irisbleufic

[irisbleufic]

Took a few days to decide how to pull-quote/set a summary for this alternate ending to "Heretics and Lawbreakers":

No Flights of Angels Here

(Armand/Sam Barclay, first time ever for this pairing on AO3, who knew; Claudia/Madeleine; Ensemble Cast of coven fire survivors; same tags as on the main fic, which itself is an AU to begin with [set in 1947]; Rating: E; 7,500 words)

TEASER:

Sam waits until the door closes, pitched into darkness, to roll away from the wall and squint blearily at his new minder. He’s afraid he might cry.

Armand looks like hell. His unkempt curls frame his face, unspeakably lovely for that fact. His shoes hit the floor. “Starving yourself?” he asks.

Sam shrugs, setting his jaw as his eyes start to sting. “I let him do it,” he grits out. “Let him do the thing that fuckin’ got him killed. Fair’s fair.”

“Rashid’s death is fair,” Armand says, sliding under the covers next to Sam, “because he knew the risks. He became a lawbreaker in your stead.”

“You’re saying my death wouldn’t be,” Sam whispers tremulously as Armand gathers him close, pressing his face against Armand’s exposed neck.

“I understand that you’re grieving,” Armand whispers back, “but I refuse to shoulder that just because you’ve forgotten everything we discussed.”

“Fuck right off. I have not,” Sam snarls, both ashamed and relieved that the provocation is enough to make him sink his fangs in Armand’s neck.

*

Once again, the caveat: THIS IS AN ALTERNATE ENDING TO HERETICS AND LAWBREAKERS. Somebody dies; they almost die in the main fic to begin with.

In order to make the most effective use of this piece, you should ideally—

1) Read Chapter 1 through Chapter 19 of Heretics and Lawbreakers.

2) Once you reach the end of Chapter 19, proceed to the above alt. ending.

[irisbleufic]

Chapter 17 update is only 1k, but I need it to punch hard (both on the humor and the Agnes-isn’t-fucking-around fronts):

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Characters: Ensemble Cast ft. Vincent, Thomas, Agnes, Ray, Aldo, Goffredo, and others in passing; Rating: E; Chapters: 17 / 22 posted; Word Count: 55,000 so far)

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (2025-04-30)

This World and the Next (2025-05-02)

Irreverence Incarnate (2025-05-04)

Living Reminders (2025-05-06)

Simple, Yet Striking (2025-05-09)

Trouble Without End (2025-05-14)

Acts of Extreme Integrity (2025-05-16)

Diplomatic Concerns (2025-05-25)

Nothing Too Scandalous (2025-05-31)

Never Pretend Otherwise (2025-06-01)

Better at Finding Words (2025-06-02)

Paradox Upon Paradox (2025-06-04)

Prayer and Contemplation (2025-06-05)

Gladly Be Laid to Rest (2025-06-10)

Nothing If Not Consistent (2025-06-11)

Create This Monster (NEW, 2025-06-18)

TEASER:

As they’re pulling up in front of Casa Santa Marta after several hours on the road, Agnes catches Thomas’s attention.  “Take the Holy Father upstairs,” she says, “and let him get the sleep you kept him from last night.  Aldo needs to see him in my office at three.”

“Agnes,” Thomas protests while Vincent yawns and blinks at her in confusion, “it’s Saturday.”

“Oh?” Agnes mocks, and then gives Vincent a stern look.  “No rest for the wicked, Holiness.”

“I don’t like this,” Thomas says as soon as they’re in the elevator.  “She’s done something.”

“When has she not?” Vincent agrees.  “She does try to keep us on the straight and narrow.”

[irisbleufic]

I'm not the first to point it out but fire lord ozai really had just a comically short reign. He fumbled it so badly. Imagine. You get the throne. You tell your gay son to go find a mythical hero who doesn't exist anymore so he'll stop embarrassing you & he really thinks he's gonna do it. Lol. Time to keep this war going for another hundred years. In the time it takes to crack your knuckles the fuckhead actually did it. But then he makes friends with the mythical hero who doesn't exist. And you're like hey wait. Stop that. You've already fumbled it unbelievably badly. Fucked it up on a scale most rulers could only dream of. You get pacifism blasted straight to hell. Your gay ass son is the new king. What the fuck. And then you like die in prison and nobody cares

[irisbleufic]

Over 120 people have already received their copy of the digital zine! Collectively, we have raised almost $2,000 for charities worldwide! 

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[irisbleufic]

Chapter 17 update is only 1k, but I need it to punch hard (both on the humor and the Agnes-isn’t-fucking-around fronts):

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Characters: Ensemble Cast ft. Vincent, Thomas, Agnes, Ray, Aldo, Goffredo, and others in passing; Rating: E; Chapters: 17 / 22 posted; Word Count: 55,000 so far)

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (2025-04-30)

This World and the Next (2025-05-02)

Irreverence Incarnate (2025-05-04)

Living Reminders (2025-05-06)

Simple, Yet Striking (2025-05-09)

Trouble Without End (2025-05-14)

Acts of Extreme Integrity (2025-05-16)

Diplomatic Concerns (2025-05-25)

Nothing Too Scandalous (2025-05-31)

Never Pretend Otherwise (2025-06-01)

Better at Finding Words (2025-06-02)

Paradox Upon Paradox (2025-06-04)

Prayer and Contemplation (2025-06-05)

Gladly Be Laid to Rest (2025-06-10)

Nothing If Not Consistent (2025-06-11)

Create This Monster (NEW, 2025-06-18)

TEASER:

As they’re pulling up in front of Casa Santa Marta after several hours on the road, Agnes catches Thomas’s attention.  “Take the Holy Father upstairs,” she says, “and let him get the sleep you kept him from last night.  Aldo needs to see him in my office at three.”

“Agnes,” Thomas protests while Vincent yawns and blinks at her in confusion, “it’s Saturday.”

“Oh?” Agnes mocks, and then gives Vincent a stern look.  “No rest for the wicked, Holiness.”

“I don’t like this,” Thomas says as soon as they’re in the elevator.  “She’s done something.”

“When has she not?” Vincent agrees.  “She does try to keep us on the straight and narrow.”

[irisbleufic]

Chapter 17 update is only 1k, but I need it to punch hard (both on the humor and the Agnes-isn't-fucking-around fronts):

Don’t Be a Martyr (2025-04-29)

The Trouble We Need (2025-04-30)

This World and the Next (2025-05-02)

Irreverence Incarnate (2025-05-04)

Living Reminders (2025-05-06)

Simple, Yet Striking (2025-05-09)

Trouble Without End (2025-05-14)

Acts of Extreme Integrity (2025-05-16)

Diplomatic Concerns (2025-05-25)

Nothing Too Scandalous (2025-05-31)

Never Pretend Otherwise (2025-06-01)

Better at Finding Words (2025-06-02)

Paradox Upon Paradox (2025-06-04)

Prayer and Contemplation (2025-06-05)

Gladly Be Laid to Rest (2025-06-10)

Nothing If Not Consistent (2025-06-11)

Create This Monster (NEW, 2025-06-18)

Taking a shot at "Conclave" fic, as promised:

More Certain Than the Light

(Pairing: Benítez/Lawrence; Rating: M; Word Count: 8,000)

Teaser:

Benítez tilts his head a fraction closer, conspiratorial. “It’s a pity our devices have been confiscated for the time that we’re sequestered here. I would’ve suggested sneaking off to exchange more music recommendations since you’ve demonstrated taste.”

“Dally any longer, and I fear neither of us will be in anyone’s good graces,” Thomas replies as O’Malley as he sweeps past. “But I would’ve…” He glances furtively at Benítez; for an instant, it’s the thrill of misbehaving at seminary again. “I would’ve liked that.”

“There’s a computer in the office.”

“We’d have to cross Sister Agnes.”

“Ah. Never mind that idea, then.”

Oh, the things I would’ve liked had we been young men together, Thomas thinks wistfully as they approach the dining room. I would’ve liked you.

[irisbleufic]

Took a few days to decide how to pull-quote/set a summary for this alternate ending to "Heretics and Lawbreakers":

No Flights of Angels Here

(Armand/Sam Barclay, first time ever for this pairing on AO3, who knew; Claudia/Madeleine; Ensemble Cast of coven fire survivors; same tags as on the main fic, which itself is an AU to begin with [set in 1947]; Rating: E; 7,500 words)

TEASER:

Sam waits until the door closes, pitched into darkness, to roll away from the wall and squint blearily at his new minder. He’s afraid he might cry.

Armand looks like hell. His unkempt curls frame his face, unspeakably lovely for that fact. His shoes hit the floor. “Starving yourself?” he asks.

Sam shrugs, setting his jaw as his eyes start to sting. “I let him do it,” he grits out. “Let him do the thing that fuckin’ got him killed. Fair’s fair.”

“Rashid’s death is fair,” Armand says, sliding under the covers next to Sam, “because he knew the risks. He became a lawbreaker in your stead.”

“You’re saying my death wouldn’t be,” Sam whispers tremulously as Armand gathers him close, pressing his face against Armand’s exposed neck.

“I understand that you’re grieving,” Armand whispers back, “but I refuse to shoulder that just because you’ve forgotten everything we discussed.”

“Fuck right off. I have not,” Sam snarls, both ashamed and relieved that the provocation is enough to make him sink his fangs in Armand’s neck.

*

Once again, the caveat: THIS IS AN ALTERNATE ENDING TO HERETICS AND LAWBREAKERS. Somebody dies; they almost die in the main fic to begin with.

In order to make the most effective use of this piece, you should ideally—

1) Read Chapter 1 through Chapter 19 of Heretics and Lawbreakers.

2) Once you reach the end of Chapter 19, proceed to the above alt. ending.

[irisbleufic]

I was rereading part of MCTtL (how often have I been rereading this fic, you ask? Don't worry about it) and noticed that the chapter count had gone up and to paraphrase the tiger poem,

The plot

It destroyed its outline

Yes

YES

The plot is out

Here’s what keeps happening at this point with More Certain than the Light: I’m trying to keep the final 5 chapters as one for each of the 5 stops on that first major upcoming trip! Every time I decide to split hairs and have something else (smaller) happen in the interim, it bumps that block of 5 out further. I’m desperately hoping that I’m looking at only 1 more interim chapter before the final block of 5. That number adjustment happened today as I’m doing a reread MCTL reread myself post-yesterday’s new IWTV story (which was sort of a bizarre species of update in its own right, as an alternate ending to one of my existing stand-alones; I fucking fried myself writing that 8k over 48 hours because it’s the kind of tragedy I rarely let myself write unless it has a really targeted objective, which this did).

Your paraphrase of the tiger poem is fantastic 💙 Thank you for sending that.

[irisbleufic]

honestly i never thought the phrase “i want that twink obliterated” was like a sexual thing. like when i read the phrase i imagine “a meteor like the one that killed the dinosaurs is summoned from the heavens and hits the twink in question” type situation

[irisbleufic]

Interview with the cheerleader

[irisbleufic]

they posted a full version lol it’s mr Stacy’s dad for me

[irisbleufic]

Alternate ending to one of my stand-alone IWTV stories that a few folks asked for:

No Flights of Angels Here

(Armand/Sam Barclay, first time that tag's ever been used on AO3 apparently, who fucking knew; Claudia/Madeleine; same pairing tags as on the main fic; Rating: E; 7,500 words)

THIS IS AN ALTERNATE ENDING TO HERETICS AND LAWBREAKERS. Somebody fucking dies this time around; please be warned. That's not like me? Sure isn't! Enjoy it while it lasts. It was compelling enough to give myself a two-day runaround.

In order to make the most effective use of this piece, you should ideally:

1) Read Chapters 1 through 19 of Heretics and Lawbreakers.

2) Once you reach the end of Chapter 19, proceed to above story.

[irisbleufic]

Y'all can keep at it with that “Romeo and Juliet fell in love in five days how immature” shiz but Macbeth went from no murder to yes murder in like one afternoon and I feel like one of those is a significantly bigger problem than the other

[irisbleufic]

LMFAO, YOU MEMED IT?

Amazing to see this comment thread in-joke become a shitpost, honestly 💙

has this been done yet

(credit to @irisbleufic for coming up with the idea)

[irisbleufic]

I just read ‘Heretics and Lawbreakers’ and it’s fucking brilliant, consider me another Sam Barclay/Real Rashid convert! That being said I saw in the comments you were maybe planning an alternate ending fic of sorts for it, assuming that one ‘what if’? I’d read the hell out of that too is what I came here to say, and hope you do write it!

Thanks for your kind words about the story! It’s an especially dear one to me. I’m always thrilled to hear my ever-expanding backlog of Sam/Rashid fic has claimed another soul 💙

As for writing the what-if alternate ending…oof, maybe it’s time I gave it a shot. I still find the concept as oddly compelling as back when I started running my mouth (fingers? keyboard?) about it. I’ll reread the story up until the point where I’d have to cut off and diverge in order to write the alternate ending/course of events. We’ll see what happens first: that, a new Caldera story starter, or the next Conclave fic chapter.