#shirozora writes

[shirozora-draws]

I really, really, really wanted a winter vibes doodle, and also I needed to warm up for the next round of fic illustrations. I see this as a win-win scenario.

And then I kept letting the brain talk me into an entire scenario around the doodle. Whoops.

In conclusion, happy holidays, have a human kid!Grogu riding a long-tailed reindeer.

[trashquisitor-shirozora]

It's time. NaNoWriMo 2023 be upon us! You can find me here:

[foxgloveinspace]

tron fic recs??👀

Hi there! I have to preface this by saying I mostly read (and currently write) Sam/Tron (or Rinzler depending on the fic). While I do read a bunch of just general Tron fic, I tend to have a ship I like and stick with it.

I am really enjoying Salvage What You Can by TooManyTeeth, more so the concept then some of the ideas. (I don't ship sam and quorra), but I can get over those for the concept of Rinlzer and Tron being in the same Grid and not the Same People, and Rinlzer finding out he's the 'evil twin' as the tags put it. I'm only on chapter 14, and there have been some moments that have down right broke my heart. Lots and lots of Rinzler angst.

Want some fluff about pre movie Tron and Clu learning swear words?? No Stupid Questions by bowiesinspace is the fic series for you! It's crack (in the since that it's silly, not you know. weird). and Just an all around fun time.

While this one has a bit of of Sam/Tron in it, the pov is Alan and it's not exactly about Sam and Tron, it's about how Alan feels, seeing and being around Tron, and is very very emotional. But also my second favorite fic in the fandom. And that is Mea Culpa by 2019-2020 (EnglishLanguage).

My first favorite fic is by the same author, and that is Genesis. I don't have words for this fic honestly. It's from Sam's POV, and it's about him coming back to a completely empty Grid. There are lines in this fic that literally left me gasping for air. It's almost GEN but there's hints of the fact that there will be something more between Sam and Tron.

I'll be a bit of a silly goose, and plug my own fic here, Whatever Here (That's Left of Me) part one has no shipping besides Lora and Alan, and is about Sam fixing the Grid from the other side of the screen, having a lot of family moments with Alan, Lora and Quorra and talking with Tron. The second part will be about Sam and 'Tron' falling in love. (which knowing me and my writing, means also at least two smut scenes). So if you just want to read part one that is a-okay with me!

Lastly, in this category I am recommending every single one of Solar_Siren's fictober collections. (and one Angstpirl challenge in there as well) There is a lot of different ships in here (Mostly Tron/Yori) and a lot of Uprising stuff. A lot of REALLY good fics in here.

and now the rest of these will all be just Sam/Tron.

for T rated fics,

Sam and Tron going on a first date, and it's not going as well as Sam would like but they have a good time. Falling in Tandem by bowisinspace (I also rec all their fics. they are all very nice. The kudosbot fic??? HUh?? Why am I emotional over a little ai?? *cries*)

Late Onset Digitalism by EnglishLanguage & Lobster_Emoji is not finished, but I really enjoyed this fic, and I don't think it ended on a clif hanger? I only read it the one time though. I still think it was worth the read. another Sam fixing the Grid fics, but with some fun twists.

We Are Pilots by shirozora is a CLASSIC samtron, and just Tron in general, fic. I read this fic once a year and its just. really good. Sam goes back to the Grid to try and see if Kevin left any clues on what he meant by 'Quorra will change the world' and instead finds Tron, and a Grid in chaos. (One small note is that, even though it's rated T there is some smut towards the end.)

E rated Fics:

First two are longer fics where the smut is only a scene or two. Last one is a smutty one shot.

Someone Has To Draw First Blood by dreamlittleyo is another classic. Kevin took Sam to the Grid when he was a kid, and only luck is the reason that Sam didn't go with him that night of the coup. When Sam shows back up as an adult Tron follows him out the Grid, and then they fall in love.

One Miracle at a Time by dreamlittleyo another 'Sam goes back to the Grid' fics. I haven't read this one in a while, but I remember really liking it. I should reread it soon. Maybe I'll do it tonight.

Patience, Sam Flynn by bowiesinspace (how many of their fics have i recced haha). Short one shot, it's very nice, I love the end cause they get very snuggly.

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: The future of Mandalore is in his hands, no matter what Din Djarin actually wants. While picking up jobs to pay off a new gunship, he runs into the Jedi again and learns that he too holds the future of his kind in his. In the shadow of a fallen empire and the light of a nascent republic, they begin to rebuild what was lost—their peoples, their cultures, their histories, and each other.

Author: @trashquisitor-shirozora

Note from submitter: Some of the best DinLuke I've ever read. Each new installment to this series is just incredible, from the writing to the glorious illustrations to the level of thought going in to every interaction. It hits every single box for me of quality DinLuke and I cannot recommend it enough. 

[veradragonjedi]

WIP game :))

Rules: In a new post, post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it!

I have a few!! Ack. I need to work on some of them.

1. Blood, Blindfolds and Butterflies, my hyperfixation fic, the love of my life, the reason I wake up every day, a vampire!Luke au dinluke fic set in an otherwise very average GFFA

2. Eureka — medical malpractice dinluke story that is carving at the back of my skull and not letting me write anything down for it.

3. The Naberrie House — Ghost hunting au with spooky Prince Luke Skywalker and lame ass loser ghost hunting teen!Din with lesbian mothers.

4. Ink on my faultless frame — a trans!Din gift for @airlocksandaviaries, a 5+1 (five times Din heals Luke's scars, and one time Luke returns the favour) very soft.

5. Stars On Your Skin — a personal story, not dinluke/starwars/fanfiction related, also made for @airlocksandaviaries but taking a heck of a lot longer to make. Mulling it in my brain. The name is a placeholder. It's a queer platonic novel set in a sort-of D&D/fantasy-like setting, and I'm pleased with the brain thoughts I've had about it :)

Tagging: @airlocksandaviaries for obvious reasons @iamscoby @materassassino @insertmeaningfulusername @emilianadarling @vanishedangels @trashquisitor-shirozora :)

[kiaxet]

20 Questions For Fic Writers

Tagged by @girlwithakiwi

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

5. I had a very long break between my FFN and AO3 days.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

34,086

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Currently, it's all Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because that's what the brainworms want. My only non-Rise AO3 fic is Voltron, and my FFN has a good amount of Kingdom Hearts on it.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

This is going to just be a list of everything on my AO3, so in order: 1. Making the Rounds 2. Lay Me Down 3. Lethal Measures 4. Siblingquest 202X 5. Site 39

5. Do you respond to comments?

For the most part, yes!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

The first and third fics I wrote for the Cass Apocalyptic Series are very much downer endings, because there was a lot of downer stuff happening in the series at the time!

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

...would it surprise you to learn that that's also a Cass Apocalyptic fic?

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Nope! I'm sure I will eventually, but I honestly could not care less. That's what the block button is for.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Also Nope! Turns out I'm the wrong flavor of ace for that.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Look. Listen. Kingdom Hearts is a crossover canon by design. It's very easy to go nuts with it. That said, my most consistent crossover well is Discworld, because it's very easy to have Death just roll up when someone passes, or gets very close to it. (So far it's been Red vs Blue, Kingdom Hearts, and RWBY, that I can remember off the top of my head.)

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

If I have, I'm not aware of it.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Again, not that I know of. I'm open to it - just let me know!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Kinda? It's mostly been RP or post/counterpost that gets published as a fic. I dunno, does tumblr collaborative writing count?

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

I hit this question and forgot every ship ever I will probably never let Terra/Aqua from KH:BBS go, though.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have a handful of unpublished ones that probably just aren't going anywhere - I haven't worked on them for too long, and the drive is elsewhere. (Dear everyone looking at this question and going "but Lethal Measures though," I promise you I am trying)

16. What are your writing strengths?

Characterization and voice, dialogue, and I'm told my comedy hits fairly well, which is a good thing when you're mostly writing in a comedic canon.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Description, of both settings and people! What do they look like? How is the living room arranged? Hell if I know! It's not aphantasia so much as it is inconvenient.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I generally don't - my French is too far out of practice, and I'm not going to pretend I know any other languages well enough to go for dialogue.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Earthworm Jim, in third grade. Read it in front of the class. Core memory.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

It's currently Siblingquest 202X, because that's what I've been working on consistently and I cannot wait for y'all to see what I have in store with this behemoth.

No pressure tags: @dandywonderous @talldecafcappuccino @trashquisitor-shirozora @tangledinink @rbtlvr @remedyturtles

[rhikasa-archived]

Summer Reading/Writing Tag

Thank you @druidx (here) and @mjparkerwriting (here) for tagging me! ♥️

Describe one creative WIP project you're planning to work on over the summer

Although most of my focus will more so be centered around WOS, I want to work on developing TH&TW a bit more as well. Beyond the initial idea of a werewolf murder mystery, I didn’t have much of a plan starting out, but now I have a better idea of where the story is going.

Recommend a book

If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend reading An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. It follows two main characters; a girl named Laia who finds herself spying for a group of rebels in exchange for their help with rescuing her brother, and a boy named Elias who is struggling to escape the regime he is forced to serve under. It’s the first book of a longer series.

Recommend a fic

I’ve been thrown back into a Star Wars fixation after re-watching the original trilogy, and I found this lovely fic series on AO3 called Dangerous Dreams by @shirozora-draws; if anyone else ships Din x Luke as much as I do, you’re gonna love it (they’ve included art for most of the chapters, and they have more over on their blog).

Recommend music

Bad Love (Esh Remix) by Vice & Caitlyn Scarlett has been stuck in my head lately, but I’d also recommend listening to Demons by Hayley Kiyoko.

Share one piece of advice

Don’t be afraid to write what you want to write!

Tagging (no pressure): @abalonetea @isherwoodj @magic-is-something-we-create @mecharose @pinespittinink @pens-swords-stuff plus anyone else who would like to join!

[navigatorwrongway]

Five Things You’ll Find In My Fics

Thank you so much for the tag @kesla !!!!

If this list doesn’t match up with what has stood out to my readers about my writing, I would love to know!

Exploration of background characters/ characters I feel aren’t afforded enough consideration in the source material (and/or its fandom tbh).

This can also extend to aspects of a given piece of worldbuilding I find to have interesting implications — if I have to introduce an OC to bring it to light (there are taxi services in the Star Wars universe, oh my god) then so be it

By pure and utter coincidence, no relation to 1. at all I’m sure — my works tend to feature highly competent women, particularly in positions where their actions have far-reaching impacts. If they have a particular expertise, it will absolutely be informing their characterization (see 5.)

Themes of evolution, culture, and the relative nature of “past”. This is especially clear in The Darkness Hummed, wherein Lucienne collects our macaroni art throughout human history and sticks them to the fridge, but it’s there in everything I write. If you can’t find a high-effort reference to paleontological matters (or its resultant speculative evolution) in my writing, you aren’t looking close enough.

I make a deliberate effort to be direct in my writing, and if I’m going to leave a description or sideline in, it’s got to be meaningful. The exact ratio of prose to cut-and-dry is determined in large part by my takes on characterization — it’s all too easy for my voice as the author to override the characters’, so I’m careful in finding a given perspective’s particular cadence and vocabulary. The Armorer (featured heavily in No Holy Cites) thinks in terms of metalworking, weaponry, and the demands of the Covert. Lucienne, on the other hand, operates from a perspective that centers a fascination with language and record-keeping — both directly resulting from her immortality — and ultimately her position as Dream’s constant companion.

(Shh i know it’s supposed to be 5 i know) I don’t do sad endings. Bittersweet is more my style, so don’t worry too much about rough-looking tags. I’ll write about difficult topics, but not without a palette cleanser.

I’m going to tag @ace-din-djarin @shirozora-draws @zombolouge @sunsorbit @jackironsides @cosmictapestry and anyone else that wants to give this a go!!

[shirozora-draws]

Five months later, here we are to close the book on the first arc and open to the first pages of the second arc.

This was an interesting exercise in taking what little I know about a world from the existing canon and building up the background/environment. Took inspo from Andor's set designs and added some post-war organic flair (I hope). Always wanted to draw some Leia, and it sure won't be the last time.

Painted and repainted the background while knowing full well that I'll just end up blurring it and drowning it in hazy cold morning light anyway. Bringing an Auzituck gunship out of its simplified animated origins into a more... "realistic" space has been challenging but I love creating metal textures with rough brushes and I'm gonna keep doing it. Can't wait for more chances to draw Din in this particular design.

I'll have a later post regarding the pop-up shop. For now, I need a weeklong break from the two months of stress between finishing the chapter draft and getting this out onto the Internets.

[trashquisitor-shirozora]

I can finally see the finish line for Gravity Well, the Dinluke Positivity Week 2022 fill that took entirely way too long to write and is also way longer than I ever anticipated. What do you fucking mean this goddamn fic is gonna crash through the 100k word barrier with the final update? What the fuck happened???

Anyway, I'm sleeping on this draft and doing some heavy duty editing, and then maybe I'll have a Sunday or Monday post. Who knows. I just need this fic to stop haunting my ass and finish telling its tale because I got an absolute monster of a fic waiting for me to pick back up again.

[foxgloveinspace]

@excelsior9173 🫡 Fox’s Fic Rec Extravaganza:

(Sorry for another post/tag, but you can’t posts links very easy in comments and knowing me…. I’d run out of room on the comments lol. I’m also gonna just copy past the descriptions of the fics for you 🖤)

Transformers (Megatron/Optimus Prime):

Victory Conditions by astolat:

“Do you want me to tell you a story?” Megatron said mockingly. “You won’t like it, Prime. It’s not a very nice one.”

[Foxgloves Notes: Megatron and Optimus Prime get trapped in a cave and think they are gonna die. astolat is just an amazing author, so I wanted to include one of their works. I am gonna go reread this actually once I finish this post lol.]

Assassin’s Creed (Altaïr/Malik):

Life studies its own emptiness by Scarecrow

"For the coming year, as penance for what you have taken from him, you will obey Malik Al-Sayf absolutely"

══════════════

A study on the nature of grief, recovery, loss, and longing; a year in the life of Malik Al-Sayf as he adjusts to his injured body, and grasps with a hollow desperation for a reason to live after failing to protect his sibling, as told in slices of the twelve months he spends learning to forgive Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the man he blames for his brother's murder.

[Foxgloves Notes: ok, so this is omegaverse. But I am SO PICKY when it comes to omegaverse, so please. Please trust me on this one. The writing on this fic takes my breath away. It’s some of the best written work I’ve ever read in my entire life. I teared up reading this. Idk, like I know it can turn people off, but it’s the best one out there truly, and I was changed after reading it. (You can read this one blind, I think it tells you all you need to know about the plot of the game that you’d need to know, so. some of the most amazing prose I’ve ever read, some of the most gut wrenching lines, just. Fuck dude, this fic is so so good.]

Assassin’s Creed (Altaïr/Desmond [my favorite assassin’s creed ship🫡]):

I was born for this - esama:

Juno did her best to lead him to her preferred fate, but the end is coming and Desmond has doubts.

[Foxglove Notes: I feel like I have to rec the most kudosed fic in the fandom. I like esama’s style, I don’t know you’ll feel about it, but. I also genuinely love this fic, I’m not just reccing it cause it’s popular, I’m reccing it cause it’s a good read, and I liked the plot. It’s a time travel fix-it fic (my favorite trope).]

Tron (Sam/Tron, of course):

We Are Pilots - shirozora:

Six months and Sam still can't shake off his father's ghost, so Quorra suggests returning to the Grid to find the answers he needs to move on. With her monitoring from the outside, Sam goes in not knowing what he'll find or if he'll succeed. What he discovers is a dying Grid that needs his help to rebuild… and Tron, who needs to become himself again.

[Foxglove Notes: I don’t know what to say here. This is like The Classic SamTron fic. I just. *muwh* I love this fic]

Mea Culpa - 2019-2020 (EnglishLaguage):

Alan and Tron (accidentally) start to communicate. This is long overdue.

[Foxglove Notes: my notes?? 😭😭😭😭]

Genesis - EnglishLanguage:

Clu’s reintegration with Kevin Flynn burns the Grid to ashes. Sam rebuilds.

//

Prompt: Where did we come from?

[Foxglove Notes: same as the above really, EnglishLanguage is just…. Wow. Breath taking writing.]

Kingdom Hearts (Ventus/Vanitas):

You’re not the boy you used to be. - magicities:

There's no guidebook to tell you how to react when someone who made your life not worth living dies. There are, however, hands to hold yours tight as you stumble through the wreckage.

If only you can convince yourself to take them.

Vanitas: the place he came from, the home he found, and the people who helped him find it.

[Foxglove Notes: this is my favorite book of all time. Like, not even my favorite fic, it is genuinely my favorite Book of all time. It is kingdom hearts so it’s got some jarring moments where your like ‘wait, Minney Mouse??’ And you just have to roll with it cause it’s a COMPLETE au, so there’s nothing in the setting that is about kingdom hearts, it’s just the characters. I think about this work at least once a week, it’s so much more than that description, but I feel like I can’t actually talk about what is in the fic, cause it’s one of those stories where part of the story is things getting revealed. (If you read this tho, please know because it’s a complete au, you might want to treat it as its own novel, and not try to get into KH fic cause I can not in good graces tell someone to read none au KH fic without knowing anything about how absolutely bonkers the game series is. I can not even explain the plot, but that’s the point, the point of the games is that they are meant to be experienced, not explained…… sorry I went on a KH rant, it’s one of my longest hyperfixations lmao.)]

[browneyesbrighteyes]

BrownEyesBrightEyes Dinluke Rec List

I got sucked into the Dinluke fandom quickly after season 2 of Mando ended, around Jan 2021 and I’ve been reading pretty steadily ever since.

So I’ve read a LOT of dinluke fanfiction, and I figured I would put together a rec list! Especially because, while a few on here are super well known, I don’t see a ton of talk or recs about some of my absolute favorites. 

Now, this fandom exploded, so there are more fics than I can read, my TBR list has gotten pretty long. There are certainly fics that are amazing that I have not read, and this list is not all-inclusive. 

There will be absolutely no non/dubcon. Any other potential TWs will be included in the description below.

Now, in no particular order, to the list! (This is very long, so recs under the cut)

SFW and In-Universe

The ENTIRE Dangerous Dreams series by shirozora Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 141,971 Summary:  The future of Mandalore is in his hands, no matter what Din Djarin actually wants. While picking up jobs to pay off a new gunship, he runs into the Jedi again and learns that he too holds the future of his kind in his. In the shadow of a fallen empire and the light of a nascent republic, they begin to rebuild what was lost-- their peoples, their cultures, their histories, and each other. (This series is still in progress but trust me, it is worth it. Shiro not only writes amazing stories, but also ILLUSTRATES them! The visuals are stunning. This one is a must read.)

Broken Threads by Sadie1902 Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 78,884 CW: Seizures Summary: The battle is over, the rebels have won. But Luke Skywalker is still reeling from his ordeal in the Emperor's throne room, both physically and emotionally. Wracked with pain and fatigue, he tries to recuperate on Endor with a few days of much-needed rest. But before he even has a chance to relax, he's captured by an enterprising bounty hunter in Mandalorian armor. Din Djarin can't believe his luck. It's the score of his life, the bounty they all said was impossible. The payout will set his Tribe up well... so long as they don't know exactly who he made a deal with. But the job turns out to be more than Din bargained for when his bounty collapses from mysterious injuries, and he must face the truth of the horrors the Empire has wrought. Now, on the run from half the galaxy, it's a race against time as Din helps Luke find a cure for the disease that's slowly breaking the hero apart. There's only one problem... they need a Jedi. And Luke is the last of his kind.Or is he? (Not only is this a great fanfiction for anyone who is a fan of any canon, but if you love Clone Wars and especially Fallen Order, this fic is for you. Getting to see Cal included in a fanfiction was such a delight.)

Most Ardently by sublehysteria Rating: General Audiences Word Count: 29,252 Summary: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a spouse. Only Luke Skywalker is dreading nothing more than this year's debutante season. He's prepared to try and get through these next few months of torturous courting rituals with power-hungry suitors as quickly and painlessly as possible. Marriage is not an option for him unless it involves true love. Enter The Mand'alor: the season's most-talked-about bachelor, shrouded in mystery and beskar. Can Luke put his prejudices aside long enough to realise that this strange, intriguing man is not what he first seems, or will he let his head rule over his heart and risk losing the very connection he's been longing for?

(If you’re looking for a Pride and Prejudice AU look no further. This one is such a fun read. There are other pride and prejudice aus, but I haven’t read them yet. Note: this is in-universe but quite canon-divergent.)

I Saw Sparks (Sing It Out) by ApplepieandCinnamon Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 6,128 CW: Major Character Death  Summary: “What do you feel?” He asks. “I only feel you,” Luke answers.

(This fanfiction was inspired by the lines in WandaVision that you see in the summary. This fanfiction is not going to be for everyone. It is sad. You will probably cry. The major character death is MAJOR characters. But if you like WandaVision and, like me, you like to read a sad fanfiction that can make you cry every once and a while, this one is beautifully well done.)

SFW and AU

No Glory in the West by leorizanzel  Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 83,676 CW: Mentions of the Civil War  Summary: Texas, 1870 - Din Djarin, a bounty hunter with a mysterious past and the quickest draw this side of the Mississippi, finds a new gig escorting a strange young man to his destination.

Inspired by Casual Cowboy Friday and my love for the American West as a whole. (This fanfiction is another must read. It is a phenomenal au that is well-researched and incredibly well-written. Some of the most romantic lines I’ve ever read are in this one.)

you are in love by coffeecatsme Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 21,337 Summary: The first time Luke reacts to Mando, it’s at his fans’ insistence—or if Luke has to be honest with himself, their fault that he embarrassed himself in front of ten thousand people and lost his favorite flannel to mayonnaise and ketchup.

Or, 5 times Luke reacts to Din's videos and 1 time he gets invited to them.

(If you’ve ever heard people talk about “streamer au” this is probably what they were referring to. It’s hilarious and sweet and you will love this universe.)

It Was Always You by subtlehysteria Rating: General Audiences Word Count: 15,500 Summary: He’s strong, powerful, his footwork far better than just your average person who occasionally skates for fun.

As if that wasn’t enough, Luke watches in shock and awe as the man executes a neat triple toe loop, landing near-flawlessly with only a slight wobble.

He doesn’t even register what’s happening, just sprints down the last set of stairs and rams into the barrier, hands raised to cup over his mouth and help project his voice.

“HEY, YOU!” The man falters, head snapping to Luke. A single thick brow rises in question. “DO YOU WANNA BE MY PARTNER?” Luke yells.

*Or, the one where Luke needs a new ice dancing partner and Din just happens to be in the right place at the right time. (I LOVE figure skating so finding this au was a treat. If you love figure skating, you’ll love this one too.)

NSFW and In-Universe

Separate Ways by PepperPrints Rating: Explicit  Word Count: 80,919 CW: Really none, but Din is quite cold towards Luke at first, so keep that in mind if that bothers you. Summary: With Moff Gideon defeated and the Darksaber reclaimed, the rumours of newly named Mand'alor Din Djarin spread through the galaxy... along with the stories of the Child he carries with him. Determined to meet him, Luke Skywalker arrives on Mandalore -- but before he can get any closer, he has to prove himself worthy of Mandalorian standards.

(I consider this one a must-read because it was the OG dinluke fanfiction. Literally, it was written before season 2 of the Mandalorian aired. It inspired a lot of common tropes in the dinluke fandom, even if some have evolved since then. It’s also just a fantastic read)

oh the things we left behind by furiosophie  Rating: Mature Word Count: 103, 615 CW: sort of Dark!Luke, but not really Summary: After he commits every single weapon in the hold to memory, Din finds himself cataloging more and more things about Skywalker instead, small observations that carve out a space in his mind unbidden. --- As much as Din likes to tell himself that he’s just been taking a well-deserved break, the truth is that for the six months following their daring rescue he’s been nothing but truly and utterly lost. That is until Luke Skywalker gives him a ship and hires him to help figure out what the hell the Empire needed the Child’s blood for.

As they drift through the empty void of hyperspace, they slowly find unexpected companions in each other and realize their respective paths might not be as set as they once thought.

(Absolutely a Must Read. This and down to a sunless sea (see below) go back and forth as my favorite dinluke fanfiction overall, and have stayed that way for a very long time. I love everything about this fanfiction. The writing is phenomenal, the themes are enjoyable, and the plot is well-done. Do yourself a favor and read it.)

who carried the hill by spqr Rating: Mature  Word Count: 22,382 Summary:  Din’s about to head up the ramp onto the newly-repaired Razor Crest when a string pulls taut around his heart and yanks him into the sky.

(Soulmate AU! But genuinely, you will see spqr on this list several times. Absolutely anything by them is amazing and you should read it, but I am including my favorites on this list. This fanfiction is in my top 5 favorite dinluke fanfictions. The first time I read it it made me stare at a wall as I contemplated my emotions. It’s wonderful. Must read.)    We Two Scorched the Earth by annathaema (moony) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 14,265 Summary:  Luke scampered the short distance and tumbled into the cave, scooting behind a rock at the entrance. He waited and listened until he picked up distant howling that went on for minutes, or maybe hours, and then, finally, the faint moo of banthas as they moved away. They were leaving. Whew.

That left Luke with a much bigger problem: The Sand People knew he was here, they’d likely sabotaged or stolen the speeder by now, and he was stranded in a cave with nothing but a rifle with three rounds left, a survival pack good for only a couple of days, and no transport home. Great. Luke leaned against the wall of the cave and tipped his head back, thumping the back of it against the stone over and over. He closed his eyes and wished for rescue.

Someone groaned. — A Tatooine farm boy finds a wounded Mandalorian in a cave. You know the rest. This is not dark fiction.

(Pre-ANH. This is one of the very first dinluke fics I read and I still love it so much today. I’ve re-read it more than once.)

hold (to support with one’s hands) by asweetepilogue Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,528 Summary: Every time Luke uses the Force, Din feels odd - unsettled, breathless, twitchy. He thinks maybe a sparring session will help him settle whatever nervousness he has around Luke Skywalker and his strange powers.

In many ways, he's not wrong.

(This one is straight smut, but it is FANTASTIC smut. With inappropriate use of the force. What more do you need.)

More Light Than Heat by Gluten_Full Rating: Explicit Word Count: 69,480 CW: Language barrier, but everything is very consensual. There is a scene where they discuss a misunderstanding in regards to this though. Summary:  If everything went according to plan, Luke would be engaged by the end of the day. He would meet his husband today. He didn’t even know what he looked like. ~*~*~ In an effort to help the recovering planet Mandalore, the Republic agrees to an arranged marriage between the Mand'alor and one of their most eligible bachelors: Luke Skywalker, son of Padme and Anakin. The only hurdle in this match is that the Mand'alor does not speak basic, and Luke does not speak Mando'a.

(I LOVE this fanfiction. It is extremely tender and sweet, and reading the journey of their relationship is great. It is very canon divergent, but is in-universe.) 

Call Me By Your Name by superhusbands4ever (Potterwatch97) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 4,876 Summary:  “Oh come on,” Leia cried incredulously, “you’re really telling me there is nothing going on between you two?”

“No, there is not,” Luke said with finality. He adjusted his robes and pulled his glove onto his hand. “We don’t even talk much.”

“Oh?”

“Leia,” Luke said, exasperated, “really. It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

(Bottom Din! More straight smut, but really, it’s amazing.)

What Remains in the Aftermath by BrownEyesBrightEyes (ME!) Rating: Explicit Word Count: 13,461 Summary: After getting spectacularly drunk, Din and Luke accidentally get married, but forget about it by the following morning. They then wake to find the news has spread all around Mandalore and the New Republic.

(An accidental marriage au! This is a shameless self-plug. I’m gonna be honest, my fic probably doesn’t stand up to most of the other’s on my list, but in my biased opinion, it is still pretty good. I’m also very proud of it, because it’s my first ever fic, and my only completed full-length fic so far. I’d love if you gave it a chance.)

So I Can Wait Behind  by CatalpaWaltz Rating: Explicit Word Count: 10,568 Summary:  Din isn't selfish enough to both make Luke wait indeterminate periods between visits and then demand some kind of performance from him every time he's on-planet. There are plenty of times when Luke comes to his room in the middle of the night, dark circles under his eyes, and Din opens the covers to him, tucks him close, nods off again inhaling his scent of earth and grass and sweat. There are other times when Din is dismissed for the night, waits up in his room for Luke to meet him there, and wakes up alone.

And then, there are these times.

Or: Din returns to the still center of his own whirling world, to the one person who could not possibly care less that he now calls himself a king. He agrees to join Luke on an unusual mission, and wrestles with the meaning of his new place in the galaxy.

Part two of a three part series.

(Sub Din! No but really, there is a lack of sub Din in this fandom, and this one DELIVERS. This is the second part of a three part series, so read part one first, but I really wanted to highlight this one because the Sub!Din and Dom!Luke are perfect in this one.) 

NSFW and AU

down to a sunless sea by spqr Rating: Mature Word Count: 10,170 CW: may trigger claustrophobia Summary:  Din's first scuba dive was when he was six, which is illegal in every country on earth that has laws about that sort of thing.

(spqr again! I genuinely cannot sing my praises of this fic enough. It is...everything I want to read. spqr has a way of eliciting your emotions while you read. This fic is an experience in all the best ways. I questioned life while reading it, cried, laughed. I think about this fic often, and have re-read it countless times. a Must Read. You will not regret it.)

Pragmatics by Derkish Rating: Mature  Word Count: 57,210 Summary:  Admittedly, this is not the first time Luke has wound up at someone else’s kitchen table in someone else’s clothes. But it’s not breakfast, Luke’s not an undergrad scarfing down bacon and eggs to cure the common hangover, and Din doesn’t strike him as the kind of guy he’d meet at a house party. The baby is definitely a first. Luke is a grad student trying to finish his linguistics PhD after an unexpected leave of absence. His neighbor, Din, is a single dad and delivery guy at Pizza Parsec. (Actually, Pizza Parsec is just a front for the bounty hunters' guild. But Luke doesn't need to know that.)

(This is actually a fairly recent read for me, and it rocketed to my top 5 immediately. I don’t think this fic gets the attention it deserves. It’s amazing. The way the author seamlessly incorporates canon lore into a modern au is impressive. I was completely immersed while reading this. A Must Read.)

Sacred New Beginnings by coffeecatsme Rating: Explicit Word Count: 123,906 CW: mentions of: pedophlia, panic attacks, suicide, and gun violence Summary: Luke realizes in about a second that he has a weakness, and it’s guys with kids. More specifically, hot dads who, by all accounts, look like they can rip off your head if you so much as look at them the wrong way, but who turn into a soft mush whenever their kid is around. And Din, sporting a black leather jacket and a whipped cream mustache at the same time, definitely fits the bill.

Din Djarin is about to give up on finding a good babysitter for his adopted son, Grogu. He thinks it'll be impossible to find someone who can respond to Grogu's needs without hurting his kid even more than he's already been hurt. Enter Luke Skywalker, who not only seems to be perfect at handling Grogu's unique characteristics, but he might also be a perfect match for his father as well.

(The babysitter au you didn’t know you wanted. But really, this one starts out as a babysitter au, then jumps into such a great plot. I also love how this one incorporates canon lore into a modern au setting.  Plus, it’s got great smut. Read it.)

got my love jumpstarted by lacecat Rating: Explicit Word Count: 9,235 (the first part in a series) Summary:  Din frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m kind of famous,” Luke admits. (in which Luke is a celebrity, Din is not, and they both assume the same for the other)

(I LOVE this celebrity au. It is such a blast to read, and if you end up loving it, there are several other stories by this author set in the same universe.)

Turn of the Tides (this fic was orphaned) Rating: Mature Word Count: 40,952 Summary:  “What’s your name?” “What?” Din asked, taken off guard by the question. His eyes were still fixed on the thief’s blade, waiting for a movement that never came. “Don’t you think we should know each other’s names before we start slashing at each other?” came the man’s response. “I’m Luke. Luke Skywalker.”

In which Luke is a glorified Robin Hood pirate, and Din is the Captain of the Guard dealing with his morals.

(This is another fic that I don’t think gets the attention it deserves. It’s a pirate au, and its wonderful.)

Professor Bug by spqr Rating: Mature Word Count: 7,044 Summary: mentions of cults and past experience with cults “I saw your notes for your lecture on the Jedi Order,” Luke says quietly. “And I know you’re very good at what you do, babe, but I want you to know that like half of it is wrong.”

Din stares at him.

“Okay,” Luke says. He leans over and kisses Din on the forehead. “See you tomorrow. Bye.”

(This is modern au but the force exists.)

go and get your hands dirty by furiosophie Rating: Explicit Word Count: 74,429 CW: gun violence, PTSD, drinking, unhealthy coping mechanisms Summary: There is an agonizing moment where Din feels Luke’s body tense beneath him, his muscles flexing in a way that makes him sure Luke is about to punch or at least push him away, but then something shifts behind Luke’s eyes, as if he recognized the fear in Din's, and before Din can form another coherent thought Luke crushes their lips together and kisses him as if his life depends on it. --- Din meets Luke twice a day, five days a week, in a way that’s casual, predictable, impersonal - Until that one day where he meets him by accident, in the middle of the night in a way that's neither.

(I love this fic, but it’s also not everyone’s cup of tea. Heed the tags. It’s not dark fic in terms of toxicity, but this fic gets very dark in terms of its discussions of PTSD and gets quite violent at times. It’s also hurt/comfort that takes a long time to get to the comfort. If you’re okay with those, give this one a try. It’s great.)

living for you (is easy living) by CatalpaWaltz Rating: Mature Word Count: 11,207 CW: in-universe homophobia Summary:  Being the week before Christmas, there is no gentle lull of inaction before the morning rush begins. Customers swarm the floor, and their anxiety is almost a palpable thing.

Someone stands out amongst the crowd; a man, swathed in a gunmetal grey coat and hat. He's bundled up for a cold spell that hasn't hit the city yet; wool scarf wound tight around his neck, kidskin gloves that he makes no motion to remove and stow away. He hovers at the edge of the floor, eyes wide and wandering, moving his hands in and out of his pockets, a nervous habit.

It takes him a long time to approach the counter, in which time Luke makes two separate sales. When he gets within earshot, Luke speaks.

"You look lost."

Or: 1957. Luke's just a nobody from a Midwestern nowhere. Din's a veteran with a murky criminal past trying to set himself straight for the sake of his adopted son. Or: Carol (2015)/The Price of Salt, but make it Dinluke

(Wow this one is good. It’s melancholy, but does end on a hopeful note.) From Crumbling Temples by objectlesson Rating: Explicit Word Count: 13,950 CW: drinking Summary:  You try your damnedest to burn it out, but Luke’s face sticks in your head. Lingers like a whiff of ozone, and no matter how hard you try to forget it when you close your eyes behind the visor of your helmet, there’s the haunting outline of his lips mapped out in your head like a constellation. His mouth. His eyes. His single bare hand, ever so gently cupped around Grogu’s body like he knew how important it was to you that he be touched like he was precious.

And it must have worked, because you let Grogu go with him. Maybe that’s why you can’t stop thinking about that moment—how it felt to hold unwavering and long sustained eye contact with a man for perhaps the first time in the whole of your lonely life.

(Listen I KNOW this one is in second person, I KNOW, but trust me, it is masterfully done, and you will not regret reading this.)

[mirendils]

wip ask game

thank you for the tags @beroyas and @calamity-aims !!!

Rules: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have wips. (You can make your own post or reblog this one!) I have deemed that this isn’t just for writing either. Sketch titles? Comics? DnD campaigns? If you have an unfinished project, it counts!!

omg i have like. no organization of my fics (and also tend to have many many docs for one wip)...i included all my semi formed wips even though i'm only actively working on a few because overwhelmed lmao 

1. ofitsoots 

2. everything else (aka the mandalorian on the roof) 

3. lightsaber colors 

4. mando mythology notes 

5. leia and baby poe 

6. esb & rotj fic 

7. baby clone rey skywalker 

8. son of suns (owen and beru)

9. renata’s final holocron 

10. leia necromancy moments

no pressure tagging @kasseivor, @milfmisspiggy, @showpig, @strwrs, @jaigeye, @canonskyrissian, @trashquisitor-shirozora, and anyone else who wants to do this! 

[kiaxet]

Rules: Make a new post and post your latest line from your WIP and tag as many people as there are words.

Todd immediately has his phone in hand, dialing a number meant for emergencies only.

Smack in the middle of writing out the Krang apocalypse for Site 39 and I left off there? Past me really punted to future me, huh.

Tagging @amevello-blue @last-hourglass @trashquisitor-shirozora @secretlystephaniebrown @emberkyrlee aaaand I’m not tagging fourteen people but if anyone wants to do this meme, please consider this an invitation!

[miie-esch]

the suns by @shirozora-writes

i’m really enjoying this fic! it wonderfully blends writing with art and makes me feel like i’m reading a graphic novel! highly recommend!

[materassassino]

Last Line Challenge

I was tagged by @skywalkity! Thank you!

Apparently I have to post some of what I’m writing and tag as many people are in the last line. Which I can do, huzzah! I just started a new WIP this morning where Anakin has to come to terms with his kids not being kids anymore, and also having questionable taste in men (honestly Luke’s doing better in this regard).

Anakin knows he’s going to regret asking, because the answer threatens to give him a look into the sex life of one of his children that he most definitely does not want, but sometimes he’s a complete masochist. “So what’s with the…” He points to his eyes and waves his finger, his meaning plain and his expression agony.

“Oh, the blindfold?”

Anakin nods miserably.

“It’s not a sex thing!” Luke says quickly, his face burning because this can’t be an enjoyable conversation to be having with your father, and Anakin wants to throw himself into lava and be rid of the horrible discomfort he’s feeling right now. “It’s because of Din’s Creed. I’m not allowed to see his face before marriage, so we… improvised.”

Anakin’s never heard of anything like that, but then again he also knows next to nothing about Mandalorian culture. Obi-Wan is the one that keeps meddling in whatever is going on over in that sector, and Anakin realises this is all probably Obi-Wan’s fault in some way.

“You don’t even know what he looks like?” Anakin asks.

Luke looks at him. “I… know he has a moustache?” he ventures. That’s more information than Anakin wanted, because his brain has decided to supply an image of a man in armour with no facial features other than a moustache kissing Luke and it’s making him decidedly nauseous.

That... is a very long last line. This was a terrible idea. I’m going to tag five people because that seems like the easiest solution. @dangerouscommiesubversive @trashquisitor-shirozora @aureutr @daegred-winsterhand @wingsofbadass