#detailed fic recs

[consistentsquash]

Asoiaf Detailed Rec - Rubicon: A Dreamer's Sextet

Asoiaf Sunday! Easter Sunday so best time to rec a fic about the Failed!Jesus archetype Rhaegar Targaryen. I am actually late by one day but anyway.

TL;DR - He's a total loser. But also the guy who never learned to hate.

My fav author summary ever - She is horny. He is not. They live.

Why Rec - Because using sex for character development and story exposition is valid! Because good ace representation doesn't have to always mean sex repulsed. Because sometimes humans do be complicated and messy. Because established relationship means you have got to keep establishing it. Because het doesn't mean it can't be super queer. Rhaegar is Ace coded with really low/zero sex drive but he's got the kinkiest married sex life and that becomes the biggest building block in their relationship. This is actually my favorite Ace characterization I have personally read.

YMMV - I feel like when a fic deviates from a lot of standard conventions it can be a tough sell. Which is totally understandable. I am reccing it because I loved it. But of course YMMV. These things are subjective. There is a lot of sex for exposition which can also be YMMV.

Big things - This fic won't make sense if you don't have some basic info about their canon.

Ok! Time for details! Sorry if my rec is really bad but I don't go for het fics normally. Also no agegaps. Also they are married. Also they have kids. Stuff I totally nope out of. Idk I mean trust me. It's an eldritcher fic. So it's just really weird/sensitive/brilliant. Nothing is normal.

Will probably clean this up for writing a meta on AO3 later :D If i get the motivation.

Link - Rubicon: A Dreamer's Sextet

Author - eldritcher

Pairing - Rhaegar/Elia. There is also some vibes of Rhaegar/Oberyn but it's complicated.

Type - het, canon divergence, Not canon compliant in the sense Rhaegar, Elia and their children survive

Length - 150000 words. Complete. It's a collection of fics. So depending on whether you read the full thing or just some one shots the length is going to be different. I used the series length here. We get POV one shots from Rhaegar, Elia, Aerys, Rhaella, Arthur Dayne, Rhaenys, Lyanna, Oberyn, Doran. Highly recommend reading the full thing because it's brilliant.

Themes - Asexuality

One of the best parts about this fic. It really said here is this handsome hero archetype everybody crushes on. Also he is Ace. Deal with it. Total sensualist. But you can have sensuality w/o wanting sex. You can also be sex positive. You can also be bi and ace. Like you can be anything and how you feel about things can change from time to time. Mess is ok. Of course it doesn't say it like it. The fic doesn't feel like checklists on good rep. It's just when you read it you get it. YMMV. Idk if that's better than flat out saying things. But this really worked for me. Also the reason why I am writing a het fic rec. Omg.

Themes - Masculinity

Rhaegar's characterization is a meditiation on masculinity. Idk how to explain. But it breaks him down in this flesh and blood style. Really sensitive. Normally in fanfic/romance genre I am more used to seeing sensitive takes on female characters instead of male characters. Especially cishet hero type male characters in a het fic where they can be for wish fulfilment type roles. Slash fic is of course different but also similar. One of the M/M characters generally will get more sensitivity/focus compared to the other character. This is pretty different. The vulnerability/nuance in Rhaegar's characterization is insane.

Themes - Queer

Asoiaf fandom like hp fandom can get pretty weird about what a het fic should be like. Probably not the right place to talk about it. But I feel fanfics can be subversive in a lot of ways. I really love how this fic subverts some fandom concept of a het fic. Rhaegar and Elia are really queer in the sense they are super different. They are not neurotypical, they both have hyperfixations, dysphoria but at like some emotional level. Anyway it's the type of mess idk how to describe because they are super messy humans.

Odd and odd, matched in equal wedlock, and it has become something like felicity.

It really says you can be weird and also the world's biggest loser but you can be happy in a relationship.

Themes - Failure

The biggest win of this fic is the Rhaegar POV. He is a pretty controversial/polarizing character whose motives are unknown/ambiguous in canon. Fandom can get into whitewashing/bashing territory for that type of character.

This fic straight out builds his character as a failure and also makes us sympathize with him. I mean you end up rooting for him because that's how great the character development is.

He carries the rivers he failed to cross.

Themes - Love

A really unconventional love story. But it's definitely love. It's the type of love that just becomes mythological but like without epic soundtracks or montages.

There is a promise in the reek of burned clothes and hair and the man bathed in her water. Something of the father handed to the spouse. It is only a promise. Words are not deeds. It is only a promise, that he will cross this last river to her.

What I really love is how they really fail a lot. Like they make promises and don't succeed like they want. But it's ok. Because trying your best counts! Points for effort! :D

Themes - Hope

I mean! This is an eldritcher fic. Hope is everywhere! The vibe is pretty Tolkien about that. Sometimes you got to believe in stories and that's what you need to get to the other side of some tunnel.

"Nymeria fled the cruel dragon-lords after Garin fell. She took her people with her, on any sea-worthy vessel they could get their hands on. They sailed, for months and months, until months became years. Many perished, many deserted, many rebelled. One night, Nymeria stood at the steer of her vessel, and looked up at the bare sky in despair. Perhaps she prayed to a god. Perhaps she prayed to none. A star rose for her. Bright it was, and enduring. She led her fleet where the star went, south and south and south, until they washed ashore on Dorne. There, waiting for her, beneath the star, was Mors Martell. Gladly, she married him and twined their houses, binding her sun to his spear. He gave her a myrtle crown and taught her about the fruitage of oranges. Thus she became the Dornishman's wife." An old tale Doran liked to tell Oberyn and her when they were children. Her odd husband listens to her raptly. There is a strangeness in him that is not merely dragon-blood or dreams. She thumbs his brows to undo the frown that has settled there. Children believe in stories. And it is belief that gives stories life. "Only a story," she tells him.

Themes - Feminism

Really, really feminist. I mean. Idk how to explain. It is a Rhaegar centric fic. But a male protagonist doesn't have to mean you can't have a fic which is feminist. Rubicon is pretty uncompromising on that. No boss ladies or femme fatale or archetypes like that. But this story in canon is a really slippery one for the Bechdel test. Which means the fic fandom just can get into character/ship bashing and writing female characters like archetypes/pit them against each other. I really love how the fic explores the female character trauma in the canon with a lot of sensitivity.

Characterizations

Book characterizations. No show elements from GOT. But the characterizations are deeper/more nuanced because these are not POV characters in the books. They are dead by the time the books start. Really beautiful interwoven characterizations where you can see Isabel Allende style The House of Spirits influence in their generational trauma. This fic got me from somebody who just didn't like Rhaegar's character to actually seeing him in a more interesting light. Deep and beautiful characterization and character dynamics of the Robert's Era Rebellion Targaryens. The Aerys and Rhaella POVs are insanely good and dark. The Rhaegar characterization is superb. Elia is also brilliantly characterized. The whole series is unforgettable, intense, unsettling, uncomfortable and absolutely a must read.

Plot

It doesn't really have a lot of plot. It's just Rhaegar and Elia from 16 to 40. How their characters change/grow. The plot parts are just the canon divergence because they survive the war and get a bittersweet ending.

Prose

The prose style is kind of less poetic compared to Ossuarium. Which works great because Ossuarium had dragons. By the time this fic happens in the canon timeline the dragons are dead. So their world is less supernatural/magical. The lowkey prose kind of reflects that.

Some other thoughts

Rubicon is Ossuarium honestly. Just a continuation in the canon timeline. It has the same queerness and feminism vibes IMO. YMMV.

Length - 150000 words. Complete. It's a collection of fics. So depending on whether you read the full thing or just some one shots the length is going to be different. I used the series length here. We get POV one shots from Rhaegar, Elia, Aerys, Rhaella, Arthur Dayne, Rhaenys, Lyanna, Oberyn, Doran. Highly recommend reading the full series because it's insanely brilliant.

#acespec #ace rhaegar #rhaegar targaryen #elia martell #gotfic #asoiaf fic rec #fic recs #het fic recs #recs #detailed fic recs #asoiaf #rarepair fic recs #long fic recs #the vibes on this #idk what happened maybe eclipse season but i am writing het fic recs #but this is the queerest het fic i read #so #idk anyway rhaegar the failed jesus

[strangerthings1975]

Check out the exquisite fanart that Jul from Juldoodles on Twitter made for my fic Money, Power, Glory. 🖤🥹🥰🤭😳😩

My heart is so full. The art is beautiful, and I’m so grateful you took the time to draw this. Absolute perfection. Like, there aren’t enough words to express how much I LOVE this. 🖤🖤🖤🖤

Here is another one! 🖤🖤

#steddie #steddie fic rec #steddie fic #steddie fanart #steve harrington x eddie munson #mpg #the writing on the wall is even relevant to the fic #the detail is incredible #i am STUNNED

[teenagenutant]

a fic that has made me laugh and has very, very much made me cry just updated... so i drew about it! power up by @pickledcarrotsandradish!! wahoo!!!

#tmnt #rottmnt #tmnt leo #power up #my turtle art #fic rec #i could not figure out how to write a comment for the new chapter that wasn't something insane like 'i have every disease' #so! i did this!! the more normal option obviously #also please let me know if i need to tag this with anything else- i know its a bit more detailed injury than i normally post here #for tw: #blood #injury

[anna-scribbles]

what a shame, i can see it all now that we’re through

- firearm by lizzy mcalpine

(chapter 5 of call it even is making me feel bonkers insane. thank u @sha-nwa)

#my art #ml #call it even #miraculous ladybug #mlb #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #adrinette #(i. guess. ) #adrienette #ml fic rec #ml fic #the way abby writes is literally so delicious to me #the dialogue…the visceral descriptions….. #my friend who doesn’t watch ml has been reading and sending me detailed reviews of every chapter #and with this one she said she loved the female rage. which. real ! #chapter 5 marinette is. well. she’s here for blood. as she should be honestly #anyway the song firearm has been wrecking my life about this story #it’s SO #what a joke was it all just an act i hate that it took me so long to react you had me convinced that you loved me!!!!!!! #thank you everyone readjng and commenting it’s really truly making my life #hang on tight adrien’s back on friday:) #don’t worry i won’t put him in situations. i would never #xoxo

[ky-landfill]

more winged tim? 👉👈

#fic rec #flight feathers by chemical processes #FAV #tim drake #prompt response #He’s a baby your honor #<3 #wip on wing detail

[aomaoe]

"Does it hurt?" / "Once upon a time it did."

i finished my wip. pbtdl still has me in a vice grip. have some close ups too bc im happy w/ the details!! and pls pls pls read the fic!!

paradise by the dashboard light by @metaldeads

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #fanart #aimeeart #metaldeads #paradise by the dashboard light #fic rec #please read the fic #i included as many little scene specific details as i could #injured hip and palm on eddie #scars on steve #blood stained fingertips and clothes for them both #and theyre in the byers bathroom though the bg is vague and blurry

[didhewinkback]

Something Old

Written for @harry-on-broadway's fic challenge.

Written prompt used: "What's this, then?"

Watching your childhood best friend (& the man you've been in love with for half your life) get married proves to be harder than you thought. Will you be able to make a quick getaway to avoid further heartbreak? Or is it finally time for the truth come out?

A/N: the pic represents more of an overall vibe rather than a definite representation of what he is wearing. but the vibes of the pic are absolutely accurate. some liberties have been taken with accurate chronology of his dating life bc this is fiction town usa baby. takes place during the fine line era, in a world with no covid. dream world. please let me know what you think!

-----

There was a huge water fountain, right in the middle of the hotel courtyard, making criss-cross patterns into the pool below and you couldn’t take your eyes off of it. It was soothing, in a way. Or at least you were trying to force the concept of being soothed upon yourself, trying to focus in on the sounds of the water and the lights reflecting off of it. Anything to not think about the background noise of the party, of the clinking glasses and what that sound would mean, to think of him – nope. Back to the fountain.

Your mother cleared her throat. Her eyes had been burning holes into the side of your face but you couldn’t face her or that look of pity in her eyes. Your fingers tapped against the handle of your suitcase as you kept your eyes on the water. Just keep staring at the water.

“Did you call an Uber or…?”

“I’m just going to take the rental back to the city and go from there.”

“You could always take it back to the house. Bit of a drive but…”

The thought of walking into your childhood home, alone, while his own childhood home sat right next door was too much to bear. “I don’t,” you cleared your throat as your voice caught, “I don’t think I can be surrounded by all those memories. God, Mum, this is so embarrassing –”

“Oh, baby, no. Come here” Your mom rushed over to you and wrapped her arms around you in a death grip as you let yourself collapse into her arms, feeling 8, 15 and 26 all at once. The tears which you had been trying to save for the drive poured out of you, your mum shushing you as you buried your face into her shoulder. She stood there and held you tight, letting you release all the emotions you had pent up since you got here. You had never had an explicit conversation with her about your true feelings for Harry but with the way she was holding you, you knew you never had to. She knew. The thought made you tighten your arms around her, burying your head a little deeper as the tears flowed. Just a few more minutes.

“I’m getting your dress soaked,” you said, trying to pull your head away and pull yourself together before your mum tightened her arms around you, holding you in place.

“Could give two shits about my dress.” “Mum!” “I’m serious, I don’t care. Not when my baby is weeping in my arms.”

“Okay, I’m hardly weeping,” you huffed a laugh as you took a step back and wiped your face, looking into your mum’s kind eyes, glassy in their own right.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk to him? Tell him what’s on your mind?”

You shook your head before she even finished her sentence. You had tried that, years ago. Winter break 2013. He had been gone almost two years, touring and traveling the world while you watched from afar at uni. You had walked down your stairs, rehearsing your big speech in your head while smoothing down the new skirt you bought for the occasion, only to look up and find him in your living room with the most famous pop star in the world in his arms. He had brought her home to “meet the family” he said. Which included you. You were just family. And he dated pop stars now. A gut punch that you quickly healed with copious amounts of tequila. And a drunken hookup with a boy from sixth form. It was fine. You were fine.

You had been best friends since you were 8, neighbors since you were 6, and for years you brushed off your crush, chocking it up to an extension of affection for your first male friend - the boy who made you laugh until you cried, who always needed help with math homework, who dragged you onto the dance floor when everyone else was too nervous to at that first school dance. The boy who stood in front of you in his bedroom, nervously singing along to a Youtube track before asking you if this was something you thought he could do, for real. The boy who invited you to join him a few weeks each summer, riding bikes through muggy Colorado streets for late night froyo or hiking those Hollywood hills. The boy growing into a man who called you when you were studying at the library, in the middle of the night halfway across the world, feeling overwhelmed by the pressure and needing a piece of home to slow his exhausted, racing mind.

This crush was something you thought you would grow out of. Except you didn’t. His life had become drastically different than the one you two had shared in your small hometown but whenever you were together, it was like no time had passed. After that fateful winter break, you had tried to keep your distance but each time you saw him, you were sucked right back in.

There had been more moments - falling over yourselves during a drunken McDonalds run, or during a screaming match in the middle of a very competitive round of charades, or when he bounded off stage after that first solo night at MSG, wrapping you in his arms and holding tightly - moments where the words were about to burst from your chest, overwhelmed by the love you felt for him. But you knew it would never work - he wasn’t interested. And, even if he was, you were nowhere near his league. Even his one night stands were straight off the Forbes 500 list. Not that you were ashamed of yourself or who you had become, you just knew, for many reasons, that there was a disconnect there. He wasn’t interested. You were family. You had to keep it that way.

You steeled yourself to get over it, to be okay with just being his friend. And you had convinced yourself it worked. You had met his girlfriends over the years; no longer tearing yourself apart in comparison as you blossomed into that confidence that comes with getting older and finding your place in the world. Falling into relationships with some really great guys, guys that you really cared for, who made you laugh and met your family on your birthdays. But no matter how hard you tried, those relationships always seemed to fizzle out because you never felt that spark. That once in a lifetime spark. That spark you felt the second you saw him yesterday - a smile blooming across his face as his arms lifted up in a cheer when he locked eyes with you. All that hard work shot to shit in an instant.

You snapped back to reality, shaking your head more fiercely, desperately trying to get those memories to fall out of your head forever. “That’s not how he sees me, Mum. It’s not - this is just something I have to get over. But I can’t do it here.”

Her face fell, before she took a deep breath and steeled herself. “Okay,” she said, looking at you with new determination. “So, what’s the story? Work emergency? Appendicitis? Stomach virus? Uncontrollable pooping?”

“Mum! Oh my god!”

“What?!” she shrugged, her eyes glowing with a playful twinkle as she watched the smile grow on your face. “I just feel like the more details we provide, the more believable it will be.”

“Whatever you have to do,” you said, rolling your eyes as you pulled her into another hug.

“It’ll be okay, lovebug,” she whispered in your ear. “This pain won’t last forever. He’s not the be all, end all.”

“Why does it feel like it then?” you said softly, tightening your arms around her, unable to stop yourself when more tears began to fall. “I really have to get going, I don’t want anyone to see -”

Suddenly, the sounds of the party got progressively louder as the doors swung open. Your stomach sank as you heard the last voice you wanted to hear. “There you are! Been looking all over for you two. Ang? - Oh. ”

“Yeah?” Your mom turned to face him, blocking you from view as you furiously wiped away your tears.

“Mum’s been looking all over for you. Something about a bet involving tequila shots…”

“Ah, was hoping she’d forget about that. Tell her I’ll be in in a bit, just need to help this one -”

You cleared your throat, keeping your head down as you nudged her forward. “No, Mum, it's fine. Go in. I’ll be okay.”

She turned to look at you, eyes searching. “But you’re not feeling. well.” She emphasized her point by placing her hand on your forehead. Oh, god. No Oscar in her future then.

You looked at her, feeling his eyes on you, shaking your head. “It’s okay. Really. Have fun”.

“Love you.” She kissed you on the cheek as she squeezed your hand, whispering, “Be brave”.

You kept your eyes to the ground as you heard her walk inside, closing the doors behind her. Enveloping the two of you in silence. You looked up, taking him in for the first time all night. He knocked the wind out of you.

His white suit was tailored to perfection, the dress shirt open in a deep v down his chest, revealing the smattering of tattoos that you swore he’d regret one day, but that only looked perfectly in place as his muscles grew more defined. His hair, curls tousled just the way you liked it. The smattering of scruff along his chiseled jawline, held tightly as he took in the scene in front of him. He looked good.

You can’t imagine what you looked like. Tear tracks streaking down your face and hair messy from how often you had been nervously running your hands through it. Dressed for a cocktail hour while wearing your sneakers for the quick getaway. You had to get the fuck out of here.

“Thought only the bride was supposed to wear white.” The words slipped out of your mouth before you had the chance to stop them. This was not the time for banter. You should be in the car already, leaving all this behind you. You snuck a look at his face, his green eyes locking with yours, his brow furrowed in confusion.

He looked right at you, his deep voice rumbling as he shot back, “Wanted to be dramatic. It’s my day too.”

“Classic H.” you said. You could not get your feet to move. Your car was no more than 10 paces away and yet here you were, frozen under his questioning gaze.

“What’s all this, then?” he asked, as he took in your suitcase, the car keys fiddling around in your hand. “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. Uh, a work emergency came up.”

“Bullshit.”

“No it’s not -”

“Your mum just said you weren’t feeling well.”

Shit. “Both things are true. H, please just - I have to go.”

“No, I think I have the right to know why my best mate is leaving my wedding weekend early. Why you’re standing out here with your mum and - are you - were you crying?” He looks desperately confused, eyes searching your face. “Need you to talk to me.”

He takes a few steps towards you when he notices your hands visibly starting to shake. “Hey, hey…” He reaches his hands towards yours as you quickly put your hands on your suitcase, pulling it towards you. You take a few steps back and try to take a few steadying breaths.

“Please,” your voice was barely a whisper. “You won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“I always notice when you're gone. Haven’t been able to find you all night, I’ve been trying to hang out with you. Wanted to spend time with you.”

You squeezed your eyes shut, trying to block out the look on his face, trying to not think too hard about those words. Trying to be casual, nonchalant. Trying to be anything but the crumbling mess you were in front of him. “C’mon, I’m not even in the wedding party it’ll be better -”

“Is that what this is about? You knew we were keeping it small on purpose, didn’t think you needed to be in the bridal party to know how much y’mean to me but I guess–”

Anger suddenly swirled in you, turning your cheeks warm, eyes blazing. As if you’d be out here having a full mental breakdown over something so trivial. You scoffed, “You think I’m out here crying because of some arbitrary fucking title? You know that’s never mattered to me when it comes to you.”

“Then WHAT is going on with you?”

“Can you please just drop it and let me –”

“It’s my fucking wedding, you’ve been avoiding me ever since you got here. I need you here and you’re just standing outside with your car keys and your fucking suitcase like it’s nothing. Like I’m nothing–

“Oh my god, how can you even say that – ”

“Well, what am I supposed to think? I’m flying blind here you won’t TALK to me–”

“I CAN’T WATCH YOU MARRY HER!”

The words were loud, louder than you meant them and out faster than you could stop them. Fuck. This was. Not. How This. Was supposed to go. You shut your eyes. Your mind was racing, mouth trying to move to make an excuse but you couldn’t think of anything and then you hear a derisive snort, your eyes flying open to see his, suddenly colder, taunting.

“‘S that what this is about, then? Never did like her, did you? Always wondered when we’d have this conversation. Thought you may have been a little more fair and try to do it before my wedding weekend but hey, guess I’m not the only one who can be dramatic.”

You stood there, gaping at him, tears pricking your eyes as he glared back at you.

“Let’s hear it, then. What’s so wrong with her?”

Oh, he misunderstood. You could let him think this is the truth, that you’re just some bitchy childhood friend who never approved of the fiancée and waited until the last moment to make a dramatic exit. You could leave right now and let him think that. But he needed to know the truth, as painful as it may be. You began to shake your head, the tears seconds from pouring out.

“No, that’s not - you’re not understanding me.”

“Am I not? Seems pretty clear to me” His tone was still taunting, angry. He had every right to be. This was supposed to be the biggest weekend of his life and here he was, out here with you, instead of partying with all of his loved ones mere feet away. The thought of it made the tears spill over, a small sob escaping you. Through the tears you saw his face drop, his brows furrowing.

“It’s not her. She’s lovely. She’s so lovely and you should be in there with her. You could be marrying fucking Beyonce and I wouldn’t be okay with it. I … I can’t watch you marry someone else without - without wishing it was me instead.”

You watched as he froze, his eyes widening. In shock? Anger? Pity? You weren’t quite sure.

You took a deep breath and kept going, continuing to dig yourself into the grave of your own making. Every part of you was screaming at you to stop, but now that you got started, the words kept coming, “I’ve been in love with you since we were like 15. You’re my best friend in the whole world and I…god, I can’t breathe when I look at you sometimes. You’re the first person I want to make laugh with a new lame joke, the first person I want to share good news with. The first person I want to do anything with. You’re kinda it for me. Always have been. You’re just my favorite person in the world. And I –”

You shook your head, cutting yourself off. Your heart was about to beat out of your chest, your cheeks burning. You stand there, slightly panting, watching him watch you, his own eyes glassy, his own breath coming in fast spurts. Neither of you dared to move.

You stand there, watching as your confession explodes between the two of you, helpless to do anything but stand in the carnage. It is deadly silent. A minute passes, then another. It could be five, it could be twenty. What did you just do?

“Fuck, fuck, I’m sorry.”, you said frantically, your brain finally catching up to your mouth. “You should go back inside. I’m –”

He inhales sharply, head shaking in disbelief, “Y’think - y’think I’m going to go back in there right now? After–? Fuck.”

He drags his hand down his face, bringing his other hand to meet it and standing there with his head in his hands. You wish you could get a good read on him, to tell how he’s feeling, but you just stand there, heart beating wildly, in disbelief of what you have done.

“I’ve got a reception hall full of people here.”

“I know.”

“People traveled for this.”

“I know.”

“Why - why now? I had no fucking idea. Why’d you never tell me before?”

“I tried, but the timing was never right – ”

“Yeah, well, your timing right now is impeccable,” he deadpanned.

You rolled your eyes, though his sense of humor reappearing made a zing of hope run through you. Maybe he won't hate you forever. Maybe, one day, the friendship could be salvaged. Maybe you didn’t just embarrass yourself beyond belief - though your burning cheeks indicate otherwise.

He clears his throat, pulling you out of your racing mind. “This whole time…you’ve felt this way? This whole time?”

You had been expecting to confess and run. For him to smile politely at you, let you down easy. You had spent your whole life believing this was a one sided thing. But here he was, looking utterly wrecked, his green eyes never once wavering from yours.

“Yes, H,” you told him. “I’ve loved you this whole time.”

You watch as his face crumbles slightly. He brings a hand up to his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, a mumbled, shaky “fuck” leaving his lips.

You clear your throat and wipe at your eyes, praying your waterproof mascara is doing its job. As much as you want to live in this fantasy of possibilities, you can’t let yourself make more of a mess of this than you already have. He was getting married. Tomorrow.

“H, the last thing I ever wanted to do is ruin this for you”, your voice shakes the more you look at him, “I will be fine. You should go back inside. I’m going to go.” You grab your suitcase and keys and start to make your way to the car. The sound of his voice calling your name stops you in your tracks.

“Don’t,” he says, his voice cracking.

You turn to face him, finding him staring right back at you. His glassy eyes ablaze, his jaw set. You don’t make a sound.

“Please.” He closes the distance between you in a few quick strides. Hesitantly, he lifts his hand to your jaw. You’re sure he can feel the warmth there, blooming at his touch. You lock eyes with him, both of you barely breathing. After a second, his thumb caresses your cheekbone, his eyes fluttering closed. He leans his forehead against yours and you can feel his hot breath on your lips, the smell of mint and tequila filling your nose. You might pass out.

“This is a lot to process,'' he whispers.

“I know.” You try to pull your head back a bit to give him space, but he holds you steady in his grip. His other hand falls to your waist, both of you inhaling sharply at the contact.

“I have to go back in there. Supposed to get married tomorrow,” he whispers as his thumb starts to draw circles on your hip bone. You’re sure even he can hear your heartbeat at this point, the way it’s thundering in your ears.

“Y-you don’t owe me anything, you know”, you whisper back, his brow furrowing as he feels your breath on his lips. “Just because I told you. There’s no pressure or anything. I know, like… I’m not….I’m not expecting - I should -”

He takes a step closer to you, pulling you flush against him, effectively cutting you off. “Don’t. You can’t. ‘S not pressure, I just - I don’t know”, he takes a deep breath, “I need time. Please. Don’t leave. You don’t have to go back in there but don’t leave tonight. Please.”

He kisses you on the cheek.

“Please.” His words fall across your lips as he moves to kiss your other cheek.

“Fuck. I wish…just - please don’t go.” He leans in slowly, kissing you once on the neck, right below your ear, inhaling deeply. His forehead falls to your collarbone, resting there. “You can’t go, not yet. Not until…Please. I need time to think. I don’t know. Promise me you’ll still be here later tonight.”

He lifts his head, holding eye contact with you until you nod, bringing your hand up to wrap around his wrist, moving your thumb in soothing circles. He stares at you, eyes dropping to your lips, then back up to meet your eyes. His grip on your hip tightens, his eyes dropping to your lips once more.

You hear glasses tinkering, calls of his name. Shit. You take a step back, his hand sliding from your jaw to your wrist, holding a loose grip. Your cheeks burning at how caught up in the moment you got, head reeling at what this could all mean.

“I have to -” “I know.”

He leans in, presses his lips to your forehead, not once letting go of your wrist.

He steps back, his glassy eyes flitting all over your face before meeting yours once more and holding your gaze. “You’ll be at the hotel later tonight? You promise?”

“I promise,” you say, squeezing his hand once before letting go.

He nods sharply, walking backwards towards the door, eyes never leaving yours. He stops right before the entrance, quickly wiping at his eyes, shaking his head. You can see him physically brace himself as he pulls the door open, a tight smile on his lips as he gets pulled into the party once more.

The doors close, once again surrounding you with silence. With your own thoughts. The feeling of his lips on your neck playing over and over again in your mind.

Holy. Shit.

#harry styles fan fiction #harryonbroadwayficchallenge #harry styles angst #would u believe this was supposed to be posted 3 hours ago but i got so hung up on one detail that i couldnt iron out #i am a gal who loves run on sentences with commas and for that i will not apologize #fic rec #babys first fic #cant believe we are here #harry styles fic #i have read this so many times i started to hate it thats when ya know its time to post #just losing it in the tags over here #something old

[percababies]

For the wonderful @captain-jackson

Congrats on completing this amazing story Xx

Go read this rn bc this fic is so good 😡❤️

#cj tag #enjoy all the details #plz zoom in bc it’s fun #what’s my edits tag? #it’s been YEARS since the last pjo edit I made lol #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo #percabeth #annabeth chase #fic rec #just for carrie

[writeouswriter]

Reading a fic that's so well written I wish I could close my eyes and just let the descriptions and atmosphere wash over me, but the dilemma with closing my eyes is, well, I then would not be able to continue reading this fic, now would I.

#fanfiction #fanfic #reading #i don't read longform fic very often but this one is so good wow i'm in awe and clicking next chapter next chapter #the movie it's for I'm not even a particular major fan of itself but I am a fan of the character and the ideas and oh my god #they perfect it to a tee in every way even better than the movie could and yet keep their characterization spot on in line with the og #it's amazing the way they balance the humour and banter with the suspense/tension and drama/horror #and their descriptions are gorgeous/pick out just the right details #their follow-up is more canonical to me as a sequel than the actual official sequel which is wrong in so many ways #and I am in love with their writing style so much my god #i'll say the fic if asked probably will honestly make a rec post for it when I'm done just because wow but here i'm just vague posting #i mean it's 10 yrs old and I've been reading fic for 8-9 yrs and it is truly one of the best I've read in all of that #from all my tags I mean you can labour a guess for the fandom or fic and if you were to guess it wow good job I'd be impressed #but anyway !!! love finding masterpieces I hope this person decided to become an author in those 10 yrs almost *sobs* #I'm gonna say the fic anyway whatever it's From Out the Ocean Risen by Bluestar god it's good (for p/acific r/im)

[glamrockcas]

Destiel Fic Recs

I've been fortunate enough to read some really good fics lately, and it feels like an embarrassment of riches, so I'm going to share.

AUs:

Are You Writing From the Heart? by luckshiptoshore - E, 86k

virga(e) by shineforthee - E, 71k

The Angel in the Marble by zuzeca - E, 20k

If Only Maybe and Then by stonelions - E, 100k WIP

And Watch What Happens by Hth - E, 85k

The Breath Of All Things by KismetJeska - T, 65k

Foxfire by kilvmaim - E, 67k

The Leap by FriendofCarlotta - E, 82k

Canonverse:

american oracle by handsliketruth, whiskeyjuniper - E, 80k

It's all very complex by artichokeflower - E, 20k

of the unlocking and the lift away by unicornpoe - T, 43k WIP

they're playing dido in the hospital gift shop by spocklee - E, 16k

An Abundance of Light by CatiDono - T, 12k WIP

maybe i like pleasure pain by tothewillofthepeople - M, 13k

I tried to type out little descriptions for each, but the task really defeated me, so please click through to see each fic's actual summary. There's a wide variety here in terms of subject matter, rating, and the date they were written, so maybe there's something for everyone.

#if you want more detail feel free to ask me! i just had trouble trying to summarize them all #destiel fic rec #destiel fic #ficrec #destiel #fic rec #these are so good i felt like scrooge mcduck rolling around in a vault full of gold so i had to share them #mine

[emotionaldisaster909]

Ah what a time to be drawing an atrophied corpse-like Xie Lian after half a century in the FangXin coffin from ch1 of alasr

Oh this is gonna have so many trigger warnings

#.))) #why am i doing this to myself #why do i actually know how it would look like #why am i drawing his body in detail when he’s fully clothed #mmmmmmmmmmhmhm and hua cheng looking down on it .')))))) #tgcf #hualian #alasr #tgcf fic rec #hualian fic rec #xie lian #tian guan ci fu #tgcf donghua #tgcf season 2 #fangxin guoshi #heaven officials blessing #天官赐福 #tgcf fanfic #hualian fanfic #tgcf fic #hualian fic

[consistentsquash]

HOTD Thursdays! Ossuarium Recs!

So! Ossuarium being the best fic I have read in this whole year and also one of the best fics in fandom I have ever read in like two decades, I decided to love on it some more before 2022 ends! It's a multishipping paradise. All the OTPs feel like OTPs when they are on the screen/on the page. Also a really queer fic but not the sanitized queer takes we get a lot now. So depending on whether that's your thing read/avoid.

Ossuarium series

Fandom - ASOIAF, HOTD

Author - eldritcher

Summary - Soon the light.

The series is around 400K. It's more of a collection of fics like an anthology instead of an actual series. So you can read anything in whatever order.

Overall, it's got three parts.

Part I

Part I is the actual plot of the story which finishes with the finale. My rec.

This is for you - if you are into Greek myths and impending doom with character studies and also if you want a fixit. Because there is a fixit. 90% bitter 10% sweet. But still. More than canon!

What stands out - The insane prose. Eldritcher's prose is always unique and brilliant in its lyricism but here we can actually see the musicality in their writing which is pretty hard to find in shorter fics. It's like a symphony. They went full Odyssey and it shows.

Part II

Part II is the cut scenes from Part I. The vibes are real here. It's 100% character studies. If you are looking for plot this part doesn't really have a plot. It ends with a coda. My rec

This is for you - if you are into character studies.

What stands out - It's got some of the more intense fics. Definitely read the warnings. Ossuarium doesn't have any in-text noncon/graphic childbirth/miscarriage but it's definitely got its share of in text implied dubcon. Also Targs are Targs. This series doesn't really go light on their Targness. FWIW the series approaches dubcon with a really gentle touch. The author has a careful style which doesn't really go all out on the bad in the dirtybadhotwrong and it definitely shows. But the allusions and the implications with the imagery and the repetition can feel heavy.

Part III

Part III is the cut POVs from Part I. Also 100% character studies. Some plot. But not really. This part is what I am going to be reccing today! I really loved it! So!

Recs!

Carnarium

Balerion POV. 3300 words. Rated G.

Blurb - What is Balerion thinking?? The OG Dragon of the Conquest. We get to see him with his riders. Really cyclical patterns of forgetting and remembering. Really Targ. Bittersweet fic.

She did not know what he was. She did not know what she and he must be. She, his dreaming mother-child-bride, and he, her death.

The Dornishman's Wife

Viserys/Daemon. 3000 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Viserys/Daemon is the most dysfunctional relationship in Ossuarium. Now we get to see their drama in Mysaria POV. 100% dysfunction. 100% Targ. 100% dirtybadhotwrong.

The Gate of the Gods held them in its maw. Seven carven faces watched them. Her Gods were far away. So were his.

Off to Gulltown

Aemma POV. 4000 words. Rated G.

Blurb - Fluffy dysfunction. Definitely need the fluff after the intensity in the previous fic. You can feel the impending doom but right now it's fluffy.

Daella, Aemma thinks, would weep in joy if she could see the culmination of her legacy. Rhaenyra will take her to Gulltown, to that city of wonderment she has long longed for. And what places does Rhaenyra dream of? Far away places, Aemma decides. Her daughter will dream of places farther than Gulltown.

The Seasons of My Love

Laenor POV. 6000 words. Rated G.

Blurb - Just Laenor dealing with a really dysfunctional family. But he is also really naive about his own entitlement. Which comes back to bite him in a big way. Also fixes the Seasmoke plothole.

He was married to Rhaenyra and she was bound to the throne. He had failed his duty to her thrice. He would not fail her again.

Two Hearts that Beat As One

Rhaenyra POV. 4200 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Laena/Rhaenyra. The action we didn't get on the show. Really hot and sweet femslash.

The Maiden of the Tree

Laena POV. 11000 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Laena/Rhaenyra/Daemon. The OG canon polycule. Really hot and sad. Because we know how this is ending. Love, love, love the relationship dynamics and the character studies in this one. Laena/Daemon is actually the healthiest pairing in Ossuarium and Rhaenyra gets it. The contrast with the other pairings is insane.

The Vow Unspoken

Rhaenyra POV. 4200 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Rhaenyra/Daemon. How they continue their relationship after Laena's death. Really sad because you can feel the missing third of the trio. Definitely better than the Driftmark show canon.

The Maids That Bloom in Spring

Dreamfyre POV. 2900 words. Rated G.

Blurb - Dreamfyre thinking about her riders. Pretty bittersweet because she gets the most tragic riders ever.

On a Misty Morn

Helaena POV. 2700 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Helaena is just unlucky because she is the coolest kid and totally deserves a better family. Of course she gets the worst family. Really lucid dreamy fic. Nighmares not good dreams.

The Mermaid's Lament

Nettles POV. 5300 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Nettles doesn't really want to be a dragonrider and she's so totally done with dragons burning stuff. She just wants to go back to fishing and chill. Of course instead of that she's got babysitting duty when Daemon goes after Vhagar. I really feel for Nettles here. The non-Targ POVs are really amazing because you get to see how entitled/stupid/cruel/ambitious the Targs get.

The Bear and the Maiden Fair

Larys POV. 6500 words. Rated M.

Blurb - This is the total opposite of the Nettles POV but comes from the same perspective. Larys just wants to end the dragons because he thinks dragons are bad for peace. Also he wants to rub his power in other people's face. Which he does. A lot. Intense fic!

The Night That Ended

Daeron POV. 4000 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Somebody didn't forget Daeron! In fact this fic totally shows him like the fanatic young brainwashed kid he is.

The Queen Took Off Her Sandal, The King Took Off His Crown

Aegon II POV. 3000 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Aegon/Baela. One of the best fics ever. Really tragic. Really summarizes the generational trauma they have. This is essentially two kids trying to live based on what they were told but they have lost everything. Really Reek/Theon Greyjoy or early Dany vibes.

Six Maids in a Pool

Harrold Westerling POV. 5300 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Kingsguard POV. Targs being weird. Also a really good Aroace character POV. One of the nice things about reading the series in order is how we get these lighter one-shots between the intense fics.

Copula

Cannibal the Dragon POV. 3000 words. Rated G.

Blurb - Did Cannibal the Dragon actually have an identity before people started calling him the cannibal? Mythological side.

Patrimonium

Multiple POVs. 5200 words. Rated M.

Blurb - Fathers and daughters. This is the Icarus myth. His dad gives him wings of feather and beeswax. Which of course melts in the sun and he dies. We get to see this repeat in the fathers and daughters of the story.

Matrimonium

Jaehaerys/Alysanne, Rhaenyra/Daemon. 3600 words. Rated M.

Blurb - History repeats. Especially for Targs. Really cyclical tragedy. Of course also really dysfunctional and dirtybadhotwrong.

Creed

Viserys/Daemon. 4300 words. Rated M.

Blurb - The worst couple ever. Because their relationship is worse than a nuclear explosion for people living around them. They are really the definition of dirtybadhotwrong.

When he woke, he woke a bride. Were he your sister—

The Song of the Seven

Viserys/Daemon. 20000 words. Rated M.

Blurb - This isn't a fic. It's a thesis. It's the core of the Viserys/Daemon in the show canon. A really uncomfortable fic with nonstop intensity and an unreliable POV. The Viserys/Daemon fics in Ossuarium have this slipstream effect because of the unreliable narration. This fic is the culmination of their characterizations and dynamics through the series. This is them. The worst couple ever. Also the best couple ever because you really won't be able to stop looking at the total trainwreck. If I can pick only one fic from Ossuarium to take with me to a desert island, it's got to be this one. Because, like the summary says...

Sow a war, reap a brother.

#hotd #house of the dragon #hotd fic recs #house of the dragon fic recs #asoiaf fic recs #fic recs #ossuarium #viserys x daemon #daemon x rhaenyra #daemon x laena #also the dragons #the dragons #the dragons really deserved better #peak dirtyhotbadwrong #detailed fic recs #recs

[non-un-topo]

He, Dreamless by nizzuto

Part 1 of I don't see the sun (I know it's there)

Through the tear-away of waves and the vastness of oceans and the separation of the three of them, there remains the legend of true love and the infinite fight to get back to it.

A gift for the incredibly talented @guarncre, whose gorgeous fic (and every single fic since) I adore so much. Few fics have so effectively simultaneously ripped me apart and put me back together, and swallowed me up with every word. These drawings have been a long time coming, but I really wanted to show my love for the fic by attempting to capture its evocative storytelling and imagery. And this is my call to everyone to go read it, now! Right now!

[Image description under cut]

[I.D.] Two digital drawings of Joe and Nicky, respectively, depicting scenes from nizzuto's fic He, Dreamless.

Joe is standing alone in a dark brick tower, visible down to his waist. His head is tilted down, his eyes closed, and he has a melancholy expression on his face. Only one of his arms is visible, his hand gently curled over his chest. His hair is long and loose, a few curls lit by moonlight. A deep red garment is draped over his shoulders. Behind him is a small arched window with bars, where a bright moon attempts to shine through. He is half-lit and half in shadow. A small signature in the bottom left corner reads, "Siggy, '23".

Nicky is sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest and his head tilted up and painted with bright, almost heavenly moonlight. He is in a hole underground, and the dark ground can be seen surrounding him. He is wearing a tattered uniform, the details of his clothes mostly hidden in shadow. His hair has been cut short and uneven, as has his beard. He is reaching up with one hand, the tip of his finger poking through the bars above his head. He wears an expression of longing. The moonlight is casting streaks through his fingers onto his face. He's looking at the same moon as Joe. The same signature as the first image is written on the bottom right corner.

#tog #the old guard #yusuf al kaysani #nicolo di genova #kaysanova #tog fic rec #all my love to you my friend <33 thank you for your gorgeous writing. it always feels like a precious folk tale or an ancient adventure. #siggy draws #GO READ IT!!!!! I tried my best not to spoil anything!!! #and trust me you don't want spoilers! you will be on the edge of your seat it is intense and so so gut-wrenchingly good #chapter 4 especially had be fucking shaking. and now i need to re-read it before the next semester starts!!! #also the images might look a little small or weird bc tumblr. i recommend a zoom-in for details ;_; #i added a veeeeery light texture over both of them and it might wash them out a little idk

[babooshkart]

a convergence of inks by @thebooktopus​ and @babooshkart​ for @harrydracobang​ HD Reverse Bang 2022

The rhythmic buzzing of the machine was meditative, the pain from the needle more a scratchy burn than anything too sharp. Draco relaxed a bit as the minutes passed, content to watch the intensity on Harry’s face as he worked. Their faces were only a few inches apart, and Draco felt Harry’s breath ghost over his inflamed skin with every exhale. 

This was such a joy to work on! Maddy really took my initial painting (the tattoo shop!) and ran with it, and came up with such a gorgeous, sexy, thoughtful piece of writing that made me laugh (and tbh fan myself multiple times while reading). Thank you for writing me a tattooed and pierced Harry Potter, and a Potioneer!Draco that just wants to kiss his roommate. You’re a star. 

Read on Ao3 (and shower Maddy with kudos and comments!)

#booktobooshk strikes 😈😈😈😈 #maddy this story is so !!!!!!! #you're a gem and a talent and i loved working with you #thank you for being my friend #harrydracobang 2022 #hd reverse bang 2022 #winnie the pooh mug compliments of my gf #ya girl finally learned not to put too much detail into the background plants are u proud of me #i knew i was gonna blur it so i only did basics #😌😌😌😌 #drarry #drarry fanart #hp fanart #harry potter fanart #draco malfoy #harry potter #my art #draco malfoy fanart #drarry fic rec

[natashatrace]

dialogue from 'beneath the canopy' series by @reiverreturns read it here on ao3

quiet promises (part one) "They say Bob's a quiet man, but they're wrong. Bob's got plenty to say. It's just that Phoenix is the only one who's listening."

halcyon days (part two) "He could be making this all up. She wouldn't know. But Bob's face brightens in a way she's never seen before, he talks for longer than he did the whole first two weeks after they'd met. His shoulders are loose, his expression easy. He knows more about the sky than she ever will and, well. Isn't that something."

#bobnix #top gun maverick #robert bob floyd #natasha phoenix trace #bobphoenix #reiverreturns #Y'ALL. IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY READ THIS. #reiver ily it's affected my brain chemistry in ways i will yell at you about in vivid detail #tgm fic rec

[shivunin]

Fan Work Friday Saturday

Rules: If you're tagged, MAKE A NEW POST and showcase one fanartist or fanfic you recommend (with links), and tag someone to give their recs next! Don't forget to reblog the rec you were tagged in!

Thank you for the tag @dreadfutures! I think this is a fantastic idea c: I am also going to do one of each!

Fanartist: @ndostairlyrium

I think the first piece of art I saw from Ali was this piece of her Inquisitor Ankh and I was floored! She has such a talent for tucking as much color and detail as possible into every piece. The way she draws expressions is incredibly compelling to me and the piece she made of Fenris and my Hawke (above) continues to bring me infinite joy. Just a genuinely funny, kind, and incredibly skilled person who's made just so many DA art pieces that I love!

You can find her commission info here or check out her DA blog here c:

Fanfic: Portrait of a Man by Dulcidyne

Rating: T Words: 3,136 Pairing: Cullen/Inquisitor Trevelyan Summary: It was an excellent painting: the man in it heroic, his face imposing to the point of intimidation. She opened her mouth to say that it looked nothing at all like Cullen but stopped and realized that it did look like Cullen the way most people saw him--the way she had seen him when they first met under a sky tattered and full of demons: a soldier, a leader, a man devoted to a cause, a man incapable of smiling probably.

This is one of my favorite Cullen fics! I love anything that delves into the tension between public and private perceptions for those who've been forced into a very public position (as the Inquisitor has been). This piece is one of those short fics that you immediately scroll back up to the top and read again. It's sweet, it's funny, it made me think, and I've read it many times!

(Also, this author has written some of my favorite Mass Effect fic too: Big, Dramatic Love Confession (Explicit; set in ME3) and Experiments in Diplomacy (T; Andromeda), the latter of which is just. man. so beautifully written)

Tags under the cut!

Tagging: @greypetrel @inquisimer @dungeons-and-dragon-age @blightbear @vakarians-babe @star--nymph @herearedragons @zenstrike @daggerbean @nightwardenminthara @pinayelf please give me your recs!

#fic rec #fanwork friday #tag game #i am biased though because that painting sits right over my computer #and genuinely whenever i am having a bad day and still trying to write #i look up at it and it makes me feel better <3 #there is just so much care and detail tucked into it; i never get tired of looking at how pretty it is