with explicit sexual content as a “Lemon.” And for a while, that was the extent of it. Then came fanfiction.net purging explicit content (2002), Livejournal suffering Strikethru (2007), and other events that pushed burgeoning fandom communities out of their growing hubs and back into smaller, isolated communities centered on a single fandom or pairing. In the relatively sparse early ’00’s internet, anybody could spin up an Angelfire website, pass the link around to their friends, and get a reasonable amount of traffic.  Websites devoted to the works of a single author or small group were common.

I mention this to describe the landscape in which fandom lexicons grew and evolved in the early-mid 2000s. Each pocket community had its own rules, lingo, and expectations; venturing outside of your home pocket could lead to some pretty major miscommunications. 

“Lemon” was established early and its definition has hardly shifted. It means that the labeled content (art, fic, mood board, etc.) includes sex. Intercourse, bumping uglies, etc. However, some yaoi fandom niches used it specifically to mean gay sex of the male variety. In some communities, “lime” developed as a corresponding term for feminine gay sex, while other communities brought it up with the usage that eventually “stuck,” “not quite a lemon.” Given that lemon and lime often go hand in hand when discussing actual flavors, the fact that we had some divergent term evolution is not surprising. But coming in from a different pocket of fandom and seeing “lime,” thinking you’ll be reading semi-softcore sexual tension and instead being confronted with graphic sapphic antics? Bit of a shock, I’m sure.

A more dramatic example is the rating level of “Grapefruit,” which occupies two completely different ends of the scale. In some circles, grapefruit was defined as “less intense than lime,” G or PG-rated stories that were more soft or cute than sexy. In other circles, it was used to mean the exact opposite. Kinkier than kink, smuttier than smut, grapefruit art and fic was where you went to have your eyebrows singed off. Some communities were even more specific, using grapefruit for stories featuring non-consensual sex. This was where darkfic lived – in modern day parlance, your “Dead Dove, Do Not Eat” works. To say that this usage difference caused some disagreements would be putting it mildly.

Nobody really worried about orange. Orange just existed, not bothering anybody.

When these terms were coined, the internet was not an assumed aspect of everybody’s daily life the way it is today. There was no Tumblr, no Facebook, no social media to speak of. There were no large repositories of internet lore and knowledge such as Urban Dictionary or KnowYourMeme. It was a playground. And what do you do on a playground? You make friends! The citrus scale, like so many fandom tropes and concepts, was defined by groups of friends that created them ad hoc to meet their own needs at the time. No one could have predicted that it would become so much a fandom history that it’d be enshrined, nor that I would be writing a blog post about it two decades later. From the common source of lemon, people extrapolated what the rest of the scale might look like, and there was no authority to tell them they were wrong. (Except other fans. That hasn’t changed.)

In conclusion, it’s best not to take the citrus scale too seriously. At best, it’s a cheeky way to avoid censors who try to bar a community from engaging with explicit works, but it’s also varied to a fault and open to interpretation. If you and your community have come up with a use for it that suits your needs, then congratulations: you’re part of a fandom tradition stretching back to the roots of the internet. Just don’t try and tell anybody else that they’re wrong. You might start a flame war.

References:

Prokopetz: Orange and Grapefruit

She’s Got Plans: What is the Citrus Scale in Fanfiction?

Unwinnable: Lemon and Lime

Past Fandom 101 Posts:

Everything About A/B/O Dynamics You Wanted to Know (but were Afraid to Ask)

How to Diversify Your To-Be-Read Pile

Recognizing AI Generated Images, Danmei Edition

[mythmerth]

from my November readings, I’ve collected a few more merlin fic recs for the people…

For favorite long (80k+) fic, I would have to choose Gladiator by Clea2011. It’s 115k and has some really intense moments followed with a wonderful growing love story woven in to it. arthur as a gladiator goes kind of hard even if he’s fighting for his life. also the dragons are very present in this and I do love my dragon content!

For favorite mid length (…40k-80k) fic, id have to choose Public Image by an orphaned account. As someone who has had a Great Deal of text/online friendships and relationships, I absolutely adored the type of text based development these two had. they’re just both obsessed with each other but trying and failing to hide it, LOVE that shit

For favorite short fic (<40k), you may have noticed that for this month I have changed the bar of short fic to less than 40k instead of 30k and it’s because I REALLY enjoyed this 39k apocalypse fic and wanted to put it here :’D Land of Ghouls by rotrude was so intense and had me clutching my chest but was exactly what I was looking for with zombie apocalypse merthur; not something I’ll fully sob about, but keeps me on my toes.

Here’s a few more rapid fire fics from this month! I read more long ones than usual tehe

Sunny in Camelot by foxy_mulder is a really silly quick read, just ridiculous and plays heavy on the “what the hell does Merlin do” gag! I don’t typically read super short fics but I love these type

Somewhere between the Sand and the Stardust by Cithara was a great canon era long read; merthur PARENTS 💞

I FINISHED LOADED MARCH! Do or Die and At the End We Begin Again by Footloose had me absolutely floored. I apologize because you can’t read these as standalone fics and yes there’s a million words that come before them, but if you like wartime modern magic merthur where Arthur’s a military mastermind and Merlin is a tech genius (and yes I mean those 100% seriously they are so badass), read loaded march. It’s got the most scream worthy merthur devotion I’ve ever read and that’s saying something. Do or Die was masterful and so action packed. We begin again was a perfect and beautiful ending that made me tear up. you won’t regret getting into this series!! and I may make a full post about my thoughts on each installation at a later date, it’s really that good.

With my loaded march plug out of the way, my favorite reread this month… would have to be ever popular The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat! It’s not long and such a fun read, I love imagining Merlin getting Arthur all ready for another kingdom to come only for them to be solely invested in Merlin, like what an excellent concept. lighthearted and so fun, if you haven’t checked it out I definitely recommend it!

It’s December… end of the year… and while everyone’s getting into their Spotify wrapped, I’m gonna be doing my 💫 2024 Merlin fic reading wrapped 💫 which is exactly as unhinged as it sounds. If you’ve ever wondered what my gay donut profile photo is here, stay tuned for it cause yes it is Merlin related in a very diabolical way. I’m excited to get into this insanity and I hope it’ll be as silly for you as it is for me.

I’ll be back in 2025 for my December recs and you can find my 2024 fic stats here 🫡

and if you’re still looking for more recs then check out my other posts ~

<< last month next month >>

[sarahowritesostucky]

📖"The Taste of You"

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Bucky Barnes

Word Count: 4002

Tags: Fresh AU, dark rom-com, dark!Bucky, pre-serum Steve, kidnapping, cannibalism, yandere/basement wife, meet cute-ish, gay sex n' stuff, ignoring of sexual boundaries, dub-con bordering on non-con, (mostly humorous) gore, (mostly humorous) body horror

Summary: Steve is so tired of the meat market that modern dating has become. Just when he's deleted all the apps and given up on ever finding Mr. Right, he meets the perfect guy at the grocery store.

A dark, cute, funny, fucked up, and very tasty love story.

It's a Fresh AU. "If you can't handle the cannibalism, get out of the kitchen" ... or something like that

10. Acquired Taste

Wait! I haven't read a previous chapter. Story Masterlist

Bucky:

Bucky typically has two avenues, when it comes to acquiring new product.

1) Conduct recon, establish a relationship with her/him (though usually her), lure to a secluded location, incapacitate (usually via roofies)

2) Conduct recon, stab & grab on site (needle, not knife—jesus he’s not a monster)

Each avenue presents its own advantages and risks. Relationships and dates take more time and work, they don’t guarantee he’ll get the access he needs, and he runs the risk of someone else in the victim’s life learning about him before they’re disappeared. Stab & grab is by far his preferred method, but he has to be extremely mindful of security footage. Everything’s recorded these days, and in a city like New York, people live in each other’s pockets. Which method Bucky chooses usually comes down to how isolated the candidate’s life is. Carlo made his pick for who Bucky’s got to pay him with, so Bucky drives into the city early Monday to begin his reconnaissance process on Erica Buccanetti. He spends that Monday through Wednesday 7am-10pm, learning all about her.

Erica is twenty-nine. She’s a short, white, “curvy” woman of middling education who works at the DMV. Her job alone makes her deserving of what she’s going to get, Bucky thinks. Erica works Monday through Friday, gets in at 8:55, eats lunch at her desk, and clocks out no later than 4:50 every day. Erica goes to a gym after work and runs on the treadmill until she looks miserable and exhausted. Erica takes the train home to her duplex in Alphabet City, where she has a cat and drinks wine and…

Bucky tosses his binoculars aside, exasperated. “Dammit.”

Erica has three housemates. Fuck.

He can’t do a stab & grab when there are roommates, certainly not three. It’s too risky. Now he’ll have to put in the extra effort to try and run into her somehow, strike up a conversation, get a date or three.

He puts the car in gear and speeds down the block, eager to get on the highway and get home to Steve. He tunes the radio to an 80’s station he likes and taps out the beat as he navigates traffic.

This is the last time, he swears to himself, the absolute last time he lets a client pick their target. It’s too much pressure on Bucky, having to succeed with that one specific girl. Better to have a handful of potentials going, scoop up the one who makes herself the easiest victim. It’s not like most of them don’t do a bang up job of it.

Twenty-some years of “stranger danger” and true crime shows are usually enough to cement the “it won’t happen to me” mindset. Sometimes they’ll even find the right moment to throw out a lame, faux-suspicious “You’re not a serial killer, right?—haha just kidding!”

Bucky thinks it’s a hoot. Obviously these bitches don’t follow the eastern principle of karma.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, he gets in very late, after midnight. But he still pops down to check on Steve. He brings them both a drink, hands Steve his, then slides down the far wall to sit. “Ugh.”

“How was your day, honey?” Steve asks. Sarcastically, but at least he’s making jokes.

“Long,” Bucky says, tipping back his old fashioned. They both like them. Maybe it’s become one of their things. “So for this payment, I let Carlo pick his girl,” he says, letting his eyes slip closed as he rolls out the tight muscles in his neck. “Stupid.” Steve is quiet for a long time, and Bucky suspects he’s staring at him. He doesn’t open his eyes to find out. “What?”

“Nothing,” Steve says. “Just … wondering about the logistics of it, I guess.” He’s quiet for another long moment, the ice clinking in his glass telling Bucky when he takes another sip, and then another. “So … are you bi?”

Bucky opens his eyes. “What?”

Steve shrugs. “You date them to get to them. Does that mean you’re into women?”

“Well …” Bucky is, but … “I prefer men,” he says. “By far. But the clients want women, so that’s what I supply. It’s pretend, Steve.”

“Mm.”

Bucky narrows his eyes, sensing Steve’s judgment and not liking it. “I pretend to date them. Briefly. If I have to.”

Steve shrugs and looks away dismissively. “Seems kind of mean, to me.”

“It’s not!” Bucky scowls, straightening up from where he’s been sitting slumped against the wall. “I’m totally nice to them!”

Steve snorts. “Yeah, until you start harvesting their parts for food.”

Bucky glares at him. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this.”

“Yeah maybe we shouldn’t.” Steve sniffs and looks away. “Not exactly great to hear all about how my boyfriend’s a serial killer.”

Bucky brightens up some at the word ‘boyfriend’. “I’m not, you know. A serial killer.”

Steve’s eyebrows raise sky high. “Oh really? So what would you call it when you kill people, ya know, serially?”

“I don’t get a thrill out of murdering them,” Bucky insists. “I keep them alive as long as I can.”

“I’m sure they appreciate that so much.”

“I keep them comfortable!” Bucky defends. “This is a nice place! I give them gourmet food, they’re on tons of pain meds. They don’t feel a thing.” Steve isn’t even looking at him now, and Bucky’s mood sinks. “... They’re not nice people, Steve,” he says darkly. "They deserve a hell of a lot less than what I afford them.” He watches Steve for a reaction, but doesn’t get one.

Steve just tosses back the end of his drink and fishes out the cherry. He pulls it off the stem with his teeth, chewing it while staring Bucky down. “Done,” he says, pushing the glass in Bucky’s direction.

It’s like he’s saying the conversation’s done too. Bucky sighs and shoves up to standing. He goes over and picks the glass up and gives Steve a long, rueful look. “Eileen,” he eventually says.

“What?”

“The woman in the other room." He nods out towards the hallway. “The one you saw. Her name was Eileen. And that’s whose kidney I had for dinner the other night.” Steve’s eyes widen a little, and Bucky smiles placidly. “Yeah. Good old Eileen. She was thirty two you know. Divorced but seeing someone new. She had a daughter. Cute kid: Tracy. She’s like, seven, eight? Has freckles and pigtails, likes Pokémon.” Bucky shrugs, then lets the mild expression slide right off his face. “Eileen was letting the new boyfriend rape her.” He gets satisfaction from the way that Steve’s eyes widen further and his lips part without a comeback. “Hm, yeah.” Bucky throws back the end of his drink and crunches down on the pieces of ice that float into his mouth. “So, Steve, when I tell you that you really shouldn’t feel bad for these people? You really shouldn’t.”

He turns and leaves before Steve can think of any other arguments. It’s good, Bucky thinks. It’ll give him time to think. Bucky didn’t come to grips with all of this overnight, after all. He can’t expect Steve to, either.

Steve:

In the basement, Steve has lots of time to think. In fact that’s all he does other than sleep. He thinks about the chances of anybody ever finding him here, figures they’re probably low. Bucky’s done this before, maybe dozens of times. He knows how to get away with it. Steve thinks a lot about that, about how there are a bunch of rich as fuck cannibals out in the world, just existing and merrily eating people. How Bucky eats people and thinks that it’s totally fine. How he likes the taste of eating people. It’s nuts.

Steve does wonder, sometimes. What’s it taste like? He feels halfway sick with himself when the thought occurs, but it does occur. It must taste good, he thinks, to warrant such effort and risk. It must taste really damned good. At least to Bucky and his rich friends it does. Steve is sure he’ll never find out for himself. He wouldn’t be able to stomach it.

He thinks about the women who came before him, about how they must’ve felt, trapped down here while Bucky slowly sold off their meat. How many have there been? Steve wonders. And what were their crimes that got them sentenced to this? How did Bucky know they were bad? Steve can’t figure it out, but he also can’t forget what Bucky told him so seriously about Eileen the other night. It sits in his mind, coloring his memory differently. Now when he thinks of Eileen lying on the floor of her cell, begging him for help, he doesn’t feel as much pity for her as he used to. He doesn’t feel as much horror when he remembers her limbless torso wriggling pathetically under the sheet.

Bucky could be lying of course, just making it up so that Steve will accept him more readily. But somehow Steve doesn’t think so. Bucky’d had this look in his eyes when he said it. He’d looked vindictive, and vindicated. Steve shivers as he remembers it. Bucky truly does not have any compunctions about what he does, and he expects Steve to come around to it. Steve doesn’t think he can do that. He’s just hoping against hope that he can pretend long enough to convince Bucky. Long enough until he can get his chance for escape and take it.

He thinks about Carlo, working on the cell down the hallway. Steve doesn’t see him much at all, just hears the sounds of his tools whirring, the smell of fresh wood being sawed, concrete being poured, him taking a piss in one of the other cells' toilets every few hours.

At first Steve does wonder what he might be able to say to try and entice the man to help him escape. But he settles on a big fat nothing. There’s nothing Steve could offer him to get him to take that risk, no way. And it’d be too big a gamble to try anyways. He doesn’t want Carlo to alert Bucky to his attempts at scheming, which Bucky warned Carlo would do if Steve acted up. So Steve keeps his mouth shut when the man arrives and departs each day.

Carlo doesn’t say anything to him. He probably figures that Steve’s dead meat anyway.

Steve considers that maybe he is, and Bucky’s just lying to him to keep him calm. Maybe Bucky tells all the women that they have a chance for survival, if only they’re good and don’t act up.

It’s fucked, but Steve imagines Bucky doing it—taking little pieces from him until there’s nothing left to do but put an end to him. He imagines Bucky kissing him lovingly, then injecting something into his veins and harvesting his internal organs. He imagines Bucky working in the attractive kitchen upstairs; humming a tune, cutting Steve up, pan searing his kidneys and eating them with a Beaujolais.

Steve wonders if he’d taste any different than everyone else Bucky’s ever eaten. Probably not.

Stringy, he thinks, looking down and assessing his arms and legs and torso with a novel sort of appreciation. Steve’s so thin and so tough, he’d probably make a horrible meal.

Bucky:

He plans it out meticulously, just like he always does. But even after all these years (fifteen, to be exact) he still gets that nervous feeling every time he makes his move. Stab & grabs don’t get to him nearly as much. Those are easy, impersonal. It’s the women he has to introduce himself to and flirt with and feign interest in and good intentions for that cause the nerves. He’d call them butterflies, but that seems cruel to compare his meet/capture/kill nerves to first date nerves. When he met Steve, it was a whole other feeling. What he’s about to do now isn’t the same, it’s not innocent like that, and he doesn’t need to pretend that it is.

Bucky knows he’s actually like, the perfect guy for this. He’s good looking and a natural flirt, excellent at making conversation and getting people to like him and to want to open up to him. Women tend to feel instinctively safe around him, so normally he’s guaranteed success in the “meet cute” department. It’s just that ... well …

He’s getting on in age these days, alright? He’s a—very damn handsome—37 years old now, and unfortunately for him, his clients’ tastes tend to stay the same, meaning the pervy old leches keep wanting their women rare at 20-ish. Bucky still has a very high success rate, but there’ve been a few college-aged girls who he approached wrong and they turned their noses up at him.

But he dyes his greys now, okay? He does the whole skincare regime, does Botox (conservatively—he’s got taste). And he’s learned to dumb himself down a bit when he’s going after the younger ones; talk a little smoother, a little less cultured, dress more age-appropriate. Turtlenecks apparently send off the wrong vibe. Unless the girl is into the whole Daddy thing, then it works in his favor.

Anyway, it’s not that big of an issue. All he has to do is flash his car or casually wear a Rolex on a date and even the most dimwitted or discerning potentials fall all over him. Bucky could give straight guys lessons, he swears.

He drives into the city wearing joggers and sneakers and a too-tight tee shirt, hair artfully tousled and earbuds draped around his neck in show. He goes into the gym, into the locker room, spritzes water around his hairline and the neck of his tee shirt, then bumps into her outside—when she’s on her way in, not out. No woman feels sexy after a workout (at least not the kind Erica is torturing herself with)—and exclaims in concern when she stumbles. Ohmygod, I’m so sorry! He grabs her forearm and lets the other hand brush over her waist as he “makes sure she doesn’t fall”. Are you okay?

Her eyes catch on his smile and his biceps right away, so Bucky's confidence is bolstered. He spends the next twelve minutes flirting with her, telling her his name (James), and how glad he is that he at least bumped into the prettiest girl at the gym (not true). Her eyes light up when he mentions that he’s a doctor, and shortly after that he’s typing his burner cell number into her phone. I put myself down as ‘handsome stranger whom you’re definitely gonna call’.

She titters at his joke and smiles, obviously tickled pink as they’re saying goodbye. “Yeah. I’ll um, I’ll call you. Maybe we could meet up for drinks or something?”

“Great!” Bucky shoots her a wink to seal the deal and jogs off down the block. He stops once he’s around the corner and starts walking at a normal pace back to his car. He hums a tune to himself, pleased at how easy that’d been. Now he can get home and probably not have to go out again until Saturday. If Erica’s as easy as he thinks she is, he shouldn’t have to go on many, if any, other dates.

Steve:

“Hey.” Bucky knocks on the doorframe as he slides it open. He steps in, head tilted, cautious smile playing at his lips.

Unfairly handsome, Steve thinks. Those women don’t stand a chance. “Hey.”

“I was hoping you’d still be awake. Wanted to say goodnight.”

“You get her number?” Steve asks. Because he knows that’s what today was—bump into Erica day.

Bucky seems wary, but he comes in and engages anyway. Steve almost feels bad for him. “Yeah,” Bucky says, toeing at the carpet. “Taking her out on Saturday.”

Steve rolls his eyes, scoffing. “‘Taking her out’, yeah.” He sees the hurt flash across Bucky’s face though, and feels bad about it. Ridiculous, but he still feels bad. “Sorry,” he mumbles, looking away. What else is he supposed to say? I understand? He can’t say that when Bucky’s holding him prisoner in his basement. Steve’s literally chained to the floor right now.

He sighs again, disappointed. He’s never been so disappointed in anything in his life. He fucking aches with it. Enough to cry, sometimes, if he thinks enough about Bucky’s smile over a martini glass, his bad dance moves in Steve’s apartment, his body in Steve’s bed. What they'd had together, how it'd felt like they were building something, something to look forward to. Steve bites his tongue so he doesn’t start tearing up when Bucky’s standing there. He doesn’t want to look like another weak victim, even though he knows he is. “You seemed like such a nice guy,” he murmurs, not looking at him.

Bucky comes over and kneels down in front of him. He looks so sad. “Hey,” he says softly, reaching out to palm the side of Steve’s face. He hums when Steve lets his eyes slip closed and leans into it.

Crazy, what a little bit of isolation will make you feel, Steve thinks.

“I miss you, Steve. I promise you this isn’t going to last forever.” When Steve just breathes silently, Bucky strokes his thumb over his cheek. Steve shivers. “Hey, would you want to go on a date with me?”

Steve’s eyes open. “What?”

Bucky smiles softly. “A date. You’ve been so good this whole time, and I miss you.” He leans forward and pecks a kiss to his lips. It’s brief, but it still makes Steve’s lips tingle. “I miss spending time with you.” Bucky’s eyes flick over his face. “So how about it, huh? You want to come up and just hang out one night? I can make us something. We’ll have drinks, maybe watch a movie?”

Steve blinks, feeling so odd at being asked a question like that. One of the things he thinks about to pass the time is what he and Bucky might be doing right now, in their new relationship, if Steve hadn’t opened the basement door. “A movie?” he repeats softly. The idea of getting to leave this boring room for anything is tempting. Steve wants to escape of course, but even if he knew he couldn’t, he still thinks it’d be nice to get to do something. Even if it’s with Bucky. “Yeah,” he breathes, hopeful. He hasn’t been allowed upstairs in days, not since he took a shower. “M-maybe I could …” he cuts himself off, remembering how Bucky had taken advantage of the last time, how he’d touched him. And Steve was weak. He’d let him do it.

“Maybe what?” Bucky asks, looking so kind. He always does, like he’s just a kind, caring guy who also happens to keep Steve chained in his basement. “Steve? What were you going to say?”

Steve smiles and shakes his head. “Mm, nevermind.” He doesn’t need a shower. “Nothing.”

Bucky seems unhappy about whatever Steve’s not saying, but he doesn’t press him any further. He takes a deep breath and stands back up. “I won’t be out so late anymore,” he tells him. “Just a trip or two more to the city. You can have your real meals back again, no more of this junk food.”

Steve nods. Bucky’s left him with plenty of snacks these past few days, but Steve has missed the hot meals. He’s missed seeing Bucky three times a day, even missed the attention Bucky gives him when he’s eating. “Okay,” he says.

Bucky stands there for a long minute, staring at him. Steve keeps his eyes on the carpet but he can feel the weight of Bucky’s gaze. Eventually he hears Bucky sigh, then leave through the door. Steve looks up to try and catch sight of him on the way out, but he’s already moved on down the hall.

That night Steve falls asleep thinking about what it’ll be like, once there’s another person in the basement with him.

Bucky:

Bucky meets her for the aforementioned drinks. He’s dressed nicely, in a black button down and slacks and nice shoes. He wears the Rolex, because Erica’s got three housemates so flashing his wealth at her can’t hurt. He greets her with a smile and a hug at the bar, and they both settle in and order their drinks. Bucky asks her about her life, quickly figures out that she’s body conscious and makes sneaky little comments about how he likes a woman that doesn’t slip right through his fingers. She eats that shit up, and before Bucky knows it, she’s excusing herself for the bathroom and leaving her third cocktail behind.

Too fucking easy.

Bucky picks up both their drinks and informs the bartender that they’ll be moving over to that table in the dark corner over there. The bartender gives him a nod, and Bucky nods back. He can’t have the guy seeing it, when he slips the roofie in her drink.

He’s learned to crush them up into a Splenda packet. It masks the bitterness and then if he does get caught, it just looks like he’s sweetening the drink. Erica returns from the restroom and he flags her down to their new spot. “More privacy,” he purrs at her, and she giggles and sits down next to him.

They continue to flirt and talk about pithy little topics until he can tell that she’s starting to feel the effects. “Hey,” he says, not wanting her to be stumbling before they leave the bar. “I know this is fast but… I dunno, I just really like you.” He says it all bashful, like he’s embarrassed of himself, and she eats that up, too. “Would you maybe wanna go back to my place? We could have another drink, talk and listen to some music, or…”

He trails off, and she gives him an enthusiastic, “Sure, okay!” sloppy at the edges from how the drugs are creeping into her system now. She hasn’t realized it yet. Bucky has to get her out of this public place before she does.

“Great,” he says, smiling. He offers her his arm like a gentleman (and to make sure she’s steady enough on her feet to not draw attention), and she simpers and holds onto him and they head out. Bucky sees her recognizing the type of car that he drives as he opens the door for her and she gets in. She tucks her lips in like she’s trying to keep herself from outright grinning, which makes Bucky chuckle as he slides into the driver’s side and shuts his door. “Buckle up,” he tells her sweetly. “Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

She giggles and obeys, and Bucky thinks about how she’ll probably be so easy, in the basement. Girls like her just want to be loved and approved of so badly. She’ll probably go from the Depression stage to Acceptance so fast, it’ll make his head spin. He’s glad. It’s always easiest for those girls. They suffer the least. And despite the fact that Bucky knows about Erica and her little brother who died under “suspicious circumstances” in 2009, he still doesn’t want to torture her. He’s not a sadist.

He’s karma.

She’s still conscious when they get on the highway, enough to look out the window and make a cute little confused noise. “Mm. You said your place’sin Tr’becca?” she slurs.

Bucky smiles and pats her hand. “Yeah. But I’m taking you somewhere else.”

It’s cute, how she pouts and tries to protest that. Bucky’s almost tempted to say something right then and there. But he doesn’t. He always likes to save the Big Reveal for when they’re settled in their rooms and fully sober. He likes to have a drink in hand, be relaxed in something comfortable. Really settle in for the show.

“Just close your eyes,” he soothes her, watching her fade out. “We’ll be there soon.” She passes out and Bucky smirks, thinking about how she’s about to get hers.

Because Karma’s not a bitch.

It’s a plastic surgeon who likes to cook.

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[possessedbyforcesunknown]

My Favourite Jooster Fics

Bertie's Blog (ongoing series)

The writing is so charming and whimsical. I've never read a Wodehouse story but I assume that if he wrote Bertie as a modern-day blogger he would write exactly like this. It gave me some Bridget Jones' Diary vibes if Bridget Jones was a gay man in his twenties with a career in blogging (influencing?). I just love picturing a cute blond Bertie and his tall, clever, solicitor boyfriend. They even have a meet-cute!

2. Refused Entry (probably abandoned)

(TW: sexual assault) Begging the author to release chapter 5 because this is just one of the best stories I have ever read. So much potential. Bertie catches the eye of a perverted male OC and Jeeves' protective side comes out. POV alternates between the OC and Bertie—their inner monologues are great. I just love reading about Jeeves from another character's perspective.

3. The Pianist (last updated Feb 2023)

Long fic about Bertie and Jeeves' paths crossing in different circumstances starting from childhood. Slow burn. Literally 'invisible string' coded.

4. My Man Wooster (ongoing series)

I can't wait to read the fourth fic!! Literally everything you want for a role swap, featuring Bertie as England's worst valet and Jeeves as the Olivia Pope of 1930s London. I need them to get together so badly!! There are also hints as to why Bertie has fallen so far from high society and my boy is going THROUGH it.

5. Something of Vengeance (15/15 chapters, Sherlock Holmes crossover)

The romance isn't very direct but it's still one of my favourite stories. Interesting plot and seeing old Johnlock react to oftentimes air-headed but always kind-hearted Bertie is so cute. I need to reread this soon!!

6. All's Well That Ends Well (4/4 chapters, Completed)

I'm a sucker for anything ABO. A classic 'Bertie gets himself into trouble and Jeeves saves the day' story. Jeeves really is a saint for having so much self-control because there are quite a few romance tropes like accidental lap-sitting. It just tickles my brain.

7. The Yaxley Affair (one-shot)

I was hesitant to read this because it's a crossover with The Man from UNCLE but I'm so glad I did. It's quite a long story at 57k words (novella-length) but very worth the read. The older, 'established relationship' version of Bertie (now Lord Yaxley) and Jeeves are perfectly-written. It's like Ilya and Napoleon are stuck in a generic spy thriller but they're constantly in disbelief at how Jooster don't follow the 'norm' and still survive. (Do you know what I mean?) The author (Mice) has also written a number of great fics in this fandom.

8. Jeeves and the Best Laid Schemes (6/6 chapters)

I haven't read a lot of stories from Jeeves' perspective. In this fic, Jeeves is trying to make Bertie take a hint about his true feelings but he keeps getting sidelined by other characters. I love it when Jeeves is the one who falls first.

9. Jeeves in the Shower (one-shot, E)

Short and sweet. I just love it when Character A finds Character B taking a shower and they proceed to have sex.

10. Jeeves and the Gadsby Filly (one-shot)

Bertie in drag meets Jeeves in a night club and are drawn together. Don't know how else to describe it but fluffy and cute.

11. Totleigh Academy (3/3 chapters)

I'm a reader of simple tastes. I will always click on a high school AU (which are hit or miss). This is a hit!! Teenage Jooster dynamic is just lovely.

Final Note: There are probably more fics out there because the writers in this fandom are so good at writing in this sort of Wodehousian style. They capture Bertie's voice so well and the dialogue in some stories is just sparkling!! I would recommend the entire catalogue of fics on AO3 tbh.

[sophsicle]

hello lovely!!

apologies in advance bc this is not an ask but i simply had to share this story.

so im an in-house and broadcast camera op intern for the ottawa senators. last game our crew meeting was delayed and so they guys were just chatting and shooting the shit killing time. for context, the crew i’m on is about a dozen 30-50 year old straight white men and me, a 23 year old, purple hair, she/they, bisexual. needles to say i’m the odd one out. they like to give me shit (playfully of course) so i tend to keep my head down unless im looking for an ego hit. so as they’re chatting i go on my phone and mind my own business. one of the guys eventually says to me “tell ur boyfriend i say hi” (hilarious i know) to which i tell him im just reading. when he asks what, i realized i can either lie and make smth up or…i can be honest and say “hey king so im actually reading a fan fiction about harry potters dad and his friends if they lived in the modern day, weren’t wizards, we’re basically all gay, and were NHL prospects” since im apparently insane i go for the latter.

so long story short that’s how i ended up explaining not only the plot of KYD and sweater weather, but the lore of the marauders, and just fanfiction in general to some of the guys on my team. so KYD has officially reached the show. idk whether to say congrats or sorry so i’ll leave u with both.

i am currently being the worst at responding to literally any messages

but this story was hilarious and i needed u to know that

shout out 2 u for showing ur coworkers the true purpose of hockey - fanfiction

say hi 2 bb tkachuck 4 me

xx

[wangxianficfinder]

Fic Finder

June 30th

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1. Ok this might be a shot in the dark. But do you know of a fic where basically it’s an arranged marriage (kind of) between lan zhan and trans (ftm) wei ying. It believe it is based on a reddit thread of a gay guy who got into an arranged marriage with a woman, but they actually are a trans man. Anyways…the reddit posts are deleted by now. But I remember reading this fic a couple years back and I can’t find it anywhere. Either it’s been deleted or hopefully someone else is able to find it 😭

FOUND? Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach by Khashana (T, 8k, WangXian, Modern, Arranged Marriage, Marriage of Convenience, fake married, Sort Of, Rule 63, Trans Woman WWX, Partial Cisswap, implied background/societal homo/transphobia, But nothing overt, background LXC/Qin Su also in a marriage of convenience way, gender euphoria, the mortifying ordeal of falling in love with your spouse, based on that one reddit post, Light Angst, Light Pining, this fic is soft mostly) I think #1 might be this one, although wwx is a trans woman in it (it's a wlw wangxian AU) rather than a trans man

~*~

2. Hi!! I cant remember if I already sent this or just thought really hard about it 😪 Im looking for a modern AU fic where WWX is dx'd ADHD and he and LWJ slowly start a relationship. The scene I remember most clearly is there being fireworks and it send LWJ into a meltdown. Ether just before or after the meltdown he found out LXC and LQR have been trying to get him diagnosed with Autism.

Xiao Xingchen is an adult psych who specalizes in neurodivergence iirc, and WWX helps make LWJ feel more okay w possibly being neurodiverse by talking about his experience w ADHD and Xiao Xingchen.

🙇‍♀️ thank you! @la-voce-to-me

FOUND! together, we're just enough by lulu_kitty (E, 134k, WangXian, Modern AU, Bartender LWJ, single dad wwx, Kid fic (sort of), Excessive Fluff, Yearning, neurodivergent wangxian, canonical parental issues, lwj in jewelry, accidental sugar gege wwx, Bottom LWJ, Service Top WWX, Bisexual WWX, Rich WWX, a-yuan is a wei but still also a wen, wwx is a-yuan's biological baba, Older WWX, Younger LWJ, Slow-ish burn, Light Dom/sub, Brief LWJ/Others, Past WWX/Other(s)) sounds a lot like the happenings in chapter 8!

~*~

3. hey admins! i'm looking for a fic where wwx is from the modern world back and somehow goes back in time to the cloud recesses and spends some time there, and towards the end of the fic lwj goes back to the modern with wwx. (i also remember that wwx and lwj goes back and forth often visiting each others home) thanks! <3

FOUND? Wrong Turn, Right Place by diamondbruise (E, 71k, WangXian, Time Travel, kind of, it’s more reality travel but there’s modern wwx and cultivator lwj, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Jealousy, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Misunderstandings, Cultural Differences)

~*~

4. This for fic finder. Its an old fic. Modern au focused on junior quartet. I dont know if the fic is several fic or in one fic. Junior quartet is in a club where they make a magazine (sorry i forgot the word both in my language and in english). They have an access to a school forum. LJY found an old forum talking about wangxian. Like the people in that forum failed to make wangxian happen in the past. If i remember correctly, they tried to matchmake wangxian. They ask LWJ to accompany them to yunmeng. In yunmeng, there are big festival happened there and they meet the jiang family in second floor of the restaurant to watch the festival from there. I think the jiangs is a respectable family that many people know them. So long story short, they manage to matchmake wangxian. I dont know if LJY release the news to that old forum or someone did. Just that LJY have an inkling the account that helped them is NHS. I dont know if this is important but LJY username has connection to chicken. I think thats all. Thank you @idontknowwhattowriteforusername

FOUND! Operation Old Men by Chiharu (Not Rated, 37k, WangXIan, JL & LSZ & LJY, JYL/JZX, Modern, Boarding School, Single Parents, Everyone Is Alive, Matchmaking, Family Dynamics, Hospitals, Meet the Family, Family Vacation, Weddings, School Reunion, Happy Ending)

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5. this for ficfinder! i need help looking for a time travel fic wherein established wangxian travel back to their teen years. iirc wwx and lwj writes to each other in secret and wwx invents talismans to give to the jiang sect so that he can repay his debts and leave the clan when he is at a certain age. lwj also leaves (??). i think they become rogue cultivators tgt. im pretty sure i have this downloaded but i cant find it from hundreds of fics bc i cant rmbr the name 😭

FOUND! Trials of Time by Muggle_Diary (E, 32k, wangxian, major character death, underage, time travel, not jiang friendly, not YZY friendly, not JC friendly, butterfly effect)

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6. Hello!! So i think the fic got deleted but all i can remember was wangxian had mythical creature eggs? Like they had a dragon,tiger,snake&turqoise and phoenix and they can talk telepathically at first then they can shift to humans later on!Thank you again so much!!!!

FOUND? For #6 with telepathic creatures, I haven't read the fic, but could it be that magical marriage ribbons series?

FOUND? #6 is My Immortal. I can't do the link on I'm my phone. It has the mythical beasts.

~*~

7. Hii, I'm looking for a fic in which lan zhan goes to a party with lan xichen and then keeps going to the same house where the party is at many times and hangs out with wei ying on the basement sofa

~*~

8. hii!! i recently read a fanfic where wei wuxian can't sleep because he gets horrible nightmares, there's one particular scene where the juniors are practically dragging him into cloud recesses, and he's falling asleep whilst walking and they meet with Lan wangji. if you could help me find it, that would be super great !! @spaaarkie

FOUND? hunters seeking solid ground by Attila (E, 23k, wangxian, Canon Compliant, discussion of canon character death, Hurt/Comfort, Nightmares, bed sharing, Getting Together, Yearning, Literal Sleeping Together, Really Excessive Amounts of Hurt/Comfort)

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9. I thought I had subscribed to this fic but I guess not... Looking for a WIP in which WWX is ambushed in Yiling, but he has A-Yuan with him so he's extra desperate in trying to fight the attackers off. There might be fire involved? Either the title, the description or the tags have some reference to "hysterical strength" (maybe! not 100% sure about that one!). Thank you. 🖤❤️ @linderel

FOUND! Hysterical Strength by covalentbonds (Not rated, 3k, WangXian, WIP, Canon Divergence, Inspired by a Bollywood movie scene, Everyone Lives/Nobody dies, Parent WWX)

~*~

10. hi!! i'm looking for a fic i read about a year ago(?) on ao3, where during the cloud recesses study arc (i think?) lqr and the other teachers notice that wwx's basic education is lacking and wwx says it's because yzy doesn't let him join jc's lessons because wwx is supposed to be a right hand man and his education is therefore less important, so the lan elders and scholars all team up to give him remedial lessons; i think there's also a part where they build a case against the jiang sect because the sect scholars failed their responsibility to teach their disciples equally. the fic holding shreds by barisan reminds me of it a little bit, but instead of yzy's physical abuse of wwx the one i'm looking for is all about the emotional abuse and education inequality

FOUND?🔒💖 Hoards and treasures by apathyinreverie (T, 21k, WangXian, Siblings, Family, not particularly Jiang friendly, YZY Bashing, slightly darker Gusu Lans, LXC being the best brother, Some manipulation, But with the best of intentions, and not between wangxian, Dragon LWJ, Fox WWX, Smitten LWJ, Fluff, perfect happiness, adorable WWX, Romance, Some worldbuilding, courting) in this one, Xichen is speculating that WWXs education was stunted, especially in sect etiquette, deliberately by mme yu.

FOUND?🔒 in the shadow of moonlit flowers by Reverie (cl410) (T, 56k, wangxian, LXC/NMJ, cloud recesses, NHS & LWJ friendship, developing relationship, LWJ pov, minor injuries, autistic LWJ, implied/referenced child abuse, aka YZY warning, genius WWX, light angst, hurt/comfort, WWX protection squad) in this one the lan sect does the scholar case thing where they accuse jiang sect of failing their duties by neglecting to educate wei ying.

~*~

11. hi, i'm looking for a fic which i found on twitter but im sure links to AO3 — basically everyone in the universe is some sort of animal (wwx is a fox, lwj is a dragon?) and they're classified by their mating cycles (whether they mate for life or seasonally). wwx and lwj gets engaged but lwj calls it off as wwx is a fox and therefore mates seasonally vs his for-life situation. wwx gets sad about it and then they find out wwx actually can mate for life! i used to find it easily before but for some reason no matter what i search, it just won't come up and i don't think i was logged into ao3 at the time i read it either. hope someone remembers it as well, thanks!

FOUND? what you have tamed by lianhua_lianzi, Senforza (E, 94k, WangXian, Animal Traits, misunderstandings, Courting Rituals, Pining, Lan family dynamics, Drama, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Arranged Marriage, Wangxian break up but get back together, Eventual Happy Ending, Implied Mpreg, Unresolved Sexual Tension, unintentional and eventually resolved “gaslighting”, Dragon LWJ, Fox WWX)

~*~

12. Hi I’m trying to find a fic where jiang Cheng is being forced to get married/find an heir. I remember that a member of YunmengJiang approached him with a list of members of the sect that would leave if he didn’t get an heir. I think it was mentioned that people were okay with him not having getting married since they assumed Jin Ling would inherit and Jin Guangyao would have another child but once his crimes were revealed they started to pressure him.

I know it wasn’t a Jiang cheng/lan Xichen or jiang cheng/nie Huaisang

FOUND? Karma by such_stuff_as_dreams_are_made_on (Not Rated, 2k, JC & OCs, Post-Canon, Arranged Marriage, Light Angst, Minor WangXian, Not JC Friendly)

~*~

13. I’m trying to find this fic where Wei Ying is looking for spouse for some reason and he starts asking everyone in Cloud Recesses but Lan Zhan even ask LXC to be his partner right in front of LWJ

If you have an idea about what I’m talking about thank you!!

~*~

14. so theres this fic in which jiang cheng and wei wuxian sit in a boat in jiang cheng's memories and wei wuxian sings a song that he altered slightly. im pretty sure it was a reconcilliation fic but im not sure but jc was a bit emotional. i can't find it, please help!

related to the previous ask, what i described is also only a scene from that fic and probably not what the entire fic is about. i only remember that one scene. @theartisticdoofus

FOUND? sing to the clouds in summerby stiltonbasket (G, 28k, JC & WWX, JC & JL, wangxian, JL & LSZ & LJY & OYZZ, 13k words of JC figuring out that LSZ is his nephew, ft. LXC and NHS the overprotective uncles, and LWJ giving JC death glares, Family Secrets, Reconciliation, Sad JC, Uncle-Nephew Relationship, Eventual Happy Ending, Podfic Available) the song is in chapter 4

~*~

15. Dear FicFinder Team, here I am again with only vibes and one scene. It was a WIP CQL post-canon fic, set during WWX's wanderings. At some point he exorcises a ghost in a tower (not one of the watchtower fics tho) and the last scene was WWX on his way back, kneeling in the grass to make offerings to his shijie and finally letting himself cry about her death. Maybe there were food descriptions too, I read this very early on and cannot find it in my history. It was exquisitely written too. @kinoumenthe

FOUND! the earth remembered me by remux (T, 30k, WIP, WangXian, POV WWX, Post-Canon, Emotional Edging, Letters, emotional support strangers, Original Character(s), lwj's quiet devotion)

~*~

16. Do you know the name for a fic where WWX is invisible (for some reason) and is in LWJ room (for some reason) and WWX watches LWJ hump a pillow but then LWJ notices that someone is in the room with him yada yada they have sex i forget when it gets revealed that it’s WWX

NOT FOUND! Mak Siccar by therealandraste (E, 20k, WangXian, Case Fic, Post-Canon, Misunderstandings, Pining, Happy Ending, Paperman smut - only god can judge me, Original Character Death(s)) the details don't exactly fit but

FOUND! Clinomania by malkinmalkout (E, 6k, WangXian, Voyeurism, Masturbation, Somnophilia, misuse of talismans, PWP, Riding, Oral Sex, binding, Happy Ending, canon typical non-con)

~*~

17. hello I'm looking for this twitter threadfic written by cerbykerby where wwx is a mermaid captured and brought in for studying by scientist lwj and others, and they eventually become mates. i've tried looking through their account for it but the fic is old and the search is way too far down, and i can't find the full fic. pls help out thanks!

FOUND? this is the unrolled threadfic by cerbykerby, I think

~*~

18. Hi! First time requesting something like this, but I really need help finding this one fanfic. It’s a incomplete wangxian fanfic and the summary of what I remember was that when WWX wakes up in MXY’s body after thirteen years, people are actually praising YL WWX because somehow (I cant remember how) the truth behind his actions and why he did what he did in the first place. JC faces some hate from the cultivation world, JL doesn’t hate WWX, and LWJ is extremely protective of WWX. Hope all this information helps!!! @nikki-g-m

Could #18 be that fic where a painter/theater guy did an interview with drunk wwx during the burial mounds arc and then it got published after his death so that when he resurrects its's all settled already (?). I dont remember the name either but maybe someone else will

FOUND? 💖 The Ballad of Hanguang-Jun and The Yiling Patriarch by Theladyofravenclaw (T, 40k, WangXian, ChengQing, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Burial Mounds Arc, Canon Divergence, Fix-It of Sorts, Humor, musical theater?, Misunderstandings, POV Outsider, Crack treated seriously) The commenter on 18 was thinking of The ballad of Hanguang-jun and the Yiling Patriarch, though idk if this is the fic OP wants

FOUND? i think its deleted? Have You Heard Of The Yiling Patriach by R_PONTS

~*~

19. literally just reading a random wangxian fic when I I remembered this one fic I read a while ago. I can’t really remember a lot of details but from what I remember Wei ying is the cloud recess for whatever reason and he get the silencing spell out on him and he panicked and starts scratching and clawing at his throat and everybody’s watching horrified like please y’all help me remember 😭 @saintzx

FOUND?🔒 The Second Hand Unwinds by trulywicked (E, 56k, wangxian, JYL/JZX, WIP, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Time Travel Fix-It, Not JC Friendly, Not Yunmeng Jiang Sect Friendly, Not Jiāng Family Friendly, Not YZY Friendly, Time Travelling LWJ, Protective LWJ, Fluff, Minor Angst, Minor Character Death, JGS is his own warning, Wooing, LWJ is romantic af, Inventor WWX, Genius WWX, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Protective Gusu Lan Sect, Supportive LXC, Good Uncle LQR, WWX Protection Squad) The clawing is because he's desperate to defend JC against LQR's (rightful) admonishing, after JYL told him he should've tried harder after being silenced on a previous occasion defending JC

~*~

20. Hello

Love your blog!

A) I'm looking for a fic where wwx was raised by WRH, but it is introduced with him being the one to raze Cloud Recess and starting ti flirt with a prisoner LWJ who's very much " bro, wtf" in his inner monologue.

He's bff w Xye Yang and at one point thinks of doing lwj favors

B) Modern au where wwx and lwj had been married, adopted LSZ and then divorced due to someone either framing wwx or LWJs fam pressuring him to it. Wwx still has visitation rights and all, and at one point lwj buys them a house as an apology, but wwx is less than cash money above it, bcs lwj didn't truly fix the mistrust or whatever the reason for their breakup was @midnightlighthowlite

20B)

FOUND? 🔒 Life as a House by Terri Botta (Isilwath) (T, 55k, WangXian, Modern AU, Corporate Espionage, Post-Divorce, Father-Son Relationship, Reconciliation, Therapy)

~*~

21. Hello there, I’m not sure if this is a fic finder or an in the mood for, because I’m looking for a fic and more like that.

So you know how theres this TikTok Sound of someone called Nick who asks for the WLAN Password and its I Love You Nick and Nick is in a lot of denial about being lovers even though their anniversary is coming up?

I found a fic that was basically WY and LZ in a relationship, and WY/LZ (but more likely WY) didn’t realise that they were anything more than friends, and it was very funny.

More comedic than anything else. But I cannot for the life of me find it, and everytime I try and search for it, only the sad version shows up.

Please send help, I need to read this fluff….I crave it. @desperation-is-my-middle-name

~*~

[irisbleufic]

@eidetictelekinetic, I'd like to follow up on something we keep discussing in comment threads to my Devil's Minion stories, because I've found the paper trail in my archives. There's indeed something I wrote as an undergraduate ca. 2005 that I had forgotten about that underpins a common theme (namely: Daniel and Armand wondering what might've happened if they'd met when they were young in Armand's time and place, when he was still mortal) periodically haunting the dialogue across my various unconnected stories. I'm somewhat in disbelief that I can prove this exists, and I needed a spark of joy like this in an otherwise bleak, snowed-out week.

This is a ghost story in that the work I'm discussing here was written under my deadname, but I don't tend to shy from people knowing it. Still, it's times like this when pieces resurface that I realize I block facets of my former self so thoroughly at times that I do my writing history a disservice. This felt like knocking down a wall, and I'm really startled at what's sitting covered in dust on the other side. Mindfuck your characters long enough and you might even mindfuck yourself.

In the spring of my senior year at Wellesley, I took a poetry seminar with Frank Bidart. He didn't like my work much, which was a source of amusement to me; if somebody doesn't like my writing, I just dig in and crank up the annoyance factor by being even more myself. The number of professors and editors that I've gone out of my way to irritate in my higher ed and writing careers is vaguely embarrassing at this point, but that's another story for another time.

At the same time as I was in this poetry seminar, I had also overloaded my schedule with Medieval literature seminars. I'd done that for about four consecutive semesters, actually. The Early Modern and Medieval course offerings at Wellesley, at least at that time, were so numerous that you really could do about two years solid of nothing but that type of coursework. I was fluent in French at the time, so I was able to pull some unhinged shit like reading La Chanson de Roland in Anglo-Norman with minimal dictionary assistance while reading it in English in one of the courses, and then I started haunting the used bookstores in Harvard Square and digging up volumes of lesser known Anglo-Norman ballads and fragments, and there was this one book that focused on early surviving trobairitz poetry, songs by women from that period. There was one fragment that really, really haunted me. I don't know if I still have the book, that's the one piece in the documentation chain I'm still hunting down, but I have my translation of that fragment because I found the poem I wrote around my translation. That poem got published twice after I graduated; that publication history is neat in its own right.

So, the poem I wrote for the seminar is really the thing I want to talk about here. I had this short 10th-11th century trobairitz ballad fragment that I translated out of Anglo-Norman, and I was very excited about it, because it was very gay. I thought, hmmm, I'll write a narrative poem about a couple of nobodies set in that time period. Who are my nobodies? I'm picturing teenagers, just a couple of boys. They can't be more than sixteen or seventeen. Where are they? I'm also taking a class on crusader states at this point in time, and I'm extremely interested in various cultural migrations in and out of Italy and Spain (the good, the bad, and the ugly). So I just go, okay, I'll have them fleeing a noble household in Italy, heading for Spain. My head's entrenched in those places thanks to a history class; it gives me something to hang onto as geographical starting and endpoints. Why are they running away? Kid attached to the noble household has fallen in love with a stonemason's apprentice from somewhere a lot further abroad; they don't speak the same language, but since when has that stopped people from falling in love? Stonemason's apprentice wants to save the kid in a bad situation in the noble household, get him out of there. Yeah, let's do that. And I'll cover just the journey, not what happens before they leave or after. And I'll show what they run into along the way, and they'll hear someone perform that piece of the song, and one of them is able to translate it for the other as they gradually learn enough pieces of common languages to communicate with each other.

This poem was never going to be long; the poems in our portfolios for this class couldn't be long. The concept work behind it was much longer than the poem itself, as was the work I put into the fragment translation. This kind of storytelling in lieu of confessional poetry was going to annoy my professor. I knew exactly what I was doing with all of this: satisfying a storytelling itch, letting myself practice translation, being the inveterate fandom writer I already was by that point, just being generally obnoxious in my early 20s. It's a living.

I wrote the poem. It got workshopped in class; classmates loved it, Frank made faces and was barely polite about it. The written feedback in it on my final portfolio called it "pseudo-medieval pastiche," and I was so happy I could've framed that shit. I put the poem away for a few years and didn't think about it. I moved to the UK and started an MA program in Medieval Studies. My poems started getting published in SF/F/Spec publications. In 2009, I learned about a call for poems for a 10th anniversary special issue of a magazine called Mythic Delirium, and something about the themed call made me remember my pain-in-the-ass, labor-of-love portfolio poem, which was called "Journeying." I submitted it.

"Journeying" was published in Mythic Delirium Issue #20, which, (in)famously, also first featured a poem by the now-disgraced Neil Gaiman called "Conjunctions." If I'm honest, it's bizarre to have that as a major point of memory in this poem's first printing. Here's how "Journeying" looks in that issue of the magazine:

The italicized portion at the end is my translation of the trobairitz ballad. It's all that survives of one particular song that happened to be written down. It always amazes me that so few lines can express so much longing across so many centuries.

Flash forward a few more years to when I learn about Erzebet YellowBoy's brilliant Papaveria Press hand-stitched limited artbook editions of poems. One of my oldest friends, Paige (@dreambreathing) and I decide to collaborate as we've done so many times before: they did a set of two watercolor illustrations for the poem conceived as a fold-out frontispiece and backplate, and we pitched it as an artbook. Papaveria said yes. In 2012, "Journeying" was released as an edition of 18 of these little books:

You never see the boys on the road or under the tree overlooking those ruins (those ruins, those fucking ruins, I forgot) until you pan in. Don't get distracted. Look closer. Imagine me, @eidetictelekinetic, getting more and more spooked every time we talk about this recurring thing in the dialogue I'm writing across stories. Why am I doing this? Why is it familiar? And by the time we get to "Guard Your Heart," why do I have the feeling it's hit peak hilarity by the time Daniel's looking at those Talamasca photographs?

This is an awfully long punch line, but it's here. I wrote it, some version of it, some version of them, in another life. And for me it was another life, too, a life with the name of a girl I now barely recognize. Who is Adrienne? I know that Adrienne wrote this poem, but I no longer know her as well as I would like. However, I do know that she gave up almost everything she had to give me what I have now, and I'm the writer that I am because of her. I carry these characters with me because of her; she's the one who first read them.

(Also, here's another shout-out to @dreambreathing not just for being one of my best friends through all of this and one of the most talented artists I've ever known, but also for being the namesake of my current biggest troublemaker in Caldera. Love you, Paige.)

[darcydarlingdabbles]

At Autumn's End ~ Part 1

RadioApple🍂Human Au/Age Gap 🍁Top!Dom!Alastor

🍂Divorced Dad!Lucifer🍁Explicit~ 8.1k

🍂🍁🍃

🍁 On Ao3🍁Read for Free on Ream🍁On Tumblr 🍁

Lucifer Morningstar stood on the deck of the family's chalet, breathing the crisp mountain air, determined to carry on this family tradition. Even if he was doing it alone. He'd do it for Charlie.

Blazing autumn leaves floated down from the towering oaks and caused ripples along the surface of the mirror lake below. Lucifer gripped to the rough hewn railing, grounding himself, determined to just be normal for once since the divorce.

The two-story cabin was the perfect place. With its walls mostly made of windows overlooking the last gasp of beautiful fall foliage, a fully stocked kitchen, fire pit, two hot tubs, and the smell of wood smoke still lingering from the fireplace he'd prepped.

Charlie had always loved their farewell to fall getaway. And Lucifer was ready for a relaxing weekend, bundled up in cozy sweaters with warm mugs of spiced cider.

And Charlie's new girlfriend would just make the merrier.

Sure, Lucifer had met her before, sure, he'd made a bit of a fool of himself trying so hard not to be awkward that he'd overdone the gracious host bit and come back around to painfully awkward again.

So, there was a lot riding on this relaxing weekend.

Lucifer jumped, catching his sweater on the balcony when he registered the sound of tires crunching their way up the gravel drive.

He hurried back into the main living room, grabbing up the last few things—throwing fluffy pillows back onto the loveseat and the two armchairs, making sure everything was perfect.

He paused at the wall of windows. Already grinning as he saw Charlie's tank of an old SUV made its way across the carpet of leaves. The front doors open, depositing his beaming daughter and her scowling girlfriend out into the autumn air. When one of the back doors opened, and a long pair of legs emerged.

Right. Charlie had asked to bring her roommate this year.

Look, call Lucifer old fashion—his daughter was bi and so was he—but he'd blanched when he heard his little girl had a male roommate. Thought the school was being way too modern when they changed the dorm policy to co-ed roommates.

But the young man before him was nothing like Lucifer pictured for a college roommate.

Alastor stood there, exuding a calm assurance that seemed almost out of place amidst the playful chaos of falling leaves.

His skin was a warm, rich brown, contrasting beautifully with the soft dark curls that framed his face. Round, wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, framing bright hazel eyes. A well-tailored coat hugged his long and lean frame.

Despite the nip in the air, he looked impeccably comfortable, like the cold wouldn't dare touch him without permission.

A pretty gay twink if he'd ever seen one.

Not remotely Lucifer's type, not going to be‌ a problem.

With a deep breath, the short blonde turned away from the wall of windows, stealing himself to play the indulgent parent who just wanted his grown little girl to have a good weekend with her friends.

Alastor. The kid's name was Alastor. He remembered Charlie practically dancing on his heartstrings with how her roommate was facing his first school break without his mother.

Lucifer was pretty much incapable of refusing his daughter's wishes, divorced dad guilt, but how could he ever say no after that?

The chilled autumn air gusted in as Lucifer opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch--and right into the middle of a conversation.

"Yeah my family's been coming to this challette for years." Charlie was saying gleefully.

"Chalet, my dear." Alastor interjected in a voice that was shockingly smooth as velvet. "It's pronounced shal-ay,"

"Whatever," Charlie shrugged, unfazed by the correction, like it happened all the time.

"Yeah, whatever." Vaggie echoed emphatically, shooting a glare at Alastor over Charlie's shoulder. "Not like it matters."

Alastor's eyes rolled from the picturesque scenery towards the short woman with long black hair and tawny skin. A silent glare passed between them.

"Hey Dad!" Charlie called out, lighting up like a sunset as she bounded towards him. Her laugh was like wind chimes and her smile was playful.

Warming Lucifer right to his core.

"Hey Char-Char!" He barely had time to brace himself before Charlie collided with him full-force, her energy and arms wrapping around him. Hugging him without an ounce of holding back.

God, he missed this.

The mountains were already working their magic. 

"Whoa, careful there." Lucifer laughed, his heart swelling happily. "Missed you so much kiddo."

"Missed you too, dad." Charlie set him back on his feet with a grin.

Vaggie was right at her side, just behind, loyal and stern-faced as ever. Alastor lingered further behind.

Lucifer turned to his daughter's girlfriend, unsure if he should go for a handshake before he extended his arms and gave what was a slightly more restrained hug.

Okay, so it was stiff and awkward, but he was trying.

Vaggie reciprocated politely, though the discomfort lingered between them like an unwanted guest.

"Good to see you again, Mr. Moringstar,"

"Please, call me Lucifer." He reminded her gently, trying to bridge a little of the gap formality put between them.

Vaggie gave a brief nod—but hey, it was a start.

Lucifer then shifted his attention to Alastor ‌and before he could worry about making his terrible first impression—it was like the swirling red and gold leaves all went still.

The air went from brisk to sharply cold, biting into Lucifer's exposed skin and turning his face pink.

From a distance, through the window, he'd imagined Alastor was a sweet little harmless gay boy.

But now, Lucifer's assumptions were crumbling under the reality of Alastor's silently overwhelming presence.

Alastor stood there, the little smile playing on his lips, exuding an undeniable aura of dominance and control.

Those hazel eyes that looked soft and inviting through the window now pinned him like a butterfly with his precise gaze.

It was like staring down a damn mountain lion, a graceful creature that was only staying still while it suited him.

Lucifer questioned every ounce of gaydar he'd ever had.

And then, the hazel eyes locked on his. And Lucifer felt like the mountain was about to slip out from under his feet.

Those eyes weren't as remotely soft as he imagined. And it was like they could see right through the thick knit of his cozy sweater. To everything that Lucifer would rather hide.

Here he was, recently divorced, depressed, an insomniac who soothed his emotions and stilled his mind by making fool meals at midnight, being looked at like that.

His self-esteem still hadn't recovered from the end of his relationship with Lilith, and he was utterly unprepared for such an intense, self-assured man--who was half his age!

Then, the corners of Alastor's lips curled into a smile--and even the suggestion that he liked what he saw, sent heat rushing into Lucifer's cheeks.

"Oh, Alastor." Charlie seemed to appear suddenly, breaking the moment like a twig snapping underfoot. She stepped forward, grabbing the younger man's arm with the kind of graceless enthusiasm that only his daughter could pull off. "This is my dad, Lucifer."

Alastor gave a chuckle that made Lucifer forget there was a chill in the air.

"Mr.Morningstar." Alastor replied smoothly, extending a hand towards the blonde.

Who had to get over the fact that his charm cast an instant spell and were wrapping around Lucifer like silk.

Lucifer extended his hand on instinct, about to give the same reminder as he gave Vaggie about using his first name, hoping that it would dispel some of the swirling tension simmering in the air between them.

But, before Lucifer could form the words, he felt his h and enveloped in Alastor's.

The dark-haired man's grasp was firm as iron. As if that weren't enough to knock Lucifer off balance, Alastor's other hand came to clasp his wrist, pulling him in with a silent force that sent his heart racing into his throat.

It was a dominant, decisive gesture that left no room for his intentions to be misunderstood.

Lucifer stumbled over his words and nearly over his own feet, leaves crunching under his boots.

"The pleasure's all yours, isn't it?" Alastor's voice was all smoothness and certainty.

"Uh, yeah." Lucifer managed to reply, realizing that his voice came out like a breathless murmur.

He really hoped that his flamed cheeks would be counted to the chilly wind nipping at his exposed skin--not the fluttering spark he was promptly smothering.

Lucifer finally remembered to release Alastor's hand, and fully retreat back into the role of host.

"Let me help with the back—bags." The words tumbled out quickly as he hurried around Charlie's old SUV. Anything to redirect his focus from this heat rising inside him.

Busying himself helping Charlie and Vaggie, and ignoring the young man next to him also moving to help, with that silent smirk.

Lucifer went to grab a suitcase that he recognized belonged to his daughter—which he should have realized was over-packed as always—and nearly fell from the trunk onto him.

Alastor's hand shot out, catching the bag by the handle, and setting it neatly on its wheels.

"Careful," he teased lightly, in that ringing velvet voice of his. "Not to bite off more than you can chew."

Lucifer swallowed, refusing to let his mind lean into the implication of those words.

"I can handle it." Lucifer huffed, grabbing the suitcase stubbornly.

Alastor gave a smirk and a shrug.

Lucifer hurried up the front porch into the chalet, realizing how severely he'd underestimated Alastor's slender frame and fastidious dressing.

There was nothing twink about Alastor.

He was a commanding presence wrapped in charm and elegance. And everything Lucifer found attractive.

That thought nearly stopped the man dead in his tracks.

Sure, he was recently divorced from Lilith. And he'd been in a dry spell ever since—but he quickly banished the entire stupid notion. There were only a million reasons why it wasn't even worth a thought.

He was a recently divorced dad, not so much rocking the dad bod as falling into it one midnight snack at a time. He'd never been confident enough to approach anyone without Lilith. There was no way he would be interested in Lucifer. Alastor was young, gorgeous, and obviously charismatic.

Besides, the kid was half his age.

Lucifer shook the thought from his head.

This weekend was about reconnecting with Charlie, a growing bond with Vaggie, hopefully. And fully restarting this family tradition.

Not a tryst with a pretty boy half his age.

🍂🍁🍃

Lucifer lead the way up the wide staircase to the second floor of the chalet.

This part of the house was mostly loft. Another comfortable seating area that looked down over the living room and fireplace. But it was where most of the bedrooms were in the cabin.

Charlie and Vaggie were talking animatedly all the way up and past the seating area towards the bedrooms. Talking about the beautiful scenic views and the winding road that had gotten them up the mountain.

But Lucifer's attention kept wandering right back to Alastor. Who wasn't doing anything but carrying the girls' extra bags and lingering behind and being silent and cryptic.

"Here we are," Lucifer announced, pushing open the door to Charlie's room with his elbow.

It was quaint, really, but he'd redecorated a bit since Charlie had grown up. And he really hoped he hadn't overdone it. Charlie had liked it bright and colorful when she was a kid, except for that one emo phase.

But now, there were simple flower curtains and soft plush carpeting. Overlooking the towering forest outside.

"I made the room up for two, you know, obviously, because you're grown now." Lucifer said, meaning to sound supportive, though he saw Charlie's cheeks get as pink as his were outside. And Vaggie looking anywhere but at him. "Which, I understand and I'm not judging because obviously...you're an adult and—" Lucifer trailed off, painfully awkward—

Before Charlie thankfully but gracelessly interrupted. "Thanks, Dad! The room looks great."

Alastor chuckled softly, stepping into the girl's room only long enough to drop off the two bags he was holding. Before stepping back over the threshold neatly.

Like a gentleman wouldn't be standing too long in a lady's room.

Except a gentleman wouldn't look at him like he would devour him like he was going to devour him the first time they met. Or, like, right now, in his daughter's room.

Vaggie and Charlie went into their room. Leaving Lucifer to find himself alone in the hallway. With Alastor.

"Uh, yours is over there." Lucifer quickly gestured across the hall, trying to make sure his voice cut through the thick tension.

"Thank you." Alastor said simply, with what must be his polite smile—and not his I'm about to undress you with my eyes smile.

The younger man stepped alertly inside, dropping off only a simple weekend bag and a leather school bag.

Lucifer turned, only to see Alastor leaning over the doorway towards him. And he suddenly felt like he was standing too close to a roaring fire.

"Where is your room, Mr. Morningstar?" Alastor's voice cut through the quiet, smooth and spiked with something that made Lucifer's pulse quicken. It was pointed and almost suggestive.

"Not up here." Lucifer blurted around the tumultuous flutter in his chest. He realized it came out almost, defensive. That he was nearly snapping at this stranger for this thing that was mostly going on in his head.

Though the way Alastor arched his eyebrow, Lucifer seriously doubted it was all in his head.

"Downstairs. I mean," Lucifer said, trying to smooth his little outburst over.His mind raced, trying to think of anything to fill this charged silence between them.

"Dad has the master bedroom downstairs," Charlie chirped, her sudden reappearance in the hallway breaking the spell. Her eyes were bright and sparkling with something. "It even has its own hot tub!"

Lucifer swallowed, thickly.

"How interesting." Alastor murmured, a crooked smile tugging onto the corner of his lips. Fucking suggestive again.

"It's not, all that interesting." Lucifer said, too quickly jumping on this irrational urge to stifle whatever idea had taken hold. "And you won't be seeing it, anyway."

He muttered under his breath, languishing in that same stretching silence, before Lucifer forced a hollow chuckle to break it.

"So, I'm sure you kids had a long drive from school up the mountain." Lucifer fumbled the words a little bit, swinging his arms as he stepped back towards the stairs. "So I made an early dinner. Fall favorites I know Char-Char loves."

"That sounds amazing, sir," Vaggie said, strolling through whatever moment of silent communication Alastor and Charlie were having between them.

"Yeah, long drive, mountain, food." He gestured down the stairs, grateful to move down towards them.

"Food sounds amazing right about now." Charlie declared, following after him, passing him on the stairs in her enthusiasm to get down to the kitchen.

Lucifer grabbed the railing, pausing halfway down the curved staircase—realizing he knew and missed the feeling of the weight of Alastor's gaze on his back.

Neither Alastor or Vaggie had moved.

She had stepped into his line of sight, her stance firm and uncompromising, with her hands planted on her hips. Like she was daring Alastor to make another move.

The much taller man was meeting Vaggie's sternness with a little bemused look behind his round glasses. Lucifer felt like he was eavesdropping on a private conversation.

But before the tension could escalate further, Alastor inclined his head, and gestured gracefully for Vaggie to walk ahead of him.

The woman, three times as fierce as she was tall, gave a short, satisfied nod, and headed for the stairs behind Lucifer.

***

The kitchen was his realm.

It was his studio and his sanctuary where Lucifer could control and create whatever he wanted. And the smell of roasted butternut squash and cinnamon scented the air and made everything feel warm and fuzzy.

"Here we are." Lucifer murmured to himself, rolling up his sleeves with practiced ease.

He could move through this space with confidence, arranging platers with finesse.

Pumpkin soup simmered gently on the stove, its rich color a warm promise. He'd also made an arugula salad with pecans and cranberries, will the apple tart was cooling on the counter, ready for dessert.

Charlie bounded into the kitchen, her eyes widening with delight that soothed every ache in Lucifer's old soul.

"You really outdid yourself, Dad!"

"Oh, thanks, sweetie."

The clinking of cutlery and the soft murmur of conversation filled the cozy dining room, casting a warm glow over the table as the sun set beyond the wall of windows.

Lucifer sat happily at the head of the small but polished mahogany table, just enjoying the company. His eyes flitting between emptying dishes and the easy conversation flowing in peaks and valleys.

"Midterms were killer." Charlie groaned.

Vaggie put her hand on Charlie's, drawing Lucifer's eyes to the movement. And it warmed his heart too. "You did great hon, I know you rocked the performing arts major."

"Well, someone has to keep politicians honest, like you're going to, Vaggie."

Sure, it was cute, sweet talk, but really Lucifer didn't mind. He was glad his daughter had this. That the girls seemed to take such good care of each other. And support each other.

"Performing arts is hard, but it's worth every second."

Lucifer nodded along. Offering an occasional chuckle or hum of agreement.

He wasn't exactly sure what he could add to the conversation, but he knew he had to keep focused on anything but the magnetic pull towards Alastor's seat at the table.

The gorgeous brunette younger man sat across the table from him, muted but present, like a shadow cast by candlelight.

"Oh, Al," Charlie started, startling her father. Wondering if she had read his wandering mind—but also wondering if anyone but charlie would dare to call Alastor a nickname.

"You haven't been talking much. Did you tell Dad your major?"

The brunette lifted his eyes, making Lucifer's breath catch, before he gave a casual shrug as he stirred his soup.

"I'm a double major." He said, his eyes catching Lucifer's. And the older man's breath. "in performing arts and forensic science."

Though the answer made his own brow raise. "Wow, that's...an unusual combination."

Alastor smiled like he had a secret everyone else wanted to know.

"I've been told I have...eclectic tastes." He said, smoothly, leaning back in his chair like he commanded all the air in the room. "But, I know exactly what I like, and where my talents are."

The words hung in the air, a subtle challenge that was sending another one of those damn shivers down Lucifer's spine.

Before the heat could rise back into his cheeks, Lucifer stood. "I think it's time for dessert," he announced, retreating to the safety of the kitchen.

When he returned, with a tray of apple tart and ice cream, his gaze involuntarily flickered over towards Alastor.

The younger man was leaned back in his chair, his hands rested on the arms, his posture open wide...and inviting.

"Who wants whipped cream?" Lucifer said quickly, only to wince at how easy that would be to twist around.

He heard Alastor chuckle low as both girls asked for ice cream, shaking his head gently. Like he knew it would be too easy, too.

Lucifer kept his eyes on slicing and scooping as he served.

He gave Charlie a generous portion, and Vaggie. Swallowing and trying to steal himself as he turned to Alastor.

"Ice cream?" He offered.

The younger man smirked. "Just the whipped cream." Alastor said, and it was thankfully the most normal and unsuggestive tone he had ever used and Lucifer was grateful.

Until the younger scooped up a spoonful of tart, and shot Lucifer another one of those smirks. "I don't like sweets, usually."

Lucifer huffed, turning to his own tart. "Well, then, you won't like much I make." turning back to his own portion. And nearly burying it in whipped cream.

But he swore he heard Alastor say. "We'll see."

***

As Lucifer straightened up from adding the logs to the fire, the warmth of the flames now a comforting presence against the chill of the mountain night, he caught sight of Alastor's gaze.

The younger man's eyes were unapologetically fixed on him, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. Which made Lucifer realize that Alastor had been watching him bent over the fireplace—and there wasn’t even a hint of embarrassment on his face for having been caught staring at the older man’s ass.

Instead, Alastor’s stare was steady, almost challenging, daring Lucifer to acknowledge it, to call him out.

For a moment, the short blonde felt suspended—But he didn't say anything. He couldn't. The admonition seemed to lodge in his throat, and he turned back to the crackling fire to distract him.

"Here we go," Charlie said brightly, breaking the tension as she settled back onto the sofa next to Vaggie. She picked up the remote and began flicking through the movie options. "Perfect end to a long day."

"Definitely," Vaggie agreed, leaning into her girlfriend, their shared warmth evident.

Alastor sat in one of the arm chairs, one knee bent as he leaned casually. Confident as a house cat surveying his domain, and eyeing the canary cage.

Lucifer hesitated for just a moment before sinking into the plush armchair directly across from Alastor. It was impossible not to be aware of how this arrangement placed them facing each other. His mind raced with thoughts of their earlier exchange.

But Alastor's attention was now focused on the flickering flames, the light casting shadows that danced across his face and glinting in his glasses, obscuring his expression.

The room filled with the soft sounds of the movie beginning, but Lucifer found his own focus wandering, drawn irresistibly back to the man opposite him.

"Hey, how about we switch to something more fun?" Charlie interrupted, a lighthearted suggestion as she picked up the remote once more. "Like a baking show!"

"Sounds good," Vaggie agreed, with a nod.

Lucifer watched as the screen flickered to life with images of powdered sugar and expertly piped frosting. The cheerful narration filled the room.

"Do you bake much, Lucifer?" Alastor asked suddenly, turning his head slightly, just enough to suggest that his attention had finally shifted from the flames.

"Here and there," Lucifer replied, trying to sound casual, though he was acutely aware of the younger man's focus now fixed on him. "I find it...relaxing."

"An outlet for creativity," Alastor remarked, his voice smooth, yet there was an undercurrent of something unspoken, something that tugged at the edge of Lucifer's curiosity.

"Exactly," Lucifer said, nodding, feeling encouraged by the easy warmth of the conversation. For a moment, he wondered what thoughts swirled beneath Alastor's composed exterior. 

The four of them fell into a comfortable rhythm, exchanging light banter about the basics of souffles and the perfect pie crust. But, Lucifer sensed Alastor's mind wandering, as if part of him was elsewhere.

Without warning, Alastor stood. "I think I'll turn in for the night," he announced, his tone polite but distant. "Goodnight, everyone."

"Night, Al," Charlie chimed. While Vaggie didn’t give much more than a nod in his direction.

"Goodnight," Lucifer added, watching as Alastor made his way toward the stairs, leaving behind an air of unresolved tension.

As the sound of his door closing echoed from above, Vaggie leaned closer to Charlie, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Something’s off with him."

"Vaggie, he’s just not super social." Charlie assured, though concern was knitting her brow.

Lucifer listened quietly. There was an undeniable pull toward Alastor, a desire to unravel the mystery he presented.But uncertainty lingered as well, like the shadows cast by the embers floating from the logs burning low in the hearth.

"He's been through a lot," Charlie's voice broke through his thoughts, tender and resolute. Her gaze was fixed on the fireplace, but her words were directed at Vaggie. "He misses his mother. And he never mentions his dad. It's been almost a year since she passed."

Lucifer felt a tug at his heartstrings. He knew what it was like to be lonely. He’d felt rudderless since his divorce, drifting on the open ocean—most times, he felt like he was fighting just to tread water. Looking for anything to anchor to.

"That makes sense, I guess," Vaggie murmured, her brow furrowing with concern.

Charlie nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah. He’s a sweet guy, deep down, just a bit…aloof."

Vaggie shot her girlfriend a look, but Lucifer

"Poor guy," Lucifer said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. "I should—" He hesitated. "—go finish cleaning up after dinner," he finally decided, rising from his seat. It was easier to focus on tasks, to keep his hands busy while his mind wandered.

“Charlie,” Vaggie said, just barely loud enough to be heard over the baking show contestants panicking about their ovens. “Are you sure it was a good idea to bring him here?”

"I’m pretty sure,” Charlie said brightly, her eyes still on the screen—like she was hiding something. "I think Dad and Alastor might have more in common than you think."

“What?” Vaggie blanched.

"Just…they’re both kind of old souls, you know." Charlie shrugged, a knowing smile playing on her lips that she was failing to hide. "Sometimes, those kinds of people connect on a different level."

"Charlie," Vaggie interjected skeptically, her arms crossed over her chest. "Is that really a good idea."

"I know Alastor better than you do, Vaggie. Trust me on this."

"Sure," Vaggie replied, though doubt lingered in her tone. "If you say so."

🍂🍁🍃

The chalet was silent, save for the quiet padding of Lucifer’s bare feet on the cool wooden floor. Shadows danced across the walls as he slipped into the kitchen, the moonlight filtering through the large window and casting an ethereal glow over the room.

 The oversized sweater he wore hung loosely, its stretched neck drooping off one shoulder, baring the ridge of his collarbone to the cool air. And his duckie pajama bottoms hung loosely from his hips.

Lucifer let out a sigh, and leaned against the counter for a moment, letting the stillness envelop him. 

Insomnia had become his only bedfellow these days. And tonight, he was being lured back into the kitchen by the promise of a snack—something sweet but that he could pretend was still healthy.

His gaze fell upon the bowl of green apples he had picked up from a market. Nice and tart, and would go perfectly with the jar of local honey sitting invitingly on the counter.

 A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he reached for a cutting board and knife, setting about slicing the apples with methodical precision. Each thin slice landed in the bowl with a soft thud, and Lucifer’s mind settled into the repetitive motions and sounds.

Lucifer drizzled a generous amount of honey over the top. He watched as it pooled around the edges and seeped into the spaces between the slices.

For these few moments, the world outside ceased to exist, leaving only the quiet comfort of apples and honey in the dimly lit kitchen.

With the bowl of apple slices balanced in one hand, Lucifer stepped up onto a small wooden stool and hoisted himself onto the cool marble surface of the kitchen island. He let his legs dangle over the edge. 

His gaze was drawn to the large picture window that dominated the far wall. Outside, the night was alive with movement. 

The wind sent leaves skittering across the ground, twisting them into a chaotic dance. Beyond, in the inky darkness, thick clusters of snowflakes began swirling lazily before pressing against the glass and falling away. 

There had been whispers of a storm earlier in the week, but he'd dismissed them, thinking it was still too early for a proper snowfall.

The thought of being snowed in with his daughter and her girlfriend brought a smile to his lips.  A chance to huddle together by the fire, sharing stories and laughter. But the smile faltered as another realization crept in—Alastor would be stuck here too..

"Hello, Mr. Morningstar." The voice was smooth and rich, like velvet draped over a midnight sky.

 The sound of it sent a jolt through Lucifer, startling him from his thoughts. He nearly dropped the bowl as he twisted around, like thinking his damn name had summoned him. 

There stood Alastor, as real as the snowflakes that continued to fall outside. His presence filled the doorway, clad in pajamas of a lurid red satin that caught the light with every subtle shift. 

Lucifer's heart gave an errant thump, a guilty awareness settling in his chest.

"Hey, Alastor," Lucifer managed, swallowing hard against the sudden dryness in his throat. 

The younger man's unexpected appearance left him grappling against emotions he couldn't name or tame.

Lucifer cleared his throat, the sound rough and awkward in the kitchen's quiet. He could feel the sticky sweetness of apple and honey clinging to his tongue.

"You know, you don’t have to call me that." he forced a semblance of nonchalance into his tone.

"Yes, sir," Alastor replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes, stepping further into the room. 

Lucifer shifted on the counter, trying to focus on anything other than the allure of Alastor's presence. 

"What’s got you up at this hour?" he asked, aiming for casual curiosity, but knowing it probably fell short.

"Couldn't sleep," Alastor said simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to be wandering around someone else's kitchen at midnight.

"Ah well," Lucifer nodded, hesitating for a moment before offering, " Can I get you anything?"

Alastor's hazel eyes glinted with amusement, a mischievous smirk playing at the edges of his lips, as if he had just been handed an opportunity too delicious to pass up. 

"To eat," Lucifer clarified hurriedly. "Can I fix you anything to eat?" He steered back to safer ground.

Alastor leaned casually against the opposite counter, his long fingers splayed out across the surface–he should play the piano, Lucifer thought, distractedly. 

The kitchen was spacious enough to keep so distance between them, but even so, Alastor's presence seemed to reach across the tiled floor, making Lucifer's skin tingle.

"Well," Alastor drawled, his tone dripping with suggestion, "I must say, I like what you've been offering so far."

Lucifer fought the urge to roll his eyes. He lifted the small bowl toward the younger man. "I'm having apples and honey," he announced, plucking a thin slice for himself, feeling the crispness break beneath his teeth.

Alastor’s eyes glinted in the low light as he took a slow, deliberate step forward, closing the distance between them. 

“I’m not really one for sweets,” he murmured, his voice low and velvety, “except on special occasions.”

Lucifer watched, spellbound, as Alastor moved closer still, until he was within arm's reach. The younger man’s gaze dropped briefly to Lucifer’s mouth before returning to his eyes, the suggestion unmistakable.

Then, with a gentle but assertive grip, Alastor wrapped his fingers around Lucifer’s wrist.

 The contact sent an unexpected jolt up Lucifer’s arm, his pulse quickening in response. He barely had time to process before Alastor brought Lucifer’s hand to his own lips, slowly taking the apple slice from his fingers with a playful nip.

"Look, kid," Lucifer started, the words escaping him more breathlessly than intended, "You don’t know what tree you’re barking up here. "

Alastor chuckled softly, pushing the bowl in Lucifer’s hand aside as he leaned forward, his hands finding purchase on the counter on either side of the blonde’s knees. The move was deliberate, enclosing Lucifer in a space that felt suddenly intimate. 

“I’ve been of age for years, you know” Alastor assured him, his tone a blend of amusement and something darker. “And I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Lucifer swallowed hard, trying to maintain some semblance of composure even as the heat of Alastor’s proximity made his skin prickle and his thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind.

Alastor's weight was a palpable presence against Lucifer's legs, the counter beneath him suddenly feeling like a precarious perch. 

The young man's hands remained planted on either side of him, as if to emphasize the space he was claiming.

"Alright," Lucifer said, his voice low as he conceded. "You're not a teenager, sure, but you don't know who you're trying to flirt with." His eyes flickered over Alastor's shoulder, seeking a distraction in the darkness beyond the window, even as he felt the heat creeping up his neck. "I mean, I get you're a horny college kid and all, but just think about it."

The snort that escaped Alastor was rich with amusement. It tugged at the corners of Lucifer's mouth despite himself, though he fought to keep his composure.

"But I'm Charlie's dad," he added, the words carrying an undercurrent of warning. 

 Alastor leaned further into him, pressing softly, insistently, until Lucifer’s knees began to yield to the pressure.

"Yes, Charlie's single dad," Alastor replied smoothly, his voice warm and teasing as he continued to focus only on Lucifer. "Who keeps looking at me like I'm going to eat him."

Lucifer could feel the flush spreading from his cheeks to his ears, betraying him—he and Charlie had that in common–no damn poker face.

He turned his head slightly, breaking eye contact under the pretense of watching the snowflakes gathering outside—anything to avoid the intensity of Alastor's gaze that saw right through him.

Alastor's presence loomed closer, the air between them charged with an electric tension that hummed through Lucifer's veins. Alastor’s hands remained planted on the counter, framing Lucifer in a way that made escape feel both possible and pointless.

"Which," Alastor murmured, his voice a low, sultry purr that seemed to wrap around Lucifer’s senses, "I am happy to oblige…if you ask nicely."

The boldness of the words struck Lucifer like a physical force.His breath hitched, too loud in the stillness of the kitchen.

In that moment of hesitation, the resistance in Lucifer's legs faltered, and he found himself yielding to Alastor’s body moving between his thighs. The heat of the younger’s proximity seeped through the fabric of Lucifer's pajama bottoms, igniting his skin beneath the oversized sweater.

A soft chuckle escaped from Alastor, rich with triumph, as though he could sense the internal war waging within Lucifer—a battle already half-lost before it began.

Lucifer's hand trembled slightly as he pushed the bowl of apples into Alastor's chest, a feeble attempt to create a little distance between them.  A honeyed apple slice found its way into his mouth, the sweetness a distraction from the heat pooling low in his stomach.

"I’m too old for this shit," he muttered, the words barely coherent as they slipped past his lips.

The reprieve was short-lived. 

Alastor moved with feline grace, reaching past the bowl. Fingers brushed against Lucifer’s skin lightly, then cupped his chin and coax his face back toward the younger man.

"You aren't too old to be sweet for me, are you?" Alastor purred, his voice smooth like molten caramel.

Lucifer's mind blanked, the apple halted mid-chew as he blinked at Alastor.

The world beyond the kitchen faded into irrelevance, leaving Lucifer ensnared by the bewitching pull of Alastor’s gaze and the promise that lingered there.

Lucifer’s breath caught as Alastor hummed, a low sound of approval that vibrated through the air between them. The younger man leaned in, his eyes locked onto the slice of apple still perched on Lucifer's lips.

Alastor's mouth brushed against Lucifer's with a shock of warmth, the contact fleeting yet electrifying. In one swift motion, he bit through the apple slice. Their lips touched—just barely,  tantalizing—and then it was over, leaving Lucifer craving more.

Honey dripped from the corner of Lucifer's mouth, a golden trail tracing down his skin.

Alastor’s eyes followed its descent, watching intently as it slipped beneath the stretched neckline of Lucifer’s sweater.

Alastor tilted Lucifer’s head back. Then, deliberately and with a measured grace, he lowered his head, following the sticky trail with the tip of his tongue.

 The heat of Alastor’s mouth contrasted with the cool night air, igniting sparks that danced along his nerves.

Lucifer's breath hitched, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to regain composure. The unexpected intimacy of Alastor’s tongue tracing the honey along his neck left him reeling.

"You…you said you didn’t like sweets."

Alastor's lips curved into a smirk against Lucifer’s skin, the vibration of his words sending shivers down Lucifer's spine

. “I do prefer giving bites over kisses,” Alastor murmured, his voice a silky caress. “But I’m willing to make an exception... if you ask nicely.”

The air was thick with a heavy tension that pressed in on all sides. Lucifer’s mind raced, battling against the flood of desire threatening to pull him under. They shouldn’t be doing this—he knew it. 

Alastor was so close now, his presence overwhelming and intoxicating. Lucifer could feel the warmth radiating from him, could see the promise in those hazel eyes.

Alastor was a force of nature that Lucifer found himself unable—or unwilling—to resist.

At that moment, Lucifer yearned to just give in. Let this man consume him, completely. 

"Please..." The word slipped from his lips. A surrender, and there would be no going back.

Alastor pulled him in at once, until their lips collided. It was the kind of kiss that wanted to unravel him, dissolving the walls of solitude and heartache.

The brunette was unrelenting, leaving Lucifer breathless.

Their mouths danced together, tasting sweet and tart.. Alastor took his time, teasingly plucking the forgotten slice of apple from Lucifer’s lips.

Lucifer surrendered, letting himself be swept away by the sensation of being thoroughly, deliciously dominated. Given over entirely to Alastor’s whims.

As the kiss broke,  Lucifer instinctively reached out, fingers wanting to curl into the silken fabric of Alastor's red satin pajama top. But Alastor leaned back slightly and tutted softly, amusement lacing his voice.

"Ah-ah," Alastor chided gently, a playful smirk curving his lips. "You will not get my clothes sticky."

Chastened, Lucifer withdrew his hands. Honey still clung to his fingertips.Instead he curled them on his thighs, falling into the familiar role of a practiced submissive—one he hadn’t embraced in a damn long time.

"Good boy," Alastor murmured, his voice low and smooth.

Leaving the blonde fluttering with the praise.

Alastor's fingers danced lightly along Lucifer's jaw, a touch both gentle and possessive. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against Lucifer's ear as he asked softly, "Can I bite you?"

"Yes," He swallowed hard, the remnants of honey sweet on his lips as he nodded, daring to trust Alastor. "Just... nowhere, it'll show."

"Of course," Alastor agreed smoothly, his tone carrying a promise that was both reassuring and thrilling. His hands were confident as they settled on either side of Lucifer's neck, guiding him with an insistent but tender pressure.

Lucifer allowed himself to be maneuvered, tilting his head obediently as Alastor exposed the bare curve of his shoulder where the oversized sweater had slipped away. 

"Say ‘red’ if you want me to stop," Alastor instructed, his voice steady and calm, eyes meeting Lucifer’s.

"Yellow means slow down." Lucifer replied, heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. The familiarity of those words brought a sense of comfort, grounding him.

"Good," Alastor chuckled. “I thought I would have to teach you the rules.”

Lucifer could feel Alastor's approval like a physical caress, knowing that in this moment, he was safe, understood, and about to be marked in a way he craved.

Alastor's lips moved with deliberate slowness, tracing a path down Lucifer's neck, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. Each kiss seemed to linger longer than the last, as if savoring the taste of skin beneath them. Lucifer's pulse quickened, his breath catching as anticipation coiled tightly within him.

When Alastor reached the crook of his shoulder, he paused, lips hovering above the exposed flesh. Then, he latched onto the skin, drawing it into his mouth. 

A gasp escaped Lucifer's lips as Alastor increased the pressure gradually, teeth grazing his shoulder until they slowly sank in.

Alastor knew precisely how to apply force without crossing into discomfort, maintaining a delicate balance that made Lucifer's head spin.

But then, the pressure intensified, skirting the edge of pain. It was sharp, demanding acknowledgement. But Lucifer let himself be pushed further, wanting more, until he thought his skin might break. 

 "Yellow," Lucifer gasped, voice straining.

Instantly, Alastor eased off the bite.

The relief was immediate, and the lingering sting felt tingling and pleasant as Alastor's tongue swept over the imprint of his teeth. He lavished attention on the tender area.

Lucifer moaned softly, the sound involuntary as Alastor's lips continued their ministrations, easing pain back into pleasure. That simple act of care left him feeling cherished as the mark colored his pale skin.

Lucifer's breath came in ragged bursts as he pulled back slightly, his eyes searching Alastor's with an intensity that mirrored the chaos in his chest.

His lips sought Alastor's again, a desperate connection fueled by the heat still simmering beneath his skin. The kiss was fervent, almost bruising in its urgency, and when they broke apart, Lucifer's whispered words filled the space between them.

"Fuck, I thought you were going to draw blood."

Alastor's laughter was a low, rumbling sound . "I don’t bite to cause harm," he assured, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Just to mark what’s mine."

The declaration wrapped around Lucifer like a silken thread; the sensation left him feeling exposed, and alive.

"Can I touch you?" Alastor's question was a soft murmur against his ear, each syllable enunciating a promise that made Lucifer's pulse quicken.

"Yes," the blonde breathed out, the single word filled with anticipation

"Good," Alastor hummed, a note of satisfaction lacing his tone. He paused those fingers curled on Lucifer’s inner thigh, a deliberate moment that held its own kind of tension. "If I touch you, I'm going to want to get my mouth on you. Not to bite, but to taste you. Is that alright?"

"Please," Lucifer repeated, the plea escaping him without hesitation.

Fingers fumbled with the waistband of his duckie pajamas. Why couldn’t he have worn something that was at least a little sexy? As if he could have known  he was going to be hooking up in his kitchen.

His hands felt clumsy and uncertain now.

Alastor watched him with a smirk that was both knowing and indulgent, the heat in his gaze searing through the dim light of the kitchen.

The blonde finally managing to shove the fabric down his thighs. He shifted awkwardly, trying not to focus on how exposed he felt, or how much he craved the younger man's attention. Alastor's eyes never left his, holding him captive with their unspoken promises.

"Relax," Alastor murmured, dipping his finger into the jar of honey nearby. The movement was fluid, almost hypnotic, as he coated the digit in the golden syrup.

 Then, with deliberate slowness, he dragged it along the length of Lucifer's aching cock.

Lucifer bit back a moan, his body tensing with anticipation, every nerve alight.

"How sweet," Alastor purred. He leaned in, his breath warm against Lucifer's skin, before his tongue flicked out to lap at the honey-coated length. The gentleness of Alastor's sharp teeth sent a shudder through Lucifer, the edge of danger driving him wild. .

"Fuck," Lucifer breathed. 

He squirmed under Alastor's ministrations, feeling like a damn teenager getting his first blowjob. 

 The urge to touch, to cling to Alastor and ground himself, was overwhelming. His hands clenched into fists on his thighs. .

"Easy," Alastor soothed, wrapping his hand around Lucifer's cock with a leisurely stroke that was both personal and possessive. "You do not have permission to come down my throat."

The words were a command wrapped in velvet, a reminder of the control Alastor had over him.

Lucifer nodded, swallowing hard.

Alastor's mouth enveloped him once more. He couldn't help the whine that escaped his lips, a sound of pure want that echoed in the quiet kitchen.

"Take off your sweater," Alastor commanded, pulling back slightly, his voice rough with desire. 

Lucifer hesitated, his fingers twitching towards the hem of his oversized top. The fabric hung comfortably but beneath it….he knew  had the body of a divorced dad. Even if he’d only seen Alastor covered from neck to wrist to ankle, he knew the younger man was slender and fit.

Lucifer was not. He was almost middle aged and his muscle was hidden under softness, from stress and snacking and stressing over snacking.

He’d hesitated long enough for Alastor to notice.

Those keen hazel eyes softened, understanding without judgment. "Then you'll just have to wash clothes," Alastor murmured, his tone gentle yet unyielding. His hand continued its purposeful rhythm, stroking Lucifer with a practiced grace that left no room for doubt or insecurity.

Lucifer nodded, swallowing his apprehension, surrendering to the moment. Alastor's words were a balm, soothing his frazzled nerves as he gave in to the younger man's control.

With each deliberate stroke, tension coiled tighter in Lucifer's core until it snapped, spilling come over the younger’s fist. His sweater bore the brunt of it, as Alastor watched with a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"Good boy," Alastor praised, the words a whisper that sent warmth flooding through Lucifer.

Lucifer was left a panting mess, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he leaned back against the cool surface of the kitchen counter.

The world around him seemed to blur. It had been so long since anyone else had gotten him off, and even though it was just a hand job, it left him reeling.

He could feel the warm stickiness of his come trailing down from his chin, marking his sweater as evidence of their encounter.

Alastor tipped his head back, and  Lucifer's eyes fluttered open, meeting the younger man's hazel gaze that sparkled.

"Let me," Alastor murmured, voice rich and inviting. His tongue traced a languid path up his throat, collecting Lucifer’s come.

It shocked him that Alastor would even want to taste him. He barely registered the taste of himself on Alastor's lips before the younger man kissed him, lingering and turning tender, like Alastor knew, to ease him down.

 And Lucifer’s wits were coming back to him. Already thinking of how he would return the favor. 

Kitchen tile probably wasn’t going to be the best thing for his knees. And Lucifer hadn’t blown anyone in years, but it shouldn’t be too hard—not to get off a worked up college kid.

Just as resolve solidified in his mind, Alastor pulled away suddenly, leaving Lucifer blinking in surprise. A knowing smile playing on the younger’s lips.

 "Thanks for the snack," he said, voice smooth as velvet, a teasing lilt in his words. He turned to leave, languid and unhurried, dripping with an irritating amount of confidence.

Lucifer blinked, his bare ass still on his kitchen counter, the chill grounding him to the granite.

"Wait," the blonde blurted, his voice husky and uncertain. He shifted slightly, the oversized sweater slipping further down one shoulder. "Don't you…want me to do something for you?"

Alastor paused, tilting his head just enough to glance back over his shoulder, with a soft chuckle in the quiet kitchen. .

"I'm quite satisfied actually," Alastor hummed, casually waving off the suggestion. "Goodnight, Mr. Morningstar."

And with that, Alastor sauntered out of the kitchen, leaving Lucifer alone and a sticky mess.

The oversized sweater clung to him in places, sticky with traces of honey and the aftermath of He shifted slightly, wincing as the coolness of the counter reminded him of his current state of undress. His mind replayed the scene over and over, each repetition only deepening the gnawing inside him.

He’d eaten, and more, and yet...he was starving. 

For a moment, Lucifer considered following Alastor, demanding an explanation or an encore. But the thought vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him with nothing but an empty ache and the soft patter of snow against the windowpane.

With a sigh, he reached for the discarded bowl of apples and honey, knowing they wouldn’t be nearly enough. 

🍁 On Ao3🍁Read my original fics on Ream🍁On Tumblr 🍁

[brotherwtf]

https://www.tumblr.com/brotherwtf/764161646393442304/for-the-angsty-ideas-what-about-clegan-mutual?source=share

I also wanna add reincarnation to this in modern setting this time.

Jhon always had dreams of a figure who is beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes, slender figure but he couldn't really see the face or hear the voice and is walking away from him and Jhon tries really hard to say something but it feels like his vocal cords have gotten mute and he starts struggling and wakes up! He's been having this dream ever since he was born. So he was always looking for this angel, and he assumes it's a girl and has always dated girls with blonde hair and blue eyes. But none of them were what he was looking for. He's not "homophobic or anything" because Curt, his best friend is gay. But he has never felt anything for a guy and has strongly believed his life partner is his angel, because only a girl can be that beautiful right?

Gale has also had similar dream but he knows the figure is a man because he was tall big and in his uninform. So Gale has always known he's gay. Marge is his best friend and they do everything together so much so that they enroll in the same college.

Jhon is a senior in the same college who's just watching all the first years coming in. He sees a blonde figure from afar and he has a very strange feeling he knows her and that she's probably the one he's been looking for and he approachs her trying to charm her but she's not having any of it and says "Sorry I have a boyfriend" and pulls a guy from the crowd "This is Gale, my boyfriend" and Jhon is speechless because he's certain his heart just stopped for a moment. But he manages to say "What kinda name is Gale? You remind me of my old friend Buck, so I'm gonna start calling you Buck" he doesn't even know where that came from but he's certain he has done this before and Gale and Marge look at eachother in confusion. Jhon introduces himself as Jhon "But everyone calls me Bucky". Marge immediately clocks in "So you're giving him your own name" in a teasing tone. Anyways that would be their first meeting. Jhon is now somehow convincing himself that his "angel" is Marge because she checks all the boxes but mostly because of his internalised homophobia. He tries to approach her again but honestly he doesn't even realise that he's looking for Gale instead. Whom he quickly learns is gay and Marge is just his best friend.

Long story short Jhon tries really hard to convince himself that he's not attracted to Gale, but he's just very pretty for a guy and tries to reason with Curt who calls him out on his bullshit. He and Gale become friends very easily obviously and Gale is falling in love but he knows that Jhon doesn't feel that way because he's the straightest mf ever and he has seen many times he has tried to hit on Marge (he just didn't know it was always more of an excuse to see Gale instead). So he decides to move on before he ends up in deep shit which might break his heart even more. Something something Jhon finally gets over his stupid Angel because he can't deny to himself anymore that he's in love with Gale. That night in his dreams he sees the angel, same with blonde hair and blue eyes but it has a face now. Shorter hair than he had imagined and a deep voice asking him "What took you long?" Jhon wakes up and he's feeling every emotion. He's happy that he has finally found his angel but is also very angry at himself that he couldn't see what was infront of him all this time. He finally decides to tell Gale his feelings but he sees Gale being really close with another guy and way too friendly for his liking..... Is he too late??? 🧐

damn shawty I love everything about this.... definitely thinking thoughts

reincarnation aus are SO FUCKING GOOD and I think we need to definitely definitely talk more about John and Gale finding each other in every single life because they DO!! THEY WILL FIND EACH OTHER IN EVERY LIFE

but I'm obsessed with this idea that John knows this soulmate of his will be blond hair and blue eyes, pretty lips and the most perfect waist, and so when he sees Gale and Marge together he's like "oh damn, she's perfect!" because Marge is a certified baddie and who doesn't want to be with her

Gale being smitten right away is such a Gale thing to do, who wouldn't fall in love with John's easy going personality and flirty nature? it's easy to see why Marge is also so smitten with John, and he can't help but feel jealous when John is immediately so taken with her as well, decides he's going to be a good friend and wingman to Marge and will help her be happy even if it means losing John to her

ughhh but him seeing Gale in his dreams, seeing glimpses of military dress and planes in the sky and being so so confused by it all, sees a blonde man smiling and laughing but can't quite place who it is, he looks awfully familiar and he can almost hear the sound of his laugh when he's with Marge and Gale, thinks he might recognize those piercing blue eyes when he's with them as well

and then one night he sees him, Gale, his best friend, Marges best friend, haloed in light and looking so damn charming in a flight suit and crushed cap, extending a gloved hand and asking what took him so long, and John wakes with a gasp, almost shouts in euphoria because he's found him, he's found his soulmate, and he's been right in front of him this whole time

but as you said anon, Gale's talking to another guy, another smooth talker like Gale, and he's hiding his laughs behind his hand like he did with John and flushing so prettily when he helps him with his homework and John's so so worried that he's too late, he's so worried that he's watching his soulmate slip through his fingers

I wanna make this classic romcom shit so imagine John running up to Gale one night, it's cold and raining but John just can't let Gale go, refuses to let his soulmate slip through his fingers again, and he confesses his love for him, says that even if Gale doesn't love him back John will still love him for a thousand lifetimes and more, he just had to tell him before it was too late

and Gale, of course, just stands there shocked at first, but surges forward instantly and captures John's lips in a kiss, clutching both sides of his head and kissing him like a desperate man, kisses him like he's starving, and oh, John could get used to this

this is such a fun concept, thank you anon!! this is making me want to write more reincarnation or soulmate stuff this is so fun

[celeluwhenfics]

2024 Fic Roundup

I'll consider myself tagged :)

Total Words Published at End of Year: 22,732

Fandoms: LotR

Highest Everything (kudos, hits, comments): pHORSEuasion wins everything... But if we consider only the shorts:

Hits: Don't Fret, Dear

Kudos: Perfect

Comments: Cold Hands, Warm Heart

New Things I Tried: Writing in English! Publishing what I write! I had only written for myself since I was a teen... This year I learned of the existence of AO3 and of a writing community on Tumblr. So, ALL of this is new to me!

Fic I Spent the Most Time On: pHORSEuasion. By a landslide. My draft for it is over 100k words, and add tens of thousands of extra in notes and discarded scraps. You've only seen 10k words of it yet... Phew.

Fic I Spent the Least Time On: Don't Fret, Dear. I challenged myself to write it and publish it in little less than 48 hours!

Favorite Thing I Wrote (and published in 2024): I keep changing my mind, between Don't Fret, Dear, and Spoons! I'm quite proud of what I did in both of them in terms of themes and characterization.

Favorite Things I Read: Ooof, that's hard! I read nowhere as much as I wish because of lack of time. Therefore almost all of these are short-ish works! But let's try to name a few, in no particular order, and tryyyyinggg to not repeat authors:

When the Sun Rises by @hobbitwrangler I'm just obsessed about this Théoden/Finduilas pining fic, and I WILL NOT shut up about it, I'm sorry. The poetry of the descriptions! His noble hearttt omg.

Where Now the Horse and the Rider by @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras Completely in love with the gay Rohirrim. What a lovely love story! Did I mention I loved it? Also I ugly cried through the entire last chapter. It's that good.

Growing Pains by @torchwood-99 The Rohan royal family are ranchers, the Fellowship are environmental activists and Faramir is a ballet dancer, because why not?!

Never is too long a word by @mithrandirl This adorable Éothiriel involving the whole Fellowship has me giggling and kicking my feet every time. It's so funny and so cute! Yessss!

The Tenth Date by @dilettantefeminist Incredible spicy modern AU Celrond, mouthwatering in many ways (I really want Elrond to cook breakfast for me.)

Writing Goals for 2025: I know that the year will start weird, with me being catapulted into another country in rustic conditions for two months, and handling a move on top of it, therefore I might go a little quiet after I post the second part of Cold Hands, Warm Heart and chapter 3 of pHORSEuasion in January. But!!! My two long-term goals for 2025 are to progress in the posting of pHORSEuasion, and to experiment with shorter form fics.

It looks like everyone has been tagged already... Well, Happy New Year everyone!

[alexissara]

Top 10 Comics of 2024 [They're All Sapphic]

Every year is an amazing year for sapphic stories, people are putting out consistently amazing stuff and they will keep doing it even if the world makes it harder and harder. It is a really competitive year this year for my top slot with the top 4 really all being able to be number one so take the order of this list with a grain of salt. I can’t say enough how dazzled I was by some of the stories I read this year and there was a lot of really cute stories that while they didn’t have anything that wowed me I still enjoyed that just didn’t make the cut. Unlike last years list there is no none sapphic stories here, I read some non sapphic stories but they simply didn’t make the cut. So this is a great place for anyone looking for stories about women in love with women. 

Last year I separated Manga from Webcomics and Comics but this year I didn't Read any new Manga, aka not part of an ongoing I was reading from last year that felt worthy of a top spot. So I will be including at least one of those ongoings on this list but they'll be no separate manga list. Here’s hoping 2025 I read so many great comics, Manga and webcomics there three separate lists so I can cheat and share more stories. 

If you end up enjoying this list do remember you can help me afford to make art and engage art by going over to https://www.patreon.com/AlexisSara. I have a rough draft of a novel I am working on ready for 5 dollar + tiers and I give monthly updates for every tier on the video games, ttrpgs, novels and more that i am working on.

10. If You’ll Have Me

This is a cute little modern romance by one of my favorite artists so I had to support it when I was given the chance. This is just a classic romance type story, not a ton of frills or twists to the normal romance formula except that it’s lesbains with a nice art style. A nerdy girl falls for a popular hottie with a reputation for getting around and love blooms through misunderstandings and tough feelings. It’s cute with a great art style, it’s just nice and a great book for if you just want to see a lesbian love story. 

9. LSBN 

This is a short but sweet comic, it isn’t very long, it isn’t particularly deep, some trans lesbians were working on a mech to do big battles but suddenly their hit with an order for peace. Feelings get messy as years of work go down the drain and these women find themselves going to each other and the feelings they all have about this. The art itself is really unique, it has an extremely creative vision of it’s world that is really a spectacle to look at and for sure gives value to actually owning the book rather then checking it out just briefly since it is a fast read. It’s simple, sweet and good.

8. The Marble Queen

This is a YA graphic novel which have a hard chance at making it on a list like this for me, I try to read a lot of them but I have such a hard time getting through them but here I really did get enthusiastic about this story. The biggest carry for the story is definitely the art, really striking art that truly makes this story stand out in the crowd. This is an arranged marriage gay romance where both parties fall in love with one another. It’s a very classic fantasy princesses type story in that way with you know scheming evil family and uproars and restoring order and what not. It is a fun book and the Pirate Woman in this story is very hot and I liked it, it’s just a solid classic formula type story. I have little critiques about it but ultimately I think it’s solid. 

 7. Rainbow! 

This was a turn around of the century for me where I was really not in love with the first half of this story at all but having stuck it through basically exactly where volume 1 ends the story really picks up and starts to be something great. It’s cover and stuff pitches it as a kinda sweet and fluffy romance but this is a drama romance there just isn’t a lot of drama between the romantic interests themselves. This is the story about two women who are being abused in different ways by their mothers falling in love and how they as high schoolers deal with the shifting of their lives through meeting each other and though the new lows their moms push them to. It’s a good story and it’s good to see stories about people who are dealing with this kind of abuse still finding love and figuring out their own ways out of situations. It’s idealistic in some ways but I think some hope isn’t a bad thing to give to people. This is a really sweet story story even when it gets rough and it’s worth folks time. 

 6. Eldritch Darling

One of those comics that feel like they could be on this list every year but it wasn’t on last years list so I feel extra good about giving it a slot this year. This is a very cute small panel comedy romance webcomic. The plot as it were starts with an eldritch monster girl having taken on a human guise falling in love with a woman and trying to keep it together and from there we follow how their relationship blooms, her feelings about human life and her shifting feelings on herself. The relationship shifts and changes and it’s a good story with decent progress and has been slightly expanding out it’s characters and stuff over time as it keeps going. It’s short, sweet, good times for anyone looking for just a nice read. 

 5. The Deep Dark 

A trans and cis woman romance with a ton of mess around them having secrets, toxic people in their lives and more all tied up with just a bit of the magical elements. Mags is a butch lesbian who’s got a big secret, a little monster tied to her she must feed her blood. This secret keeps her detached from everyone but small hookups with a girl who has a boyfriend and doesn’t want to come out. One day Nessa comes back to town, a trans woman and her old best friend, a person she cared so deeply about before the weight of her secret really got to her. She’s dealing with a creepy ex boyfriend and went back to her old home town to get away with him for the summer. Both are hesitant to share what’s going on with the other and both are effected by events that happened when they were a child that caused Nessa to move. The two’s connection is just really good and I like that both these women are very caught up in their own shit at first and really feel like they should be together but maybe can’t because of that. I think this is Molly Knox Ostertag’s best story so far and I am really glad she got to release it. 

4. She Loves To Cook And She Loves To Eat 4

A true masterpiece, I say this every time with She Loves To Cook and She Loves To Eat and I will keep saying it, I imagine She Loves To Cook and She Loves To Eat Volume 5 will be in next year's top 10 too. Sakaomi Yuzaki is simply a master of the craft of manga and storytelling that is beyond most people ever. The way she can capture the raw feelings captured by fatphobia, sexism, homophobia, lesbobia, aphobia, etc all while keeping a fairly soft and cozy tone is truly a testament to her craft. Volume 4 was a brilliant move forward in the story and the romance properly and it’s yet another testament that I enjoyed a fairly big slow burn when I am not a big slow burn enjoyer. The food looks brilliant, the character designs are fantastic, I can’t imagine a world where this story falls off.

3. Superwomen In Love 4 and 5

Having finished this I can say that this is one of the best Yuri Manga of all time. While She Loves To Cook and She Loves To Eat is a masterpiece that makes me think about the true mastery of one of the mediums of art I work in and love the most, this story was just fucking fun as hell for me.We have big love confessions, fusion, action, mechs, and so much more. I really can’t say enough just how much of a blast this story is. I would kill to see this adapted it’s just such a freaking blast and it’s so gay and it’s so much fun. The main couple is really masterfully done and the side characters are all great and thought out to at least some small extent. It makes for a really great cast and a really great time. It’s stupid but it’s like perfectly my kind of stupid and I love it. 

2. The Strange Case of Harleen and Harley

Two of my favorite characters of all time get a fun YA retelling that honestly might be my favorite origin story for both characters ever. Harleen’s life has gone to shit, her and Pamala broke up for a bit and she ended up dating a dude who was a bit unhinged and murdered her bullies. That made her have to move, ruining everything she had going for her the only saving grace from her families judgement, the judgement of people around her and the crushing despair of potentially losing her access to higher education is that her and Pam got back together. Harleen agrees to enter clinical trials with Pamala when she suspects they are doing animal testing and wants to find out, plus it would get Harleen some money for signing up. The shots Harleen is subjected to awaken Harley inside of Harleen and start these two off on an adventure. It fits the characters, it does the representation of plurality so much better than most media I’ve seen, it doesn’t condemn doing crimes at all which is great for a villain story, it instead lets us just see criminals as people who make choices and you can judge those choices on your own. You will though be shown the rich fuckers running these experiments and hate them and it’s great. I really love this story, it’s probably my favorite YA book, it might be my favorite superhero comic ever, it’s just great. 

1. Sunset Phoenix 

Lesbian Monsters, I did it that’s the review, shouldn’t have to sell it further than this. I will though, it’s a fantastical setting with magic but also very modern. Our Mob Boss is a Phoenix meaning she’s immortal unless you kill her with a special blade only a Phoenix can make. Someone kills another one of the Phoenix’s who run the city and the mobs and attempts to frame her spy for it which also frames her. The two have to work together to figure out who did it, prove they did it or else the best case for them is all out mob war and the worst case is their too dead to know what happens next. The story isn’t done yet but the first arc is finished meaning there is a very solid end point to hit if you pick this series up. The chemistry between Emilia and Valentine is just really strong and the action scenes are just super cool. It is one of those series that is like 10/10 everything I really have nothing negative to say about the book it just really perfectly does what it is trying to do and I like what it’s trying to do.