#my lesser-known fic...but one of my favorites...

[beemovieerotica]

I am desperate to study the part of your brain that comes up with fanfic ideas with a microscope

did you read my hannibal / pushing daisies crossover

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

2025 book bingo time 📚

want a completely arbitrary set of reading goals for 2025? want to try something new in your literary diet but don't know where to start? just like a challenge for the sake of a challenge? just love a good game of bingo?

boy do I have something for you!

for anyone planning to participate, please know that I LOVE attention and talking about books, so I would be STOKED to be tagged on any and all updates about what you're reading or planning to read. I'm so, so excited to see all the different ways these prompts get filled, especially if and when they bring people away from the kinds of things they normally read. not to mention snag some new reading recs myself, hopefully!

and of course, I want to know whenever somebody gets a bingo - and ESPECIALLY if somebody fills the whole board! I don't have any prizes for you, but I can offer a sense of accomplishment :)

note that this is designed to be played as 1 book = 1 space, so even if you read, say, a fantasy graphic novel published in 1923 from an indie publisher that has a bat on the cover, you'd only cross off one space. I'm not a cop and I'm not in charge of what you read, so if it sparks more joy to check off multiple spaces per book then go nuts, but I am throwing that disclaimer out there.

EDIT: the 2025 book bingo challenge is now also on storygraph, thanks to @obi-wann-cannoli!

wondering what some of these spaces mean? seeking a couple recommendations to get you started? no idea what a zine even is, let alone how to make one? worry not! I have a guide to all 25 prompts, including recommendations + an example of what I'll be reading throughout the year to fulfill each space. read on beneath the cut!

Literary Fiction: I find that a lot of people are reluctant to check out literary fiction, as it’s often written off as not being about anything but adultery and divorce. If this is you, I implore you to take a chance, acknowledge that adultery and divorce are compelling sometimes, and also remember that lit fic has a lot more to offer than that. At Writer’s Digest, Michael Woodson describes literary fiction as “less of a genre than a category,” which “focuses on style, character, and theme over plot.” My recommendations include Raven Leilani’s Luster, Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, and Melissa Broder’s Milk Fed. 

I’ll be reading: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

2. Short Story Collection: You know, a bunch of short stories together in one book? It doesn’t get much more self-explanatory than that. Could be a collection of stories by a single author or an anthology—it’s up to you! I recommend checking out Mariana Enríquez’s The Dangers of Smoking in Bed (translated by Megan McDowell), Nalo Hopkinson’s Falling in Love With Hominids, and Kim Fu’s Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century. 

I’ll be reading: Your Utopia by Bora Chung and translated by Anton Hur 

3. A Sequel: It could be one that you’ve been meaning to get around to, one that’s not releasing until 2025, or the sequel to something you read to cross off another space on this very bingo sheet!

I’ll be reading: Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao, sequel to 2021’s Iron Widow 

4. Childhood Favorite: Go back and read a book you loved as a child, tween, or teen! There’s no wrong answer here; anything from a YA novel to a picture book would be just lovely, and I can’t wait to see what people pick for this option! I’m not sure which of my old favorites I’ll be revisiting yet—should I go for the warm and fuzzy Casson Family series, or straight towards the mindfucky sci-fi of Interstellar Piggy? Or maybe I’ll go see how Artemis Fowl holds up...

5. 20th Century Speculative Fiction: For those not familiar with the term, speculative fiction can encapsulate science fiction, fantasy, and anything else that falls into the unreal. You’re spoiled for iconic choices here: the 20th century gave us Le Guin’s Left Hand of Darkness, Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale, Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Kindred, L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, the beginning of Pratchett’s Discworld series, Diana Wynne Jones’ Howls’ Moving Castle, and countless others.

I’ll be reading: Dawn by Octavia E. Butler, love of my literary life 💜

6. Fantasy: Fantasy comes in a thousand different shades, from contemporary urban wizards with day jobs at the office to high fantasy spellslingers chasing dragons away from castles. Some examples I’ve adored are N.K. Jemisin’s The Killing Moon, C.L. Polk’s Witchmark, Fonda Lee’s Jade City, and Nghi Vo’s Empress of Salt and Fortune.

I’ll be reading: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty  

7. Published Before 1950: This one could not be more straightforward if I tried. You have all of human history (or at least, all the parts that have surviving literature), just not the last 75 years. Dig deep! 

I’ll be reading: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, published in 1938 

8. Independent Publisher: Did you guys know that just five publishing companies (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette Book Group) are responsible for 80% of books published in the US each year, and 25% of books globally? Break away from the big five and see what some small presses are putting out! If you need some ideas about where to start, check out this list of nearly 300 independent publishers with notes on what kind of books they put out!

I’ll be reading: Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translated by Lin King, from Graywolf Press

9. Graphic Novel/Comic Book/Manga: Despite my personal obsession with Batman, the world of comic books is sooo much wider than Gotham City—or anything else that DC and Marvel have to offer. If superheroes aren’t your speed, check out the Southern gothic of Carmen Maria Machado and Dani Strips’ comic The Low, Low Woods, splash around in Kat Leyh’s graphic novel Thirsty Mermaids, or stop waiting for a new season of Dungeon Meshi and go read Ryoko Kui’s manga, translated to English by Taylor Engel. 

I’ll be reading: The Fade, by Aabria Iyengar and Mari Costa

10. Animal on the Cover: Yes, yes, don’t judge a book by its cover—but do go find one with a critter on the cover and give it a read! Absolutely no other requirements here, get silly with it.

I’ll be reading: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

11. Set in a Country You Have Never Visited: Fiction or nonfiction, doesn’t matter so long as it gives you a little glimpse of a country you’ve never visited in real life. If you’ve somehow visited every country currently recognized in the world, then I guess you get to go read something set in space.

I’ll be reading: A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon and Kim Sanho, translated by Anton Hur 

12. Science Fiction: A genre just as diverse as fantasy, with a little something for everybody! I recommend Becky Chambers’ Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet for those who want to kiss an alien in the stars and Jessamine Chan’s The School for Good Mothers for those who want a surveillance state dystopia that hits much closer to home.  

I’ll be reading: Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

13. 2025 Debut Author: Read a book by someone who’s releasing their first book in 2025. Fic or nonfic, any genre, no further requirements. Not quite a free space, but pretty close!

I’ll be reading: Liquid: A Love Story by Mariam Rahmani, coming out March 11

14. Memoir: Per Wikipedia, a memoir is “any nonfiction narrative writing based on the author’s personal memories.” Some are funny, some are heartbreaking, some are both! I recommend Carman Maria Machado’s In the Dream House and Roxane Gay’s Hunger, because I tend to lean heartbreaking! 

I’ll be reading: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Again, I like heartbreaking!

15. Read a Zine, Make a Zine: Not familiar with zines? No problem! Check out some of these digital archives for inspiration, and then craft your own zine with this simple guide (or do it your own way, I’m not in charge of you). 

Internet Archives: https://archive.org/details/zines

Gay Zine Archive Project: https://gittings.qzap.org/ 

POC Zine Project: https://poczineproject.tumblr.com/ 

Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/collections/zine-web-archive/ 

16. Essay Collection: Like a short story collection, but it’s nonfiction now. Some of my favorites include Samantha Irby’s We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, Elaine Castillo’s How to Read Now, Aimee Nezhukhumatathil’s World of Wonders, and Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings.

I’ll be reading: A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib 

17. 2024 Award Winner: What award? Any award you like! And boy, there are tons to pick from. Any book that won any award in the year 2024 is free game. If you need some places to start looking, check out some of these:

Lambda Literary Awards, for excellence in LGBT literature: https://lambdaliterary.org/awards__trashed/2024-winners/ 

The Alex Awards, for adult books with crossover appeal for teen readers: https://www.ala.org/yalsa/alex-awards 

Ignyte Awards, celebrating diversity in speculative fiction: https://ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/2024-results/  

Women's Prize for Fiction (self explanatory) https://womensprize.com/prizes/womens-prize-for-fiction/

Others: https://www.bookbrowse.com/awards/ 

I’ll be reading: Biography of X by Catherine Lacey, winner of the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction

18. Nonfiction: Learn Something New: I know very little about archaeology, anthropology, or any other fields that involve studying ancient cities, but Annalee Newitz’s Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age was some of the most fun I had with nonfiction in 2024, because every page brought a brand new discovery. For 2025, find a nonfiction book about a topic you don’t know ANYTHING about, and learn something new!

I’ll be reading: Cooling the Tropics: Ice, Indigeneity, and Hawaiian Refreshment by Hi’ilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart

19. Social Justice & Activism: Read a book about a social issue, the history of an activist movement, or brush up on a guiding philosophy or ideology. Arm yourself with knowledge, besties, because I have a feeling we’re going to need it! if you need a good place to start, why not try Angela Davis' Race, Women & Class, Mariame Kaba's We Do This 'Til We Free Us, or Molly Smith and Juno Mac's Revolting Prostitutes?

I’ll be reading: White Feminism: From Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind by Koa Beck

20. Romance Novel: Listen to me. Fucking listen to me. I mean a ROMANCE. NOVEL. Not a novel that incidentally has a romance in it. Romance novel, motherfucker. Go check out the romance section and have some whimsy as two people fall in love through the most contrived series of events ever conceived. If you really need a romance that makes you feel smart (that’s still sexy and messy as hell), try Akwaeke Emezi’s You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty.

I’ll be reading: Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasche  

21. Read and Make a Recipe: Could be a cookbook, could be a recipe you yoinked from the New York Times, could be something your grandparents lovingly wrote down by hand. Could be as complex or as simple as you like, just make something tasty! Some cookbooks I’ve enjoyed are Sohla El-Waylly’s Start Here, Dan Pashman’s Mission Impastable, and John Wang and Storm Garner’s The World Eats Here.

22. Horror: Slashers, zombies, haunted houses, creeping paranoia, you name it! It’s time to get spooky and scary with all kinds of things going bump in the night. Maybe this is the year to finally keep up with Dracula Daily? Not for me, I'm not doing that, but you could!

I’ll be reading: I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

23. Published in the Aughts: A throwback, but not too far back. Read something published between 2000 and 2009. Maybe it’s time to finally get into Twilight? (For legal reasons, that’s a joke.)

I’ll be reading: The Sluts by Dennis Cooper, published in 2004

24. Historical Fiction: You know, fiction that takes place in a bygone era! Please remember, this isn’t just about reading a book that’s old; we have a separate prompt for that! This is about reading something that takes place in the past relative to the time it was written. Pride and Prejudice is historical to us, but was contemporary when Austen wrote it. Think of Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, or history + a bit of fantasy in book's like R.F. Kuang's Babel.

I’ll be reading: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Bookseller or Librarian Recommendation: This one is fun, and something I always like to do when I’m travelling and visiting a new bookstore. Ask a bookseller or librarian to recommend something they’ve liked, and check it out! If going in person isn’t feasible, many bookstores and libraries have staff picks on their websites, and the Indie Next List is a monthly list of independent booksellers’ favorite new releases. 

I’ll be reading: The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich, which I bought at Erdrich’s bookstore, Birchbark Books, this summer :)

lastly: tagging people who asked to be tagged to make sure they didn't miss this! @thebisexualwreckoning @perfunctoryperfusions @reallyinkyhands come get your bingo sheet!

[brandileigh2003]

Wolfstar "Hidden gems" underrated fics

~~~please give these authors love, fandom engagement with writers is down and it means more than you know. ~~~

I saw a post about lesser known fics yesterday and decided to try to boost some of my faves. They are under 500 kudos and deserve so much more. (I know that kudos and hits don't mean much at the end of the day, but...)

Feel free to comment or reblog your own fics or your favorites that fit!

-love finds a way by@littleoldrache Jurassic Park au ft disability and trans remus (you really can't go wrong with any of Rachel's fics though, they're amazing)

-The Standard Book Of Spells by Imparfait no voldy hogwarts au

-Tender is the touch (of someone that you love too much) by @purplefiction-ao3 (wip) multiple pov journey of remus waiting for heart transplant

--Engaged for 43 years by @halfravenhalfclaw sirius proposes at first sight at 11, follows til the afterlife (divergent)

--This Is the Way the World Ends by @blitheringmcgonagall sad but beautiful MCD

-Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations by TheQueerTailor Sixth year has just started and Remus is barely keeping up. He's just sixteen but it feels like his body is falling apart.

-Tertiary Colors by krabapple mpreg 1st war divergent, potters live (check out other fics too!)

-Black's Anatomy by @grasslesss greys anatomy fic, remus has lupus

-Give Me A Sign by @theresthesnitch soulmate fic, remus is deaf. (Wip)

-Sweets and Books by Writer_INFJ_2w1: bookshop au, chronic pain

-Babysitting For Dummies by Middleofamoment (37k) au raising teddy get together (theres a sequel and 3rd to come)

-Rarer Than One in a Million by Sp00nhater wolfstar is so soft and sweet, meet in hospital

-Tic Tic Boom by @fictionboysarebetter : Hogwarts fic, remus has tourettes (wip)

-The Ups and Downs of Inevitability by depressed_and_nauseous (check tags deals with heavy topics) remus is in Poppy's care for his safety (wip)

-Small Bones of Courage by Anonymous mcd, please read tags, sensitive topics. Later in life lycanthropy is terminal for remus.

-Flight of Destiny by @lucigoo sapphic wolfstar meet on plane (Luci also has lots of beautiful fics)

-Birthday Blues by YouBlitheringIdiot @blitheringmcgonagall :Sirius is turning sixty and he is appalled...

-Give Quarter to Old Men - @krethes series with older wolfstar

-lazing on a sunday afternoon by peachyybabe domestic slice of life

-I choose you to love for the rest of my life by Writer_INFJ_2w1 sapphic wolfstar wedding

-Puppy Magic by @demonbanisher thefifthmarauder17 magical divergent

-Consider the Lotus by busaikko: Sirius goes with remus to register at the ministry after the prank to show realities of lycanthropy

-Grow As We Go sapphicselene: post 1st war divergent, wolfstar in therapy

-From the Patient Files of Remus J Lupin, 1971 by TheQueerTailor

-While I breathe, I hope by MarigoldWritesThings by @marigold-hills divergent where remus left school after prank

-Without You by daffodilsonaprettystring Titanic mcd (wip)

-Blinded Fate by FatedEcho- Star wars meets wolfstar (wip)

-catch me on the way down by raggedypond

--To die, as lovers may by @moggetbright vampire Sirius and Hunter Remus

-The First Train Home by @houndsinheaven look into 76 and 95

-The Streak by @greyfavorite Remus dressed as a cowboy

-Francesca Syndrome by @coralsunset and diplobeanz: pining Remus

-You Drive Me Crazy by @klilyr based on you drive me crazy

-lights over harvest moon by @shoopsthereitis get together

-maybe time running out is a gift by messrsrarchives @roblogging mcd sickfic

-Love at First Bloom by viwrites @just--vi flower shop au with pining and chronically ill Remus

-cosmic entanglement by @maladaptivewriting wolfstar in every universe!!!!

-Meet Me In The Exosphere by @euripidestrousers top gun au

-Remus lupins guide on how to (not) become a quidditch seeker by Girl_rotting

-we grew up in spite of it by peachyybabe wip, remus has a twin, mcd

-beautiful boy by peachyybabe wip, mcd, based on beautiful boy

This is technically over "kudos cap" but i really don't see it rec'd enough:

-Wishes on Stars by Quietlemonhush, TherestheSnitch fairy tale: remus wishes for a friend

**this post was made in Nov 2024, so hopefully some of these numbers have changed and you've made some authors' day 💙💙

New additions:

-just being neighborly by atropos-aeneas sirius and Remus meet in Azkaban (6k)

~~~lovely reddit post about fics under 1k~~~

[ask-whitepearl-and-steven]

....pretty much what it says on the tin!

I've been really lucky to receive an incredible amount of love from the SU community. I'm grateful for everyone who has supported me and drawn me art, but there are also tons of AUs out there that I greatly admire - ones that have helped me stay inspired, that have given me motivation to keep going, and ones that have become dear friends!

So, while I'm on hiatus, I will try to draw as many AUs as possible.

And you can join me! Draw fanart with me, write fics, or post about your favorite AU! And AU authors and artists - feel free to put together promotion posts for your own AU that people can reblog!

I'll be piling my stuff in the tag

#SUAU FANARTAPALOOZA

...and you're all invited!

*Disclaimer: I am one person and unfortunately, it is almost guaranteed that there will be AUs I cannot get to. Please know that this is not a personal choice, but instead a matter of drawing what I can. Sharing this event with everyone means that everyone can get a chance to let smaller and lesser known AUs shine! :)

[f-t-e]

I started watching SUPERNATURAL in November 2020. I know, I know. My partner and I had been isolating alone since March. The timing felt right. I went though a wild amount of upheaval and trauma over the next year and SPN was there for me through it all. It was THE show at THE time and it kept me afloat when I needed it the most. Since November 2021 I've written just about 110,000 words of SPN fanfic, a number that seems unbelievable to me, and that too has been a real blessing to my creative life, no matter what haters say. (why didn't I write my own novels in that time? Because I have a hobby, Karen, and I love it.) And I've read about 500000x that much fanfic, which has been the biggest blessing of all. (ETA: oh right, if you want to read my fic, you can find my stuff here, I wrote a fic where Dean reads books. Lots of books.)

I know I'm a nobody in this fandom but I thought on this, our #DestielDay, I would submit my own humble rec list. I've curated this very deliberately: every fic here has just about 4000 hits or less (most under 3000) and all were published in 2020 or after. So, sort of a rec list for some lesser known and newer fics, something you maybe haven't stumbled on yet. Especially thank you to @jewishcharliebradbury, her rec lists gave me a place to start back in the day and I have tried to model the depth and quality they brought to their lists. I tried to link to everyone's tumblr, but if I missed one, let me know.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who has EVER created something for this fandom, from 2005 to 2023. I am so thankful and, honestly, honored to be among your number. You're not supposed to be cringe and say a show saved your life...but SUPERNATURAL saved me, it really did. See y'all when the movie/reboot drops, to quote Ryan Gosling in The Notebook: IT WASN'T OVER, IT STILL ISN'T OVER. And I'm glad.

-----

Finale Fix-It & S15 and Beyond

What The Moon Was Saying by Amiril (@runawaymarbles)

This is hands-down one of the coolest “Dean Rescues Cas from the Empty” fics I have ever read and the concept is brilliantly structured to mirror the literal and metaphorical things Dean needs to give up and let go to get free. Every scenario is very satisfying and they make sense, is there any better feeling? Dean is very open in this, but in a believable way that still has edges. And, oh, the reunion is so good. Plus all the family stuff. Just excellent, exactly what you want in a fic like this: lovely, well-written, smart, fulfilling, all the pieces clicking, the show but better.

Awake and Annoying by skycruise

I love the use and passage of time in this one, it has some real impact, and I love the way Dean gets into the Empty (so smart, fits just right) and what I REALLY love in this one is the way it lets Dean be really clear-eyed and honest about his relationship with Sam, both the strengths and the weaknesses. And the last line, very clever and moving inverse of one of fandom’s favorite things. 

Living the life you chose by allthismusic

THEEEEE post finale Sam Winchester-Outsider-POV this fandom needs. Sam is absolutely awesome in this, the most believable, loving, realistic mix of “I knew all along” and “I had no idea” versions of Sam, landing somewhere I think that’s really true and in character. It fills in and develops so many gaps and silences in what the show let Sam know in the absolute best way. Best Brother Sam is a weakness of mine and he really shines here, there for Dean in the best ways but also coming into his own, I love it so very much. (this author also has a very great 2022 Big Bang fic, hugely recommend that one too.)

your ear to the wound that whispers by EmandFandems (@lazarusemma)

Who doesn’t love a HANDPRINT FIC?!? And boy this is such a good one. It follows Dean and his thoughts on the handprint from the first touch all the way to fixing the finale and it simply buzzes with longing and desire, tenderness and rawness. It’s great insight in lot of ways into Dean’s journey. It’s short but fulfilling and oh that very perfect last line. (this author also has a lot of great Jupernatural content.)  

Somewhere Off in the Dark by magickastiel 

Another awesome fic that traces Dean’s shifting/growing feelings for Cas from when he shows up in his hotel rooms to a HEA fix it after canon. Dean, again, is handled so deftly in this one, his confusion and sorrow at all the times Cas is slipping away from him all the way through the things he won’t let himself know. He feels really true in this one, sharp and tender in the best Dean ways. Also it has an agonizingly romantic end, you love to end up there.

Pins and Feathers by theskywasblue (@buttherewasnogod)

This author has so many freaking good SPN fics, omg it was almost impossible to pick just one to include on this list. Go treat yourself with their entire list because there’s so much good stuff there! But this one, oh I am a sucker for a finale fix-it that lets Dean be this tender. While I LOVE fics where he just jumps right into Cas’s arms (and write them lol) I also feel like this is so true to Dean too: that “maybe I misunderstood, maybe I shouldn’t say anything, maybe he doesn’t still –” And on top of all that, it’s a “they go the beach” fic and it gets the details of it so right, sand in your toes and all. Tender, amazing slow-burn, real, hot, full of heart and longing and everything unspoken and just waiting. Very satisfying!

i loved you first by kalmialatifolia

A set of four short fics that create an entire world of feeling and emotion. These feel like little whispered stories told under the covers, very atmospheric. There’s one very sexy one, a haircutting one (so good) and they’re just intimate. All together a great set and did I mention they’re in the “Cas saves himself” genre which is mmmm an underrated treasure.

no other faith is light enough for this place by anonymous 

A fix-it fic that has a particularly unique and beautiful visual of both how and why Cas comes back. The mechanics behind it are fairly standard but the way this author creates the visual of it, the sheer emotion and force behind it and how it happens, it really stood out to me and stuck with me. It’s Dean being brave enough to really feel and the way that just blossoms – lovely, aching, full-tilt wonderful.

 no proof, one touch by TakeThisWaltz (@watchinghimrakeleaves)

One thing I absolutely cannot get enough of is fic where Cas is hiding out from Dean in heaven. It just hits. And the only thing better is Dean chasing him down and the WAY he does it in this fic, methodically and – well the method (sobs) it is so endearing and OBVIOUS and gives Dean a chance to shout in all the best ways. This one is just real sweet and kind of goofy and if they have to be in heaven, I want them to still be these same two dorks.

Stay by redbrickrose

This is a post S15x18 from Cas’s POV and I think it’s very true to where he would be in the moment of getting yanked out of the Empty: resigned, hesitant about what he has in front of him, still a little in shock. And then. And then. Sweet and simple and Dean gets a chance to say, say, say it. This author has a good post series AU and a lovely little spate of S15 codas, all good. And then wrote this in real-time in the week after 15x18 Despair and right before 15x19 Inherit the Earth aired (could you just sob over the possibilities?!) and then hasn’t wrote anything since and that’s a shame but, like, yeah I get it.

like a one-two punch by Muir_Wolf (@muirmarie)

Don’t you love a short fic that feels like it’s a whole novel? This goes AU after 14x20 Moriah but it is a truly delightful twist on how Chuck could’ve reacted there and it makes Dean sharp as a knife, which is one really resonant image woven through this fic. Great imagery here and so many clever solutions for the lazy plotting of S15, including simply one of my all-time favorites in any fic ever solutions to Cas’s deal (genius) and getting rid of Chuck. Brilliant like a puzzle box yet still full of so much fucking joy.

maybe i like pleasure pain by tothewillofthepeople (@kvothes)

The fact that this was written in October 2023 and is so agonizingly good fills my heart with joy and tells me Destiel will never die lol. Cas, in particular, is great in this – he’s having a hard time adjusting to being in a body and with all the fuzz of the world. I love fics where Cas struggles with coming back from the Empty and this uses a really unique approach to it: Cas facing sensory overload and not knowing how to feel but wanting it all. Lovely, hot, Dean is just right in this too.

Earlier Canon (pre S15)

Proverbs 13:12 by starlingcas (@angelcasendgame)

Many might say I am biased because Renu has beta’ed everything I have written in the SPN fandom and they can read my brain and make everything I write better. But it’s not just that. Renu has done something beautiful and delicate in this fic, which is about Dean and Cas getting trapped in a net together (forced proximity trope, yes please) and weaves a web of its own; pulling you in just as they are pulled together. This is set mostly in early S14 (before fixing the finale in the most heart-healing way) and captures that feeling so well. There’s so much that’s unsaid between them yet still conveyed and Renu absolutely nails that, along with the tender longing that was always there. This is a fic to relish.

you may tire of me (as our december sun is setting) by deludedfantasy

You know how the show just sometimes is like “uh so anyway uh then Cas…uh…left.” and it just doesn’t make one lick of sense? FINALLY FINALLY a fic where Dean says “I’ll go with you,” and then goes because he actually would do that. This is a post Tombstone fic so it is exactly where/when he WOULD go and it is tender and hesitant and aching in just all the ways it would be between the two of them at this time. It’s about needing to keep someone in sight, it’s about having another chance to say something so important, it’s slow and soft and just right for the characters in this place. I could read this one about 100 times.

the anatomy of flightless birds by cowlovely (@dollhousemary)

This fic is basically the way you feel when you get all cozy and snug underneath your favorite blanket. This is a domestic-life-in-the Bunker S9 fic where everyone behaves like they are in character and not just like they have to get Cas off screen because the writers panicked. You’ll just want to curl up in this fic and savor it the way you wrap your fingers around a hot beverage on a very cold day, there’s no better way to describe it.

virtue by JenTheSweetie

I think I’ve read this about 100 times and it still gets me everytime? It’s a five things fic about Dean and Cas hooking up and it’s all you’ve ever wished for. This is set in an amorphous S8 and it is not just agonizingly hot but also romantic and very funny. It feels really in character! Sam is hilarious, Dean is clueless but bowled over and letting himself be swept up, Cas is delighting in every second and smarter than he lets on and it ALL feels fated and lovely and sexy and just splendid. (this author only has 3 SPN fics but they are all so good and if you try sometimes, well you just might find is an absolutely brilliant deconstruction of Dean learning the differences between “needing” and “wanting.”)

Romance at the Motel 6 by shelia_amour 

This fic makes me feel like Stefon from SNL. This fic has everything: Cas and Sam pretending to be married, just the right amount of jealous Dean, Dean randomly pretending to be married to Cas, Dean realizing maybe this isn’t so fake after all, motel vibes, Cas in Dean’s clothes, Cas getting bee slippers. If you are not sold on this already, we are very different people. So good, aches just right. (set in a kind of “whenever” of canon, but I like to put it somewhere in S8.)

que sera sera by Purple_Starflower (@hauntedpearl)

The epitome of how fanfic unfolds for us all the things that COULD happen. You can’t PROVE to me Dean and Cas never snuck off to snuggle and feed Dean’s touch-starvation early in S13. I had to check when I finished because I just couldn’t believe this fic was under 4000 words because it feels so full of touch, longing, the things unspoken, and all the ways Dean was reaching, reaching, reaching. The best kind of ache, and everything by this author is lovely. 

the hard edge that you’re settling for by lesspopped (@trekkiedean)

This is some S10 Demon!Dean that made my stomach hurt and my heart ache and I absolutely loved it and I absolutely hated it and it all felt so REAL with who Demon!Dean was and could have been. There’s a TW for mildly dubious consent in this, but to me, Cas was so agonizingly true to who he was/where he was at this point in canon too. This fic is gloriously, claustrophobically intimate. I say unbearable because as a reader you know that this closeness, this intimacy, is what Dean wants/craves/deserves but can only give himself as a demon and the author does an exquisite job at getting all that across. Hurts so good! 

four of swords by sundryvillians (eurythmix) (@perenial)

Can the world ever have enough post 12x12 fic? The answer is, of course, no. Dean and Cas bake bread and in the soft space of creating something with their own hands, get so close to the words Cas said. It’s about healing and anger and making something just because you are so tired of everything breaking. If that alone isn’t enough to convince you, let me also throw in this is another one of those “possible off-screen moments in canon” that gives them something honest and tender and raw and it feels so very possible. 

Fifteen Prayers From the Faithless by koyas_cat

Short, achy, that sweet sting. A set of prayers for Cas from the beginning to the end, full of all the things Dean doesn’t let himself say outloud and just reflecting the changes in their connection over alllll the years. So good.

[bellisima-writes]

A GO Season 3 Fanfic Friday

Hello fandom fam,

First let's get a few things out of the way - I believe the victims, and always have - they deserve justice and what happened with GO S3, I hope, is only the beginning. Having a 90 minute series finale instead of an entire season stings, but if it protects vulnerable people and gives consequences for a sexual predator, then it is what HAS to happen. We can be sad, but we must remain enraged at the actual cause, and him alone.

NOW. This is a fanworks blog, so I feel compelled to shout from the rooftops - There are COUNTLESS SEASON 3 SPECULATION/POST SEASON 2 FANFICS OUT THERE. And I know there is a population of the fandom who avoids them because they don't want to be disappointed (I was this person) - but guess what! YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE.

So dig in, let loose, read every bit of Season 3 fic as your heart desires and choose the one you love the most as your version.

Here are a few of my favorite completed Post Season 2 works that have stayed with me:

Please note - Now, I've not read as many post season 2 fics as others, and there are a few giants that are not on here, and that's not to say anything about the quality of those works at all. I am just a human, with my own tastes and things I gravitate towards and things I shy away from.

Most canon compliant:

Factory Settings - the original and the best with an air of mystery that makes it almost magical. This is the closest to canon season 3 story I've read. The gist is after Aziraphale returns to Heaven he finds the Starmaker standing in front of him in Crowley's clothes, with no recollection of his life as a Demon. It's a beautiful story that if you haven't read yet, you should.

Sexiest:

We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by @gingiekittycat - if you want to read the sexiest, angstiest, heart-breakingest version of Season 3 imaginable, this is it. I LOVED this story, but I love this type of angst, so proceed with caution. Aziraphale and Crowley meet once a year to discuss the Second Coming, but instead of planning they keep having sex. There is a fully blown plot driven story here that is so great. When you're ready to handle heavy angst and the hottest smut around, read this.

Funniest:

Trial & Error by @fellshish - Fellshish is my favorite author to read when I need to smile, and Trial & Error is a fantastic post season 2 fic if you need some levity and a lot of heart. The plot is simple - Crowley is brought to Heaven to face charges that he engaged in trying to tempt an angel. The way Fellshish writes Crowley is one of my favorites: carrying himself with both his heart on his sleeve while also maintaining an unwavering amount of self worth and confidence, even if it's fragile. Crowley knows who he loves, and he knows who he is, and I find the balance of the two is rare in post season 2 fics.

Fics by lesser known authors: I always like to highlight the works of a few lesser known fics because our fandom is overflowing with amazingly talented people. So here are a few I've read that stood out despite not being as popular as the ones above.

The Beginning of the End (Again) by @addledmongoose - a sweet post season 2 story that focuses on Crowley being employed by Hell to stop the Second Coming by showing Jesus around Earth and trying to convince him not to end the world. Supreme Archangel Aziraphale hears about these clandestine rendezvous and is...jealous? The characters in this are spot on, paying respect to both Aziraphale and Crowley. Some angst, but not much, and lots of sweetness. And BAMF Aziraphale coming in strong to save the day. I definitely hoped for some jealousy from Aziraphale around Crowley and Jesus' relationship in season 3, and since that's not looking likely now, this fic will always hold a special place in my heart.

A Place for the End of the World by @kitty-kat-undercover - another tender and unique take on a Season 3. The premise is, after Aziraphale returns to Heaven the Second Coming is happening fast, so Crowley heads to an old friend's house in deep rural Canada to spend the end of days time. The characters have a ton of heart with some really lovely OCs that rounded out the story nicely. The prose in this one are the standout, as well as the tender care and time that's taken to paint a picture of the beautiful landscape as well as Crowley's heart. Like a warm cup of cocoa, this one is a slower, sweeter take on a Season 3, but it could be what people need right now. Also, never seen a better take on jealous Aziraphale than in this fic. Raging, angry, jealous Angel.

And because life is short, I'll throw my own in here - Time Marches Forward. More of a sequel to Season 1 than Season 2, if Season 1 ended with the final fifteen. This story follows Aziraphale in Heaven and Crowley on Earth as they march towards the Second Coming. No book of life, no deconstructing what secrets lie in the final fifteen. In addition to Az and C, this story has an angsty and powerful teenage antichrist coping with the knowledge of what he is and how he fits into the world and the upcoming plans for everything to end, a witch contending with knowing she destroyed the key to saving everything, and a Messiah who's been left alone for 2,000 years, waiting for his "big comeback." Lots of plot, in-depth character arcs for everyone involved, an incredible amount of heart, and an actual resolution that includes justice for Heaven, Hell and humanity. This story is very dear to me.

AND IF NONE OF THESE SOUND GOOD - Here you go: Post-Good Omens (TV) Season 2 - there are over 1200 works under this tag.

Go forth and feast, dear fandom friends.

[grumfield]

it's that time of the year where i get to ask you what were your fave obikin fics of the year? preferably lesser known ones

Finally have time to answer this!! I’m pretty new to Obikin/Star Wars (got into it in June) so I’m not actually sure how popular my favorites are, but I’m happy to share. I also don’t read a lot of fic (I basically read what people send me lol, with the exception of the first two all of these were recs. So this is to say feel free to send me stuff haha). In no particular order:

Come Down from Your Holy Mountain by jotunblood | 100k+ canon divergence post-Mustafar AU where Obi-Wan saves anakin | Putting this one first because it’s what got me into the ship! I’d kind of poked around ao3 a while before finding this one and it scratched the first itch of what I was looking for from the dynamic, especially since I came here from doomed disciple shizunfucking danmei. Love the characterization, great plot, and I enjoyed the way it handled Anakin’s redemption arc and his subsequent relationship with Obi-Wan.

From the Ashes by msestora | 100k+ canon divergence AU where Anakin makes the decision to ignore Obi-Wan and jump after Padmé when she falls in AOTC | waves at author hiiiiiiii. Anyways this one made me freak out. It feels like I could have picked this up off the shelf of Star Wars books in an alternate reality bookstore where obikin was a canon part of the franchise. It’s like the platonic ideal of the kind of fic I look for. Long canon divergence that integrates the books both content wise and stylistically. It’s from like ~2010ish and has some really compelling characterization and an even better plot that reworks a lot of legends book events through an obikin lens, and is also MULTI POV!! Which I am a sucker for. Also opened my eyes to the potential dynamic between Padmé and Finis Valorum, which I love, and Padmé and Anakin’s relationship is really a major highlight. Also has like my favorite ever Mace-Anakin interaction I’ve read in a fic lol. It’s so funny.

Amarilli by Graciously | 14k oneshot | my favorite confession fic ever. it’s so good and, like, exactly how I would see this going down. Lots of Obi-Wan spiraling out of guilt. Definitely a tastemaker for me in a lot of ways.

five times Anakin reached out for Obi-Wan and one time Obi-Wan reached out for him by ineffable_snowman | 6k oneshot | MY ABSOLUTE FAV GEN FIC FOR THEM!! It’s so heartwarming and feels so true to their dynamic. Also Obi-Wan being bad at hugs is so real to me forever and it’s so cute in this fic lol

Between by Throwthemflowers | 4.2k oneshot | ALSO A HUGE TASTEMAKER FOR ME!! And while I’m not sure if this is what the author intended it kind of what solidified my “obianidala only works if it’s a v shape anakin sandwich” agenda. Basically it’s Obi-Wan finding out about Anakin being married, having a crisis, and confessing.

Baby Duck Syndrome | 9k oneshot | my absolute favorite take on fuck or die fic. It’s so much fun and has creative AU Tatooine worldbuilding elements.

Anyways. Thanks for the ask :) make sure to give these authors some love on their fics

[empressgeekt]

Sonic and The Black Knight - "Medival in a Modern World" fic summery

So, I've fallen back into the STH fandom for a hot minute. Falling down into the rabbit hole that is the Black Knight game. Which apparently has a small cult following? And if anyone has read my Pokémon fic, you know medieval meeting modern is one of my favorite tropes. So, After reading through such fics as "Coruscation" by @oz-qwin, "What Isn't Yours" by aTalewithEars, and the "Sonic Destiny AU" by @burning-stars98 I've been bitten by the Sonic X Arthurian tales bug. (Pls go read these other fics, the authors are very talented and their works deserve far more attention then they current have.)

So, taking some inspiration from the fic mentioned above, and my own headcanons/aus, here's my take on the knights of the round table being taken forward in time to the age of what ever the heck year the present is for the Sonic lore in fic summery form.

HeadCanons to keep note of For context!

Maria : This story will be featuring my own version of Maria Robotnik. She was revived as a Hedgehog using old DNA stores from PROJECT SHADOW with modified phenotypes, and chaos energy, to be used a psychological weapon against Shadow by a rogue branch of GUN, during an Event known as the Equinox War. Later on after being freed from the Rogue branch, she joined the front lines (that girl took a bullet to save her brother, she is not going to sit on the sidelines while he fights a war), mostly working in the desert zones, where she picked up swordsmanship from Zero the Jackal, and an enchanted blade of her own (this one is not from Camelot though). She starts working with Team Dark Post War, to stay close to family, but keeps in contact with all the friends she made in the Desert along with her own team, Team Sahara (Maria, Gadget the Wolf, and Zero the Jackal).

Equinox War: One year Post Forces, (this whole concept was written out before fronters was released) the world was kind of wrapped up in a second major conflict that is known as the Equinox war. That event was basically another ancient god-like being rising from her slumber that go so big that GUN had to get involved and they took a big hit in terms of resources. However, unlike before Eggman was just caught in the crossfire of the whole thing and didn't actually raise the deity.

Eclipse the Darkling: Eclipse had remained in hiding after the conflict on Angel Island, until he was captured by human forces and held for experimentation that less than legal. He was captive until mid Equinox War, where Shadow raided the base he was trapped in. Post rescue the brothers sort out there issues and bond while trying to locate the Dark Arms (Maria really got on their case as well, wanting her brothers to not kill each other). He still doesn't like humans, but it's more from a trauma stand point rather then looking at them as lesser. He joined up with GUN for the protection it offers him Post War, and to stay close with his brother and sister.

Zero the Jackal: Like many people of the fandom I was disappointed with Infinite's wasted potential and decided to do something about. After Forces, Eggman rips the phantom Ruby from his chest and dumps him in the desert to die. A fate that Zero is fine with at this point, he's lost everything and without the Ruby to manipulate his emotions his head is clear enough to finally grieve and accept his death. By some miracle Gadget finds him, and goes "No, you don't deserve this. If you feel guilty, then chase redemption, cause I'm not letting you give up." Zero does achieve this, by destroying all Phantom Ruby copies during the Equinox war, though it does cost him his left arm. And Gadget and Tails build him a prosthetic. His situation with Shadow is still kind of tense, but they play nice for Maria's sake.

(if you have any questions feel free to ask, if I missed the context)

Summery:

We start with Ivo Robotnik. Eggman had been sort of in the dry spell when it comes to evil schemes. He's been in a slump since the Equinox conflict and with GUN stretched thin, it was the perfect time to strike.

While plotting, Sage had been going through his old data files and stumbled upon some old notes from Gerald Robotnik. Eggman would at first dismiss it until he reads closer, and learns that during the early days of PROJECT SHADOW, his uncle, Maria's Father, had stumbled upon a number of tombs from a kingdom lost to time. Due to the relics inside the tombs it was believed they belonged to great warriors, and Eggman's Uncle ended up sending over some of the relics along with bone samples up to the ARK. With Eggman's curiosity peaked, he decides to explore his Grandfather's quarters on the ARK. Sure the place had been cleaned out during the initial invasion, but Gerald wasn't called a genius for nothing. Hidden in a secret compartment inside of his office, Eggman finds a collection of old swords and the bone samples. With that the mad doctor has his next plan to hatch. He would revive these warriors of old, and use them to Concur the WORLD!!!! Ivo is pretty confident in this plan. Modify one of his bases with the right equipment, and have metal steal a chaos emerald or two and he'd be golden! Right?...No way these guys would side with Sonic the blue rat.

Let's swap POVs real quick! Lancelot is very confused when he wakes up. After all the last thing he remembers is dying during the fall of Camelot. One final attack on castle town ended in a blaze that consumed all who were involved. He should be dead. So, how in his mother's name is he alive on a cold armored floor, surrounded by his comrades and son imprisoned in crystal chambers filled with unknown waters. Gawain, Percival and Galahad (Sir Lamorak's tomb was never found hence no revival) are released from their chambers not long after, and then a tall creature enters the room, a man dressed in strange garments with a mustache of utter fantastic propositions. Ivo Robotnik as he introduces himself, is some form of a wizard, who tells them he has used very powerful magic to summon them from beyond the grave to fight against evil forces who are now invading the land.

The next week is a confusing one. Robotnik fashions them new armor and while he claims to have their swords the Dr. has not returned them yet. There's a lot of conflicting emotions surrounding the whole ordeal. Lancelot is just mostly relieved that Galahad has been brought back along side him, as he had to learn that his son was slain on the same battlefield as he. Percival is quiet, though she is suspicious of Robotnik off the bat. Gawain is the first to get stir crazy, and wants to know they way to the exit, however he feels as if he owes Robotnik for his rebirth and should be loyal.

At some point Galahad ropes Gawain into exploring the base and they find some rather interesting things. First off clearly Robotnik is by far an incredibly powerful wizard, judging by the number of enchanted armor soldiers he wields and the fact that he has a daughter whom they mistake for a fae spirit, on a count of Sage's less corporal nature. However the most surprising fact they learn comes from the little servants that follow the Dr. around. Orbot and Cubot were the first of the enchanted armor suits they met, and they eventually let it slip that Lancelot's Bone was used once before in an experiment to make an Ultimate Warrior. Cubot is the one who rambles on about it, how there is no question since they look so similar, and how shadow betrayed Robotnik before Orbot shuts him up.

It's this discovery that raises a lot of questions. After all if warrior made from Lancelot's bone was anything like his father, why would he turn against Robotnik...unless he knew something they didn't. Unfortunately for them they have this conversation right in front of a set of security cameras and Sage let's Eggman know immediately. and he figures the plan is a bust, so he decides to terminate it before it gets any further. In the middle of the night the knights flee from badniks through out the facility, a chase that ends with Lancelot sending the other three away with magic and getting captured. Percival, Galahad and Gawain are tossed into a random spot on in the mobius country side. This place while outside is clearly not camelot, they are with out swords...and WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE UNDERWORLD HAPPENED TO THE MOON?!

Switching gears over. Sonic has been enjoying a little break from the mayhem of the Equinox War. Eggman had been quiet and peace restored, meaning he had a lovely few weeks of just freedom and hanging with his friends and brother. Of course, he knew this wouldn't last, it never did, and one night Tails' satellite picked up on a weird energy jump near the workshop on the Greenhill coast. Figuring it's the next big adventure, he grabs a flashlight and zips over to investigate. Only to find faces he never thought he would see again. Sonic remembers the fall of Camelot, burning alive by dragon fire, only to wake up in his room in Tails' workshop. He thought it was dream. Yet here stood three familiar faces he'd never thought he would see again. Their reunion is one of relief and shock. Still once pleasantries are exchanged, Sonic is down to help them, their his friends and its his job to stop Eggman at whatever the doctor is planning. He takes them to Tails' workshop, to further a plan and to get Tails' on the hero network, or a web of communication between Mobius' heroes he set up for easy information exchange. The Fox was underneath the impression that the whole Camelot thing was a dream too, but isn't that phased by the bizarre situation.

While Gawain and Percival are exstaic to find that they had been reborn in the realm of their King. Galahad is a little more worried. Out of the three he had the least interactions with Sonic while in Camelot, he and Lamaork were out on a training journey for most of his short rule, and only came back for the fall. Getting his father out of Robotnik's hands is his priority, after all snuffing a life was far easier then bringing on back to life, and the Doctor was capable of both or worse things. And while Sonic does want to get Lancelot back, Galahad feels as if merely the five of them will be enough. So, he asks if they could locate his brother, as surely he'd want their father back as soon as possible. Sonic and Tails are confused at first but once Galahad explains what Cubot told him, their faces drop and they utter one word, "Shadow."

It's decided after this revelation that they have to involve Team Dark, one they have the most experience with infiltration and have access to GUN resources, two if Lancelot is Shadow's dad, they can't not tell Shadow with how touchy the topic of family is to the dark hedgehog. Sure, he had definitely mellowed out since Maria was revived and Eclipse was reformed (these three are a trio of chaos siblings who get their happily every after, and I will die on this hill), but his history with parental figures were never the best, with the at best brainwashing him and at worst trying to kill him. Still Shadow will likely be more upset the longer they keep it from him, so Sonic, along with Gawain and Galahad travel off to the cities since Rouge isn't picking up her phone, while Percival and Tails try to locate the base Eggman is likely using for his main base this scheme.

By the time they make it to team dark's apartment it's really late at night, but Sonic decides just to barge in anyway, after all Rouge can be nocturnal if she wants to be and Omega only needs to charge his chaos drive like once a week so at least one person is awake at all times. Omega answers the door and in order to wake up his flesh bag teammates he activates his intruder alarm system, the chaos that followed ended with several broken windows, shouting, a bunch of crying dark arms and a flaming sword stuck in the living room wall.

Galahad knows his brother the moment Shadow runs into the room. The spinning image of their father, down to sleepy sneer. What he didn't expect was for this reptilian creature to growl at him when he got close to his brother. Several family realizations happen in the next coming moments. Galahad learns of Maria, who is technically his sister due to her new body being built from left over DNA samples from PROJECT SHADOW, just with altered phenotypes so she resembled her human self, and Shadow having a half brother from a race the lived in the stars.

Shadow doesn't take learning of his hedgehog heritage well, as far as he's concerned Lancelot is a stranger. Sure, he'll rescue the knight from Eggman, but only because he's being held against his will..and maybe because he wants a blood test just to be sure. Maria is a little more open, she gets the whole stranger thing, however she can't deny that it makes sense. Her human father and grandfather were obsessed with old legends, even going so far as to read tales of the round table to her as bedtime stories when she was little. That along with the passion she found for swordfighting after being revived is enough prove for her. Eclipse just wants to back to bed, he has four little ones all of which were rudely awakened in the middle of the night. He does not have time for family issues, besides technically this has nothing to do with his side of the familial tree. However, he does keep a mental eye on Shadow's mind through the hive just to make sure his big brother is okay.

Rouge goes into spy mode once given a directive. She knows this situation might become explosive if they don't start focusing on a mission plan. She video calls Tails and the fox reveals their findings along with what the Chaotix have after getting in touch with them. Sadly their findings had been meagre so far but they've narrowed down a few hidden facilities, Rouge with GUN Intel can cut out a few more, and Shadow and Maria know the revival process and what type of environment is needed for it to work properly. Unless Eggman built an entire new base for this plan which is unlikely due to a shortage of resources post war, they narrow it down to one location. They call Topaz for a ride and to watch the dark arms while they're gone and the mission is on.

While on the plane ride to the base. Galahad and Percival talk about Shadow. Galahad is rather disappointed Shadow acts so distant, he's always wanted siblings. Maria has been sweet, but she still feels detached and Eclipse hasn't talked to him period. The cat revealing that she had read over the files that Tails had on Shadow's birth. The information explains some things but not others, the closeness between Shadow and Eclipse is explained by some magic linking the two as Black Arm "Princes", being born from the Black Arm king's blood, however how did Maria fit into the picture? What happened to Shadow's other parent? Did he perish? Where was the Black Arm kingdom? Did it crumble? Leaving Shadow without a family or crown to inherit? Is the reason Shadow is so distant with him because he doesn't want to replace the Black King with their father? Sadly however, Galahad doesn't get to dwell on his questions, as he has to watch as his brother and king jump out of the flying machine for an air drop assault.

Omega, Rouge and Tails with air support keep the badniks outside busy, while the rest of the team goes inside. First the stumble upon a storeroom that thankfully has Caliburn. However, it becomes rather evident that this whole thing was trap, as soon they come face to face with Metal Sonic and a Roboticized Lancelot, wielding Arondight. A fight quickly breaks out, the rest of them covering Maria as she tries to jerry rig the equipment in the room to try and reverse the change. Eventually Metal gets knocked to the side, and this gives Maria chance she needs successfully reversing the transformation, much to everyone relief. However the moment is short lived, Metal is never down for long, and to escape he shoots the still woozy Lancelot.

A hasty retreat is call, cause good lord, a hedgehog should not lose this much blood. A GUN medical center is happy to take Lancelot in, however they need information from a next of kin and Galahad knows nothing of their modern medicine. Shadow and Maria thankfully step in at that point (they know how to talk to doctors), and they settle in for the long wait. At some point Shadow drags Galahad off to the showers, the grey hedgehog still being covered in blood. Which leads to a little bonding between the two. Commander Tower comes down to figure what the hell is happening, because when his assistance came running to him saying "Shadow" was just admitted to surgery, he thought there was a new weapon threatening the world. Only to be less then thrilled with the whole medieval knights thing, since it means a lot of paper work for him.

Eventually, Everyone (including Lancelot, he's at major risk for post-op infection at the hospital, and Shadow, Rouge and Maria are first aid trained) just heads back to the Team Dark Apartment and once there set up, crashes. Shadow gives up his bed for Lancelot, and bunks with Maria, who insisted on a "Sibling Sleep Pile", while everyone else piles on their massive couch. At some point in the night Maria realizes that Galahad never went to sleep, staying perched at his father's bedside despite looking half dead, and drags him to join her and her other brothers and the Dark Arms for the night.

Galahad wakes up the next morning, too Shadow and Eclipse leaving the room. He follows them and is roped into helping them make breakfast. The grey hedgehog ends up asking about the whole Hive mind thing, since it's very clear the other two are having a conversation without speaking. He quickly learns that Eclipse talks a lot more willingly then Shadow, however when the Topic of Black Doom comes up and Galahad starts pushing a little two far, Eclipse subtlety points out Shadow's back scars from the Doom Wings. Galahad quickly catches on, and his opinion of the Black king drops greatly. Once the smell of fresh waffles hits the air, the other occupants start to wake up. Rouge makes coffee (giving straight beans for Shadow and Maria, with a disgusted look), and maybe hooks Gawain on the stuff.

The topic of finding the other blades come up, at this point all they have are Caliburn and Arondight, and reasonable that Eggman took the others with him as he escaped. So, they spend a few hours making plans to go Eggman hunting. Sonic pulls, Tails, Gawain, Percival and Omega out into the field to get information, and start tracking. They take shifts looking around, using the Team Dark Apartment, and Tails' workshop as home bases. During this time a number of interactions happen. When Galahad is ordered to take a break from sitting at his father's bedside he's sparing with either one of the knights or trying to learn some of the battle tactics his new brothers and sister employ. Sonic would take Gawain over to Angel Island to see what Knuckles knows and the echidnas get along like water and rain. While Rouge introduces Percival to the wonderful world of grave robbing.

Lancelot wakes up a couple days later. Galahad was forced to go to bed once 1 am rolled around, so Sonic and Gawain took over watching the wounded knight. They get him caught up, before bringing in Galahad, leading to a touching father-son reunion. Bullet wounds aren't fun to heal from, so despite waking up he's still pretty much not field ready yet. So, he has to entertain himself with speaking to those taking short breaks from searching. This gives him to talk to his sons knew siblings the sheer number of them, unknown to him but not unwelcome. Maria and Eclipse are the most open to talking. The former being polite, curious about more swordsmanship techniques and very willing to explain modern inventions, and the latter, while clearly not Lancelot's by blood, is still clearly a child on some level and will blabber on about anything given the chance. Shadow however, is distant, much to Lancelot's disappointment. Galahad would mention that the scars on Shadow's back were from his (and Eclipse's) other parent, and the elder knight's opinion of Black Doom drops greatly. No father, King or not, should ever harm their child.

Eventually the search for the other swords leads to the desert zones, and Maria pulls in Team Sahara, since no way in heck are they surviving the desert without a guide. Zero and Gadget happy to help, if Eggman is hiding out in their territory they want him gone. Even if their a little baffled by the whole knight situation (Z: how are you not weirded out? G: At this point I can't even question it anymore. M: You're weirded out, I'm living it!) Using connections to the gangs on the outer bend they find where the doctor is hiding. Long story short they take out the base and reclaim the swords.

Meanwhile, Galahad pulls Shadow out on a different mission. The young knight had noticed that while Shadow has accelerated healing, his father's has been lacking. So, he's been begging to see if they can find grandmother's lake. It was always her magic that aided Lancelot. Shadow indulges, though he's skeptical, sure spirits and immortal beings lasted a long time, but they never lasted forever. They could be killed, either by someone's hand or their power running out. Lakes hardly lasted in the modern world, they drain with dams or the landscape changes. Galahad holds on to hope until they manage to uncover the ruins of the lake. It's just another reminder that this is not the world they left so long ago. Shadow eventually asks if the lake was spring fed, and that leads them to a cave, and what's left of Nimue. She is not as strong as she once was. A fae coming to the end of her lifecycle, and unable to communicate beyond a disembodied voice. It breaks Galahads heart, but Nimue comforts him with the knowledge that while she is nearing the end, what she has left is much longer in mortal time. In return, he introduces Shadow, who Nimue is thrilled to meet. However, as much as it pains her she cannot help Lancelot. Once he is well he can return to her for her to restore the enchantments she placed upon him as an infant so long ago, but the distance is too far now. Shadow's magic comes from a different source (black doom's blood), hence no need for enchantments.

In the end, Eggman is beaten back, but he'll return. He always does. This whole situation makes Sonic think about how it would've been easier, if they had better contact with all the other heroes of the world. From an off comment from Caliburn, he starting thinking that maybe the whole table thing might need to be brought back, though it would need a better name.

---

Been awhile since I was part of this fandom. So, let me know you're thoughts?

[miniaturesketches]

Skyeward Fic Recs

Here's a new list including both old and recent works! I'm always on the hunt for beautifully written fics with great plots and compelling characterization - or you know, just enjoyable and quick fixes, that too - so this list will be updated from time to time. (Note: some fics are abandoned or incomplete.)

The Head & The Heart series by Poetgirl925 is my all-time favorite long fic, featuring a non-HYDRA Agent Ward who ends up planning and working on operations with Skye at the Triskelion. It's the lesser-known sister of the famous Under Your Skin fic by the same author.

the death of peace of mind by hellfxres involves a Hellfire! Ward working as a firefighter. That is, until Agent Daisy Johnson shows up at his station. I haven't finished reading this, but the premise is so interesting that it's on my list.

There is Nothing Special About Grant Ward by NezumiPi is one of my only two bookmarks. That's how good it is - a complex and absorbing exploration of Grant Ward's childhood as the son of a mob boss, his abusive relationship with Garrett, and his subsequent crimes. In custody at the Playground, Ward slowly is allowed to participate in operations again. (Note: this is not for the apologists and while there are interactions between Skye and Ward, they are not romantic in nature.)

You Know You're My Saving Grace by GreenEyedStone is historical fiction set in WW2. Unapologetically Skyeward, it follows the life of Skye, the daughter of the United States Air Force Major Phil Coulson, as she gets married to the soldier Grant Ward and has a child. She works on the frontlines in Europe as a journalist. (I'll admit I'm biased as I beta'd some of it, but I think this fic is criminally underrated.)

How to Keep Your Distance, Unsuccessfully by miniaturesketches, aka me, is an old two-shot. Set in Season 4, Daisy Johnson is on the run as a wanted vigilante, hunting down the Watchdogs. When she's severely injured, there's only one person she can call - Grant Ward, her old partner at S.H.I.E.L.D. (Note: "Ward Is Not HYDRA" fic.)

Four Bullets and A Dirty Smile by thefrenchmistake is one of the most popular Skyeward fics of the early 2020s. Not S.H.I.E.L.D-friendly, it's a classic Grant Ward redemption story. But my personal favorite from this author is the oneshot Maybe in One of Those, We Can Win It All, involving the multiple tragic universes in which Skye and Ward meet. So much angst.

I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day by go_astray_with_me, who is the queen of fun-to-read Skyeward. I'm always excited to read her oneshots (and PWP) when they turn up on the Skye/Grant Ward tag. This one is pretty much as the title says.

The Fine Dimensional Line by Kylia has one of the most exciting plots I've read. Grant Ward and Kara Palamas, desperate to escape HYDRA! Skye, take a gamble on one of Fitz's mad ideas - and end up in an alternate world, one where the fine line between loyalty and treachery, love and hate, worked out completely differently.

Real or Not by DrawntoDarkness is a classic oneshot. After being tortured, Skye has trouble differentiating truth from her implanted memories. She spends a day with each member of the team.

The Persistence of Memory by Eienvine is a "Ward goes through T.A.H.I.T.I." fic. James Shaughnessy is a respectable but average person living a respectable but average life . . . except for the dreams. Except for the scars on his body that he can't explain. Except for Daisy, the beautiful girl who comes to his restaurant sometimes and looks at him like she knows him.

The White Silence by starshine is a beautifully written oneshot. After they crash in the Canadian mountains, Ward must get an injured Skye to Providence. The fact that he is an enemy of SHIELD is of little importance in the face of hypothermia threatening to set in.

A Spy Like Me by colormeblue. After the Battle of New York, Grant Ward decides that he no longer wants Hydra to win its war with SHIELD and becomes a triple agent. Nick Fury gives him orders to work with Coulson's team in order to get valuable intelligence on Hydra but Grant finds his triple status and working with a team quite difficult.

Shades of Grey by imadetheline is another slowburn, Grant Ward redemption fic (unfortunately, abandoned). It was one of the first SW fics I read and I still have fond memories of it!

More coming soon!

[siriuslygay1981]

My favorite thing? Tim Drake is a genius who is also super...super stupid

He's hacking into classified files and solving cases in minutes...but he's also shoving a fork down the toaster trying to pull out his stuck bread

He forgets everyday words but can remember the longer(less used, lesser known or even just the more difficult to remember) synonym of that word.

He also is stupid in the name of knowing things. Like...if he has a question that can only be solved by doing SMTHN ridiculous...he will. You know the fics the ones where he finds out he's immortal. (Aka him literally unaliving himself, or putting himself in danger ...)

[shewhotellsstories]

People say Eloise is a self centered white feminist who enjoys the privileges that come with being a Bridgerton and although that's true, she is also a sheltered teenage girl who needs to learn about the world.

Her feelings of marriage are valid and while she needs to learn that desiring motherhood and marriage doesn't make a woman lesser, it's part of growing up and learning true feminism. She's a baby feminist but viewers don't want her to grow. How many teenage girls in today's day and age are all-knowing about feminism theory? Her friendship with Theo taught her about the working class and that connection to the outside world could have been a great learning experience for Eloise. Yes she has the privilege of being a Bridgerton but that safety net is exactly why she should be allowed to advocate for things the way she wanted Whistledown to(not a critique of the character but rather the writing and the fandom)

Penelope did some selfish things as Whistledown, abusing her power (cause it wasn't just about being gossip girl for the bag) and rather than acknowledge that we're expected to sweep it under the rug. I LOVE flawed characters because the writing acknowledges their wrong doings and yet certain characters get away with murder.

Eg s1 Blair was awful to Serena and while she had her reasons for doing so, revenge and her own self worth and abandonment issues, the show acknowledged this and we wanted good things for Blair. Serena slept with her best friend's boyfriend and covered up a mans overdose but we still root for her because she is a good person and is trying to grow.

If Penelope doesn't acknowledge her wrongdoings how can she grow as a character.

"Okay publishing a burn book is wrong but I love writing and I'm good at it, maybe I should become Jane Austin or something."

(throwing in how Edwina was raked over the coals for being angry with Kate and while the half sister comment was uncalled for, she wasnt given the same grace Penelope has been given)

I'm sorry for how long and all over the place this is.

No, I get it. The issue is that some characters are given grace while others are crucified. Some characters have their circumstances considered when examining their behavior while others don't. I hate it that some characters get novellas dedicated to defending their bad behavior while others should've just known better.

And that's totally the way I see Eloise Bridgerton. She's a baby feminist! She is in her just watched Ironed Jawed Angels and has maybe read a few zines era of feminism. When I was 17, I remember saying in class that I didn't think it was possible to be a SAHM and be happy and now my opinions have radically shifted because I'm not a kid anymore. Now, if you'd ask me I'd say it's a vulnerable position to be in economically because your security is tied up in your marriage working out and or your husband never dying, but it's your choice ultimately. What a difference a fully developed brain and college professors who require you to read bell hooks and Audre Lorde can make.

But seriously, the sad irony of Eloise being raked over the coals for "doing nothing" is that she was trying to become more informed and it blew up in her face. Spending time with Theo and other members of the working class was really good for her. Sadly, Penelope should've known better than most that she was genuinely trying to expand her worldview, but Eloise is the only person getting the bad friend allegations.

And yeah, as much as I love Kate and Anthony, people were way too hard on Edwina in season two. No one wanted to hurt her, but who in her position would toss confetti?

Plus, I'm really glad someone else is seeing the endless Gossip Girl comparisons that can be made here!

P.S. If you're interested one of my favorite Kanthony fics ends in Anthony and Kate encouraging Eloise to become a fiction/social commentary writer.

[maiikawriter]

Maiika’s KakaObi/ObiKaka Fic Recs in the style of a coffee house menu ☕️:

The Regular: this is the fic that you will keep coming back to read again and again for years (rated T)

Espresso: if you’d like a quick shot of laughter and something steamy, try this one (rated E)

Green Tea: if you’re a purist who likes a quick read of hot smut and poetic prose, try this one (rated E)

Vietnamese Coffee: if you’re looking for something sweet with an unexpected kick, try this one (rated M)

Scalding Hot Americano: if you want to drink something that will burn you, try this one (rated G)

The Classic Brew: if you want to indulge in something you remember enjoying and have that nostalgic taste hit the spot, try this one (rated M)

House Blend: if you’d like to try a kakaobi fic brewed in-house (by the creator of this rec list), try this one (rated T)

(Keep in mind that much like a small town coffee house, this list is designed to introduce you to new tastes, including lesser-known fics. My absolute favorite popular classics are here in the style of popular coffee drinks as well, and many great fics are missing from this small list, which I plan to add to in the future, but I hope someone can enjoy and appreciate all of these)

[sitp-recs]

Do you also have favorite fics by fandom favorite authors but that are not the authors most known/popular fic? I just noticed I have that for nearly every one :D Lettered? The Fall of the Veils. Tepre? Trouble, My Old Friend. Tackytiger? A Lick and a Promise. Firethesound? What Dreams May Come etcetc This is not to say that the popular ones are not incredible (!!) as well but its like my own particular interests/charactersation/tropes are usually catered to in the "lesser known" fics

I definitely have, and I think many people feel like that! Sometimes niche fics can feel very personal as if they were especially written for us, which is not to say that popular fics are not fantastic (after all, they’re popular for a reason). I’m all for reccing lesser known fics, especially written by prolific authors that usually get recced by the same story over and over 🙌 I’m listing below my favorites lesser knows fics by the authors mentioned, plus a few additions of my own. I’d love to hear everyone’s picks!

Aideomai: Intelligence

Bixgirl: In the Red

Femme: Black Coffee on a Lonely Night

Firethesound: REVOLVEVLOVER (with zeitgeistic)

Lettered: The Eighth Tale

LQT: A Pain of Our Choosing

Shifty: Five Years

Tacky: Take the Moon

Tepre: Us, in Lieu

Writcraft: Merlin’s Kitchen

[autumngremlin]

Medias I've used the most with my shifting journey (in a /pos way):

Tiktok: Accounts that have script templates is a MASSIVE timesaver if you don't know what reality you want to shift to (plus you can just delete stuff you dont wanna use) or too lazy to make your own. I've seen a variety between popular scripts to lesser known ones and even completely blank ones with just themes! I've also discovered GoodNotes through shifttok (which does have a paid subscription if you want to do more than 3 scripts, but if you like to have a digital bullet journal/scrapbook feel, it wouldn't hurt to try out/pos) along with how other people script which was interesting to me! The biggest puller for me personally is the art people make for/of their DRs as someone that does it themselves (and it gives me an excuse to gush over the person's art as a whole!)

Tumblr: Before I got back into shifting, I used to thread through the various tags for pngs/icons, banners and headers for my grimoire and my digital planner for college (and admire art and aesthetic stuff, along with info for said grimoire but that's unrelated). I even had to start a sideblog so I dont lose track of stuff I wanna use eventually. Tumblr also allows me to stay connected to my DRs by indulging in fics, fanart, headcanons, and other things that could trigger inspiration for a scenario (or an unintended memory/blip)

Amino: Yeahh I know it's not a lotta people's cup of tea. It takes some digging around to find some potentially useful stuff and if the community has a masterlist for it, there's divination shops/teams and free pick-a-pile readings! Some even submit script templates that you can copy+paste. I kinda just lurk around, do the daily check-in and keep track of angel numbers I've seen the day before for my spiritual journey but thats just me being me lmao

Pinterest: My other visual savior for scripting! I almost have a board for every reality I have a script for visualizing and refs for when I want to connect through making art. I know I can just download the images and add them to my actual script, but finding the stuff as is is enough work for me and I don't wanna spend more time scripting than I actually need to (and it makes sense for my adhd brain)

Notion: What I originally used for academics now houses a digital grimoire and a script hub. I don't remember what pulled me in to using it since I first started in 2019. I just became more obsessed the more I found out about how people set theirs up and make the layout as minimalist or maximalist as they wanted. I will say there are some limitations between using Notion on a phone vs. a computer or tablet along with the occasional hiccup, but overall it works effectively for me that makes it organized and pleasing to the eye

Etsy: Yep.. a place to shop. I used to splurge a ton on readings on there early in my journey (I still do every now and then now that I found some personal favorite shops) but you can also connect to your DRs without it being specifically shifting-related, like candles or wax melts— even a pin or keychain that reminds you of it somehow.

[steddieunderdogfics]

Today is all about @oh-stars! In today's Mod Spotlight, we're highlighting Jo and all they bring to this space!!

Jo created this space back in December and handles most of our regular fic recs and scheduling Fic Fridays! As well as making graphics, scheduling the event announcements and calendar, Jo steps in to help where she's needed!

Jo (she/they) has been a fic writer for over ten years, and a mod for seven years. Over the years, she’s written for other fandoms, such as Marvel, but now primarily focuses on Stranger Things — specifically Steddie. She mods the Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang, the Steve Harrington Big Bang, the Eddie Munson Big Bang, and created Steddie Underdog Fics back in December.

As a part of our mod spotlight, Jo answered some questions from you all and our team! You can read them below.

Be sure to stay tuned for more recs and future mod spotlights in the future!

What drew you to Steddie?

Truthfully, I couldn’t tell you. I’m a Steve girlie through and through, have been for years, but it’s something about his dynamic with Eddie that just clicked. It’s the same way I feel about all my major ships over the years. To me, and this isn’t a fresh take by any means cause I know I’ve seen others make the name connection, but Steddie has the same energy as Stucky from Marvel, Buddie from 9-1-1, and Superbat from DC, which are the other three big ships I’ve consistently the past few years. I’m a multishipper, can really see the beauty in other ships and dynamics for any of my fandom characters, but there’s something special about Steddie that I just don’t have the words for.

What is your favorite thing about modding this page?

This is so cheesy, but the community! I adore how everyone supports one another and discovering fics and authors I’ve never come across outside of the bubble I’ve found myself in. It’s such a joy being able to uplift authors and share their fics, it trumps all the headaches that can come with modding a page.

What are your favorite tropes to read?

I’m a sucker for kid fics, secret relationships, and hurt/comfort – especially heavy angst with happy endings.

What’s your guilty pleasure trope?

Omegaverse is the safe answer, lol, but probably darker fics? Angstier fics that I have to be super careful with the tags or else I can’t read lol. It’s not something I engage with all the time, but every now and then I go down the Major Character Death tags.

What is your preferred way to read and find fics?

I go through the tags very methodically, especially for a new fandom. With Steddie, it was a bit different since it’s the first time I’ve been around for the start of a ship – or at least paying attention to the ship as it’s forming. So usually I’ll either sort by date updated or word counts, then go through the tag I’m wanting page by page and read back to back. And if I make it through a whole tag, thats when I go to recs to see if I can find something to spark my interest for a new tag. Or for a tag I’d never really read on my own.

What makes a fic an instant yes for you to read?

Word count is a big one, the longer the better, especially if you add in a slow burn tag with a six digit wc. Otherwise, it’s a combination of things like a high word count, mix of slow burn, misunderstandings, happy endings tags, and it being completed, I’ll rarely hesitate.

Anonymous - Is there any older or lesser-known Steddie event from the past few years that you particularly love (if ongoing or recurring) or loved? Did you participate in any?

I really enjoyed the community over at @steddieholidayexchange (and the summer one). I’ve participated in many events over the years, from Steddie BB 2023 and a few other exchanges to ones I’ve modded like the Stranger Things Reverse BB, but that community was special.

@sidekick-hero - What makes a fanfic stand out for you?

How well rounded it is! With fanfic, I don’t want it to just focus on moving the plot forward all the time. Take the scenic route and let the characters breathe as they explore a number of side quests and plots as we navigate the main plot. Give me good dialogue, prose, interesting twists or interactions, and good character moments and I’ll be happy.

@worldswcollide - What advice would you give to someone who is interested in becoming a mod in the future?

Organization is everything and take notes!! Staying consistent with your organization and keeping records of everything will really help keep everything running smoothly. For events like big bangs and reverse big bangs that happen annually or semi-annually, it’s really important to keep a list of what works and doesn’t to improve the next run. Listen to feedback from your participants and see what you can adapt to make it work. Not all feedback has to be followed, but it’s good to try and see how you can improve your event or space. That’s where the records and notes will also come into play so you don’t have to start from scratch on the next one and you can back up what is working with evidence if you need to defend it within the team. Otherwise, just have fun. Don’t take it too seriously. Modding fan pages and events is volunteer work and meant to be fun, so if it isn’t anymore, don’t let it suck the joy out of fandom for you!

Anonymous - Do you participate in any other fannish activities, like making playlists, gif edits, fanart, podcasts, Pinterest boards, etc?

I’ve definitely dabbled in a lot – playlists, fan edits, fan art, animations, book binding, etc – but none that stick around as much as writing. I spend so much time modding I don’t really have the time to do more outside of it.

@sidekick-hero - What motivates you to mod for steddieunderdogfics?

My team and the continued support we get from our loyal supporters! We see the same names reblogging the call to action posts and engaging with the posts, so it’s really encouraging to see that our work has an impact in the fandom!

@worldswcollide -  Are there skills you’ve learned as a mod that have helped you in your everyday life?

I have literally used my modding experience in job interviews. I frame it as event planning and management, with an emphasis on customer service and organization and usually that’s a great talking point for interviews. That being said, it’s really broadened my spreadsheet abilities and organization and I view teamwork in a different way now. As a burnt out gifted kid who took on the brunt of team projects in school, letting people take over work has always been tough so having a trusted team that shows me I can hand things over, its really refreshing. And now I’ve been able to do the same at work!

Anonymous - Have you had a particular favorite Challenge Monday or weekend theme so far (maybe because of the theme, the recs, or the engagement, or for some other reason)?

Okay so a little BTS, but we totally have handpicked some themes for each mod. For my birthday back, we did kid fics for that theme weekend since it fell on that Sunday since it was my favorite trope – and the same has been extended for the other mods’ birthdays. Outside of that, I really like the ones that I don’t expect to get a lot of submissions. And the comment ones, since we try to encourage those submitting the recs to also leave a comment.

@sidekick-hero - What do you like best about fandom?

I’ve said it a few times already, but community. I don’t have the biggest community outside of fandom, so it’s always touching to see how amazing and supportive everyone has been. Social stuff is tough for me, but no matter where I look in fandom spaces, there’s always someone willing to be patient and kind. It’s really changed my life, introducing me to some of the most incredible, impactful people I’ve ever met like @karadanverss, @sparkstar-trash, and @lady-lostmind -- and so many others. No matter how cringe or whatever opinions people have about fandom, I’ll never be shy about my experiences in fandom and with fanfic because of the people I’ve met over the years.

@worldswcollide - If you absolutely HAD to choose—enemies to lovers or friends to lovers? (At least when it comes to Steddie)

This is actually super easy to me, but friends to lovers all the way. I prefer that over enemies to lovers anyway, because that’s a really tough trope for me, but there’s something special about friends to lovers. I love how sweet and gentle it is, especially on a longer slow burn as things trickle into place in a way that just feels right because it’s meant to be. Enemies to lovers, though, is tricky. Rivals are always fun, but actual enemies is a hard line to toe. For me, I feel like the reason they’re enemies is either too light to be true enemies or too heavy that it’s kind of impossible to realistically get past. I like writing both, but I think in the end, I prefer friends to lovers.

Anonymous - Have you seen any interesting or fascinating trends in the ST or Steddie fandom that you'd like to talk about?

For ST and Steddie specifically, no. I think it’s really fun to see how the fandom shifts as a wave. Like post S4 drop, we were all about the fix-its and canon fics, time loops were massive and the kas theory was really hitting after the last two eps. Then I feel like we’re constantly going in and out of tropes as a whole, while the staples are always constant. But all of that is pretty standard across any fandom so it’s hard to really pinpoint.

@sidekick-hero - What made you create Steddie Underdog Fics?

Steddie Big Bang 2023. That was a monster of a bang and between how big it ended up being as well as the nature of how Steddie exploded, I felt a little helpless. I was super lucky to have gotten a lot of attention on one of my fics, but I really attribute that to timing, length, and how quickly I got it written. Do I think it deserves how much love and attention it got? No, there are so many other amazing works that feature new ideas and concepts, with interesting takes on canon or the characters, that should have just as much attention as that fic received. But the bigger the ship got, the easier it was for fics to slip under the radar. I’m still very lucky to have dedicated readers on my works, but at the time, I was really struggling with my Steddie BB fic. I was struggling with some negativity on it and seeing other authors worry about their own fics because they weren’t getting feedback, then one thing led to another and I was creating the blog before I could really process it.

Anonymous - Have you seen a rec method like it in other places before or was there just a general desire to help highlight things lost in the large growth of the Steddie fandom?

@steddieficfind’s format of crowdsourcing helped shape how I wanted to go about this space. At the time, while I was reading a lot, most of the fics I was reading were ongoing updates or from the same few authors, and a lot were oneshots. So I would go on rec lists and @steddieficfindto find new fics that I may have missed when going through my usual tags, because summaries aren’t always accurate. I know I struggle with my own fics’ summaries, but seeing how a reader sees a fic versus the author can really help bring in new perspectives. Thinking about that, I decided that having other people share their recs and highlight fics in a new light other than the author’s summary could be an interesting take on the rec space.

@sidekick-hero - Do you look for different things in fanfic when you're reading it than when you're writing it?

Oh yes, I’m way more critical about my own fic than the ones I’m reading. With my work, I’m trying to get to a destination while my reading choices are about the journey. I just want to enjoy the fic and see what happens, I’m not criticizing word choice or looking at the craft as a whole. Sometimes its hard to shut that off, but I really try to separate the two.

@worldswcollide - How did you transition from writing fic to taking on such big projects?

I’m a bit of a workaholic when it comes to fandom stuff. I’ll do the bare minimum in my jobs (because they’re super low stakes, let’s be real) so I can devote a lot of energy to writing and modding my events and this page. That being said, I usually hyper focus on the newest project for a minute before I take a more balanced approach. It helps having teams that can support me, especially with ongoing projects like this one. There were so many times where I nearly deleted this space because it got too overwhelming on my own, even as I added more and more to it. I couldn’t be doing this without @spicysix and @verdantcactus. They’re willingness to help, earnest interest, and brilliant ideas on how we can work the space has been a game changer. I can’t thank them enough for taking on this project with me, for continuing to absolutely nail it week after week. So thank you both so very much!!

Anonymous - What is it about Bang events that draws you in, especially as a mod?

It’s addicting. Genuinely. I’ve been doing them for seven years now across a handful of fandoms. Modding is just so fun for me, it helps me engage more with new people in ways I’m too intimidated to try as just a participant. And again, the community is really nice within events, especially with everyone cheering each other on as we hit milestones and deadlines. I really appreciate that support and getting the opportunity to support others to try new things.

@sidekick-hero - What's the best feedback you've ever gotten (could be about your writing or being a mod)?

This is really tough! It’s one of two, both were from my favorite writing professor. It’s more advice than feedback about my work specifically, but it’s something I’m constantly thinking about, especially now when I’m a bit stuck writing wise as a whole. The first is that writing is a muscle, not a talent. You can always improve and get better the more you practice, but in the same vein that it’s harder to lift 50lbs when you don’t lift that much all the time, you can lose it too. Writing a little bit each day, even if it's a sentence or two at a time, will be better than letting it rest, because you can’t edit a blank page. And as long as you’re thinking about the story, playing around with what you’ll do next, what worked in a past scene or you want to change in another, that counts too. It’s still writing even if you’re not getting actual words down. The second is that if you’re blocked, look up the page. The answer is almost always two or three paragraphs before you stopped, or in bigger works, sections ahead. Finding the problem may be harder than expected, but it’s always there.

Today, all of our recs are from @oh-stars specifically! You can always see their recs on our Fic Fridays by checking our #mod stars rec tag.

[traincat]

hello!! i reaally wanted to write a fic centered around johnny and mayhaps the rest of the f4, but i haven't read many of their comics yet and i don't wanna accidentally make them too ooc. can you gimme some tips on characterization please???

also hey, here's the anon who asked u about f4 characterization. which comics would you recommend in terms of best characterization??

Hey anon, sorry for the wait! So honestly I've been thinking a lot about characterization and I think this is a general rule but also it goes especially for comic characters who have been written by so many people over the years -- there's never going to be one branch of "in character." Everything is filtered through every writer's experiences at all times. So I think an important thing is to look at your characterization and ask yourself whether it feels right and real to you. Ultimately, you're the one who has to be happy with it.

I also think the way "in character" is treated sometimes in fandom isn't necessarily helpful. As an example: say it's common practice in Made Up Fandom to say Character A never cries. If you have him cry in fic it's out of character, says snide tweet 2024 to eight billion likes. And like, sure, maybe Character A cries a lot in some fic and not so much in canon, but the thing is everyone cries. It's not particularly useful from a characterization standpoint to say "Character A never cries." It's more helpful to go, "In what situation do I think Character A would cry? What would push him to tears? Does he cry when he's happy, sad, angry?" When I wrote Work Song, I needed a scene where Peter broke down and revealed everything, which was a problem because he's not Mr. Let Other People Help. So I took the time to push him into a corner where I felt it was organic that the character would share his problems. It's easy to go "X is out of character" but not constructive. It stretches your muscles more to try and figure out how to get X to a point where what you want to happen is in character. Go with your instincts; they're usually pretty good and they're something that will only get better the more you use them.

Also, and your mileage may vary on this one, but what's useful for me is to kind of look at characterization as excavation -- you're digging up something, uncovering it piece by piece. You can see the ground layer but now you've got to break through underneath it. For characters who have been in hundreds of issues like Johnny, I like to hit up really weird little single issues or lesser known series. There's this one issue that's formatted as one of those Wizard Magazine interviews where Johnny lists his three favorite movies as two installments of a Simon Williams action piece that would be equivalent to the MCU-style movies and also Titanic, and that one has always stuck with me as a really fun detail. Or there's a Marvel Knights 4 issue where every other word out of Johnny's mouth is a reference to a horror movie.

(Marvel Knights 4 #26) Thanks Johnny. Another Johnny thing I really like to keep in mind is that what's going on underneath and what's going on on the surface are not necessarily the same thing. Johnny can come off selfish, entitled, immature, or uncaring, but there's a deep volcano of compassion inside there. He's a very emotional character, which is something that's always fun to write.

I also find repetition really helpful when I'm trying to get the basics of a character down, which, again, might not be helpful for anyone else. Or it might only be useful for certain characters -- it's a lot easier to reread twenty issues than two thousand. I love my reference folder because a lot of times I'll remember some line or little canon thing and want to look it up and read it again. If you don't like saving panels from comics, just writing down what issue something is in is helpful, too. But that's just what works for me.

For Johnny specific comics, I have a bunch of Fantastic Four comics recs here (note that the "current run" I advise against in this post is Slott's run and not North's) and here! I hope you find some comics that you love and that you write the Johnny fic of your dreams!