There's two great intoabar fics I read this week that are really great.
I knew that sullen hall (2296 words) by pearwaldorf Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition, Good Omens (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Aziraphale (Good Omens), Blackwall | Thom Rainier Additional Tags: Mass Murder, Drowning, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting Summary:
Aziraphale takes a long breath, runs a finger through the condensation on his glass, very carefully not looking at Rainier. “I wish I could say I don’t know what that’s like,” he says quietly.
“You don’t have to talk about it. I didn’t intend to make this a confessional.” Rainier’s tone is soft, and it makes him want to laugh a little. He’s not usually on the other end of these ministrations.
Instead of looking for new fic (too challenging for my poor, tired brain), I've been reading through the entries at xf_book_club, an old X-Files fanfic discussion group, chronologically in reverse order. This week I reread "Fugue" by rivkat.
Back in the day, I had a theory that "Fugue" was written as a response to complaints that the show is a deeply sexist text, with Mulder being the one who drives the plot, and Scully as his sidekick. That's not how I see the series, and it is just a theory. But there does seem to be a subtext to this fable, one that hinges on female identity and how easily women still can submerge themselves in deference to their mates' ambition and passions.
We discussed this for the first time back in 2008. Eight years seems long enough to justify a rerun of one of my personal favs. Reading this deeply affected me; in fact, the first fic I wrote was in response to "Fugue," rather than the series, and that was long before I'd heard of Remix. It remains one of my favorite stories, in this or any fandom.
Fugue (26052 words) by rivkat Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The X-Files Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dana Scully/Fox Mulder Characters: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder Additional Tags: Amnesia, Juvenilia Series: Part 1 of Fugue Summary:
The DSM-IV defines fugue as travel in foreign places, often under an assumed identity.
Since our first discussion, "Fugue" has become a series, providing two more reasons to revisit the fic.
Devoutly to be wished (496 words) by rivkat Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The X-Files Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, C.G.B. Spender Additional Tags: Eight crazy nights Series: Part 2 of Fugue Summary:
The prompt: The ending of Fugue: The image of Scully shivering on that cold floor, in shock after the visit from the Smoking Man? It haunts me. Please get her up off that floor and, if possible, into a happier ending.
Variations on a Fugue (1224 words) by rivkat Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The X-Files Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder Additional Tags: Amnesia, Remix Series: Part 3 of Fugue Summary:
Alternate vision of Fugue, for hulamoth. Fox was the one who couldn't remember, and Dana got her memories back.
“As in, there is one future where the White Walkers are defeated immediately, the Long Night is merely a passing shadow and we are spared most of the senseless deaths that came upon Westeros since Ned Stark died. But it’s not a future I can try to turn into a reality,” Bran says with a long sigh.
“What – what do you mean?” Lord Connington doesn’t sound too convinced, but he’s listening intently, or so it seems from the frown on his face.
“That in order for us all to live, Aerys Targaryen must die not sooner and not later than he did, but Rhaegar must live,” Bran says tiredly, “along with Elia Martell and her children. Whether Lyanna Stark does or not is irrelevant, as long as all three children live and know they are the heads of the dragon. It’s no job for someone like me – I can only walk if I visit the past or the future, not if I want to live in it. How useless it is that one has such powers but then cannot even walk, isn’t it?”
“You – you mean to – send us to the past?” Brienne asks, barely audible.
Reread, so it's possible I've recced this one before? It's great, regardless
Never Knew No Good From Bad by Anon Fandom: Good Omens Rating: General Audiences Warnings: None Relationships: gen, pre Aziraphale/Crowley Prompt
Set during the 6 years that Aziraphale was the gardener and Crowley was the nanny. They start bickering during one of their check-ins as to who has the harder job. Crowley decides Nanny is going to go "on holiday" and let Aziraphale fill in
NRE (1393 words) by sabinelagrande Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Carlos/Cecil Palmer, Original Characters/Original Characters Summary:
I am a simple bird, give me Stucky ABO that addresses consent issues and I'm happy! take my hand (and my whole life too) (56922 words) by rainbow_marbles, portraitofemmy Chapters: 12/12 Fandom: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Riley/Sam Wilson Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Riley (Captain America movies) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Steve Rogers, Pre-Serum Steve Rogers, Omega Bucky Barnes, Bucky Barnes Needs a Hug, Mentions of previous dub-con, Communication, Relationship Negotiation, Healthy Relationships, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Explicit Consent, get consent BEFORE YOU GO INTO HEAT PEOPLE, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Romance, Scent Marking, Courtship through Food, Blow Jobs, Rimming, Anal Sex, Dirty Talk, Phone Sex, Complete Summary:
First and foremost this is a story about love. It’s about two people who, for different reasons of their own, have become comfortable with the idea of being alone. But when chance or fate (or the will of a stubborn little Alpha unwilling to let injustice stand) puts them in each other’s path, the courage to try to make a good thing work is easy to find.
This is a story about love. It’s story about partnership. It’s a story about the work you have to do, and how very worthwhile loving and being loved can be.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Heads up for sub drop but nothing dire happens. HOT fic with lots of touching even out of bed and sex out of heat.
On the other end of the fic spectrum, Crowley faces some all too real issues: Nanny Knows Best (16671 words) by DictionaryWrites Chapters: 4/4 Fandom: Good Omens (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Crowley & Warlock Dowling Characters: Crowley (Good Omens), Aziraphale (Good Omens), Warlock Dowling, Thaddeus J. Dowling, Harriet Dowling Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Kid Fic, Misogyny, Objectification, Nanny Crowley (Good Omens), Gardener Aziraphale (Good Omens), Children, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment, Gender Identity, Gender Roles, Asexual Character, Absent Parents, Nature Versus Nurture, POV Crowley (Good Omens), POV Warlock Dowling (Good Omens), Sexual Harassment, Non-Consensual Groping, Emotionally Repressed, Non-Graphic Violence, Character Study, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst Series: Part 1 of Nanny Knows Best Summary:
Being a nanny, that should be simple. Simple. Easy as pie.
Crowley wished that were true.
Bookmarker's Notes:
Trigger warning for sexual harassment and minimization thereof
Well written
Its time for me to admit that I have a weakness for mutual pining, not even the power of cliche is enough to get these two to admit their feelings Truth or Dare (2951 words) by roswyrm Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Rusty Quill Gaming (Podcast) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan/Zolf Smith Characters: Sasha Rackett, Sir Bertrand "Bertie" MacGuffingham, Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan, Zolf Smith Additional Tags: Trapped In A Closet, Truth or Dare, Mutual Pining, Literal Sleeping Together, Embarrassment, Self-Indulgent, Dialogue Heavy Summary:
Bertie doesn't notice Zolf's loud, "Hey!" Bertie doesn't notice Hamid's panicked and embarrassed yelp. Bertie doesn't notice the sound of a closet door slamming shut and locking from the outside.
Bertie does notice Sasha walking quickly toward him, meeting him at the door to the suite. "All ready, young lady?"
"Yup," answers Sasha, practically shoving him out the door, "let's go, like, right now! And not come back for a while! Did you say something about dinner?"
Oh no! Your recs have been golden so far ... but does my schedule really have room for 56000 words of Stucky ABO? (I mean, we all know at some point I'll break down and the answer will be yes)
Sweet of you to say. If it helps, the chapter arcs are strong enough to
treat it as 12 fics in a series rather than dedicating the headspace for 1
long fic. Not to say the story arc from beginning to end isn't strong or
that there aren't good threads to follow the whole way.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2019-08-23 03:20 pm (UTC)I knew that sullen hall (2296 words) by pearwaldorf
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition, Good Omens (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Aziraphale (Good Omens), Blackwall | Thom Rainier
Additional Tags: Mass Murder, Drowning, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
Summary:
Aziraphale takes a long breath, runs a finger through the condensation on his glass, very carefully not looking at Rainier. “I wish I could say I don’t know what that’s like,” he says quietly.
“You don’t have to talk about it. I didn’t intend to make this a confessional.” Rainier’s tone is soft, and it makes him want to laugh a little. He’s not usually on the other end of these ministrations.
Cinnamon and Szechuan (3048 words) by enemytosleep
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood & Manga
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ling Yao, Jester Lavorre, Blude (Critical Role)
Additional Tags: Walk Into A Bar, Crossover, Bakery and Coffee Shop, First Meetings, Pre-Canon
Summary:
Ling travels West in search of answers and finds himself in the port city of Nicodranas. Jester is all too happy to make a new friend.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 07:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-23 09:53 pm (UTC)Fugue (26052 words) by rivkat
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dana Scully/Fox Mulder
Characters: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder
Additional Tags: Amnesia, Juvenilia
Series: Part 1 of Fugue
Summary:
The DSM-IV defines fugue as travel in foreign places, often under an assumed identity.
Since our first discussion, "Fugue" has become a series, providing two more reasons to revisit the fic.
Devoutly to be wished (496 words) by rivkat
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder, C.G.B. Spender
Additional Tags: Eight crazy nights
Series: Part 2 of Fugue
Summary:
The prompt: The ending of Fugue: The image of Scully shivering on that cold floor, in shock after the visit from the Smoking Man? It haunts me. Please get her up off that floor and, if possible, into a happier ending.
Variations on a Fugue (1224 words) by rivkat
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dana Scully, Fox Mulder
Additional Tags: Amnesia, Remix
Series: Part 3 of Fugue
Summary:
Alternate vision of Fugue, for hulamoth. Fox was the one who couldn't remember, and Dana got her memories back.
no subject
Date: 2019-08-24 02:35 am (UTC)What am interesting way to engage with both the series and the fics! Thanks for telling us about it
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 01:32 am (UTC)Chapters: 8/8
Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth, Jon Connington/Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon Connington & Brienne of Tarth, Jon Connington/Original Male Character(s)
Summary:
Reread, so it's possible I've recced this one before? It's great, regardless
Never Knew No Good From Bad by Anon
Fandom: Good Omens
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None
Relationships: gen, pre Aziraphale/Crowley
Prompt
from the Good Omens Kinkmeme, a cute & funny missing scene
NRE (1393 words) by sabinelagrande
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Carlos/Cecil Palmer, Original Characters/Original Characters
Summary:
Fluff, Carlos doing Science™
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 04:35 am (UTC)Thanks for sharing with us!
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 05:20 am (UTC)I’d actually typed this out yesterday but evidently I got distracted by making dinner because I never actually got around to hitting post
no subject
Date: 2019-08-25 07:38 am (UTC)take my hand (and my whole life too) (56922 words) by rainbow_marbles, portraitofemmy
Chapters: 12/12
Fandom: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers, Riley/Sam Wilson
Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Riley (Captain America movies)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha Steve Rogers, Pre-Serum Steve Rogers, Omega Bucky Barnes, Bucky Barnes Needs a Hug, Mentions of previous dub-con, Communication, Relationship Negotiation, Healthy Relationships, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Explicit Consent, get consent BEFORE YOU GO INTO HEAT PEOPLE, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Fluff, Romance, Scent Marking, Courtship through Food, Blow Jobs, Rimming, Anal Sex, Dirty Talk, Phone Sex, Complete
Summary:
First and foremost this is a story about love. It’s about two people who, for different reasons of their own, have become comfortable with the idea of being alone. But when chance or fate (or the will of a stubborn little Alpha unwilling to let injustice stand) puts them in each other’s path, the courage to try to make a good thing work is easy to find.
This is a story about love. It’s story about partnership. It’s a story about the work you have to do, and how very worthwhile loving and being loved can be.
Bookmarker's Notes:Heads up for sub drop but nothing dire happens. HOT fic with lots of touching even out of bed and sex out of heat.
On the other end of the fic spectrum, Crowley faces some all too real issues:
Nanny Knows Best (16671 words) by DictionaryWrites
Chapters: 4/4
Fandom: Good Omens (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Crowley & Warlock Dowling
Characters: Crowley (Good Omens), Aziraphale (Good Omens), Warlock Dowling, Thaddeus J. Dowling, Harriet Dowling
Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Kid Fic, Misogyny, Objectification, Nanny Crowley (Good Omens), Gardener Aziraphale (Good Omens), Children, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment, Gender Identity, Gender Roles, Asexual Character, Absent Parents, Nature Versus Nurture, POV Crowley (Good Omens), POV Warlock Dowling (Good Omens), Sexual Harassment, Non-Consensual Groping, Emotionally Repressed, Non-Graphic Violence, Character Study, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst
Series: Part 1 of Nanny Knows Best
Summary:
Being a nanny, that should be simple. Simple. Easy as pie.
Crowley wished that were true.
Bookmarker's Notes:Trigger warning for sexual harassment and minimization thereof
Well written
Its time for me to admit that I have a weakness for mutual pining, not even the power of cliche is enough to get these two to admit their feelings
Truth or Dare (2951 words) by roswyrm
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rusty Quill Gaming (Podcast)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan/Zolf Smith
Characters: Sasha Rackett, Sir Bertrand "Bertie" MacGuffingham, Hamid Saleh Haroun al-Tahan, Zolf Smith
Additional Tags: Trapped In A Closet, Truth or Dare, Mutual Pining, Literal Sleeping Together, Embarrassment, Self-Indulgent, Dialogue Heavy
Summary:
Bertie doesn't notice Zolf's loud, "Hey!"
Bertie doesn't notice Hamid's panicked and embarrassed yelp.
Bertie doesn't notice the sound of a closet door slamming shut and locking from the outside.
Bertie does notice Sasha walking quickly toward him, meeting him at the door to the suite. "All ready, young lady?"
"Yup," answers Sasha, practically shoving him out the door, "let's go, like, right now! And not come back for a while! Did you say something about dinner?"
no subject
Date: 2019-08-28 04:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-08-28 05:15 am (UTC)Sweet of you to say. If it helps, the chapter arcs are strong enough to treat it as 12 fics in a series rather than dedicating the headspace for 1 long fic. Not to say the story arc from beginning to end isn't strong or that there aren't good threads to follow the whole way.