#this fic has completely rewired my brain

[sadie-shrimp]

Fordsy on the brain 💭

@monkeywrenchau

[foggysirens]

AU crechemaster Din and knight Luke

okay im obsessed with this like-

luke is typically put into the school teacher/caregiver role in au's so i am so here for it being din's time to shine, because we see him with grogu and we know he good and kind to children so like in a jedi au, him being a creche master makes so much sense actually AHHH

im just imagining that like he and luke grew up in the temple together, din a few years ahead, and he and luke always kind of saw each other around but he neither really thought anything of it. and like years down the line din moves pretty swiftly through his padawan trials and training and was given a position in the creche rather quickly. cause like, din just has a way with kids. one wouldn't think it, he's reserved and a little grumpy at times, but he has the most patience, the most understanding, the most love that he gives to the younglings that anyone who visits the creche while he's on duty gets it immediately, luke included. and luke im just thinking of this moment where luke stops by for some reason and sees din in his element and his heart kind of skips, ya know? and then after that he kind of starts hanging around a bit more, offering to help, and din just kind of smiles but accepts the extra hands. and like once din is granted the title of master, luke (who is a knight himself at this point) kind of like, makes it his mission to go and prove himself as a knight- show the skills that he has as well - and like every time he comes back from a mission he'll go to the creche and tell all the younglings about his adventures and the good that's out there in the galaxy and he and din just sort of... drift together. a lot of stolen glances and soft brushes of the hands and it just all builds up into this explosion of a kiss and then suddenly there not just din and luke but dinandluke and it's kind of a secret but everyone also knows about it and it's just them both serving the order but finding a special home in each other

[ragnarokhound]

[crsssie]

oops... i got married || TO THE CUTE DUDE IN CLASS?!

word count: 1.2k || Fic 4 of oops... i got married

summary: ... you do not understand how a man made god wants to marry you but frankly you don't care as long as you aren't dying to his hands

You get married as a joke.

Yes, there are limits to how much you can drink. Yes, there are limits to how insane you can get while drunk— but apparently getting married is not within that limit. You get married to some random guy— NOT SOME RANDOM GUY. SOMEONE YOU KNOW. WELL. KIND OF. You wake up to a legally signed marriage document and him in your kitchen, and you blink at the red booklet in your hands and then at your new lover at the door.

"You're going to be late for class."

"Oh. My. God."

"Yes, I am aware that is an expression of shock." Kamukura catches the mug that you've just hurled at his face.

"HOW ARE YOU IN MY HOUSE?"

"We are married."

You blink at Kamukura. "WHY DID YOU EVEN AGREE TO MARRY ME?!"

"Perhaps you will bring a semblance of amusement to my day-to-day life." He pauses. "Also because you would have asked someone else had it not been me, and I would not have trusted you to not ask one of the old men in the bar."

You sigh, throwing your head back into the pillow. He has a point. 

"Shall I let the professor know that you are skipping class?"

"No." You snort. "Tell him my head feels like it's been cracked open from drinking too much yesterday."

"Anything else?"

"Will you divorce me if you get bored?" You turn your head to face him. "I mean, I got drunk, no?"

Kamukura nods, door clicking behind him as you bury your head into the pillow, screaming. You married the class genius. How the hell did he even agree to marrying you? What does it even mean that he married you for some semblance of amusement? What does it even mean that you got him to agree to marrying you? In what world does this happen? You scream back into the pillow, deciding that this would be a problem for you to face after your nap. What a great day to NOT have anything to do.

Except Kamukura comes home and you find that there's an assignment due by the end of the day— which makes you seriously contemplate your existence right then and there. Your new husband refuses to help you, and he watches you struggle in silence, lips pulled into a fraction of a smile, almost as if he were enjoying the way you were fighting for your life. Maybe you will beat him up next time (you would not win). So, you stare at Kamukura from the couch as he stares back, unblinking, unbothered.

"Help me."

"You are simply being lazy."

"Okay and?" You huff. "Is a husband's duty not to help his spouse?"

"Oftentimes, it is used as an excuse to not do something. If I were to do it for you, there will be a second, and then a third, and eventually, I will be the one doing all of it for you. Then, you would—"

"It's an elective." You deadpan.

"Perhaps this is, but who am I to say that you will not abuse your new husband and make him complete your major for you?"

"Izuru fucking Kamukura." You deadpan, voice even. "Will you cosplay as me to take my classes? Will you put on makeup so you can look like your beloved and take my tests for me? Will you take on the task of double life so I don't need to do anything?" 

Kamukura blinks at you, unbothered. "No."

"There you go." You sigh. "Will you at least teach me?"

"That, I will do."

You go through the homework with your husband, brain fried by the end of it, eyes spinning, annoyed as he explains everything with eerie precision catered to you. 

"Next thing you tell me is going to be something like "I attended Hope's Peak High School" or something of equal insane value."

"I shall do you one better." He tilts his head. "I was created by Hope's Peak Academy."

You pause. What.

"They took a talentless kid," Kamukura coughs lightly, "and transformed him into me."

"So they— They basically rewired your past in order to create you? I knew you were suspicious for taking 24 units." You deadpan. "You're an escaped government spy, aren't you."

"Government spy, no. Escaped, yes." His eyes dig past your soul until you are bare before him, but you do not look away. "Hope's Peak can not own a person under the law."

You raise a brow. "So why then did you marry me?"

"That is something for you to find out."

You find that the answer is that people tend to steer clear of you when you are with Kamukura. Perhaps it is some sort of primal urge to mark their territory, or the primal instinct to stay away from predators bigger than you, but Kamukura next to you equates to individualism. You find that even his unofficial fanclub that used to bother you stays away. Kamukura might have just thought of you as some strange trophy... or just someone he would not mind spending the rest of his life with. 

The answer comes at home, perhaps.

You stare at the man at your door, Kamukura not home, and you tilt your head as you start taking your shoes off.

The man speaks up when you start opening the door. "Does a man by the name of Kamukura live here?"

You blink twice. "No? I live alone."

"You have men's shoes at your door."

"They are there for safety."

"What about the two bowls of rice on the table?"

"Rather rude to look inside my place, isn't it?" You start to shut the door. "You can not search my house without a warrant. Besides, you aren't in Japan, you know? Welcome to the land of guns and eagles."

"Duck."

Kamukura holds your head down as the sound of a gun rings out on your floor. You've never been so glad you actually threw your whole life savings into a penthouse. Yet, you try turning around, his hand covering your eyes naturally.

"Is he dead?"

"Leave it to me." He ignores your question.

You listen to him as he has you step into the apartment, door shutting behind you as you start eating, biting the chopstick and blinking at the door absentmindedly.

Kamukura comes home, clean of any sign of what could have been a murder.

You don't know if you want to ask what he was up to. 

He stares at you, almost as if waiting for something to come out of your mouth before he moves to do anything.

You rack your brain for what you could even say to him.

"Good job." You raise a brow, staring at him and then the seat. "Now hurry up and eat. What were they even here for? Was it enough to warrant a gun to their head?"

"Yes." He blinks. "They were here to find me."

"Isn't it more suspicious that they're dead now?"

"I have disguised it as a slip on the stairs."

"With a gun wound?"

"The probability of a bullet bouncing off a wall into your own brain is small but never zero."

Ah.

Well, you suppose at least your husband won't be killing... you.

[fellshish]

just felt like letting you know im makin my way through your spn bookmarks on ao3 and its saving my life 💚 do you have an ultimate-nothing-compares destiel faves from the bunch?

YES omg these are the fics that rewired my brain changed my life etc:

And this your living kiss (M, 56k): au where dean is a self deprecating former poet who used to write anonymously under the pen name jack allen. Now he’s finding his way back to loving poetry by taking a class at a college taught by professor novak… only he doesn’t know professor novak happens to be the number one jack allen scholar in the country. Amazing. Inspiring. I’ve reread it several times and it’s probably my favourite fic of all time

The cheapest room in the house (E, 89k): one of those fics whose writing i’m jealous of, it’s mind bogglingly good. And hot. The destiel grindr fic — cas downloads grindr and dean helps him. The rituals are SO intricate. But really, nothing i could say could do justice to how good this is.

Fenario (E, 47k): cas empty rescue fic. Certain paragraphs and scenes are just seared into my brain, amazing writing. I still think about “Cas’s legs give out and he pitches forward, falling the rest of the way into Dean’s lap in a mockery of a pieta” — that’s the point where i knew this fic was gonna become a fave

Right where you left me (E, 93k): cas comes back from the empty but it’s years later. He rings the doorbell and finds dean married. This fic was an event while it was still updating. Supremely well written and with an emotional maturity needed for the theme

Am I a man or am I a muppet (G, 7k): one of the funniest fics i’ve ever read. Dean wakes up as a muppet. Just roll with it! It’s crack, sure, but so good?? This inspired a scene in one of my gomens fics even

Burn this into your brains forever (E, 10k): to me this is an underrated fic for how funny it is. Fake dating between dean and garth but don’t worry, it’s a destiel fic

Half empty (M, 37k): more of a dean study. Reads like you’re dreaming and nothing makes sense. Dean is confused about everything. Kind of a mysterious vibe, excellent writing

There is rest for the wicked (G, 14k): sleepy, domestic dean. The destiel happens so…. Idk. Naturally. It’s a fic that really stays with you for a long time

Ninety one whiskey (E, 401k): one of thee destiel fics of all time. It’s famously a must-read and for good reason. A war fic, so quite heavy and not for everyone. But an absolute experience. I read the last few chapters in bed middle of the night tears streaming down my face. Simply iconic

A winter’s tale (T, 64k): this fic forever changed the way i see cas’ human arc on the show. Not super destiel-y but can be read that way. Again quite heavy. Northernsparrow is an excellent writer.

The dean winchester beat sheet (E, 144k): au where dean is in college and in complete and utter denial about his sexuality. So supremely funny. I will say this dean is not for everyone. But to me he is iconic and i think about certain scenes still. Forever changed the song i want to break free for me.

What has eight tentacles and isn’t allowed to eat pie? (T, 16k): basically uhhhh dean gets turned into an octopus. HEAR ME OUT. This fic will change you fundamentally as a person. It’s funny but also smart. A classic!

Maybe it really is the end (M, 2k): it’s short but there’s not a word out of place. Basically, belphegor taunts dean and cas while in the body of jack. It’s so good and so underrated. I think about it all the time

How a grocer watches dean pull his head out of his ass in seven days (E, 51k): destiel written from an outsider pov, a christian lady who’s easily scandalised and whose narrative voice is SO hilarious. One of the funniest fics i’ve ever read. Fake dating too!

[oldbutchdanielcraig]

you uhhh... wanna rec some more zamasian fics? absolutely floored by the one that just updated, this is something i didn't know i needed and now that i have it, i desperately need more

absolutely i do >:)

my body is to taste like you testing your fate by sweettartheart

It's all scenes. We have no form without the viewer. We have no cause but to fill this place with wonder. (Or: Eric demands a new scriptwriter.)

i've recced this one a lot AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN❗️it's everything to me and it's complete at last. it's so hot and funny and unique and beyond being an insane rpf text it's also, like, just really clever. people who can write like this i bow at their feet. the creativity is insane.

oh, my clumsy voice by englishsummerrain

“Well,” Eric says. He taps a finger against the corner of Assad’s mouth, smiling. “What would Armand do?”

real ones will remember the night that my life was changed forever when i was like haha what if i went into the ship tag for these guys on ao3. and i read this. and it literally rewired my brain chemistry. literally haven't moved on from it as you all know. zamasian rpf history starts and ends with this work.

wishful thinking by englishsummerrain

It’s not even like it would be incriminating if Assad was caught — he’s an amateur director, he’s just doing his job.

i mean read everything kels has ever written like ever but i also am a huge fan of this one. hey girls did you know that uhmmmm i love a narrative within a narrative. assad writes dm threesome smut and it's so good

1991 by duri

Assad finds himself in NYC, 1991 and there's only one thing on his mind.

first and foremost i am a fan of assad wanting to fuck that old man. second and foremost i am a fan of assad being kind of freaky obsessed with that man which is really what's allowed to shine here. also i get the desire to time travel to intentionally forge a creative partnership between these guys who should have been the. idk who to name drop here. of the experimental theater world. plus it's now a series with dramaaaaaaa

cutting teeth by cannibalenthusiast

Assad hates the feeling of prop fangs in his mouth. Eric helps, until he doesn't.

sorry for reccing one of my own fics but i was wearing fake fangs at a party last night and i was thinking about this the whole time. now i know how assad felt

next i would recommend just plowing through all 59 works and feeling crazy but free. and then writing more so we can someday reach the triple digits 💪

[tiktaalic]

i come to you for a destiel fic recommendation. urgently. i have neither the desire nor the skill to actually comb through all that exists out there and i trust your taste unquestioningly. important to note: i think abt beat sheet every day of my life. it was so stupid and also the best thing i’ve ever read. and also the last thing i read was and this your living kiss which rewired my brain chemistry. do with this what you will. in lew of a fic i will also just take a really good amv recommendation tbh. 🙏

I was trying to link my ao3 bookmarks here and running into an astounding amount of errors which I’m taking as a sign to not do that. Supernatural fics I loved I can name off the top of my head:

A complete kingdom

Romantic theory

Every part of the animal

Time has come today

American oracle

Cheapest room in the house

Um. Crucially none of these are beat sheat even a little bit and the komodbits stuff is heavy on the read tags and make a judgement call pre read.im not a living kiss girlie but from the impression ive gotten time has come today could be up your alley. And cheapest room is kind of beat sheet-y in the broad strokes of crazy Dean. I can’t remember the name of it but the most recent thing I read that changed me was one where cas gets resurrected as hot girl cas and like. Starts DIY transitioning. While Dean is. Well he’s Dean Winchester. I was putting together a crazy Dean rec list for awhile a bunch of the ones I’ve listed are in there plus at least one more. My fic tag is really scattershot because it’s for any fic I’ve read and enjoyed but supernatural certainly makes its share of appearances in there. And it’s just #fic tag

[steddieunderdogfics]

This week’s writer spotlight feature is:  Penny00Dreadful! @penny00dreadful has 29 fics in the Stranger Things fandom with 25 of them being in the Steddie Tag!

@hbyrde36 recommends the following works by @penny00dreadful:

Crossroads

Cat and Mouse

I'll Tell You My Sins and You Can Sharpen Your Knife

And They Were Roommates!

The Parting Glass

Sam, on top of being an absolutely amazing writer (AND artist!), is one of the brightest lights in this fandom (in my humble opinion). She is incredibly kind and encouraging, always ready to uplift other authors in the Steddie and ST fanfic worlds. I have had the incredible pleasure of being her beta reader for quite some time now, and am consistently blown away by her talent. There isn't a single one of her works that I wouldn't recommend, they are all fantastic reads. -- @hbyrde36

Below the cut, @penny00dreadful answered some questions about their writing process and some of their recommended work!

Why do you write Steddie?

Opposites attract has always been a major draw for me, especially in my fandoms. Every pairing I’ve ever gotten into in every fandom I’ve been in have all been opposites attract and I’m not going to lie to you, I did not make that realization until this question. 😅 I had a very “Huh… that tracks” moment about it. 🤣 So the opposites attract factor is definitely big for me and while I suppose you could say that’s true for many, many pairings in fandom, there’s something about the complete opposite of both Steve and Eddie that is just enrapturing. From their aesthetic, to their personalities, to their upbringing, it creates such incredibly interesting parallels and options for building stories around them. On top of that, the two of them are so compelling as characters. Their various hang ups and traumas, their loves and hates, the time period and the genre of work they originated in all coalesce into something so captivating. I adore the two of them so much, they’re so fascinating. I think everyone can find a little bit of themselves in either one of them, but especially with the addition of Eddie into the series we got a character who was ‘other’, in the same way so many of us feel and are seen, he speaks to us on such a personal level. So, yeah. I love them.

What’s your favorite trope to READ?

Oh boy. There are so many. Enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, fluff. But if I had to pick one that has been my longest standing love, it would have to be a slow burn. Like, when it hits, it hits. And it hits hard.

What’s your favorite trope to WRITE?

I looooove writing some tasty hurt/comfort. There’s just something so addictive about someone needing to be taken care of after something bad or traumatic happens or they’ve just had a really shitty day. It’s so cathartic. And also, I cannot like, I love getting comments screaming at me that I’ve made people hurt or cry or feel things because I know I’m going to make it better, I’m gonna give them that comfort. And it’s such an incredible compliment from people when they tell me that my writing has made them feel feelings. Like it is the highest praise possible that I could induce that in someone. It feels amazing.

What’s your favorite Steddie fic?

Oh my god, that is such a difficult question to answer. I have read so many that have left a permanent mark on my heart or completely rewired my brain. I had to go look through my bookmarks to narrow it down because my god, there are so many talented people in this fandom and even then I was attempted to just give a list of all my top ones because, god they make me feel so many things, people are so fucking talented, I love them. But I would say if I had to choose one, there’s one that lives rent free in my brain. I think of it all the time, it is so god damn special to me and if I’m being honest with myself, it’s the first one that came to mind, It would have to be wouldn’t it be nice (if we could wake up) by kissesforcas  kissesforcas I have talked about this fic on my blog before but it just hits me in the right way every time I read it, it’s absolutely magical. I can’t recommend it enough, please go read it. It changed me completely.  There’s so many beautiful moments in it, the two boys are so protective of each other in it, but they also adore their found family and will defend them at any cost, the two of them feel real, their communication feels genuine and honest and realistic while also being true to their characters, I just adore it.

Is there a trope you’re excited to explore in a future work but haven’t yet?

YES. FANTASY. It is wild to me that I have not done a fully fledged fantasy AU at all yet. Like I adore fantasy, what gives? Why have I not done it yet? Omg ALSO, historical. Like a lot of my special interests are historical based, WHY have I not done that yet?? AND, AND horror maybe? Like a psychological or zombie or paranormal/supernatural or slasher. So many things I haven’t explored that I want to do, and I can’t wait!

What is your writing process like?

Okay, so first things first, I get an idea.  Kind of obvious, I know, but yeah, the idea stage. Usually it’ll be something that hit out of nowhere, I’ll write down one line in the ideas doc and then pretend I won’t be thinking of it for the rest of the day. Then when I admit to myself I want to expand on it, I’ll take all of the brain worms attached to that idea and put them in their own doc. It’ll all be VERY disjointed at this stage, just a stream of consciousness of different situations/conversations/plot bunnies that popped into my head. Once I feel like I have enough of a concept through that, I begin to put them in order, maybe add a few more. Then I outline. I’m an outline kinda gal.  Over a page or two I’ll give a bare bones outline of what the fic will be, almost like it’s a short story? But still very rough.  Then I’ll start writing, usually in chronological order, I find that makes it easier to plant seeds and foreshadow and create consistency with the voice of the fic. Sometimes I will jump ahead if I’m really excited about a particular part of the fic, I’ll get it out before I lose steam on it. HOWEVER, I find that I almost ALWAYS diverge from the outline. If, as I’m writing, things start going in a different direction, I go with the flow, I don’t fight it. Fighting it, I feel is detrimental to my writing, trying to force myself into a box and hey, going with the flow has been working out pretty well for me so far. 🤣

Do you have any writing quirks?

Quirks? I dunno about that. I think I’m a pretty standard writer, but I do end up writing across three devices a lot of the time depending on where’s more comfortable. PC, tablet and phone. I’ll always stick to writing whatever my brain is focusing on at that time, but if I know I need to get a fic out and I��m not really feeling the inspo anymore, I’ll give myself an extra boost by watching movies with similar themes, listening to music related to it, or even just searching the trope on Pinterest can help me generate excitement about it again.Also do yourself a favor and get yourself a Bluetooth keyboard. It’s a game changer for writing on your phone.

Do you prefer posting when you’ve finished writing or on a schedule?

I’ve done both and I much prefer posting on a set schedule. I always try to get the fic at least 50% finished before I start posting to give myself a nice cushion. Yeah, the immediate endorphin hit of posting once I’m done is great, but I much prefer the option to have a fic mostly or completely done before I post, so I can go back in and tweak things to make a theme hit harder or stick in a tad more foreshadowing or even just to edit.

Which fic are you most proud of?

I love all of my works, honestly. I write for me. I write the things I want to read. I think it would be difficult to narrow down a fic that I am the most proud of. Like I’m actually having a really difficult time picking one and saying “This one. This is the one I am most proud of.” Because I am proud of all of them and it’s for each of their own reasons. Like, some are very, very personal to me, some are stories that made me feel completely unhinged and obsessed(affectionately) and some are stories that touched people in very real ways, or made them feel safe and seen and that is so incredibly special to me. It’s a bit of a cop out to say that I can’t pick one, I can’t choose between my children, but I really can’t, they’re all so special, at least to me, in their own ways.

How did you get the idea for Crossroads?

So I have never seen the movie The Old Guard, but I have heard of it and while I know that reincarnation is not an aspect of that movie, I was struck with the idea of someone going through life over, and over, and over again, just to be close to the one they love the most. Like that kind of time bending devotion. And I had a brain worm of various historical ways of dying and I couldn’t figure out a way to write all of them into one fic before the idea of reincarnation hit. The very first image I had in my head of Eddie dying was being burned at the stake, so I had to work my way up to that time period and beyond. I knew I didn’t want it to be something that had only happened a few times over a couple of hundred years.  I knew I wanted it to be an ancient, centuries spanning kind of devoted love which is what led me to Ancient Greece, and in leading me there, I had to figure out why this was happening. Why Steve was traversing time just to be next to his boy again. Hecate appeared out of the mist and invaded my brain and it all kind of spilled out onto the page after that. 

When writing Cat and Mouse, what was something you didn’t expect?

I gotta be honest, the whole fic was unexpected. 😅 It was one of those stories when I originally thought of it, it was only gonna be a short little thing, maybe one or two chapters. By the end of it we were at 16 chapters and over 70K. Apparently I have no idea how to write anything short. But I think what also took me by surprise was how feral the two of them were for each other even though they didn't actually get together until later. I knew I wanted to have them being snappy and flirtatious for the whole thing and it evolved into the two of them being so dedicated to each other after only meeting a few times. I also didn’t expect the wild reaction I got to the fic, people loved it and were chomping for more and I was floored by it, it made me so incandescently happy!

What inspired Cat and Mouse?

So, the short answer is I saw this post from steddielations and it burrowed so deep into my brain, I had to get it out! Long answer is it was a mix of that post, and then a bit of Mr & Mrs. Smith mixed in along with John Wick. I just loved the idea of two deadly people being so soft for each other they’d be willing to burn the world for each other, do anything at any cost to keep the other safe.

What was your favorite part to write from And They Were Roommates!?

Oh my god, the banter. The banter was loaded with bitching and queerspeak and jabs, it was so much fun. I hadn’t really seen a story where the steddie boys had been bitchy queers before, like leaning into it and I just had to, I had to. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up and I could have gone on for ages just the two of them biting back and forth.

How do/did you feel writing I'll Tell You My Sins and You Can Sharpen Your Knife?

Conflicted, honestly. I was worried the POV I was writing from would be a little too out there, you know? There were a few times throughout writing where I thought I’d have to go back and change it out to be more of a standard fic but at the end of the day it felt so right to have the story told the way it was and it also felt very in line with Take Me To Church as well. It’s also the most poetic piece of writing I have done to date and while it’s not something I can see myself revisiting too often, it was a fantastic exercise in moving out of my comfort zone. It got me, right in the heart.

What was the most difficult part of writing The Parting Glass?

Oh boy. The whole fic was an exercise in catharsis. It was a way of processing my own grief after losing a family member and getting it all out into words was very, very helpful. I think the hardest part was just putting down into words how Eddie was feeling right in the aftermath, you know? Like grief is such a personal thing, everyone experiences it differently, so I wanted to try to figure out how Eddie would respond to it, especially considering it was the death of someone so important to him. So to have him looking around the trailer and it being empty but still with bits of Wayne dotted around like he was about to walk back through the door was probably the realest and most difficult part for me.

Do you have a favorite scene and/or line from any of your fics?

Oh god there’s so many! I could pick so many! But the first thing that came to mind is the small interaction between Eddie and Robin in Return of The King, when Steve is demonstrating his newly acquired vampire strength for the kids and Eddie has to hold onto Robin to keep himself from melting into a puddle: “Down boy.” She muttered. “Me next.” He practically whimpered right back. “Oh god, Robbie, I wanna be that stump. Tell him to do me next.” “You’re pathetic.” “What about it?” [...] Robin leaned in close to his ear but continued to stare at Steve. “If you two don’t calm the fuck down I’m going to get the hose.” Wet Steve. “Please get the hose.” I love Robin and Eddie together whenever I can get them snarking at each other, it’s just so entertaining. 

Do you have any upcoming projects or fics you’d like to share/promote?

Oh yeah! A good few things. I’m coming back from my writing break and I’m going to be working on the final two fics for my anniversary event, Through The Valley and Devotion.  I also have a Summer Exchange Fic in the works along with starting on my Steddie Big Bang piece that I am also signed up for as an artist, I’m so excited to start them!

Outside of these questions, Is there anything YOU would like to add?

I think I would just like to add that this blog, this concept is such a wonderful idea, you’re doing great work here to bring people and fics to new eyes and it has been an honor and a privilege to be put forward the way I have, I’m so so so thankful. 🖤

Thank you to our author, @penny00dreadful, and our nominator, @hbyrde36! See more of Penny00Dreadful's works featured on our page throughout the day!

Writer’s Spotlight is every Wednesday! Want to nominate an author? You can nominate them here!

[bedlamsbard]

how would you rate the MCU's use of alternate realities so far? as someone who's done that before and done it well, imo

oh, terrible, there hasn't been one version of it yet that I think has been done well. there are, for example, individual What If episodes that I've liked, but by and large those haven't been the episodes that have contributed to the wider What If plot (which I think is done very poorly and is designed to drive me, personally, insane). DSMOM didn't handle its alternate realities well, Loki S1 (I haven't seen S2) obviously rewired my brain but then I didn't really like how they handled most of the season, and the stinger at the end of The Marvels -- well, it's a stinger, you know? it doesn't tell us anything until we get the next thing. and that's it, right? in the greater MCU? I might be missing something, but unless we're counting the Quantumania post-credits that I'm pretty sure Marvel is trying to ignore in pure panic about the Jonathan Majors situation there's not actually anything...wait, I forgot about Spider-Man: No Way Home.

As a movie I think it's basically fine, but it (and to a lesser extent Loki) set up a precedent that I think the MCU is really struggling with in its treatment of alternate universes, which is whether alternate versions of mainline MCU characters (for various reasons I really dislike the term variant, so I don't use it) should be played by the same actors. and the fact that the MCU doesn't know how to deal with this is a big problem, way more so on a fundamental level than the whole cameo deal. because the thing is, they need the name and face recognition of the known actors -- on a practical level, because that's the person that the audience is attached to, which is why they can cheat by doing what NWH (and, I'm assuming, Deadpool & Wolverine, which I haven't seen yet) does and use actors/characters from older Marvel non-MCU films; at least some of the audience already knows them. like, am I going to be attached to a MCU Steve Rogers that isn't played by Chris Evans or a Natasha Romanoff that isn't played by Scarlett Johansson? honestly, no -- and I know this because I don't have emotional reactions to the animated versions of the characters, whether in What If? or in non-MCU Marvel animated stuff; I literally don't register them as the same character. I register them as a Nat or Steve, but not the Nat or Steve.

(sidebar: this may partially just be my issue, I'm super aural; going back to my SW days I don't register the TCW versions of the PT characters as the same characters either. as a Anakin or Obi-Wan or Padme, but not the same Anakin or Obi-Wan or Padme. my tolerance for this sort of thing is considerably lower now than it was during my SW days, partially because of how SW has handled the animation-live action transition. some of that has spilled over into how I process the MCU. no, I'm not thrilled about it either and I'm not going to poke to see how much, I just know that it's there.)

NWH and Loki both cast different actors as different versions of the same character, and then DSMOM and The Marvels didn't (Loki actually did both, tbh, and Quantumania rode its coattails) and now here we are. I think Marvel really does not know how to deal with this; on one level, it's just straight-up confusing to the audience. And that kind of kicks over into my other issue with how they've been dealing with alternate universes, which is a completely different way than how most fanfic writers deal with alternate universes. And by most fanfic writers I mean me, though I'm absolutely not the only fic writer who does this.

it's the "what is an AU" problem.

so I write what I call single point divergence AUs -- what if one thing (big or small) changes and various consequences cascade from that. I'm very, very strict about this. I use the same base worldbuilding for every universe, I use the same consistent rules of the MCU up until whatever my divergence point is, everything else in that universe is the same unless the difference can be linked back to that original divergence point. (I also have an internal MCU divergence point where I treat anything from canon after that point as weak canon at best, because I am genuinely convinced that there's an in-universe split even if Marvel never confirms this.) I'm very serious about this. I know the canon that I work with inside and out; if I have to choose between two contradicting pieces of canon, because Marvel has contradicted itself a few times, I will go with what I think makes the most logical sense based on all of the other evidence around it. I have thought everything through backwards, forwards, and sideways because I want that AU and its consequences to be rock solid. I don't do "wouldn't it be neat if --" unless I can back it up because otherwise it won't hold water for me. I will always see the weak spots and they'll always make me nuts; it will not be structurally sound for me and I can't work with that. I'm a little more extreme about it than your average fic writer, but many writers do single point divergence AUs, because most fic writers actually care a lot about canon. which is why they're writing fanfic about it!

the actual MCU does not do that. the actual MCU does a combo of "wouldn't it be neat if --" and "wouldn't it be fucked up if --" but with only the barest groundwork or support. I will fight What If in a Waffle House parking lot, because WI masquerades as single point divergence but is actually "wouldn't it be neat if --" Specifically designed to drive me, personally, insane. NWH also does "wouldn't it be neat if --" but at least they were sincere about it, I don't think DSMOM actually thought about it at all. With What If it's incredibly obvious what they thought was stupid in the mainline MCU.

they're also using the alternate universes as a shortcut to bring in non-mainline MCU characters and properties and frankly I hate that because I think it's weakening what the MCU's greatest strength has always been.

anyway, this is a lot of rambling and I'm not sure I actually came to a coherent point anywhere, but yeah. the MCU's treatment of alternate universes makes me really sad and a little upset, because I love alternate universes and treated well they're devastating. but the MCU -- and this is actually true for comics as well -- does not handle them the same way most fic writers do. in fact, the only genre that handles AUs the way that most fic writers (who are doing divergence, either single point or otherwise, not like...coffeeshop AUs) do is alternate history. which is why I always say that historical fiction is the closest genre to fanfiction.

[rbkzz]

...[*whispered*] wip wednesday?

(context under the cut)

(is this is too long?)

(i wrote a trixie/keris one-shot)

(it is my first written thing)

(i am so nervous!)

(trixie pov)

Penelope Bunce is once again whirling around our room like a frizzy haired tornado.  She has literally picked up and put down every single article of clothing, book, paper, or other object at least twice (except the box under my bed, thank goodness I spelled that).

She’s such a menace – their whole golden trio is.  People say I’m annoying because of my dust, short attention span, and possessive tendencies (well anyone who had to grow up in a lower faedom and pay a tithe to the aes sidhe of all your most precious belongings each year would end up being a possessive brat too! I just don't like to share if I can avoid it is all)... 

…but I think the ‘golden trio’ made up of Snowbuncebelove should get an actual award for being the most annoying, self-absorbed students at Watford.  Nobody else would stand a chance - they’d win that award category every year.

Recently on discord my alpha @noblecorgi was lamenting the lack of lesbian smut in the CO fandom... they then got into an interesting discussion with @roomwithanopenfire about pixies/other fae folk. There was aaaalso a recent conversation about Niamh and their perspective in AWTWB about how the leads of CO had been living in their own bubble at Watford (unreliable narrators the whole lot of 'em!!)

Even though I don't write I loved the ideas that were shared, so I decided to try to smoosh them all together into a Trixie/Keris one-shot lesbian smut fic.

I got really excited about writing and caught up in the experience of it - it was so much fun!! Now I know why people do it! @roomwithanopenfire even beta read for me for which I am soooo grateful ♡♡♡♡

......aaaand then the next day I embarked on an intense perfectionist shame spiral (iykyk) and decided I should hide myself and my ideas away forevermore 🥲

However...... my brain itself is an unreliable narrator 🫠 And my recent therapy homework is to regularly try new things, mess up publicly, and be imperfect in order to rewire my brain to understand that I am still okay even when I am bad at things. Sooo I am posting part of my first fic here as therapy homework and for accountability as well as to continue on my plight of becoming consistently and unabashedly imperfect. Maybe someday I'll find the courage to post it on ao3 😬

I don't know about tags because I'm still so confused and shy about putting myself out here on tumblr 🙊 but I doooo want to say THANK YOU for tags and hellos! I love to read what y'all are up to, even though I usually wait til fics are posted in completion before starting (I'm too impatient to wait for chapter updates 🤪). xoxo!

my first wip wednesday!

[eleadore]

I spent the last few days going through your entire fic catalog and your sex pollen fic has completely rewired my brain? I had no idea I needed this Harry. I'm changed and it's fantastic

thank you my friend !! sex pollen was written in a frenzy vacuum so it is exactly what i wanted, i am very happy you liked it

[hobbitwrangler]

Fanfic writer interview

Thank you @sotwk for tagging me! I did this back in April but I've written quite a few fics since then so let's go!

How many works do you have on AO3? 14

What's your total AO3 word count? 54,851

Your top 5 stories by kudos/likes:

I feel like this has likely not changed since last time XD

Victory in Defeat (Faramir/Éowyn)

White Blossom (Boromir & OC)

A Monster in the Shadows (Éowyn & Théoden)

The Power of Tea (Gilraen & Bilbo)

At the Death of a Friend (Galadriel & Saruman)

(The People have spoken. They want Farawyn swordfights and Boromir to be happy and alive.)

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes! Although I may take a while to get to it due to life in general (or I'm staring lovingly at your comment, whispering 'my preciousssss' like Gollum with the Ring, unwilling to relinquish it from my inbox, it's mine, it's mine, it came to me! ... ahem).

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

the plain sight of our destiny is the cruellest thing of all - yeah, hope and joy are not really on the menu in Sauron-era Umbar.

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

The Face of Spring ... if we ignore canon (which I did while writing it, because I am deluded). This fic is basically an increasingly rapid slide into complete joy (again, don't look at the canon). Otherwise probably Victory in Defeat. (I find it kind of neat that both of these fics feature members of the House of Eorl being absolutely head-over-heels in love with their partner. Because that is the true meaning of happiness.)

Do you write crossovers?

No.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Nope.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No, although never say never. I never thought I'd write darkfic but here we are.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No. And I am a control freak so I doubt it would be a good idea.

What's your all-time favorite ship?

*gestures helplessly at Farawyn* It's kind of my thing.

(Although my uncle has told me that watching Battlestar Galactica will rewire my brain in this department. Check back in a few months to see if he knows what he's talking about.)

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

A Hunger Games fic from a few years ago. I love the characters dearly but there isn't really enough plot to hold it together.

What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue, I think, and descriptions of emotion.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Any descriptive passages. Why can't I just project my vision into my readers' brains? Why? (Although I have been informed by @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras that I write disgusting grime and water-logged corpses very well :D)

I also hate outlining which is objectively bad because outlining helps so much.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Full sentences? No. The odd phrase in Sindarin/Quenya? Sure.

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

The Fall of the House of Usher. That show is still eating my brain and I need to exorcise some of my thoughts. I don't know if I'll end up posting anything or if it will be coherent enough to post but I'm gonna have a crack at it the minute all the vitamins I'm taking kick in and I have energy again.

What's your favorite fic you've written?

I love all my fics for different reasons but at the moment I'm feeling particularly proud of out of the water, cold and blue, because it was just such an experience to write and I am so, so happy with how it turned out. I really enjoyed torturing writing Tar-Míriel and Elendil and their terrible, tragic, twisted dynamic very normal lord-vassal conversation.

tagging @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras @aredhels @queerofthedagger @dilettantefeminist @mithrandirl @welcomingdisaster @swanmaids if you'd like to do this!

[lostcauses-noregrets]

Genuine question, how did you not lose interest in eruri all this time?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If only with I knew Anon! I genuinely have no idea how the spark has stayed alive for so long. It hasn't been a conscious decision on my part, it just....is. I mean obviously Erwin and Levi are amazing characters and I love them very much, but it's been almost 10 years now and I'm as surprised as anyone that I'm still here. Many of my closest friends have moved on to new fandoms, but I still haven't found anything else that has rewired my brain the same way Eruri did. That's not to say things haven't changed. I do feel like I'm reaching the end of my writing lifespan in that I think I've written almost everything I want to write for Erwin and Levi. I've got a couple more fics in the works, but I don't know it there will be many more after that. We'll see though. I can never predict when inspiration might strike. I still really enjoy following the fandom though and I love reading all the asks I get here on tumblr. I just wish I had more time to answer them all!

Sorry Anon, I'm not sure that answers your question, but to be honest it's a complete mystery to me!

[baby-xemnas]

im going to b real with you you totally rewired my brain about law i used to be SUPER into l/awl/u i liked them so much a i read a million fics and then i found ur stuff and now i only like lawbepo. it totally erased whatever feelings i had before i straight up am no longer interested even though i was so much. howd u do that

🥰🥰🥰

gonna run on the energy that this message gave me for AWHILE thank you so much for telling me this

heeehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

Bepo got introduced as Law's right hand and he is THAT

Why do fans respect kidkill but not lawbepo huh??? oh the bear is too weird? WELL LAW CHOSE HIM!!! he didnt chose any of his human crew members, he chose the bear! it could have been so one of the regular guys was presented as a number 2 in heart pirates, with bepo just being there as comic relief - BUT WE DONT LIVE IN THAT REALITY 🥳 Its Bepo forever always next to Law

ill hide the rest of this response so nobody gets upset, cuz ill be comparing the two ships. seriously dont read it as a fan of the other just to get mad at me, im not out to get you

im so glad you could tear away from heaps and heaps of content that shipping lawlu provides. you are da real one

...but its a stretch. in the story Law is very insistent that he is grateful for Luffys help - but its nothing more. He didnt warm up to him, he didnt warm up to strawhats. Oda was Very specific about writing Law keeping his distance. And i appreciate it to no end.

How easy would it be to write Law like ohhh those guyyyys, oh those idiots. kinda tsundere like, showing strawhats a soft side. But he Does NOT.

He wants to get back to his crew. He is very insistent on it.

lawbepo is just more real

lawbepo doesnt have to stretch Law's character into some miserable sad man, who gets saved by Luffys sunshine - He is simply not like that

LawBepo doesnt pretend that Law would get flustered and his heart would skip a beat by Luffys overfamiliarity. Law shown again and again that he doesnt secretly like it, he hates it

and so on...with Bepo Law can stay himself as he is in the story. The wounds of losing his family and Cora have healed thanks to his new family that he loves and they love him (lawlu distracts from law's crew - they are a supportive accessory and not Laws family that fullfills him - in lawlu he is Lacking Something that has to be filled by Luffy) With Bepo, Law is complete, he found a family that loves him, Bepo who loves him THE MOST.

Bepo is so crazy in love with him and Law reciprocates - more subtly of course, because its his personality - but he does ...Bepo gets special treatment from Law. And its crazy!!!!!

Cuz Law is so stuck up and serious but he folds to Bepo!!! He has bear merchandise.....from a guy that serious and no nonsense - these are such Huge things.

LawBepo does law's character so good ...but i talk about it daily i should sleep now

[polutrope]

End of Year Fic Recs

Thanks @sallysavestheday for starting this template, and for the tag!

Recommend up to 5 series or multi-chapter fics from 2023 that everyone should read (multi-year WIPs count, if the last update was in 2023).

Recommend up to 5 single chapter fics/one-shots (long or short) from 2023 that everyone should read.

Recommend up to 5 fics NOT from 2023 that everyone should read (oldies but goodies).

Recommend up to 5 of your own fics (completed or WIP) from 2023 that everyone should read.

This was so hard. I need time for ten more rec lists because I read so much good stuff this year. If you are not on here but I commented on your fic this year, know that I sincerely wanted to put you on here. If you are not here and I didn't comment on your fic this year, please help me find it next year!!

Multi-Chapter/Other

Such a Marriage by DifferentSong (M, 29k, WiP). f!Maedhros/Maglor. Beautiful and unique treatment of these characters and relationship in the years after the second kinslaying. If you’re uncertain about this ship but curious, I highly recommend giving this story a try. 

Droit du Seigneur by destinedatoms (E, 6.4k, WiP). Various elven kings hook up with their mortal vassals. Each chapter is so funny and hot, and features povs from very underwritten female characters. 

Loyalty: A Tale in Three Voices (not rated, 10.1k, WiP) by @grey-gazania. Caranthir, Uldor, Easterling OFC. Compelling story, characters, and incredible worldbuilding following three unique POVs as an alliance is forged between the Easterlings and Feanorians. Great use of first-person. 

Price of Eternity (series) by Encairion (E, 1.83 million, WiP). The novels and stories in this series are not going to be for everyone. They tackle basically every difficult topic you can imagine. They include takes that would probably make some of my mutuals torch the swanships. But Encairion does it all so skillfully. She’s like an artist who has mastered the techniques (i.e., the canon) and then does something radically original that only works because she has that foundation down. Some of her characterisations rewired my brain. I’m still far from done reading the series, but it’s truly a monumental achievement and so worth diving into with an open mind.

Celegorm by @dawnfelagund (reference work). Dawn’s bio of Celegorm for the Silmarillion Writers’ Guild is meticulously researched and engagingly written. Definitely worth a read for any fans of the Fëanorians or just how Tolkien’s characters evolved over the course of the legendarium’s development.

One-shots

The dining room by @ettelene (T, 8.8k). Ettelene kills it with group scenes and dynamics and this riotous fic about a Feanorian family dinner at Formenos from Celebrimbor’s POV showcases it beautifully. 

Against His Wisdom by @melestasflight (M. 3.7k). Fingon/Fingolfin. A stunning, insightful look at the complexities of this relationship. Melesta handles the nature of the relationship so artfully. As always, their prose is so satisfyingly economical and impactful. I know the pairing may make some wary but I really encourage people to give it a try.

stardrop by @welcomingdisaster (T, 0.7k). Daeron/Maglor. I almost wept when I read this fic because it's so perfect. Lena somehow managed to get everything I love about this ship into 700 words. Doom, deceit, cultural misunderstandings, telling the narrative of your own life, immortality/mortality… if you want to know why I love Daemags, read this. 

As Little as Might be Thought by @imakemywings (T, 2.9k). “Kidnap fam”. Rocky is a master of the argument and this spat between Maedhros and Maglor over the peredhel’s upbringing showcases it. So much characterisation and complicated relationship dynamics packed into this short piece. 

Memories, Like Grains of Sand by @cuarthol (G, 1k). Elrond & Elros. cuarthol wrote some beautiful, complex works this year but this short piece stood out for me. The peredhel twins return to Balar and try to piece together their memories of Sirion. Showcases cuarthol’s talent for little moments of intimacy that will make you cry, not because they are particularly tragic (though they may be), but because they feel so real.

Oldies

Maglor and Daeron Sing the Blues by Voidflower (G, 5.6k). Maglor and Daeron meet in the Mississippi delta in the 1920s. I want to pour this fic in a crystal glass and sip on it on a rainy evening. Gorgeous prose and deeply satisfying character dynamics. 2018.

Dancing with my punchlines by LiveOakWithMoss (M, 321k). I know this Modern AU is fandom-famous already, but by god there’s a reason. I could not put these dramamonsters down. It was funny, it was touching, and it was spicy. I want to rip this fic open like a bag of chips and shovel it into my mouth in great handfuls. 2016. 

What We May Become by @naryaflame (M, 8.8k). Caranthir/Finrod. Narya’s prose is delectably crisp and sensuous and I just loved reading this well-constructed nonlinear story of a fascinating rarepair. 2020.

The Redemption of Daeron by Rhunedhel (T, 7.3k). Daeron/OFC. I actually just found this and have not actually finished it, but I’ve read the first two chapters and it’s such a beautiful alliterative verse poem (!!) and original story of Daeron among the Avari. 1997.

An Education by @i-am-a-lonely-visitor (M, 49.4k). visitor has some of the most scrumptious, clever prose and most memorable characterisations I have read in the fandom and this first installment of his Elrondverse covering the early years is bursting with peredhel coming-of-age delights. 2021.

Mine

Scorched (E, 4.9k). Elrond/Maedhros, Maedhros/Maglor, Elrond & Elros. A psychosexual unfamily drama on Amon Ereb. Really enjoyed the experience of letting this tale unravel as I dipped into the minds of all four characters. 

First Contact (T, 2.7k). Daeron/Maglor. Post-canon (they both sail). Daeron meets Fëanor. It’s a silly bit of sitcom, but also it’s about healing. 

Who By Fire (M, 4.9k). Amrod/Fingolfin. A deep dark dive into the psyches of two hurting men in the early days of Fingolfin in Beleriand. 

If You Are the Healer (E, 4.6k). Maedhros/Maglor. Liege/vassal dynamics and heaps of angst surrounding Maedhros’ decision to abdicate to Fingolfin. It’s fucked up, but they love each other. 

Everlasting Darkness (E, 10.2k). Earendil/Maedhros, Elwing/Maglor (also Elwing/Earendil, Maedhros/Maglor). Canon divergence shitshow where Maedhros and Maglor are released from their oath on condition that they serve Eärendil and Elwing. My first fic of 2023, and it set me careening off the rails. No regrets.

[Bonus fic under my pseud: Played (E, 12.1k) by disastrousexpense. Maedhros/Maglor, Fingon/Maedhros. Absolutely off-the-rails smut between two asshole brothers in Valinor. It was SO FUN to write.]

Tagging the people tagged already and @curufiin @elentarial @lightqueer @searchingforserendipity25 @ladysternchen @tethysresort if you'd like to share your recs!

[beyondplusultra]

mango hiii!! do you have any fic recs? my trust in your taste is absolute after you've obliterated me with your 2/2 comic with that war of vaslav nijinsky quote <3

Hello hello!! First of all, I'm glad you liked the comic! It was a joy to make, and an even greater joy to see how people have reacted to it :)

As for fic recs, here are a few of my all time favorites!

2/2 fics that will make you stare at the ceiling for an indeterminate amount of time as you contemplate life:

you've got me seeing through different eyes by futuresoon - this is the First Ever Shuake Fic I ever read and I immediately spiraled into the abyss from which I've never managed to crawl out. It's a very popular fic, so chances are you've read it already, but it's absolute peak 2/2 bad end content and I'm obligated to put it in every rec list

One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy by telekinetics - cries

Last Night on Earth by TzviaAriella - CRIES

Long fics that made me read long fic:

Black Star by HassouToby - This is pre-Royal, and for the longest time was what I accepted as my headcanon for what happened after vanilla's events. Not akeshu, but has some of my favorite characterizations of all the phantom thieves I've ever read, and honestly just a completely wild ride that WILL suck you in.

The Brigverse series by TzviaAriella - Akeshu pirate AU. Do I have to say anything else here. The third installment of the main series is currently ongoing as of this post's writing!

The Liminality series by MistressEast - NG+ with a twist. It's. It's so good you guys.

The Next Time Around by chashmish - No powers AU, this fic is about Akechi and Akira reuniting and rekindling a relationship during the events of Makoto and Ann's destination wedding in Italy. It's a fic I always fall back on when I want a feel-good time!

One-shots that rewired my brain chemistry:

you have to let it breathe, my love by ThirtySixSaveFiles - No powers AU, an akeshu love story that starts when the two of them meet in a wine shop.

hold my hand by relationshipcrimes - Gen fic, Akechi and Futaba bonding time, because Akira left Tokyo, and on this particular day Akechi is her only key item choice.

(don't shoot) the messenger by shouldbeworking - Ryuji is the center of a misunderstanding. This one never fails to make me laugh!

before midnight by specterthief - You guys know how during third sem, Maruki wired Sumi's parents to think she was at gymnastics boot camp or whatever? Yeah what the FUCK was up with that.

anywhere, i would have followed you by shantealeaves - MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH. I've only read this fic once. One time. Ever. It's imprinted into my brain. Mind the tags!