#man...last life fanart in 2023...

[raticalshoez]

Green, Crimson, Gold

i've been following @autumnwhistles' Last Life Musical project and i've been going INSANE over the song concepts and ohhhhhh the song about joel going red really caught my attention because joel is one of my fav loserboy lifers

Version without text:

[evilmagician430]

who up sinning their fest

[sweet-milky-tea705]

“Its not really a hyperfixation…. Youre like totally neurotypical”

Then i realize ive been obsessed with the same thing since 2019 and a day does not go by where i dont think of it

[merlinrarepairfest]

Masterlist

With an amazing 36 works, the 2023 round of the Rare Pair Fest is now closed! Our lovely participants created for 21 different relationships, with Arthur/Gwen/Merlin snatching the first spot with 5 works, Merlin/Gwaine coming second with 4, and third place being shared by Gwen/Morgana, Gwaine/Percival, and Leon/Merlin, all with 3 works each.

The hugest thank you to everyone who left prompts, wrote fics, created art, read and shared and left some love, and last but not least to the Merlin Fic Book Club Server for hosting us on the Discord side of things. I was actually blown away by everyone's enthusiasm for this fest, and I can't wait for the second round <3

Until then, you can find all of this year's creations beneath the cut. Enjoy!!

All the love,

Mona (@queerofthedagger)

Title: can you understand me? Writer: sleepygecko Rating: Teen & Up Warnings: None Medium/Word Count: 3,606 words Pairing/main characters: Merlin/Leon Up to 10 tags: Animal Transformation, Fluff, Magic Reveal, First Kiss

Summary:

Leon wakes up in the forest as a dog with no memory of how he got there. Luckily Merlin stumbles upon him and is able to help.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/bbcm_rare_pair_fest_2023/works/49873792

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Title: Friendless Monster Writer: I_think_he_knows | @marlenemckinnonsuppremacy Rating: Teen and up audiences Warnings: No Archive warnings apply Medium/Word Count: 4891 words Pairing/main characters: Merlin/Arthur/Gwen Up to 10 tags: Polygamy, miscomunications, Fluff, Angst, Love, Love Confessions

Summary:

After years of peace in Camelot, Merlin is forced to reveal his magic to the two people he loves the most

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49932865/chapters/126062422

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Title: fool's gold Artist: kairennart (Personaje) | @kairennart Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Warnings Apply Medium: Digital Art Pairing/main characters: Lancelot/Morgana Up to 10 tags: Fanart, Shade Lancelot, Episode: Lancelot du Lac.

Summary:

Morgana and her knight.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51030379

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Title: Love is a Banquet Writer: eachpeachpearplum | @eachpeachpearplume Rating: T Warnings: No archive warnings apply, alcohol mention Word Count: 2k Pairing/main characters: Merlin/Gwaine, pre-Merlin/Gwaine/Arthur Tags: fluff, canon era, jealous Arthur, hungover Arthur

Summary:

When it comes toArthur, Gwaine does a lot of pretending for Merlin's sake: pretending he doesn't know how Merlin feels about Arthur, pretending he doesn't know how Arthur feels in return, pretending he doesn't want to punch Arthur in the face and shout at the pair of them to stop being stupid and snog already (Gwaine's planning on being involved in the snogging too, he'snot self-sacrificing enough to give Merlin up entirely, but he sort of thinks one of them has to make thefirst move.) Or: Arthur is jealous and hungover, Gwaine is exasperated and really struggling to be sympathetic, and Merlin's heart is big enough to share...

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51617992

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Title: These Walls, Thy Sphere Writer: Zorbo_Jorks | @zorbojorks Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Warnings Apply Medium/Word Count: 6,111 Pairing/main characters: Balinor & Arthur Pendragon Up to 10 tags: Canon Divergence- Balinor Lives, Father-Son Relationship Dynamics, Developing Friendship, Post-Canon: The Last Dragonlord, Arthur's Changing Opinions on Magic

Summary:

“And what of your son?” Arthur pressed. “He must want you in his life!” “I know he does,” Balinor sighed, expression odd and unreadable to Arthur, “but I missed the chance to be a father to him long ago. He is a grown man now, and I am no fit father in any case.” “You would be better than many!” Arthur scoffed, not realizing the emotion hiding in his words until they had left his lips. He screwed his mouth shut and glared at the table, feeling Balinor’s gaze heavy on him, weighed further by the realization that he was comparing the dragonlord to the king. ------------ Balinor did not die, and despite everything, the dragonlord's company begins to grow on Arthur.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49938067

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Title: Apple Moon Writer: Winter__Moon | @the-king-and-the-druidess Rating: T Warnings: No Medium/Word Count: Fic, 1670 Pairing/main characters: Mordred/Morgana. Mordred, Morgana Up to 10 tags: Canon divergence, knife feeding, apples, UST, old religion, good!Morgana, dark!Morgana

Summary:

The moon has two sides, just like Morgana and Mordred.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50346283/chapters/127191832

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Title: Sweet violet and cherry blossom Writer: Skydragon05 | @skydragon05 Rating: General Audiences  Warnings: None Medium/Word Count: 1528 Pairing/main characters: Arthur/Gwen/Elena Up to 10 tags: Fluff, Wedding, Polyamory, Established Relationship, Flowers, Canon Era, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, POV Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Episode: s03e06 The Changeling (Merlin), Oneshot

Summary: 

There could hardly be more contrast between now and the last time Arthur had stood in this spot anticipating his imminent marriage. This time, not only was he the king, but he was also happy. Today he was here entirely by choice, and for love, and he knew the warmth he felt today was shared equally amongst both of his brides. Wedding oneshot for Merlin Rare-pair Fest 2023: Elena/Arthur/Guinevere

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51389851

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Title: The Wild Goose Writer: littlegreyfish Rating: E Warnings: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings Medium/Word Count: Fic/30,000 | Chapters: 5/6 Pairing/main characters: Balinor/Hunith Up to 10 tags: Hurt/comfort, Angst, Strangers to lovers, Injury recovery, Physical disability, Age difference, Character study, Canon era, Pre-canon, Canon compliant

Summary:

Fleeing the slaughter of his people, the last dragonlord finds home with a peasant girl.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51400252

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Title: [ART] Two of Us Artist: Mischel | @magicalmischel Rating: G Warnings: none Medium/Word Count: Art Pairing/main characters: Gwen/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Gwen Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Gwen Has Magic (Merlin), BAMF Gwen (Merlin), BAMF Merlin (Merlin), Digital Art 

Summary: 

Gwen/Merlin or Gwen & Merlin fanart for Rare Pair Fest 2023. Prompt: AU where Gwen has magic

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51388438

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Title: left unattended Writer: Sage_Owl Rating: Mature Warnings: None Medium/word count: Fic/4,078 Pairing/main characters: Leon/Lancelot Up to 10 tags: Canon Divergence, Time Skips, Character Study, Wings, Mild Smut, Magic, Loneliness, Mythical Creatures, King Arthur Pendragon

Summary:

It started as a way to escape. No, that wasn’t right. It started because he was drunk.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51328009

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Title: Something for the pain Writer: Ace_Teagirl | @aroaceteagirl Rating: Gen Warnings: None  Medium/Word Count: fic 11,960 words Pairing/main characters: Merlin & Mordred Up to 10 tags: Canon era; Canon divergence; Child Mordred; Past child abuse

Summary:

“Who is this?” Gaius finally asked. Merlin yelped in surprise as he turned fast enough to almost lose his balance and stumble. The purse of Gaius’ lips and the raised eyebrows told Merlin his mentor was struggling not to laugh at the display. Merlin wouldn’t admit it, but he appreciated it. “I found him on the street, I think he’s a druid. He can use mindspeech, but he can’t or won’t speak to me. I don’t really know who he is or where he’s from, but he needs help, Gaius. I couldn’t just let him freeze and starve out there. It’s just for a few days, I promise –” Or Merlin finds Mordred on the street on a cold and rainy night and decides to take him in. He starts teaching the boy how to control his magic and Mordred soon becomes Merlin's ward.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/bbcm_rare_pair_fest_2023/works/51374515

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Title: distance your emotions Writer: Ceewelsh | @mayonnaisetoffees Rating: M Warnings: Major Character Death Medium/Word Count: Fic/1779 Pairing/main characters: Gwen/Merlin/Arthur also involved Leon, Morgana and Elyan Up to 10 tags: Alternate Universe - Star Wars Setting, Order 66, Angst

Summary:

The world seemed to be heading for a tipping point, and Arthur could only hope it would be for the better. Perhaps soon the war would be over. Once the galaxy was safe… Maybe then he would be free to leave the Jedi Order and live out his days with Gwen and Merlin. Meeting them, training with them, their bond was unmistakable. It was not the Jedi way, but not every life is built for the Order. Arthur knew that, now. His duty came first, protecting those who needed it was more important than his feelings. But maybe once there was peace, it wouldn’t feel like such a betrayal to leave.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51385720

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Title: A meeting most needed. Writer: ohmerthurcharm Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings, Mild blood, mention of death of minor character. Medium/Word Count: 4474 words Pairing/main characters: Merlin/Oswald/Ethan Up to 10 tags: Threesome, knife kink, Don/sub undertones, What if, Fix it fic

Summary:

What if Sir Oswald and Sir Ethan did not die? They travel to Camelot, mourning the loss of their Manservant. Merlin's warmth is a welcome to their tired minds, Arthur tells Merlin to give them a good time and he shall deliver.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51031120

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Title: Unforgettable Knight Writer: RedLlamas | @brayinghorses Rating: Explicit Warnings: Rape/Non-con Word count: 2,291 Pairing/Main characters: Leon/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Unreliable Narrator, The Rising Sun Tavern (Merlin), Light Petting, Licking, Rough Sex

Summary: 

Leon's on his night off, and when he spots Merlin from across the tavern, decides to assert his place as Prince Arthur's head knight.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51346480

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Title: Reunions Artist: Nebula5030 Rating: Gen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Medium/Word Count: Art Pairing/main characters: Elyan/Gwaine Up to 10 tags: Canon Era, Established Relationship, Scars, Amnesia, Reunions, Implied hair cutting in a medical context, aka Short Hair Gwaine

Summary:

Elyan thought he had lost Gwaine months ago, after he had vanished from the citadel and never returned. Imagine his surprise when, on a border patrol only a day's ride from Camelot, he spots a familiar face working the farmlands...

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51353260

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Title: Cross your heart and hope to bi Writer: I_think_he_knows | @marlenemckinnonsupremacy Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply Medium/Word Count: 13744 words Pairing/main characters: Merlin/Gwen/Arthur Up to 10 tags: Lacrosse , Polyamory, Alternate Universe - College/University, arthur is a jock, gwen is a jock, they're both jocks, merlin loves jocks

Summary:

Modern college/university au. Gwen and Arthur are dating, they're both seniors & jocks (lacrosse), Merlin is the freshman assigned to tutor them to pass some advanced class or they can't play

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50458846

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Title: Through The Trees Writer: lavender_spice | @lesbianlefay Rating: Explicit Warnings: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions Of Violence Medium/Word Count: 2.7k Pairing/main characters: Gwen/Morgana, Temporary Gwen/Lancelot, Implied Gwen/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Jennifer's Body AU, Horror, Succubi, Jealous Morgana, Possessive Morgana, Murder, Dry Humping

Summary:

If Gwen Smith knows one thing in her life, it's this: Morgana Pendragon is evil. Not teenage girl evil, mind you. Actually evil. Murderous, flesh-eating seductress evil.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51392029

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Title: A Lifetime of Promises Writer: eachpeachpearplum | @eachpeachpearplume Rating: M Warnings: No archive warnings apply Medium/Word Count: fic, ~50k | Chapter 8/14 Pairing/main characters: Gwaine/Merlin/Percival, established Gwaine/Percival, past Gwaine/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Modern AU, polyamory negotiations, fluff, slow burn (for the poly ship), falling back in love, hurt/comfort

Summary:

When Gwaine bumps into his ex, Merlin, in the pub one night, he doesn't realise quite how much it's going to change his and Percival's lives.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52010989

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Title: fade away never Writer: SlantedKnitting | @slantedknitting Rating: General Audiences Warnings: none Medium/Word Count: 1,186 words Pairing/main characters: Leon/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Regency Era, Queerplatonic Relationship, Immortal Leon, Immortal Merlin, Ballroom Dancing

Summary:

Leon and Merlin attend a ball.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51031786

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Title: [ART] Still Yours Artist: Mischel | @magicalmischel Rating: G Warnings: none Medium/Word Count: 0 Pairing/main characters: Gwen/Morgana Up to 10 tags: Digital Art, Alternate Universe - Angels & Demons, Angel Gwen (Merlin), Hugs, Wings, Fallen Angel Morgana (Merlin), Demon Morgana (Merlin)

Summary:

Morgana/Gwen fanart for Rare Pair Fest 2023. Prompt: Angels and Demons au. They were together when they were angels. Then Morgana fell.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51384040

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Title: The Shop at the Corner's End Writer: Cassius_theCorrupterofSouls | @twistedshipper Rating: M Warnings: Creator chose not to use Archive warnings  Medium/Word Count: 12,456 Pairing/main characters: Morgana/Mordred  Up to 10 tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Enemies to Lovers, Witchcraft, Wicca, Autumn, Halloween 

Summary:

Drawn towards a local occult shop that lies on her route to school, Morgana Pendragon takes it upon herself one Saturday afternoon in September to visit the store, hoping to purchase with her meager allowance a book or two on witchcraft, a practice she has been secretly reading up on online but has no hands-on experience with due to her father's no "nonsense" stance on all things supernatural. Entering the shop, she finds it to be as magical and sublime as her expectations, but what she doesn't expect is the confrontation she is about to have with one of its employees, a young man by the name of Mordred, who may just possess the secret to helping her realize her dreams of forging her own path and become more certain of herself in the process. Or, based on the prompt: Modern AU. Mordred works in an esoteric Wicca bookshop. Curious, Morgana visits the shop secretly because her conservative and stern father doesn't like her "unscientific, silly" hobbies. Romance, initial dislike for each other, find themselves drawn together.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51253924

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Title: golden thread (clasped weft woven) Writer: AgapantoBlu | @agapantoblu Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Medium/Word Count: 20.766 words Pairing/main characters: Freya/Merlin; Arthur Pendragon. Up to 10 tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Freya Lives, Magic Revealed, Implied/Referenced Torture (though it’s just in dreams), Nightmares, It’s hard to live your cottagecore fantasies when destiny won’t stop banging at the door.

Summary: 

“It was so close. They barely made it out of Camelot and even then, Merlin was ready to watch her die. He'd held her and cried and screamed and begged whatever force had made him, every ounce of his magic, to please. Just not her. Not at Arthur's hand. Fate must have worried about the latter more than the first, but the waters had risen nonetheless, and the waves had washed away the blood and the wound alike. Merlin had been hit with a strange feeling of melancholy and sorrow and the weird relaxation that happens when a pull that seemed unnoticeable before suddenly stops. Just like that, Camelot didn't seem so enthralling anymore, and Arthur's actions not so easily pardoned."

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51364060

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Title: her sorrowless salt self Writer: greenforsnow | @m-b-w Rating: T Warnings: no archive warnings apply Medium/Word Count: fic, 6k Pairing/main characters: Gwen/Morgana Up to 10 tags: Pirate Morgana, Mermaid Gwen, getting together

Summary:

Morgana looks for freedom in the ocean; she finds Gwen.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51389305

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Title: Save a Horse, ride a Knight Writer: Laevateinn Rating: T Warnings: N/A Medium/Word Count: 1k Pairing/main characters: Gwaine/Percival Up to 10 tags: Canon Divergence, Gwaine admitted he was of noble blood, Percival came to Camelot to work, Tournament, Favours, Gwaine is oblivious

Summary:

Imagine a world where Gwaine admitted being of noble blood and stayed as a knight, long before he actually does in the show. What if, in that world, he and the other Knights of the Round Table had met differently? What if Percival, for example, had decided to travel to Camelot and work there? Where he would have met Gwaine, and worked with him? Surely, these two can stay professional, or simply friends, right?

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51384994

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Title: the gold and the rust Writer: Shana_Rose | @shana-rosee Rating: T Warnings: None Medium/Word Count: 1,176 Pairing/main characters: Mergwenthur Up to 10 tags: Mergwenthur, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Post-Battle of Camlann, Hurt Arthur Pendragon, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Established Relationship, POV Merlin, Sleepy Cuddles

Summary:

The bright light of early morning hit aggressively against his eyes. Merlin winced, scrunching his eyes in hopes of the light going away. He pressed his head further into his arm, resting on top of the soft sheets of the bed. His back was aching from sleeping in a chair. Just as he wondered why he would sleep in such an uncomfortable position, he bolted up. His breath caught in his throat as he turned his head towards the head of the bed. - Arthur survives Camlann.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51432988

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Title: Jealous of him, I want to be yours Writer: HadrianPeverellBlack | @evadne01 Rating:  General Warnings: N/A Medium/Word Count: fic/ 1,891 Pairing/main characters: Merlin/Gwaine, Merlin/Lancelot, Gwaine/Merlin/Lancelot Up to 10 tags: POV Gwaine, Protective Gwaine, Protective Lancelot, Supportive Lancelot, Supportive Gwaine, Powerful Merlin, Jealous Gwaine, Pining Gwaine, Post-Season/series 03, Pre Season/Series 04

Summary:

Gwaine is jealous. Not of Arthur, because even if he and Merlin are basically joined at the hip, it's obvious that the royal numpty has no idea about Merlin's magic. No, Gwaine is jealous of Lancelot, because he's the only one who does know.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51174415

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Title: The Best Way to Cover Something Up… Writer: sleepygecko Rating: General Warnings: None Medium/Word Count: Fic/1999 words Pairing/main characters: Merlin & Mordred & Morgana Up to 10 tags: Child Mordred, Mordred moves to Camelot

Summary:

When Merlin helps the little Druid boy escape the guards, they flee to Morgana’s chambers. Together, they come up with an epic sob story to cover up the boy’s sudden appearance, something so emotional that Arthur “emotionally dysfunctional” Pendragon won’t look too closely at. Welcome to Camelot, Mordred of Ealdor.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51462367

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Title: Stolen Moments Writer: Lemon_pH Rating: T Warnings: No Archive Warnings Medium/Word Count: 2,5k (2544) Pairing/main characters: Gaius/Uther Pendragon Up to 10 tags: Canon Era, Merlin/Arthur is a background, Hurt/Comfort

Summary: 

Those are just moments in the vast fabric of life. But we cherish them, keep them close to our hearts, Because at the end, they're all that we have of each other.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51023428

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Title: powerful Writer: I_think_he_knows | @marlenemckinnonsuppremacy Rating: Explicit Warnings: No archive warnings apply  Medium/Word Count: 1127 words Pairing/main characters: Gwen/Arthur/Merlin Up to 10 tags: BAMF Merlin, Merlin is powerful and everyone knows it, BDSM, Smut, 

Summary:

Gwen has always felt Merlin has a powerful vibe about him, which she finds very sexy. When she marries Arthur, upon finding out they are both attracted to him, they invite him to their bed or to be their partner. Gwen tells them about a fantasy she’s had since they were all younger: Merlin taking her, and claiming her as Arthur watches, tied up and unable to do anything about it or pleasure himself.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51062878

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Title: smooth sailin’ Writer: masculinepeacock | @masculinepeacock Rating: T+ Warnings: none Word Count: 1.6k Pairing/Main character; Percival/Gwaine Up to 10 Tags; romcom elements, teachers, winter fair, gwen is mentioned, open ended

Summary: 

Percival meets Gwaine at a winter fair and the two hit it off. Is this destined to be a one off, or something more?

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51381598#main

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Title: A Disrupted Destiny Writer: sillydegu | @sillydegu Rating: General Audiences Warnings: None Medium/Word Count: 11 874 Pairing/main characters: Gwaine/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Gwaine knows about Merlin's magic, Merlin's magic revealed, Episode: s03e04 Gwaine (Merlin), Angst with a happy ending, Gwaine being Gwaine 

Summary:

3x04 AU. Uther is not convinced by Arthur, and sentences Gwaine to death anyway. Merlin uses his magic to break Gwaine out of the dungeons, revealing it to Uther in the process. The two of them go on the run together, and fall in love on the way.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51257899

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Title: Knighting Writer: cynthia1314 | @cynthia39100 Rating: Gen Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Medium/Word Count: 4670 Pairing/main characters: Lancelot / Arthur Pendragon Up to 10 tags: Episode: s01e05 Lancelot (Merlin), Episode: s03e12-13 The Coming of Arthur (Merlin)

Summary:

Arthur is finally king, free to knight whoever he chooses. Lancelot pledges his life, honour and devotion to him. (Prompt by kairennart)

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51135934

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Title: all the devils are here Writer: litinthyheart | @lit-in-thy-heart Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Medium/Word Count: 21,000 Pairing/main characters: Lancelot/Merlin Up to 10 tags: Enemies to Lovers, Fae Merlin, POV Lancelot, BAMF Merlin, Execution, Restraints, Intimacy, Internal Conflict

Summary:

In light of half of Camelot's knights being killed in a dragon attack, Uther Pendragon has been forced to broaden the eligibility criteria. Lancelot, who has wanted to be a knight all of his life, is given a quest to prove his worth as a final test before he is knighted. He must kill the leader of the Unseelie Court, Emrys.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51551500/chapters/130293436

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Title: Siblings and Soulmates Writer: Merthurallure | @merthurallure Rating: Explicit  Warnings: Incest Medium/Word Count: 1 397 words/fic Pairing/main characters: Arthur/Morgana  Up to 10 tags: sibling incest, first time, canon era, PWP

Summary:

Morgana and Arthur enjoy their first time together 

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51564880

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Title: Matters of the Heart Writer: The_Questing_Beast | @ummyesisthisjasongrace Rating: General Audiences Warnings: none Medium/Word Count: Fanfiction; 11,313 words Pairing/main characters: Mithian/Morgana Up to 10 tags: Canon Era, Canon Compliant, Arranged Marriage, Slow Burn, Good Morgana, Initial Mithian/Arthur, Fluff and Angst, Mithian really said 'thank god you introduced me to your sister'

Summary: 

It's all quite simple, really - marry the King of Camelot, fulfil her duty to her father and her country, become Queen. Or at least that's what Mithian thinks when she arrives in Camelot for the first time. However, things get complicated when the King's half-sister, the Lady Morgana, catches her eye instead. Turns out that no one, not even a Princess, has a say in matters of the heart.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51938515/chapters/131336134

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Title: grief, sins, mountain hymns Writer: ashamedbliss Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Word Count: 36k | Chapter 6/6 Pairing/main characters: Arwaine, with past Arwen and past Gwainecelot Up to 10 tags: Western AU, Farm/Ranch AU, Bandits & Outlaws, Grief/Mourning, Loss, Slow Burn, Eventual Smut, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst, Hurt/Comfort

Summary:

1899, Colorado. Five years after the death of his wife Guinevere, Arthur's life on the ranch is mundane but happy, his days practising medicine long behind him. Enter Gwaine, an outlaw determined to seek his redemption, in need of a doctor to patch his wounds and an honest day's work.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52082701

[lavenderwhtever]

erghh technically i JUST made my mushy gushy post about ausmp but GUESS WHAT I have THIS FAN ART that i’ve been working on since MAY 2023 and that’s an awesome excuse to gush a bit more!!

This is the last fanart i’ll post here, and the last piece of art i’ll EVER sign as Lavender. how crazy is that??

aaand here’s the original sketch (which might actually be from february 2023??)

I decided not to add the tulips because. man i think we’re over this.

I said this on twitter but this art was made for over a year!! on and off again, a little work at a time. kind of like area unknown itself.

I’ve loved area unknown from the very very start. I’ve loved these characters since before they were ACTUAL characters. I have 58k aimsey channel points and i live 6 hours behind him. I’ve skipped too much school to catch these streams on time. I’ve zoned out of sooo many math lessons to draw these characters instead. i think 90% of my ibis x paint gallery is just au!guqqie.

I stopped keeping up with the lore about this time last year. Life got busy, yk? And i’d grown up! Area unknown started 2 years ago. I was 14 then. I’m 16 now. I have my driver’s license. I’ve had a job. I have a bank account??? And I’m working on a college essay RIGHT NOW. I really, really feel like i’ve grown up with this server.

I would not be the same person without this server. I wouldn’t be the same artist without it. I wouldn’t be the same writer without it. I wouldn’t be the same.

I won’t watch all of the perspectives this time. I’ll probably never go on twitch again. But if anyone asks, I will gladly give anyone a long, detailed summary of sunshipduo’s entire lore. I’ll probably still draw their characters in my notebooks when i’m bored. I’ll still think of them when certain songs come on. Theoretically, my journey with them is over, but if you look closer, their words line the corners of my heart.

Thanks guys. 🌼🌷💙🧡

@aimseytv @guqqie

[yutopia-eleftheria]

Criminal Case Inkember 2023

Day 1/30 : David Jones (Anger) / (Colère)

And there goes another challenge that will last for the entirety of November ! I've never been so active on Tumblr and this is not going to stop by now.

Anyways, before Inktober 2023, it's been EONS since I've done any Criminal Case Fanarts and other related stuff. So I thought this was a wonderful opportunity to go back to nostalgia ♥

Jones is definitely the character everyone knows. Our very first teammate in this wonderful journey that lasted 8 whole years !

And honestly though : who doesn't like our wonderful David Jeremiah Jones ? ♥

We may have known him in the first season, but here I draw him in Season 5, where he felt so much anger towards the man that took his girlfriend's life away. Her so-called "friend" Louis Leroux, who just bashed her head until she died.

Jones almost killed himself because of this man.

Well, Louis might be dead now, but he must have felt hatred towards this individual for a VERY LONG time.

[aftgficrec]

Hi! You guys are great! Are there any where the other Foxes or someone on the outside thinks Andrew is cheating on Neil or vice versa, but it's not true? Like, someone thinks they know more than they do, but Andrew and Neil are perfectly happy together. Not breakup fics, though. Thanks!

We could not find a lot for this. There could be some implied cheating buried in longer fics, or it might be untagged and our searches aren't hitting. For actual cheating angst, check out our tag. -A

you may also like

‘wreck my plans’ here

‘When You Assume...’ here

‘two-timers’ here

‘Not What It Looks Like, More Than it Seems’ here

Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before by Megg1223 [Rated M, 10540 Words, Complete, 2022]

They had never talked about being exclusive, though. Neil knew it would never be anyone but Andrew for him, and he had just assumed that if Andrew wanted someone else he would tell Neil and they’d figure it out. He wasn’t even sure if he was upset at the fact that Andrew had slept with someone else or the fact that he had felt the need to hide it from Neil. They had promised each other honesty if not exclusivity. But what right did Neil have to that information? What right did he have to demand Andrew tell him every detail about his life? Neil might love Andrew, but he didn’t own him. After everything that had happened to Andrew didn’t he have the right to seek out whoever he wanted and do whatever he needed to do? Neil refused to be another person in Andrew’s life who tried to control what Andrew did with his own body. ******************** A magazine publishes an article claiming Andrew has been unfaithful. Neil needs to decide how he feels about it, and how to talk to Andrew. Is it worth losing Andrew over something that Neil never had any right to in the first place?

Neil Josten is Cheating by @wilsherejack [tumblr fic, complete 2018]

Neil Josten wears a gold band around his left ring finger and is absolutely cheating on his partner.

The One Where Everyone Finds Out by gluupor [Rated G, 2408 Words, Complete, 2018]

What if the Foxes hadn't found out about Neil and Andrew's relationship in Baltimore? How would they have found out about it? (Probably not like this).

Behind the Pod by bloodydamnit, Jeni182 [Not Rated, Series, Last Updated Feb 2023]

Collection of One Shots taking place in the Red Rabbits Universe

Chapter 18: Palmetto, SC - Andrew/Neil - M [11,359 words] Ian Fuck Face McDonald

NB: TMZ news article: explosive interview with a man claiming to have had an affair with Andrew fanart by @bloodydamnit for @redrabbitspod. Find our most recent rec for the Red Rabbits universe of fics here

Neil Josten's dating scandal by @neversee [Tumblr Fic, 2019]

Neil and Andrew have been dating for years now. Their friends know about it, their teammates also know they're together, but neither the public nor the media even dream about it. And they're are ok with that. They've never liked people minding their business.

AFTG/TFC minifics, headcanons from @/neilsexy on tumblr by mugglecastiel [Not Rated, Collection, Updated 2016]  

Chapter 21 - baby foxes + twinyard confusion & andreil [623 Words]

Neil the homewrecker fandom fun post by @24-0z [Tumblr, 2022]

Kandreil

it takes three, you and him and me by orphan_account [Rated M, 8107 Words, Complete, 2019]

Nicky asks, “are you…I mean, what’s happening, Andrew? Are you okay? Because Kevin and Neil were just-” “I know,” Andrew cuts him off. The flat, bored intonation of his voice makes it inexplicably funnier when he adds, “I have unfortunately saddled myself with two idiots who cannot keep it in their pants for more than five minutes at a time” “Well,” Kevin huffs, indignant. “You don’t usually have any complaints”

tw: alcoholism

Foxes' Reactions to Kandreil by @crazy-fangirl2524 [Tumblr, 2021]

The foxes reactions to kandreil, thinking that they are all cheating on each other (requested by smn on my Instagram, you can request anytime on tumblr or Instagram my dms open :)))

Andreil think one is cheating

Miscommunications by sensetia [Rated G, 3724 Words, Complete, 2021]

“You can stop treating Neil like a broken victim.” “Why?” Nicky said sharply. “Because he cheated on me,” Andrew said with a cold grin, saluting the foxes with a hand as he left the dorm.

That one time when Andrew thought Neil cheated… by @senstia [Tumblr Fic, 2020]

“A-Andrew?” “Just go Neil.”

tw: vomit, tw: violence

Misunderstanding and Angst by controversialzoe [Rated M, 1770 Words, Complete, 2019]

“When he came to a stop light, he squeezed his eyes shut. He had to get home in one piece, he needed to be. He heard that fucking voice again. The sentence that he heard over the phone. Neil’s fucking stupid voice saying that goddamn sentence. “Stop, you can’t do that. We’ll both get caught.” Andrew screamed out another laugh as the sounds played through his head again, probably for the 100th time since he heard it 5 minutes ago.” or the one where Andrew thinks Neil is cheating.

tw: violence

Unannounced surprise by Lover_of_Fairy_Tails [Rated T, 7234 Words, Complete, 2018]

This takes place the first year that Neil is a pro athlete. He plays for the Boston Rebels, while Andrew lives and plays in Denver. Andrew decides to make an unannounced trip to visit Neil. Things do not go as smoothly as he thinks they will With Neil Josten involved when do they ever.

Exclusive by gryffinwhores [Rated T, 3104 Words, Complete, 2019]

Neil doesn't say anything, but his cheeks pink further. Nicky's eyes widen, and his jaw drops. "Oh my God, Neil, who is it? Is it someone we know? Is it a guy or a girl?" "Shut up, Nicky, it's no one," Neil says, but Andrew can see that Neil's deliberately avoiding his gaze. Oh. - In which Andrew thinks Neil is cheating on him, but cheating doesn’t really exist in a non-exclusive relationship... right?

Miscalculation by EmmmaMmmm [Rated T, 1398 Words, Complete, 2020]

Andrew is acting weird - leaving the house for long hours at a time, making excuses for where he's been, whispering on the phone in the middle of the night. There's only one conclusion Neil can possibly come to; he's having an affair. But they never said they were exclusive - how can Neil confront him when he's not even sure he's doing anything wrong?

Neil worried that Andrew cheated prompt fill by @ravenvsfox [Tumblr fic, 2017]

Neil would be worried that Andrew was cheating (even though he never would) and Andrew would have to reassure him.

tw: mild violence

together by badacts [Rated T, collection, complete, 2017, locked]

Chapter 9: Philanthropy [1717 Words]

Prompt: I was wondering if you could write some andreil angst/comfort (since its your forte) about Neil sneaking around and Andrew assuming maybe he's cheating (or the non-relationship equivalent) but it's actually something else completely?

[carica-ficus]

"Gideon the Ninth"

03/12/2023 Reading progress: 276/443 (62%) Read through since last update: 133

I've been reading through the book, but just wanted to give myself more time to write out my thoughts. And I wanted to make a longer compilation, rather than many smaller ones. (I believe it's a bit more easier to follow.) I'm thoroughly enjoying the book so far. So much so, that I try to make time for it every single day and feel really excited about coming back to it.

Recent reactions and thoughts:

Hell, yeah! Gideon got back the key from Harrow. No more dicking around for her. Jail time.

A book bound in human leather... Interesting... There are more than a few instances that suggests that Earth and humans do exist in this story, and necromancers are somehow derived from them (including their culture and religion), so I am interested to see whether or not this gets explained later on. If a aci-fi book connects to Earth somehow, to "reality", it usually offers some sort of hint at what happened with it.

"Maybe rigor... mortis," said Gideon, who assumed that puns were funny automatically." Yeah, well, I too find them funny automatically. So she's not wrong.

Ok, that thing with Harrow controlling Gideon?? So cool.

Anybody else completely lost during Magnus's and Abigail's anniversary dinner? Maybe I was just tired, so I couldn't follow what was going on, but still...

Loved the scenes of Harrow and Gideon working together through that fight!!!!! Fuck yeah!!!

I'mma be mean and say good riddance, lol. (Last chapter of act 2)

Dulcinea is so full of it!!! "You wouldn't duel me, would you?" I would when you say it so suspiciously!!!

I find it so incredibly funny that I read "Put it in the hole, Griddle", stopped and laughed at the innuendo, and then Gideon does the same. *insert that meme of two guys waving at each other and saying "same hat", but it says "same brain" instead*

Oho! Another Gideon mentioned in the notes. Could it be the one she got named after? And the G in the "G. & P." must be this Gideon. Interesting... I have a funny feeling about this and I wonder if it'll turn out to be correct... 🧐

I'm glad Harrow and me are on the same page with Dulcinea. This is why I like Harrow. She gets it.

Muir really went for the jugular when she wrote 4 full pages of Gideon violently dying.

Another murder... Hmmm... Things are getting tense...

Corona seems to be avoiding all and every chance to show of her necromancy skills. Suspicious, if you ask me. 🤔

YES YES YES!!! VICTORY TO CAMILLA! (That dislocation was so awful. Loved it!)

AAAAAAAA THE NINTH RAISES TO THE OCCASION!!! Time for pay-back!!!

And Jeannemary too 😭😭

Aw, man. :( No fight.

I love how much credit Palamedes gives to Gideon when in reality she knows jack shit.

Of course Gideon's only thought was Sex Pal. Why would it be anything else?

I am fighting for my life with the need to look at fanart because I am a little worried about seeing spoilers. I did see one (whoops!), but luckily it just approved of one of my suspicions hehe. Still, I am saying clear of the tag for now. My thirst for content will have to wait until I finish the book. That's it for now. I'll return with a new update soon enough. <3

[kaufmann-6]

Oh, hiiii! It was about time I made an official introduction to my blog!

ᓚᘏᗢ I'm Kaufmann, but you can call me Kauf! I'm a writer on ao3, an avid fic reader and a pianist!

ᓚᘏᗢ I like to reblog some of my favorite fandoms content, like PJO, Batfam and TUA on this blog and share my fics. (feel free to send me writing prompts and headcanons from the fandoms I'll list below, I'd love a challenge!)

ᓚᘏᗢ I'm also open to fic colabs and friendly chat. You have my permission to remix, translate, make podfics and/or fanarts out of my works but please tag me when posting here on tumblr. You can also post on ao3 using the "inspired by" or gift feature. (do not post content based on my works out of ao3 and tumblr)

ᓚᘏᗢ Did you know I'm the owner of a Jasico Discord server? I host creative challenges on @jasico-challenges and decided to create a Discord so people can talk about the events, Jasico, and random PJO! You're welcome to join by clicking this invite link.

ᓚᘏᗢ --------------------- >

ᓚᘏᗢ I go by Kaufmann on AO3. Here are some things that I've written:

The Umbrella Academy

ᓚᘏᗢ Absence → A remix fic I wrote for @tua-masked-author based out of @littlerit's amazing work, The Time Traveler's Life. It's Klaus pov of his 14th birthday and Five's multiple appearances. Angsty.

ᓚᘏᗢ If Only → An AU in which Patch didn't notice Five's van across the street and Cha-Cha got tired of waiting so she kills Klaus on S1E4.

ᓚᘏᗢ Bubble Thoughts → Another @tua-masked-author entry, an older one this time. It's a post-S3 fic in which Klaus reflects on his father's betrayal and his actions in that season. Luther helps him cope.

ᓚᘏᗢ I can die when I'm done. → Written for @tua-masked-author first edition! It's a missing scene fic from when Klaus was locked in that tiny motel closet in S1 when Hazel and Cha-Cha left to blow up Meritech. Character study, internal monologue. Lots of Angst & Hurt/No Comfort.

ᓚᘏᗢ The Bargain → An old wip that I really should pick up again. It's an AU in which the Handler decided to use Five's love for his siblings against him and uses Klaus as a hostage to get Five to work for her on S1E5. TW: SA.

DC Batman

ᓚᘏᗢ 'Cause you all try to keep me down → This fic was written for @febuwhump 2024. In this one, Black Mask kidnaps Red Hood and Red Robin and Jason is forced to watch Tim get tortured by the man who hates him the most. TW: Whump & eletric shock torture.

ᓚᘏᗢ I'm absolutely obsessed with Jason Todd at the moment and have so many fic ideas, including a Time Traveller's Wife AU coming up soon. Stay tunned!

Riordanverse (PJO, HOO, TOA)

ᓚᘏᗢ Oh, ho, the mistletoe (is hung where you can see) → Jasico Imprint Soulmate AU written for @jasico-challenges's Bingo Challenges 2024. Between flashbacks from the past, nightmares and christmas presents, Jason and Nico figure out how to tell their friends the truth about their relationship.

ᓚᘏᗢ If you had one more chance → Jasico fic for the Percy Jackson Gift Exchange Autum Equinox 2023. Nico struggles after Jason's death and decides to risk everything to bring him back. Orpheus & Euridyce style.

ᓚᘏᗢ Every Breath You Take → Jercy fic written for the Percy Jackson Gift Exchange Winter Solstice 2022. Percy and Jason are secretly pining for each other. In a road trip across the country, they finally face their feelings, but not withought some angst and jelously in the middle.

ᓚᘏᗢ It Doesn't Matter Anymore → A Jason Grace character study from when he was stuck in the wind prison in TOA. What was he thinking on his very last moments? Angst and Hurt/No Comfort. TW: Major character death & implied/referenced suicide.

ᓚᘏᗢ --------------------- >

I've written fics of some other fandoms like Maze Runner and I Am Not Okay With This but the fadoms above are the ones I'm still active in.

If you'd like to send a writing prompt or to make a request, here's my Bad Things Happen Bingo card, I'm accepting Jason Todd & Batfamily requests.

[simplysnowbarry]

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ❄️⚡

Big thanks to everyone who voted in our poll recently. We can now announce that Snowbarry Week 2023 - our final full-length Snowbarry Week - will run from Monday December 4th to Sunday December 10th this year!

We’ve chosen the prompts from those submitted to us so as to speed the process along and give everyone plenty of time to create. And we’ve also got extras for artists, as well as a few song prompts.

prompts:

day 1, Mon Dec 4th - First + Last Time

day 2, Tues Dec 5th - Innovation

day 3, Weds Dec 6th - Reconnecting

day 4, Thurs Dec 7th - FREE DAY + any past prompts

day 5, Fri Dec 8th - Fantasy / Fairytale

day 6, Sat Dec 9th - "Just a normal day"

day 7, Sun Dec 10th - Post-canon / Future AUs

extras for artists:

silver and gold

hues of red and/or blue

song prompts:

The Script - No Good In Goodbye

Picture This - Take My Hand

The Heydaze - New Religion

Posting guidelines will be posted closer to the date. We hope to see you all in December, and in the mean time, HAPPY CREATING!

(!) F.A.Q

Who can participate in Snowbarry Week?

ANYONE! Writers, giffers, manip-ers (?), fan artists smol and toll. We welcome fan fiction, gifsets, manips, fanart, fanmixes, …

Can days be combined?

YES! Reconnecting with future AU? Or innovation and fairytale? All joking aside, you can combine whichever prompts you’d like.

Can I create work for both the artists prompts and the writer prompts?

ABSOLUTELY YES!

Can I use the artists prompts for a fic, or the writer prompts for art work?

GO CRAZY!

If I want to contribute something do I have to do something for every day?

Not at all. You’re free to commit to a single day, and we will be so flipping excited to see it. The point is just to have fun with the prompts, even if it’s just the one.

Can I post a WIP that I started working on before that fits a Snowbarry Week theme?

Yes, of course! We’re not a Big Bang, or even a Mini Bang, we don’t require art or fic to have been created from scratch for exactly this week.

I’m going to be busy/out of town during Snowbarry Week. Can I post early/late?

We’d really like to avoid early posting. If you’re out of town or too busy the week itself you can always schedule posts for the correct dates.

Posting late shouldn’t be a problem. Posting Day 1 on Day 3 is also perfectly fine, just make sure we can tell which day you’re posting for, so our heads don’t start spinning.

What does free day mean?

Basically, free day is where you decide what prompt you want to do something with. As long as it’s Snowbarry (or one of its variations like Savifrost, Flashfrost, etc), you’re okay to do whatever you want. A free day in the middle of the week might also provide some much needed breathing space for all the contributors.

Also, the same as last year, our free day now doubles as an opportunity to create for any of our past prompts! If there was a prompt you didn’t manage to finish something for, or just always liked the sound of doing but missed the opportunity, we’d love to see that for this day to have a fun revival of some of the great prompts from past events.

What does [insert theme] mean?

Oh man, this is a hard one to answer. Reconnecting could be about Barry and Caitlin getting to know each other after falling out, or after drifting apart, but it could also be about reconnecting with other things in their life or even as literal as reconnecting cables on some tech as part of an action plot! We can’t tell you which roles to cast your characters in, because everyone has different interpretations. If you can justify the connection, we’re pretty sure you’re good.

Does my idea fit the theme?

Like we said above, if you can justify it, we’re pretty sure you’re good. If you’re really not sure, hit us up!

If there are more questions, please don’t hesitate to drop us an ask. Any questions you don’t want published, feel free to come off anon and ask us as well - we promise we won’t publish what you’re not comfortable with, just let us know if you want it answered privately.

[foolofabookwyrm-activated]

Any Way The Exchange Blows 2023 Masterpost!

Hello hello my friends! Now that all gift works for the exchange event on the discord server in honor of the 2nd anniversary of the Any Way the Wind Blows release anniversary have been completed, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who participated and share their works with you all! A special shoutout and thanks to @prettylightsbigcity and @stardustasincocaine who helped run the event with me! (And a second thanks for Tessa for pinch hitting at the very last moment)

(NSFW content below the cut)

ART (SFW)

@werezolft Created this fanart for @martsonmars' fic "Something Witty"

@cats-and-jam created this fanart for @facewithoutheart's fic "If There's Anything You Want"

@ic3-que3n created this fanart of a sweet and domestic married Snowbaz for @cats-and-jam

@katatsumuli created this fic fanart for @onepintobean of their collab fic "Don't Speak, I know just what you're saying" (Original fic collab with @ileadacharmedlife)

@mercy-upon-me created this fanart of our fave midwestern boy Shep for @werezolft

FIC (SFW)

"by moon and sunrise" by @trenchcoat-moth for @mercy-upon-me Rated Teen, 1.2K words Summary: Baz is away visiting family. Simon is still home at their flat. Neither likes the arrangement. Baz sets to rectify that.

"Breakable" by @sillyunicorn for @aristocratic-otter Rated Teen, 1K words, includes recorded original song and lyrics Summary: He wouldn’t have dropped out. He wouldn’t miss this last year to torment me. He wouldn’t leave me to wonder what’s happened to him — unless that’s his plan. Drive me mad with worry — no, not worry. I’m not worried for Baz. I’m worried about Baz. About what he’s doing. I’m worried for Watford. And when I put it that way… well, I have to do something, don’t I? I have to find him. I have to save Watford from whatever he and his family are plotting.

"An Act of Kindness" by @facewithoutheart for @prettylightsbigcity Rated Teen, 9.8K words, 4/4 chapters (complete) Summary: Baz joins Fiona on a continent-wide chase of the Chosen-One-Gone-Nuclear, leading to a Hyde Park stand-off that’ll force Baz to choose once and for all where his loyalty lies: with his heritage, or with his heart.

"endless skies and blazing sun" by @martsonmars for @trenchcoat-moth Rated General, ~1K words Summary: Baz knows he shouldn't have come to America, but how could he say no to watching Simon smile and laugh under a bright, never-ending sky? Baz knows he shouldn't have come, but what if it's exactly the right place to be to feel something new?

"The Real Thing" by @onepintobean for @thewriterxj Rated Teen, ~1K words Summary: Simon Snow’s favourite hobby is creating outfits for his paper doll Baz. He’s so normal about it. I mean, a man’s gotta have a hobby, and where would world-famous models be without their adoring fans, anyway?

"Home To Me" by @prettylightsbigcity for @sillyunicorn Rated Teen, 1.5K words Summary: Life is busy, but Simon and Baz are determined to get away and celebrate their anniversary. Travel rarely goes exactly as planned, but sometimes just being with the person you love is enough.

NSFW Contributions below the cut!

NSFW ART (will include work tags here relevant to possible CW/TW, please remember you're responsible for curating your own experience. Read tags as necessary.)

@krisrix created this piece titled "Good Boy" for @fatalfangirl Tags include: Anal Sex, Dom/Sub play, Collars, Leashes Artist Summary: Illustration of Simon wearing a collar and mounting Baz

@stardustasincocaine created this piece titled "Tie Me Up in Knots" for @ic3-que3n Tags include: Shibari, rope bondage, japanese rope bondage, implied sexual content Artist Summary: Simon in shibari ropes. That’s the thing. @stardustasincocaine is an absolutely chaotic angel who volunteered to pinch hit at the end of the event. They created this art piece lovingly titled "Few Positions Work When You Have Fuck Off Wings" for @theearlgreymage Tags Include: Anal sex, lingerie, partially drawn penises, body hair, lube, kissing, Simon Snow's Wings and Tail, and Emotional Porn Artist Summary: Simon and Baz doing the do but this time there’s lingerie

NSFW FICS (work tags included here relevant to possible CW/TW, please remember you're responsible for curating your own experience. Read tags as necessary.)

"Tickle The Dragon's Tail" by @aristocratic-otter for @katatsumuli Rated Explicit, ~3k words, Part 2 of The Dragonverse Tags: monsterfucking, kinky sex, tail sex, sex accidents, sex toys, sex toy accidents, anal sex, oral sex, sixty-nine, medical trauma, spadey having a mind of its own, mpreg, very much mpreg Writer Summary: Simon and Baz are having trouble finding a sex position that's comfortable, given the bulk of Simon's pregnant belly. Spadey has an idea. Niamh has to help save our heroes from Spadey's idea.

"Nothing to See Here" by @theearlgreymage for @krisrix Rated Explicit, 11.6K words Tags: Blow jobs, public blow jobs, semi-public sex, anal fingering, finger sucking, anal sex, sex magic, magic sharing, dom/sub, dom/sub undertones, mildly dubious consent, cock slut, miscommunication, pwp, overstimulation, multiple orgasms Writer Summary: When I glance up at him, he has his free hand in front of his mouth. I’m positive that he’s biting his thumb to keep himself from making any more noises. The weight of him on my tongue is delicious. And this close I can smell, taste, all of him. Green smoke, burnt buttery popcorn, and a heavy musk that can only be described as Simon. It’s my favorite thing, satisfying my taste buds more than any meal or rat ever will. I’m so lost in the moment that I don’t manage to catch the noises coming from me until I hear another voice. “The fuck was that?” Someone a row in front of where Snow sits whispers. I can’t help but wonder how they’d respond if they knew the truth of the matter. It’s Basilton Grimm-Pitch, moaning beneath a desk as he practically chokes on Simon Snow’s cock.

"Jaguar" by @fatalfangirl for @stardustasincocaine Rated Explicit, 2.5K words Tags: coffin trauma, comfort sex, non-defined dom/sub dynamics, blindfolds, emotional porn, emotions including those related to trauma such as fear and panic, Writer Summary: Baz still struggles with the dark. Simon offers sexy exposure therapy. Enter "stay" commands and overstimulation.

[winterironevents]

Fanart by our amazing mod @massivespacewren!

Take a look to see what our amazing creators were up to this past week of the WinterIron Bingo!

Pre-made card sign ups are now open. We’d love for you to join us!

June 3 - 10, 2023

The Theory of Love, Electric: Chapter 12, 13, 15, by halfpennybuddha

Rating: M

Tags: No archive warnings apply, rating mostly for language, Princess Diaries AU, Royal AU, High School AU, main pairing is 18, Bullying, Mentions of (past) Self-Harm, Mentions of (past) drug use, mentions of cancer, mentions of serious illness, get together, no sex, but kissing and light frottage, Prince Bucky, Bucky Barnes has panic attacks, unplanned pregnancy, light angst, Happy ending, unconsentual kiss, paparazzi stalking, underage drinking (not Main characters), the tags make it sound way darker than it is, fluff

Summary: “Even after his tragic death, it should not have changed much regarding succession. I…well, I was still in good health, though in mourning. But now…your grandfather’s death last year, and my testicular cancer, you see. The treatment…well, I am sterile, Iacob.”

Bucky dropped his sandwich.

AKA The Winteriron Princess Diaries AU that nobody asked for.

Home Again (Chapter 28) by scottxlogan

@scottxlogan

Rating: M

Tags: Post-Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), Supernatural Elements, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, References to Depression, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson Friendship, Pre-Relationship, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Tragedy, Angst and Romance, Blood Loss, Adult Content, Explicit Language, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Blood and Injury, Dreams and Nightmares, Slow Burn, Sexual Content

Summary: The aftermath of Bucky's sacrifice leads Bucky to a surprising discovery where his life and future with Tony are concerned.

Coffee For Two by Saraceaser

@saraceaser

Rating: G

Tags: Female Tony Stark, Modern AU, Coffee Shop, Bucky being a Flirt

Summary:

Bucky just wanted coffee.

Good thing Toni knows him so well.

WinterIron Bingo Round Robin - June 2023 by buckybarnesdeservestobehappy (hutchabelle), endlesstwanted, Politzania, purpleicedteas, Sivan325

@buckybarnesdeservestobehappy @endlesstwanted @polizwrites @purpleicedteas @sivan325

Rating: G

Tags: Round Robin, Established Relationship, Cabins. Domestic Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Happy Ending, Retirement, Marriage Proposal

Summary: Tony and Bucky are enjoying another beautiful sunrise in their quiet cabin, having left the superhero life behind. They're following their usual morning routine, until Tony asks Bucky a very important question.

The Tony Stark guide to human familiars (Chapter 1) by Ellster

Rating: G

Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Mages, Witchcraft, Familiars

Summary: Tony Stark is a powerful mage, a fact not known to the wider public who only know about the billionaire, playboy, genius and philanthropist. He's also currently without a familiar, which is becoming a problem.

Bucky Barnes is an army vet who recently returned home after losing an arm in combat. With no family to speak of and unable to find a job, he's becoming increasingly frustrated and right about now also pretty bored. All of that changes when he is summoned as Tony's familiar.

Hello, My Old Heart (Where Have You Been?) halfpennybuddha

Rating: T

Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern: No Powers, Tony Stark Still Has Arc Reactor, Love at First Sight, Actor Bucky Barnes, Birthday Party, mentions of past self-harm behaviour, Slow Dancing, First Meetings, First Kiss, Getting Together, Fluff, Romance, Senator Durazo is a Good Bro, Rebecca is not a Good Bro, shes pretty feisty, Not betad

Summary: It was like the world seemed to slow down around him as the man did the most amazing thing Tony had ever seen: he turned around.

I Know What This Looks Like by starksvinyls

@starksvinyls

Rating: M

Tags: Attempt at Humor, Cock Rings, Implied Relationships, Implied Sexual Content, Masturbation Gone Wrong

Summary: Tony walks in on Bucky and Steve in a compromising position.

[sephyathredon-writing]

SephyAthredon-Writing's Whumptober 2023 Summary and Masterlist

(This is my new Faceclaim, Susato Mikotoba from Great Ace Atorney.)

((I had a lot of fun this Whumptober writing Nimona fics! They've been a lot better received than a lot of my other fics from my past Whumptobers, so I just want to say thanks to the fandom here!

Thank you for your comments and likes both on here and on Ao3, they really mean a lot to me!

So, I only got 9 fics done which is less than my personal record of 12 but more than I did last year (7). Overall I was pretty stressed this month so I'm happy I was able to get this much done, and I have ideas for other fics to put on my Ao3 that aren't Whumptober related. Maybe I'll finally do some Whumptober leftovers too.

For those of you that are waiting for the next chapter of "Watch It All Fall" I plan to get started on that soon now that I'm not doing Whumptober stuff. I haven't forgotten about my non Nimona stuff either.

My personal favorites this year are "Can you Hear me Now?" (which got a piece of fanart made for it), "Shock to the System", and "Slipping Through the Cracks".

Okay, I'm done rambling now XD Here's the list of all my Whumptober entries for this year.))

Slipping Through The Cracks

The night before the Knighting Ceremony, Ambrosius just wanted to have dinner with the love of his life. What he didn't expect was for the excitement around the ceremony to lead people to swarming him and asking him for autographs. He quickly gets overwhelmed. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompt “But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.”

2. Identical

Ambrosius finds himself in a Kingdom unlike his own with a Ballister that goes by Boldheart, not Blackheart. When a fever begins to set in, will he be able to trust this man that's so different from the one he knows, yet shares the same name? Also Nimona is there and she scares him. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompts "Delirium" and "“I’ll call out your name, but you won’t call back.” I plan to update this with a chapter 2 featuring Movie Ambrosius and Ballister Blackheart!

3. Locked In These Chains

Ambrosius wakes up chained to the wall in an empty cell, only to find out he's not alone. Ballister is in the cell next to his and a mysterious woman soon pays him a visit, calling him a heretic and a traitor to Gloreth's name. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompt "Make it stop."

4. Shock To The System

After Ambrosius' mess up at the marketplace, the Director decides to take matters into her own hands. He's allowed to keep heading the expedition to arrest Ballister, but now there's a new piece of jewelry around his neck. What seems like a new piece Ambrosius added to his wardrobe turns out to be a shock collar which the Director will not hesitate to detonate, should she feel he's straying too far from Gloreth's light. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompt "Shock".

5. When Everything Is Said And Done

Ambrosius doesn't find Ballister at the end of the movie, instead, Ballister finds him crushed under the rubble from the wall and he helps the other Knights that survived the cannon explosion dig him out. An entry for Whumptober under the Prompt "Debris".

6. I'd Do Anything For You

An unmarked package arrives at the Institute's barracks and by chance, someone from Ambrosius' class stumbles upon it first. It has nothing but a flash drive in it. When Ambrosius sees that Ballister has been captured and the video on the drive is a ransom video, it spurs him to rescue the other. After all, he'd do anything for the man he loves. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompt "Recording"

7. Can You Hear Me Now?

After the Knighting Ceremony, Diego pulls Ambrosius aside and shows him the proof that he needs to know that Ballister is innocent. He goes off in search of Ballister but by the time he finds him, it's too late. An entry for Whumptober under the prompt "Can you hear me?"

8. "Are You One Of Us?"

A peaceful night at home for Ambrosius gets plunged into chaos when people show up at his door intent on dealing with Gloreth's Descendant on their own. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompt "Outnumbered"

9. So This Is How It Feels To Fall

Both Ballister and Ambrosius’ lives had begun to spin out of control when they realized that they had been caught having an intimate kiss in Ambrosius’ room by someone discreetly taking a photograph and what was supposed to be a private intimate moment was plastered on the front page of the newest issue of “GARD” magazine. An Entry for Whumptober under the prompt "You're a Liar"

[rainandflies]

my intro thingy ᶻ 𝘇 𐰁 !

thanks to my best lady friend @smirnoffswitchblade i'm making an intro for no good reason.

i'm jackie, i have adhd and depression (what a cool combo), last i checked i was 21 years of age and used she/her/it pronouns.

also i have a straw-page <- feel free to look through it if you want.

general info: i would like to think of myself as an open and vocal person, i like many fictional men but my main man is lawrence oleander (btd). you can often find me looking at fanart of my favs or clutching my body pillow of lawrence for dear life which is fun. bunnies are my favorite animal and i like reading and writing (these are very basic hobbies i know). i got back into drawing in 2023 so i might post my old or current art if i don't cringe too hard looking at it. this blog will be used for me to be mentally unwell in peace nothing has changed.

also if you're underage please leave i'm not in the mood to be the reason why a child went down a slippery slope of horror like i did.

media i like: ⋆ gorillaz (russel <3) ⋆ boyfriend to death (lawrence <3) ⋆ jojo's bizarre adventure (dio brando <3) ⋆ scott pilgrim vs the world (gideon graves <3) ⋆ the walking dead (shane <3) ⋆ law and order svu ⋆ the boys (homelander <3) ⋆ invincible (cecil <3) ⋆ star wars (general grievous <3) ⋆ code geass ⋆ breaking bad ⋆ better call saul (howard <3) ⋆ spider-man (doc ock <)

favorite games: ﹩huniepop ﹩overwatch (sigma <3) ﹩bejeweled 3 ﹩solitare ﹩among us ﹩saints row 3 ﹩jigsaw puzzles ﹩stardew valley (elliott <3)

extra: i like many more things but I'm not listing all of that. if you have any music recommendations gimmie them please i've been on the quest to branch out my taste and it's been pretty fun so far.

my favorite book is choice of robots this is very important info :)

- also i plan on using the hashtag: #rainandflop for any post i make since i think it's funny.

[b0nelessdoodles]

Art Summary 2023

shoutout to the one month were i drew fanart and then everything else was just dnd content again lmao (also shoutout to me being late to posting this haaaaa)

2023 wasn't the best year for me personally. between money problems and job searching, health issues, mental health issues, unintentional discomfort at my new job, and the overall issues of the world it just hasn't been great and I felt it heavily in my creativity. I never really had any creative highs this year outside of artfight (and even then i felt like i didn't do well) which only fed into some of the issues I was having.

But looking back I am really happy with most of what I made! Sure I didn't draw much but hey I think I popped off when I did!

So here is to 2024! Already off to a good start in the art department and even if I slow down at least I've had fun so far!

(i was gonna put me gushing about things in tags but its a lot so i'm doing a read more this post is already so damn long lmao i'm sorry)

okay i'm here to gush about two pieces at a time and their contents cause then make me happy to look at so lets get started on that with march and september 'cause hey! look at the relationship development of my little goblin guy!

march was when kk (tic's best friend and now boyfriend) first appeared to the rest of the party outside of just tic talking about him. literally the entire party could see that kk was in love with tic and was just like "oh buddy sorry about that" 'cause tic was a dumbass and romance was just never something he thought about until meeting the party. then we flash forward to september where the two confessed to each other after what really felt like the end of tic's story arc. at least it felt that way to me 'cause he reached his goal of killing groll and becoming the king of goblins but i know he still has shit to do I'M LOOKING AT YOU TRAVELLER AND RIP! but yeah that was the whole reason he left and it was done. he did it! but it almost cost him kk and the two ended up having a really important talk about it. kk chewed tic out and spilled his guts and i still think about it a lot holy shit it was so good omfg but it was in that moment that it clicked for tic. that if he had actually lost kk he had no idea what he would do, that he felt like his whole life would fall apart without him. and just man it was good wholesome content. congrats to the goblins for being the first canon relationship! (even tho they were not the first confession that one goes to rhami!)

now that that block of the text is out of the way we get to more depressing ones, those being january and october with my guy, dr. cecil wilfree.

its just.... man. what do i even say about him. january was probably the last moment before his life went into a full downward spiral, eventually leading into his demise. that piece isn't even anything major but rather something like a reminder going "hey, remember when wilfree had two normal eyes? good times!" and just man (-insert that image of a horse standing on the beach-) compare that to where he's at in october and knowing what happened in those 10 months? january he still had trust and hope, he believed that he was going to get back home and help river out with his plague, maybe even get aster home if she'd let them, maybe find a way to cure himself and help casey. but by the end there was no hope and he found out that he had been used, was nothing more than a tool for someone who he trusted, despite knowing that he really shouldn't have. river was dead and it was his fault (at least in his mind it was), he had failed to protect aster and traumatized both her and willow, and he could do nothing to save an entire population from being wiped off the face of the map. and he caved under the guilt. he gave up. its sad to see him alive and pissy in january and then look at december and see a shell of the same man, no more thoughts in that head as his mind got disconnected from his body and self.

and then for extra sads we've got december which was his birth month, so i drew something from a time before the campaign. back when he was alive and well, no soul curse and unknowing of the horrors yet to come, and receiving a gift from someone whose life he could soon destroy due to his own hubris.

anyway! pay no mind to may! i didn't draw a damn thing that whole month!

[ladydorian05]

A Home For Broken Hearts ~ Chapter 1

Co-written with @made-ofmemories

Big shout out to @firefly-party for the amazing art, Check her stuff out She has a lot of amazing Steddie fanart!

We finally get to share our Steddie Bigbang 2023 entry!!!

When we first started to throw ideas at each other on what to write for the Bigbang we thought we'd be writing a 10k, 15k max fanfic. Oh boy. This thing is a monster. You'll see.

Anyways, this is based on the movie The Broken Hearts Gallery starring Geraldine Viswanathan and Dacre Montgomery. It's such a fun Romcom that we both like and that we both recommend. Like the summary says, you do not need to watch the movie to understand the fic.

Last but not least, we hope you have as fun reading this fic as we had writing it! ❤️❤️

Sumary:

Steve has never been the best at letting go, ever since he was a child with absent parents and a house void of any kind of personality he learned to hold onto any kind of memento he got his hands on. Reaching his twenties, a move to Chicago with his best friend Robin, a struggling career, and a string of failed relationships later and he still finds himself clinging to souvenirs from the past.

Things start to change when a drunken encounter leads to a chance meeting with Eddie, a bartender with dreams of opening his own bar. Together (with some assistance from Robin) they open the broken hearts gallery, a place for the broken-hearted citizens of Chicago to leave behind their baggage.

Inspired by ‘The Broken Hearts Gallery’ (knowledge of the movie not essential).

Chapter warnings: Alcohol consumption, Following a stranger instead of your stranger danger knowledge.

Word count: 3,167

Master Post

AO3

Chapter 1: A not so miserable night

This isn’t how Steve saw his night going, hell this isn’t how he saw his life going. Mid-twenties, recently unemployed, single, cut off from his parents and drinking alone in some dingy bar. He looks down at the purple scrunchie wrapped around his wrist, another memento for another failed relationship.

He doesn’t know how long he sits there, drinking cheap beer and wallowing in his own self pity. Jesus Harrington, get it together. He picks at the fraying label of his beer bottle, contemplating flagging down the bartender for another even though he really shouldn’t. He’s buzzed for sure, dancing on that line between tipsy and ‘I’m waking up with a headache tomorrow’.

A hand waves in front of him, a few inches from his face and he looks up to see who it belongs to. The bartender, the same one who’s been serving him all night.

He’s about Steve’s age with long brunette curls so dark they look almost black in the dimly lit bar tied into a messy ponytail at the back of his head. His t-shirt has the sleeves cut off and the makeshift tank top reveals thin but toned arms scattered with tattoos. There’s a logo printed across the front of the shirt, probably a band Steve thinks, but it’s not one he recognizes.

“You alright, man?” The bartender asks, “You were pretty zoned out just there.”

“Huh? Oh, uh yeah, yeah, I’m good.” He cringes a little when he hears his words slurring,  “Can I get ‘nother one?” He asks against his better judgment.

“I think you’ve had enough.” Tank Top guy informs him, an amused smile tugging at his lips as he plucks the empty bottle from Steve’s hand, “But, even if I wanted to, we closed about 15 minutes ago.”

Steve’s hazy mind all of a sudden becomes a little clearer as he whips around to see the rest of the bar is, in fact, empty, “Are we the last one’s here?”

“Yup, I’m meant to be closing so,” He drags out the last syllable and Steve gets the hint, sliding off the bar stool and onto unsteady feet. The alcohol hits him with a rush and yep, definitely waking up with a headache in the morning. Damn when did he become such a lightweight?

“I’m sorry, you should have just told me to leave and I would’ve gotten out of your hair.”

“Like I said, you were pretty out of it. I tried to get your attention like 5 times.”

Steve groans, dragging a hand over his face and pinching the bridge of his nose, “Well, this is embarrassing."

The bartender chuckles, it’s barely more than a few puffs of air forced out through his nose, but Steve likes the sound of it, “Rough day?”

“Something like that.” More like a rough month, “I really am sorry for keeping you.”

“Don’t be.”

Steve nods his head and then takes a wobbly step back, attempting to head for the door, “I’ll see you around.” He says though he doubts it’s true. This particular establishment is not one he plans on frequenting and this guy doesn’t look like one who would share any social circles with Steve.

“Wait, do you have someone to pick you up? I can’t just let you wander the streets out there.”

He definitely could, Steve isn’t this guy's responsibility, they don’t know a single thing about each other. He appreciates the concern though, truthfully he doesn’t really have a plan. He drove here, but that’s no longer an option given he can barely walk in a straight line, Robin will be asleep by now and he doesn’t want to wake her to ask her to pick him up.

“I’ll just grab a cab,” Getting a cab on short notice on a Friday night? Easier said than done, “or I can walk.” It’s an hour's walk on a good day, in his current state? He doesn’t want to think about it. 

“Where you headed?”

“23rd street.”

The bartender hums, a low and noncommittal sound, as if he’s thinking about it before he replies, “I know it. I’m headed that way, I can drop you off if you can wait a couple minutes?”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, like I said, I’m going that way anyway.”

Steve admittedly had not thought this through, accepting a ride from someone who was essentially a stranger, a very charming and admittedly… attractive… stranger, but a stranger nonetheless. The error of this decision only becomes evident to his alcohol infused brain when the bartender, who’s name he has still yet to learn, leads him into the parking lot towards a somewhat questionable looking van that screams serial killer the moment he sets eyes on it.

“Hey, uh, you know what I appreciate the offer but it’s a nice night,” - It’s not, it’s freezing despite being late spring, and the ground is still saturated from the rainfall they’ve had on and off for most of the day- “And I think the walk might sober me up some.”

“It’s the van isn’t it?” The bartender asks, sounding resigned, as if this is a common problem for him. Steve wouldn’t be surprised if it was. The van is old, like really old, older than Steve atleast and painted unflattering shades of brown and beige. It has definitely seen better days, Steve would be surprised if the thing still ran.

“Just a little bit.” 

“I get it.” The bartender raises both hands in a gesture of surrender, “No hard feelings, don’t think I’d be too excited to accept a lift from a stranger driving around in this thing either.” He jokes and pats the side of the van for emphasis, “Can I atleast call you a cab? It might be a bit of a wait, but you really shouldn’t be walking around on your own right now and 23rd isn’t exactly close.”

“No, no it’s ok.” Steve assures him and that should be it he should turn around and be on his way, but for reasons Steve doesn’t fully understand he’s not ready to leave just yet, “It’s just- I don’t even know your name.”

“Eddie.”

“Nice to meet you Eddie, I’m Steve.”

“So, Steve,” He says, as if he’s testing out how the name sounds rolling off his tongue, “What’s it gonna be?”

Ah screw it, maybe it’s just the alcohol or maybe he just really really doesn’t want to take that walk after all.

“Promise me you’re not some kind of axe murderer.” 

“Scouts honor.” Eddie replies, straight faced and deadly serious as he holds up one hand in a 3 fingered salute. 

“Alright, let’s go.”

Eddie’s bright smile returns as he rushes to grab the door handle before Steve can get to it, holding it open and stooping low into a bow with an over the top flourish of his hand, “Your chariot awaits.” He says in a deep and very put upon British accent as if Steve is some kind of prince stepping into his carriage and not just a drunk guy in a downtown Chicago parking lot climbing into a stranger’s rusty old van. If he survives this Robin is never going to let him live it down. Hell, even if he doesn’t survive, he’s sure she’ll find a way to nag him about it in the afterlife.

Surprisingly the van does start, Eddie seems just as shocked about this as Steve does when the engine sputters to life on first try. The sound is quickly drowned out by the music blasting from the stereo. Heavy metal, not exactly Steve’s first choice of music, but it’s better than traveling in awkward silence.

“Sorry,” Eddie apologizes, reaching over to turn the volume down from ear splitting to something a little more tolerable, “I don’t usually have passengers.”

Eddie drives like a maniac. Steve’s grip on the arm rest tightens when they blow through yet another stop sign. Turns out it wasn’t potential axe murderers he should have been worried about, Eddie was going to kill them both with his erratic driving instead. 

“How long have you worked at the bar?” Steve asks, trying his best to hide the hitch in his breath when Eddie takes a turn just a little too fast for Steve’s comfort. 

“About a year. My band plays there sometimes, then they were hiring and I needed the extra cash, just made sense. It was only ever meant to be temporary, but things didn’t exactly go to plan.” 

“Yeah, I know that feeling.” Steve chuckles dryly. 

“What do you do for a living?” Eddie returns the question and Steve suddenly finds himself regretting the small talk.

“Um- well I’m a teacher usually. Just qualified a couple years ago but I haven’t exactly had much luck with it so far. I was a teaching aide for a while, few jobs as a substitute, but I’m actually unemployed right now.” 

He tries to be nonchalant about it despite the fact he can hear his fathers disappointed voice echoing in his head reminding him of what a failure he’s turned out to be. His parents cut him off a few months after he turned 18, but the lingering effects of their shitty parenting still creep up on him even now.

Teaching was never a path they wanted him to take and there’s a niggling part of him that’s starting to think they were right. He starts at a new school, they keep him on for a month or two as a temp until a position comes available and then they find someone more experienced, with more qualifications and he’s left to start the cycle all over again. He really thought his last school was going to keep him around which had only made it hurt more than usual when they hadn’t called back.

“Lost my job a couple weeks back and I’m still just figuring stuff out I guess.” He explains.

“Shit, that sucks, I’m sorry.” Eddie says, no judgment in his voice, just a warm sincerity that Steve wouldn’t have expected from a near stranger.

“Yeah,” He lets his gaze fall to the window by his side. He hadn’t been paying much attention to the road whilst they were talking and he finds himself in a neighborhood he doesn’t recognize. The van rolls to a stop at the side of the street, “Uh- this isn’t 23rd street.”

“I know, but it was on the way and I gotta drop something off real quick.”

“Oh.” His heart rate picks up a little as he looks at the boarded up building they’ve stopped in front of. There’s nothing else around, and Steve’s mind wanders when he thinks about what business someone could possibly have with what looks like an abandoned building in the middle of the night. 

“Just wait there, I won’t be long.” 

Steve doesn’t listen. 

“I thought I told you to wait in the van?” Eddie asks, startling a little when Steve appears by his side. He doesn’t sound mad, more surprised at Steve’s defiance than anything.

“Figured you might need some help.” He lies.

“Alright, whatever, man,” Eddie concedes, “Here,” He deposits two sealed tins of paint into Steve’s arms, further adding to his confusion. It’s a rather unusual time for interior design. 

The place looks like a construction site, or more accurately it is a construction site. The overhead lights aren’t working, but there’s a selection of portable construction lighting scattered around that flickers to life once Eddie flips a switch on the wall using his elbow. 

Most of the furniture is covered by dust sheets, including what looks to be a long bar at the back of the room, a little bit of it is poking out from beneath the sheet revealing shiny polished wood. There’s tools scattered everywhere and Steve nearly trips over a stack of lumber as he follows Eddie deeper into the building. 

“Ok,” Steve says, head tilted upwards as he takes in everything from the high ceilings to the dusty floor boards which look like they’ve seen better days, “So the van was just pre-game, this is where you actually murder me.”

“You decided to follow me, I told you to stay in the van.” 

“What is this place?”

“Welcome to Hellfire,” Eddie sets down the armful of supplies he’d been carrying and turns to face Steve, offering a sweeping gesture towards the space around them, “It’s a bar, or atleast, it will be.” 

“Do you work here too or something?” Steve asks, placing down the tins of paint with the rest of the supplies that Eddie has set down.

“Or something.” He perches himself atop the bar, leaving Steve waiting eagerly for a further explanation, “It’s mine. We’re turning it into a music venue. Doesn’t look like much right now, but once the stage is done, lighting is rigged up and the sound system installed. It’s going to be pretty metal.” 

Steve looks at him, legs dangling over the edge of the bar not quite reaching the floor, big brown eyes sparkling with excitement and hands gesturing wildly as he explains his plans for the place. A few stray strands of hair have fallen down to frame his face. He doesn’t know how he thought for even a moment that this man could be scary. 

“Damn.” He moves over to the bar and hops up to take a seat beside Eddie, maybe a little closer than he should but there’s still too much alcohol running through his system and his spacial awareness isn’t exactly what it should be at the moment, “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

“I wish. I’ve been sinking every dime that I earn into this place for the past 3 years and it still looks like this.” He’s got a point, an up and coming new music venue was not Steve’s first thought when they walked through the door, “But, enough of that.” Eddie says, slapping his hands down onto both of his thighs and cutting the conversation much shorter than Steve would like it to be, “You know my story, I want to know yours. Specifically what led you to drinking the night away all alone in a bar at 2am.” 

Steve does not feel like this is exactly a fair trade off, but he indulges anyway, deciding to blame the alcohol. It’s a technique which has been working for him so far tonight so why stop now?

“Breakup.” It feels like explanation enough and he doesn’t really feel like trauma dumping all of the reasons leading up to that moment on a stranger tonight.

“Figured,” Eddie replies, then points to the scrunchy wrapped around Steve’s wrist, “Purple isn’t really your color.”

“3 months of my life and this is all I’ve got left to show for it.” He takes it off his wrist and holds it up to the light to inspect it closer. It’s a light purple, more of a lilac really, printed with little white and yellow daisies. 

“What’re you going to do with it?” Eddie asks, his head tilting in Steve’s direction as he joins him in inspecting the object in question.

“Keep it.” Steve states as if it’s obvious.

“Do you keep things from all of your relationships?”

“Every single one.” There’s no verbal response, but he feels the pair of eyes boring into his skull, a sensation he’s become all too familiar with ever since he met Robin and her scathing glares, “What? You’ve never kept something from a past relationship?”

“No. Maybe, a little thing or two, but not from every single relationship I’ve ever had.” 

There’s an assortment of heavy looking silver rings adorning the hand Eddie uses to take the hair tie. His grip is gentle and Steve is sure he could stop him if he wanted to, snatch it back and stuff it into his pocket, he doesn’t think Eddie would put up a fight. Instead he sits there and lets him take it. Once he’s claimed his prize Eddie is on his feet, moving through the cluttered space, for what reason Steve can’t quite figure out. 

“What’re you doing?”

“Looking.”

“For what?”

“The perfect spot,” Says Eddie, right as his eyes lock onto a section of wall right behind what looks to be the beginnings of the stage and hangs the scrunchie from a loose nail, “There, perfect!”

“What do you mean perfect?”

“The perfect spot for it.” Eddie says, shrugging his shoulders, “Don’t you like it? Don’t you feel lighter?”

“I- I kind of…do. I like it.” 

“Wait! Hang on, I’ve got an idea.” 

Eddie disappears for a second, digging through some of the mess until he returns with a marker and hands it to Steve who looks between it and Eddie with a furrowed brow.

“What am I meant to do with this?” Steve asks.

“Write something, vent, get it out of your system.” Eddie encourages, gesturing animatedly towards the wall with both hands, “What’s her name?”

“Heidi,” Steve says, uncapping the pen and beginning to scribble on the wall next to the scrunchie.

‘Heidi,

She left me for her ex 

3 months, Chicago’

It feels good, in a cathartic kind of way.

“Why don’t you leave it here?” 

Steve contemplates it for a moment, uncertainty creeping up his spine, “I don’t know.”

“It’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll take good care of it,” Eddie assures him, “Learn to let go.”

“Alright, fine, you win.” He cracks just the hint of a smile and Eddie gives him a firm pat on the shoulder, steering him towards the exit likely so he doesn’t have time to change his mind. 

It’s only a short drive from Eddie’s bar to Steve’s apartment building, they don’t talk much for most of it beyond Steve offering directions once they get closer. 

“Here we are, your castle awaits.” Eddie announces as he puts the van into park. He’s a dork, but that only piques Steve’s curiosity more. Eddie might be the most interesting person he’s met in years.

“Thank you, for everything,” Steve says, not sure how to properly express his gratitude he grabs his wallet from his back pocket, “Here let me give you something for the trouble. I know gas isn’t cheap.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Eddie refuses, pushing away the 10 dollars Steve is trying to hand to him, “The scrunchie was payment enough.”

“Alright,” Steve gives in, struggling to tuck his wallet away. He hesitates at the open door, looking over his shoulder at Eddie before he leaves, “For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you didn’t turn out to be a murderer.”

Eddie laughs, a full bellied peel of laughter, “Go home, Steve.”

Steve pauses at the apartment door, Eddie is still in the van and he offers him a wiggle of his fingers as a goodbye then immediately regrets it when a wave of embarrassment washes over him. Eddie seems to get a kick out of it though judging by the smile on his face.

Master Post ~ Chapter 2>