#@arcanewinter

[gerec]

Valentine's Day Ficlet - Erik is a romantic

Thank you for sending me all these lovely Valentine prompts/ideas! I'm not sure I'll get to all of them but they are very much appreciated thanks!!!

-----

arcanewinter said: Erik invites Charles to do something that Erik, and only Erik, considers to be deeply romantic. Charles gets it, though.

“So, where are we going?” Charles asks as soon as he gets settled in the front seat. It’s been driving him crazy all day, not knowing, because frankly Charles hates surprises as much as Erik hates planning them. “Is it that new restaurant I’ve been dying to try? It’s too early for dinner so are we going for a late lunch?”

Erik smirks as he pulls out of the driveway, and shakes his head. “No Charles. We’re not going to ’Anthony’s’. That place is ridiculously overpriced and overrated.” Charles huffs and sinks back into the seat, knowing that he can simply pluck the answer out of Erik’s head – the bastard’s not even shielding, like he’s daring Charles to break his promise – but won’t, because he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise. Whatever they’re doing, Erik’s been thinking about it for the past two weeks, and so it must be really important to him. And Charles is going to do his best to feign excitement, because Erik is terrible at romance, and is far more likely to take him shopping for a new mattress (‘memory foam is better for lower back pain, Charles’) than to whisk him off to a B&B upstate.

Actually, getting a new mattress wouldn’t be the worst thing to do on Valentine’s Day.

Still, he’s speechless when they pull into the lot of a Jewish cemetery, and Erik quickly parks and then goes to take his chair out of trunk. He knows where they are of course, even if he’s never been here himself; Erik’s parents are both buried here, and Erik’s been visiting them diligently once a month since he was sixteen years old.

Strangely, Charles doesn’t sense any sadness from the tenor of Erik’s thoughts; only thoughtfulness and a quiet anticipation as they approach the grave. Neither of them speak when they spot the double headstones, and Charles waits patiently as Erik places his hand on the marker and closes his eyes.

“I know this might seem silly to you, wanting to do this here. I don’t even talk anymore, when I visit. I stopped doing that years ago,” Erik says, with a hint of wistfulness as Charles squeezes his hand. “I just wanted them to meet you, and I wanted them with me when I do this.”

This is getting down on one knee in front of Charles and pulling a ring box out of his jacket pocket. He grins, wide and amused at the expression on Charles’ face and asks, “Charles Francis Xavier, will you marry me?”

“You bastard,” Charles says with tears in his eyes, “of course I’ll marry you. Yes, yes, yes!”

Erik smiles. “So, better than last year, yeah? When I got us arrested at the pro-mutant rally?”

Choking back a laugh, Charles answers, “Absolutely. Much, much better.”

[x-populuxe]

Fingers-in-my-word-doc Friday:

In honor of Friday, gimme a line from your latest WIP or project that involves hands. (Search-find hand, hands, fingers, fingerpad, nails, wrist, palm, thumb, heel, lifelines etc)

I was tagged by the incomparable @arcanewinter, who is in fact the charity-auction recipient of my current WIP, a timeloop fic set less than a year after the beach divorce. Not a lot of hands in this one so far it seems lol—I guess because they're actively trying to put a great deal of space between themselves (unsuccessfully). But:

Erik narrows his eyes, and for a protracted moment, they glare at each other in silence. Charles is the first to break, glancing away and clearing his throat as he wheels back slightly. And he can’t help it then—the metal of the chair calls out to him, some unusual alloy that must be Hank’s creation. The whole structure would be interesting enough on its own, but he keeps catching the broad sense of Charles sitting in it, or the specific feeling of Charles’s hands on the rims of the wheels. Without thinking, the sensation is pleasant—but when he does think about it, it prompts a sick sort of lurch in the back of his throat, as he remembers exactly why Charles— “So what now?” Charles says, neatly slicing that line of thought in two. When they meet each others’ eyes again, Charles’s expression is unreadable.

BUT. Arcanewinter already knows that I actually procrastinated on this fic with a little oneshot that I'm hoping to finish in the next week. It is, in fact, a bodyswap fic, and there are a lot of hands. :-))

He wiggles a set of sturdy, blunt fingers that he unfortunately knows all too well, and then he raises his other hand and wiggles those sturdy, blunt fingers, too. They’re his hands—he’s making them move, and he can feel them moving—but they’re obviously not his hands. “For God’s sake, Erik,” his doppelgänger snaps. He points to the mirror above the fireplace. “Stand up and properly look.”

I have no idea who's actively working on fic right now because I've been woefully away from Cherik stuff for a few weeks (this was a great prompt to get me back on the...horse...wagon...idk lol), so please consider this an open tag for anyone!

[bronzeagepizzeria]

Tagged by @arcanewinter 💖 to put my music on shuffle & list the first 10 songs + tag 10 people:

1. Clara; Murray Gold

2. Khaabon Ke Parindey; Mohit Chauhan

3. Take My True Love by the Hand; The Limeliters

4. Come As You Are; Nirvana

5. Socha Hai; Farhan Akhtar

6. Los Vestidos Desgarrados; Alberto Iglesias

7. Taking A Stand; Henry Jackman

8. Feed the Hounds, Ramin Djawadi

9. Come Fly With Me; Frank Sinatra

10. Gap; Hans Zimmer

Tagging (if you like!) @mulderscully @thirdeyeblue @kcchameleon17 @deardiary17 @abihastastybeans @nostradamus0 @naaer @ashesandhackles @nerdie-faerie @flamesandpages

[pictureofdoriaaaaaangay]

first outfit, quote, celebrity, and aesthetic photo on your Pinterest are your vibe. this is honestly so perfect for me.

thank you @arcanewinters for the tag!! <3

no pressure tags: @cubitumm-eamuss @desolationarchivist @mothmansboywife @percshelly @flowersforfrancis

[satinsolace]

tag game: 9 questions for 9 people!

Thank you for tagging me, @arcanewinter

song: – Evergreen by Shaky Graves (the ‘ending theme’ of my current fic)

currently watching: Fargo season 5 and Shining Vale season 2

three ships: Bond/Q, Dean/Cas (unfortunately), Antwan/Keys (also unfortunately)

favorite color: Payne's grey

currently consuming: tostada

first ship: Jadeite/Nephrite

relationship status: Single Baybeeee

last movie: Creep 2

currently working on: edits on supernatural gift fic for @handsliketruth

tagging some folks (who are not obligated to do this): @linkslipssinkships @handsliketruth @shallowseeker

[deathofherreputation]

Thank you for tagging, @arcanewinters!! This was so fun!

First celebrity, quote, outfit, and aesthetic photo on your pinterest are your vibe. Tagging @thesistersarcheron @lavenderdameron @aintmyjewelry and anyone else who would like to do this! 💜

[pictureofdoriaaaaaangay]

thank you for tagging me @cubitum--eamuss!!

this haircut is actually really close to how I have my hair rn, but the color is wayyyyyy darker in real life.

no pressure tags <3 @flowersforfrancis @grey-acefairygirl @desolationarchivist @masked-manticore @arcanewinters

this picrew was just so cute so I'm starting a picrew chain :) (it has the best outfits I'm not even joking)

https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/2073318

no pressure tags (i don't know enough people for this so sorry if we never talk and I randomly tagged you lmao) @rissslays @qwerty-keysmash @tulips-best @medicine-and-molly @octoberconstellation @loveution @dianneorshirbert @august-taylors-version @everycornerofthishouseishaunted @yarkayaslava @ikinregulusblack @ghwoust @nessasluhvs @waitingforthesunrise + anyone else who wants to join :) <3

[gerec]

Time Travel Fix-It fics? or time travel in general?

LOVE me some good time travel stories (and time travel fix-its)! Here are some of my favourites!

Previous post re: Time Travel fics

Time the Preserver by MaxRobespierre

“Erik,” says the old man, looking directly at him, and, ah. Yes. That was why Erik stopped on his way back to the motel. His name, and the look in the old man’s eyes. He’s seen that look before, that depth of mourning. It’s not a look he likes to think about.

Always Pass on Good Advice by cygnaut

Charles realizes there’s only one person who can talk Erik out of his terrible plans: himself.

Other Futures Than These by midrashic

In which Cuba doesn't break them apart, but that doesn't mean that their futures are tied together. (Except that it does.)

A Days of Future Past AU where only one person can defeat the Sentinels and save the future: the man whose imprisonment and torture created them, and Charles Xavier's ex.

The Cost of a Good Man by arcapelago (arcanewinter)

Erik and his mother flee Europe before the advent of the war to live on the Xavier estate. Charles never questions their good fortune, or his own.

AND

Unlived Histories (The Double Vision Remix) by populuxe

When he was a boy, a man visited Erik and his mother and helped them escape before the war. Years later, Erik finally learns the man’s identity—but the truth is far more complicated than he ever could have imagined.

From Yesterday by AzarDarkstar

He stands on the edge of tomorrow but always lives today.

Forward Momentum by AsYouWish 

Six months after Cuba, Charles and Erik find themselves thrown fifty years into the future, where they meet their older selves, the Avengers, and a world that’s very different from their own. Faced with the pieces of their broken relationship, an unparalleled adversary, and dealing with Tony Stark on a daily basis, Charles and Erik do their best to adapt while trying to find a way back home – and to each other.

the pain will remind us of each other by borninsideatornado

It’s always felt alien, the way he feels about Erik. Too big for his body, too much to hold in his heart. But finally, finally, it makes sense.

Because at the end of the world, it’s him. It’s always going to be him. —

when logan lets charles see his future in days of future past, he talks to erik instead.

[x-populuxe]

The Edge of What Doesn't End was the second or third work of yours that I'd read and it's still a favorite! The setting made such an impression on me that I really want to know where Charles and Erik end up in a year's time, especially considering what they go through on that mission! And was there anything you had wanted to include but didn't have time or room for? Thanks if you want to answer!

😭 an ask about one of my fics!! 😭 thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

So the funny thing about that one (aka "extremely divorced cherik trapped on a spaceship," which I apparently wrote in 2021?? I feel like it was last year??) is it's the only fic I've ever published that I truly ran out of time for—the mods of the fest had already given me the max extension. I wrote a substantial portion of it the final weekend before the deadline while on vacation with some friends, which included a) missing a sight-seeing activity while I worked on it in a freakin Panera lol b) writing on the car ride home, with my friends being like ??? (It was a big bang though! I couldn't let down my collaborator!)

So yes, there's actually a lot more I wanted to include—I think the back third would have been a bit slower paced, with more action (but gradual) and possibly more of them hooking up as well. Maybe a little more physics...not like this was actually some sort of 2001 pastiche or whatever, but the canonical monoliths have a lot of physics! That being said, I'm happy with how it turned out given the limitations, and the skip to the final scene was written as I'd always intended. I wanted it to be a sort of level-headed "hey maybe we could start over" after the sheer desperation of the reunion in space.

Per your "where are they in a year" question, conveniently, the events in space help curtail any desires to fall into old habits—Charles isn't particularly interested in being a shill for the government, and Erik isn't particularly interested in using space travel as an excuse to blow Charles off/run away. (I'm laughing as I remember that I had Charles work for the NSA...that's up there with the WIP where I have him as a NYTimes op-ed critic lol.)

This fic falls into the way I read their fundamental post-break-up dynamic, including canonically: it's not really about ideological differences, but about the fact that each of them believes the other one dumped him. Do I think "nearly dying in space" means they're both going to have some kind of mature revelation where they think that doesn't matter? No. But I do think that's enough for a reset—and hopefully those external factors help keep them both on land, trying not to deliberately drive each other mad.

Thank you again for the ask!!! 💞 If anyone has any questions about my stories (published or WIP) please send them to me!!!

[theworstgirlyouknow]

tysm for tagging me @boydcrowdr 🤍

oh pinterest…you make me feel so seen ☕️

npt: @lilyapolonis @myyearofrestandgirlmoregirls @arcanewinters

@kuningatar thanks for the tag ♥️

first celebrity, outfit, quote, and aesthetic pic on pinterest is your vibe ⚡️

tagging @boydcrowdr @star-shine @bringmefoxgloves @starringcillian @geekysprinkler and anyone who hasn’t been tagged yet and is interested!

[bronzeagepizzeria]

tagged by @mulderscully

tagging @kcchameleon17 @arcanewinter @demdifferentstories-29 @lenawin4

[crazyloststar]

this is hard on mobile but situation 25 and sentence 36 for ROY and/or ED

dfgdfg I haven’t written FMA in a million years so gomen I tried to throw in some extra things for you bc i gotchoo and THANKS FOR THE PROMPT!! <3

From this meme! [help me get my writing mojo back as I recover from being unable to type properly for the last 4 months \o\]

“Ithought we had all agreed we wouldn’t go anywhere we could be seen?” The voicecame from behind Roy, but he had heard the footsteps approaching before theowner even took in their breath to speak. 

Ed’sgait had a very specific rhythm to it, and one he hated to admit he hadmemorized. 

“Justneeded to say a few things, before.” There was no reason to finish thatsentence. They all knew what the before meant, what was to come after was theunknown. 

ThePromised Day was upon them, after all. 

“Andif that were the order, then why are you here, Fullmetal?” 

Royforced himself to stay staring at the headstone before him as the boy, nolonger really a boy, but more of a man in the last six months than anything,walked up beside him. His elbow brushed Roy’s forearm, and any other day hewould make a joke about him trying to rub elbows and failing miserably. 

Maybeanother time. 

“Justwanted to say my goodbyes,” Ed’s voice was quiet, and the strangeness of thetone of it finally pushed Roy to glance over to him. He hadn’t seen the youngeralchemist for months and months - his hair was pulled back into a high ponytailand something about it pulled his bangs back, showed more of his face, of hisdefined jawline, of his intense eyes.   

“Hewould have said there was no need for goodbyes,” Roy spoke and then cleared histhroat, because really wasn’t that why he was also there, truly? Hughes wouldhave laughed at him, gripped his shoulder, and told him to shut up and theywould get a drink later to laugh about it all. 

Royclenched his fists. Ed crossed his arms. 

“Wouldyou have lied to him as well, like you’re trying to with me?” 

Thistime, Roy turned his body to face him, and Ed did as well, so they were as eyeto eye as they could be. Ed had grown taller, but he still lifted his chin aswas his habit whenever they faced off like this.

“Idon’t lie to you.” Roy tried to ignore the way Ed’s eyes seemed they weretrying to bore straight through him. 

“Yousoften shit for me all the time.” 

“That’snot lying.” 

Edbit his bottom lip, and then whipped his head back to the headstone. “He wouldbe mad we were here, compromising ourselves.” 

Roymade a sound of agreement only because he was finding it harder to form words.Ed didn’t talk to him like this. Ed was anger and energy and destruction, notsoftly debating whether or not their dead friend would be scolding them. 

Edknelt and placed a hand - his right one - over the name etched across thestone. “I never got to say goodbye the first time, you know. So I figured, thiswas as good a time as any to make up for it.” 

“Weall wish we could have that moment.” Roy shoved his hands in his pockets. Hewould know, he repeated that night on the phone years ago almost every day, all thethings he could have said in those last moments. 

Edturned up to look at him. The fire he knew so well was still there but muted,and it scared a part of Roy, deep down. “Do you really think our plan willwork?” 

“Ithas to.” Roy knelt down beside him, placing his opposite hand on the stone. “Wehave no choice, really.” 

Theyboth kept their eyes on the stone, but Roy kept stealing glances at Ed’s faceas he concentrated on his thoughts. 

Ed’sfingers curled, the metal making a scratching sound as he did. “And if itdoesn’t, what then?” 

“It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.” Roy used his free hand to clasp Ed on theshoulder, and he seemed to deflate under the touch, and leaned closer to Roy for the briefest of moments. 

[earnestly-endlessly]

I was wondering if you know any Cherik fics where they're dating but it's w different people's pov? Or where people don't believe that they are together. They're not rude but they're just sceptical yk. Where they don't believe that one of them has a partner.

Thanks for the ask anon. I have to say that outsider POV is such a guilty pleasure of mine. There are some great fics out there that match your description. There are also a few fics that kind of match your description but deviate a bit from your request. I still think they fit the theme. I hope you enjoy!

Outsider POV - Don’t know that they are in a relationship

Work/Life Balance - pocky_slash

Summary: As teens, Charles was the star of a super popular tween/teen television show and Erik was his best friend. As adults, they're a frighteningly domestic married couple and Alex, Darwin, and Sean are Erik's nosy co-workers.

Rumor Mill - ikeracity

Summary:  Erik is the grumpiest, most foul tempered worker at Stark industries. His grumpiness is the stuff of legends.

So it's obviously the talk of the office when Erik is being made to go to the company party and he's bringing his husband. There's rumors flying round about how much of a masochist or equally antisocial bastard Erik's husband must be to put up with him. Others think he must be a meek mouse perhaps bullied by Erik.

What they weren't expecting was the confident, charming, adorable and unbelievably nice Charles that turns up on Erik's arm. What they certainly weren't expecting was how much Erik obviously adores his husband and how happy he is to let others see this.

Twice as Blind - Darksknight

Summary: Erik is probably the biggest asshole on the face of the earth, and because of this, he'll probably die alone. Charles is a complete flirt and playboy and, probably, will never commit to anyone ever.

(The lesson here is that when you have two friends who are BOTH secretly seeing someone, well, it's probable that they're seeing each other.)

For Argument’s Sake - Darksknight

Summary: The 'Science Wing Fights' are infamous, mostly because it's exciting to see two teachers really have it out, partially because Charles and Erik have the most intense and interesting fights any college student can dream of. So maybe a rumor or two get spread around to start the fights off, maybe someone mentions a hicky or the possibility of Charles seeing someone, but it's not like anyone's trying to instigate anything. Expect Raven. Raven will always instigate things.

Bang! A boomerang is love! – magichistorian

Summary: Everyone knew Mr. Xavier and Mr. Lehnsherr hated each other's guts.

Right?

Sugar Honey – IreneADonovan

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is the new Senior VP in Stark Industries Engineering Division. He's a bastard to everybody, and everyone pities the pool fool who's married to him, whoever he/she may be. Until they meet him. Then they all jump to erroneous conclusions as to why he took the position at SI. Tony Stark eventually sets them straight. After he busts a gut laughing, that is.

I Heard a Rumor (the Miss Jones Syndrome Remix) – iberiandoctor

Summary: A ring appears on Professor Charles Xavier's finger. The student body at the University of Utopia embarks on a mission to find its source, and makes an unexpected discovery.

X-Men Apocalypse's 1980s-era powered universe in which the name of the school is more than wishful thinking, at least on mutant-friendly Genosha. Charles Xavier is a genetics professor at the University of Utopia; Emma Frost and Tony Stark are his best friends; Charles’s students are extremely nosy and think they know it all. Erik Lehnsherr is… not what you'd expect.

Erik’s Fake Boyfriend - KatSquared

Summary: Emma Frost had her sights set on Erik Lehnsherr, and so did half the campus. However, he made it a point to reject everyone who’s asked him out, and it seemed the man had a “boyfriend” that no one’s ever seen.

Gossip makes the workplace go’round - ximeria

Summary: Apparently if Erik is in a good mood, his employees have to ponder how that may have come to be. Their ideas are, however, wildly off the mark.

Prom Kings - Project896

Summary: "now that you've mentioned it, Im actually curious." Angel whispers so that Mr. Xavier won't have to give them his sad puppy eyes to get them back to reading their books.

"Yeah, he's been wearing that ring since he moved here last year, who do you think his wife is?" Raven glances up to make sure Mr. Xavier is still busy helping Sean understand the story, while doing so, she eyed the golden ring on his ring finger.

Bang! A boomerang is love! - magichistorian

Summary: Everyone knew Mr. Xavier and Mr. Lehnsherr hated each other's guts.

Right?

JJ´s Round-the-Clock Breakfast Bounty Platter - pocky_slash

Summary: Ron makes a friend. As if that's not weird enough on its own, Leslie's pretty sure he's in the mob. (Also, Charles is charming and Erik is the opposite of that.)

In Plain Sight - archipelago (arcanewinter)

Summary: A story where Charles and Erik have basically been together from the first time they met. The whole fate, wow we found each other thing. Now I would like the others not to know and try to bring the two 'oblivious' guys together. They of course enjoy this quite a lot.

Nevermore - amarriageoftrueminds

Summary: [Missing scene] This is what should have happened after Raven and Charles' contretemps in the kitchen.

I Did Not Just See You Kissing Magneto - swoopswoop

Summary: Alex spots Charles and Erik sharing a kiss while a building is collapsed around them before the latter runs off with the Professor.

Or Erik gets bored and so kidnaps Charles.

The Bitter Consequences - swoopswoop

Summary: It was all an accident, they never meant for the other's to find out. Of course, when they did, there was nothing left but to face the music.

Santa’s Helper (The Santa’s Secret Remix) - traumaschwinge

Summary: Raven loves her idiot brother dearly. She wants him to be happy, honest. It's just really hard sometimes when he acts like a teenager instead of a full grown adult.

Or: Raven watches Erik and Charles dance around their crush on each other until she snaps.

A Job Well Done – grim_lupine

Summary: Raven can safely say that when she met Erik in junior year, she didn’t expect she’d ever be having this conversation.

Who’d have thunk? - ximeria

Summary: While everyone knows that Charles and Erik can be a bad influence on each other, there are other sides to their, at times, insane relationship.

Everything Hits at Once - afrocurl

Summary: David's relationship with Charles is tenuous at best, but coming to watch the launch of Cerebro can't be a good idea. Can it?

For the Record - endingthemes

Summary: As prominent figures in the mutant rights movement, activists Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr are pretty much household names. When a romance scandal between them breaks, their celebrity reaches new heights, and though the increased exposure is great, there’s a big problem -- the two of them are just friends.

Too bad no one believes them.

Note: Technically not an outsider’s POV but everyone is wondering about their relationship and it’s just one of my faves.

[crystalshard]

@arcanewinter you're very welcome! I had a great deal of fun with your prompt.

Secret Mutant Madness

I signed up for Secret Mutant Madness this year, and since the fics have now been de-anoned I can claim mine!

Drive You - Rating E. Charles/Erik. Erik's PTSD means that his head sometimes gets louder than he or Charles can bear. If Erik needs to get down on his knees to let go, then Charles is more than willing to help him do so. NSFW.

Search the Sky - Rating T. Charles/Erik. Loosely based on 101 Dalmatians, but with dragons.

8 to Infinity - Rating M. Charles/Erik. David 8 from the Alien series gets the Marvel treatment and is taken under Charles Xavier's wing. Includes action movie style prison break in Chapter 2.

[kingof1999]

heyyyy friends!!!! come hang w/ me on my second blog @arcanewinters — will mostly be a space for all my bookish inclinations (particularly the secret history & ACOTAR) and also some taylor swift stuff. yeehaw

[motleystitches]

arcanewinter replied to your post “A spider just skittered across my bed. I wonder how many I’ve...”

One time a spider fell on my face while I was sleeping. the good news is it woke me up.

This sounds like the beginning of a horror story if the good news is that you woke up with a spider on your face.....