#outlaw queen oneshot

[snowbellewells]

Self Promo Sunday: "Bless What is Given You"

I realize that it's time to roll out the Christmas-y fics, but I had one more Thanksgiving story, and I didn't want to leave it out. I hope you will still enjoy it, even in December. There’s a nod to a missing moment from 3x19, but then it jumps to post s6 in Storybrooke, to all of them in their happy beginning… Most of this is also written in Robin Hood's point-of-view, so there is some Outlaw Queen in amongst the larger Swan Jones Charming Mills family fluff, if that is a deal-breaker for anyone...

** Also available on AO3, if that is your preference **

by: @snowbellewells

“Do you mean to tell me you think you know better than a queen?” Regina’s haughty voice practically dripped disdain from each clipped, precise syllable she spoke. The perfect arch of her sculpted brow rose in question, disbelief and disapproval clear on her challenging, flawless face, even if her tone had not made her opinion more than apparent. “My mother was Rumplestiltskin’s most prized pupil; he sought me out himself to train me as well, chose me to cast his precious Dark Curse… Do you honestly think the fact that you can scare off a few monkeys with your arrows and you’ve been squatting in his deserted castle makes you a better judge of...of…” Even though she spoke the “you” as though her mouth was swallowing something foul and her face scrunched up accordingly, it seemed that the formerly Evil Queen was at a rare loss for words to express just how ridiculous the very idea was.

Unfazed, the scruffy archer gazed right back at her cheekily, seeming more than a bit amused by her ruffled feathers and inability to continue. “Not sure that is quite the distinction you’re making it out to be, Milady,” he offered with a smirk.

From across the way, Snow couldn’t seem to resist chiming in with the outlaw who had once befriended a princess on the run; who, in what now seemed like another life had helped her fine-tune her skills with a bow and advised her on spots in the forest where one could most easily hunt game to eat without encountering Regina’s guards. Though Snow had long since made the choice to put their painful and sordid history in the past, there was something that teased a warble of delighted laughter up her throat at the sight of this bandit who once graced “Wanted” posters by her side agitating Regina to the point of losing all her icy, polished reserve. “It is a bit of a dubious honor, Regina, you have to admit.”

Charming beside her dipped his head to hide the chuckle rumbling in his chest as well, reaching across their round council table’s polished surface to squeeze her hand. The shepherd-prince consort would have been lying if he refused to admit there wasn’t a part of him who enjoyed watching her Majesty flounder for her unaffected poise. It went without saying that the curse they were speaking of had ripped he and Snow apart and taken their daughter from his arms almost the moment she was born; consigning them all to 28 lonely years of misery. The truth was that plain and that simple, but he wisely held his tongue. At least since his recent pirate friend had gone off on his own after their arrival back in their land, Robin was someone with whom he could break a bit of the tension and who might lighten all of their dark and despairing moods once in a while.

As they returned to discussing the plan to raid Gold’s castle here in their home realm, knowing Zelena had holed up in the Dark One’s stronghold - with Rumplestiltskin himself still prisoner - it became clear it was really the only method they had left to try, to hope that the man who always knew so much more than anyone else would also know some way out of this mess, some way to stop Regina’s rage and envy fueled half-sister. Belle across the table looked pale and strained, her lips pressed together in a thin line but determined, needing to help in whatever way she could. Even if they couldn’t free her True Love, even if his mind were already too fractured by his near death, the half-possession that had held his son’s mind within his body as well, and then that son’s violent loss, he wouldn’t want things to continue as they were; with him under Zelena’s control and bent to her will. Belle had to cling to that truth if nothing else.

Seeming to sense her flagging spirit, Charming saw Leroy sitting next to her place a clumsily large, ax-calloused hand over her slender, tiny one and give it a reassuring squeeze. The dwarf leaned over to whisper encouragingly to the petite beauty, and the prince realized that even within his inner circle of friends and allies there were deeper friendships, and stories leading to them, that he didn’t know, as Belle’s petite frame relaxed and her tense shoulders lowered slightly at the stout little man’s clearly welcomed assurances. The former shepherd thought he just made out the kind, if gruffly voiced, words, “Hang in there, Sister, the battle ain’t over yet.” Charming smiled; that might as well be a mantra for all of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robin of Locksley, otherwise known in the Enchanted Forest these days by his more colorful moniker of Robin Hood, simply could not seem to help it. He knew something about him - be it his cavalier attitude towards risk and danger, his leisurely and rather lax methods of ruling over his crew (Can he help it if he’d trust them with his life and has never had cause to question their loyalty or skill?) or perhaps it was just his very form and person she objected to. Whatever the case may be, he couldn’t help goading her Majesty, rattling that posh control of which the woman seemed so proud. Behind the cool and haughty veneer Regina Mills carefully wore, he sensed something injured - fragile, even - though she would be appalled at the thought that any weakness showed, he had no doubt of that. The irony, of course, was that bit of a chink in her flawless armor was the one thing that kept him from dismissing her as another selfish, cruel royal stepping on the backs of those less fortunate to get ahead. Her tiny show of pained humanity, the loneliness hidden behind those large dark eyes, beguiled him no matter how hard he tried to resist; drew his empathy where otherwise he would have had only scorn for her past actions and the villain she had been.

They were in the Dark Castle; seemingly, hopefully, having escaped Zelena’s notice so far, but stymied by a large door into the chamber where Rumplestiltskin had to be imprisoned. They had searched the entire rest of the castle and found it empty. None of them were foolish enough, however, to assume that the fact that they had not yet seen the Wicked Witch meant that the way ahead was safe or that she had not laid hidden snares for any intruders. Particularly not if this door were the barrier beyond which she was hiding the powerful being she meant to both use and prove herself to. There had been no other closed doors until this one, after all.

With a huff of impatience, as if she couldn’t be bothered to waste another second of her time - even with safety - the former Queen reached forward, her perfectly manicured hand nearly to the golden inlaid handle despite the Princess Snow’s warnings for caution and the Lady Belle’s wise suggestion that they wait. What appeared as bold unconcern and decisiveness radiated down her spine of steel, held ramrod-straight, but there was a slight tremor in those pale fingers, one he would have missed if he hadn’t been seeking it, just before they closed around the polished metal.

Some strange shiver of foreboding knowledge borne of a life in the forest, in the shadows, constantly on the move, pursued and on the run, made some more-than-tangible knowledge run through him, and Robin’s limbs and muscles were reacting before his mind issued a conscious order. Knowing the proud woman plowing ahead would not heed any words he called out anyway, he had silently reached over his shoulder, pulled an arrow from his quiver, nocked it to his bow, and let it fly before another moment passed, startling Regina enough as its course whistled past her ear to make her jerk back several steps. 

The feathered missile embedded in the heavy oaken portal with the solid “thunk” of a shot ringing true, but to the horror of all, rather than remaining there, vibrating from its landing, the arrow was lost from sight as the entire door was engulfed in instantaneous flames.

Watching the blaze which would undoubtedly have devoured her as well had he allowed her to pull open that door before loosing his arrow, Regina paused for mere moments before whipping around, dark eyes flashing, to arrest him angrily. “That arrow nearly took off my head!” she barked, voice as sharp as jagged glass.

Robin shot back, unable to keep himself from rising to the bait. Her lack of gratitude didn’t even surprise him by that point, but he hadn’t intended to be chastised for his quick-thinking aversion of danger either. “Where I come from a simple thank you would have sufficed.”

The regent’s black eyebrow rose in eloquent derision, making her opinion of where he came from quite clear without speaking a word. Yet, despite that hateful, snarling facade he could see the slight tremor he had previously noticed in her pale hands become a full-body quivering that, while still not plainly visible, had to be making it hard for her to remain standing, much less glaring at him with such vitriol. Her full, blood-red-painted lips trembled minutely as well until her perfect white teeth bit into the lower one, stilling it and making him swallow heavily with some reaction he couldn’t explain. She was shaken; that much he knew. But he could understand refusing to admit fear, not being able to let it show for the sake of those who follow, who must see strength to stay their course.

Thankfully, the clearly magical blaze soon expired and the way before them was as clear and unbarred as all the previous entryways they had encountered. Not without a bit of trepidation, but also as brave and determinedly as he had long since learned their hero contingent to be, Prince Charming and Snow pressed forward, followed anxiously by Belle (whom Robin’s heart panged for as she clearly ached to find the man she loved still able to recognize her and navigate his own mind) and the rest of their group. Regina just to the side, looked for all the world as if she were in no particular hurry to enter and see her former mentor, but could instead care less one way or the other. Hanging back, the outlaw of Sherwood Forest made sure the others had passed through the door and into the other room, well out of hearing, before he stepped up to Regina’s side, drawing almost nose-to-nose with her. He then leaned forward practically brushing the shell of her ear as he murmured. “There’s no need to pretend you’re made of stone, your Majesty…” He put precise emphasis on the title which she had let him know in no uncertain terms she preferred upon their first meeting in the forest. “In fact, with the present company, I believe you might get much further by letting them see that you have doubts and fears, just as they do. I know I like you much better seeing you as more than the Evil Queen.”

At her sharp intake of air with his last pronouncement, he pulled back quickly, half expecting a slap to be stinging his skin at any moment. Instead, he found color rising hotly up her neck, her chest rising and falling strenuously in that ridiculously low-cut corseted gown, and her generally looking more flustered and affected than he had ever seen her before.

She opened and closed her mouth soundlessly for several seconds until her tart tongue seemed to return to her, then spit out a quick, “Insolent bandit,” before moving to brush past him and follow the others.

Something in Robin snapped and surged to life in answer to her challenge; not allowing her to push him aside, he grasped her upper arm firmly and held on, her back to the wall and crowding in close to her, until their breaths were mingling in the same air, their faces were so close. Even as his pulse pounded and his heart rate skyrocketed, Robin wondered what had come over him. The woman had maimed and killed, schemed and plotted for her own selfish ends, and stood for everything he had devoted himself to toppling. She was nothing like his beloved Marian had been; someone with whom he would not have imagined sharing a thing in common - and yet he couldn’t fight the pull he felt. The need to imprint upon her not to put her life at risk so needlessly again.

Sweeping forward, he dove into an all-consuming kiss, taking her mouth with his and giving no quarter, delving further instead, and swallowing the whimper and hum that escaped her throat unconsciously, despite her best attempts to remain unaffected.  

Regina’s hands grappled blindly at his biceps as if trying to steady herself. She scrabbled for solid support before helplessly melting against him, opening for his questing mouth and giving herself over to the heated embrace. When they finally broke for air, she was breathless, and he huffed out a winded chuckle himself when she managed, “Well, Thief, that really was quite pleasant… Even if you do still smell of forest.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several realms, curses, and years later, in Storybrooke

The three men and their half dozen offspring of various ages creeping through the woods on the border of Storybrooke out near the town line are quiet and intent, completely and unabashedly focused on their prize. Up ahead, atop the small rise of a hill as the sun climbs fully into the cold, clear November morning sky, their prey struts proudly, stopping occasionally to offer its warbled call or peck at the rough ground beneath its feet. They have been tracking the large turkey for some time now, since before day fully dawned, and the time to strike has come at last.

Briefly, the thought flits through Robin’s head that this could be the same tom that had escaped himself and his Merry Men in this same forest years ago, when the hunt had been interrupted by the nightmarish interruption of a winged simian attacker and LIttle John’s subsequent transformation. To this day, the large and otherwise unflappable man stays far away from this particular section of the forest and refuses to go anywhere near the town line on foot. A quick glance at David and his preteen son to the right, then Killian and his little girl and second son to the left, gives him the hint from both men’s expressions that they are also remembering that rather ill-fated day, as bows are readied and last instructions offered.

He can only hope they will face nothing so unexpected this fine morn. The turkey before them has been promised to grace the main table of the large community Thanksgiving feast, and between the three men and their brood of adventurous junior hunters it is a matter of pride that they not return empty-handed today. Roland was promised the first unobstructed shot, and the young man, just barely a teenager but already capable and thoughtful as an adult, has already taken aim and is readying his shot to fly, much to his half-sister Margot’s displeasure as she stands just behind her big brother at Robin’s elbow. She is as untamed and mischievous as Roland is quiet and serious, and was much put out at the decision that Roland as the oldest child should get first chance, arguing rather heatedly that Roland might be biggest but she was the best shot. His blond-braided, green-attired second child is one of the best shots he’s ever seen at barely ten, but if she doesn’t learn to keep her temper and her slightly spoiled younger sibling petulance under control, he is certainly in for further trials in a few years.

Even in the few silent moments afforded him as they all hold their breaths, Rob feels the gratitude and love he has for his children, and the friends and adopted family surrounding them, surge through him with new strength. He had so very nearly left this world, numerous times over, as had the men on either side of him, and the women each of them loved. It was part of the heavy mantle they wore when standing against the Darkness in the world and fighting it back from the light and good time after time. Still, what better time than the present holiday to give thanks for the fact that they are all still standing and present to celebrate together?

Roland lets out a soft breath and then releases the arrow, just as a sharp cry rings out to the left.  His son’s aim is true, but the bird is startled from its perch just in time to have the shot glide by beneath its talons as it takes flight. David on his right is already directing Leo to adjust his aim quickly and get off a second shot, even as Robin’s eyes sweep to where Killian is righting Hope from a tumble over a jutting tree root, brushing off her dark leggings and checking her for injury as she clearly struggles to hold back embarrassed and disappointed tears.

What he hasn’t banked on is his daughter’s inability to wait her turn or hold back any longer. Quick as whip, Margot lets fly, striking the bird right as she intends and sending it toppling from the sky. Mouth falling open in surprise at her audacity and her skill in equal measure, Robin can’t help the surge of pride at his daughter’s prowess, even if he knows he should admonish her for taking Leo’s moment from him and wondering if he should be making certain Roland doesn’t feel overshadowed.  However, his eldest spares him the trouble when he whoops and claps Margot on the shoulder, crying out “You got him on the fly, Sis! Nice one!”

When the whole group converges together, he decides to let the lecture about abiding by the rules and taking turns slide for the time being upon noticing that Leo looks rather relieved that the pressure to prove his mettle before their quarry escaped has been taken off of his shoulders. Instead, he claps his little girl on the shoulder, squeezing with gentle affection until she looks up at him, beaming.  Like her brother before her, she is growing much too fast, turning into a young lady before his eyes, and so for a moment, he lets himself revel in the fact that she still wants to spend time out in the woods with him and wishes to make him proud. Her papa won’t hold the favored spot in her heart forever, so he may as well savor it while he can.

He thinks Killian’s youngest, barely old enough to be tromping around out here with them in truth, looks a bit teary at the downed and unnaturally still bird before them, so he hurries to bag their prize for the journey homeward and puts it out of sight over his shoulder while Killian picks his tired youngest up off his feet and begins asking him how many different types of trees he can recognize from their leaves on the way back. That seems a bit difficult for a five-year-old until little Liam David begins happily babbling (suitably distracted thankfully) and pointing out oaks, maples and scotch pines as the pirate’s unerring sense of direction leads their whole troupe out of the forest toward the main road where they’ve left their trucks, Margot takes his hand, and Hope her grandpa’s, and Roland and Leo fall in behind talking amiably and carrying the bows. Apparently they have a budding naturalist in their midst as well, and Killian Jones - as usual - knows exactly what he is doing.

When he, Roland, and Margot trail back into the mayoral mansion some time later, discarding their muddy boots by the door, but still scattering crumbled leaves and dirt in the entryway, Regina stands in the hall shaking her head, and directs the children toward the laundry room to discard their outerwear before heading up to wash for dinner.  She looks at him, trying to muster exasperation, but unable to do so. That flawless Queen is long gone; she has come a long way since they snapped and snarled at each other in self-preservation back in their home realm, neither wanting to fall in love and risk heartbreak again.

Snatching his jacket collar and pulling him in close, Regina nips at his lips playfully before murmuring against his scruffy cheek, “You still smell like forest,” she mocks, “but somehow you’ve managed to steal my heart.”

He shakes his head, offering back words she’d stunned him with once long ago, “That’s not quite the way I remember it.  If I recall, your heart was given to me,” he whispers, emotion taking over the jest, “and a person can’t steal what’s been given to him.”

All in all, he’s been given much more than a simple archer from Sherwood Forest could have ever hoped.

Tagging a few who might enjoy: @searchingwardrobes @kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @laschatzi @whimsicallyenchantedrose @jrob64 @apiratewhopines @xarandomdreamx @booksteaandtoomuchtv @kazoosandfannypacks @teamhook @revanmeetra87 @stahlop @anmylica @gingerchangeling @gingerpolyglot @winterbaby89 @spartanguard @therooksshiningknight @optomisticgirl @tiganasummertree @donteattheappleshook @elizabeethan @the-darkdragonfly @bdevereaux @thislassishooked

[fantastic-nonsense]

Made a post about my 3 things I want to see with every Wonder Woman adaptation, despite needing to do some catching up myself. Related, do you have a link to a Wonder Woman reading list?

https://at.tumblr.com/paigeoforacle/1-keep-fights-to-a-minimum/k7nbubhe1qws

Nice list!

As for my Wonder Woman recs list....technically, yes. I made a Wonder Woman starter recs list way back in 2017 right after the movie came out. However, it's outdated, I've changed my opinion on some of the things I said there as I've read more Wonder Woman comics, and it also fails to include several good comics. So here's my current Wonder Woman recs list:

Starter comics: These are great comics to read if you're new to Wonder Woman comics or only have a passing familiarity with her:

Wonder Woman: Year One, by Greg Rucka

Wonder Woman (1987) #1-62, by George Perez

Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia, by Greg Rucka

JLA: League of One, by Christopher Moeller

The Legend of Wonder Woman, by Ray Dillion and Renee De Liz

Wonder Woman: Historia, by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Wonder Woman (1987) #170, by Phil Jimenez (the Diana-Lois 'Day in the Life' issue)

"Generations" from Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman, by Michael Jelenic (Issue #12 digitally, Issue #7 print)

Wonder Woman: Our Worlds At War, by Phil Jimenez (warning: this oneshot ties into the "Our Worlds at War" event, so the frame story will probably be confusing, but the majority of the story is a solid retelling of the collective Amazonian history up to that point)

Second-level comics: read these once you have a baseline familarity with Diana and her supporting cast:

Wonder Woman by Phil Jimenez, including Paradise Lost/Paradise Found (which I don't think are in the current Jimenez omnibus)

Wonder Woman by Greg Rucka (his first run on the title), with a particular call-out for the Medusa arc

Wonder Woman: The Circle and Ends of the Earth, by Gail Simone

Wonder Woman Rebirth (2016), by Greg Rucka (Rucka's second run; everything except Year One fits here)

Wonder Woman: The Twelve Labors (WW 1942 #212-222), by Len Wein and assorted other writers

Wonder Woman/Justice League Dark: The Witching Hour, by James Tynion IV

Wonder Woman: Lords and Liars by Mariko Tamaki

All of the comics on both lists are great; I have no hesitation recommending any of them. However, I will give a blanket warning for sexual assault in the Amazons' backstory, particularly during the seminal Perez run (which is very dated in how it handles the topic, unfortunately), and put a general note that while I can't think of anything outright offensive, various social issues are not always handled with grace (especially in the older runs).

Comics featuring the Wonderfam supporting cast:

Tales of the Titans (2023) #3, by Steve Orlando* (for Donna)

New Teen Titans: Who is Donna Troy?, by Marv Wolfman*

Titans (1999), by Devin Grayson (for Donna)*

The Return of Donna Troy, by Phil Jimenez (collected in The Death and Return of Donna Troy)*

Titans (2023), by Tom Taylor (for Donna)

Wonder Woman: Lifelines (WW 1987 #105-108) and WW #109-113, by John Byrne (Cassie Sandsmark's introduction)

Young Justice (1998), by Peter David (for Cassie)*

Nubia and the Amazons, by Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala*

Nubia: Queen of the Amazons, by Stephanie Williams and Vita Ayala*

Wonder Woman: The Contest (WW 1987 #0 and #90-100), by William Messner-Loebs (for Artemis of Bana-Mighdall)

Artemis: Requiem, by William Messner-Loebs (Note: this is not actually recommended reading. It's utterly cursed and I wouldn't put it on here if it wasn't absolutely necessary to understand how Artemis isn't dead after "The Contest." Read everything else on this list before you read this mini)

Wonder Woman: Gods of Gotham (WW 1987 #164-167), by Phil Jimenez*

Red Hood and the Outlaws Rebirth (2016) #1-24, by Scott Lobdell (for post-Flashpoint!Artemis, who's basically a different character)

Future State: Wonder Woman, by Joelle Jones (Yara Flor)

Wonder Girl (2021), by Joelle Jones (for Yara) (Note: this run is "just okay" and I'm reccing it with several reservations. However, it's also Yara's most prominent comic to date)

I've starred the ones on this list that I actually recommend as "good comics to read" and not just "decent starter comics for the character." Warning for depictions of sexual assault, bad art if you're looking at a pre-2000s comic, and being forced to engage with Scott Lobdell and William Messner-Loebs' writing.

I also recommend DC Bombshells by Marguerite Bennett; it's an Elseworlds comic set in WWII that co-stars Diana and it's delightful. There's certainly others that are decent, but I think this is a solid starter list if you want to understand Wonder Woman and how she should be written.

[insomniac-jay]

DC OC | Reading List Pt.2

Sophia Evangelista | Angeknight

Angeknight: Between Heaven and Hell - Sophia's debut series that follows her and her team the Sun Angels on their mission to destroy the Fallen Angel Ophiel and her legion of darkness.

Pandora - Major supporting character. Elyon is both Sophia's ward and sidekick before being handed off to the newest Teen Titans.

Sol - Sophia is also a major supporting character in Solana's solo series as her mentor.

Angeknight: Schism - The longest series of Sophia's publication history at over 100 volumes long. Schism follows Sophia having to deal with splitting factions of Angels in Heaven, major changes in her work and personal lives, and learning secrets about her family.

Angeknight: Reformation - As Titans Academy's new guidance counselor, Sophia works hard to push the rowdy children in the right direction. However, she must answer Heaven's call again after receiving a disturbing vision.

Angeknight & Cheshire - A oneshot comic that follows Sophia and Jade tracking down the person who put a hit out on both of them. It takes place shortly after Reformation.

Knights of Titania: Faith, Trust, and Fairy Dust - She appears as a major supporting character. Sophia's one of the group's mentors despite not being a member of the Titans. This is her last appearance under her Angeknight name.

Isis - Sophia's Outsiders (2003) era. Sophia retires Angeknight and moves back to Star City for a fresh start. She forms a new team called the Calvary under a new codename: Isis.

Archangel - An Elseworld story where Sophia joins Team Arrow and becomes the White Arrow then Archangel.

Isis: Champion of Bana-Mighdall - Another alternate universe where Sophia never becomes a Seraphim, instead the champion of the Bana. Various team ups include Artemis, Niobe, Yara, and Donna Troy.

Marietta Brooks | Glamor

Glamor - Marietta's debut. The covers of each volume are references to different album covers of black femme pop singers.

Glamor: All That Glitters - A few years after her debut series, Marietta's reign hasn't stopped as she takes on Hollywood. Before that can happen, a person from her family's past threatens to put out her star.

Glamor: Back in Black - Marietta retires from the world of vigilante crime fighting and into her new position: award winning actress, singer, wife, and mother. That is until a person from her past as Glamor comes back with news so devastating, it forces her to don her costume one last time.

Venus Parks | Star Sapphire

Star Sapphire - Venus's debut. From world famous DJ to intergalactic warrior, Venus's life is full of twists and turns. As a Star Sapphire, it's her duty to restore love to the universe; but sometimes she needs a little love herself.

Star Sapphire: Ring of Light - Venus sought out by the queen of an alien planet to find and return a stolen artifact called the Ring of Light. Venus is up to the task only for the search to be more difficult than she expected. Having no other options, she's forced to team up with the newest Red Lantern, Furiosa.

Star Sapphire: City of Diamond - Who is the Twilight Knight; and why do they want her ring? That's a question Venus wants answered after a mysterious masked figure attacks her while returning to Earth. Teaming up with fellow Star Sapphire, Pepper Jackson, their search takes them to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, to a whole other solar system.

Star Sapphire: Trifecta - During an investigation into illegal weapons trafficking back on Earth, Venus crosses paths with Larissa and a new Green Lantern called Emerald Ranger. They join forces to create Trifecta, a team made up of the three lanterns.

Red Hood and the Outlaws - Venus joins the Outlaws as an ally before becoming a full member.

Boombox - After an incident with her Star Sapphire ring, Venus temporarily retires the mantle and begins to build a new one. Donning a mecha suit made of radio devices, Venus debuts as her new hero persona, Boombox.

Daliah Yukimura | Snow

Snow - Daliah's debut series that features her first forays into being the local superhero in her hometown of Happy Harbor.

Young Justice: Of Ice Queens and Sun Goddesses - Daliah's Young Justice debut. At the request of Superboy, Daliah joins the team alongside another new member, Solana Banks.

Snow & Arrowette - Mini series that follows Daliah and her childhood friend Cissie as a duo; before either of them joined Young Justice. A highlight of this miniseries is the family reunion from hell and the introduction of the Yukimura clan.

Snow & Crysticle - Another miniseries featuring Camryn, Daliah's older sister and member of the Watchers. Camryn has returned home for the summer which means sisterly fun and crime fighting.

Jawbreakers - Now in college and on her way to becoming a professional figure skater, Daliah moves to San Francisco with Solana as roommates. She puts her superhero career to the side to keep up her training. Eventually, she joins the newly formed Jawbreakers.

Justice Girls - An Elseworld story where Cassie breaks off from Young Justice to form her own team, the Justice Girls.

@mayameanderings @punkeropercyjackson @floof-ghostie @calciumcryptid

[thetragicallynerdy]

nerdy's OFMD fanfic recs

I was going to send some fic recs to a pal, but then realized my list was super long, so I thought I'd write a list instead. All are Our Flag Means Death, and most Jim/Oluwande centric. I very rarely read anything that's not Jim centric in OFMD fanfic, so this list is heavily biased towards them as a character, be warned. I'm sticking it under the cut, but the categories are:

Top Ten (Twelve, actually, but who's counting)

Other SFW

NSFW - mainly smut, a few that are not pure smut but still NSFW

Reccing my own fics (aka stuff I wrote, because I'm not above that XD)

If you'd rather scroll ao3, most are also bookmarked by me here!

I've only tagged folks I know here on tumblr, (and only once in the list, because effort) please feel free to let me know if you recognize authors on here tho and I'll give them a tag! (Or if you're on here but I forgot your on tumblr pls lemme know jsksjks)

Top Ten (Twelve, but who's counting)

Listen most of these are written by my pals but I stand by the fact that my pals are amazing writers.

suck the rot right out of my bloodstream by @nevershootamockingbird – Jim, Frenchie, and Lucius, on the Kraken’s ship. Sad and yet so much hope. One of my all time faves. 7K.

some say it's a blessing by @swallowtailed – God. This fic. Literally made me have to lay down on my couch like a fainting lady in the 1800s at a certain point. Jim/Olu, soulmates who feel each other’s pain AU. 11K

what you take with you (what you leave behind) by @lovewithagirl – Jim/Ed, modern au, the world is ending. Listen. I love this fic with my whole heart, it gives me so many feels. 2K.

Leda House and the Kraken 'Verse by @dragonmuse – The Drag Queen AU, feat transfem Ed. Really lovely series, and very long – a lot of the parts can be read as standalones up to a certain point. Feat. ace Frenchie and Wee John. The Jim/Olu focused one (they're in more than one, but there's one that's focused primarily on Jim's story) is a regular re-read for me. Different parts have different word counts, the whole thing + au's of the au is around 930K.

how the west was won and where it got us (a.k.a. the revenge ranch) by @yerbamansa – long series, starts very Jim/Olu focused and brings in the rest of the crew. Modern AU where Jim and Oluwande meet, and eventually make their way to a ranch Stede runs in the American west. I adore this series with my whole heart. Beautiful soft vibes, more focused on characters than plot. The whole thing is 137K.

drink of the feeling of quiet again by @alfalfairy – absolutely stunning Jim character study – focused on ‘Jim returns home to help Nana as she gets older’. Lots of healing of the relationship and trauma etc. (Alfalfairy has a few others that make it on the list, but this one sits in my heart) Long oneshot, 35K.

make your peace with weariness and let it be by anirondack – jim character study, focused on Catholicism and trauma from their childhood to post-canon. Absolutely stunning. A fic that I actually read in almost one go, which rarely happens for me, because I couldn't put it down. Second person POV. 19K

Transformative Work by mia_ugly, pinehutch – Frenchie/Olu, Frenchie/Jim, Jim/Olu. One of my fav OFMD fics hands down. Frenchie POV, really beautifully done. Heed the tags. 40K, smut in later chapters.

Oluwande/Jim collection by MintPepper – a series of their jim/olu stuff – all are fantastic. Some are smut, some not.

orange & teal by owlinaminor – Jim/Oluwande focused series, some NSFW, some not. Absolutely stunning series.

Trouble Me Always: Being A True Chronicle of the Early Deeds of Oluwande Boodhari, Outlaw Shipwright by zmayhem – longer fic, Oluwande’s backstory to meeting Jim and joining the crew. I absolutely adore this one. Finished multi chapter. 30K.

that unwanted animal by @yourlocal-charlatan - Jim/Olu, Jim focused – goes through some canon, as well as before canon events – I really love this one, it’s so fantastic. Multi chaptered, unfinished. 16K.

Safe For Work

my heart could break for a one-legged seagull (that’s bad luck) by thingswithteeth – Frenchie centric, post-ep 10, very good from what I remember.  10K ish,

March Into The Sea by cranialaccessory - post-episode 10, Jim on Ed’s ship, or “5 times Jim tries to kill Ed”. Fun, sad, but not too sad. 5.5K

May There Be No Sadness of Farewell by hopeless_eccentric – Jim gets top surgery. 1.5K

Disruptors by yerbamansa – SMAU focused on Stede and Ed in the tech industry. I adore this one!! 21K, completed.

Till Human Voices Wake Us, And We Drown by alfalfairy – short series focused on mermaid Jim (with fangs, and claws, and a thirst for blood) – I adore it. 8K total.

bitter like whiskey, sweet like wine by alfalfairy – Jim/Olu centric, from their meeting pre-canon through canon. Ongoing longfic, currently unfinished but semi-regular posting. One of my fav series. 72K

to be more than this devil inside of me by alfalfairy – Ed and Izzy adopt a 18 year old Jim  before they meet Olu. Young pirate Jim. Great series. Ongoing, updating semi-regularly. 40K.

All Ships Sail by UnscrupulousArtist – 5 times Frenchie and Lucius almost happened (and one it did) – cute, loved this one. Lots of mentions of sex, none on screen from what I recall. 6K.

set my body free by eldrai – another ‘Jim gets top surgery’ au, lotsa gender and dysphoria vibes. 1.5K

Spindrift by Acephalous – “Jim contemplates family, memory, and their duty to the dead.” 2K.

in the deep end by rabbitinrain – jim isn’t a mermaid, but oluwande is. Short and sweet. 3K.

Vodka x Orange by AtlantisRises – modern au, jim and olu working at jackie’s bar. Unfinished, hasn’t been updated in a while. 4 chapters so far. 5K.

the art of gift giving by Nanashi07  - jim and ed friendship, as they both try and figure out how to be partners to olu and stede respectively 7K.

come build your home in me by Fool_for_love  - long series, split between ‘during the kraken era’ and ‘post kraken era healing’ – each fic has a chapter with different viewpoints – pete, olu, izzy, jim, Frenchie, and Lucius I think? Very trauma and recovery focused.

so nice to have you back where you belong by SweetPollyOliver – lil Frenchie and wee john focused oneshot – “frenchie finds wee john’s doll after the crew is marooned and keeps it safe.” 1.2K

you should be so happy now by waveridden – Mary Bonnet gets taken captive on the Kraken’s ship. Fantastic fic, very Mary and Ed focused if I recall correctly. ~8K

not a mermaid by awenswords – Jim focused, gender feels a plenty. One chapter out of 3 written, not updated in a while. 2K.

the sea and you swim to meet me by stanzas – Jim and Olu centric Daemon au. One of my absolute faves, it’s a stunning little fic. 2K.

hoist up the thing, batten down the whatsit by SunsetOfDoom – Daemon AU – this bit is Jim focused, part of a longer series featuring the whole crew.

just the two of us by @jesperr-fahey – Jim + Frenchie friendship all alone aboard the Revenge post S2.

 Friendship (Derogatory) by peaktotheocean – Black Pete whittles Jim a packer. Great little fic. 1K.

i'll be a friend and a fuck-up and everything by iguessyouregonnamissthepantyraid – Jim Ed friendship, they set out to kill Blackbeard and it doesn’t go as planned. 6K.

and if my body is a temple (then this ruin is a mess) by sakutsu – Trans Lucius fic. 1K.

cut through my frozen heart (watch the blood spill, fresh and clean) by your_local_charlatan – little jim and olu centric h/c – jim’s hands hurt when it gets cold. Olu fixes it. Lovely little fic. 1.5K.

To Skin a Catfish by peaktotheocean – Frenchie focused, Jim is a cat. And also a witch. 3.5K

Not Safe For Work (Mainly smut)

pull me from the earth by MintPepper – Jim asks Lucius to draw them naked. Very lovely body positive stuff. M, not E, but still goes under NSFW. 4K.

Revenge Becomes Us by Anonymous – Jim centric character study. Absolutely fantastic. Contains some NSFW stuff. 10K

Ven Conmigo by DarkwingDukat (pushingcrazies) – jim/olu, facesitting.

Like Real People Do by Gwendolyn (storiesofchaos) – jim/olu, first time, 2.5k

Tengo una Obsesión by Anonymous – jim/olu, 2.1K

please don't call, i need another hour by exastris_scientia – jim/olu, modern au smut, lovely little oneshot. 2K

Living in Sin Situation (Complimentary) by SpaceJackalope – Jim/Olu, pegging. 3K.

I Think We're Alone Now by Ptolemia – Jim/Olu, 6K.

The More the Merrier by SweetPollyOliver – Wee John/Olu/Frenchie – 1.5K

Mermaids Singing, Each to Each by SpaceJackalope – Jim/Olu beachfucking, with a side of Lucius watching. Sweet little smut fic, great vibes. 1.5K

When Your Depths Resound by Bassarid – Jim/Olu, hammock sex. Great vibes. 1.5K

Oral Fixation by izzyxhands for suchgreatheights – modern au, Stede/Ed, trans leather daddy dom Ed. Very hot. 5K.

My Own Fic recs (aka ones I wrote, because I’m not above that)

to build a home by @lovewithagirl, @nevershootamockingbird, and myself – a series of oneshots in a shared modern AU where everyone is poly, and everyone is in love. Soft vibes, very family focused. Ed/Jim, Jim/Olu, and Ed/Stede are the main pairings (with lots of others thrown in)

and we will build a home from the wreckage – cowboy au, Jim/Olu centric, injured outlaw Jim gets taken in by farmer Olu. 22K ish, unfinished (updates slower than molasses in January)

Ask Me Anything: A TealOranges SMAU by me and @yerbamansa, can also be read at @askmeanythingofmd – modern jim/olu SMAU I’m co-writing, focused on Jim/Olu falling in love while figuring out how to kill alfeo de la vaca. Unfinished, updates on tumblr weekly (ish), on ao3 every few months.

i like to call myself wound (but i will answer to knife) by tragicallynerdy – series of Jim-centric h/c or whump oneshots. Fics in the collection vary from 1K-15K ish.

full of flowers and heart shaped boxes by tragicallynerdy – Jim/Olu, modern au where they go on their first date after months of being together. Comedy focused. 10K

There's a few smut ones on my ao3 account too, if that's your interest. Feel free to find them XD

Enjoy!

Tagging @frrenchie who was interested in some recs! Sorry there's so many XD

[forbiddendrabbles]

Masterlist and Links

Links

Art Blog Main Blog Fanfiction.Net Profile AO3 Profile Prompt Masterlist Drabbles/Original Work Masterlist

Masterlist

Current In-Progress Works (Updated 2/28/2024):

✍️ Physical Education AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: The akuma class came to school expecting a normal lesson. They did not expect to be frisked and told they won’t be going home for the rest of the sexual education unit. Marinette and Adrien especially didn’t expect to be to be demonstrating as live models.

✍️ A Pretty Good Bad Idea AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Explicit Summary: For The More The Merrier Poly Ship Event 2024, hosted by the Miraculous Writers' Circle. ~ “We’ve been, uh… discussing the possibility of having a threesome,” he admits, quiet enough that only she hears. “With a woman,” he tacks on. Marinette takes a moment to appreciate her former partner and his husband. She traced the lines of their figures, eyes dancing across their muscular forms. Downing a shot, she looks at the two men before her. “I’ll do it, if you want.”

On-Hiatus Works (Updated 9/10/2023):

✍️ The Queen of Mean AO3 FFN

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: Inspired by "The Queen of Mean" from Descendants 3 and a deleted fanfic. When Lila pushes Marinette too far, she finally snaps. It's up to Adrien to figure out if he can bring her back. Love square-centric. ON TEMPORARY HIATUS. READ THE TAGS (Author Profile on FFN!!!). I do my best to keep triggers updated in the tags and in each chapter's notes. (It's too long of a list to put on here)

✍️ Save Me  FFN

Fandom: Doctor Who Rating: Mature (Explicit) Summary: Eliora Turner was not your average girl. The physical/mental abuse that went on at home destroy her. Until one day, a man calling himself the Doctor decides to help her. If she can stop trying to kill him, that is. TW: Rape, Self-harm, Abuse, Mentions of Substance Abuse, Sexual Assault, Eating Disorder(s), Depression/Anxiety, Violence, Scars, light BDSM elements. SMUT. On-Hiatus. (9/1/2023) Current Status of Save Me: I'm probably going to put it on permanent hiatus/discontinued and post what I have left, but I need to sit down and actually get that uploaded, which I haven't had the time or concentration for.

Completed Works (Updated 3/5/2024):

✍️ Dead Girl Walking  AO3 FFN

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: One-shot Songfic based on "Dead Girl Walking" from Heathers the Musical. Inspired by a line at the end of Chapter 14 in designnette's "Surfaced" on AO3, where Adrien asked if Ladybug broke his window, and that lead me to writing this fic. When Lila tells Marinette she has until 8am on Monday before her social life dies, Marinette can think of only one thing she wants to do. Or rather, one person. Smut. Oneshot. TW: Drinking, Dub-Con (if you squint), Panic Attack, light BDSM

✍️ Our Hope AO3 FFN Tumblr

Fandom: The Thundermans Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: Backstory for this: was in the mood for some good old-fashioned thundercest and came across @bbshipper21‘s fic “Brownies, kisses and confessions.” Then I was scrolling through to see if there were more pieces farther back in their blog and came across this prompt. I don’t know if the people they tagged ever wrote anything, but I really wanted to try. I’ve never written for this ship, and I normally write in the first person, not the third, so this is probably a little bit awkward, but I figured I would post it anyways. I don’t know if @bbshipper21 is still active, but if they see this, I hope I did it justice. TW: Incest (Max/Phoebe), Brief Suicidal Thoughts/Actions

✍️ I'm Gone, Gone, Gone, Gone AO3

Fandom: Batman - All Media Types, Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010), Red Hood and the Outlaws (Comics) Rating: Not Rated Summary: He thought of Robin. Robin is magic, he once said. Robin is a symbol of hope. Jason didn’t have any left. TW: Suicide, Self-harm, Alcoholism, Sleeping Pills, Depression, Gun Violence

✍️ Coffee is Still Better AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: My gift exchange fic for the Maribat? Get In! Discord 2023/24 New Years Gift Exchange! ~𐀔~ The noxious aroma polluted the streets, subjecting the poor Parisians to the smell of burning gingerbread cookies. Wait—burning gingerbread cookies?

✍️ Crushed Shell  AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Title says it all, honestly. TW: Major Character Death

Series - Requests

✍️ Sweet Sixteen and Ten Emotions AO3 FFN

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Requested by JBlaser on Fanfiction.net. When Chloe's mother breaks a promise, her best friend tries to show everyone who Chloe is inside. It doesn't quite go as planned, though. Reveal, but not a big part of the plot. Oneshot.

✍️ Hard Earned Knowledge AO3 FFN

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: Requested by Raxius on Fanfiction.net. After Shanghai, Adrien begins to tutor Marinette while Mei Shi begins to tutor Fei, and Gabriel…well, he’s coping with the things *he* learned. Oneshot. TW: mentions of death, grief, unhealthy coping, therapist making light of the situation. If the Mandarin is wrong, blame Google Translate XD

✍️ Pink AO3 FFN

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: Requested by Raxius on Fanfiction.net. Set during Mr. Pigeon 72, Adrien can’t help but turning a little bit pink when he notices someone’s pink swimsuit. Or: Adrien, unfortunately, is a teenage guy. Oneshot. I did my best to make the story realistic to canon age-wise, but closer to reality in content. Puberty is rough, man. I am not a male, so I apologize if his actions are not 100% accurate in the eyes of someone who has a male appendage. I hope I did it justice though, as it was a big part of the plot. TW: Sexual situations/thoughts of minors, puberty

Series - Miraculous Writers' Circle Sprint Fic Challenges

✍️ Secret Passageways AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: When sneaking into the Agreste house to secretly meet up with Adrien, Marinette accidentally finds a secret passageway and decides to investigate.

✍️ Love Child AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: Surprise! Character A has been hit by the ray of an akuma and is now pregnant! The catch? The other parent is the last non-familial person they said 'I love you' to... and Character A doesn't remember who that was! Write about A's journey solving this strange conundrum.

✍️ Hello Darkness, My Old Friend AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: THIS IS AN EMERGENCY! Marinette has lost an earring, and is understandably freaking out. Well… we understand. But I want you to write this from the perspective of someone who doesn’t. A classmate or a parent or a passing citizen who can’t understand why Marinette is panicking so much over a €5 pair of earrings. It’s no big deal, right?

✍️ What's in a Name? AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: The first thing Marinette realized when she woke up was that she was cold. The second thing she realized was that she was laid on a steel beam at the top of the Eiffel Tower, in her pajamas…

✍️ Tag Teamed on the Tower AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: The first thing Marinette realized when she woke up was that she was cold. The second thing she realized was that she was laid on a steel beam at the top of the Eiffel Tower, in her pajamas… NSFW version Part One of Tag Teamed on the Tower: The Series

✍️ Joined at the Hips AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit (to be safe, could probably be Mature) Summary: An Unexpected Day Off: your character woke up this morning to find their kwami gone, and their miraculous still there, but powered down… with no explanation. Write about how they feel, and what they do. Are the other holders in the same position?

✍️ You See Me on the Cover of a Magazine AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Mature (to be safe, could probably be Teen and Up Audiences) Summary: While reading their favorite book, your character is hit by an akuma and magically sent into the book and is now the main character! Write about what happens!

✍️ The Sound of Soul AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Luka enjoys hearing other people's music as it gives him such a clear view of that person and their personality... Except for [character]'s music has always confused Luka... and he wants to figure out why.

✍️ Tipped Off AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: An anonymous tip on the Ladyblog has warned that Adrien Agreste is Hawkmoth’s next target. Ladybug wants one of them to be with him at all times until the threat has passed. Adrien isn’t too worried about pulling this off, apart from the confusing issue that his father has taken a sudden interest in his life… Write about Ladybug staying for a very uncomfortable dinner with Adrien, Gabriel, and Nathalie.

✍️ It's Not Buggabye AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Marinette’s identity is revealed very publicly and she has to renounce guardianship to save the miraculous. Marinette is now famous and loved for protecting Paris. The problem is she doesn’t remember any of it and has no idea what’s going on.

✍️ Suspects to Agreste AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: Reclusive fashion designer Gabriel Agreste has gone missing. Who are Roger’s prime suspects and more importantly - why?

✍️ With a Kiss...or Four. AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Chat Noir and Ladybug are simultaneously knocked out during a battle and, not knowing what else to do, Plagg and Tikki go on the search to find someone to defeat the akuma in their absence... ... enter Luka who is now in possession of the cat and ladybug miraculous and the task of saving the day.

✍️ The Mother is in the Basement AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: A woman claiming to be Emilie Agreste just called Ladybug and Cat Noir on Ladybug’s communicator, begging for help.

✍️ A Big, Bright, Beautiful World AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Oh no! Baby August has been hit by a grow laser and is now ten stories tall! But, weirdly, it's not an akumatization! How will the heroes deal with this?

✍️ Like a Thief in the Night AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Chat Noir only breaks into the MDC boutique because his father's heard rumors of a lost jewel, part of the miraculous collection. Instead, he discovers just how much the neighborhood-loved business has been struggling when he finds a blow-up mattress in the back. And a petite woman swinging a frying pan at his face.

✍️ Buzz Buzz Bitch AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: It's common knowledge that catnip has a strong effect on cats... however, no one thought they'd encounter something similar for ladybugs! Now Chat Noir, Viperion, Rena Rouge, and the rest of the team have to figure out how to defeat an akuma while also dealing with their increasingly affectionate, blissed out leader.

✍️ I'm Very Bemused. Is This The News? AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: “Don’t be bemused, it’s just the news: Breaking news: Ladybug and Cat Noir are currently… robbing a bank? I… bear with me a moment, viewers… am I reading this right? …Yes? Yes, this just in! Our favourite superheroes are robbing a bank, apparently? Uh… we go live now to our reporter at the scene…”

✍️ Mend the Bond AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: His mother always told him tales of the knitting fairy. Every time he fell and ripped his clothing, he would leave a small trinket of offering and she would visit in the night to mend them. Of course, now that he was grown he knew she couldn’t possibly be real. Couldn’t… possibly…

✍️ You Can't Always Get What You Want AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: When Tikki awakened after a hundred years to a new holder, she was expecting someone young and ready to go. She wasn't expecting a middle aged rock star with a pet alligator as her new holder! What had Fu been thinking?!

✍️ Signs of Hearing Loss AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: The Sound of Silence - the entire world woke up today unable to speak. There’s probably an akuma behind it… Nothing else seems to be amiss so everyone has to go about their day as normal and sit tight, waiting for Ladybug and Cat Noir to fix things. Slight problem with that - Marinette and Adrien can’t transform.

✍️ The Time Xavier Ramier Kidnapped a CatBoy and Got Away With It AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Mr. Ramier was enjoying a beautiful day in a secluded area (away from RogerCop) in the park with his pigeons when thump Chat Noir hit the ground next to him and was knocked out cold. What really surprised him was the hero detransforming right then and there. Write about what happens next!

✍️ KittyNoir AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Oh no! Hawkmoth’s akuma backfired and now every adult in Paris is a toddler! Write about how our heroes tackle their newfound responsibilities and deal with teeny tiny parents and super villains!

✍️ 9 Things to Convince Bunnyx to Never Have Children AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: General Audiences Summary: Somehow, some way, Bunnyx was left in charge of Growing Up Miraculous, the daycare for children of miraculous holders! Between the chaos of dealing with Carapace and Rena's inquisitive (read: gets into everything) child, Mino and Polymouse's new bundle of joy, and the half dozen children between Chat Noir, Ladybug, and Viperion, Bunnyx doesn't know how she'll survive the day. Write about how our daring heroine deals with the hardest job she's faced since having to teach Hawk Moth how to do maths.

Series - TalksToSelf BirthWeek 2023

✍️ 7 - Breeding Kink (Honorable Mention: Babies) AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 7: Breeding/Babies Pairing: Adrinette

✍️ Tag Teamed on the Tower: *Double* Double Penetration AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 6: Threesome Pairing: Lukadrinette Sequel to Tag Teamed on the Tower, but can be read as standalone. Part Two of Tag Teamed on the Tower: The Series

✍️ 5 – Vampires (Honorable Mention: Crayons) AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 6: Crayons Day 5 : Vampires Pairing: Félinette

✍️ 4 – BDSM (Honorable Mention: Ukelele) AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 4: BDSM/Ukelele Pairing: Félukadrinette (TW: Incest ship)

✍️ 3 – Fireball + Creamer ;) AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 3: Fireball + Creamer ;) Pairings Ch1: Lukanette, implied/mentioned Lukadrien and Lukadrinette Ch2: Kagaminette, implied/mentioned Adrinette and Adrigaminette There are two versions, hence the two different sets 😉

✍️ 2 – Voyeur (Honorable Mention: Among Us) AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 2: Voyeur/Among Us Pairing: Félukadrinette (TW: Incest ship) Standalone but can be read as same AU as Day 4

✍️ 1 – Sofa AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug Rating: Explicit Summary: For the TalksToSelf BirthWeek Prompts! Happy Birthday, Nils! Day 1: Sofa Pairing: Lukadrien

Series - MGI Third Server-versary

✍️ Day 1 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 1 Prompts: Thunderstorm Foodfight Lovers to Enemies

✍️ Day 2 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Superboy (Comics), Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 2 Prompts: Language Barrier Read/Seen [x] days ago Wildflowers

✍️ Day 3 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 3 Prompts: Sharpie/Permanent Marker Halloween Four Seasons (Rated T for the one time Jason says Fuck)

✍️ Day 4 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Super Sons, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 4 Prompts: Silver Lining Pet Names "If the world comes crumbling down, I'm not going to stick around to pull you from the rubble." - downwithwritersblock (Rated T for the one time Jon says Fuck)

✍️ Day 5 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 5 Prompts: "There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full." - Henry Kissinger "What have you done" Follow (Rated T for the one time Marinette says Damn and for implied violence/drugging to make Tim sleep)

✍️ Day 6 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 6 Prompts: "I thought I knew you." "Go on. I dare you." Broken Mirror (Rated T for unintentional self harm)

✍️ Day 7 AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Super Sons, Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: MGI 3rd Server-versary Day 7 Prompts: Shiny Spelling Mistakes "Blanket thieves don't deserve rewards." - downwithwritersblock

✍️ Revenge of the Sleep Deprived Safety Hazards AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Superman - All Media Types, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: My gift exchange fic (and art!) for the Maribat? Get In! Discord 3rd Serverversary (Serversary?)! "They’re talking about Goldilocks, Peter Pan, one of the SpyKids, Hello Kitty, and Captain Underpants. One of them stole and/or destroyed the magic beans."

Series - MGI CIVIL WAR 2024 - DAMIAN DOMINANCE

✍️ We Can Meet in the Space Between AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: For the Maribat? Get In! Discord Civil War Event ~🦇🐞🦇~ "She slips through the veil formed in the in-between, allowing us to meet.” He pauses, voice thick with tears as he finally gets to speak of the woman he loves more than life itself. “…Our love was written in the stars. Her soul just got there before mine.”

✍️ Innocent AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: For the Maribat? Get In! Discord Civil War Event ~🦇🐞🦇~ “No, you- you must be mistaken. There’s no- No! Take me there. I- I can save her. I can save them! There’s got to be--!” Dick holds him back, keeping him from leaving. His heart shatters as his little brother breaks down in his arms. “No,” he whispers, voice broken as he sobs. TW: Major Character Death, implied suicidal thoughts (if you interpret the single line that way), Loss of Child Part Three of We Laughed. We Loved. We Lost.

✍️ A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom, No Fandom Rating: General Audiences Summary: Any artwork/collages/mood boards/etc that I make for the Maribat? Get In! Discord Civil War Event

✍️ Over Before It Began AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Summary: For the Maribat? Get In! Discord Civil War Event ~🦇🐞🦇~ “Marinette! What, exactly, did you do?” “I…attacked a man for being happy with his partner, screamed at him for betraying me, and ran away. I think I hit him like three times, oh my god.” ~🦇🐞🦇~ Rated T for cursing and the singular use of the word 'erection', in the context of crudely saying one person is interested in another (ie. to have a hard-on for someone), but make it formal Part One of We Laughed. We Loved. We Lost.

✍️ A Work of Art AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Explicit Summary: For the Maribat? Get In! Discord Civil War Event ~🦇🐞🦇~ “Now, listen to me,” he growls. “You’re going to very carefully sit on the pedestal and spread your legs as wide as you can. And then, you’re going to keep your legs spread while I devour you. If you mess up my paint, I’m not going to be pleased. Do you understand me?” A wide-eyed nod. “Words.” “Yes, sir.” “Good girl.” ~🦇🐞🦇~ This is a oneshot. Second chapter will be the same thing, just with art. Actual fic length is ~9.4k words. Can be read as stand-alone. Or as a Sequel. Or as a Prequel. Or both. you can't see me, but I'm doing jazz hands Part Two of We Laughed. We Loved. We Lost.

Series - Bad Idea AU

✍️ A Pretty Good Bad Idea (See In-Progress Works) AO3

✍️ I (Don't) Need A Bad Idea AO3

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug, Batman - All Media Types, Maribat - Fandom Rating: Mature Summary: The alternate meeting scene from A Pretty Good Bad Idea, which got nixed for not being as good. It was the initial draft, though.

[fiadorable]

for the north woods - an oq oneshot

I found this completed outlaw queen fic in my google drive when I was cleaning it out. If anyone's still reading OQ, enjoy some missing year angst.

for the north woods 📖 She hates him, hates what he’s done for her, the stupid nobility and selflessness he flaunts as though it never occurred to him to worry for his own safety in the first place. Most of all, she thinks as she sits, hard, knees splaying out as her hands drop between them, she hates that she saw that blasted tattoo all those weeks ago. 🤝/❤️‍🔥 Outlaw Queen Missing Year (are they friends? enemies? lovers? who cares!) 🎬 Rated F for fire, B for blood (sword wound, not a papercut), and M for the missing year 📏 1514 words 🏷️ Missing Year (Once Upon a Time), Blood and Injury, i think this was a prompt at one point, can't remember who it was who prompted me, regina is an angry ball of fiery pain, robin has bad timing with his declarations of love, good god the missing year was the most amazing thing once ever gave us

🔥Read it on AO3 🔥

[ssa-montgomery]

Tales of Robin Hood

Word Count: 2500

Summary: When Robin leaves to help the Charmings Regina spends the afternoon with Roland and Baby Robin at home.

Characters: Regina x Robin, Zelena, Roland, Baby Robin.

Warnings: Lots and lots of fluff

A/N: This is the first-ever Once Upon a Time one-shot I’m posting here so I really hope you enjoy it! If you do please feel free to request something, I’d be happy to write some more for this fandom :D

Feedback is what motivates me to work so please let me know what you think! Reblogs are also greatly appreciated.

Taglist is open!

Masterlist

Regina settled herself on the couch, feeling her back sink into the familiar cushions and finally let herself relax for the first time that afternoon. Baby Robin was balanced in her lap, her favourite rabbit teddy - a present from her father - gripped tightly in her small hands as Regina subconsciously bounced her knee which seemed to please Robin as she giggled and stretched her hands out towards Roland. Roland was seated on the floor in front of them leaning over a selection of Henry’s old toys that were spilt out in front of him. He seemed to have lost interest in the cartoons on the TV and was now playing with some old wooden figures of knights.

Regina had missed this. Ever since Henry had grown up she missed have young kids around. The sounds of them playing and the happiness of having someone to teach and to care for. She missed watching Henry sit on the floor playing the same old toys and she missed being able to hold him in her arms without him fussing about how embarrassing it was because he was a teenager now. She was always happy to spend time with Robin and Roland and would take any opportunity she could to do so, which is why she jumped on the offer when Robin explained that he and Zelena had to help the Charmings with some new problem on a never-ending listing.

Robin started to fuss in Regina’s lap, the displeased sounds she was making telling Regina that she was close to crying as she tried to squirm away. Regina swept her up into arms and stood up off the couch in one swift movement.

“What’s wrong sweetheart? Getting hungry are we?” Regina asked in a soothing voice, attempting to calm the child. “What about you Roland? What do you say we make some dinner?”

Roland shot up straight and nodded excitedly. The toys now seemingly abandoned at the thought of food.

“Okay.” Regina laughed gently. “Come on.”

She tilted her head towards the kitchen and watched Roland scamper to his feet, the toy knight - Regina noted the small bow and arrow in the figure’s hand- still clutched in his hand. Regina walked into the room and perched Robin on her hip as she set to work preparing the food. Roland helper her fetch the ingredients from the fridge as Regina place Robin down in her high chair. Robin had already calmed down and was now sucking on the ear of her teddy bear. Roland watched Regina closely as she cooked the food, lasagne of course. It was her favourite to cook and Robin had always loved it. Once she put the food in the oven Roland disappeared back into the sitting room while it cooked.

Regina once again scooped Robin up into her arms as she leaned against the kitchen table. Robin babbled up at her, reaching out for her necklace. Regina laughed when she clasped her hand around the pendant and seemed entranced by the jewel. Robin was growing so fast and with each day Regina could see more and more of her parents in her. She’d always had Robin’s eyes, while the colour was different - Robin’s blue mixed with Zelena’s green - she had the same curious and watchful look.

Regina wondered over to the kitchen counter again, Robin still sitting on her hip, and began preparing Robin’s food. She was still too young to eat the same as everyone else but they always made sure she was sat at the table with them during meals. By the time she was done the timer on the oven had started to ring, the sharp noise echoing throughout the room. As Regina switched off the alarm she heard the sound of small feet on the wooden floor just outside the door.

“Come on in.” She called. “Foods ready.”

She settled Robin down in her high chair and placed her bowl of food in front of her as she moved to dish up her and Roland’s. Roland sat in his usual seat, right next to Regina. She placed his plate down in front of him and pressed a kiss to the top of his head before smoothing his messy hair out of his face. Just as Regina moved to sit down her phone started to ring. She patted down her pockets before remembering that she had left it in the hallway.

“That’s probably your Dad.” She smiled down at Roland. “Keep an eye on your sister for me.”

Regina walked out of the room and picked her phone up off the table. She had been right, Robin’s picture was lighting up the screen. She could feel a smile breaking out across her face at the sight of his picture. Even after all this time of dating he still managed to make her feel like a lovesick teenager. She hated it. No, she loved it but if Emma Swan likened her to a teenage girl at prom one more time she might begin to hate her. Regina quickly answered the call and lifted the phone to her ear.

“Hello love.”

“Hello, Robin. Is everything alright?” She asked. The sound of his voice melted away any fear she had about what was going on with the Charmings. He sounded calm.

“Of course, I just wanted to check-in on you. I hope the children haven’t driven you crazy.” Robin joked.

“Little angels as always.” She laughed moving back towards the kitchen to watch them from the doorway. Roland had already tucked into his food and Robin was playing with her spoon.

“Well, they do have a lot of good influences around them.”

Regina watched Roland laughing at his sister who had now managed to tip her bowl over and spill half the contents out of it, Regina couldn’t help but laugh herself - with only slight annoyance at the thought of having to clean it up afterwards. She sighed a sudden feeling of guilt welling up inside her. These were the moments Robin should be having with his children, his family. Instead, he was off helping the Charmings.

“Robin are you sure I can’t come and help? You could come home, be with your kids.” She offered.

“No Regina. This is the first time in a while that it’s a normal problem, no life-threatening plan or villain trying to curse us all again. So what you can do is stay home, spend some time with Robin and Roland and relax for once. That’s an order.”

“Oooh, an order.” Regina hummed. “Let’s no forget who’s Queen around here Locksley.”

“Of course not Your Majesty.” Regina could practically hear the smirk in Robin’s voice as he spoke. “Wouldn’t want to incur the wrath of the Evil Queen." 

"Hmm well be careful or this Evil Queen will hang up on you to go back to her dinner.”

Robin laughed. “You made dinner?”

“Lasagne.”

“Sounds heavenly. Think you could save me a piece?”

“Of course Robin.” She smiled.

“I should probably get going again. I’ll be home soon Regina. Say goodnight to our kids for me. I love you.” She could feel her breath catch in her throat and it took her a moment to regain her composure, her heart still hammering against her ribs like a hummingbirds wings. Our kids. It was the first time he had phrased it like that. It had always been “the kids” before now. Regina had always thought of herself as a mother figure to them and she knew Robin did too but to hear him say it out loud was different. She could never replace Marian or Zelena and she knew that, and she didn’t want to. Having them in her life was enough for her to know she finally had her happy ending. She was finally at home in the world. 

“I love you too Robin.”

Robin hung up and Regina lowered the phone from her ear, a smile still etched across her face. She placed her phone back where it had been and made her way into the kitchen. 

“Was it Papa?” Roland asked, beaming up at her from his seat.

“It was.” She nodded. “He misses you both and can’t wait to come home and give you a big hug.”

Rolands face lit up and he nodded before turning his attention back to his food. Regina sat back down next to him and finally tucked into her own plate of food. 

“Are you excited to start school?” She asked Roland after a moment of silence.

“Yes! Snow said she is going to be the teacher for our class and Henry promised to bring me around on my first day." 

He seemed genuinely excited. Regina had been nervous about him starting at first, he had grown up with the Merry Men in the Enchanted Forest and she was afraid he wouldn’t settle in easily. Robin had assured her Roland would be no different than any other child starting school for the first time and she could see now that he was right. Roland would just see it as another adventure.

"It sounds like you’re going to have so much fun.” She assured him placing her hand lightly on his arm.

Once they had finished dinner Regina put Robin into her crib and sent Roland to get ready for bed while she cleaned up downstairs. Wiping down Robins highchair she shook her head remembering Rolands laugh as he had watched his sister make the mess. She knew Robin would be just like Roland when she was older. She stacked the dirty plates and cutlery into the dishwasher - Who said this world didn’t have magic? - and moved to dish up a plate for Robin as the machine started. Wrapping up the food she tore a sheet out of the notepad on the table and wrote Robin’s name on it in neat and delicate letters. Quickly she made up a second plate and stuck a note to it with Zelena’s name written on it. She knew Zelena would come by to see Robin if she got the chance and she was sure they would both be hungry. She placed them both in the fridge and headed upstairs to check on Roland and Robin. 

Regina could see a faint light spilling out from the room at the bottom of the hall. The room had been Roland’s since Robin moved in with Regina, he had seemed so excited at the idea of having a space that would finally be his own. She slowly pushed open the door and peered into the room. Roland was sitting on his bed already in his pyjamas with only his bedside light still turned on. He had a grey teddy bear in his arms, a monkey. It was one Regina had given him back in the Enchanted Forest.

“Are you ready to go to sleep?” She asked stepping into the room.

He shook his head. “Can you read me a story?”

“Of course I can. Let me go get your sister." 

Roland settled himself back into bed as Regina went to get Robin from her room next door. When she came back into the room she pulled an old wooden chair over to the edge of Roland’s bed and placed Robin on it. Regina walked over to the bookshelf in the corner of the room and scanned her eyes over the books that packed the shelves. Most of them were vintage bound books Regina had collected over the years with some all too familiar titles. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk even the Brothers Grimm fairytales. A book finally caught her eye, one of the new ones on the shelves. The Tales of Robin Hood. The book that she had given to Robin as a gift a few years ago. He had taken it to New York with him when he left Storybrook but he had returned it to Regina afterwards, a note folded into the front cover with her name scribbled across it. 

She slid the book off the shelf, flicked it open - the note still safely tucked inside - and walked back over to the chair. She picked up Robin and placed her in her lap, much like they had been sitting on the couch earlier that evening. Robin tucked herself right under Regina’s arm as she found the first page. 

"Once upon a time.” She started.

Regina’s eyes slowly fluttered open, her mind barely aware of what was happening around her, to catch a glimpse of red hair falling down in front of her face. She shifted in place, her mind still fuzzy as she felt a weight being lifted from her lap. Her hand was empty now, the book had slipped from her fingers and was now lying on the ground next to her and keeping her eyes open was a struggle.

“Z'lena?” Regina murmured sensing someone moving behind her. She now realised it had been Zelena lifting Robin from her lap that had woken her. She must have fallen asleep reading to Robin and Roland.

“Sorry sis, I wanted to leave you but I think it’s time this one went back to her bed.” Zelena smiled placing a hand on Regina’s arm.

“Mhm of course.” She nodded trying to stretch out in hopes that it would help her wake up. She could feel her back crack as she did, she had hunched over in the chair and it was admittedly not the most comfortable place to fall asleep.

“And I think it’s time this one went to her bed too,” Robin whispered from behind her, though she wasn’t sure if it was for the benefit of not disturbing her further or the still sleeping Roland.

Regina felt him wrap his arms around her shoulders and place a kiss to the top of her head. She melted back into his arms and nodded letting her exhaustion hit and her eyes closed again. Robin shifted his arms, moving one to slip around her waist and he hooked the other one under her legs to sweep her up into his arms just as easily as she had lifted Baby Robin earlier.

“I can walk perfectly fine on my own.” Her protest was weak to her own ears, voice small and soft and half-muffled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

“Oh, I know." 

"I have a reputation to keep up in this town, I once had a reign of fear and terror.” She went on, her voice barely even a whisper now. 

“You’re still that strong and fierce woman my Queen. Besides, there are no witnesses to this soft side of their terrifying Evil Queen.” He paused for a moment. “Apart from Zelena of course.”

“Oh, that’s even worse. If you even breathe so much as a word of this to Emma Swan or her dreadful mother Snow White I’ll have you back out in the woods with your Merry Men.”

Robin found it hard to take her threat seriously when he felt her breath even out against his skin and looked down to see her lying still in his arms. She was already asleep. 

[unholyhelbig]

Kate Bishop Masterlist

Main Masterlist | Ao3 | Request Prompts

[Join my Taglist!]

Oneshots:

The Best Medicine is Honesty : Reader runs a clinic in Hell's kitchen but spends their free time patching up stray vigilantes that show up on their doorstep.

Royal Pain: The queen has a bounty on Readers head and sends her best archer after them.

Katie & Coffee Cups- Kate shows up at Readers door to get patched up after a fight on the rooftop with Clint.

Two Fingers of Whiskey [18+]- Reader is having a rough day at work and Kate knows just how to remedy the situation.

The Sun Also Rises- When Reader gets injured during a mission, Kate realizes that it's now or never.

Past Tense- Kate Bishop returns to her hometown unexpectedly following some bad news. She's shocked when she runs into you and struggles to grapple with her past choices.

I'll Be Home For Christmas [Completed]

When Reader needs a last-minute date for the holiday weekend, she blackmails Kate into attending as her partner.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Epilogue]

Just Like the Ones We Used to Know [Sequel]

It's been three years since your disastrous plot to bring a fake girlfriend to the family Christmas. Not much good came out of the endeavor, but you did manage to get the girl. What happens when your estranged family makes a second appearance, disrupting your life with your found one?

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five]

The Bishop Girl [Completed]

Reader works for a company that caters all of the Bishop Families events. Here, y/n gets into trouble with Eleanor Bishop's elusive daughter.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three]

A Favor For Clint [Completed]

Reader used to work as an expert hacker for SHIELD, but has since severed ties with the organization. They will help Clint Barton out from time to time, and now, his protege Kate Bishop.

[Part One | Part Two]

En Garde! Kate Bishop

Kate Bishop and reader have been adversaries since childhood. But years after graduation, the two cross paths again and struggle with a past rivalry shrouded in new feelings.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five]

I Don't Bite

After a sick day, reader realizes some weird things about her next-door neighbor: like pointy fangs and a thirst for blood.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven | Part Eight]

Once Bitten, Twice the Idiot

Reader encounters a wolf in the middle of the woods and suffers dire consequences.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven]

Oneshots [Once Bitten, Twice the Idiot]

What? I've Seen Twilight- It's been six years since reader has been out on her own, but now that she and Kate have an apartment in the city together, the last thing they're expecting is old company.

Magnetic [Completed]

Reader is from Earth 2099 and is fated to fall in love with Kate Bishop in every Universe.

[ Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five]

Firecrest [Completed]

Kate Bishop and y/n have an unspoken agreement that revolves around being enemies with benefits. But when Kate's new mentor is someone Y/n is very familiar with, things become complicated.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven]

Outlawed

When y/n returns to her hometown of Barton Hollow she stumbles across an outlaw in dire need of help. Together, the two navigate complicated feelings, and demons from their past that are determined to destroy them in the way only the Wild West could.

[Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four]

[misstrashchan]

So since tomorrow is Halloween, I decided to make a recommendation list of my favourite horror podcast episodes to recommend on Halloween as a way of celebration, and for anyone looking to get into podcasts but maybe being too intimidated by starting a whole series at once and just wanting a taste. As such, all of these episodes can be enjoyed as a stand alone and without needing the context of the rest of the series' story.

1) Penumbra Podcast

( 1.13 Home)

Summary:

When a family is preparing to move out of their old house in a week and the parents are away for a night, siblings Jake and Lily find out their home has a lot more heart than they may be comfortable with.

This was the last stand alone oneshot episode the Penumbra Podcast did, and one of the only horror ones. I'd say it's more spooky than scary with a wholesome twist to it, which makes it welcoming for any newcomers to the horror genre or someone looking to listen to something for Halloween that isn't as dark as the other recommendations on this list. It does get intense in certain parts, and while it isn't a story about domestic abuse it may be disturbing to those who find those themes triggering.

Runtime: 30mins

2) Old Gods of Appalachia

( 0.5 The Witch Queen)

Summary:

They say there's a witch in that valley, and you'd do well to stay away from there. Journey back to the settling of the central plateau and witness the power of mountain women.

Oh I do love a good witch character, and the Witch Queen is one of my favourites. It feels somewhere half between a fairytale and a ghost story. This is the prologue to the main series (and the first chapter in the Witch Queen storyline). It's well written, performed, and genuinely creepy. The setting of the story is an alternate Appalachia (that draws from the real life events and history of Appalachia) where the supernatural is real and impossibly strange, with what lies beneath the mountains and the power that dwells within the forests.

Runtime: 24mins

3) The Silt Verses

( 1.04 Of Lovers, Gods and Beasts)

Summary:

We follow Sister Carpenter, worshipper of an outlawed river god, travelling up the length of their deity’s great black river, searching for holy revelations. As she attempts to locate the Trawler-Man's church in the woods of Penda's Slake she runs into trouble instead, in the way of a strange elk.

This was the first episode of the Silt Verses that gained the series a level of attention, and it's through that I came to hear about the series. This is certainly one of the more dramatic episodes, and it's worth listening to for Méabh de Brún's performance alone, but if you like allusions to greek myth and themes of religious existentialism interwined with body horror, then this episode is an absolute delight.

Runtime: 55mins

4) The Magnus Archives

(1.32 Hive)

Summary:

Statement of Jane Prentiss, regarding… a wasps’ nest in her attic. Original statement given February 23rd, 2014. Audio recording by Jonathan Sims, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, London.

"There is a wasps’ nest in my attic. A fat, sprawling thing that crouches in the shadowed corner. It thrums with life and malice. I could sit there for hours, watching the swirls of pulp and paper on its surface. I have done. It is not the patterns that enthral me, I’m not one of those fools chasing fractals; no, it’s what sings behind them. Sings that I am beautiful. Sings that I am a home. That I can be fully consumed by what loves me..."

I am sorry. Every other episode on this list is fantastic, but Hive will always be my favourite. The nature of the Magnus Archives as a horror anthology podcast that has an overarching meta plot means I could've picked any episode from the first two seasons that would've worked well for this list to jump into. But it had to be Hive. This is the kind of thing that reminds me why I love horror. The structure of the episode devolving into Jane's mind, the blurred lines between human and monster, the powerful imagery squirming it's way into your brain, crawling under your skin, the way Jon's voice shifts as he's recording the statement, slipping further and further away, becoming more intensely hypnotic, I just... please listen to it. It will deeply unsettle you. (warning for trypophobia). Also, for anyone curious about getting into the Magnus Archives, this episode is filled with a lot of foreshadowing and symbolism, so it's a great one to listen to on its own and also within the context of the series!

Runtime: 20mins

5) I Am in Eskew

(Ep4: Culpability)

Summary:

In a city of steep and winding streets, where the mime artists prance in their ghastly masks and the rain never stops, is the monstrous kafkaesque city of Eskew. David Ward, our protagonist, records his strange experiences with the city that was not built or made, but born.

David meets a murderer - and hears the story of a horrific, life-altering childhood experience.

I almost feel guilty for including this one, since I already have Of Lovers, Gods, and Beasts from the Silt Verses on this list, which is by the same writer Jon Ware. Buuuut I just really like this one and think it's a shame it sometimes gets overlooked. I liked listening to I Am in Eskew, but it wasn't till this episode that I was truly intrigued by it. Culpability feels like a murder mystery being unravelled where you're waiting for the unexpected twist round the corner only to find the knife was sticking out of your back the whole time.

This was also the first time the series made me sit down and think about what it was trying to say, the potential metaphors of depression, guilt, disassociation, and isolation. As well as the idea of becoming so accustomed to pain and fear that hope and comfort become the greater and unfamiliar terrors to be used against you. You can probably summarize from that this is the bleakest episode on this list, though not the goriest (though there is some child violence/abuse/body horror) but not bleak to the point of pointlessness.

Runtime: 28mins

6) Tales from the Gas Station

(A Murdxr at the Gas Station)

Summary:

While working the nightshift at the gas station at the edge of town, Jack Townsend is used to having encounters ranging from weird to downright horrifying. Tonight is no different, when a crow suddenly flies in.

This series is just some fun horror comedy that pokes fun at horror tropes while leaning into them, maintaining its own sense of unsettling and weird. There are a few intense and gory moments in this episode, but I picked this one simply because it's the stand alone episode in the series that made me laugh the most, and the one I relisten to the most frequently. It's dark, it's fun, it's spooky, plain and simple. (This one is only available on YouTube to listen to and not on any other usual podcast platforms)

Runtime: 30mins

And with that, I hope there is something on this list for everyone who loves or is new to horror podcasts to enjoy!

And I wish you a very Happy Halloween!

[phantomchick]

Merlin fic rec list

To Be A King by clotpolesonly Teen And Up, No Archive Warnings Apply, Gen, Merlin and Arthur, Merlin and Mordred, Gwen/Arthur, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Merlin's Magic Revealed, Canonical Character Death, BAMF Merlin, Dragonlord Merlin, Original setting, Magical kingdom, King Merlin, Royal!Merlin Summary: When Merlin discovers that his father was an estranged prince and he himself is now the only heir to the throne of a magical kingdom, he is forced to leave Camelot for the perils of a royal court. Will Merlin be able to win Arthur's favor again before Morgana launches an attack on a defenseless Camelot? Will he be able to defend his own kingdom at the same time or will all be lost? -

A Matter of Sovereignty by Kizmet Gen, No Archive Warnings Apply, Friendship Summary A visiting prince takes it into his head to brutalize Merlin, but sometimes the solution to a problem is in how you phrase it.

-

Bumps and Bruises by platonic_boner merthur, implied/suspected abuse, Protective Arthur, Magic Revealed, pre-relationship, teen an up, canon typical violence,

Summary: Arthur notices Merlin’s constant injuries, and decides he needs to step in and protect Merlin.

-

Finding Home by riventhorn Arthur/Merlin, Hurt/Comfort Summary: Written for a kinkme_merlin prompt. When Gaius retires a new physician takes over and quickly kicks Merlin out of his room and takes it for himself. Arthur finds Merlin sleeping in the stables...and it's winter.

-

How To Love A Living Thing by Polomonkey Mature, merthur, Merlin/Arthur, Pendragon (Merlin), Hurt/Comfort, Abuse, Violence, Sexual Harassment, Drowning, Guilt, Romance, Protective Arthur, Mild Sexual Content, Redemption, Healing, Canon Era

Summary Guilt ridden and lonely after his confrontation with Nimueh, Merlin slowly begins to isolate himself from Arthur. When two knights take it upon themselves to teach him his place, Merlin finds himself with nowhere to turn. Will he be able to reach out to his prince before it's too late?

-

Obeisance by casspeach Gen, No Archive Warnings Apply, Merlin/Arthur

Summary: It's not that Arthur won't share his toys, just that he expects to get them back undamaged

-

All's Well That Ends Well by StormDancer explicit, Merlin/Arthur, Arthur Finds Out, magic reveal Summary: Merlin spent the week and a half that Arthur was gone splitting his time between crafting careful explanations that never ended up explaining the important things, the things that would make Arthur listen, and making half-baked plans to escape to Ealdor. He found a number of fire-proofing spells that would have no effect if they decided to cut his head off, and figured out how to adapt an invulnerability spell he had been trying to find a way to cast on Arthur without him noticing so that it would protect him from being decapitated, but it would have no effect on anything but metal. Despite all his frantic searching, he did not find a teleportation spell, because that would have been too simple and if there was one thing Merlin had learned in his years at Camelot, it was that nothing was ever simple.

-

Deeds by the5leggedCricket Merlin/Arthur Pendragon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Episode Related, Oblivious Arthur Pendragon, Teen and Up,

Summary: Arthur is coming of age, and that means he’s about to get Deeds—marks on his body telling him of his soulmate’s greatest accomplishments. But as he tries to find his soulmate, he also makes some worrying discoveries about the kind of person his soulmate is.

-

Honorable Intentions by smilebackwards Gwaine/Merlin, Guinevere/Arthur Pendragon, Courtship, Protectiveness, Protective!Arthur, Teen and Up, Summary: There are several considerations Arthur would like to go over, starting with the state of Merlin's virtue.

-

Laundry's Hard Work by supercalvin Gen, Teen and Up, Canon Era, can be read as pre-slash, BAMF Merlin

Summary: Wasn't Merlin supposed to be...tiny? When the hell had he learned to use a sword and not fall on his backside? Where the hell did those scars from? What the hell?

or Arthur still thinks Merlin is the young boy he met ten years ago and he starts to notice things in his manservant that he wasn't aware had changed at all.

-

Fathom Me Out by supercalvin Merlin/Arthur, Canon Era, Magic Revealed, Teen and up,

Summary: After ten years, Arthur thinks he has Merlin all figured out. But as he watches Merlin, he finds out that he has more questions than answers. The longer he thinks about it, the more uneasy he feels. So he pushes it aside. Except, he can no longer ignore the questions he has about Merlin. Not your everyday reveal!fic

-

Loyalty Before Royalty by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle Gen, Gwen & Merlin, Arthur and Merlin being the most iconic duo? I think tf not, Gwen and Merlin wreaking havoc? Teaming up against Arthur? That's the most iconic duo there, as usual, Explicit Language, Fluff and Humor, Attempt at Humor, Arthur is so exasperated, someone help him, good thing he loves them both

Summary: "Where did you get that?" Arthur asked, but he already knew the answer. "Gwen." "...and the horse?" "Gwen." "What about the-" "Gwen." Merlin interrupted. Arthur nodded. At this point, he wasn't sure why he even bothered to ask. He was pretty certain his wife was going to knight Merlin any day now.He looked Merlin up and down for a few moments before accepting it all with a sigh. "As long as you get my armor to me tomorrow...I don't care." He finally said, turning away. Merlin cleared his throat. "Gwen gave me tomorrow off." "For the love of God." Or I hate that Gwen and Merlin's friendship kind of withered away in the later seasons so here's a oneshot about her and Merlin abusing her new royal powers because that's what happens when your best friend becomes queen.

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Know It All Knight by Shi_Toyu Leon & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table, Magic Revealed, protective leon, Arthur Finds Out, Oblivious Arthur

Summary: Leon couldn’t say for sure when the exact moment was that he figured out Merlin had magic. He’d suspected it for a little while, to be honest. He definitely had it figured out by the time Arthur managed to ‘kill’ the Great Dragon. What Leon could say for sure was the exact moment he figured out that no one else had figured out Merlin had magic.

-

The Nature of Trust by Lynds Merlin's Magic Revealed, Leon is the Mam Friend, Leon is so done, Protective Gwaine, Lancelot Lives, Canon Era, Arthur Finds Out, Hurt Merlin, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Torture, Canon-Typical Violence, reference to hunting and cooking animals Summary: Leon starts to notice that the knights, one by one, are starting to trust Merlin's judgement. That he keeps warning Arthur about danger, and being right. Is there more to Merlin than meets the eye?

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Repercussions by PeaceHeather Fix-It of Sorts, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Lecture, Rants, Episode: s02e06 Beauty and the Beast, Episode: s02e05 Beauty and the Beast, Canon Era, One Shot, Gen Summary: Uther married a troll. In canon, that all worked out fine eventually. In this slight canon divergence, there is at least one noble who's not willing to let it slide so easily.

-

No Harm Will Come to You Here by fancyh Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Season/Series 05, Merlin's Magic Revealed, Fluff and Angst, temporary amnesia, teen and up,

Summary: "That was magic," Arthur accuses.

"Oh." Merlin just nods, looking unperturbed.

Arthur fights to keep his expression calm, mind racing and heart pounding. "Sorcery is outlawed in Camelot. On pain of death."

Merlin splutters, finally fixing Arthur with an affronted glare. "It's not like I meant to do it!"

***

Merlin gets hit with a spell meant for Arthur and loses his memory. Revelations ensue. Set sometime after 5x02.

-

Metamorphose by clotpolesonly Merlin/Arthur, Teen and Up, Between Seasons/Series, Episode: s03e01 The Tears of Uther Pendragon (Part I), Episode: s03e02 The Tears of Uther Pendragon (Part II), Mpreg, Magic Reveal, Angst with a Happy Ending, Pining, morgana redemption, some transphobic language from Merlin when he finds out he’s pregnant because of magic but it’s mostly just the shock that does it Summary: When Merlin falls into bed with Arthur, he doesn't expect for to wake up alone. He doesn't expect Arthur to give him the cold shoulder either, but there is something else he expects even less which forces him out of the kingdom for over a year. He returns to find a traitor in the court, an army on the way, and a love he'd thought all but lost waiting for him with open arms.

-

Four Days To Fall In Love. by CupCakezys Teen and Up, No archive warnings apply, Merlin/Arthur, Morgana/Gwen, Soulmate AU, Arthur Knows About Merlin's Magic, Protective Arthur, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Secret Relationship

Summary: In a world where everyone has a soulmate (or two or three), Arthur Pendragon knows he is destined to be alone. For Arthur can see his heartstring, could follow it to where his soulmate lived, and that could only mean one thing.

His soulmate had magic, and should they ever meet, Arthur would have to kill them.

-

Sacrificial Lamb by RurouniHime Angst and Humor, Pining, First Time, First Kiss, Post Season 1, Initial Misunderstanding, But it’s resolved, Happy Ending, Fluff with a touch of angst at first

Summary: Arthur's been overworking his knights, so they come to Merlin as a last resort.

-

Cheers and Spirits by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle Gen, The knights are kinda fools, but the best king, Humour, Fluff, Fluff and Humour, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin

Summary: Despite all the supposed trips to the tavern none of the knights have seen Merlin drunk. They decide to rectify that. A poor decision, really.

-

Circle 'round the Truth by enviropony Merlin + Knights friendship, Gen, Magic Reveal, Oneshot, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin Summary: They know about the magic. Or, more accurately, Merlin's magic is the truth the knights circle around, and Merlin's loyalty is the one 'round which they rally. (A character study with some yelling, an action sequence, and a bit of walking.) Post-S4.

-

Strict Justice by schweet_heart mutual pining, BAMF Arthur, magic reveal, canon au, oneshot, teen and up

Summary: After a particularly grueling battle, Merlin and Arthur share a quiet moment in their tent.

-

before it breaks by schweet_heart Teen and Up, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, merlin whump, magic reveal, merlin & arthur, merthur

Summary: “It’s not what it looks like,” he says, hand still outstretched, barely a waver in his voice as he lies, outright, to Arthur’s face. “Sire, I can explain.”

“Can you,” Arthur says. He’s aware that he’s trembling, a seismic reaction to the outrage and denial still fighting it out inside his head, but he knows what he’s seen. What it must be. “Well, then, you’d better be quick about it, because it looks a lot like magic.”

-

Until the Day I Die by Cookie Teen and Up, Oneshot, Angst, Temporary Character Death, Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: Arthur believed Dragoon had killed his father, and so he plunged his sword deep into the sorcerer. Now Merlin was dying in his arms and Arthur was facing the future alone.

-

These Castle Walls Bleed Lies by marguerite_26 Mature, hurt/comfort, Magic Reveal, Angst, Merthur, mentions of arthur/gwen, Gwen/Lancelot

Summary: With his father unfit to rule and Camelot decimated, Arthur must assume the role of King. But the truths he discovers shake the foundation of all he holds dear.

-

before his eyes (he now sees clear) by hwc Teen And Up Audiences, Uther Pendragon is terrible and complicated, Merlin/Arthur

Summary: It takes Uther half a second to see Balinor in Merlin, and he's almost sure of what he should do.

-

Keep Your Secrets by new_kate, orphan_account Mature, rape/non-con, torture, captivity, romance, alternate universe - canon, canon typical violence, hurt/comfort

Summary: Arthur Pendragon is captured by the bandits. While he waits to be ransomed, he slowly gets to know Merlin, the prisoner being held in the next cell.

-

Crossing the Line by Ultrageekatlarge BAMF Merlin, Gen, Crack, Oneshot, Magic Reveal, Hurt! Merlin, Humour

Summary: In which Merlin gets bludgeoned, strangled, attacked, smothered, shot with glass, and tossed out a window, burned, whipped, stabbed, thrown down stairs, nearly drowned on dry land, and harpooned, and still manages to save Camelot from seven evil sorcerers, before lunch.

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Your Touch Is My Salvation by elirwen Magic Reveal, Canon Era, Oblivious idiots in love, Curses, Teen and Up, Oneshot, Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Merlin suffers from an effect of a curse. Arthur can help more than he initially thought.

-

A Heavy Heart to Carry by Thursday_Next Rescue, Hurt/Comfort, Magic Reveal, Oneshot, Mature, Merlin/Arthur Pendragon

Summary: When Merlin is captured and injured, Arthur must face up to his own feelings for his manservant as well as the many secrets he discovers are being kept from him.

-

Can you do that? by no_nutcracker Merlin/Mithian, no archive warnings apply, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s04e11 The Hunter's Heart, Arthur & Merlin friendship

Summary: Merlin should be overjoyed. He just found his soulmate. If only she was not betrothed to Arhur.

-

His Remedy for Care by ArgentSleeper Teen and Up, canon au, Episode: s02e13 The Last Dragonlord, Angst, Canon Typical Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Fix It

Summary: Injured in the dragon attack in lieu of Arthur and afraid of being stopped from going on the mission, Merlin kept away from Gaius and never learned that Balinor was his father. Instead it's Arthur that puts two and two together as he seeks the dragonlord out, first to save his servant (not friend- they can't be friends), then to save his kingdom.

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A Considerable Head Start by ughbutidontwantto BAMF Merlin, Gen, when villains have more regard for you than friends, Camelot has a serious class problem, Merlin deserves better

Summary: Merlin is frighteningly competent and his friends are correctly concerned. Obviously they're going to follow him out to the woods. And obviously they're not going to like what they hea

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The Conscience of the King by ughbutidontwantto Gen, Post-Magic Reveal, Legal Drama, Oneshot, Friendship feels

Summary: Merlin's magic was revealed and now everyone has to deal with it in an official capacity since tragically most of these characters work in government. Arthur, predictably, is struggling to cope.

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Out of Sight, Out of Mind by BabyStepsAreStillSteps Merlin Deserved Better, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Merlin Needs a Hug (Merlin), Episode: s05e09 With All My Heart, Fix It

Summary: When Arthur turned his back on the Dolma that he didn’t know was his manservant, Merlin reminded him that he was missing a very important member of their rescue party.

What if he hadn’t?

-

What They Owe Us by ironspidereilish Merlin/Arthur, Alternate Universe, Aredian’s a tax collector instead of a witch hunter but he’s still a bastard, Hurt/Comfort, Poverty, Angst with a Happy Ending, Protective Arthur Pendragon, BAMF Arthur, Canon Era, Romance, sexual coercion mentioned, BAMF Merlin

Summary: When Arthur finds out that the castle staff are having their wages held for weeks at a time and can no longer afford food or their homes, he will not rest until they are protected and Aredian is stopped.

The fact that Merlin’s stomach is rumbling while he delivers the prince his breakfast, and Arthur hates the thought of him suffering, only serves as extra motivation to fix this.

-

royal blood by Rona23 crack!fic, humour, comedy, Balinor Lives, Dragonlord things, Golden Age, Bamf Arthur, Bamf Balinor, Bamf Merlin, Fix It, Magic reveal, Oblivious Arthur, Merthur

Summary: ..... as if Balinor could be killed by Bandits O.o

Alternatively: An alternative take on Balinor surviving and saving Camelot. ... And then proceeding to hold the entire kingdom hostage, because he has a frigging Dragon at his disposal :)

- The way by Naelyn Episode: s04e11 The Hunter's Heart, POV Arthur Pendragon, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Oblivious Arthur, Until He’s Not, Hurt/Comfort, Merlin Deserved Better, Communication or lack thereof, Canon Divergence

Summary: "One more word out of you, and I swear to God I will send you into exile."

He knows it’s not the pyre, knows there’s much worse, but banishment would mean staying away from Arthur forever – and, as pathetic as that might sound, he thinks he would rather die than let that happen. It is clear that the feeling is not reciprocated, clear that in Arthur’s eyes, he will never come first. There’ll always be people coming before him, and he’s made peace with that long ago – but if even Agravaine can come before him, then anyone could, no? Anyone could replace him. Call Merlin a traitor and have Arthur get rid of him. Anyone could.

Merlin no longer feels safe in Camelot.

or: Arthur threatens Merlin of banishment. To Arthur's eyes, it's all forgotten. To Merlin's, however... Well, let's just say that his faith in their mutual destiny, once unwavering, finds itself faltering at a dangerously quick rate.

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Better in the Mourning by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle Gen, Lancelot & Merlin, Knights of the Round Table & Merlin, Grief, Fluff and Angst, Gwen/Lance mentioned, let the characters grieve, 5 Knights of Grief

Summary: Merlin mourns Lancelot's death. The rest of the knights help out. (AKA Merlin gets to take advantage of not having to keep a dead loved one a secret and gets some goddamn support in this castle)

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I suppose that I look different (without the robes and crown) by WingedWolf121 Canon Era, Episode: s05e03 The Death Song of Uther Pendragon, Uther Pendragon’s A + Parenting, Ygraine/Uther, Arthur/Merlin, Balinor/Hunith, Dragonlord Merlin, BAMF Merlin, Fix-It, Angst with a Happy Ending

Summary: When Arthur blows the horn of Cathbdhah for the second time, the horn doesn’t just send Uther to the other world. It sends Arthur away as well – to a world where Ygraine never died, the Great Purge never happened, and magic lives freely at court. As do those who practice it.

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For Your Information by reni_days Merlin & Uther, Merlin/Arthur, Modern Era au, Oneshot, Teen and Up

Summary: Merlin sighs. "After your...announcement," he explains, "your father decided he needed a bit more information. Which is apparently where I come in. I'm sort of like his gay tutor, it's hard to explain."

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Good Fortune by platonic_boner Canon Era, Fluff, Merlin/Arthur, Oneshot

Summary: Arthur makes Merlin a lord, and Merlin does an astonishingly good job of running a village.

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Within Reach by foxy_mulder Explicit, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Sex, Merlin/Arthur, Angst with a Happy Ending, Oneshot, Slowburn

Summary: Nobody touches Arthur.

Merlin realizes it slowly, and when he does, he wants to kick himself for not seeing sooner. ___________ (Or, Arthur and Merlin's relationship with touch over time.)

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Moment of Weakness by TheAsexualofSpades Gen, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Arthur Knows About Merlin's Magic, Protective Knights, Protective Arthur Pendragon, Protective Merlin, Whump, Oneshot, Merlin/Arthur

Summary: After all Merlin's gone through, you'd think it would take some world-ending magic spell or an almost successful attempt on Arthur's life to shake him properly.

It isn't one of those, and Merlin has no idea why.

He just knows he can't be weak.

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The Only Reward Bestowed Upon Me by greatdumbking Gen, Oneshot, Merlin/Arthur, angst, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, Episode: s04e05 His Father's Son, Fix-It, Agravaine, Canon Era, Love Confessions

Summary: “You’re wrong Merlin. I don’t need anyone. I can’t afford that luxury. The kingdom's my responsibility now, and mine to bear alone. And you must learn to accept that.”

How could this hurt so much, a third time? Merlin could feel the façade of his casual indifference faltering. His face fell, tears were clawing at his throat, creeping into his eyes. It took all his effort to nod, steel his eyes, and swallow down the rising sob.

(How did Merlin get chosen the be the bait? Why did Arthur start pushing Merlin away? Why couldn't he see how much it was hurting him?)

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Maybe Not the Most Awkward Dinner to Happen in Camelot's Citadel, but it's Definitely Up There by HopePrevails Gen, Gwen/Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Oneshot, Humour, past Gwen/Merlin

Summary: When an argument about whether Merlin is remotely attractive or not breaks out over dinner, Queen Guinevere accidentally drops into the conversation that she had a crush on him when he first arrived in Camelot. Arthur takes it... like Arthur.

--x--

“Don’t look so surprised, Merlin.” Gwen said kindly. Perhaps she was the psychic. “You’re sweet and gentle, charismatic-” Arthur snorted. “- and I’m not going to let you walk out of those doors thinking you don’t look the part, either. Remember, even when you first came to Camelot, I-” She stopped herself, snapping her lips tightly shut.

-

[zukkaoru]

Fic Writer Review

tagged by @bisexualpercabeth tysm for the tag!! <3

1. how many works do you have on AO3? 85 lol

2. what’s your total AO3 word count? 489,407.. don't ask how much of that is just from the past year lol

3. how many fandoms have you written for and what are they? i have posted fics for 20 different fandoms on ao3 and i am not going going to list them all out but my top five are atla, 0uat, tlok, h$mtmt$, and tales of arcadia

4. what are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. plum blossom 2. you clutched my brain and eased my ailing 3. my calamitous love & insurmountable grief 4. five times ryan came out (and one time he couldn't) 5. feels like love

5. do you respond to comments, why or why not? i usually try to but sometimes i simply do not know what to say. or i let too many comments build up in my inbox and end up just not responding bc i'm overwhelmed oops

6. what’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? uh. it's gotta be one of my old 0uat fics bc i don't usually like to write angsty endings anymore skdgfdj i'm not sure i want to link to any specific oneshot but if you're curious you can look back through my ao3 ig there's also looked me in the eye and told me you would never go away but that's part of a series so the entire coherent story doesn't end angstily lol

(continued under the cut)

7. do you write crossovers? if so what is the craziest one you’ve written? i don't really anymore but oh boy. the craziest one i've ever written? one of my friends and i started writing a fic back when we were like ten and we literally called it The Megacrossover (the mega for short) bc we just. shoved as many fandoms as we could in that thing. it started out just being a pjo / hp / thg crossover where the characters got reaped for a hunger games based on their cabin at camp half-blood but then we ended up including doctor who and 0uat in the plot to get everyone out of the arena, and then we brought in olaf for some reason (?) and we also had plans to bring in characters from divergent and the maze runner but unfortunately we never finished. anyway. long live the mega. it's still in a binder on my bedroom floor at home

8. have you ever received hate on a fic? yeah but not recently. my favorite was someone hate commenting on chapter eleven of a doctor who fic i posted on ff.net that i wrote when i was like 13-14. and when i called them out in the author's note of the next chapter, saying "if you don't like you don't have to read" they commented again and said something like "well obviously you don't know if you don't like it until you start reading, stupid" like yeah bro but. eleven chapters? if it took you that long to realize you didn't like it, that's sounds like a you problem

9. do you write smut? if so what kind? nope lol

10. have you ever had a fic stolen? not that i know of lol

11. have you ever had a fic translated? nope

12. have you ever co-written a fic before? not besides The Mega. but corey and i create (mostly cursed) AUs together which is close enough <3

13. what’s your all time favorite ship? i am morally obligated to answer outlaw queen for this. but currently matchablossom is occupying all my thoughts

14. what’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? oh there are so many atla fic ideas i have that i'm not sure i'll ever have time to flesh out and write. there's one i came up with based very loosely on the song snow by ricky montgomery that's sokka-centric but it's very complex and elaborate and i could definitely see it being upwards of 200k words and i just. don't have time for it which is very sad to me bc it would be so good if i did

15. what are your writing strengths? i'm so bad at questions like this. i don't know?? sometimes i write and i like everything about what i'm writing and sometimes i write and i hate it all. i guess dialogue ? sure

16. what are your writing weaknesses? action scenes. describing the physical details of the setting. sometimes (see: a lot of times) i write sentences so long and convoluted that they make sense to no one other than me.

17. what are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? gonna be honest i really haven't seen that much of this? like i think it's cool when it comes up bc i love other languages! but i also always worry i'm going to be mistranslating something whenever i do it skdhjgfd also if you're going to be doing a lot of it, i feel like you should probably include a translation somewhere so people know what's going on without having to like. switch back and forth between the fic and google translate or smth

18. what was the first fandom you wrote for? percy jackson

19. what’s your favorite fic you’ve written? it's probably gotta be this ultraviolet morning light (which is now on the second page of my fics what the heck???) tuvml is my baby and the longest fic i've finished to date and i still think about how rising sun verse zuko and sokka are doing quite often. i've also still got a couple half-finished fics for that universe and a longer sequel i'd love to publish someday but i've been. distracted by other fics

tagging (with no obligation): @that-was-anticlimactic @smilehoneyy @bisexuallsokka @beachytablecloth and anyone else who wants to!!

[safarigirlsp]

Western Fics

Cowboys, Outlaws, Gunfighters, and Lawmen

If anyone knows of more, please send them in! I love Westerns!

The Boss by @safarigirlsp

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/639938206748590080/the-boss

Ghost Town by @safarigirlsp

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/666194500518084608/ghost-town-ghost-town-gunfighter-flip-zimmerman

The Devil Went Down To Dodge City by @safarigirlsp

Santa’s Little Helper by @safarigirlsp

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/671565864735277056/santas-little-helper-santas-little-helper

Queen of Hearts by @safarigirlsp

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/642239842461286400/queen-of-hearts-does-anyone-other-than-me-want-to

Gunfighter Flip in Love by @safarigirlsp

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/643734808415076352/shannon-i-would-love-to-hear-a-ficletblurb-for

The Trade by @safarigirlsp

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/652757843502563328/the-trade-the-trade-civil-war-major-clyde-logan-x

A Place that Has A Number and A Name by @in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/653056989537107968/a-place-that-has-a-number-and-a-name

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/653056989537107968/a-place-that-has-a-number-and-a-name

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/642011347355418624/safarigirlsp-said-i-cant-wait-to-read

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/643388509887102976/gunfighterflip-x-gunfighterrc-part-2

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/645790033686740992/gunfighterflip-x-gunfighterrc-part-3

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/644750837131968512/anonymous-said-silky-your-gunfighter-flip-is-one

Winter Flowers by @in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather

https://in-silks-and-flesh-and-leather.tumblr.com/post/645731590343884800/winter-flowers-part-1

Biting Dust by @babbushka

https://babbushka.tumblr.com/post/190368368687/biting-dust-masterlist

Next Time by @babbushka

https://babbushka.tumblr.com/post/633086165690580992/next-time

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy @babbushka

https://babbushka.tumblr.com/post/622221842636275712/save-a-horse-ride-a-cowboy

Saddle Up, Buck, & Cowboy Prompts by @babbushka

https://babbushka.tumblr.com/post/617855671109648384/omg-mrs-z-saddle-up-doll-flip-could-be-life

Bronco Prompt by @mrs-gucci

https://mrs-gucci.tumblr.com/post/676654390953787392/wflip-zimmerman-for-sunday-funday-6

C O M F O R T Masterlist by @clydesducktape

https://clydesducktape.tumblr.com/post/652370081665449984/c-o-m-f-o-r-t-masterlist

Does it Matter if I’m Real or Not? By @clydesducktape

https://clydesducktape.tumblr.com/post/649670430148444160/writer-wednesday-3

Fic What is Broken in Us by @clydesducktape

https://clydesducktape.tumblr.com/post/652261059932127232/fix-what-is-broken-in-us

Honorary Cowgirl by @ohdamnadam (not a western, but hot as hell!)

https://ohdamnadam.tumblr.com/post/620836755661307904/honorary-cowgirl-clyde-logan

The Spirit of the West by @maybe-your-left

https://maybe-your-left.tumblr.com/post/639971202044215296/the-spirit-of-the-west

Cowboy Blues by @maybe-your-left

https://maybe-your-left.tumblr.com/post/631370842329251840/cowboy-blues

These Prompts by @finn-ray-nal-beads

FMK

https://finn-ray-nal-beads.tumblr.com/post/638260588672401408/im-so-excited-for-all-of-the-unnatural-travesties

Kinkmasters

https://finn-ray-nal-beads.tumblr.com/post/636408196769185792/i-cant-wait-for-all-your-depraved-stories-around

A Whalecock Sized Christmas

https://finn-ray-nal-beads.tumblr.com/post/637144712212578306/two-thoughts-for-your-garbage-fire-extraordinarie

Putrid Puns

https://finn-ray-nal-beads.tumblr.com/post/638260572248588288/ok-fucker-i-keep-thinking-about-your-horsecock

Holiday Shame

https://finn-ray-nal-beads.tumblr.com/post/638272006890078208/out-of-your-unholy-trinity-please-give-us-a-blurb

Your Boots Beneath My Bed

https://earstwo.tumblr.com/post/638619075552133120

Boots by @sydwritess

https://sydwritess.tumblr.com/post/628734100487929856/hey-absolutely-adore-your-writing-i-heard-youre

Ride ‘em Cowgirl by @sydwritess

https://sydwritess.tumblr.com/post/624832071513358336/good-afternoon-can-i-please-request-this-prompt-w

Desires of the Flesh by @cowboy-kylo

https://cowboy-kylo.tumblr.com/post/649471683362701312/desires-of-the-flesh-masterlist

Cowboy Pics:

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/641058893494140928

YouTube Video and Pics:

https://safarigirlsp.tumblr.com/post/676123045709103104

And a mini pc spam!

[babbushka]

Because you asked, here’s a list of non-fiction I’ve enjoyed. Most of it is historical but none of its boring like ‘history’ books lol.

The Man Eaters of Tsavo by James Paterson, who lived it. The account of two man eating lions who plagued railroad construction in Kenya in the late 1800s. The movie The Ghost and the Darkness is based on this and it’s very good too, but the true events are even more remarkable.

The Life of John Wesley Hardin by Himself. Arguably one of the barest badasses in the old west. A notorious outlaw killer who became a lawyer while in prison for murder and would challenge opposing counsel to duels to win cases after his release! Also, he states somewhere in there that no man ever scared him but ghosts got to him from time to time lol.

Doc Holiday the Life and Legend by Gary Roberts. Doc is one of my favorite old west characters! The educated gentleman gunfighter who was a dentist and absolutely fearless! He’s who I base my Gunfighter Kylo on in a oneshot lingering from last Halloween.

Warriors of God: Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in the Third Crusade by James Reston Jr. I love knights in general and the third crusade was prime medieval fuckery and shenanigans! This is great because it goes a little deeper into the characters as opposed to the just broad historical strokes.

To Kill Rasputin by Andrew Cook. I love reading about this fucking weirdo 🤣. And I am absolutely in the crowd who would love to see AD play him!

A Storm of Witchcraft by Emerson Baker. I love the Salem Witch Trials and general absurd historical trials. And I had a distant relative involved, which makes it more fun!

The Witches Salem, 1692: A History by Stacy Schiff. Same as above. It’s hard to say which is better.

Nefertiti by Joyce Tyldesley. Gotta love a woman who basically ruled the country under the figure head of her dumbass husband!

The Long Walk by Slavonic Rawicz. Just some dudes who escaped a Soviet labor camp, hiked through Siberia and across the Gobi Desert. No big deal.

The Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela. Very very long but very impressive. The later chapters when he was in prison were particularly noteworthy to me.

Tricks of the Mind and Confessions of a Conjurer by Derren Brown. I loved these from just a curiously standpoint, but honestly the amount of times ive used some of his tricks during work is astonishing!

Charlatan by Pope Brock. Just fucking alarming what this dude got away with. And why does it make me think that Pale would be a great snake oil salesman?!?

Does the Art of War count? I think anyone who has to deal with business these days should read it lol.

The Original Emily Post is also a must. Still mostly relevant and just hilarious too.

Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton. This ones a stretch for non-fiction lol but it does say based on true events!

When Will Jesus Bring the Porkchops? by George Carlin. Truly, a question for the ages.

Shannon my absolute queen thank you for all of these!!! I will definitely be adding some of these to the list, I appreciate your recs!

[meetmeatmidnightsblog]

Let me cook you breakfast ( outlaw queen one shot)

Robin managed to convince Regina to let him cook her breakfast at his camp before she headed over to the charmings. He held her hand like any normal couple would do as they walked through the woods in silence as the blue Jay's welcome them into there home with a song.

They got closer her heart pounded faster, faster as nerves ran through her veins like a ping pong ball. The worry of unessary gossip circles around with 'worst situation sinarios.' since she wasn't on the best terms with Little John.

"what if they don't like me?."

"Regina, my men will love you. I'm sure of it if not I'll give them a very stern talking to later."

"They only see me as the evil queen like everyone else does."

"You've changed. Like I have."

"You don't know that."

"I can see that you're not a monster, you will to just give them a chance."

"Okay, I can do this."

Robin kissed her right on the lips to make sure that she doesn't worry too much, go overboard. He knows how afraid she must be because he's never done this before. With everything that has gone on between them since Marian return may upset a few people, pour down a lasp moment of confusion but once his men sees how happy he is with Regina, they'll accept her with open arms.

"What are you making for breakfast?."

"Roasted turkey."

"Sounds delicious."

She kept her answer short to cover up her fear of rejection, abandonment from a group of men who have known Robin there whole lives. She really wants them to like her, see that she truly changed since they last met each other in the enchanted forest during the missing year. Roland is playing pin the tail on the horsy with Will scarlet, drops the interest one second later when he spots his papa, mama Gina coming this way. He lights up like a child at Disneyland, glows with joy and jumps with excitement as his family rescues him from this terrible game.

"Papa!, Mama!, you came back. I've missed you both so much."

Regina smile softly when Roland refers to her as 'mama' instead of Gina. She picks her adorable dimpled boy up in her arms, kisses his cheek. Robin catches up with her, greets his son with a warm welcome, a bear hug once he smuggled him out of her grasp.

"Momma, you look different."

"No I don't Roland."

"yes you do."

"Alright enough you two."

"Okay daddy, I'll be good I promise."

"that's my boy."

Regina saw the same expression of guilt in Rolands face that she used to have when she was a just a child who disappointed her mother. She goes over to Robin, tells him "Don't be to hard on him."

"I wasn't."

"That's how I used to act whenever I did something wrong. All though my punishments we're much worse."

"Regina, I'm so sorry I didn't know how bad you had it. I'll do my best to work on my parenting skills when it comes to Roland."

"Be greatful you never crossed paths with my mother like I did. Roland is very lucky to have such an amazing dad, family who looks after him."

"me to. Now enough stalling and let's get to it before the guys start to wonder we're I am."

"Okay."

She joined Robin and his merry Men for breakfast and took a small plate of turkey so theirs enough for everyone to eat. Since she's well aware of how much they struggle in the winter time once the animals crawl into harbination. She sat next to Roland and Will scarlet, mingled about how much Robin loves her, that it was him who convinced him to follow his heart. She tried not to let the unsettling amount of guilt ruin this morning because technically he's still a married man even though Marian is still frozen, eventually she'll have to find away to save her but right now she can just be herself, be with the man she loves.

"Thank you for breakfast."

"Your more than welcome. Feel free to join us anytime."

"I'll keep that in mind. I don't mean to be rude but I have to go."

"Sure you can't stay a few more minutes."

"Sounds tempting but no I can't I have some business to attend to."

"Okay Regina, well it was good seeing you."

"bye."

Roland runs over to his momma, yells "Don't go until I've gotten a goodbye hug and kiss."

"Oh alright."

She picks the boy up and hugs him tightly, kisses his forehead.

"be good for your daddy okay."

"I'll try, really I will."

"I gotta go Roland, see you later okay."

"Bye, bye momma. Oh before you go tell Henry I said hi."

"I will do that but I really must go."

"Okay."

[multimilfs]

what are your upcoming aus?

- 🦋

okay... i wouldn’t call them upcoming aus, so much as “aus i daydream about and have kinda-sorta outlined” because while most of my fanfics right now are oneshots or 2 chapters long, these would be multi chapter fics.

edit: i’m realizing all of these are for eva characters... to all of you who aren’t here for eva, rip 🤠

there are a lot, so i’ve put most of them beneath the cut:

western au: i’ve talked about this one a little! outlaw angelique is offered a large sum of money to help reader/oc (i haven’t decided which i want to do yet) fulfill a task, all the while outrunning reader/ocs betrothed; Barnabas Collins.

fey au: to better paint the picture, this could also be known as the maleficent au. alma peregrine is the last fey guarding the moors and the fey children (and magical creatures) within them from the mad king baron. y/n is a girl who is far too curious for her own good.

carpenter au: (i need a better name for this) after alma and the children flee their old loop in cairnholm, they wind up in the loop of a nearby ymbryne. said ymbryne is having her house altered by a young peculiar capable of permanent manipulation. alma finds the perfect place for a new loop, but how convenient that the house there needs significant work.

pirate au: can’t decide if it’d be artemisia or angie BUT the elusive pirate queen finds herself on the end of a lifetime deal. she’s dealt the royal navy too many blows and they’re willing to negotiate. the price? an endless supply of gold... and the princess.

reincarnation au: after locking barnabas away, angie meets a woman who shows her what it’s really like to be loved. unfortunately for her, barnabas had a sister, and she knows exactly what happened to her brother. nearly 200 years after her death, a woman with the same face as y/n appears in collinsport and captures angie’s heart all over again. but the collins family business is more than just canning...

mystery au: y/n is collinsport’s golden girl. after a nasty split from the daughter of angel bay’s lead competitor (not the collins cannery), y/n is looking to just spend some time by herself. but when mysterious crimes start occuring and framing y/n as the culprit, angie makes an offer she can’t refuse.

[reginadimulini]

Love does not stand a chance...

This is a Dark Outlaw Queen/ Playful Lana Parrilla and Sean Maguire Oneshot. I really hope you enjoy...

Summery:

What if Lana takes her costume with her in the hotel to surprise Sean Maguire a collegue of hers, to let the evil queen play with robin hood?

And what, if there are more feelings as just friends with benefits?

I really hope you like it and leave a few comments now and than...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30322188