#i was rereading this series and had to share this gem

[marvel-is-ruining-my-life]

One of my favorite moments in all of comics, also I need Bats (the ghost dog) in the MCU please

#i was rereading this series and had to share this gem #also peter is me #peter parker #bats the ghost dog #spiderman #marvel #stephen strange #comics #doctor strange #doctor strange 390 #donny cates #frazer irving #zelma stanton

[rwrbficrecs]

June Faves

It’s that time of the month again!! Here’s a few fics I read in June ✨ It’s a bit of a short list for June because I got sucked into a new ship *cough tarlos cough* – but we’re only halfway through this month and I already know July’s post is probably going to be pretty long! Hope you enjoy these as much as I did ❤️

Fall Into You by lucy_in_the_sky I’m a sucker for fics where Henry’s a nurse – combine that with hurt/comfort and I’m there. Alex is a tad clumsy and of course it’s Henry that’s having to deal with patching him up. Also a big fan of Nora’s characterization in this fic! I truly loved this fic so much – definitely one I’ll be coming back to a lot in the future. 

i'd lie by greenandmoss Wow this fic was amazing – I can’t describe how much I loved it. I really felt for Henry in this fic – at times I wanted to shake him so bad, but also I understood where he was coming from. This fic was so beautifully written and was one of those fics that had me thinking about it long after I'd finished 😌

pride is not the word i’m looking for by @livinginrhythm This fic made me realize we’re severely lacking in Leo content. I loved reading something from Leo’s POV and getting more of insight into his character! This is a lovely must read

group therapy by @stutteringpeach This one is hilarious – but it also made me want to sink deep into the ground from second-hand embarrassment. That didn’t stop me from rereading it at least 5 times though 😅

Tell Me All Your Secrets by @everwitch-magiks I have to admit I was apprehensive about reading a fic where Henry dates Liam 😂 but I love everything Evie writes so I knew I was going to love this story regardless of my initial feelings on Henry/Liam. Knowing that it’s Henry/Alex end game was reassuring though, and the progression to that point was very satisfying! (The pining!!) I loved how New York Prite was featured in this fic and seeing Henry & Alex attend was so lovely. 

The Spirit of Giving by @cha-melodius They're neighbours in this fic (which I'm always down for 😂) and I loved how Alex's competitive side really comes out in this! Also fair warning this fic will make you crave some good Mexican food 🥲

and then i was a careless fool (and i fell in love with you) by newmoonrising A canon divergence fic where Henry is still a Prince and Alex is still the First son but make it a Soulmate AU (with a touch of bed sharing)! As someone who loves soulmate fics I don't know how I hadn't discovered this gem sooner ❤️

you took the time to memorize me (my fears, my hopes, my dreams) by @coffeecatsme Alex is a tour guide and I love how their relationship develops even though there’s so much physical distance between them. I didn’t know it was possible but this fic made me hate Mary even more 😩

That's What You Get For Waking Up in Vegas by bleedingballroomfloor Exes to Lovers !! Getting back together!! (at this point I’m just shouting the tags but really this fic was great and you need to read it – also it’s set in Las Vegas c’mon as if that’s not reason enough)

let me take you in by @livinginrhythm This was such a funny story and I love when Henry gets himself into situations that are completely avoidable, but they lead him to Alex so can he really complain? Another story I loved so much I reread it many many times!

Are You Screwing With Me? by @rmd-writes Didn’t know I needed a Grindr meet-cute AU until I read this and it was perfect. While you’re at it, there’s two other stories in this series for two other fandoms !!

(all of me changed like) midnight rain by @coffeecatsme This fic really makes you feel for Alex – it deals with his parents divorce and just wow 🥺

The Sky is Open by @cha-melodius I am often in awe at some of the AU’s authors come up with to dump Henry & Alex in and this was one of them. Unexpected and a very delightful read!

midnight train going anywhere by greenandmoss Loved this fic – Henry & Alex meet on a midnight train and I don’t know what else to say about this fic without spoiling it, so just go read it!  

✨WIP✨

Every Star That's Ever Fallen Knows the Way to Where We're Going by @dracowillhearaboutthis I love Henry & Alex as childhood friends, so following this WIP was a no brainer. Having Arthur alive is also a lovely bonus ❤️

Little Matters by @pridepages I’m loving reading along as this fic gets updated! Henry is the guardian of his niece and it’s such a beautiful story so far 🥺

#Monthly Faves #rwrb fic recs #red white and royal blue #firstprince fic recs #firstprince #alex claremont diaz #henry fox mountchristen windsor #fic rec list

[holdinbacksecrets]

hii lovely, do you have any fic recs?

actually while we’re at it, your writings and the things you reblog are just beautiful, do you have any book recs too?

i have so many! and thank you for sharing kind words 🖤

my bts side blog is @sayeuphoria and my fic rec tags are ‘sticky feelings’ and ‘sweet like honey’

i’ll also make a little list of my favorite fics and ones i go back to regularly. the majority of these are 18+. mdni

also, please interact with fics you love. reblog them! reblog them with tags! reblog them with comments! send an ask or message to the author! but please reblog. you know how good it feels to take yourself out for a little treat? that’s how reblogs feel, and they make writers want to keep writing. it warms the hearts of writers to know someone was touched by our work, and a part of a piece that we’re really proud of ended up being someone’s favorite part of the fic. plus, don’t you want others to read your favorite pieces?? reblog to help people find them 🖤 it’s a potluck, and if you aren’t bringing a dish (which is totally fine), at least be willing to slice and serve some cake!

Rattled by @gukslut i first read this series over the summer of 2021, and i think about it on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. i reread it every six months. it’s an absolute gem, impeccably written. one of my favorite jungkook’s i’ve ever read

My feet to follow, and my heart to hold by @daechwitatamic i read this series as it was being posted last year, and i used to wake up so excited on the morning of a new chapter. this namjoon unleashed something in me, and i’ve been left craving love more than i used to. i love the presence of poetry too.

Guarded by @xjoonchildx this series was the first mafia au story i read and fucking loved. i’ve gone back to it so many times. i love the way hoseok’s perception of oc changes as the story progresses. oh so good and satisfying.

these blurbs by @darlingjoon tore me in half and stitched me back together

i’m a sucker for angst, and i love all the angst my lovely friend @taetaespeaches writes, especially for yoongi. perfection, but i’m going to drop some of my favorite titles of her fantastic, beautifully written work:

“i thought you left.” yoongi

“You know that I would ruin myself over and over again for you.” yoongi

“I didn’t think you’d care if I came back.” yoongi

“You’ve been my future since we were teenagers.” taehyung

“Let me hold you. Let me take care of you.” taehyung

“I may or may not have met someone.” taehyung

“You think I’d leave you if you falter?” jungkook

my @here2bbtstrash favorites:

deep end namjoon. this fic changed my life.

the shape of your body jimin

the spins jungkook

Love cafe by @chocosvt this jeonghan piece!!!!! AHHHHHHHH! the whole piece is amazing, but there were some scenes that were especially sweet and endearing. i remember sending a friend screenshots of dialogue freaking out.

i was so excited to share @by-moonflower-deactivated202401 bc their writing is incredible, piercing, and feels so nostalgic, but oh shit 😭😭 just learned they deactivated ☹️

book recs:

i’ve read almost everything by taylor jenkins reid, and i’ll recommend her books forever.

last year i read the book of azrael by amber v nicole and loved it. it’s a dark fantasy romance. i haven’t read the sequel yet.

this year, so far, i’ve read days at the morisaki bookshop. it’s a quick read but very sweet and comforting, with life lessons just beneath the surface. i’ve also read heavenly bodies by imani erriu. it had me screaming and kicking my feet. i posted about it here a few days ago. i’m reading the sequel right now.

dub finding ceremony by alexis pauline gumbs is a book i read my senior year of college, and it inspired a lot of writing for my independent studies prose class. braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer is another beautiful read.

#s talks #lovely nonnie #fic recs #book recs

[edai-crplpnk]

Hello (:

Mind if you share some list of KankuKiba favorites fics of yours? Or where can I find some recommendations? Suddenly I wanna read about them but I don’t wanna filter them by kudos or # comments on AO3. Feel free sharing of your own jobs.

(You can omit this of course) Thank you! Have a nice day.

Of course! I haven't been reading a lot lately so all the fics I have to mention are a bit old, and maybe you know them already, and also maybe there are more recent gems that I don't know about, but I've got those.

Thirst, by kranquro

60k words, canonverse, action and pining

Kiba and Kankurou work on a joint mission in the Land of Wind and pine for each other while Kankurou is meant to be arranged marriage very soon. Lots of tension (sexual, but really not just that). I really like their dynamic, it's funny, it's angsty, it's hot, it's nuanced and real. The more plot and mission part is really well built too and intersects with the pining in a very well balanced way, love it.

(Note: There's also a little sequel in the series that is nice!)

20 Tracks - Kankuro collection, by shadowstrangle

65k words, canonverse, a bit of action and a lot of romance

Our little internalised homophobia and alcohol abuse Kankurou treat. I can never turn down one of those. Kankurou's very far into the closet when Kiba sort of busts the door open, I suppose. It's a lot about Kankuro figuring that out and the two of them being cute, but there is also some political plot around the political consequences of Kankurou being gay. There are some scenes that have really stuck with me hard.

If I had a criticism it would be that I'm not wholly fond of the trope of Konoha being super liberal and Suna being super conservative and that the political side of things is sometimes a bit simplistic in that area. But it's still nice, it has still surprised me in good and subtle ways in its development, so still a fic I love.

(Note: It comes with read-along songs that are great, and that's what made me want to do the same thing for Haemorrhage!)

Blanket Retrieval Arc, by HelloThereGhoul

25k words, modern college au, mostly fluff

Kiba and Kankurou live in the same college dorm and stumble upon each other. Classic meet cute. They're sweet and funny and crushing babies. Very soft, I thoroughly enjoyed it, several times.

(Note: The fic is technically abandonned? The author said they had plans for more and stopped, but it's written up to the point when they get together and it doesn't feel like it's lacking an ending to me.)

Time to heal, by Lycka

110k words, modern au, figuring out relationships and trauma

Kankurou and Kiba meet at a time where Kankurou is looking over Gaara who is in rehab. They start dating a bit but Kankurou initially identifies as ace and it causes a lot of doubts and questions about how that could work out between them.

It's not in the tags and there's no warning so I feel like I need to add it: there are mentions and non-graphic memories of incest and one other instance of sexual assault in it.

This one is a bit of a wild card. The author's note mentioned that it was their first time writing in English and that the first chapter was not representative of their current writing. So I decided to give it a go and trust that it would improve over the course of the fic, which it really did. This fic has really good scenes that I've reread a bunch of times, but : 1 It's true that the first chapters are really not at the level of the ones down the road so you have to be willing to work with that. 2 It becomes quite KankuKiba centric, but it starts GaaNaru centric, there is also a bit of SasuNaru and a bit of SakuTema. 3 It's abandoned, but the author left a last chapter to summarise the plot that they didn't write up until the end and the KankuKiba part of the fic is not what is left hanging.

Overall, some interesting and good things, but a lot of variety in both quality and content. I've read it once whole, and I'm very happy I did, and then several times just the (KankuKiba) parts that I was really involved in.

While I'm here I will briefly do a little self-promo recap of my own KankuKiba stuff but let it be know it's almost exclusively smut. They're just like that.

I have a series of KankuKiba kinky T4T smut. Canonverse. Shino is also involved in some. I hope to write non-smut in this AU eventually (mostly just pregnant Kankurou fluff), but I have none yet.

I have a modern AU with KankuKiba in a polycule (KankuKiba, KibaShino, ShinoHina). There is a bunch of smut, and a long fic about them getting together that I have yet to finish. I started it two years ago so I too am a bit insecure about my old writing in it, but I love this AU a lot so I still hope to finish it eventually. I update sporadically.

And finally, I have a KankuKiba hook-up fic in my beloved other modern AU. I have ideas to write them again in this AU, maybe not even smut, but I don't know when that'll happen.

That's it for this time I think! Thank you for asking, I hope you will like them. (Anyone passing around this post please feel free to reblog with your own rec!!)

#kankukiba #kankiba #fic rec #trans kiba #kiba inuzuka #kankuro #trans kankuro

[allwaswell16]

Annual Writing Self-Evaluation

Thanks for tagging me @kingsofeverything !

1. List of works published this year:

Netflix Original

A Deal

Do You See What I See 

Bitter Ends Turn Sweet (series)

All This Time

On That Note

Ace of Hearts

Crush

Daydream

One

Heart Beat 

2. Work you are most proud of (and why):

Probably Bitter Ends Turn Sweet. First of all, just knowing there was a song called Chicago on FITF had me shook. Then, the first time I heard it, it was just such a fanfic that the whole story was just right there in my head as soon as the song was over. And I was like...nah. I'm not gonna write a long kid fic, right? RIGHT?? I've written angst before, but writing about a child made me emotional in a way I've never felt while writing in part because I was writing a disabled child. And for that matter I wrote a trans character into this fic as well. But I wanted to write this in a way that made it clear how deeply loved and celebrated these characters were to their families and the people around them. Maybe I made their characters have it unrealistically easy, but it's what I wanted for them just as I want that for my disabled and trans family and friends in real life.

3. Work you are least proud of (and why):

I wouldn't say I'm not proud of any of them, but the time stamps I wrote for Bitter Ends are just things that didn't fit into the main story. And I feel like there's a reason they didn't, if that makes sense. But I thought it might be fun for anyone who liked the fic to read those bits of it, which is why I published them at all.

4. A favorite excerpt of your writing:

oof I can never find anything. Here's something from Bitter Ends:

Harry shrugged. “Maybe. Gem said it was okay to make mistakes like dancing with the wrong guys.”

Louis nodded, considering. “How about dancing with the right guy?”

Harry’s heart pounded harder, and he wasn’t sure it had anything to do with the dancing. “I don’t know. He didn’t say anything about that.”

He’d now lost Liam amidst the dancers, but it was hard to concentrate on that with Louis this close. Louis’ hand splayed out across his back, keeping him close as the beat slowed. 

They’d both dressed in black. And although Harry’s shirt was filmy with a bit of lace and Louis’ a t-shirt sheer enough to see his tattoos through, they were near enough to one another that Harry couldn’t tell where one fabric ended and another began.

Perhaps he could blame muscle memory on why he lifted his arms and wrapped them around Louis’ shoulders, close enough now to feel Louis’ breath at his neck, cooling his heated skin just there as desire zipped down his spine. 

The bit of scruff still on Louis’ cheeks slid against the bare skin of Harry’s shoulder peeking through where his shirt had slipped down, and Harry was thankful for the volume of the bar blocking out the sound of his moan. The whirl of lights danced across his vision, caught up in this moment with Louis.

5. Share or describe a favorite review you received:

There's this one for Bitter Ends: What a gift!!! What a wonderful, sweet, tear inducing gift of fabulous writing! Every word, every sentence of story building was exquisite. I could do nothing else but read this from start to finish and will reread it again and again. Max was an inspired character, so real and so loved. Thank you for this.

And this one for Ace of Hearts: I had no idea I loved early 19th century pirate stories as much as I do now. I couldn’t leave a comment until I finished reading all the parts. I don’t remember when I started but I did forgot to eat for awhile. I haven’t read a story with so many twists and well written.

And basically every single one for Do You See What I See because they're all the same thing...people yelling at me when they find out the twist hahahaha

6. A time when writing was really, really hard:

No one come for me, but I wouldn't say there's ever a time where it's really hard to do. BUT sometimes it's really hard for me to make time for it.

7. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you:

I spent YEARS trying to come up with a plot for a Louis/Cillian Murphy fic. Nothing felt right. And then it somehow occurred to me that what I really wanted to write was Louis/Tommy Shelby and once I figured that out the story immediately came to me.

8. How did you grow as a writer this year:

I always like to try my hand at new things, so this year I wrote girl direction for the first time, some new rare pairs, I wrote an advent fic, both my longer fics are kid fics, which is wild to me lol.

9. How do you hope to grow next year:

Whoops. Had to come back and add this in. I just hope to find more time to write and keep finding more challenges for myself.

10. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc):

If you looked through my author's notes this year, you'd definitely notice how often I thanked @nouies I couldn't have done half of what I did this year without Lou. Her encouragement and making fic posts and reading things over for me helped me enormously. To have someone supporting and keeping me going was just everything. And always @louandhazaf for betaing my fics and always being excited to read whatever new thing I've come up with to write! Thank you x a million, Nic!

11. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year:

lol yes. hmmm where to start...Bitter Ends has a lot of my son and the things my family likes to do in Chicago in it. Do You See What I See is based on a FB ad I saw that I found hysterically funny and also based on the animals that run around in the wooded ravine behind my house. Daydream takes place in a coffee shop that I like to go to. And Heart Beat takes place in a fictional version of my hometown, has a fictional version of my cat in it, and has a plot inspired by me spending a lot of time in a converted cathedral listening to my son play the drums.

12. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers:

I think I say the same thing every year...READ!!! It's important of course to make time for the actual writing. And writing as much as possible if your goal is to become better at it, but analyzing other people's writing is how a lot of people grow as a writer. What is it about your favorite novels/fics that you love? Read or reread them with a critical eye at what exactly the writer is doing so you can try it out in your own writing.

13. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year:

I (think??? lol) I'm only signed up to write for @1dalphalouisfest but I'll probably sign up for @1domegaverseficfest too. And obviously I'll write for my own fest @louisrarepairfest I have this soulmates fic that I've been simmering in my brain for a while and I just recently started to figure a few things out for it. So it may or may not fit into one of those fests.

14. Tag three writers whose answers you’d like to read. ;)

@jacaranda-bloom @nouies @lululawrence and anyone else who wants to do this just say I tagged you!

*All answers should be about works published in 2023

Past years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 , 2021 , 2022

#self eval #self eval 2023 #writing things

[limpwristdyke]

wondering if you’d be willing to share some of your favorite j7 fics?

First of all I’m sorry it took me this long to answer u and secondly THANK u for this opportunity to dump some of my faves on you! 💕 Also I wanted to reread all of these before rec’ing for fun & so I could say better what I MEAN about them but alas I’m gonna have to mostly go off my memory & vibes. Also lol I’m getting so distracted off looking for more old fics so I’m just gonna send tweet so I don’t spend another week adding to this but ofc there are so many greats & if I think of other faves I’ll lyk!

I’m gonna err toward some pre-ao3 fics—there's such a little something about the older gems, I don't know what it is but it’s like its own universe and the lighting’s just a little different over there. 

The Oracle by nejvit oracle: nejvit

When I found this fic I felt like I’d fallen thru a dimension like, This story’s been here all this time!?! and became obsessed w finding more older J/7 fics. I immediately read everything else by nejvit after this one; recommend the rest but this one’s the best IMO.

The Rod and the Staff by Trekintandem 

Get in gays its biblical allusions + queer desire! The writing is so !! trekintandem is so good at envisioning and describing the sort of awkward/easy, casual/weighty conversations they like to/ought to have w each other & showing their little gears turning as they try to figure out what they’re trying to say & why. Also recommend Propriety and Desire—SUCH a sexy little vibe for them. Ok also read the same spot twice (post endgame) ! 

Not just strip poker by pinkrabbitproductions

A romp & a treat! Also tbh a fave of Seven’s responses to questions of power. (Also may be worth mentioning that I think the title sorta misrepresents the vibe, to me anyway) 

Rules of the Game by Bailey B.

A post-endgame treat for the pygmalion girlies (gn)!!!! + something I love where Janeway distances herself from Seven thinking it’s The Right Thing To Do but it is actually fucked up & hurtful & she has to get right with herself! But most importantly it’s the Vibes for me.

Journey’s End by iheartjaneway

Another post endgame—I haven’t read this one in years but rabidly searched the internet (in vain) for more of their fics so I know I had a great time.

Before the Beginning: Jackie Kennedy

Another one I need to reread but it’s another one for the ~vibes. & some of these scenes of the Voyager crew in San Francisco are canon to me. …oh no I think this is another one where Janeway avoids Seven out of her misguided martyr complex no one look at me!!!!! Well,

The Once and Future by awomannotagirl

Powerful, life-changing, show-stopping!!! I wish I could eat this fic. Also post endgame. (& imo SUCH a good take on Janeway’s background; canon To Me.) 

wild geese by problematick 

I haven’t watched Picard and one of the reasons I may never is because I KNOW I’ll be disappointed that it is not THIS FIC which is everything!! + Seven, & Kathryn, & Seven’s name?? Delicious!

Violence and Variations by kesdax 

This one's a gen series with a j7 storyline; imo it’s like watching an arc of perfect Seven-centric Voyager eps. Like Voyager should’ve made these eps fr!! Fair warning it’s currently an unfinished series!

Hypnobyl’s Love is Blind (care-taking Seven in the Seven-most way!) & Necessary Sacrifices (fake marriage away mission!!) ok & Coya Anochta Zab (another post-endgame...)

Baby Demon by Boadicea and Kelly

A rare Relativity story! I love the idea of these two in time travel situations together. I wanna call this fic atmospheric, I think that's the main thing that's stuck with me.

Crossing the Line by FaustianAspirant

A post Dark Frontier scene. This is thee j7 pretext dialogue/scenario to me!!! (SPOILER/fair warning u might not like where/how it ends up but IMO worth it regardless.)

#literally i've been piecing this together as i've had time over the past couple of weeks and i'm already #thinking of more fics to add #also I AM obsessed w trawling the wayback machine for old fics so #if anybody wants to find any PLEASe hmu it is A Joy #j7 #voyager #janeway/seven #janeway x seven #fic rec

[apogueprincess]

My Forever Is You - Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Reader - Part Two

Here is part two!!! I’m so excited to continue this series. I got carried away and this is twice as long as part one. There’s a flashback within a flashback in this one, so pay attention!

This leads directly off of Part One so make sure you read it first! Feel free to reread it if you haven’t already!

——————————————————

Word count: 6.3k

Warnings: lots of fluff, mentions of death, swearing, sexual themes and sad moments

Sitting in stunned silence, you shook your head in wonder at Rooster. Amidst the shock of his words, you felt impossibly torn between your heart and your head. Your heart wanted you to throw yourself into his arms again and tell him you were willing to start all over. Make that stunning house your own, and figure out what “forever” would look like together. Your head however, screamed out to get up and walk away now before either of you could experience any more pain or heartbreak.

“I’ve always felt that way,” he added. “I know it’s been a long time and there’s so much shit we’d have to figure out, but I love you. Two and a half years and that much has never changed.” The scared smile that blanketed his face made your heart ache, knowing full well you’d always felt the same, despite everything.

You finally found your voice. “I love you too Bradley. I hope you know that that’s never changed for me either,” you confessed with honesty. “I do,” he nodded with an air of confidence in his voice. “Also, Penny kinda confirmed it for me last Thursday. I stopped in here after I got back in town. What a gem of a woman she is.” He chuckled out in amusement as your questioning expression began to form, deepening through your face as you processed his words.

“You’ve been back here since last Thursday?” You exclaimed in wonderment, “Penny didn’t say a fucking thing, I had no clue.” You were completely puzzled that for DAYS she hadn’t come to you with the enormous revelation that Rooster was back in town.

“Doesn’t surprise me, I had a feeling she wouldn’t. You know she’s always meddled in our relationship. Usually to our benefit in the end though I guess,” he grinned as you shook your head once more, knowing he was right.

You thought back to last week, trying to remember anything about that day. If Penny had made any comments that could’ve hinted at the secret of Rooster’s return. “Wait I was working here last Thursday, how did I not see you? I closed the bar that night,” you questioned with a puzzled frown.

“You hadn’t shown up yet I think. I went to go see her before the place was open that day, I needed to talk to her. I had no idea you were back either, until then.” His smile was soft as you watched him sink back into his memory of the conversation he shared with Penny that afternoon. It had changed everything for him.

{last Thursday)

Penny had been happily surprised to see him when he slipped through the back door and into the bar that afternoon. He followed behind the two men who were delivering cases and kegs of beer in preparation for the weekend. She greeted him with a curious grin.

“Hey Rooster.”

“Hey Pen.” He locked eyes with her fondly as he approached the side of the bar she was leaning against.

“What the hell brings you back in here?” Penny inquired, feelings of curiosity and intrigue surfacing as she watched the younger man search himself for an honest answer.

Taking a deep breath, he shared. “Top Gun. They’ve asked if I want a position there as an instructor, and fuck Pen I think I’m doin’ it,” he smiled hesitantly. “And as of today, I’m a signature away from making that house on Mission Beach mine. I’m thinking it’s finally time.” Rooster’s eyes silently begged for some kind of affirmation or advice from his dear friend as she gazed proudly at him.

“I’m really happy for you Bradley,” she nodded, “You belong there, that’s your home. Your dad would be so proud of you.” Her smile was warm and affectionate towards the younger man whom she had known for so much of his life. He fell silent for a moment at the mention of his father, wondering what Goose would truly think of how his son had lived his life, following in his footsteps. The same footsteps that had led him to such a tragically young death.

“I just wouldn’t want him to think that I’m giving up. That I’m choosing the easier road this way.” Rooster confided, still wrestling with all of the emotions that came with returning to North Island, again.

“Just because something is easy, doesn’t mean that it’s wrong,” Penny assured, “your entire life has been one enormous challenge after another. More so than most. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting something consistent in your life. As a matter of fact I think you deserve it.”

He smiled appreciatively, nodding slowly in contemplation. “I just don’t know if I can do this alone. Ever since she left, Penny, I’ve second guessed every single decision that I’ve made. It’s been a year and a half now and I still feel like I’m living in limbo without her.” His face dimmed with sadness just as hers began to shine with hope.

“You’re not the only one that feels that way honey.” Her smile stayed fixed on her beautiful face, waiting for a reaction from the handsome one now sat opposite her.

Rooster’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing on her expression as he dared to ask, “what do you mean?”

“I mean buy that beautiful house. Take that job. There just might be someone here who doesn’t even realize, she’s still waiting for you.” Penny’s grin was dangerously close to a smirk as she watched the realization hit Rooster.

“Waiting for me? She’s back here?” His tone excited yet doubtful as he questioned the beaming brunette once again. “All I’m saying is you might want to get your ducks in a row, and come back in here one night when you do. I think it’ll be worth your time.”

A new hope flooded through Rooster as he made sense of Penny’s knowing advice. A fraction of him not quite believing that you were back in California again. The day you left he had truly thought it would be the last time, even though the engagement ring he had designed for you was still in his possession. He was never able to let it go.

“Thank you,” he said with sincerity, grinning at Penny with a newfound sparkle in his eye. “Don’t worry about it,” she laughed as she waved him away playfully, “now go wrangle those ducks. I expect to be seeing you.”

“Yes ma’am,” Rooster saluted her happily as he stood up and stepped away from the bar, “you will, I promise.” And just like that he went to sign those papers, leaving Penny with a mischievous smile gracing her face and a renewed faith for your future.

{present day}

“I was wondering why she seemed so certain you’d want to talk to me tonight,” you recalled Penny’s sureness as she ushered you out from behind the bar top earlier. “She told you I was working here again didn’t she?” Your eyes caught his as you interrogated him lightheartedly.

“In a way, she did,” he admitted through a grin, “but I didn’t think you were here tonight at first. When I got here I didn’t see you anywhere, then next thing I know I look up from the piano and there you are.”

“Here I am,” you raised up your hands with a shrug. “The reason you didn’t see me is because I was in the walk-in refrigerator fighting with the goddamned Budweiser,” still feeling exasperated with what a pain in the ass it always is.

“I don’t know why you don’t let Penny change those kegs for you,” Rooster laughed out, shaking his head. His warm skin was glowing in the moonlight and you couldn’t help but just take him in for a moment. You felt your heart skip for just a second as his fingertips grazed your knee. Nevertheless, you gathered yourself for a response, “because I am fully capable of doing it myself, I don’t need help. I just hate doing it, it pisses me off.”

You both giggled for a moment together, enjoying each other’s company as the waves crashed and the bar buzzed from inside. Silence soon settled around you as the weight of the conversation at hand returned. Reaching each other’s eyes once more, you found comfort in his adoring gaze.

“I meant it though darlin’, I love you.” His demeanor was so confident and relaxed as he opened up once again.

“I love you too Roo. I just don’t know if I can do this again. I destroyed an entire year’s worth of love and friendship and memories and dreams. I walked away from the future we were planning because I was scared and selfish. I broke your heart, and I broke my own too,” you shook your head in frustration. “I really can’t understand how you’re able to forgive me after that.”

“It’s because there’s nothing to forgive,” the cadence in his voice was deep, gentle and honest. “Don’t get me wrong, at first, I was angry. So fuckin’ angry. Angry and confused and not able to understand why. But then I really thought about what you said that night, and it made sense. I watched my mom struggle without my dad, and I saw what she went through, raising me on her own. So many moments just felt empty without him. Every birthday that he missed, every milestone, move, graduation. I watched her have to work two jobs just to pay the bills, even with the money we got after he died. Every time their anniversary came around, she would just sit in her room with the door closed and cry quietly so that I couldn’t hear her, but I did.” He had tears in his eyes that were threatening to spill down his cheeks.

“Then I thought about you, and your family. You had siblings, I was an only child. Your mom had so much more on her plate and so much less time to give you. You watched your entire world change at 8 years old when your dad died, and you had younger siblings to worry about too.”

You were nearing tears as he shared his heart with you. Pain and relief mixing, knowing now that he understood your hurt.

“How could I hate you for trying to not suffer through all of that again? If something happens to me while it’s just the two of us, that’s fucking scary enough. But if we have a family, that’s so many more broken hearts and weight to carry. I could never hate you for choosing to save yourself from a future we both had to grow up in.” His voice was cracking as you placed your hand over his.

“I tried to save my heart from breaking if I ever lost you. But in the process I lost you anyways, and broke my own heart as well as yours. I traded the possibility of a beautiful life with you, where we could’ve had forever together, for a certain future without you in it at all. I’m a fucking idiot,” you laughed through your sniffles.

“You’re not an idiot,” Rooster argued, “you were scared, and fear makes you do things. I almost died two and a half years ago because I was too scared. You might be afraid, but you’re not an idiot. I would know, you’ve beaten me at Trivia Crack so many times that I’ve come to wonder if I even went to school at all.”

Your tears ceased as you shook your head, blinking them away through your giggles. “You’re not wrong, I am the trivia queen. You were getting better though.” You smiled at him as he shrugged his shoulders.

“Babydoll what can I say, I fly fighter jets, and you’re the trivia queen. Everyone has their strengths.”

Shooting him a playful glare, you giggled out in response, “still with the Babydoll huh?” “Hey it is your honorary callsign, you earned that shit.” Rooster reminded you with a proud grin, “That moment was the moment I fell in love with you.” He was beaming down at you as the vivid memory of that day replayed in both of your minds.

{two and a half years ago}

The Hard Deck had just officially opened for the day eleven minutes ago, and you were hurriedly finishing the last few things you needed to do to set up the bar for the shift. You were the only one there so far, enjoying the strange level of quiet and peace in the place that was often packed and booming. You were proud that Penny now trusted you with your own set of keys, and the responsibility of running shifts on your own. Always opening and closing to her standards and making sure everything was just right.

A song had been stuck in your head for the last few hours, replaying itself over and over to no end. You hummed it to yourself as you plugged in the jukebox, and made your way over to the many tables and chairs lining the walls. After fixing them so they sat perfectly straight, you set your hands upon your hips and surveyed your work. The small table in the far right corner near the piano reeled your attention in towards it.

You smiled in remembrance of the last time you and Rooster had perched upon the stools, beers in hand. It had been the night before the crew left for their big mission almost a week prior. Penny had given you the night off, knowing your nerves were strained alongside theirs at the unknown of the looming danger that lay ahead of them. Rooster had watched you intently all night. His eyes rarely wandered away from you, drinking you in. Just in case it was the last time.

As if summoned, Rooster entered The Hard Deck, breaking you out of your memory induced trance. Phoenix, Bob, Hangman, Payback, Coyote, Fanboy and a few others in tow behind him. The airmen were still reeling with accomplishment and relief after the incredible success they’d achieved just days ago now.

Payback had cracked some joke, rousing a joyous laugh out of the rest of the crew as they each greeted you warmly, making their way to “their” corner of the bar. Phoenix took a moment to give you a quick hug and then a wink from over her shoulder as she walked away, eyeing Rooster as he headed towards you. You shot her a look of feigned annoyance as she took a seat and blew you a kiss, turning away as you shook your head at her.

Rooster’s long strides led him to where you were in no time at all. The beating of your heart quickened, and your breath almost caught in your throat as you attempted to speak. He was so intoxicating to you that the feeling almost swallowed you whole in his presence.

“Hey, glad you’re back,” you willed your voice to stay cool. “You already said that two nights ago,” he grinned down at you, elbow leaning against the edge of the table. He was so annoyingly attractive that it had become fucking distracting. Tan, smelling of sunshine and the light scent of cologne. “I’m fully aware,” you retorted, “I mean it. I’m glad you’re back. ‘Cause you have yet to buy that drink you promised me before you left.”

He chuckled and agreed, “you’re right you’re right. I guess the last time we had a real drink together it didn’t end so happy huh?” His smile turned down just a little at the memory of the night before he left on his mission.

{the night before the mission}

You’d shed tears in the parking lot giving hugs and saying goodbye to the crew, wracked with fear as to what was to come next for your friends.

Rooster had held you just a little tighter than the rest, one arm wrapped around your waist and the other around your shoulders. You breathed him in as your heart ached, and he let you out of his embrace. “I’m comin’ back to you, and when I do I’m gonna buy you a drink. Maybe somewhere that isn’t here.” A smile broke through your anxious expression at the thought.

“I’d like that. But what’s wrong with The Hard Deck?” You asked, nearly pretending to be insulted. He leaned in closer to you and carefully said, “because if I want to kiss you, the last thing I need is Hangman over my shoulder.” You giggled, despite the heat in your stomach at the tone of his voice. “Hey you’d make him jealous I’m sure, I’d call that a goddamn win.”

Shaking his head, Rooster took a step away from you, reaching into his pocket for the keys to his Bronco. “It would be darlin’, it would be.” He gave you another happy smile as he turned towards it and opened the door, waving to the rest of the airmen and saying his “see you tomorrows.” Getting in and starting the engine, he rolled the windows down and looked you in the eyes. “I’ll see you in a few. I promise.” You nodded your head as your eyes brimmed with tears, “I know you will. Fly safe Bradley.” He gave you a salute, eliciting another small giggle from you, and drove away.

{current flashback}

It was the beginning of the feelings of worry and dread you’d experienced ever since. But with Rooster standing in front of you, safe and sound and still glowing with victory, you let it float out of your mind once more.

“C’mon, go sit and I’ll start up a round for everyone. But next time, you’re buying.” “Yes ma’am,” Rooster chuckled back, his eyes glinting at you as he retreated to join the rest of the airmen. Although he didn’t miss the opportunity to scan your figure as he left your side, shooting you a wink when you caught his gaze.

Within a few minutes, a round of everyone’s favorite beers had been served, and the banter had begun. Once you were back behind the bar top polishing some glasses, Hangman started on a tangent about how you were the only one without a callsign. “Well think about it. None of us call each other by our first names, like ever. But we just call her y/n. It’s weird.” He stated incredulously.

“Because that’s my name, Jake. Normal people don’t need callsigns,” You rolled your eyes as he winced at the the use of his government name. “Plus, don’t you have to earn a callsign somehow? Something embarrassing or noteworthy?” You recalled, remembering the absurd story of how your dad had earned his callsign.

“I’m sure we could figure something out,” Hangman squinted his eyes in a flirtatiously calculating manner. “Would be fun to have something different to call you one night, when you finally let me take you home.” He popped up an eyebrow at you with a facetious grin as the rest of the pilots groaned and chastised him. Your eyes rolled even further back into your head, so much so that you almost caught a glimpse of your own brain.

Despite the flirtatious remarks and dirty propositions Hangman threw your way, your relationship really did consist of far more sibling-like banter, sarcasm, and teasing than anything else. Just apparently not today.

“But really!” He exclaimed, “this one here needs a call sign. She might not be an airman but hey, sooner or later she’ll hop on one.” He winked and smirked over at you devilishly, waiting for your presumably sarcastic comeback.

“Fuck off Seresin. And hey if I ever do ‘hop on’ an airman? You can be sure as hell that it’ll never be you.”

There it is.

Everyone started laughing and “oooing” at Hangman as you set the mug in your hand down and gave him the most taunting glare. “If you say so darlin’. I guess you’ll just never know what you’re missin’,” he held his hands up in imagined defeat.

“Bagman, I’m pretty sure there’s nothing to miss there,” Phoenix retorted, “if there was, women would actually come back. I’ve never seen the same woman in your quarters more than once.”

“Wooow,” Coyote whined out painfully.

“Ouch,” Rooster chimed in through a gleeful laugh as his hand came down to smack the table. Your eyes caught his in a knowing look, quite glad he was entertained by the exchange.

You smirked amusedly as you eyed the expression on Hangman’s face, rolling his eyes in annoyance at Phoenix. She then returned the same wonderful glare you had given him earlier, knowing happily that she’d defeated him. Your eyes danced around the corner of the bar, taking in this group of people who in a few short weeks had managed to become like family to you.

Your focus landed on Rooster yet again. A white T-shirt was snug upon his broad shoulders, RayBans were set atop his sun kissed hair and a smile was beaming wide across his face as he laughed with his friends. This. This is what I’ve been waiting for, you thought to yourself.

A couple of hours passed. Penny had come in to help you with the rush, and The Hard Deck had started to buzz with music and the sound of the growing crowd. You were busy at work cleaning glasses, serving drinks and cashing out guests, when some drunk middle aged man at the bar top started harassing you.

It had been almost an hour now of this guy you’d figured out was named “Tony”, badgering you for your phone number, making comments about your body, and being an overall asshole to you and the rest of the guests in the establishment. You had tried to tell him off multiple times to no avail. He even tried to grab your arm once as you were reaching across the counter to clear off an empty glass.

“Babydoll, just one date? I have money, I’m successful, why wouldn’t you want to go on just one date?” “Hey c’mon Babydoll, you’re so fucking hot, please just give me your number.” “Babydoll! A beer? No! I’m fine.” “I know you hear me talking to you Babydoll.”

You were reaching your breaking point. Penny saw it, the crew saw it, and so did Rooster.

Then as you rounded the bar top, and walked over to an empty table to clean it off, he grabbed your arm and said, “Babydoll don’t leave me,” and you finally just cracked. Wrenching your arm out of his grasp you completely lost it, “call me Babydoll one more time and you’re out!”

One by one every head in the bar swiveled in your direction at the sound of your shrill, seething tone.

“Babydolllll…” he drawled out.

And that’s exactly what he was. Out. Out cold.

You clocked him so hard with your fist to the side of his jaw, that he went over the stool he had been leaning on and landed flat on the ground. Unconscious. The whole bar gasped and hollered, some people even cheered.“Holy shit is he dead?” Some drunk guy yelled. “Of course not jackass!” Penny snapped back through her laughter, “he just finally shut up!”

You stood there in stunned silence before your shock was interrupted.

“Hey wait!” Hangman stood up from his chair and exclaimed, “Fuck! That’s it! Babydoll! That’s her callsign!” The whole group cheered and laughed hysterically as you looked over in exasperation. Shaking out your hand that now hurt like a bitch.

“Welcome to the family Babydoll,” Rooster and Phoenix declared in unison, earning yet another eye roll from you tonight as they raised their beers to you. “Babydoll? Really?” You watched over the crew in amusement as you laughed. “Hey, you earned it,” Rooster “cheersed” to you as he grinned, admiration painted all over his face.

{present day}

You shook your head in disbelief and giggled at the memory. “That was the day? That really was the day you fell in love with me? Because I knocked out “Handsy Tony” with my bare fist?” You smiled up at him as his eyes locked into yours.

“Yeah, yeah it was,” he nodded his head, sharing in your laughter. “You stood up for yourself, threw a mean punch, and looked hot doin’ it. Dreamgirl.” You fully broke out into the giggles as you held your head in your hands. Trying to fathom the notion that Rooster had unconsciously chosen that moment to fall in love with you.

He smirked down at you as you laughed. Pride swelling within his chest at knowing that he was the cause of your happiness in this moment. Your shining eyes and amused smile made his own spread even further across his face, creeping up to his eyes as he watched you intently.

It had been so long. So long he’d wished to see you again, to hear your voice, your laugh, to see your smile as it beamed up at him. The thought made his heart pang with the hurt he’d felt since the day you left. However, it was quickly dulled by the ever growing joy and ease that was building within him.

“You’re something else,” you remarked, an adoring gaze meeting his. “So are you,” he added, grabbing your hand as it rested on your lap, lacing your fingers with his.

How this moment made you feel was something you never even knew was a feeling. It was happiness, tinged with regret, with so much anxiousness, love, want, and uncertainty that you felt like you were about to burst from it.

“Let me take you on a date. You can catch me up on all of the fun things you’ve been doing without me,” he proposed, waiting for your response with a degree of hesitancy. “Oh all of the fun things huh? That conversation would last about four minutes,” you chuckled, “but yeah that’d be nice Roo.”

The corner of his mouth tugged up into a smirk. “If you’re free Tuesday I can take you to Bluewater?” Your favorite restaurant. “I’m sure Penny would let that slide,” you assured him with a smile and a nod. “Then it’s a date. I’ll pick you up at six? I’d say wear something nice, but when you look like that all of the time, I don’t even think it’s necessary.” He complimented you, earning another grin as you let go of his hand for a moment to playfully shove his knee.

“Oh stop,” you attempted to dampen his flattery, although you were quite happy to hear it. “You know damn well I don’t look like this all of the time,” you gestured at yourself with your free hand, “you’ve seen me when I first wake up in the morning. Not a pretty sight.” “My statement stands,” he reaffirmed, “there’s never been a time where I haven’t thought you were the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Somehow even the back of your head is attractive to me.”

“Okay now,” you scolded him with your doubt, even though you were smiling so hard your cheeks were beginning to sting. “Glad to know I’m beautiful even when I’m walking away from you.”

Stopping in your tracks, your shining smile halted alongside your laughter as you realized the trigger of the words you had just spoken. Locking eyes with Rooster, his smile never faded as he followed with, “you are, and you were.” His gaze and expression still adoring, refusing to let that pained memory interfere with the happiness of this moment.

“Well thank you,” you finally accepted his sweet words. “I could say the same for you, Mr. ‘I don’t age, I just get hotter’.” He chuckled at your honest observation, happy to see the smile returning to your face. Reaching for your hand once more, he gave it a small squeeze and tilted his head to the side. Letting a moment of contended and comfortable silence pass, you just enjoyed being in one another’s presence again after all this time.

“Let me give you a ride home,” Rooster propositioned, hoping that he’d have your permission. “That would be great actually. Penny drove me here today, Stella is in the shop again.” “You still have that damned thing?” Rooster exclaimed, “I didn’t think it would make it another six months, even back then! Fuckin’ piece of junk,” he tilted his head back as he laughed.

“Hey! That piece of junk has lasted me 206,790 miles, three heartbreaks, five moves across four states and still has plenty of fight left in her. And her name is Stella.” You defended your car through your laughter. It was a blue 1997 Jeep Wrangler that drank so much gas it was almost physically painful every time you went to fill it up. It also overheated anytime the temperature went above 88 degrees, which for San Diego was all of the time, and fully broke down about every three months.

Nevertheless, you loved the damned thing and you were pretty sure that she loved you back.

“One of these days you are gonna need to find another car darlin’,” Rooster reminded you as his laughter quieted. “I know I am, it’s just not going to be today, it’s not her time.” “Alright we’ll I’m sure you know her better than I do. I concede,” Rooster’s tone was amused and happy.

Being so close to him felt like a breath of fresh air, and at the same time also reminded you of the comfort of your favorite blanket. Light, yet warm, refreshing yet familiar. He felt like home. Your home.

His eyes were so dark and inviting, and his fingers laced within yours made you feel so safe and content. It was a feeling you were now realizing you hadn’t felt in a year and half. Sure there had been good times spent with friends and family since then, and a couple of dates that had been fun and easy. But nothing like home, nothing like him.

“I missed you Rooster.”

“I missed you too Babydoll.”

The looks on your faces were just alike. Blissfully happy that you were in each other’s presence again, and so glad to be home. Both in the place you had grown up in, and in each other.

“So how ‘bout I give you that ride home?”

“Sounds good to me.” He gave your hand a light squeeze as he let it go, and you both got up from the table. Your beer was now warm and half empty as you pulled it off the table and walked over to the edge of the deck. Pouring the rest of it out into the sand, you brought your finger to your lips in a “shh” gesture towards Rooster.

“Penny can never know. You know how she hates wasted beer,” you mused as you shook out the last few drops from the bottle, and joined Rooster as he turned to head back into the bar. He opened the door and the noise returned in full force. The pulse of the jukebox booming and people talking and laughing.

The bottle was soon discarded in a trash can behind the bar as you went to retrieve your purse from a shelf below the counter. Rooster leaned against the wall, car keys jingling faintly between his fingers as he waited for you with a smile. The smile and his attention then darted to over your shoulder just as you caught his eyes, now bending over to grab your purse.

“I see you finally made up,” Penny observed with an accomplished look on her face. One that only Rooster could currently see. You almost smacked the back of your head on the counter as she startled you. “Jesus Pen where did you come from?” You brought yourself upright, purse in hand, and turned around to face her.

“I’m everywhere baby,” she joked, bringing her voice down lower, “and I saw you pour out my beer.” “Damnit Penny were you watching us from the window the entire time?” You accused with a grin. “No, but I did see that.” “Of course you did.” You both giggled as she gave you a hug goodbye. She smelled like lilies and vanilla and just a little bit of beer as the night was gradually coming to an end.

“Love ya honey, make sure he gets you home safe,” she added with a smile, pulling away from you. “He always does,” you reassured. Both of you turned towards Rooster as he tipped his imaginary hat to Penny in a “thank you.”

“Keep her safe Bradshaw or I’ll have your head.”

“Yes ma’am,” he replied, hooking his arm through yours as you made your way over to him. “Goodnight Penny,” you said in unison, giving her a wave goodbye. The walk to the Bronco was quiet and comfortable, Rooster helping you into the passenger side and closing the door. He handed you his phone once he got in and started the engine, “here, put in your address for me.”

You chuckled quietly to yourself as the Face ID still recognized you, and the phone unlocked. His background wallpaper was set to a picture of his mom and dad, sat together at the piano in their old home. It sent a smile across your face, wishing you could have gotten the chance to know them, to meet the people who raised the love of your life.

You handed the phone back over to him with the gps set to your new address and headed home. The drive there was laced with so many memories. The windows were rolled down, and the warm San Diego air was filling your lungs. Rooster had one hand on the steering wheel and the other on your knee, drawing circles with his fingers mindlessly as he drove. You had an arm wrapped around his, and the look he shot you at a red light made you hold him even tighter.

Memories of long drives down PCH in the summer sun came flooding back to you. Music blaring from the car speakers as you sang along to your favorite songs together. Stealing joyful glances at each other, and letting your hands wander dangerously across his lap as he clutched the steering wheel. Your hair flying around your shoulders as he shot you a warning glance, daring you to venture further.

The realization that those moments could very well happen again hit you, and it hit you hard. Unless this second chance goes south, you have a shot at reliving all of those beautiful moments you had shared with Rooster. Making dinner together at home at night, going to see all of the new movies together at the theater by the beach. The many late nights spent talking about anything and everything over a glass of wine with a record playing in the background.

Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t even register the fact that Rooster had already turned into your neighborhood and up to your place, pulling into the driveway and parking the car. He left the engine running as he hopped out, rounding the front of the Bronco and opening up your door. You threw your purse over your shoulder and took his hand as he helped you out of the car.

He walked you up the front steps to your porch and turned to face you as you reached the door. You didn’t want to say goodbye to him yet. There was so much lost time to make up for and you didn’t want to waste any of it.

For the first time tonight you wrapped your arms around him, letting the safety and comfort of his embrace wash over you as he held you close. A cricket chirped from a bush nearby and the rumble of the Bronco’s engine filled the air, lending a pleasant ambiance to the moment.

Finally pulling away, you were the first one to speak since you left the bar. “Thank you for coming to find me.” His smile was calm as he answered, “I will always find you wherever you are.”

“Is that a promise?”

“It’s a promise.”

“Good.” The events of today flicked through your mind like a flip book. Stopping on one moment as it halted on a picture in your mind while you were digging through your purse for your house keys. “Did you really buy our house Bradley?” You looked up at him as the surprise struck you yet again.

“Our house, I like that.” He was grinning with joy at the use of the word. You hadn’t even realized your choice of words until they’d left your mouth.

“I really did. It went on the market and I couldn’t pass it up. It’s all ours.”

Letting your purse hit the ground you took a leap of faith. Reaching up towards him you kissed him, letting any remaining tension melt away as he leaned into you. His hands came up to hold your cheeks, not letting your lips leave his.

The taste of him. You’d almost forgotten it.

Finally pulling away, you rested your foreheads against one another and drank in the moment for as long as you possibly could.

“I missed that.”

“Me too,” your voice was quiet, almost breathless.

He tilted his head up to press a kiss to your forehead as ran his fingers through your hair. Your eyes met his and you returned his pleased smile. He created space between you as you retrieved your purse from your feet, pulling your keys out and taking a deep breath.

“Tuesday at 6?” He asked once again, taking a step back towards the front of the porch.

“It’s a date.” You grinned, reaching the door and unlocking it with a click.

“Goodnight Babydoll.”

“Goodnight Rooster.”

Stepping into the doorway you shot him one last glance before you closed the door. You heard the latch of his car door open and the thud of its close as you let your poor purse fall to the floor once more. You heard him pull out of the driveway and down the street as your back hit the door, sighing deeply.

Fuck. Here we go again.

————————————————————————

Yayyy Reader and Rooster are officially reunited! I have so much in mind for this series and I’m so excited to continue to write this love story. There will be smut in future posts so please note they’ll be 18+.

Thank you so much for all of the love so far and let me know what your favorite line or part was!

Comment to be added to the taglist

TAGLIST: @n3ssm0nique @igotmajordaddyissues @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @lilpbj @rosiahills22

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[danpuff-ao3]

Non-HP Recs

Normally I don't read outside of my main fandom, due to the powers of hyperfixation. But lately, between tempting Twitter recs and a walk down memory lane, I've spent more time reading (or rereading) non-HP fics and figured I'd throw some favorites together for anyone interested!

America Isn't Chicken

by Amuly. Fandom: Marvel. Ship: Steve/Tony. Words: 130,631. Rated: E. Dub-con. Angst. Violence. Kidnapping. Getting together. Gay chicken.

After a Civil War, death, rebirth, a takeover by Osborn, brain deletion, and the fall of Asgard, Steve and Tony might just be starting to get back on solid ground with one another. Things aren't perfect, not yet, but they can be in the same room as each other without resorting to violence, and they've even managed to share a smile or two. Seems like the perfect time, then, for Tony to try and fuck it all up with a stupid game of gay chicken. Meanwhile, as if he didn't have enough to worry about, Tony realizes some kind of supervillainous trouble is brewing when increasingly advanced armors start popping up all over Manhattan, looking strangely reminiscent of his tech. On the other side of the world, Steve gets news that Zola is on the move in Russia, with some sort of nefarious plan at work.  Which will ruin them first? Will it be this unknown armored villain who is after Tony's tech? Or will it be Zola unleashing his mysterious plan on the world? Or will Steve and Tony prove to be their own worst enemies, destroying the tentative truce they managed to forge with their own stubbornness?

Notes: this fic was my jam and I read it soooo many times. I love all the denial and temptation and angst!! Also: mega hot.

Met the Dodgers

by Amuly. Fandom: Marvel. Ship: Steve/Tony. Words: 17,192. Rated: M. Baseball. Fluff & angst. Romance.

Tony decides that, with his reputation, there's only one best way to show Steve he's serious about their budding relationship. Buy the Dodgers and move them back to Brooklyn for him.

Notes: I have no words, only feelings. Big, lovely feelings.

The Writing on the Wall

by DasMervin, MrsHyde. Fandom: Supernatural. Ship: Dean/Castiel. Series: 26 works. Words: 574,830. Rated: E. Demisexual Cas. Internalized homophobia. Slow burn. Heavy angst.

The writing was on the wall—and now Dean just had to try and understand it. A Post-Season Six alternate universe, going a different route from what happened in Season Seven and exploring a long and difficult relationship between Dean and Castiel.

Notes: This is the series that introduced me to the term "demisexual" and is what led me on the journey of exploring asexuality. I identified as demi myself for a while until I finally accepted my full ace-ness, but I learned a lot along the way, and it was all thanks to this fic. Plus all the inner turmoil and internalized homophobia?? This series is a GEM if you like extended suffering and true love overcoming all.

Blackbird

by emungere. Fandom: Hannibal. Ship: Hannibal/Will. Words: 88,892. Rated: E. Emotional manipulation. Possessive behavior. Sadism & masochism. Dom/sub. Case fic. Murder. Knifeplay/bloodplay.

Shortly after Will kills Garret Jacob Hobbs, he and Hannibal stumble into a D/s relationship. It's a relief to have Hannibal telling him what to do, but the closer they become, the closer he gets to realizing who and what Hannibal really is.

Notes: this author is great.

What Dreams

by emungere. Fandom: Hannibal. Ship: Hannibal/Will. Series: 2 works. Words: 92,878. Rated: E. Sugar daddy. Courtship. Slow burn.

A seduction through physical objects. It starts with a scarf loaned to Will on a cold day, but Hannibal, as usual, isn't satisfied with anything small.

Notes: the first Hannigram fic I read and I was SOLD. Obsessed.

Shinkton

by iesika. Fandom: Hannibal. Ship: Hannibal/Will. Series: 2 works. Words: 65,342. Rated: M. Secret identity. Secret relationship. Murder Valentines. Courtship. Knifeplay/bloodplay. Unsafe sex. Dub-con. Animal harm. Suicidal thoughts.

Courtship and marriage among killers and cannibals.

Notes: Saw @vitaminpops on Twitter talking about "sweet williams" showing up in Hannigram fics and I was seized by NEED. They gave me this link and I INHALED it. On a busy work day no less. Any spare minute I had, I was reading. And now it's inspired a Hannibal rewatch. 10/10 do recommend.

To a Stranger

by Mad_Lori. Fandom: Sherlock. Ship: John/Sherlock. Words: 156,714. Rated: E. Hollywood AU. Secret relationship. Romance. Show Business. Coming Out.

Sherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto. When they are cast as a gay couple in a new independent drama, will they surprise each other? Will their on-screen romance make its way into the real world?

Notes: again, I'm not always an AU person, but this is 10/10. Another one due for a reread I think!

IllumiNaughty

orphaned. Fandom: Marvel. Ships: Steve/Tony (main), T'Challa/Namor, Tony/Steve/Black Bolt/T'Challa/Namor/Hank McCoy/Strange. Extreme dub-con. Gangbang. Punishment. Condoms. Emotional manipulation. Guilt. Emotional/psychological abuse. DEAD DOVE.

It's after the incursions are put to an end, after the multiverse is saved... and after Steve finds out that Tony (and the rest of the Illuminati) wiped his memory to keep the incursion events from him. Tony wants to make things right, so Steve gives him an ultimatum: allow the members of the Illuminati to gang-bang Tony, while Steve watches and instructs.

Notes: not gonna lie, this is very messed up but also very hot. I've truly read this fic to death. (Time for a reread? Probably!)

Out of the Deep

by riseofthefallenone. Fandom: Supernatural. Ship: Dean/Castiel. Words: 488,608. Rated: E. Fantasy AU. Human Dean. Merman Castiel. Telepathy. Hurt/comfort. Minor character death.

Stay away from the light-beds. Stay in the deep. It is the first thing hatchlings are taught the moment their fans unfurl and they can swim without their parents to buoy them along. It is the first rule, the first law. It is the beginning of every boogey-monster bedtime story told when they settle against the cliffs to sleep. Castiel should have listened better.

Notes: AUs don't always draw me in, and they certainly didn't several years ago, but this fic is so special. There is so much thought and care put into the merfolk world/culture, and how a relationship could unfold between a human and a merman. It is a very long and beautiful journey between these two.

Though the Truth May Vary

by thepretender501. Fandom: Marvel. Ships: Steve/Tony, Loki/Tony, Coulson/Steve, Rhodey/Tony (main: Steve/Tony.) Words: 3,890. Rated: M. Flangst. Open relationship. Jealousy.

And Steve wasn’t an addict. He could quit Tony anytime he wanted. He just didn’t want to.

Notes: idk what to say about this one, just it's forever stuck out for me. Something about it just feels special.

#danpuff recs #non hp fics #my recs #marvel #hannibal #sherlock #supernatural #stony #destiel #hannigram #johnlock #random recs

[new-lorien-artist]

Oh my word there’s still an LL fandom on here????!!!! I’m rereading the books after a couple years, and was a bit saddened to find that most of the fandom fell away after the series had ended (bc I actually only read the books for the first time when the entire series had been published for years), but you post regularly and reblog regularly, so yay, it seems that people are still here!!! After years of loving these books and rereading them I’d love to finally join the fandom— any blogs you’d recommend I follow, ppl who are still into LL and active at least every couple months? (I’d say ‘acgive regularly’ if I was a normal-ish person, but I’m rarely online, so I don’t mind people who post sporadically too— in fact I almost prefer that, you get me?). Anyways ahhh tldr I’m so glad other people are still obsessing over these aliens lol, like super happy :D

Hey hey, welcome to the fandom!! Yeah we're still here, it kinda gets a bit quiet now and again with all of us being busy, but the fandom is still around and kicking!

Most LL fans as far as I'm aware post about the series on their main blogs that have frequent activity, so if you don't mind following people that post any kind for a while but have something LL related now and again, this would be your option. If you wanna chat them up about the series then I would say @kip-loric @biddybaboop @simpforsix are very active and occasionally share LL art or incorrect quotes or memes!

If you are looking for LL blogs, I would say @5s-missing-eye and @apocalx post on occasion, but they're super passionate about the characters and have tons of interesting aus and headcanons and book thoughts to read through!

Kip currently has a Gem AU with the Garde that you can ask them about if you happen to know about Steven Universe, and both them and apocalx have LL OCs who are Human Garde with some detailed backstories and personalities!

I usually just follow the lorien legacies tag and find stuff from there, and once in a blue moon you get a new person come out and post some art or incorrect quotes or fanfic ideas for a while! The tag updates sporadically as well, but sometimes in the year it gets pretty frequent (like now for example since it's break for some of us in school).

If you wanna hang out with the community and have a discord, we have a tumblr fandom server here and an instagram fandom server here!

I also wanna note that though LL posts aren't frequent year round, the fandom in general is happy to discuss the series and talk about our favorite characters or what we think about the books, and there's lots of us who got things we wanna say to someone. Send over an ask or hop in DMs with a question or two or three!

This is a bit of a messy answer, but I hope it's a start and helps you meet some people from the fandom!

#you ask i answer

[gojonanami]

Sab,

I was honestly so, so very happy when I saw that you uploaded the first part of the Prof. Geto series. It truly made my day.

I loved it from start to finish.

I honestly really love your writing. I love how witty you are. I love the descriptions that you use. I love the way you craft and explore characters. I love how your fic feels real, authentic and human.

I really, really enjoyed it.

I think it's one of the best if not the best fic that I've ever read on Tumblr.

I honestly really, really enjoyed it.

There is nothing about this fic that I would change. Absolutely nothing.

I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to write and edit and polish it, and for sharing it with us. I am really, really thankful that I got to read it!

I know that writing is incredibly difficult and publishing something even more so! And so I feel incredibly lucky that I got to read this brilliant gem!

I will definitely, definitely be rereading this fic!

I honestly had so much fun reading it! The intellectual, sexual and romantic tension was sizzling. I have truly enjoyed it so much.

I hope, truly, that this fic will get lots and lots of notes. It truly deserves so much more than what it currently has.

Lots of love xx

thank you so much for reading and sending this sweet, sweet message to me!!! i'm glad you had fun reading it :). ok the best fic you've read?? i will cry guys, i'll do it. the fact you guys think my characters and dialogue is authentic makes me so incredibly happy!! i always try really hard to make sure i'm on point for those things so i'm glad you guys think it is <3

i appreciate you so much. honestly publishing is def the hardest part because its the one part writers can't control how their work is perceived or even if its seen. that's why reblogs and comments are super important!! and asks like this because it really does encourage us and make us feel like what we write is being seen and loved <3 so thank you so, so much to all of you who do those things because you make it worth it for writers on tumblr to keep writing!!

#sab [anons] #sab [asks] #speaking of which i have like a bunch of fics i've liked that i want t o read at some point and i should do that tonight :) #thank you again #you're so so lovely #sab [praise] #sab series [prof suguru]

[villanesus]

writers asks: 1, 6, 9, 11, 25, 30, 40, 48, 58, 69, 92, 94, 99.

I honestly would like to hear all your answers put i picked my favorite questions.

Pistachio!! Sooo many questions, I'll do my best.

1. do you know how you want the story to end when you start, or are you just stumbling through the figurative wilderness hoping to find a road?

I usually know where I want my characters to end up, but that doesn't always equate to a proper ending. Endings have always been hard for me to articulate. As a kid in school, I got feedback from a primary school teacher once that I needed to include something at the end of my stories to indicate that it was really the conclusion. My autistic ass starting ending every single story I wrote with the sentence, "And that is all." 😂

6. do you have any kind of consistent writing schedule or just hoping for the best?

Not really. I write when I've got a decent chunk of time open (at least an hour) and I'm feeling writery feelings. Some nights, most weekends. During nanowrimo I write during my lunch break, mostly out of necessity to meet word count.

9. in an ideal world where you’re already super successful and published, would you want to see a tv or movie adaptation of your work? why or why not?

I'd be pretty content just to be successfully published, BUT I'm definitely not turning down an opportunity for Jodie Comer to option one of my books for a TV series a la Big Swiss so I can meet her and be awkward. 🥴

11. what’s something neat you’ve learned while doing research for something you were writing? also, how much do you worry about doing research in general?

I do worry quite a bit about research because I know how jarring it can be as the reader when an author writes something that is pure nonsense wrt something I know about. That said, I don't always know what I don't know, so I'm sure I miss all kinds of things.

The neatest thing I've ever stumbled upon is escaping me right now, but the most recent thing that sticks out was stumbling upon the gem of the towns Sappho and Beaver near Forks for my goosey Killing Eve/Twilight AU (Evenfall). I found that far too funny.

25. what’s your revision or rewriting process like?

I usually start each writing session be rereading the last section I've written and I catch a lot of edits there. Once I'm reasonably confident about a full chapter, I actually listen to it twice using a text-to-speech feature. I find I catch a lot more of my mistakes when I listen than when I read with my eyes.

And then I immediately find like three more mistakes as soon as I share or publish what I've written. Because of course.

30. most inspirational quote you’ve ever read or heard that’s still important to you.

I'm (perhaps weirdly) not big on inspiration or inspirational quotes. And, as noted in one of the other ask games, I'm a little bit of a jerk? So, my favorite quote is actually the running bit in Candide by Voltaire where they make fun of the "best of all possible worlds" philosophy. You will catch me in real life regularly punching down on things by saying, "In this, the best of all possible worlds." I guess this jives with my "things suck, bring a bat" philosophy.

40. best piece of feedback you’ve ever gotten.

I had a computer science professor who took me aside once and told me I should write textbooks because students would actually engage with and learn from my writing. I really like to explain and to teach, so this was maximum flattery for me.

At the moment, though, there's a person who is mostly commenting screaming and keyboard smashes on Evenfall and I'm really enjoying that. 🤣

48. do you reread your own stories?

Not once they're finished. I read and reread as part of my editing process, by the end I'm a bit sick of it. And if too much time goes by and I come back to read, my style/voice/skill has changed and then I feel sad-cringe about my older work.

58. what is the last thing that a fic made you google when you were writing it?

"which movie did edward and bella have sex?" 🫠 hahaha

69 (nice). how do you write emotional scenes? do you ever feel what the characters feel?

I find this challenging because I want to shout at the characters to do the "right" thing and not necessarily the authentic emotional response that they would have? For example, character is going to misunderstand and be hurt or character is angry and won't listen to apology—it kills me to write that sometimes.

The how...eh, I just write stuff and step back and see if it feels authentic. I try to draw from my own experiences and emotions, but can't always tell how well that translates for others because my emotional processing is maybe non-typical as a non-neurotypical individual.

92. first, second, or third person?

Third person is typically my jam as a reader and a writer, though I do love me some unreliable narrator first-person works. My big struggle as a writer is the different flavors of third person—omniscient, objective, partial/limited. I'm bad at consistency here.

94. do you prefer dialogue or description?

Dialogue is really fun for me to write. My favorite thing though is internal monologue? Perhaps a side effect of all the journaling.

99. was being a writer a dream of yours when you were little? or did it spring up when your older? or is it just a hobby?

I've been writing stories since I was a little kid and I've always loved the idea of just being a novelist or writer. But I am both pessimistic and pragmatic. I doubt I'd be happy if writing was my full-time job—making a living on this would be too much pressure. It's a lovely hobby and if I ever write something that other people are excited to read, I'll just be real chuffed about it.

Phew, we made it to the end!

#thank you beloved pistachio #asks #ask games

[liathgray]

Hi, I just wanted to scream at you for how amazing your writing is!!! It should be illegal for it to be this good! I read your fma a hop, skip, and a jump away series a couple of months ago (which i finished in about 3 days) and immediately bookmarked it and I'm still thinking about it months later! Its taking everything in me not to reread it again so soon, I'm serious! It lives in my head rent free these days. I have also read your fma an incomplete guide to parenting a couple days ago and I literally just finished your fma giants in the forest, but I had no idea it was you who wrote it until I finished the story and was looking through your previous works, then it all started to add up, which lead me here because I just love your writing so much and I had to let you know! You hit all of the characters right on the nose, they don't feel written, the feel like they're real breathing, talking, people. I feel like I'm watching this happen in real time, or like I'm watching a movie just because your writing makes everything feel so alive and smooth! I'm impressed with the banter between Roy and Ed, it just felt to realistic and natural (and quite funny too). It felt like you had a lot of fun writing giants in the forest, and I know it was a lot of fun (and heartache and pain and suffering) reading it! Now that I have found your other works, I am going to have go find out some way to pace myself so I don't repeatedly stab myself with amazingly well written angst and pain. Thank you so much for sharing your writing! You are amazing!! If I could, I'd give you infinity Kudos <33

AAAAAAA A AAAAAAAAAAA

Dude i dont even know what to say like thank you??? I’m so so glad that my fics have been able to connect with you that much holy wow

Character writing is something i alway agonize over but am ultimately pretty proud of/ i think im good at it so its. Very nice to know its enjoyed. To know like ppl NOTICE the details and different voices gaghjhgdh makes my brain go brrr

Its been a while since I wrote Giants in the Forest but I remember having an absolutely BLAST writing the dialogue with Ed and Roy because their dynamic of “i hate you so much youre so annoying but also I trust you” is just so fun ur honour theyre both the worst

Im just babbling rn i guess im trying to say thanks too many words cause i wanna articulate how sweet this is to hear. Youre a gem my dude thank you

#cries a little bit #lays down and screams #in a good way tho i swear #youre very kinda im gonna explode #glad u enjoyed my endless fma rambling shfisjhfjd the hyperfixation is real #i need a tag for asks so bam #cece writes

[sometimesanalice]

for the ask game, you beautiful thing:

🤲what do YOU get out of writing?

Cass, you gem! 💖 thank you for sending this ask in!

There is a lot of freedom and fulfillment that I get from writing and sharing my stories! I like getting to take the ideas that bounce around in my brain and develop them and then set them free on the world (aka tumblr). There’s an immense amount of satisfaction at the end, doing that final read through, and being like I did that 🤍

It's so funny sometimes because I will go through my WIPs or reread some of my things, and I'm still like "wait, who wrote that?!" Haha! I am back working on the fic I had started in January before I wrote the "Like I Can" series and it was such a weird moment opening the doc and seeing how much I had written and completely forgotten about doing. But that sense of pride is one of the reasons I keep working on things and posting!

✨Fanfic Ask Game✨

#it’s still so new for me but I love doing it #now if only tumblr paid me for all the bots I report for them I could spend more time writing #ask game #fanfic ask game #inbox💌

[kithtaehyung]

This is me representing how I feel while reading 3tan... Ryen you have no idea how many times I have reread the series, and everytime I discover something new. I love the way you gave the characters personalities, which gives them realness. It’s not dry as majority of fanfics like oh I fucked my brother’s best friend which I have had crush on since childhood, turns out he loves me too, confesses the same night and happy end. No, life’s not that easy peasy lemon squeezy. The thoughts, the actions, the speeches..... you showed them to us, you introduced the characters to us, it’s like we know them personally but at the same time we don’t know what their next step will be. This is like the rarest gem, not just in Yoongi writings or Bangtan, but in the whole writing community. Nothing, I swear nothing, has ever pulled my attention soo much and if you ever put out 3tan as book series, I’ll be the first one to purchase it, I bet on it. And sowwy for my English 🍊🥺 it’s like my forth language to speak😶 P.S this heart is for you!

Awhhhhh… oh my gosh, you are way too kind. This made me smile🥹💕🍊 Putting in little details or callbacks to previous scenes are some of my fave things to do while writing! It puts a little life into the process and the story.

As far as all the individual characters.. I am a sucker for characterization. So if I’m gonna add an OC into a fic, I better make them real or else I’ll see that as a complete miss🤷‍♀️ People are people, and everyone is complex and wonderful, so I wanna show that in my writing, too. It makes me really happy that you like all the characters in this series, and I hope you continue to like them even more. They really are feeling like family to me, too, especially since it’s been quite awhile spent with them.

I’m quite honored that you say that about 3tan🥺 I dunno if I deserve it but it’s been so fun working on this piece and sharing it with all of you. Book format, you say? It’ll be a minute until I consider something like that but wow. I’m touched that you would buy it!🥹🍊 Thank you so much!

#dw about your English it’s superb! #mariamlala #lovely people #asks:3tan #3tan #*ryenfictalk #mailbox💌

[bellaroles]

Thoughts on the Queen's thief series (rereads book 1-4); (1st read 5-6)

@counterwiddershins I shared my thoughts on this as promised☺️

The Thief

I admit the pace and the writing took me a bit to get used to even though this time was my second read. I knew the big reveal of course but that didn't lessen my excitement as their journey progressed. I especially love Gen in this phase. So carefree and witty. My love also goes to Sophos. Though I also grudgingly like the Magus as well. (Was delighted every time he appeared in later books)

The Queen's of Attolia

This one is intense. I made the mistake of starting this late at night and I couldn't go to sleep. The shift from first person to third person POV also made me cautious of every details looking for hidden meaning. (By courtesy of the first book, I didn't trust the narrative at all lol) Even so, the last few chapters, everything happened too fast and I lost some tracks of the elaborate plan to drive away the Mede from Attolia. (Still very fun though I was not quite convinced of the romance between Gen and Irene by the end of the book.)

The King of Attolia

As I've said, I love this one the most! Maybe it's because I like seeing Gen in his infuriating ways, the relationships he's carefully trying to build, the political machination, the romance! I was totally sold on this one though I want to see more of the transition from their careful walk around each other to their totally comfortably expressing their affection in public. I love the contradictory nature of Gen being ruthless and merciful at once. And Costis! He's a gem.

A conspiracy of kings

My first read I was so bored especially at his time as a slave. I skipped a lot, remembering vaguely about how Gen had let him down and then the shooting scene and no more. This time, I read carefully and I really enjoyed this. I love Sophos. This is his book, book about his self doubt, his growth, him coming into his own role of Sounis, him having to make hard decisions. The climax of the story is one of my most favorite in the seires. Rivaling the last book.

Thick as thieves

It's like the Thief in pace and feels. Only the journey consisted of two instead. I must say I did get bored along the way. Especially when there's no dialogue, only Kamet's observation of events. But when they do talk, gosh, I enjoyed these short conversations full of hidden signs. Although the way Kamet told Immakuk and Ennikar made it quite hard for me to follow, I understood most of it and was over the moon when Costis made it clear to Kamet at last what he thought their friendship was like and more. Also I spotted the big reveal miles away this time without reading any spoilers first. Not sure to be proud of myself or not because it was quite obvious lol.

Return of the theif

Back in the same setting as the third book, I really like this but it was longer than I anticipated. I just finished the previous one around 10pm and I was sure I could finish this by morning at the cost of my sleep. Anyway, the first part is engrossing. I enjoyed Pheris's telling of the events that unfold. I love to read about those private moments Gen had to his own, and with his family and friends. But I was dreading the second part where they marched into war. Throughout the book he was so ill many times while sometimes his health was remarkably strong to withstand such treatments! (Like the trial and those tortures or even long hard battles with the Mede) I was a bit skeptical lol but I guess those times his Gods had their parts to play. I also kinda guess he's gotta have a chance to be the Thief again but that scene was terrifying to read. All in all, I love the books. A very satisfying conclusion to the series.

This is one of the few series that I thought every books are consistently good and deserved to be reread over and over again.

I had book 1-4 in paperback with those beautifully painted covers. A bit sad because I couldn't find that edition anymore. Recently bought the whole series again in ebook to reread because I work far from home.

#the queen's theif #not book reviews rather my opinion after reread lol

[magpiefngrl]

Fanfics that I enjoyed in 2021

If you've followed my monthly reading recs, then you might have noticed that I've read very little fanfic, esp in the past few months. That hiatus ended in early Dec when I reached 100 reads on GR and promptly abandoned books for fic lol

With the year coming to a close and my monthly review project coming to an end, I wanted to make a list of some of the fics I loved this year/month. I might not have read a ton, but I discovered some gems.

This post isn't as detailed as I'd have liked (or as I'd initially planned), but I'm in bed with covid and can't muster the energy to dive deeper into my reading history or write long recs; I do want to get this post out, though, because it cheers me up to share the joy I received from these works with you. It will make me even happier if you find something to enjoy! (do let me know! It pleases me no end when people come back to tell me they loved something I recced.)

So, without further ado, here are some fics I adored in the past 12 months, all highly recced:

First sight by any_open_eye (wangxian, 1.2k, M) Beautiful writing. I devoured everything else this author has written.

Heart Like Neon by @lqtraintracks (drarry, 41k, E) I loved several LQT fics this year (Mad Sparks, 5,400 miles, Two Starts One Finish, Bolts) [how could I not, LQT's the bomb] but the tension in this one destroyed me.

The Pleiades Were Watching Too by @the-starryknight (drarry, 1k, M) A spectacular future tense angsty drarry. (and everything else Starry wrote for the Summer Writin' Challenge,. Go check the series out, it's a marvel of craft!)

(our friendship) up against the ropes by daltoneering (wangxian, 37k, E) One of the most memorable wangxian fics I've read, with a sex scene that lasted almost 9k and not one word felt gratuitous. What is this magic? Super hot and emotional, a reread for sure.

After the Final Rose by azurewaxwing (wangxian, 55.4k, E), Bachelor AU, absolutely brilliant. The kind of story you click on to check out the beginning and end up inhaling all ~60k in one night. This author has some awesome fics, incl this superb example of epistolary fic (plus academia): (no one else can) take me there.

A light turned on in the night by lunarriviera (Yizhan, 12k, E) Incandescent.

A Lifetime of Study by Tepre (wangxian, 15k, E). The typical "tearing your heart out of your chest and stomping on it" experience one expects from this author; thanks, @tepre. <3

in the blossom season (in the pouring rain) by varnes (wangxian, 14k, M) Single dad Lan Wangji and florist Wei Wuxian and identity porn x 3. Loved it to bits. (am so looking forward to Varnes's SNL AU live from new york; it sounds incredible)

#vanlife (all things go) by TheDameJudiWench (wangxian, 15k, E) My author crush this year. I've gone back to their work again and again. They've written some of the best Dead Doves I've read.

For Want of a Nap by nirejseki (several ships, 6k, M) Hilarious.

Byzantium: The W. B. Yeats Quintet by eldritcher A series of 5 fics featuring Snape x someone else each time. The prose is phenomenal, the pairings incredibly unusual, and the mood is totally up my alley. Outstanding.

can you feel it by lanzhancore (wangxian, 5.3k, E) Crack fic, which isn't usually my thing, but I had a ball with this author's works, esp their slutty Wei Wuxian. This one is hilarious.

why wait by novembersmith (hualian, 3.7k, E) Gorgeous.

I'll prob remember another ten outstanding fics the moment I press "post" but this is the way of things. Thank you, dear authors, for making me happy and giving me comfort when I needed it. Here's to more fantastic works in 2022 xx

#wangxian #drarry #wangxian recs #drarry recs #fic recs #2021 book recs #i hope all the links work eek