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picnokinesis · 10 months ago

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thirteenth doctor and spymaster fic recs

all clear by wreckageofstars (8k, 1 chapter, thoschei/gen) summary: London’s on fire, the Doctor’s trapped in her own head, and only her worst enemy can save her. //I know I literally always rec this author in these lists, I know, but like if you've read these fics, you'll know I'm justified because they are all just brilliant. This one is no exception. The doctor and the master are so wonderfully on point, with this antagonistic push and pull between them both, whilst they both desperately try and avoid the fact that they actually still care deeply for one another - but they also hate each other's guts at the same time! And the master is there to cause problems on purpose whilst the doctor is an absolute mess post-Orphan 55 and making everything worse. An absolute joy of a fic.

the gardener by riptheh (6k, 1 chapter, thoschei/gen) summary: The Master kills because it's all he has left. Until it's not. //I had a reaaaally hard time picking fics for this post, because there are so many fics with thirteen and spymaster that I absolutely adore - but I knew from the get go that this one had to be on here, come what may. It's much more of a character study focused on the master than anything else, but of course anything about the master is also about the doctor - and it's such a beautiful exploration of the master and his relationship with death (and then, life). Just absolutely gorgeous - and surprisingly uplifting by the end? Anyway. This fic got me good, so definitely make sure you check it out.

the art of dying by lupescx (10k, 4 chapters, thoschei) summary: The Master resurfaces into the Doctor's life only to die—one burst of regeneration energy and he's back on his feet. And then he dies again. And again. She can't keep doing this. //The title might have clued you in, but this one is angsty. Extremely angsty. But, wow, it's absolutely brilliant! What a fantastic exploration of the doctor and the master pushed to their absolute limits and unable to escape from an awful, inevitable cycle. It is pretty dark in places (actually a lot of these fics are, so always heed the tags!) but if that's your jive then this story is just such a treat. Highly recommend!

The Frayed by luchia (90k, 16 chapters, thoschei, wip) summary: The TARDIS recruits a rescue team for the Doctor after the Judoon take her away, and the Master really shouldn't go. Particularly if it includes having to hang around a freakish temporal monstrosity like Jack Harkness. Then again, what does he have to lose? He could die, sure, but that means nothing when he always (always always always) comes back, whether he wants to or not. //Okay so, in my humble opinion, this fic is some of the best spymaster characterisation that I've ever seen across the entire fandom. It's exceptional - the prose is just so full of character, brilliantly unreliable and just so SO fascinating and painful in equal measure (can you tell that I like angst? I love angst so much). And also just the imaginativeness of the story itself is absolutely incredible? There's some fantastic things in there about gallifreyan as a language and Time Lord culture and TARDISes - and, of course, the doctor and the master are completely awful in the best kind of way. And if the word count looks too much for you - consider just reading chapter 16. Yep. Just that one. Like, that rewrote my brain. I read it three times the day that it posted, and I've lost count of how many times I've read it since then. So, like, please. But also you should really really read the entire thing because it's brilliant

Ust-Kut by yonderdarling (1k, 1 chapter, thoschei) summary: Unfortunately, the Master survived. Unfortunately, he finds her TARDIS. Unfortunately, he wants to talk. //Okay. So, this fic? Is possibly one of my favourite spydoc fics ever. And you might be thinking "but, taka, it's only 1k, how can it be?" - well, trust me, it just can. Short but sweet but an absolute gut-punch at the same time. Such a fascinating look at the relationship between these two, the push and pull and the knife edge that they're both on all the time - and it's so tactile? I think that's what gets me about it, if I'm honest. Anyway, absolutely beautiful writing - succinct, but boy, does every word count. It's just so so good, guys.

and without you (is how i disappear) by empty_of_dust (4k, 1 chapter, thoschei) summary: “It’s simple,” she says, impassive, like she’s not holding their very history at knife-point. “Start talking, or I start cutting.” //So, funny story, this author only started posting spydoc fic about a year ago, but oh my word, my guys, they are insanely good. They just get these two in a way that drives me absolutely feral, and their writing style is such a joy to read. I was extremely torn on which fic of theirs to rec, but I settled on this one in the end. The sheer concept of it is absolutely brilliant and gut-wrenching in the most spydoc way ever: a mid-s12 doctor uses the history between her and the master as a bargaining tool to get him to tell her what he discovered in the matrix, blood and biting including. But, yknow. just do yourself a favour and read this author's entire body of work because it is extremely worth it. You won't regret it, I'm sure.

i only speak in silences by daring_elm (2k, 1 chapter, gen) summary: The Doctor can't just leave the Master behind, so she sends him a hologram. //do you ever get a fic that you forget exists, and then you find it again and go OHHHH THIS ONE??? That was me with this fic (and, honestly, this author, who has a ton of great stuff that you should all check out). We all know that the doctor and the master are awful at communicating, but this fic is such a wonderful exploration of it - of the ways that they refuse to be vulnerable with each other, the ways that they are so angry with each other, but also can't help but be drawn back to each other all at the same time. An absolute cracker!

awake and unafraid (asleep or dead) by SleepyMaddy (5k, 1 chapter, thoschei) summary: The Doctor has trouble sleeping. The Master, in typical fashion, makes it worse. //There are so many fics by this author that I could recommend on a post like this, but a spydoc rec post has got to have at least one fic on there that plays with O/13, because it's just such brilliant, painful angst in the softest way. And there are a great many fics that explore it, but this one just takes the cake. Impeccable s12 angst wrapped up in o/13 softness, complete with thirteen making terrible decisions for literally the entire thing. Absolutely astounding writing, beautifully in character and just so painful in the best kind of way. This one killed me, guys. It killed me.

chaos theory by BlueLillyBlue (61k, 11 chapters, gen, wip) summary: The TARDIS has crash-landed in England, 2019, and the Doctor is acting cagey. Also, spacetime might be collapsing. So... Yaz's week isn't off to a great start. //Ohhhh man ok ok. This fic. Is a goldmine. This author is just absolutely SPOT ON with how they write thirteen, and their plots are just an absolute delight and tick soooo many boxes for me. They always make the world they're writing in feel so rich and real, whether that's a starving community on a frozen moon or a hotel in Cornwall. But this one is just so up my street because the master is in it, and oh my GOODNESS guys, it's just - it's just so, so good. If you haven't been following this one along already, then get going on that, stat!

together, we average out to dry land by hawkeishest (1k, 1 chapter, thoschei) summary: If she thought about it, really, this was all Ryan’s fault. He was the one who’d touched the statue. Though, to be fair to him, she should have known the temple would have some kind of psychic defence system. And now her head felt like it was cracking open. //I feel like most people have read this one because it's such a classic, but for anyone who missed it or is new to the fandom - this one is a must read. Absolutely fantastic exploration of the doctor and the master's psychic abilities and the connection between them, written with the most gorgeous descriptions. Just brilliant. Go check it out!

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bildad-the-shuhite-official · 1 year ago

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Hurt/Comfort fanfic recommendations

A late night by wilywitchwahoo G, 400 words, h/c, insecure aziraphale, crying Crowley comforts his sad angel.

Your warmth is all I have by katterv T, 900 words, physical injury, mild blood, (gorgeous) fanart included Aziraphale is hurt, unconscious and so, so cold. Crowley hates it.

Morning Glory by HopeCoppice T, 1k, hurt/comfort, gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, genderfluid crowley, fem-presenting Crowley, insecurity, body image Crowley wakes early; Aziraphale watches him worry.

Your Effervescent Tears Cleanse My Core by TotallySnowy G, 1.1k, panic attacks, cuddling, aziraphale needs a hug It all started on a rather normal day in southeastern Londen, at specifically 4:05 AM in the morning, Aziraphale awoke with a start. Very, very peculiar for an angel, lest a nobel one at that. What was even more peculiar is that Aziraphale could feel his face become flushed. Quite peculiar indeed.

Evening Star by HopeCoppice T, 1.6k, insecurity, body dysmorphia, hurt/comfort, cuddling, non sexual intimacy, non sexual nudity Aziraphale seems reluctant to join Crowley in bed, and Crowley is determined to get to the bottom of it.

All Good Hearts are Heavy by Sarah_hadeschild G, 1.8k, depression, depressed crowley, fluff, hurt/comfort, protective aziraphale Crowley has always dealt with bouts of depression-- periods in which he cannot bring himself to do much more than exist. Over the centuries, he grew accustomed to enduring these episodes on his own. But now, Aziraphale is with him. And although the angel cannot miracle away his lover's distress, he can try the only remedy he knows with any certainty. He can love him.

Counting on your love by that_angels_demon T, 2.2k, insecure Aziraphale, body dysmorphia, kissing, making out, asexual relationship, non-sexual intimacy Having finally confessed their feelings for each other after the (almost) Apocalypse, Crowley and Aziraphale explore the physicality they've always craved. But when long-internalized insecurities come to light, Aziraphale isn't so sure his demon will want this after all…

crack me open, feel me shatter by rattatatosk T, 2.7k, nightmares, Crowley’s fall, body horror, hurt/comfort Crowley dreams of the Fall. Aziraphale is there to catch him when he wakes.

To Exist and Love by IneffableDoll T, 3.1k, hurt/comfort, acephobia, asexuality, south downs cottage, hurt crowley, ace affirming, fluff Crowley runs into someone who says some bigoted nonsense about the asexual nature of his and Aziraphale’s relationship. It leaves him fuming, so when he returns home to his angel, they talk through it and navigate the complex feelings and hurts the interaction brings up. Basically: A very ace-affirming spite fic.

Flight and Fight by Phantom531 T, 3.3k, panic attack, post season 2, hurt aziraphale, angry crowley, hurt/comfort, angst Aziraphale has a panic attack and reaches for the only person he ever needed. Unfortunately, Crowley is still REALLY angry.

Crossfire by NuriaSchnee M, 4.7k, locked, post Armageddon’t, love confessions, hurt/comfort, showering together, non-sexual intimacy, first kiss In which a shower can solve 6000 years of secrets and misunderstandings. Or: Aziraphale finally breaks down at Crowley's flat and Crowley takes care of him.

I Forgive You by Sparkling12 M, 6.3k, post season 2, hurt Aziraphale, aftermath of torture, hurt/comfort, love confessions, bathing, cuddling Crowley taking care of his traumatised angel, while plotting revenge on Metatron. Part of a series: - I Forgive You

Come as you are by fruitygoblin M, 10k, body dysmorphia, insecurity, wall sex Aziraphale visits a modern art gallery, goes on a diet, and submits to the mortifying ordeal of being known. Not necessarily in that order.

Everything I've Had by AppleSeeds M, 12k, human AU, chronic illness, chronic pain, hurt/comfort, bathing/washing, domestic fluff, childhood friends to lovers After developing a chronic illness that leaves him unable to live alone, Crowley moves back home to London where he reunites with his childhood best friend Aziraphale. Aziraphale helps to take care of Crowley and keeps him company while he's in bed, bringing them closer together and reigniting old feelings.

Touch my Tears with Your Lips by IneffableDoll T, 27k, post season 2, season 2 fix it, hurt/comfort, understimulation, making up, trauma, touch starvation, south down cottage In Heaven, there was nothing to touch. Aziraphale re-tied the knot of his bowtie again and again and again. He was alone, and nothing was real, and he was alone, and nothing was real.

#good omens #crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #aziracrow #good omens season 2 #good omens fic recs #good omens fanfiction

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shitpostingkats · 10 months ago

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What are your Twewy reaper headcanons?

NORMAL, I HAVE A NORMAL AMOUNT OF REAPER HEADCANONS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING

Okay so if you count Def March (which I absolutely do) there's twelve named Shibuya reapers. Which fits with the fact that every reaper corresponds to an animal of the chinese zodiac.

I'm just guessing with BJ and Tenho, according to Nomura every reaper has a hidden kanji in their names representing their animal, but I can't read japanese so I took a shot in the dark. Also, fun fact, Minamimoto can't rearrange the radicals in his name to spell boar, like he can with lion, his true noise form. But he's got a lot of boar symbolism, being found in Pork City, and his Leo Cantus Armo form having tusks, which ties into the fact that the Shinjuku reapers all have motifs based on hanafuda suits. MORE ON THAT LATER I AM VERY NORMAL ABOUT HIM.

Ahem. So awhile back I was considering writing a fic on all the Shibuya reapers and how they came to have their current jobs, what their games were like, etc. (Might still write this. I've been busy)

So I sat down to try and come up with headcanons for EVERY named Shibuya reaper, and now I hold every one of them near and dear to my heart.

Kariya is mentioned in game as the oldest reaper, probably having been around for longer than anyone else. I like to imagine there's a huge gap between him and any other current reaper, which drives Mitsuki CRAZY, this chill dude just hangs around and eats candy but also has seniority???? Also he's more powerful than any other reaper save maybe the composer?

The thing that did him in was lung cancer. The lollipop's a replacement cigarette, in much the same way people recommend chewing on hard candy if you're trying to quite smoking. Why did he decide to quit after he died, and he no longer had anything to worry about? Listen the Game's all about growth, and Kariya is possibly the strongest because he is so capable of change, of going with the flow, and learning from his mistakes.

Like every ex-Player, he had a partner when he won his game, and I don't have a whole lot of headcanons for them except 1) they chose to return to life, and 2) Uzuki reminds him of them a lot.

Mitsuki was a woman working her ass off to try and make it in male-led office, until she literally worked herself to death. As you might expect, this royally pissed her off. She was desperate to return to life, but unfortunately, her entry fee came as a pair. What her partner, a simple farmwoman from out of town, valued most was the ability to go unnoticed and unremarked on, while Mitsuki deeply coveted every scrap and morsel of recognition she could get.

So their partnership was cursed so no matter what they did, people's eyes would skate over Mitsuki, dismiss her, and Mitsuki's partner would be lauded with the credit. Mitsuki became almost invisible, while her partner was forced to step up and do most of the talking.

This led her partner feeling more comfortable with being seen, with taking up space, so when the chance came to return to life, she took it with grace. Mitsuki, on the other hand, came to realize she liked working from the shadows. And besides, she could have more power as a reaper than anything a stupid company of the living could offer her...

Higashizawa is pretty simple, both in the game and in my headcanons. He's a cook. Maybe an army cook, but the point is he values food as a part of life, and had to cope with entry fee in the game being unable to eat, despite all the other players, including his partner, being able to.

I picture his partner on the younger side, maybe a cadet, maybe not. They had a very sweet dynamic, very paternal. Even though he couldn't eat, Higashizawa would break into restaurants that didn't have a reaper decal, and "commandeer" their kitchens to make dishes, which, despite only one of them eating them, saved them enough yen and gave enough stat boosts for them to win the game. And led to a spiked increase in reports in "haunted kitchens" for the week they were playing.

Kitanji is TRANS. I know this for a fact. Mr. Square Enix himself told me.

"Megumi" is technically a unisex name but much more commonly a feminine one, something that is actually brought up in the manga, when my dumb cat son tries to nickname Kitanji and Kitanji snaps back that he's very sensitive about his name and was bullied as a kid. This is a trans guy.

He ran a record store in life that unfortunately fell victim to an armed robbery, and Kitanji was killed. His most important thing, his name, was taken from him as his entry fee. This further parallels him to Neku, who woke up in the game knowing nothing but his name. It could also explain why he's so distrusting of Shibuya and thinks the world would simply be better if everyone conformed; after being on the end of transphobic bullying in life, the idea of standing out and embracing the chaos of being a unique soul terrifies him.

MINAMIMOTO is my dumb stupid goth catboy son and I am INSUFFERABLE about him. I have SO many headcanons it's insane.

First off, he died of general exposure, as he was homeless for most of his life. This nicely ties into his habit of collecting garbage, making trash into something brash and artistic, and his general attitude of making himself heard and assertive, while still being so in tune with the flow of the city and people that he has powers unseen in any other reaper. Minamimoto was ignored by the city in life so in death HE IS GOING TO KILL GOD AND TAKE HIS PLACE. WHILE BEING EXTREMELY LOUD ABOUT IT.

So it stands to reason that his entry fee, upon entering the game, was his voice. For the entire game, he was completely mute.

(One of the first things he did as a reaper, was get his megaphone.)

His partner was a diver from the coast who's entry fee was her memories of her home. She knew she had one, she just couldn't remember where, and who was waiting for her in the living world. They developed a series of hand signs for Sho to communicate with, both having a rough grasp of JSL, Sho from some fellow homeless people who were deaf and her from her experience as a diver.

My other big, big headcanon for him is, about 3/4s of the way through the week, she died. Sho, knowing about the seven minutes rule because he picks things up quickly, knew he didn't have long to live if he let her soul energy dissipate and that she would never find out where he home was, but it was MOSTLY about his own survival, shut up, collected up her soul data and tried balancing her equation and a bunch of other Minamimoto nonsense I am not smart enough to write. x = acos(t) and y = asin(t) over root 2 and all that.

He turned her into a noise.

After all, transformation is kinda his thing, and he's notably skilled at manipulating Soul and giving it new forms. He was the one who discovered the loophole that Beat would use to save his sister in week 1. It's what originally put him on Hanekoma's radar as someone to keep an eye on. Hanekoma also made note of the process in case he ever needed it.

After that, Minamimoto went on to win the game, have his partner restored to life, and was now far too curious about studying Soul and Noise to even think of doing anything else but staying in the UG.

His noise form, while originally a boar, he managed to by complete force of will shape into a lion, just because he wanted to be a lion.

He had a short tenure as a wall reaper, where he would ask impossibly long math questions of the "A train leaves Philadelphia at 8:00am traveling 90 mph" variety. This caused him to be promoted to an Officer just to stop him from being a Harrier, and some rules to be laid down regarding what can and can't be a viable quiz for the wall questions.

Def March was a real band before they died, probably in some hilarious way, that killed all three of them. Being Shibuya's only instance of a rare three person pact, their collective entry fee was their memories of knowing each other in life, but they decided to stick together anyways despite having no idea who these random two other guys they woke up in the afterlife with were. Cue clown music as they proceed to become best friends and vow to start a band together once they win the game.

They decided to stay as reapers once they won because none of them could think of anything cooler than a metal band that was actually dead.

Although still very passionate about music, most of their memories of being a band getting erased meant they had some space to explore new hobbies. BJ and Tenho decided to combine their newfound loves of bar trivia and local history into a new method of Harrying, known as the Reaper Review.

Coco wasn't able to see much of the city when she was alive, being hospital bound for most of her life before losing the fight to a chronic illness at a young age. So she took to being a reaper with gusto, diving in to the local trends and culture like she was starving for it. Her entry fee might be considered a paltry thing to most, the ability to see color, but it truly was the thing about herself she valued most. After a life of drab grey walls and sterile surfaces, color was deeply important to her, none moreso than the colors she chose for herself.

She's also the most adventurous of the Shibuya reapers, being the one to actually leave the district and travel to other places in the city, which is how she and Tsugumi became friends.

Uzuki is the second newest reaper, having died recently of a heart attack (see the sprites where she clutches her chest when taken off guard) Like Mitsuki, she was originally deeply annoyed by her life being cut short, but adapted quickly to the new structure of the reapers and is aiming high after realizing how much more being a reaper can offer her. I genuinely have no idea what her entry fee might have been so I am currently in the market for a good headcanon there.

Joshua is the most recent addition to the Shibuya reapers

Okay, hear me out.

First off, I am obsessed with the fanon that Joshua and Fret knew each other in life. Joshua is heavily implied in the first game to have taken his own life, while Fret speaks in the second about losing a friend to what is heavily implied to be suicide. The idea that the loss that set Fret down the path of repression and insincerity was Joshua scratches my brain in such a satisfying way.

Second, he's a prodigy in all things UG related, but has the general attitude and personality of someone actually the age he appears to be. Boy is chronically 15. I think it's much more likely he died a little more than a year or two ago before the start of twewy and rose through the ranks quickly, rather than being some eternally 15 twerp whose been around for years.

It is mentioned he knew Hanekoma in life, and would visit CAT street frequently to talk about the UG, which is something he could see even before he died. He killed himself knowing where he would go, and how he was special.

So I think his entry fee is he got to the UG and couldn't see anything.

No noise, no reapers, no players. Hanekoma was waiting for him, being just enough of a non-game-related entity to at least give him a heads up and see he got a Pact. Joshua himself doesn't know much about his partner, being unable to see them for the entire game. But he did rely on them. Trust your partner. In Josh's case, he had to.

Also, think about the blood vessel Uzuki would pop if she learned that the all powerful composer who wields the power of the entire city with a mysterious anonymity had actually been with the UG shorter than she has.

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faytalepsy · 1 year ago

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Prompt U

I am so excited to share this wonderful collaboration with the amazing @somenamewithepineapple who magicked an amazing, action-packed fic onto the page for one of my RBB prompts! It was awesome to work with you Jackie and the fic turned out FANTASTIC!!! Even better than everything I had in mind while sending in the prompt! Thank you for working with me on this!! And although at some point I was worried about me finishing in time we are now even sharing one day early so...I'd call that a throughout success! (The art is included in the fanfiction on Ao3 so I recommend reading that first because of spoilers)

Art under the cut.

(Due to an accident affecting my drawing arm I was unfortunately unable to fix some minor issues and continuity problems I still had with the art today so please forgive me the little blunders here and there)

#farah dowling #fate the winx saga #saul silva #silrah #farah x saul #ftws #ftwsreversebigbang #winxsource

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dmitri-smerdyakov · 1 year ago

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Chapter Eight - Unable To Stay, Unwilling To Leave

Guess who finally pulled their shit together and managed to upload?! This girl!

I apologise for the delay but I've been ridiculously busy with work and other things unfortunately - but come on, let's be honest, I was *never* going to abandon a fic about Titanic, let alone a Newtina Titanic one! :D It just takes a while to write chapters sometimes due to life and other things getting in the way - I hope that it means the chapter is better for taking the time to work on it instead of just rushing!

Fun fact: I went to watch Titanic the Musical about a week and a half ago, and it was amazing! I had no idea that it was a thing until I accidentally saw an advertisement for it a couple of months ago while perusing pamphlets at my local inn while having dinner with family, and I'm so glad that I went to see it! Honestly highly recommend it for anyone interested in the sinking, even though it's not strictly 100% historically accurate (but it's a musical so we'll allow it some artistic license there), or anyone who loves musicals! It apparently premiered on Broadway six months before James Cameron's movie came out, which I thought was interesting - two different forms of entertainment about the same shipwreck releasing/premiering on the same year is such a coincidence!

This chapter features the scene with the soundtrack that this whole fic is named for, so I highly recommend you listen to the song "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave" during *that* scene. I really hope I did the scene at least half the justice it deserves because it's one of the most emotional scenes, it's probably one of my favourites, and I cry every time I watch it - you can watch the scene HERE if you're unfamiliar with it (or if you just fancy checking out one of my favourite scenes)!

Unlike the other chapters, this one isn't named after one of the chapter names on the DVD - mostly because the scenes involved all had scene names like "Cal Spurned" and "Get on the boat, Rose" XD I figured it might be an idea to just name it after the piece of soundtrack the whole fic is named after, so here it is!

This chapter is, as always, not beta read and there are probably errors but hey ho!

A quick warning that this chapter features a few deaths - including an important side character.

Anyway, without further ado, enjoy the chapter!

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gospexchange · 1 year ago

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Good Omens Song & Poetry Exchange About & FAQ

[this post mirrors the About page for mobile users]

All asks are tagged #FAQ

Event Schedule

The event will run from December 2023 to March 2024 as follows:

Sign-ups Open: December 15th Sign-ups Close: January 15th Match-ups sent out by: January 28th Participant Check-in: February 18th Final Pieces due: March 15th Gift Delivery: March 15th-25th

If any any point you think you will be unable to adhere to this schedule, including meeting the check-in, final submission, or delivery deadlines, please inform the mods as soon as possible.

Event Mods

Shanimal (shanimalx) Dash (Dashicra1) Caddis (contritecactite) Betty (BasketcaseBetty)

Contact & Social Media

Email: [email protected] Twitter: @GOSPExchange

What exactly is a song and poetry exchange?

It works just like a regular fandom exchange– fans are matched up to create fanworks to gift to one another. What makes this one different though, is that the gift prompts will be in the form of our participants’ favorite songs and poems! If you’ve ever wanted to read a fic based off of your favorite Shakespeare sonnet or Hozier song, now’s your chance!

It is not required to create a song or a poem for this event.

What kind of songs or poems can I request?

The only requirement is that whatever song or poem you request must be publicly available to read or listen to online. This ensures that our gifters know what to base you gift off of!

If you are having trouble deciding what to request, feel free to check out the #library-and-playlists channel in our Discord server for suggestions [Invite Coming Soon!]! There will also be space in the sign-up form to submit three different requests, though only one is required to submit, and only one will be used as the basis for your gift.

What kind of fanwork can I make as my gift?

Whatever you like! It can be about any character or pairing, and be any medium! Part of the reason behind making this exchange song- and poem-based is that it allows our gifters to interpret lines in lyrics in different ways and produce a wider variety of works!

We only ask that whatever you make, it relates to the requested song or poem assigned to you in some way, and that an appropriate amount of effort is put into it. It should be something you would be happy to get as a gift too!

What happens if my giftee doesn't like their gift / I don't like my gift?

Unfortunately, this issue is something that comes with the territory of participating in an exchange. Since the prompts for this event are songs and poems, they are even more open to interpretation than usual, and you may end up creating something that isn't well-received, or receiving a gift that you weren't expecting. This is a natural consequence of anonymous matches that is hard to combat in an objective way without dramatically changing the nature of the event.

The only thing we can recommend is to be as specific as possible when it comes to listing your No-Gos when you sign up. We cannot account for things you don't like if you don't inform us of them, and we will not be asking your gifter to change or remove things that were not listed.

What happens if my gift includes something I listed as a No-Go?

Please bring it to our attention as soon as possible so we can contact your gifter to change it. However: we will not ask them to change something that you did not inform us about. This is not a commission event, and we will not be asking creators to make unexpected changes to their finished work.

To avoid this happening in the first place, please be as specific as you can when listing No-Gos in the sign-up form. Both canon and headcanons can be very open to interpretation, so avoid using umbrella terms or generalizing statements. A good practice is to take a brief moment to consider how your phrasing could be interpreted by someone else, or even to ask a friend how they might interpret it! You can also make a note in your sign-up form that you'd like a second opinion from the mods, and we can help you clarify your wording!

#faq #about

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sitp-recs · 2 years ago

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Please recommend Drarry fanfics where they are figuring out life and just going through motions after war. Would love if there are themes of found family too.

Hello anon! Oh man, do I love this trope. Here are some of my favorites:

Too hard to be lived without by @harryromper (2018, T, 3k)

Or, in which Draco manages to find some peace until Harry comes barrelling back into his life.

Five Years by @shiftylinguini (2017, M, 4.6k)

For Draco, December means finding somewhere he can lose himself in the thrum of a crowd and the throb of music ― and Potter. It always means Potter now, too.

Turn and Face the Strange (time may change me) by @punk-rock-yuppie (2019, T, 16k)

Draco and Harry and how their relationship—and themselves—change over the course of eleven years.

Poor Unfortunate Souls by @doubleappled (2019, E, 19k)

Draco is a potioneer. Harry is trying to save his sex-challenged marriage. Everything is a mess, but at least there's an octopus in the lobby.

A Year in Training by Omi_Ohmy (2013, M, 25k)

Harry is finally living his dream and training as an Auror, but nothing seems to be going right: he’s just so angry all the time. And Draco Malfoy’s presence on the programme really isn’t helping with that, either.

Rebel, Rebel by @makeitp1nk (2022, E, 29k)

Thirty-six year old Harry Potter is the coolest bloke in muggle Camden Town. That’s right — he’s left the wizarding world behind and has been living his best life ever since. But will one chance encounter with a certain blond from his past change everything? Yeah, probably.

Things Unknown but Longed for Still by @cassiaratheslytherpuff (2021, E, 29k)

Harry feels trapped by the unwanted fame he received after the war. Everyone has an expectation of who he is before they meet him, and they all want a piece of the famous Harry Potter. Feeling unable to connect to anyone and imprisoned in the life of someone he doesn’t recognise as himself, Harry turns to Ron and Hermione who set him up on an anonymous dating site and helps him find a place to escape. Free from all the expectations placed on him Harry starts to heal, and the anonymous man he meets on the dating site shows him love might not be as impossible as he’d feared.

War Wounds by SilentAuror (2007, E, 30k)

Some wounds take longer to recover from than others. HP/DM, with background HP/GW. Themes of alcoholism, love triangles, and dubious fidelity.

On One's Knees by pir8fancier (2008, E, 33k)

The war is over and to the victors go the spoils. If you are triggered by infidelity, this is not the fic for you.

Open For Repairs by @drarrytrash (2015, M, 35k)

After the war, Draco works at a tv repair shop and Harry breaks things.

(Un)Wanted by @aibidil (2020, E, 36k)

Ginny's pregnant, then she's not and Harry's single. Harry, again with no family, doesn't know what to do with this turn of events, or how to find a new life—post-war, post-Ginny, post-abortion—in which he belongs. He doesn't expect that life to include dancing to the Backstreet Boys with Hermione and Draco Malfoy. A story of finding belonging in the unexpected.

Here's The Pencil, Make It Work by ignatiustrout (2013, M, 49k)

Harry thinks "Why is Malfoy working in a coffee shop in muggle London?" is a much simpler question than, "Are you going to accept that auror offer and, if you don't, what will you do?"

Modern Love by @tackytigerfic (2020, E, 60k)

Harry Potter, of all people, knows that life isn’t always fair. And no one gets to be happy all of the time. But surely there’s something more—something better—than a rubbish Ministry job, and a lonely old house, and that feeling that everyone out there is doing a better job of living than Harry is.

The Way Down by @letteredlettered (2015, T, 65k)

Harry is overwhelmed by his own power and fame and angst, so he's become a hermit. Draco Malfoy is tired of the melodrama.

#asks #anon #drarry reclist #post-war fics

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immortalwanderers · 3 years ago

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For the first time, immortal wanderers would like to share some of our favourite stories written by the fandom!

Beneath the read more are five fanfic recommendations. Included are links to both the author and the fic, a summary of the fic, any important warnings as well a brief moment to talk about what it was about the story that hooked us in!

All these stories are complete as well, so you don’t have to worry about being left on a cliffhanger as the next update is still in the works.

As long as people seem to enjoy these recommendations, there are hopes for more posts like this in the future. After all, there are so many fics out there, and so many writers deserving of the love and appreciation of the fandom!

If you have any recommendations you’d like to share with the blog yourself, please feel free to submit them here! For any the blog receives, a list will be compiled just like this one, but labelled for your choices!

As a reminder we’re also currently spotlighting any content made for Jing Beiyuan throughout this month! If you’d like to know more about this event, please check out this post for information.

Without further interruption, let’s move on to our five fanfic recommendations!

One In A Million → written by TitanPandora

Summary:

Wen Kexing✓ @theofficalkexing Just met my soulmate <3

Wen Kexing✓ @theofficalkexing I was walking in the park and I saw the most gorgeous pair of butterfly bones I had to go over and look~ Low and behold a angel graced my eyes

Wen Kexing✓ @theofficalkexing I couldn't look away, I had to talk to them and such a beauty they were. I have been struck by cupid's arrow!

Gu Xiang✓ @Heartlessamythestfiend @theofficalkexing Ge, you literally approached a drunk homeless man and harassed him for his number

((OR: A social media au told through the internet about multi platinum heavy metal singer Wen Kexing meeting his soulmate Zhou Zishu--> who has no clue who he is))

Warnings:

Mentions of chronic health issues (cancer) and, later, doxxing of a characters’ private information and public identity reveal.

Additional:

There is a sequel to this work, called You’re An Angel, but at the time of compiling this list the sequel is yet to be completed. You can, however, find the whole series here.

Readers Comments:

This is honestly such a fun read! Modern day wenzhou who manage to meet in very similar circumstances to how they meet in canon, yet the rest is very much it’s own story. The author also is incredibly creative with the way they’ve worked this fic, as the entire story includes edited phone conversations, twitter conversations, magazine articles, images, as well as transcriptions of interviews that happen in this universe. The multimedia aspect only adds to the magic of the fic, and it really helps. The second part is a bit more story heavy, but still includes such creative touches too.

Mine → written by incendir

Summary:

Zhou Zishu is Prince Jin’s disillusioned Empress. After ten years of disappointing the Emperor by being unable to birth him a son, the kingdom is led to believe the problem lies within Zhou Zishu. Yet on a evening when the Ghost Valley Master visits, Zhou Zishu sees an opportunity to run away, letting himself fall into the Ghost Valley Masters hands...

Warnings:

A/B/O universe fic. Mentions of miscarriages (often), and sexual assault (Prince Jin towards Zhou Zishu). In a later entry Prince Jin tries to rid himself of Zhou Zishu.

Additional:

This work is told in different parts, and is organised as a series. There are many different perspectives so the reader can see how things are seen by different sets characters.

Readers Comments:

I’m so picky when it comes to a/b/o universe fics, but this one. This one. It’s so well done, and Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing’s love story is just so beautiful throughout it. A very interesting AU, and one which I am constantly returning to reread. I particularly like how the author never weakens Zhou Zishu’s character, and that in fact he is perhaps the stronger of the two. He’s the one that holds all the power; from kidnapping himself, to returning to Prince Jin, to choosing Wen Kexing. It’s just so nice to see in this type of work, and something I greatly appreciated.

Also, Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing’s later children are an absolute delight.

Retraction → written by lemonmeringue

Summary:

Wen Kexing gives up his life so that Zhou Zishu may live. Unfortunately, Zhou Zishu is not interested in a life without Wen Kexing. Within the piles of books and scrolls hidden among the treasures kept in the legendary armory, a lonely soul finds something that can help him go back to the past. To fix everything. To right the wrongs he has caused.

Finding himself back on the day of one of his greatest regrets, the day he foolishly convinced his partner to let Mo Huaiyang into the Ghost Valley, Zhou Zishu is determined to change things. Wen Kexing will not die this time. Not if he can help it. No one will die. At least, not before him.

Warnings:

Major character death(s). I’d say a hopeful ending rather than a happy one.

Readers Comments:

This was the angst fic I was waiting for after finishing the drama earlier this year. The stubbornness of Zhou Zishu knowing that his fate will end in either his or Wen Kexing’s death, and very adamantly deciding that he can’t live in a world that doesn’t have Wen Kexing in it, yet the tragic heartbreak that it’s exactly the same for Wen Kexing. This fic made me both happy and miserable in the best of ways, and I love it so much.

World Cold and Hard, Sable Soft and Warm → written by MittenCrab

Summary:

After his three month long coma, Zhou Zishu is still in pain. What's worse, Wu Xi and Wen Kexing are a collective pain in his ass. Jing Beiyuan has an unconventional solution to his friend's miseries.

Readers Comments:

This fic has everything I never knew I wanted in a post-Tian Ya Ke fic: Jing Beiyuan and Wu Xi staying and watching over Zhou Zishu’s slow recovery, Wen Kexing worried at the slightest thing, Zhou Zishu being an utter bastard about all the babying and his pain because he is a strong, independent man and doesn’t need them all hovering, and one venomous sable who manages to calm the equally venomous man down.

Any fic with a sable cameo is an automatic winner in my books, and this is my favourite for that. I just love two equally venomous creatures curling up to sleep in one another’s presence.

A Brighter Season → written by isozyme

Summary:

“Lao Wen has beautiful hands,” Zhou Zishu says, the same way he says the sun is bright today, or this river doesn’t run too deep, just another one of Zhou Zishu’s straightforward observations about the world. A-Xu’s observations always have a simple action on their heels: if the sun is bright, they should bask in it; if the river isn’t too deep, they ought to cross it. If Lao Wen’s hands are beautiful —

Grief, pain, and fingering your impossible lover to sleep.

Warnings:

Drug use. Mentions of chronic pain. Zhou Zishu is fingered by Wen Kexing while high (but it’s still consensual), and Wen Kexing grieves over a future where Zhou Zishu is gone.

Readers Comments:

There’s something so soft about this fic, but at the same time the author manages to cast a morose mood. It’s very bittersweet, with Wen Kexing making Zhou Zishu happy and providing him with what comfort he can, whilst at the same time battling with the truth of Zhou Zishi’s chronic condition. I love how at ease Zhou Zishu is in this fic, and how much he trusts Wen Kexing with his happiness in even ways just as casual sexual intimacy. Just so lovely, yet so heartbreaking a read at the same time.

#word of honor #qi ye #shl #lord seventh #faraway wanderers #tyk #tian ye ke #shan he ling #bloggers fic rec

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lottiebillions · 4 years ago

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Dean’s Holiday Destination Ratings: Shell Cottage - 2/10

My first ever one shot because I’m procrastinating writing my other fic. Can be found on AO3 .

Not that it was completely awful, per say, but Dean really would not recommend Shell Cottage as a holiday destination, if only because it contained at least 2 of his ex- girlfriend's older brothers and his ex- girlfriend’s ex- boyfriend. The fact that it was his only safe space in a war did push the rating up to a solid 2 though.

A Shell Cottage Dean perspective.

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Dean didn't hate Harry, as much as he felt he had the right too.

There was surely some unwritten rule about not dating your roommate's ex girlfriend, especially within a month or two of them breaking up. But he had seen the way Harry had looked at Ginny throughout the year and couldn’t really blame him. And Gin had looked a thousand times happier and more relaxed in those 3 weeks she’d been dating Harry. And really, if Harry really was the saviour who would end Dean’s need to be on the run just to protect his mum and sisters, then he couldn’t begrudge him a bit of happiness. Still, it didn’t make him feel any less awkward, sitting there in his ex- girlfriend’s brother’s house, with two of her brothers and her other ex- boyfriend, along with a woman who was definitely a Veela that he vaguely remembered from his fourth year.

Unfortunately, Harry didn’t look nearly as awkward to see him as he’d have thought (he remembered those few weeks last year and the way Harry had tried to avoid him as much as possible, as if to avoid hurting his feelings) but Harry didn’t look much like the boy he’d met on his first ever night at Hogwarts anymore. Quite frankly, he looked like shit. He supposed he didn’t look too much better, but Harry was truly unrecognisable as the boy who’d spend the last few weeks of their sixth year unable to stop beaming, and laughing, even when not in the presence of Ginny.

At the time of their break up, he had blamed Harry. Even though deep down he knew Ginny had been honest when she said she didn’t care that Harry seemed to have finally noticed her (Dean had a habit of pointing it out during all their arguments), it hadn’t helped when Ginny had lost her head at him and Seamus when they’d been imitating Harry’s hilarious fall in that quidditch match. That had been an almighty row, but it had given Dean his first insight into the parts of Ginny he could never really understand- and that had been half the problem with their relationship and maybe why he was so insecure about Harry’s feelings for her in the first place. Dean didn’t, couldn’t, know what had happened in her first year that led her to being so secretive around others, but Harry definitely did. Dean didn’t know what had happened in that Ministry battle after his OWLs that Ginny refused to talk about, but Harry definitely did. To him, Harry falling off his broom had been funny, once they knew no lasting harm had occurred but Ginny had not seen it that way and finally let loose some of the things he’d been aching to know.

“I don’t understand why you’re so mad, it was a joke!” Dean had shouted at her. What Ginny had bellowed back had been far more than he had expected.

“That’s the point- you don’t understand! You’ve never had to fight fucking Death Eaters! You’ve never been trapped, injured and then seen Harry chasing after Bellatrix Lestrange, alone, knowing Voldemort is going to be there soon! You’ve never had to just sit there, useless, knowing that the chance your friend is about to be murdered is too high, while you’re desperately trying to stop fucking brain tentacles from strangling your brother, and your best friends are unconscious! That’s why it’s not funny to joke about Harry falling! I see him falling and it’s like Voldemort’s there all over again; he could have died!”

That was the most he’d ever heard about the whole Ministry affair, despite having heard even Neville, of all people, whispering about it to Ron. There wasn’t much he could argue back with to that, except that it wasn’t his fault he didn’t know about that since no one ever included him in those conversations! How could he know just how many times Harry had come close to death? But that hadn’t been the right thing to say either, since Ginny had snapped that perhaps he should be grateful he could live his life stressing over nothing but schoolwork and what to have for dinner. Really, he should have seen their break up coming after that. She’d made it clear he didn’t know the important parts about her, and had made it even more clear that he never would. He couldn’t really blame her for that either, he supposed; there were certain things about him that he would never tell her, that only Seamus knew.

Still, none of that mattered now. Ted and Dirk had been killed, he’d been left with Griphook for company, then in what seemed like a whirlwind, had been captured by Snatchers, dragged to Malfoy Manor, along with, it turned out, Harry, Ron and Hermione, who no one had heard anything from in months. He’d heard Hermione’s screams as she was tortured, Ron and Harry’s screams as they heard Hermione, and suddenly Luna Lovegood was there and the man who sold him his wand seven years ago. And then if that wasn’t enough, a random house elf had appeared and taken him to a house on the beach, where a man who had the same hair as Ron had come running out with his wand directed at him. When he’d only just got his bearings, there was a crack and Ron was running into the house carrying an unconscious Hermione while Harry was crying over the house elf, who seemed to have been stabbed. His attention had been stolen away from all of that by a gorgeous blonde vision who had come over to him, to take the goblin from his hold and guide him into the house. He only managed to look away when he saw the wedding band and realised that Ginny’s brother had married the Veela from the Triwizard Tournament at some point in the last 3 years and he hadn’t even known. There had been no room for awkward feelings in those first few hours, but after that, as things had settled down and everyone but Ollivander and Griphook had gathered in the lounge to exchange stories, Dean hadn’t been able to help feeling hopelessly out of place, and had to wonder just how he had managed to find himself in this situation.

He had yet to exchange any words with Harry, as Harry had spent his days digging the grave for the house- elf he had found out was called Dobby (and he vaguely recalled that name from the D.A. meeting where they’d been caught out), and when he was done with the grave, he had been holed away with Ollivander and Griphook. Dean had gotten some basic details on their time on the run out of Ron, had found out how close they had been at one point but it was Harry he really wanted to talk to. He’d realised last year just how much there was about his roommate that he didn’t know, but while they were in this war together, fighting together, he needed to know exactly what was going on so he could fight for his own survival, and his family’s. Except then there had been that frantic knocking on the door, and Professor Lupin had come bursting in, shouting about his son. Dean had been beyond bewildered at why his teacher, who he hadn’t seen since his third year, had appeared in this little cottage by the sea in the middle of the war, and even more confused about why Harry, Ron and Hermione had looked so ecstatic to see him. Sure, Lupin had been their best defence teacher ever, and it was great to see him again, but he wouldn’t have said he was the person he would be happiest to see. And then he had been astonished even further when he heard Lupin ask Harry to be his son’s godfather - how did he not know that his roommate was that close to his former professor? Luna (who wasn’t even in the same house as Harry or Ginny and yet still seemed to know more than him!) had leant in to him and said how nice it was for Harry to have the chance to be the godfather his never was. Dean had been confused at that, he was under the impression that the only family Harry had left were his muggle relatives, until Luna had continued in her usual, airy tone that, “Yes, his godfather was Sirius Black, that’s why me and Ginny went to the Ministry in our 4th year. We had to go rescue him from You- Know- Who, but it turned out to be a trap and he died in front of Harry, He was really quite upset and grumpy about it, I’m surprised you didn't know. Of course, Harry is very private, and Ginny probably felt it wasn’t her place to tell you either, although she was close to Mr. Black as well and was very sad when he was lost.”

Dean couldn’t even begin to process that sentence. He was horrified that while he had been celebrating the end of his OWLs so obnoxiously, Harry had been grieving his fucking godfather and how had he not known that? There was also the fact that apparently Ginny had been close to this godfather, the one he somehow didn’t know existed, and yet not once had she even brought up the loss she must have felt. Then the familiarity of the name Sirius Black clicked into place and Dean really had to wonder if he had ever known Harry Potter at all because surely the fact that a mass murderer, who had gone so far as to sneak into their dorm with a knife, was Harry Potter’s godfather was something he thought he ought to have been aware of.

And it was with a kind of ache in his chest that Dean realised, no matter how angry he had been at that kiss between Harry and Ginny, no matter how much he wanted to blame Harry for the failings in his own relationship with Ginny, he couldn’t ever hate Harry Potter. He couldn’t hate that this boy even younger than him, who had suffered so horrendously in his life, who had lost too much to ever feel supported enough to share his upsets with more than a handful of people, had finally known happiness in those few summer weeks with Ginny Weasley. Maybe he could tell Harry that, let him know that Dean Thomas held no grudges against him, and perhaps in the revelry of Professor Lupin’s announcement, he could learn more about this godfather.

In the end, he never got the chance to talk to this Harry, the Harry he saw now that he understood he had never truly known him. Not until after that coin had burned hot in his pocket, and he had raced through the passageway behind Bill and Fleur Weasley, Luna by his side; not until after the walls had collapsed, and Harry had died, and then Harry had won, and the dust had settled, did Dean get to finally meet Harry Potter. Not the boy who lived, or the boy who stole his girlfriend, but Harry Potter, Dean’s roommate and fellow Gryffindor since day 1.

#Harry Potter #harry potter and the deathly hollows #hinny #dean thomas #Ginny Weasley #luna lovegood #shell cottage #introspection #fanfiction #one shot #missing moment

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shihalyfie · 4 years ago

Note

Absolutely adore your character analysis posts and I just read your Daisuke/Takeru fic and I wondered if you have any fic recommendations focused on them?

Hello! Thank you for the kind words! I’m really glad to hear that my Daisuke/Takeru fic is well-received, I’m rather inexperienced as an actual writer of the ship and I feel I still have room to do better with it, but I definitely want to do more in the future ^^

In regards to fanfic recommendations...well, this is where I’m going to sound like a massive hypocrite, but as far as Daisuke/Takeru goes, I’m actually much more familiar with Japanese comics for the ship than I am English-language fanfic. In writing this, I’m really afraid that this is going to come off as something like “I think Japanese work is better” because it’s really not meant that way (in general, I dislike the idea of putting people on a pedestal just because they’re Japanese), and it’s more just due to a combination of factors that ties into the differences between the respective fan cultures, my own narrow and picky personal preferences, and how the ship (which doesn’t exactly have a huge number following in any country) gets involved with those.

English-language fanfiction is generally centered around long-form prose fiction posted for free on the Internet, whereas Japanese fanfiction usually centers around comics, often from people who are accustomed to selling actual books to people who are willing to pay money for it, and that has a huge impact on creating some rather significant differences when it comes to a ship like this:

Prose fanfiction with no length limit means that English-language fanfiction has a strong tendency towards “pure AUs” (of the “coffee shop” sort, where the entire circumstances behind the meeting and relationship are different), whereas books that have a very limited length are more likely to take the canon universe-based speculative fiction (mostly based on the canon events and timeline, with maybe at most a few “what-if?” changes) route, and while I of course have nothing against a good AU nor the lovely people who put tons of thought into it, my favored genre is more the latter (and it’s why both Daisuke/Takeru fics I’ve written are in that category).

I actually don’t check ship tags as often as you’d think! Although the ships I’ve written for (i.e. feel comfortable writing) are very few, I like a lot of ships, and I spend more time browsing generic tags and seeing what people put in there that might interest me. Daisuke/Takeru isn’t really all that popular in the mainstream in any country, but it does seem to have a dedicated niche following among 02 doujin artists who put out books, and my suspicion is that it’s because of the above limitations -- it’s a ship you don’t necessarily have to set up a full backstory for but still have enough “drama” to fill a book that people will pay money to read about. So as far as “running into it by accident” goes, it happens a lot more often with those kinds of artists...(despite that, I actually can’t afford to import that many books, so I’m still heavily reliant on said artists kindly and generously choosing to post their work online).

A large amount of English-language fanfiction is based off the American English dub, and while I have nothing against it personally, the dub for 02 in particular had a lot of differences in characterization -- especially with Daisuke -- to the point I almost consider it its own version of canon, and my own personal preference is strongly with the Japanese version. (It’s not even that easy to use the use of Japanese vs. dub names as a caliber, because you get a lot of people who use Japanese names but are clearly writing for the dub, and the result is that a reader like me who sticks mostly to the Japanese version will often get massive whiplash.) Daisuke is a character I especially am picky about the portrayal of, since he’s actually a very difficult character to grasp and too easy to pigeonhole, and it takes quite a bit of balance between the fact he’s such a supportive and positive person while also being very rough around the edges and easy to irritate, and my desire to see a diligent effort made in pulling off this balance is a huge reason I end up very picky about reading 02 fanfic. (And yet people claim he’s a flat or underdeveloped character...)

At the risk of touching upon an awkward topic, a lot of English-language fanfic that has Takeru involved in it tends to make a prominent effort to include a certain topic that is a massive landmine (as it’s called) for me, and I feel absolutely awful about it because I’m sure the author tried really hard to make it work, but touching on the topic in any significant way gives me negative whiplash to the point I end up unable to enjoy it as a reader. This doesn’t happen as much with comics (in any language) due to the more limited scope, but especially not with doujin-based comics, since we’re talking stuff you have to actually sell for money, and said topic is especially a landmine among doujin artists (the Pixiv wiki article has some, uh, less than kind things to say about it) and even more so among 02 fans, so said fanwork tends to either avoid the topic entirely, or not touch on it significantly to the point it makes it uncomfortable for me to read.

I really feel awful and like a massive hypocrite for saying this, because by all means I should be supporting fellow fanfic writers as someone who writes fanfic myself, but this is where I admit I’m the self-indulgent/selfish kind who kind of just throws things out there as I like!

If you are interested in some of the kinds of comics I mentioned, I can definitely recommend some, but I’d like to do it privately (i.e. please send me another ask so I can send it there) after I’ve confirmed if you’re okay with a rec even if it’s in Japanese, and what you might be comfortable/not comfortable with reading (Pixiv, unfortunately, is no AO3 and is absolutely awful about things having content warnings or proper content description tagging). There are definitely ones I really love, even putting aside the text itself, because the facial expressions and story presented perfectly capture the paradox of distance and closeness between the two, the drama of trying to close that gap, and the contrast between the ostensibly open but emotionally closed in Takeru, and the ostensibly rough around the edges but actually emotionally sensitive Daisuke. But recommendations of this sort are the kind I’d definitely like to do once I know the person’s preferences!

(I’m so sorry for making this drag on for so long; the fact I run an overly detailed meta blog probably might have clued you in on this, but I like talking too much...)

#shihafic #takedai #daikeru #thelastaprilfool #shiha's ask box

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mightydragoon · 5 years ago

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Suitless Vader and Luke Fic Recommendations

@silvereddaye Hey you asked for it.

1. Sent Out for Safety - Chapter 1 - throwawayflames - Star W...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22659655/chapters/54159751

At the age of eight, Luke Skywalker and his sister, Leia, are split up for their safety. Leia stays with their Uncle Ben, and their mother, to learn how to be a Jedi. Luke, on the other hand, is sent to the Organa's, where he will pretend to be their adoptive son who was orphaned. Ben had only given Luke one rule to live by while he was away from his family, don't tell anyone his last name, and he followed that.

It wasn't his fault that Darth Vader sensed that he was a Force Sensitive and now he wants to train him, as a Jedi no less. That's the complete opposite of what Ben had told Luke. And after asking Darth Vader about his dad, Luke can't help but say yes to Darth Vader training him. After all, Luke's always wanted to be a Jedi like his father.

2. Another Empire - Theace1

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14666787/chapters/33883572

Another Empire - Chapter 1 - Theace1 - Star Wars - All Med...

The Battle of Yavin had a surprising outcome with the death of Emperor Palpatine. Luke Skywalker's confrontation on Bespin has a much different outcome in the AU story, meeting someone he never expected to see: The Empress Vader.

3. Oceans Across- planningconquest

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15176468/chapters/35194499

Oceans Across - Chapter 1 - planningconquest - Star Wars -...

Star Wars on the high seas! Doesn't get more simple than that.

4. Burning Mother planningconquest

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11952459/chapters/27024234

Burning Mother - Chapter 1 - planningconquest - Star Wars ...

A Jedi Luke emerges onto the galactic scene over a decade after the Jedi temple burned. Joining with Cassian Andor, rebel spy, they attempt to return to the Rebellion to attempt to full fill his destiny as the Chosen One. Sidetracked by pirates, farmers, and blind monks. All the while hunted by a vengeful Lady Vader who would see the young Jedi dead with the rest of his Order.

5. Dynasty Valerie_Vancollie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13111908/chapters/29997507

Dynasty - Chapter 1 - Valerie_Vancollie - Star Wars - All ...

Hit in the leg by a stormtrooper's blaster bolt, Luke falls in the Death Star hanger bay and is unable to escape on the Falcon along with Han and Leia. During the subsequent interrogation, his true heritage is revealed and Vader instantly takes him to Coruscant, determined to reclaim the son the Jedi stole from him. But the glory of the Imperial capital belies its true nature, where politics and power are everything and anything is fair game in the never ending game to reach the top. Not lying, not betrayal, assassination, sabotage, blackmail, nor seduction. As he commences his Sith training, Luke must also learn the rules and etiquette of the Imperial Court if he is to survive as most of his enemies fight their battles with words and political maneuverings rather than military force. Yet, even as he struggles to gain his place within the Empire, Luke learns that his best friend has joined the Alliance...

6. Possibilities of If May Be Valerie_Vancollie

https://archiveofourown.org/works/12946578

Possibilities of If May Be - Valerie_Vancollie - Star Wars...

Co-authored by Selinthia Avenchesca.

What if two different Star Wars realities started to merge?

7. We are all in the gutterarcticapple

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7070698/chapters/16072126

We are all in the gutter - Chapter 1 - arcticapple - Star ...

Vader gets caught by the Rebellion and eight years old Luke gets tossed into the mix. Observe and discuss.

8. new cornerstone: a reconstruction mandalorianed ( Private)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5308523

When Luke had imagined finding out who his parents were, he had never imagined this.

9. Revenge Leads to Karma, and Karma Bites Darikiema

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9055873/chapters/20601586

Darth Vader created them for his revenge; the clones of Obi-Wan Kenobi were his to torture and kill. But when something goes wrong and one of them isn't grown before being released from the pod, he's met with a dilemma that could change the face of the Galaxy.

Or:

Karma sucks and if Darth Vader ever meets her, he's going punch her in her damn face.

10. The Reckoning. SpaceTrashCanFan (Sketchandcomicbookperson)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21597067/chapters/51495820

After Darth Vader goes missing after an failed attempt to assassinate the emperor, he was presumed to be dead.

Years later, a few Jedi and a child show up at the front door of the rebellion with an mysterious defector in tow. And they have big plans...

11. Bright Binary sunset in Dark Times SpaceTrashCanFan (Sketchandcomicbookperson)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19711126/chapters/46648030

A.k.a Vader got frozen in Carbonite, somehow.

-------

Since Vader went missing, years ago somewhere in the outer rim...when Leia was very young (5 years) . Leia Organa gets years later when she was seventeen a bodyguard assigned to her after an attempt on her. Normally, she would protest.

But this man is not like the others. Something that was eating him and her parents were keeping a secret. Wielding a weapon of a Jedi... Using the Force and having secret meetings with spies and her father..

Leia is determined to find out what is going on and discovers how her bodyguard is a reformed Sith-Lord who went missing several years ago.

12. Tumblr Prompts KaelinaLovesLomaris

https://archiveofourown.org/works/9179176/chapters/20834479

A collection of unrelated Star Wars ficlets, from tumblr prompts. New "chapters" will be added as I get new prompts, and I'll update tags as I go too. Almost all of these revolve around Luke and Vader's father-son relationship, aside from the first few.

13. No Distance Far Enough KaelinaLovesLomaris

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17549516#main

Imperial Prince Luke Skywalker is kidnapped by the Rebellion. His father is not happy.

14. Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly) antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13771092/chapters/31651179

In which Leia is seven when her only friend Dijan dies. Her grief tears apart the shields Obi-Wan Kenobi put up on her mind to hide her adeptness with the Force, and is felt by two other residents in the galaxy: her father and her brother.

Or: The Skywalkers have a mental conversation from opposite sides of the galaxy because they're Skywalkers.

It also changes the course of the galaxy, but that's just to be expected.

EDIT: the second work is all part of this work!

15. Those Who Walk Series antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/series/1176827

Skywalker family fluff.

16. Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly) II --antebunny

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13779084/chapters/31673112

Sequel to Those Who Walk The Paths Of The Sky (Must Learn To Fly), because there are still a lot of things that need to happen. But they're Skywalkers, so it has to be dramatic as possible. Including old friends, Organa Family Drama, Skywalker Shenanigans, and Hutts. Also, don't mind Obi-Wan. He's busy moping.

EDIT: THIS IS NOW ALL PART OF THE FIRST WORK

17. the shifting light of stars freefan1412

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20904197/chapters/49692206

Obi-Wan never needed to ask Padme for Anakin's location. That has consequences.

18. Fulfilling a Prophecy KianRai_Delcam (orphan_account)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13466274/chapters/30871740

Qui-Gon's eyes are gentle when he replies, "Changing fate is not always best, Vader. Whatever happens is as the Force wills it to be." Vader scoffs, "I'm hardly a youngling to be lectured, Jedi. My knowledge of the Force is more complete than yours. You have not walked both sides of the Force as I have. The Force is neither an ally nor a slave, as the Jedi and Sith see it." After Darth Vader's death and Anakin's redemption on the second Death Star, both Luke Skywalker and Vader are more than surprised when they find themselves alive on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple. Of course, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi are a bit perplexed as well. Follow the Chosen One and company as they journey across the galaxy once more, discovering their true selves and fulfilling a prophecy as it was meant to be. Fic takes place over a few years, and may possibly go into the Clone Wars. Not just another time travel fix-it AU. You have been warned.

19. Cloak And Dagger dorenamryn

https://archiveofourown.org/series/613946

“...and those that endeavour to dissolve it [the Union of Great Britain], carry a dagger under the cloak of patriotism, to stab their country in the heart."

In which everything changes, but also nothing does. (aka: the one where Anakin Skywalker is a Jedi Knight pretending to be a Sith, Emperor Palpatine thinks he's won, Obi-Wan Kenobi thinks his best friend's betrayed him, and Leia Organa is stuck in the middle of it.)

20. The Good Temptation Sinclairchap

https://archiveofourown.org/works/4740410/chapters/10834520

The Force is out of Balance. Unfortunately, it's Chosen One has done little to fix this, and has even Turned to the Dark Side, furthering the Unbalance. The entities created directly by the Force, who guide those who use it, have decided he requires a nudge in the right direction. A rather large nudge.

But not everybody, or even the Chosen One himself, agrees with this plan.

(Previously titled "Path to Redemption")

21. Misguided Light Skylanian_Writer

:https://archiveofourown.org/works/4572396/chapters/10413042

Vader survived Mustafar unharmed, but believes everyone he holds dear is gone. Except his son, who he would do anything for, so long as Luke stayed by his father's side.

Padmé managed to survive childbirth, and lived to see everything she fought for be deystroyed. Except her daughter, who Padmé would die for in a heart beat.

Unfortunately, Luke and Leia are not willing to sit quietly as their parents fight a war. The twins actions shake the entire galaxy to its core.

The Force really hated the Skywalker family.

22. In the Past SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/16597682/chapters/38898149

It's been two months after Bespin, and Luke Skywalker is trying to come to terms with the events that happened there. During a dogfight with Darth Vader, both of their fighters crash. When they recover, they both find themselves on Coruscant at the end of the Clone Wars. Vader still aims to claim his son, but Luke has been taken to the Jedi Temple where he meets Anakin Skywalker.

23. Runaway SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14630196/chapters/33813027

Imperial Prince Luke runs away from home to escape his overprotective father Emperor Vader. Jumping from planet to planet he finds himself creditless on Tatooine. While working for more money to leave the planet, Luke meets an old man named Ben Kenobi. But Luke knows he can't stay in one place for long for surely his father is hunting him down.

24. The Bargain SilverDaye

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13722573/chapters/31525827

Vader has killed off his master and claimed the throne as Galactic Emperor. Padmé has become an outspoken figure head and leader of the Rebellion. Vader captures his wife. Now she must figure out a way to be free for not only herself, but her children as well. She's fighting against Vader, who will stop at nothing and use anything means necessary to bring his family together.

#star wars #suitless vader #luke and vader #anakin and vader #luke skywalker #darth vader #anakin and luke #skywalker family drama #skywalker family #fanfiction #fanfiction recommendation #ah shit here we go again #vader and leia #anakin and leia

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gentrychild · 5 years ago

Note

Hey Gentry, I have more questions about wyvern au : How many divisions are there in chivalry? Are there any specializations? And how is the hierarchy organized?

First, thank you for your question, it was really fun. Second, take everything I will say with a grain of salt because it’s possible I will change things in my fics, especially designations.

There are basically five Orders in the chivalry, and one knight can belong to several orders at once:

The Order of the Red Dragon: the knights who are specialized in handling Fallens, but also blessed criminals and Beasts who can compete with them.

Needless to say, Endeavor is among them and Bakugou want to his member card.

They do not have to kill their targets. They can if they don’t have any other choices, but it’s possible to heal Fallens, so it’s complicated.

(Many draconics scoff at the name and some claims that they should get copyrights for the emblem those knights dare to wear.)

The Order of the Blue Hound: the ones who investigate crimes.

They share this responsibility with the Guard (basically the police) and they shine when nobles are involved. More guards aren’t of high birthed and it really helps to have a blue hound when you investigate, so you don’t meet an unfortunate accident in a splendid manor.

“No, Sir, I never met this Detective Tsukauchi, maybe he got eaten by a feral on his way to my splendid palace who wasn’t bought with illegal profits.”

It also helps because trial by combat is a real thing and if you need some illegal activity to stop right now (especially for corrupted people of power), you want a knight next to you to challenge the suspect, because you can be sure they will choose one hell of a champion to represent them.

Endeavor is also a blue hound, btw.

The Order of the Black Cat: the underground knights.

Think black market, slave trade, contraband, and so on. They have a reputation for being ruthless, and obviously, Aizawa is one of them.

The Order of the Green Wolf: originally, the ones who protect the lands.

Think rescue mission and making sure people are alright. A lot of proximity work, and they are often used as mediators between different groups. They don’t get the respect they deserve. They can handle themselves in a fight, but if a situation arises, their first priority is to identify the threats, see if they can handle it, call for help if they can’t, and protect civilians.

Includes the Wild Wild Pussycats and Thirteen.

The Order of the White Orca: the ones who protect the coast.

Originally, they were supposed to kill any sea monsters (a very large definition) getting too close to the lands until they got more civilized and they have now a very large activity that can be summarized by Being Friends With The Underwater Kingdoms.

Includes Gang Orca (who basically said “MOVE, I’M AN ORCA.” the first time he put a foot in the headquarters) and Selkie.

Why are there different Orders if you can belong to several of them at the same time?

Because, once upon a time, knights were supposed to be able to do all of that. If they were dropped in any situation, they were supposed to handle it without a sweat. But that simply doesn’t work like that, even though all knights are trained in the basics.

First, you specialize because of what you like or what you’re good at. Second, most knights tend to get assigned territories, on which they handle specific threats.

That’s what’s going to bring the Stain conflict. Stain considers that they are too many fake knights nowadays, unable to defend themselves and others against real threats.

What’s the point of the Orders?

Basically, apart from knowing on which door to knock if you want to learn in a specific field, it’s about conflicts of juridiction.

Any knight can butt in any problematic situation, but if several knights want to grab the case, the one affiliated with the right order is the one in charge.

And how is the hierarchy organized?

Baby steps:

First, you are a squire. Despite the name, for your first year, you’re supposed to stay in the academy and be educated, be it in the art of poking someone with a sword, etiquette, horseriding, surviving horrible things trying to eat you, and how not to look absolutely ridiculous in front of important people. At the same time, you will be given quests, little things to help people.

Second year, you start to look for guilds and knights who could bear the sight of you, and you slowly integrate yourself to a guild while you keep being trained by your academy.

Third year, you start to be unleashed on the world.

Technically, you can be a squire outside an academy if you find a knight willing to teach you and be responsible of you for a while.

You become a knight at the end of the three years, after accomplishing your Quest. You must complete your quest alone, and you can absolutely die trying.

Technically, again, if you do something that qualify as your Quest before your three years as a squire are over, you can graduate as a knight pretty young. That’s what happened with Hawks.

This is NOT recommended.

Knight steps:

Knights are a happy family, and they don’t need ranks, they just listen to their elders and are nice to each other, right? And the ranking is just something to know how much you get paid, that’s all.

More seriously, there is this insidious thing where even without clear ranks, you know who is your superior. You know who are the ten most powerful knights. You know who are the thirty most powerful knights too.

And since duels are a very real thing, you know who is more powerful than you or you get your ass handed to you.

Now, there is also the fact that there is a hierarchy in term of family.

Nobles are often descendants of knights who were given a territory to protect after you did many great deeds. To keep being a noble (because you can absolutely lose your title), you need one knight every two generations or to give a very big sum of money to the “Crown”.

Needless to say, if there is a -of the house X attached to your knight name, you’re considered a pretty big deal from the get go.

#long post #Thank you for the really fun questions #It actually helped my worldbuilding #wyvern au

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gabriellawrites · 4 years ago

Text

Hello everyone!

So, this is my writing sideblog! I’m Gabriella_Marie on AO3 and GabriellaGadfly on FF.net (though I’d recommend that you check out my AO3 instead - there’s stuff on there that I can’t post on FF.net because they don’t have the fandoms up, I always post on AO3 first, and there’s formatting I’m able to do there that FF.net doesn’t allow.)

Anyways, feel free to send me asks or message me, or ask me questions about anything! I’m always down for that!

Writing Progress: In-Progress Fics: (last updated 2/1/21)

Chirality (Invader Zim) (inspired by the sick human Zim AU of @mlhmoo ) (In which Zim actually is just a sick kid but Dib is still utterly convinced he’s an alien invader): Chapter 7 Progress: 691 words/ >1000 (also some of that is out of order so I also need to connect those scenes together)

か (BNHA) (In which Bakugou’s quirk is that he wakes up in a different body every single day, with no control over who he ends up in): Chapter 2 progress: 1809 words. While this is more than my self-imposes limit of at least 1000 words per chapter, I wanted this chapter to cover an entire day, from the time they woke up to the time they went to bed, in order to do a sort of, in media res introduction to essentially what their life’s like now, and there’s still some parts I need to write more in to get them to connect fully and some parts I’m thinking of deleting/reworking

Writing Progress: Unpublished Fics: (Last updated 2/1/21)

Ishvalan AU (FMA) (Unpublished): 13525 words in story doc, 2822 words in notes doc, 1187 words in conlang doc

Tetsutetsu Dimension Travel AU (BNHA) (Unpublished): 662 words of story, 92 words of notes

Hamilton POV from the ‘verse of Timeline 2 of it feels more like a memory (also inspired by IFMLAM musical, round 2) (Unpublished) (Hamilton) (In which Burr is a seer, friends with Hamilton, and becomes the more successful one of the pair): 724 words in doc

Quirkless Aoyama (BNHA) (Unpublished): 74 words

FMA Ella Enchanted AU (FMA) (Unpublished) (In which Ed’s arm and leg were taken by the original transmutation, and instead of giving up a limb to save Al, he has to give up his free will) 2123 words of story, 10 words of notes, 9332 words of meta

BNHA Prototypes AU (BNHA) (Unpublished): 1500 words

Stolen Quirk AU (inspired by parallel) (BNHA) (Unpublished) (in which Izuku has AFO, doesn’t realize, accidentally steals Katsuki’s quirk at 4, and accidentally gives it back when they’re teens): 700 words

In which Izuku has lost his name to the fae, and thus, his ability to be remembered, focusing on his attendance of UA (Inspired by tread softly as you go) (BNHA) (Unpublished): 1388 words

Vengeful Spirit Izuku AU (BNHA) (Unpublished): 1518 words

Secret Santa gift (Shaperaverse) (Unpublished): 1266 words

Prototype Dimension Travel AU (BNHA) (Unpublished): 117 words

Stuff about being basically the only human in space (Guardians of the Galaxy) (Unpublished): 1514 words

Edward/Eduard Bodysharing (FMA) (Unpublished) (In which Alt!Ed and Alfons are brothers, Alt!Ed, after months of being trapped in his own head, finally manages to make them aware that he’s still there, and our Ed has pretty much complete control of the body): 1069 words

Cursed DONA ABO AU (Dolls of New Albion) (Comissioned) (Unfinished): 650 words

In which Steven tries to adjust to and deals with grief over the loss of his hearing loss (a Connieswap omake) (Steven Universe) (Unpublished): 603 words

Hamilton Ella Enchanted AU (Hamilton) (Unpublished) (In which Burr deals with an obedience curse): 1534 words

Nathan (Every Day) (Unpublished) (dealing with Nathan’s feelings over being possessed and in which him and A have a chat): 1546 words

Zootopia Dimension Travel (inspired by Through a Glass, Darkly) (Zootopia) (Unpublished) (in which our Nick switches places with the Nick from the og collar!verse and in our Zootopia, they’re unable to get the collar off the other Nick): 1094 words

Bakugou Bewitched AU (Inspired by Bakugou Bewitched) (unfortunately, the point of divergence is spoilers for the original fic) (unpublished): 335 words

Animorphs Dimension Travel AU (Animorphs) (unpublished): 439 words

Fairy Dance Arc, focusing on Kirito dealing with PTSD from being trapped in a death game (SAO) (Unpublished): 1436 words

Zygerria Arc AU (Star Wars) (unpublished) In which Anakin objects to the original role distribution and decides he and Ashoka will swap roles): 747 words

Hamilton Dimension Travel (Hamilton) (Unpublished) (in which reality storms causing different dimensions to collide for short periods of time are known phenomenae, one happens during the war, leading to a platoon of women from a world where gender roles are reversed passing into our dimension for a few weeks, including Alt!Hamilton, who disguised himself as a woman to join the army): 430 words

War Dimension Travel (Hamilton) (Unpublished) (in which our Hamilton wakes up in the body of the Hamilton described in the previous AU): 526 words

DONA/Terra Ignota Fusion (Dolls of New Albion, Terra Ignota) (Unpublished): 1862 words

Jackie & Lloyd (New Albion Radio Hour) (Unpublished): 2082 words

(Note: list of unpublished fics is incomplete ATM, but I’m hoping to get everything down at some point in the future!)

#writing #fanfic #ao3 #writeblr #progress update

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queerbennyweir · 5 years ago

Text

My Babysitter’s a Vampire Fanfiction Recommendation List

Spellbound: The Curse of the Lucifractor by Dxlilith

Benny is aware of a few things. One is that he is awake and having his eyes open is only slightly less dark than having them closed. Another is that he's lying on a pile of warmth.

I Still Want To Dream About Us By: HelloOfficer07

Sometimes, in the midst of fighting monsters and evil vampires, you kind of accidentally start dating your best friend and don't realize it.

Ice Cool Whitechapel by ArthM

Whitechapel seems to weather whatever is thrown at it. Needless to say, it's normally unlikely to be from natural causes, and things must be set right. Read on to find out how new problems are dealt with in episodes of what is, essentially, an alternative series. Pretty much a general fic, but with a romantic sub-plot which will resolve one way or another.

We Found Love In Many Hopeless Places by The Black Agenda

A collection of related one-shots and drabbles surrounding the adventures of Bethan and their friends. Come along the journey as we learn how these two managed to find love in many hopeless, and pretty reckless, places.

Have A Little Confidence by MarsInsane

Ethan’s acting lovestruck but the object of his affections is Benny. Love spell 2.0?

bet-bet-better by loafoftoast

or: Grandma Weir owns a dance studio, Ethan makes a bet, and Benny finally gets to say I told you so.

summer slipped us underneath her tongue by cydbys

The summer started like this: Benny, on his new skateboard, looking back over his shoulder at Ethan. The summer continued with Benny taking a turn too fast, and then he's a sprawling mess of too long limbs on the concrete. Ethan will remember the feeling of being unable to ease the pain that is so close to you for the rest of his life.

You Spin Me Right Round by mrsvc

A high school party with Spin the Bottle; what could go wrong?

true love’s curse by Menacherie

Still, if he remembers anything it was the way that she loved him and his dad, and the way that dad couldn’t even love him after she died, like he wasn’t there anymore.

His grandmother told him it was true love’s curse when he asked about it once.

He shook his head and told her he was never falling in love like that and she just smiled and ran a hand through his hair.

Vampire Blood by LadyMaito

Ethan was fifteen when he was stolen out of his room by Jesse Black, a possessive vampire with much ambition and few morals. Originally held captive for his magical properties and inability to fight back, Ethan gradually accepts the arrangement as fate. Years later, Ethan would find himself returning to Whitechapel- but under what circumstances?

Hot Damn by Alkyone Daze

You can't catch me, Gay Thoughts!

tender summer by juneymoony

Heads Will Roll by crystalballbenny

It's Halloween time in Whitechapel, and this year someone's stirring up the town by bringing everyone's greatest fears to life. Ethan, Benny, and the vampire trio are on a mission to stop them before things stop being harmless fun and become deadly. The only bad part? They have to catch and stop the culprit at Sarah's Halloween party, all decked out in costumes. Bethan!

The Promise of a Happy Ending by Evil Cosmic Triplets

Ethan has a vision, Benny's wondering about vampire's hair, and Rory is speaking pig latin.

Magic Led Me To You by Pa_tro_clus

Benny has had enough of Ethan’s pining over Sarah, so decides to perform a ritual to reveal Ethan’s soulmate. However, when he refuses, Benny casts the spell on himself, with some very unexpected results.

widest smiles, kindest eyes by halfwheeze

in which ethan realises he's in love with benny and immediately can't keep a damn thing to himself.

Love Is To Hate by TiredOfBeingNice

Gather around; I am gonna tell you a story that is so exciting, it makes the three little pigs very jealous!" Or: Hannah Price has an unfortunate encounter with a certain amulet that fuels her desire for revenge against anything and anyone that can love; including a certain Seer and spellmaster looking to bring some heat to their blossoming romance.

Closer: The Hunt For Ethan Morgan by oceanographerschoice

Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the Lucifractor explosion, Ethan Morgan abandoned Benny Weir, leaving him alone with their adopted daughter. Calloused and cold from years of resentment, he sets out with Erica to learn the truth about a cult, where Ethan went, and about the nature of his own humanity.

You Stole A Pizza My Heart by demonicbutterflies

The Pizza Paradise of Whitechapel was one of the most popular pizza places, always buzzing with life and populated with many the smitten teen taking their beloved on a date. However, one this particular Wednesday, Ethan Morgan was sitting motionless, staring at the company phone, that every Wednesday at precisely 6:02 PM would ring from Ethan’s least favorite customer ever. See, this customer never paid.

A Geek’s Romance by inosine

Benny discovers he's gay when he stumbles across something interesting in Ethan's browser history. Now Benny is on a mission to win Ethan over.

#fanfic rec #bethan #serica #jethan #fanfiction #my babysitter's a vampire #mbav

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torestoreamends · 5 years ago

Text

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Fic: Uncomfortable Truths

6.5k words, G rated

Astoria was hoping her sister wouldn't find out that she was dating Draco Malfoy until after she'd talked to him about her illness. Unfortunately, nothing can be hidden from Daphne, and Astoria is convinced it's time to reveal the uncomfortable truths about her life. But how will Draco react?

This fic was written for @astoriafest. It was beta'd by the incomparable @abradystrix.

Read it on AO3

“Have you taken your medicine today?”

Astoria tries hard not to wince as Daphne pulls the vacant garden chair out from under the table with an awful metallic scrape and sits down.

“Good morning, Daphne. How lovely to see you today. Yes, I am well, thank you for asking.” Astoria takes a sip of her tea, looking coolly at her sister over the rim of the cup.

Daphne rolls her eyes. “Don’t throw a hissy fit about it. Mum told me to ask. I just thought I’d get it out of the way.”

Astoria sets her tea cup down with a light tinkle of china and folds her arms. “Yes, I have taken my medicine today, thank you. I take it every day. Which you would both know if you ever bothered to write.”

Daphne tuts. “You know Mum’s too shaky to write these days, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about you. And I’ve been busy, but it’s not as if I don’t Firecall you twice a week, including, and correct me if my memory has been modified, last night.”

Astoria takes another sip of tea. “How is Mum?”

Daphne shrugs and reaches for the teapot. “She’s alright. Quite frail, but that doesn’t mean she’s not still razor sharp. And don’t stand within reach of her walking stick. She uses it as a weapon.”

Astoria snorts into her tea. “How many bruises have you got?”

“Several. They hurt.”

Astoria grins, has another sip, then puts her cup down and dabs her mouth on her napkin. “I will go and see her, I promise. But I know that if I go now she’ll spend the whole time lecturing me about how I need to eat more to maintain my weight.” She rolls her eyes. “That’s not productive for anyone. I know I need to eat more, and I am, but...” She gestures to herself.

Daphne nods sympathetically. “I know. You’ve always been stupidly skinny anyway...” She picks up three sugar lumps and drops them into her tea before adding a large splash of milk. “How are you doing at the moment anyway? You seem okay.”

“Do you have to take all the sugar lumps?”

“No. Just three. Don’t avoid the question.”

“I’m not! I was just...” Astoria gestures at the now largely depleted sugar bowl. “Concerned about the state of my sugar. Anyway. I’ve been better. I’m not bad, just tired. Going back to work is always hard, you know? I’ll feel fine at home, and then suddenly there’s all the extra stuff to do, and the walking, and all the talking to people. It adds up. And then there’s the new potion I’m taking, which is terrible for my appetite, so I never want to eat anything, even though I have to.”

“You should talk to them about that,” Daphne says, stirring her tea and then licking the spoon clean.

Astoria pulls a face at her. “You’re an animal. Mum would be appalled. And I am going to talk to them. I have an appointment next week. I think they’re going to end up keeping me in for some tests. Apparently my blood is ‘weird’, which is very non-specific and I’m also not sure why they’re surprised, because I have a blood malediction. But anyway. This is such a boring thing to talk about. How are you? I forgot to ask about your holiday.”

Daphne groans. “Oh, it was dismal. I’m never going on holiday with anyone else ever again. I’ll just take myself to a beach and lie in the sun and sleep for a week. All we did was walk around crumbling old ruins, and my feet still haven’t recovered.”

“You went to Greece, and you thought it was dismal, and you hated the sightseeing? I’m disowning you.”

“I’m not a history nerd like you.”

“Apparently not. I would die to go to Greece — the trip would probably actually literally kill me — and you didn’t even bother to appreciate it? I can’t believe you.”

“Well now I feel guilty.”

“Good,” Astoria says brightly. “You were meant to.”

“I did bring some pictures to show you,” Daphne says, leaning down for her bag. “If it helps.”

“It might. Come round here.”

Daphne scrapes her chair round beside Astoria’s and they start going through the photos. Astoria insists that Daphne recount as many facts as she can about everywhere she visited, and Daphne complies. Neither of them notice time passing, and soon an hour has passed, then an hour and a half, and next thing they know, their conversation is interrupted by a quiet, polite, throat clearing cough.

They both look up to see a tall, blond figure, smartly-dressed in black trousers and a green shirt, hovering awkwardly at the edge of the patio. Astoria greets him with a warm smile, while Daphne simply stares.

“Hello,” Astoria says, getting to her feet. “I can’t believe it’s three o’clock already. I completely lost track of time. I’m so glad you let yourself in.”

“I did knock first,” Draco says, gesturing to the passage at the edge of the patio that leads round the side of the house. “But there was no answer, and since the gate was open...” He looks at Daphne with a fearful hesitancy. She’s still staring at him like she can’t believe his existence. “I wasn’t aware that we would have company.”

Astoria smiles. “We won’t. Daphne was just leaving. Weren’t you?”

Daphne looks at Astoria. “Who is he?”

Draco frowns. “I’m... Draco Malfoy. We were at school together.”

Daphne waves an impatient hand. “Yes, yes, I know who you are. Why is he here?”

Astoria draws herself up very straight and turns her smile on her sister. “I invited him for tea.”

“You invited him for...” Daphne’s eyes have gone incredibly wide, and a grin is starting to form on her face. “We talked over the Floo for two hours last night, and we talked for two hours this afternoon too, and at no point did you think to mention-“ She jerks her head at Draco, who is still standing on the other side of the patio, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

Astoria sighs and looks at him. “I really must apologise. What my sister means is that it’s very nice to see you, and she hopes you’re well.”

Daphne nods and gives Draco a very wide gleeful smile. “Oh absolutely. It is marvellous to see you.”

Draco gives a curt nod in response. “Likewise. You look tanned. I trust that you had a good holiday. Astoria told me you went to Greece?”

“Oh she did, did she?” Daphne looks like she’s about to explode with delight as she turns a very significant gaze on Astoria. “You two have been discussing me, when I was unaware that you were discussing anything at all. In fact, I was unaware that you were anything more than very distant acquaintances.”

“And this is why, because I knew you would be this childish about it,” Astoria hisses. She takes Daphne by the arm and pulls her to her feet. Daphne doesn’t resist, she’s goggling at Draco again, apparently still unable to comprehend his presence in Astoria’s back garden.

“Please excuse us for a moment,” Astoria says. “I’m just going to take my dear sister outside and murder her.”

Draco smiles. “I won’t report you to the Aurors.”

Astoria grins at him. “I’m eternally grateful. Please take Daphne’s chair so she has to leave.” Gripping Daphne’s arm, she marches off inside the house, with Daphne hurrying along beside her.

As soon as they’re away from the patio door, Daphne pulls herself free and finally explodes into paroxysms of excitement.

“Astoria! Draco Malfoy is in your back garden. Because you invited him here for tea. Explain!”

Astoria sighs. “You’re being very loud. And I think you’ve just explained everything there is to explain.”

“But- But Draco Malfoy!”

Astoria’s cheeks heat up and she folds her arms. “Yes. Draco Malfoy. Is that a problem?”

Daphne holds up a hand and checks her points off on her fingers as she makes them. “Let’s see. He’s ludicrously rich. He’s supposed to be very intelligent. He’s from a significant family. He’s hot as fuck.”

Astoria gives a polite little cough and ducks her head as her cheeks burn.

“See?” Daphne points at her. “You admit it. You fancy him. There is just one problem here.”

“Which is?”

“Oh, nothing major, just the fact that he’s a former Death Eater, which isn’t exactly very you.”

Astoria nods. “I know. But-“

“But?”

“But.” She holds up a hand to stop her sister from interrupting again. “He’s working on it. Did you know he’s helping the Aurors at the moment? And I... I’ve recommended him some books. Which he’s read. And... and he’s not perfect, but who is? We all have to start somewhere, don’t we?”

Daphne stops looking like a Bowtruckle that’s just been handed a plate of fairy eggs and scrutinises Astoria. “Who do you think he is? Do you trust him?”

Astoria looks down at her hands. “I don’t think he’s who everyone else thinks he is. And as hard as it may be to believe, yes. I do trust him.” She looks up at her sister, and Daphne nods.

“Okay. And does he know about your illness yet?”

Astoria shakes her head. “No. I’m going to tell him this afternoon. I knew you would ask that question, and I wanted the answer to be yes when you found out about him. That’s why I didn’t tell you before.”

Daphne nods slowly, considering. “And how do you think he’ll react?”

“I want it to be good, but...” Astoria shrugs. “I want him to be the person who says ‘okay, we’re only going to get a few years together, let’s make them count’. I want him to be the person who knows he’s going to have to sit by my hospital bed and watch me fade away, but who wants to love me anyway. It’s a lot to ask.”

“But that’s your life,” Daphne says softly. “It shouldn’t be a lot to ask. If he feels any way about you at all.”

“I know...” Astoria murmurs. “That’s why I have to tell him now. Before I get in any deeper.”

Daphne tilts her head to one side and looks at her. “You really like him, don’t you?”

“Mmhmm.” Astoria gives a shy little nod, and Daphne steps across and hugs her.

“Oh, Astoria.” She kisses Astoria on the cheek and strokes her hair. “I hope he’s everything you need him to be.”

“Me too,” Astoria says in a tiny whisper.

Daphne kisses her on the other cheek too, then releases her. “Draco Malfoy though.” Her serious expression disappears as her delighted grin starts up again, making her eyes sparkle with amusement and mischief. “Astoria Greengrass you are such a Slytherin. You and your ambition. This is salacious.”

“If you tell Mum. If you tell anyone. I will hex you so hard your toes will fall off.”

Daphne throws her head back and cackles with laughter. “Now there’s a threat. Will it be enough to stop me?”

“It’d better be.”

“I’ll think about.” Daphne twirls around as she heads into the entrance hall. “Have a fun afternoon with your sexy Malfoy boy toy.”

“I hate you,” Astoria calls after her.

Daphne cackles again and blows a kiss over her shoulder as she dances out of the house, still laughing.

Astoria rolls her eyes and waits until the door is firmly closed behind Daphne, then she returns to the garden where Draco is waiting.

“Is everything alright?” He asks. He’s still standing up, but he’s moved closer to the table and looks to have been examining a pot of sweetpeas that have just come into glorious bloom.

“Yes, it is. I’m sorry about my sister. She wasn’t aware that we were seeing each other.”

“I gathered,” Draco says mildly. “I hope it’s not a problem.”

“It is very much not. She wasn’t even supposed to be here this afternoon. She has a habit of turning up uninvited.” Astoria rolls her eyes as she goes back to the table and starts sorting out some more tea.

“I’m not sure she likes me,” Draco says, coming across to the table.

“It’s not that.” Astoria gestures for him to take the seat next to her. “She’s just protective. And very excitable. She wants the best for me.”

“A good sister, then.” Draco picks the chair up and moves it round to the other side of the table.

“She has her moments. May I pour you some tea?”

“Please. I’m gasping.”

Astoria smiles and pours out two fresh cups of tea from the pot she’s just made, then she slides one across to Draco and keeps the other for herself. “Didn’t you have an auction this morning?”

“I did. Everyone’s trying to get rid of their more nefarious items now the Aurors are threatening more raids, and there’s that new legislation on the cards. It’s a buyer’s market.”

“And you’re not concerned about the raids yourself?” Astoria asks lightly, stirring a dash of milk into her tea.

“Today I was buying for the Ministry, so I wasn’t concerned at all. Although I did get something for you too.”

Astoria looks up from her tea in surprise. “Oh? Is it cursed? Because you know I refuse to accept gifts that don’t have the potential to kill me.”

Draco snorts. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. It’s not cursed.”

“Well that’s a shame. It would have been so romantic.”

“I’ll remember for next time,” Draco says drily. He fishes in his pocket and pulls out a very small package wrapped in black tissue paper. When Astoria takes it she discovers that it’s slightly squashy.

“What is it?” She asks, pressing her fingers against it.

“Why don’t you open it and find out? And don’t squash it too hard. It’s delicate.”

“Noted.” She picks her wand up and carefully cuts the Spellotape on the package. As she opens it, the Cushioning Charm inside bursts, and she can see a small, silver brooch fashioned to look like a spray of flowers. There’s a bright yellow sunflower, a beautiful pink rose, a couple of blue forget-me-nots, and a delicate lily. Each of the flowers is set with tiny jewels that sparkle in the afternoon sunlight as Astoria lets the brooch roll into the centre of her palm.

“I see what you mean,” she says, after a few moments of silence. “It is delicate. And rather beautiful, thank you.”

“It reminded me of you and your garden.” Draco looks around at the flowers spilling out of their borders in banks of effervescent colour. “I hope it’s okay.”

“It’s...” Astoria looks down at the glittering brooch and tries to find the right words. She’s rarely speechless, but this is undoubtedly the nicest gift she’s ever been given by someone outside of her family. “Yes. It’s more than okay.”

Her fingers tremble as she tries to pin it to her top, and she can’t even blame her illness because this is one of her better days. It’s simply emotion, and the overwhelming feeling that she likes this man beyond all reason. And she still doesn’t know whether she’ll be able to keep him beyond today. By the end of this afternoon he could have walked away forever.

“I think...” She draws a slightly shaky breath and gets to her feet. “I think I’m going to go inside and get some biscuits. And Daphne used up nearly all the sugar lumps so I’ll get some more of those too. Are there any particular biscuits you like?”

“I was always partial to a Ginger Newt.”

Astoria pulls a face, and Draco winces.

“Was that the wrong answer? I hope it’s not a deal breaker.”

“We’ll see. Between that and the not-cursed brooch you’re certainly on rocky ground.” She gives Draco a smile, and hurries away into the house.

Once she’s in the kitchen, she leans against the wall and closes her eyes, breathing deeply. It takes several minutes and a couple of glasses of water before she feels even slightly composed, but then she gets flustered again trying to find any biscuits. As a general rule she’s not a biscuit person, but now she’s promised them, she surely has to deliver.

In the end, she finds the biscuit tin at the back of one of her cupboards, and mercifully it has an unopened packet of Ginger Newts inside. She tips them onto a plate, nudges them into a vaguely artful arrangement, and hurries back outside.

“Your disgusting biscuits, sir.”

Draco gives an amused little smirk. “You could have brought some that you liked. I wouldn’t have minded.”

“No, I’d rather judge you for your terrible taste.” Astoria drops into her seat, pats the brooch on her blouse to make sure it’s still attached, then leans back, preparing her most judgemental expression for the moment when Draco bites the head off of his Newt. It’s a very short lived moment of judgement, because as Draco crunches the biscuit, he looks at Astoria, and she can see the question in his eyes even before he says a word.

“I...” Draco pauses and looks at the remaining half of his biscuit like it’s going to tell him what he’s trying to say.

“You?” Astoria prompts.

Draco nods. “I understand if you don’t want to say, but I’m curious. You and your sister are close, I know that. You get on well. So why did you decide not tell her about me?”

Astoria swallows. That wasn’t the question she was expecting, and she doesn’t know how to navigate it.

Draco puts his biscuit down on the edge of his saucer and cleans up a few of the crumbs with the tip of his finger. “If it helps, you can say that you’re ashamed of me. I would understand that. I know I’m not exactly at the top of anyone’s list of people to associate with.”

Astoria shakes her head. “No, that’s not it at all. I’m not ashamed to be with you. Who you are and what people think of you are two very different things. If I was ashamed I wouldn’t be doing this. The fact that people think you’re a terrible person doesn’t bother me at all, because they’re wrong. Misguided, yes; imperfect, yes; still learning, aren’t we all? But not bad.”

Draco frowns at her. “So what is it, then? Because that was the only answer I could think of.”

Astoria sighs, shoulders slumping. “I didn’t tell her because... because there were important questions that I needed answering before I did.”

“And... have I answered them?”

“No.”

Draco nods and picks up the rest of his Newt. Astoria can see the disappointment in his expression, the slight downturn of his mouth, the crumpled crease of his forehead, the way his eyes have gone the grey of an overcast Monday morning.

“Draco,” she murmurs. “I haven’t even asked you the questions yet. It’s not your fault you haven’t answered them. They’re not...” She waves a hand and casts around for the right phrase. “They’re not first date questions. Or second, or third, or... It’s bigger than that. It’s my whole life and whether it fits with yours.”

Draco inhales and exhales through his nose, less like a sigh and more like he’s bracing himself. “Go on, then. What are these questions?”

There’s a defensive edge to his tone, and Astoria knows what he’s thinking — that these are going to be questions about him and how he’s planning to change himself. She reaches across the table to where his left hand is lying upturned beside his teacup, and she brushes her fingers against his.

“Draco, they’re not about you. I mean, they are, but not in the way you think. In terms of problems that need solving, believe it or not, your past isn’t the biggest one.”

He shifts his hand to interweave his fingers with hers, and as he does, the rolled up sleeve of his shirt tugs just high enough on his arm that a fraction of the red Mark is visible just beneath it. “How so?”

Astoria strokes one of her fingers over his knuckles and decides that it’s time to just get on with it. “I’m ill,” she says simply.

Draco frowns at her. “You don’t look ill. Or sound it.”

“No,” she agrees. “I don’t. Not at the moment. But I am... Do you remember the day we first talked properly?”

Draco squeezes her fingers. “Of course. We were at the apothecary, and you were buying those weird herbs. We talked for about ten minutes and then you said you were tired and had to go home. I assumed you said that to get rid of me.”

Astoria nods. “I did go home, and I was in bed for three days straight. I only got up in the end because I was starving and Daphne came and made me dinner. It was only a few weeks after I was discharged from St Mungo’s, and I shouldn’t have gone out, but I was mind-numbingly bored.“

“St Mungo’s,” Draco repeats. “It’s serious then? And it’s still affecting you what, nine months later?”

“It’s affected me for my entire life,” Astoria says. She’s trying to be as matter-of-fact as possible. If she can lay it all out, simply and in all its detail, that’s best for both of them. The second that emotion seeps in, that’s where this gets painfully difficult.

“Go on,” Draco murmurs.

Astoria looks from their interwoven fingers, up to his face, which is inscrutable. Draco is impossible to read, and at times it’s infuriating, but at others, like right now, it makes everything easier.

“Have you heard about the Greengrass curse?”

Draco’s lips quirk into an amused smile. “Of course. I read about it while I was researching your family tree. It’s a myth, isn’t it? Just one of those stupid stories.”

“It’s not a myth,” Astoria says. “I’ve got it. It’s a sort of blood malediction. It means I have to take five different potions three times a day. If I get so much as a paper cut, I end up in hospital. It makes me more susceptible to other sorts of diseases, especially if I’m already sick. One day it’s going to kill me. If I make it to fifty I’ll have been extremely lucky. Forty is more likely. You’re probably less than a quarter of the way through your life. I’m half way through mine...

“If I’d been normal, if I’d been any other girl, I would have asked you out for a drink that day we met, but instead I went home to bed, and when I woke up I’d missed the Owl you sent me. That’s it. That’s my life. Frustrating and exhausting and difficult. One day I’ll be fine, going to work just like everyone else, and the next I’ll be in St Mungo’s for six months. And this is why I couldn’t tell Daphne about you, because I needed to be able to tell her that you knew all this and still wanted me anyway, and that’s not something that you can just... ask someone over dinner, or...” She waves her free hand and trails off, not sure what to say next.

There’s a very long moment of silence, then Draco tucks a bit of hair behind his ear. He’s been growing it out recently, and it’s almost to his shoulders now, wispy blond curls wafting in the breeze.

“You’re going to die,” Draco says. His face is emotionless, but his voice sounds thick and choked.

“Everyone’s going to die, but I’m doing it faster than most people. I’m just that precocious.”

Draco doesn’t laugh or even smile. He doesn’t react at all, he just presses on. “And this curse. How did it start? I don’t remember seeing that in the books I read.”

“One of my ancestors,” Astoria says. “They were cursed. I looked into it, and I found out the story. Someone was trying to bait a Muggleborn and they stepped in to stop it. It turned into a duel, and they got cursed. They saved the Muggleborn though.” She watches Draco’s expression as she says it, and for the very first time there’s a flicker of something.

“You’re going to die,” he says slowly, “because one of your ancestors decided to help a-” He cuts himself off with a brisk shake of his head. “That’s...”

“Does it make you angry?” Astoria asks, shifting her fingers in his grip but not letting go of his hand. “A Pureblood girl dying because her stupid ancestor stood up for a Mudblood?”

“Yes!” It explodes out of Draco, the most emotion he’s shown so far, pure, frustrated anger. He pulls his hand free and picks up another Ginger Newt, which he snaps in half and starts to crunch. Maybe it makes him feel better, because as he eats, his shoulders relax a little and he looks back at Astoria.

“Is this why you do what you do?” He asks. “Because of that? I suppose it makes sense.”

Astoria nods. “Yes, it is. It used to make me angry too. But then the war started, and there were all the stories in the papers. People disappearing. People getting hurt. People having their wands taken. They were no different to us, but just because someone decided that pure blood is better, a bunch of people were having their lives destroyed, were getting murdered. And I realised that the whole thing was stupid. My ancestor didn’t stand up for a Mudblood, Draco. They stood up for a human being. Let’s get over ourselves. If I’m going to die, I’m at least going to own it. I’m actually proud of the curse. I’m not happy I’m sick, but there are far worse things to die for.”

“Why does it have to be you though?” Draco murmurs. “It’s not fair.”

“What, because I’m a pretty Pureblood girl with her whole life ahead of her? I’ve heard that before, and it’s complete and utter-”

Draco shakes his head. “No.” It comes out sharply enough to stop Astoria in her tracks. “No, it’s not that, it’s...” He struggles for a moment, dusting his fingers off on his napkin, turning his teacup round on its saucer, then finally reaching for Astoria’s hand again and squeezing it tight. “We need you. The world needs you. To keep saying things like that. To keep looking at the stupid things we’ve always believed and telling us to get over ourselves... If people like you are going to die then what hope do the rest of us have?”

“Well...” Astoria turns their hands over and spreads Draco’s fingers out gently so she can lay her hand directly on top of his. “That’s very nice of you to say, but I’m not the only person who can say things like that. Hermione Granger says them all the time.”

Draco pulls a face. “Yes, but that’s-“

“Different?”

He nods.

“How about this,” Astoria murmurs, now closing her fingers into the gaps between his. “You can say things like that too.”

Draco curls his fingers round her hand and looks up at her. “Can I?”

She nods. “I think so. And if it’s different coming from a Pureblood girl then just imagine what people will think when they hear it from a former Death Eater.”

Draco falls silent for a moment, once again staring down at their hands. He looks rather lost all of a sudden, overwhelmed, and Astoria squeezes his hand tighter to remind him that she’s there.

“When you’re sick,” he says finally. “When you’re in hospital, what’s it like?”

“Ugh,” she groans. “Really boring. I mostly just sleep all the time, because I’m too ill to do anything else.”

“Does it hurt?”

She nods. “Sometimes. And I get really weak. It’s difficult to do much, and when I try it hurts even more.”

Draco looks down at his tea cup, a slight frown creasing his forehead. “It’s difficult to imagine,” he murmurs. “When I said you don’t look ill... sometimes you do look tired, or pale, or... I’ve noticed that you get these bruises on your arms.”

“I bruise easily.”

“I know. Now I know why. But aside from all that...” He shakes his head and looks up at her. “I can’t think of anyone I know who’s so alive. That’s what I meant when I said- You’re always so bright. Even when I worry that you haven’t slept, you’re still...” He waves his fingers in a little starburst motion. “You’re still sparkling.”

Astoria gives a thin smile. “I try to keep up appearances. A lot of effort goes into it.”

“And how are you feeling right now?”

Astoria thinks. “I wasn’t expecting Daphne to turn up, and when she’s like that it’s tiring. But you’re always calm. Maybe that’s why I like you so much. So I’d say a solid seven out of ten. It’s a good day.”

“Seven out of ten is a good day,” he repeats, and it’s not a question or a judgement. It’s more like he’s making a mental note of the fact. “And these potions that you take. What are they? What do they do? Do you have to take them all at once, or?”

“Why?” She asks, squeezing his fingers. “That’s a lot of questions.” She can’t remember anyone asking her so much before, especially not about the details. Normally people don’t like to pry, or they’ve already been scared away.

“You don’t have to tell me. But if we’re going to spend more time together then it might be useful for me to know. Just in case.”

Astoria blinks at him in surprise. Of all the answers he could have given, that was the one she had least expected.

“Would you like me to show you?”

“Not if it’s inconvenient or too personal.”

“It’s not.” Astoria gets to her feet and collects the used tea cups on to a tray, which she picks up with a flick of her wand.

Draco follows her into the kitchen and waits as she unloads the cups and saucers into the sink. He looks around thoughtfully, and she watches him out of the corner of her eye, wondering what he’s thinking. Finally he clears his throat.

“Astoria?”

“Yes, Draco.”

“Do you have knives in here?”

It’s such a random question that she laughs and turns towards him. “Yes, it’s a kitchen. Of course I have knives. How else am I supposed to cook?”

“But you said earlier that if you cut yourself by accident... and what happens if you smash something?”

Her laughter fades. “I suppose it’s a fair question. I’m just careful. And I use magic a lot. But I’m not fragile. I’m not going to drop dead from a single speck of blood. And I suppose it’s risk and reward, isn’t it?”

“Go on,” Draco prompts.

Astoria leans against the worktop behind her. “Well... I could decide tomorrow that it’s my ambition to become a world class Beater.”

Draco smirks at her. “That would be quite the career change.”

Astoria shrugs. “Maybe it’s my calling in life. Or not, because I have terrible hand eye coordination. The first Bludger I missed would hit me smack in the face, give me a nose bleed, a black eye, and probably kill me. But if it was my dream and I thought it would be worth it, I’d probably still have a go. Risk and reward. That’s an extreme example, but I’m not going to not cook myself dinner or drink tea from my favourite tea set just because I might one day accidentally cut myself. That would be ludicrous.”

“Touché,” Draco says with a nod. “It won’t make me worry about you any less, but I do understand.”

“Good. I think. You wanted to see my potions?”

“I did.”

Astoria gestures upstairs. “Let’s go then.”

“Into the inner sanctum,” Draco says, with a smile that glitters mischievously.

Astoria swats at him. “It’s hardly a scandal. Looking at my delightfully boring medication.”

“I’m sure if our mothers found out they’d be appalled at the intimacy.”

“My mother is appalled by everything I do.” She catches hold of Draco’s hand and pulls him along the hall, up the stairs, and into her bathroom.

“This really is the inner sanctum,” Draco says, pausing in the doorway and looking around.

Astoria glances over her shoulder at him. “Have you never seen a bathroom before, Draco? Do you still use chamber pots at the Manor?”

“No. It’s just... your bathroom. It’s very revealing. You have fancy summer berry shampoo.”

“And chamomile and ginseng bubble bath. Well observed.” She opens the medicine cupboard above the sink and starts pulling out the potions, arranging them in an arc on the counter beside the sink. Draco sits on the closed toilet lid and picks up the first one.

“So this is...”

“For Blood Replenishment. When I forget to take that one, I pass out. It happened once in school. I nearly gave Flitwick a heart attack.”

“I hope you never made that mistake again.”

“Not yet.” She picks the next potion up and presents it to Draco. “This is a sort of thickening solution. It helps my blood to clot properly. There’s another stronger version I have to take if I actually cut myself, but that can kill me in a whole other variety of exciting ways.”

“Well that must be comforting,” Draco says drily. “The potion that’s meant to save your life can also kill you.”

“Oh it is. It’s reassuring to say the least.”

Draco looks at her and they share a smile as he reaches for the next bottle. There’s something about sharing dark jokes with him that makes her feel lighter. He’s not panicking or backing away. He’s taking this in his stride, and it’s wonderful.

“I know what this one is,” he says, reading the label on the largest bottle, a big round thing full of purple potion. “It’s a Painkilling Potion. A very mild one.”

“Ten points to Slytherin. And this one?” Astoria hands him a much smaller bottle of blue liquid.

Draco squints at the tiny writing on the label, then shakes his head. “No idea. It just looks complicated.”

“It helps with my immune system. I’m not very good at fighting off diseases. Apparently most of the people who’ve had this curse before me have died of another illness, not the curse itself. So don’t sneeze on me, Malfoy.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Draco says loftily. “Malfoys don’t get sick.”

Astoria laughs. “When it’s winter and you’re moping around with a cold I’m going to remind you that you said that.”

Draco waves her away. “And the last one?”

“A Strengthening Solution. It’s the newest one I take, and it’s good. It helps me recover faster. But I don’t have much appetite while I’m taking it.”

“Have you told anyone about that?” Draco asks.

“Daphne’s going to love you,” Astoria smiles. “She asked the exact same thing. I’m going to talk to them about it next week.”

“Good. You need to eat. That seems important.”

Astoria sits cross-legged on the floor and beams up at him. “Seriously. I think you’ve just won my sister’s heart.”

Draco examines the last bottle for a few more seconds, then he sets it down with a soft clink of glass on porcelain and looks at Astoria, expression serious. “I have never done anything like this before,” he says softly. “I don’t know anyone else who’s ill like this. I don’t know if I’d be any good as a bedside companion. I don’t know if I can be the person you need. I certainly doubt whether I’m the person you deserve — you could do so much better than me, we both know that.”

“That’s still not true,” Astoria interjects.

“We’ll agree to disagree. But what I’m trying to say is that... if you want me, I’ll do my best to learn all this.” He waves a hand at the line up of potion bottles on the side. “The medication, and when you need to rest, and I don’t know. What food you need to eat, all of that. When you’re in hospital I’ll visit you, if you’re not sick of me. And like I say, I might be terrible at it. You might want me to go away. But I’ll do my best, and if that’s not good enough I’ll do better. Because I do love you, Astoria. Very much. And although I know I can’t understand yet what I’m getting into here... It’s a risk I’ll take, because this is your life, and I do think that I’d like to be as much a part of it as you’ll allow me to be.”

Astoria gazes up at him from the floor, and in a sweeping flood all the emotions she’s been holding back, the hope and worry and love and now relief, come rushing in. She blinks hard against hot tears that sting her eyes, and she rests a shaking hand against the sink to steady her as she rises onto her knees and reaches out to Draco with her other hand.

He takes it in both of his and squeezes it tight. “Are you okay?”

She nods. “Mmhmm.” It comes out high-pitched and squeaky, and she sucks in a trembling breath. “Okay. I just... would quite like to kiss you now.”

“I would be amenable to that.” He lends her enough strength to pull herself to her feet and when she stumbles upright, he shuffles sideways on the toilet seat to make room beside him.

Reason tells her that this isn’t romantic or hygienic, but her heart isn’t paying any attention. It’s thumping very hard in his chest, and it only gets louder as she sits beside Draco and reaches up to cup his cheek with her hand.

“Did you really just say you love me?” She asks, brushing her thumb along the sharp ridge of his cheekbone.

He nods, a sharp, silver intensity in his eyes. “I believe I did. I hope it’s not a problem, because I don’t want to apologise for it.”

“It’s not a problem,” she murmurs. “I was actually just thinking that I love you too.”

A little smile flickers across his lips. “Well isn’t that convenient.”

“Very.” She steadies his face with her other hand, then leans up and kisses him with as much warm, solid gratitude as she can manage.

He threads his fingers into her hair, supporting the back of her head in a gentle, steady grip, and she smiles against his lips. This afternoon probably couldn’t have gone any better. That doesn’t mean any of this is going to be easy, but it’s a start. Now he knows, now she has her answers, and she can’t help but think that Daphne is going to be thrilled.

#Harry Potter and the Cursed Child #Cursed Child Fic #HPCC Fic #Cursed Child #Drastoria #Astoria Greengrass #Draco Malfoy #Daphne Greengrass #My writing #Keep The Secrets #astoriafest #astoriafest 2019 #cc squad #This is my first of two fics for this fest #and I'm trying to write fics that put Astoria at the centre of her own narrative #and particularly which give a voice to the other women of CC and beyond as well #(although I'm still not sure what my second fic is going to be...)#(that's tomorrow's job!)

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