#also i watch these shows for the drama and the peril and the pining

[lily-blue-blue-lily]

im finally completely caught up on 911 and ive only got a few episodes of lone star left and i think... i think, controversially, maybe i now prefer lone star ...

[absolutebl]

Top 10 Cutest BLs 

Here are my top 10 picks for BLs that satisfy a cute criteria. Which is to say, mostly up beat and happy with very little angst. No violence or triggers. Just oodles of adorable softness and comfort. (No one who knows BL will be shocked to see stuff from Korea on this list as this is currently their speciality, although all the ones from Japan might surprise you.) 

Cherry Magic (Japan - indie subbed) AKA 30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii - the sweetest, fluffiest, most charming bit of office-set adorable ever, full of found family and slapstick, the characters are utter spazzes, but so cute about it. All angst is self confidence based, nothing really distressing ever happens. 

Restart After Come Back Home AKA Risutato wa tadaima no ato de (Japan - indie subbed) - this one is perfect if you just want a beautiful loving movie, and one that is well filmed and lyrical. The only drama is family conflict of the silent grumpy kind - will baby take over Dad’s furniture business or not? OH THE PERIL of it all. (sense my sarcasm, okay? there is NO peril) 

Seven Days (Japan - grey in 2 parts Seven Days: Monday - Thursday, Seven Days: Friday - Sunday) - one of the best live action yaoi mangas ever made. The leads have excellent chemistry although it’s low heat, there’s still more kisses than Cherry Magic. Popular first year Seiryo has a policy of going out with any girl who asks… for one week. On a lark, third year Yuzuru tests to see if that policy also applies to boys. Seiryo agrees that it does. Along the way they accidentally fall in love. All the angst is just teen confusion. 

To My Star (Korea - Viki) - is a touch quirky, but utterly appealing once it hits its stride. It’s the ultimate grumpy/sunshine pairing plus the most appealing light-filled kitchen of our dreams. Famous actor (adorable bundle of neurosis) takes refuge in the house of a reserved chef and is immediately smitten by Mr Tall Dark & Glowering. The chef is also smitten but refuses to admit it to himself or anyone else. What angst is there is so confusing and low grade it hardly matters. 

Wish You (Korea - Netflix or Viki, you want the movie version) AKA WISH YOU: Your Melody in My Heart - low stakes high pining romance about a pianist who falls in love with a busker who is on his way to being the next big idol. It’s about singing but this drama is very quiet. 

Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding (Korea - grey) - Cinderfella in drag. Boy assumes his sister’s identity and marries another boy, together they have to hide this from the in laws. Unbelievably soft and very 12th Night esk. Too absurd to trigger anything and there is no angst, just a bit of family conflict wicked step-sister style. 

HIStory 2: Crossing the Line (Taiwan - Viki) - super low stakes sweetest story of the bad boy who falls hard for the senior on the volleyball team and then works to earn his love. You know it’s Taiwan so the kisses are great but in this case it also ends well. Only trigger is that the side couple is the stepbrothers trope, and some don’t like that.

Oxygen (Thailand - YouTube) - softest seme in the universe sings his affection to the older boy at the cafe. Let the slow burn courting commence. There is a tiny bit of angst at the end, and one storyline is naff (the doctors) but this is high production Thai softness so I forgive it. 

2gether & Still 2gether (Thailand - YouTube) - this show is ABSURD. But if you can suspend your disbelief and get through the first few episodes it is delightful to watch Sarawat pine after Tine and the levels to which Tine will go to remain willfully oblivious. Is that angst? Not really, just ridiculous. 

You Are Ma Boy (Vietnam - YouTube) - is there angst? Nope even what could have been angst (a gay idol) doesn’t materialize, it’s just cuties in a cafe confusing each other with cat & mouse games. The side het couple is a touch disturbing, tho. 

Newer offerings that might also satisfy:

Semantic Error 

Cherry Blossoms After Winter

Love Stage!! (Thai version) 

Rainbow Prince (for Disney fans) 

See You After Quarantine? 

Kieta Hatsukoi AKA My Love Mix Up

Honorable mention: 

En of Love: Tossera (Thailand - YouTube) - younger boy wants to court older boy and does and... that’s it. No really that’s the WHOLE STORY. There is actually no angst, drama, or, indeed plot. But are they the softest bois ever to BL as a main couple? Yes they are. ( @heretherebedork would be most put out if they were not in this post) They don’t make the top ten because really there just isn’t any story here. 

Ingredients (Thailand - YouTube) - if all you want is two soft boys being domestic, cooking together, cuddling on the couch, cat sitting, and babysitting - just put this on and be cozy. Doesn’t make the top 10 because it ends with the main characters parting (promising to reunite) so be wary of that. I still find it a very comforting watch. 

Step For You (Korea - YouTube) - microfilm from Strongberry about a reporter from the student newspaper who has to interview an older dancer and falls in love with him. 30 minutes of fluffy and time well spent, but it’s too short to make top 10. 

Stupid Boys Stupid Love (Vietnam - YouTube) - 3 couples, BL, GL, and het in high school navigating friends to lovers. Very soft friendships, no angst, just teens, hormones, and HEAs for everyone. Would make the top 10 but it’s very scattered and low quality, cute tho, and so nice to see some good GL in the mix.

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (Japan - grey) - middle-aged gay couple who live together, one of whom loves to cook and the other who loves to eat. That’s it. That’s all that happens. There’s a bit of a coming out segment but it’s so low key. It doesn’t make the main list because I don’t see how it qualifies as BL under any criteria. But it’s very comforting and very gay. 

No one should be shocked that there is so little from China or Taiwan on this list as both of them specialize in high angst plots in their BL. 

Similarly I have a Top 10 Most Romantic BLs for Valentine’s Day post. 

This post originally requested by @jmphria June 2021. So more might have happened since. 

I also created a My Drama List for this. 

(source)

[justawanderingbabbit]

Plot fix-it: Miss the Dragon

Be warned, what follows has spoilers, so open the read more link at your peril.

And, also, be aware that I really don't like the series, not just because of how ZZJ's character turned out. So if you like it, you probably don't want to read this.

So the basic plot of the Miss the Dragon drama is that the titular character wants to become immortal and is heavily injured in the process. His best friend(?)/guide, Mingge Xingjun, the Immortal of Fate offers him advice and he goes chasing after some piece of armor that will help defend him against the heavenly tribulation required for ascension.

In the process of fetching the armor, Yulong is injured and a pretty human girl comes to his aid. (There's bunches of reasons why this part gets annoying, but AvenueX says it better than I can.) He proceeds to become obsessed with trying to repay her and somehow falls in love in the process.

This results in various moments of 'hilarity' and tragedy much beloved of RomCom Xianxia dramas. I don't tend to watch those series for that very reason, but this one has Zhu Zanjin and therefore was of interest to me.

The situation culminates in Yulong somehow being forced to wait three whole lives for his beloved, because Reasons. (Possibly it's part of his punishment, I'm not sure because, honestly, I did a LOT of skipping.)

Over the course of most of the series, ZZJ's character is mostly played for laughs, with occasional bouts of helpfulness and apparent pining. He gets involved in the romance of another pair as well, manipulating a little bird spirit into becoming the beloved of some other immortal.

It's in the last arc that ZZJ's character suddenly starts behaving in a truly skeevy fashion. Up until then he'd been goofy and about as lacking in understanding how love works as every other male in this series. Then, quite suddenly, he starts being blatantly (to the audience) manipulating the situation so that he can Something Something Something Profit. (Precise details aren't clear but one synop says he's trying to become the Lord of Heaven.)

I've already gone into why I think this is a horrible idea. Now I'm going to suggest how the writers could have still had their RomCom and managed a decentish plot. (Okay, one I could have lived with.)

One way, of course, is to foreshadow MGXJ's underhandedness much earlier. Show signs that the demons have a traitor in heaven helping them. (This never seems to happen, because the story spent so much time on YL and his girlfriend's wangsting about miscommunicating.) I don't like this concept, because I wanted ZZJ to get a chance to play a fun, funny, good character.

So, an alternative. MGXJ goes to help YL fetch that armor and is injured by resentful energy. The rest of the series can proceed as suggested, with occasional scenes of him trying to help YL and (at the same time) fight the infection that he can't admit to for fear of being destroyed or killed or something. In the process, he keeps thwarting his infected self's plans and working the other characters towards realizing what's going on with him.

Of course, this would need the writers to admit there's more to the story than just the constant wangsting and miscommunicating of romantic leads. It could even end in much the same way, except for MGXJ demanding YL stop him. (I admit, I'd prefer YL saving him somehow, but I know how Chinese drama tends to go, and a tragic end to a good character is painfully common.) The real villain could be the Heavenly Emperor, who is sus, damnit, really sus, based on his rigid interpretation of rules and such.

So, yeah. That's my thought on how that show could have gone. Maybe it's not great, but honestly, I think it's better than what did happen.

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey so I've recently been craving sport themed Johnlock (Excluding Rugby because it's kinda overused though 100% understandable). Either one could be doing the sport I just wanted something sporty. Preferably long and kinda angsty but just sporty will do-

Hi Nonny!

Sure! You’re in luck because I haven’t really read any Rugby John, LOL. You’re getting all the sports AUs I have :) I thought I did this list already but apparently not hahah :P Here you are!

SPORTS

See also: 

Alexx’s Sports AU List

YorkiePug’s Sports AU List

Summit Fever by J_Baillier (M, 78,802 w., 18 Ch. || Mountain Climber AU || POV John, Angst, Tragedy, Suicidal Ideation, The Himalayas, Mountain Guide / Doctor John, Mount Climber Sherlock, Loneliness, Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Injured Sherlock / Sherlock Whump, Pining John) – After graduating from medical school, John Watson followed his heart to the Himalayas. Ten years later, he's a haunted cynic working for his ex-lover's trekking and mountaineering company. Will leading an expedition to Annapurna I—the most lethal of all the world's highest mountains—shake John out of his reverie, and who is the mystery client added to the group at the last minute?

Thermocline by J_Baillier (M, 83,557 w., 14 Ch. || Scuba Diving AU || Adventure, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Marine Archaeology, Asexual Sherlock, Horny John, Relationship Drama, Technical/Scuba/Wreck Diving, Slow Burn, Underwater /  Medical Peril, Doctor John, Hurt Sherlock, Anxious Sherlock, John POV, Protective John, Body Appreciation) – John "Five Oceans" Watson — technical dive instructor, dive accident analyst and weapon of mass seduction — meets recluse professor of maritime archaeology Holmes. As they head out to a remote archipelago off the coast of Guatemala to study and film its shipwrecks for a documentary, will sparks fly or fizzle out?

Uphill by scullyseviltwin (E, 84,945 w., 18 Ch. || Olympics AU || Sherlock POV, Skier!Sherlock / Medic!John, Rivalry, 2014 Olympics, Happy Ending) – Sherlock Holmes is striving for gold in this, his fourth and final Olympics as a downhill Alpine racer.

Eyes Up, Heels Down by CodenameMeretricious (E, 107,845 w., 43 Ch. || Sports Equestrian AU || Fluff, Angst, Humour, Rider!Sherlock, Groomer!John, Show Jumping, Slow Burn, Happy Ending) – Sherlock is a top eventing rider currently training at Baker Farms. John is the new groom who's been told to steer clear of the surly rider and his horses. Part 1 of Baker Farms

A Study in Winning by Jupiter_Ash (E, 106,658 w., 11 Ch. || Tennis AU || John POV, Dirty Talk, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, Happy Ending, Sherlock Speaks French, Switchlock, Wimbledon) – John and Sherlock are professional tennis players and it’s Wimbledon. One is a broken almost was at the end of his career, the other an arrogant rising star tipped for greatness. It should have been a straightforward tournament. It really should have been. How were they to know that a chance encounter would change everything? Part 1 of Tennis

The Bang and the Clatter by earlgreytea68 (M, 137,049 w., 37 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Baseball AU || Slow Burn / Dev. Rel., Possessive/Obsessive Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock, Mutual Pining, Body Appreciation, Depression, Closeted Sexuality, Family, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Ogling Each Other, Anxious Sherlock, Panic Attack, Drunkenness, Talk of Forever, Big Feelings™) – Sherlock Holmes is a pitcher and John Watson is a catcher. No, no, no, it's a baseball AU. Part 1 of Baseball

Gimme Shelter by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (E, 159,368 w., 21 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || 70′s Surfer AU || Period Typical Homophobia, Hawaii, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Professional Surfers, Gay John / Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John was a Sailor, Misunderstandings, Mutual Pining) – All John Watson wants is the feeling of a freshly waxed surfboard under his feet and the hot California sun baking down onto his back. To finally go pro in the newly formed world of professional surfing and leave the dark memories of his past behind him as he rips across the face of a towering blue barrel. To lounge beside the beach bonfire every evening with an ice cold beer tucked into the cool sand beside him and listen to Pink Floyd and the Doors while the saltwater dries in his sun bleached hair. That's all he wants, that is, until the hot young phenom taking Oahu and the Hawaiian shores by storm steps up next to him in the sand in the second round of the 1976 International Surf Competition. (PUBLISHED AS ‘The Sea Ain’t Mine Alone’)

MARKED FOR LATER

Emblaze Our Hearts by antietamfalls (T, 7,970 w., 1 Ch. || Olympics AU || Skeleton Luger Sherlock, Biathlete John, Drunkenness, Texting, Memory Loss) – A night of celebratory drinking leads to a mystery in the Olympic village. Who is this "SH" person with whom John apparently spent the night, and why did they disappear with John's most prized possession?

On The Fence by BeautifulFiction (T, 13,770 w., 1 Ch. || Fencing, Case Fic, First Kiss) – The murder of the King's College fencing champion leads to revelations about Sherlock's past. Will it be the point that tips them from friends to lovers, or will they remain on the fence? (sorry, not an AU, but since this is a new story, I want to promote it, LOL.)

A Hooligans’ Game Played By Gentlemen by scullyseviltwin (E, 15,213 w., 1 Ch. || Rugby AU || First Time, Rugby as Foreplay, Porn with Lots of Plot) – In which John wants to get back in shape, does so, joins a rugby league and has sex with Sherlock Holmes. In that order.

Forces of Nature by Ewebie (E, 18,369 w., 1 Ch. || Unilock || Rugby Captain John, Hammock Sex, Bad Jokes) – Sherlock watched as the man pushed himself out of the water and onto the floating dock constantly anchored in the middle of the lake. Oh. He was… He was quite tanned. Broad shoulders sloped into a narrow, muscular waist and tapered hips that disappeared into the navy swim trunks. Somehow the breadth of the shoulders made the thighs and legs that appeared out of the bottom of the trunks look delicate. Tanned in their own right and powerful, but oddly proportionate to the shorter stature the man seemed to possess. Sherlock watched the water run off of him, down his back, tracing a path along his spine and through the pleasing fossae lumbales laterales and lumbar lordosis into the waistband of the trunks. Sherlock swallowed. Shit.

Sticking the Landing by SweetMandolins (M, 44,826 w. 17 Ch. || Olympics AU || Gymnast John, Ballet Dancer Sherlock, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Falling in Love, Fluff, Mutual Pining, Bisexual John, Muscular John, Humour, Jealous John, Side Mystrade) – John Watson, Captain of Team GB’s gymnastics squad is confident and primed for his third and final Olympics. Disappointed in London with a shoulder injury putting paid to his Olympic dream, can he secure an Olympic gold finish before retirement? Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes has other problems. Men’s Rhythmic Gymnastics is the newest Olympic sport, but a series of peculiar accidents both on and off the floor have taken out some of the competitors. Does something more sinister lurk under the spangles and spandex? Can Sherlock solve the mystery in time to deliver a flawless ball routine? And does something more valuable than medals await the boys in Rio?

Fly Very High by yalublyutebya (E, 46,533 w., 31 Ch. || Formula One / Car Racing AU || Rivalry, Permanent Injury, Hate Sex, Angry Sex) – John Watson was born to be a racing driver, and even a crash isn't enough to keep him out of a car for long. But coming back is not that easy, especially when he meets his new teammate, Sherlock Holmes. Part 2 of the Formula One AU series

Working on the Edges by earlgreytea68 (M, 56,089 w., 16 Ch. || Olympics AU || Hockey Player John, Ice Skater Sherlock) – No matter where you put Sherlock and John, they click. Including the Winter Olympics.

Full Court Press by MissDavis (E, 126,123 w. || College Basketball AU || Unilock, Masturbation, Homophobia, First Kiss / Time, Oral/Anal, Coming Out, Switchlock, Blowjobs) – Sherlock Holmes has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at the College of St. Bartholomew's. He expects to be their star player and turn the team's losing record around. He does not expect to fall in love with the team's captain, a certain scrappy point guard named John Watson. Or: Sherlock is the team's best shooter. John is the team's best ball-handler.

Boyfriend Material by PoppyAlexander (E, 151,282 w., 58 Ch. || American Hockey AU || Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Closeted John, POV John, Pining, Casual Sex / Hook Ups, Rom-Com) – Boston Brawlers' team captain John Watson longs for two things: a championship before he retires, and a boyfriend. Assigned to room with goaltender Sherlock Holmes--known around the league as both a genius and a "weird dude"– on Brawlers' roadtrips, John discovers the things they have in common that lead to an easy friendship and a convenient arrangement.

Slipstream by khorazir (M, 173,186+ w., 14/25 Ch. || WIP || Tour de France / Sports Cycling AU || Room Sharing, Cycling Injuries, Discussions of Drugs/Doping, Awkward Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Bickering, Case Fic, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Internalized Homophobia, Mutual Pining, Bed Sharing, Jealousy) –It’s going to be the last Tour de France for professional cyclist John Watson. Despite the hardships of cycling more than 3000 kilometres in three weeks, in blistering heat and torrential rain, over dangerous cobblestones in northern France and the mountains of the Alps and the Pyrenees, battling thirst, hunger, injury and exhaustion, not to mention bitchy rivals, doping allegations, and the ever scoop-hungry press, he is going to enjoy the ride, damn it. That’s what John keeps telling himself – until he meets his new teammate, Sherlock Holmes, who adds a whole new list of problems as well as an extra dose of excitement to John’s life.

Red Lights Out by days_of_storm (E, 333,458 w., 103 Ch. || Formula One / Car Racing AU || Mechanic John, Driver Sherlock, UST, Friendship, Pre-Slash, Romance, Perfect Cooperation, Accidents, Manipulation, Slow Burn) – John Watson is an overqualified mechanic and former rally driver who works for McLaren. Silverstone GP is impending when he meets Sherlock Holmes, a prodigy driver whom nobody takes seriously, except for McLaren boss Greg Lestrade.

[love-bokumono-fics]

WIP Wednesday - Friends of Mineral Town Part 1

I'm going to make 2 WIP Wednesday posts today for the FoMT WIP Wednesday feature. When I sorted by Date Updated, I realized that the most recent 10 fics have all received a feature on the blog over the last couple months. Which is great!

But I also want to take time to feature some of the WIPs that haven't been updated in a little bit, but still deserve some time in the spotlight.

Part 1 of WIP Wednesday is going to be the first 10 fics showing up on AO3, and Part 2 will be the next 10 fics!

Happy reading!

Do you have a FoMT WIP that didn't get featured today? Drop the link to it in a Submission box! We're always happy to feature submissions!

Pot-Puri - by Sakrovishte; WIP, 5/?, 14k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, A Wonderful Life

Relationships: Pete | Jack/Popuri, Muffy | Muumuu/Pete | Jack; Characters: Popuri, Pete | Jack, Muffy

Additional Tags: First Love, Love Triangles, Jealousy, farm struggling

Summary: Chickens and chicken eggs were all Popuri knew. She knew a simple way of life. A good life but there was always that little voice that cried out inside of her.

Doug's Inn - by FriendOfBats; WIP, 3/?, 10k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Cliff, Other Relationship Tags to Be Added; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Doug | Dudley, Cliff, Rick, Popuri, Kai, Gray

Additional Tags: POV Multiple, Drama & Romance, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Mild Sexual Content, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Eventual Romance, Bittersweet, Mental Health Issues, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags May Change, Bad Decisions, Slice of Life, Angst, Character Development, Other Ships Not Mentioned in Tags, Secrets

Summary: Claire "Shelly" McPherson decides, once and for all, to leave the big city and her past behind her. On a whim, she buys a one-way ticket to Mineral Town and books a reservation at Doug's Inn. It's there that she meets new friends and discovers, in the idyllic little town, the secrets that everyone is harboring... secrets not even the town bartender has heard about.

Sakura Sisters - by LuluRuru; WIP, 4/?, 12k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationship: Ships will be revealed soon!; Characters: Claire, Naomi, Brandon, Cliff, Doctor | Trent, Gray, Kai, Rick, Elli | Elly, Jennifer, Karen, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Popuri, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Mineral Town Residents

Additional Tags: Family, Slow Burn, POV Alternating, Updating tags as I go

Summary: Mineral Town is the destination for these two sisters. Claire appears dainty and sweet but really is childish and a loudmouth. Naomi appears shy and uncaring but is perceptive and a go-getter. The two of them are here for different reasons, but both of them have to manage Sakura Farm together. Will Claire be able to find her childhood friend and the boy who saved her? And will Naomi be able to find her true calling in life? The road ahead will be tough, but these two can do anything if they put their minds together. After all, that's what sisters are for, right?

Wildflower - by EmeraldHaze15; WIP, 7/?, 14k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationship: To Be Decided; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Harris, More to come, Basically the whole of Mineral Town, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Popuri, Rick, Mary the Librarian | Marie

Additional Tags: Tags Contain Spoilers, Abusive Relationships, Running Away, Bruises, Hurt/Comfort, mentions of prior abuse, Emotional Scarring, Trespassing, Domestic Violence, Pseudonyms, Tags Are Hard, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Mineral Town, Peril, No Smut, Panic Attacks

Summary: The world is a scary place, especially when Claire is all alone. But maybe she can begin to heal in a little place called Mineral Town... Rated 'M' for heavy, dark themes and emotional trauma

Barriers - by krose13; WIP, 23/?, 165k

Rating: Mature; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Harvest Moon DS Cute

Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Gray, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran/Cliff; Characters: Claire, Gray, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Cliff, Kai, Karen, Popuri, Mary the Librarian, Rick, Basically the whole Mineral Town cast, plus Forget-Me-Not Valley

Additional Tags: Drama & Romance, Complicated Relationships, Sexual Content, Slow Burn, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Not for the kiddos, Fluff and Angst, Jealousy, Unplanned Pregnancy, trying to fit a realistic pregnancy in hm time is a challenge but we doin it, POV First Person, Mutual Pining, Drug Use, Dreams and Nightmares, Drowning, I’ll probably have to add more tags as we go along but

Summary: Unlike everyone else in town, Gray wants nothing to do with the new farmer. He can't stand Claire, despite all her attempts to befriend him. But when one small mistake leads to an even bigger problem, he might be seeing a lot more of her than they both had planned.

A Blacksmith's Guide to Happiness - by Practicado; WIP, 42/?, 242k

Rating: Explicit; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Gray, Claire the Farmer/Doctor Trent

Additional Tags: Love Triangles, Sexual Content, Virginity, Slow Burn, Fluff and Angst, Angst and Humor, Healing, Romantic Friendship, Sarcasm, Love, Friendzone, Jealousy, Falling In Love, Religion, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Complicated Relationships, Trying to make these relationships as realistic as possible LOL, dry humour, like a lot of it, Really don't know where I'm going with all of these tags lmao, Age Difference, But the main character thinks it's okay bc she's naive, but everyone else knows better smh

Summary: Rough city boy meets innocent farm girl. Disagreements, conflicts, and trials that threaten to come between them ensue. Gray is a cynical blacksmith apprentice who's been around the block a couple of times. Claire is a naïve farmer who doesn't even know where that block might be located. Both have suffered from a pain-filled past, yet they learn to heal with the help of each other. Despite their continuous fighting and inability to see eye to eye, something beautiful still manages to blossom between them. That is, until a certain doctor enters the picture. Slow-burn romance containing explicit language, sexual content, serious character development, and an overuse of sarcasm. Takes place in the aughts: Mineral Town, 2004

The Wayfarer's Way. - by callieicos; WIP, 12/?, 52k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Cliff; Characters: Claire the Farmer, Cliff, Ann the Innkeeper | Ran, Carter the Pastor, Mary the Librarian | Marie, Doug | Dudley, Stu | Yu, May | Mei, Elli | Elly, Brandon, Gotz | Gotts, Gray, Duke, Manna, Kai, Will

Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Coming of Age, Friends to Lovers, I'll add more tags the more I write, Slice of Life, Eventual Romance, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pining, Hurt/Comfort, Reunions, Character Development, Neurodiversity

Summary: Traveling to Mineral town was a huge change for Cliff. Whether that's a positive change or negative one is beyond him. Still, he makes the most of his stay and along the way, learns to open himself up to others again. Claire, Mineral Town's newest resident and farmer, is learning how to become more independent, while also finding people who accept her. Together, Claire and Cliff learn to become friends and get a feel for their vastly new lifestyles together.

The Shy Newcomer - by durotos; WIP, 122/?, 565k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Categories: F/M, Multi

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationship: Claire the Farmer/Cliff; Characters: Claire, Cliff, Gray, Karen

Additional Tags: Slice of Life, Romance, Coming of Age, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, very slow burn, PROBABLY THE SLOWEST BURN EVER, Multiple Pairings, Mental Illness, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism

Summary: Claire, aching for something new in life, moves to Mineral Town and realizes at once that she has left everything she has ever known. At heart, a story about a young woman discovering that there is more to life if she just looks around her. A story of true love, friendship, hard work, and being part of something bigger than yourself.

Summer Days - by fieldberry; WIP, 9/?, 20k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M

Fandom: Friends of Mineral Town

Relationships: Claire the Farmer/Kai, Claire the Farmer & Kai; Characters: Kai, Claire

Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Eventual Romance, Drama & Romance, Drama, Romance, Slow Romance

Summary: Claire isn't sure what to expect when she risks it all and moves to the countryside--certainly not a handsome, charming young man watching stars on the beach one lonely night. A spark ignites between the two ex-city folk, and through the ups and downs of the following summers, grows into something much more.

Seedlings and Sprouts - by TheBeckster; WIP, 10/?, 8k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: Gen, Multi

Fandoms: Friends of Mineral Town, Story of Seasons (2014), Star Wars, Trio of Towns, The Tale of Two Towns

Relationships: Carter/Doctor | Trent, Claire the Farmer/Cliff, Fritz/Raeger, Gotz/Vesta

Characters: Cliff, Claire, Doctor | Trent, Carter the Pastor, Fritz, Raeger, Gotz | Gotts, Anakin Skywalker, Beru Whitesun, Owen Lars, Georgia, Iluka

Additional Tags: yes this collection includes a star wars crossover, Tumblr Prompt, prompt collection, I'll figure out tags later

Summary: A collection of tumblr prompts I've filled over the last couple years based on Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games. Every chapter is a different prompt. Should be posted in chronological order from oldest to newest. Prompt themes and ships will be included in the chapter titles.

[reneemauricesings]

First time writing Grace/Oliver fanfiction, but I love this couple so much, have done since childhood. My story takes inspiration from the 1982 “Annie” movie. I’m such a sucker for those two! 

DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.   

...

MAD, BUT HAPPY

The evening had been eventful to say the least. It had taken Oliver Warbucks and his secretary Grace Farrell to places they'd never been before. A railway track across town, a police station nearby and whilst caught up in all the panic and drama of Annie's kidnapping; into each other's arms, gripping each other as they watched the little girl they had both come to love, in mortal peril, before she was rescued heroically by Punjab and brought back to safety on the ground. 

Oliver had held Annie so tightly once he'd taken her from Punjab. Grace had leapt forwards, reaching for the little girl, and invariably her employer as well. She'd kissed a delighted but exhausted looking Punjab before grasping Oliver's wrist again in a show of mutual relief. As he'd carried the brave child to the car, Grace's hand slipped into his and he guided her back across the uneven ground.. Even when safely seated inside the vehicle, with Annie nestled in between them, his hand did not let go of hers. 

Now, the hellish night was nearly over. They had both tucked Annie into her bed and had seen to it that her friends from the orphanage also had sleeping quarters for the night before the two of them retreated to Oliver's study to wind down from the .

Oliver unstoppered his best brandy and poured a glass for each of them. Grace accepted hers with a quiet, "thank you." 

"To Annie, and her safe return home to us", Oliver toasted, raising his glass. Grace clinked her glass against his, noting his use of the word "us". 

Both too wired to sit down, they stood in front of the large desk, face to face, wincing comically at each other as the alcohol burned their throats. 

Lethargically, Grace set her glass down on the desk before giving her boss a crooked smile. "Oh, look at you, your tie has gone all askew." 

She shook her head at him helplessly, reaching up automatically to fix it for him. 

He cleared his throat, swaying dizzily on the spot, due to the alcohol, and in a large part, due to Grace's proximity. "Well, I've been through rather a big ordeal this evening, so forgive me if I'm not as well put together as usual." 

His voice was gruff as always but there was a glint in his eye which belied his tone. It was unmistakable, but only to his personal secretary. 

Grace smiled softly, flattening the collar of his crisp white shirt back down. "Well, you are usually very well put together." His eyes locked onto hers and she stilled, frozen under the intensity of his gaze. Her hands still on his broad chest. 

 

"A person of my standing must always be dressed to the highest standard." 

A breathy chuckle fell from Grace's lips. "What was it in that song that Bert Healy sings?" 

"Oh, that great imbecile", Oliver rolled his eyes. 

"You're never fully dressed without a smile." She raised one of her hands to his face and brushed his bottom lip with her thumb. 

Perhaps it was the alcohol and the fact that Miss Farrell hardly ever drank, or perhaps it was just the adrenaline from the evening's ordeal that made her so bold.   

Oliver stared into her eyes. "I have a feeling smiling may come easier to me now." He addressed her softly. 

"Because of Annie." Grace whispered back. 

"Yes, but not just because of Annie." Oliver responded earnestly. He swallowed audibly. "I must tell you, and I fear I don't say this often enough, well, if ever in fact, but I am resoundingly grateful to have you in my life, Grace. This past week in particular. " 

Grace's mouth opened in surprise as his sudden sincere declaration. She blinked quickly and replied throatily, "It is my honour, sir."  

She realized in that moment that although her hand had fallen away from his face, she was still gently touching him with her fingertips, resting softly against his sternum. 

Oliver brought his own hands up and covered hers. He caressed the back of her fingers intimately with his thumbs. 

"I want you to know that I realize how fortunate I am, and that it's not the money that makes me so, but the people in my life such as yourself. With you at my side, I really am the richest man in the world." 

"Oliver…", Grace croaked, her eyes watering. 

He squeezed her hands gently with his own. "Grace. I love Annie very much, and I know that there are a great many things I can give her that no one else can. One thing I cannot give her alone, is a mother." 

Grace felt her heart quicken as Oliver continued. 

"Grace, Annie adores you…" 

"And I her", Grace interjected, and Oliver nodded. 

"I know that, and I don't think there is another woman in the world who could possibly be a greater example to her than you." 

Grace bowed her head, quite taken aback by his words. 

"You'd show her not only the reward of hard work, but the value of kindness and patience, something I'm not particularly adept at." 

A small smile snuck onto Grace's face at that. 

"In light of this", Oliver continued, "I'd like to ask you for your hand in marriage, Grace." 

Grace's eyes shot up to his, wide as saucers. Surely she hadn't heard right. Her billionaire boss was asking her to be his wife? 

"It would mean security and stability for you for the rest of your life, and of course a binding relationship to Annie." 

Grace was silent, still watching him wide-eyed. He stared back at her warily. "Do you accept?" 

Grace looked slightly crestfallen which wasn't the reaction he'd expected in the least. 

"I want nothing more in the world than to be Annie's mother, but I couldn't accept your proposal purely for that reason, and I certainly don't want to marry you for your money." 

Oliver's brow furrowed as she went on. 

"If I'm to marry, I want it to be a marriage based on love. I can only accept your proposal on that basis." 

Oliver pursed his lips, looking downcast. "I see." 

"So yes Oliver, if you love me, then I accept." 

He raised his eyes again, looking more confused than ever. "I don't understand." 

"What don't you understand? I'm saying yes on the provision that you love me", Grace answered, emotion filling her eyes. 

Oliver was stunned. "But you can't. You can't love me!"  

Grace's expression became a mixture of joy and frustration. "Now what makes you think you have the right to tell me what I can and cannot feel?" 

Oliver stammered. "No I-I don't mean can't. I mean, you don't...surely? How could you? Feel anything like love for a cantankerous old ogre such as I?" 

He thought she would berate him for saying that about himself, correct him and say she didn't think him an ogre at all. Instead, she said something that made him love her even more, somehow. 

"Well, perhaps I like cantankerous old ogres”, she told him stroppily, before turning pale as she realized what she’d said. To her mind, he was now either going to have to marry her, or fire her!

Oliver’s eyes popped open, his lips parting in surprise at her statement, then within moments he began to burst into laughter.. 

The corners of Grace’s lips twitched as she fought back a grin. Oliver could not contain his though and soon she was feeling that grin of his against her own mouth as he kissed her soundly.

Breaking apart, both of their eyes were shining with tears. "Would you really have married me simply for convenience?" Grace asked him brokenly. 

"A great many people marry for convenience." He answered her frankly. "I'd only hoped that you might grow to return my feelings of love for you, given time." 

Fresh tears sprang to Grace's eyes as he declared his love for her. "Oh, Oliver." She took his collar in her hands and pulled him to her, kissing him once more. "I've loved you so long already, and I know that love will continue to grow, for you and for our daughter.." 

Oliver shook his head, reeling from the revelation that the woman he’d been pining for had secretly been in love with him for years. How a woman such as her, gentle and sweet , could fall for someone with a temperament such as his was beyond him,  "Are you quite mad?" He had to ask her.  

Grace laughed in surprise. "Perhaps", she conceded. "But happily so." She beamed at him and sighed contentedly as he pulled her into his loving embrace. 

[dame-lazarus]

Shipping Post Game

@seethemflying tagged me in the shipping post game! 💕

Rules: tag 9 people you want to know better. I’m sure many of you folks have already done it, but: @djeli-beybi @somnambulist-serenades @brynnmck @lodessa @luthienebonyx @bethanyactually @ilikeblue @greyhairedgeekgirl @it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined

Top three ships

(Let’s go chronologically)

1) Sirius/Remus

I was a dark sixth-grader, and so naturally the third Harry Potter book was my favorite. (There were also only three books out. I am old.) What I loved about that book—still love to this day—was the slow reveal of the intrigue and angst of the parents’ generation. I was so set on learning more about the backstory that I went online to find theories about what the backstory meant and what would be revealed in the next books.

I found theories. But I also found fandom, and Marauders-Era fic. I loved a good torturous Lily/James story. But what I really loved was Sirius/Remus: a wholly fandom invention. Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers—what story could be more angsty than that? It also spoke to me. As a liberal preteen in a conservative region having a political awakening in a pre-gay marriage world. And as a drama club kid with a lot of friends struggling with coming out.

2) Buffy/Angel

When I was in middle school and high school, FX showed Buffy re-runs at 3pm and 4pm. Coincidentally, that was just in time for me to come home from school and watch Buffy while doing (or not doing) my homework.

What could be better for an angsty drama kid than friends to lovers to enemies to lovers? How about ‘mortal enemies to lovers to mortal enemies to lovers to...pining and always being there for each other even if duty prevents us from being lovers’? This ship has it all. Furthermore, Angel and Buffy were great because they were equals: equally matched in power, in goals, in destinies, in values. A great pairing for a young budding feminist.

3) Jaime/Brienne

This is my newest obsession (besides Shakira) so you all know how much I love this pairing. It’s like Ten Things I Hate About You with sword fighting and moral peril. It’s two equals with mutual respect for not only their skills and their knightly moral values, but also for their willingness to be bold and buck societal expectations and heteronormativity. Get you a man who loves how you defy conventions.

Last song I listened to:

I’m obssessed with Postmodern Jukebox right now. This afternoon’s listens were a jazzy “Seven Nation Army” ft. Haley Reinhart and a gospel soul rendition of “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” ft. Rogelio Douglas Jr.

Last movie I watched:

HUSTLERS. Movie of the year. Robbed at the Golden Globes.

Currently reading:

How to Hide an Empire: A Short History of the Greater United States by Daniel Immerwahr, an appalling and compelling history of American colonialism; Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow (audiobook), a witty, wry take on a serious topic; Going Clear by Lawrence Wright, for book club. I will once again read fiction one day. One day!

Last thing I ate:

Mediocre Chinese food and my last (☹️) green tea KitKat from a recent trip to Japan

[vmheadquarters]

Twelve years ago today, UPN (RIP!) premiered a cult-classic neo-noir about murder, class warfare, sexual assault, and forbidden love. It was quippy and campy and smart as hell—and it just happened to center on a pint-sized blonde who looked like a cheerleader but thought like Sherlock Holmes. The show was Veronica Mars, and even if the last decade has muddled its legacy with a much-hyped but ultimately disappointing fan-funded follow-up film and, of course, the extremely meh third season, the high school years remain an unparalleled success. Veronica Mars seasons one and two were better than anything that had come before, far surpassed its competition in quality, and set a high bar for future shows that has only barely been met by a few episodes of television here and there. So give my regards to Friday Night Lights (a family show, not a teen show) and Degrassi (please), but Veronica Mars is the best teen show of all time*. 

1. Nuanced Class Conflict

Gossip Girl and The OC did it well, but Veronica Mars did it better. Even though Neptune, CA, is technically fictional, it's as real a place as has ever been portrayed on television. Its particular problems and reputation informed everything from law enforcement (the question of whether or not to incorporate the town into a city and make the sheriff's office into a police department) to the biker gangs riding through on their way up and down the PCH. The levels of privilege/lack thereof were so nuanced and specific. Other shows divide people into the Haves and the Have Nots; on Veronica Mars, everyone has something a little different. At the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder is Weevil, whose background is not only impoverished but criminal; the only community he can "afford" is a gang (though his crew isn't all bad—you'll find nary a broad stroke or generalization in the world of Veronica Mars). In the center of things are Veronica and Keith, who lived comfortably when Keith was sheriff, but have buckled their belts since he became a private eye. On the one hand, they own a small business! On the other, they live in a pretty crap apartment complex and have nowhere near enough saved to send Veronica to college. Then there's the nouveau-riche Echolls', who have all the glamorous trappings of wealth (cars, booze, mansion) and pretty much none of the cultural capital. At the top of the heap are the Kanes; while the Echolls' have enough money to "get away" with murder, the Kanes have enough money to get away with it, cover it up, frame someone else for it, and get the sheriff fired for looking into it. Money problems are basically the least-juicy of TV plots, but by using wealth disparity as a way to develop the characters, essentially building it into the DNA of the show, Veronica Mars created a TV universe just as interesting and complicated as that of Friday Night Lights or Parks and Recreation.

2. Lianne Mars

A girl with a missing mom is a fairy tale trope as old as time, rooted in a deification-of-the-female version of misogyny that I don't have time to get into right now. Suffice it to say, a dead or absentee mother is usually a sign of lazy writing. It's a way to reduce the character count and set a heroine adrift while, not coincidentally, making it so the (usually male) writer doesn't have to think of what a grown woman would think or talk or act like. At first, this is the fate of Veronica's mother, Lianne Mars. She was just conveniently...gone, another casualty of the fallout from the Lilly Kane murder investigation. Her absence lets Veronica be angsty and ill-supervised even as Keith Mars entered the canon of Bestest TV Dads of All Time (which he is! Love Keith forever and ever). But then she came back, with baggage, and the trope was, if not redeemed, at least put to good use. Lianne is an alcoholic who couldn't deal with the disappointing turns life took, and she finally cracked when her husband ran directly into conflict with her lost love Jake Kane, for whom she still pined. Even when she decides she wants to be a mom again, she can't quit being an alcoholic. And as heartbreaking as it is to watch Veronica play the parent, it's also a moment of growth. Veronica realizes—or rather, decides—that she isn't doomed to repeat her mother's mistakes. She is a stronger, better person than Lianne. A person big enough to love her flawed mother, even strong enough to forgive her. In the third episode, Veronica says, "The hero is the one that stays, and the villain is the one that splits." By the end of the series, Veronica has learned what true villainy looks like, and it ain't her mom. Showrunners, take note: This is how you do a realistic redemption story.

3. The Guest Stars and Bit Players

The casting department at Veronica Mars did flawless work. Obviously, the core cast is great, but the semi-regulars and guests are also amazing. There's an entire season devoted to Steve fucking Guttenberg. Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin play the negaverse versions of themselves. Ryan Hansen and Ken Marino do their Ryan Hansen/Ken Marino Shtick, and why shouldn't they? Max Greenfield (a.k.a. Schmidt on New Girl) and Tessa Thompson (from Dear White People and Creed) both had recurring roles long before they were famous, and even Tina Majorino (Mac) and Michael Muhney (Lamb), who didn't really "break out" in a major way after the show, are perfect in their roles. The second (SECOND) IMDb credit for one Jessica Chastain is an episode of Veronica Mars, and of course, Leighton Meester appears in two episodes. Yes, there are other teen shows that feature young actors who went on to bigger, better things, but I maintain that Veronica Mars is notable for encouraging real actors to do real work.

4. The Mysteries Were Smart AF

The show trusted its audience to keep up and pay attention. Maybe even a little too much. In the era before binge-watching and old episodes being able on demand, Veronica Mars suffered from the same issue that plagues the first few seasons of The X Files: Viewers who weren't "caught up" on the season-long mystery arc found it difficult to get into. VM had low ratings throughout its run, and when it used the shift from high school to college to introduce shorter, quicker mysteries, well, we all know how season three went. But looking back, it's clear that the show was ahead of its time, telling smart, twist-y weekly stories while teasing out a longer mystery that deeply impacted the main characters' lives. (Can't you just imagine how they'd advertise the show now? Moody teaser trailers with the tag line "Who Killed Lilly Kane?" and fansites and podcasts devoted to all the clues and hints and easter eggs from every episode?) There are other teen mystery/crime-fighter shows, sure, but they tend to put their characters in immediate peril, which makes the audience ask, "What's going to happen?" Instead, Veronica Mars is an intellectual exercise, evidence and theory based, and the question becomes, "What has already happened, and what does it mean?" That's the kind of meaty writing that inspires, if not legions of fans, a loyal audience to sing its praises. Veronica Mars was so smart it was niche. I'm not making a case for VM as overlooked prestige television, but then again I totally am. WHY didn't it win any Emmys?

5. They Didn't Explain Every Little Thing

See: above "trusting the audience smartness" factor. They didn't explain why sleeping with a "consenting" teenager is still wrong, or why Logan and Veronica went from adversaries to lovers in the space of like, a week, or why money equals power. They got that the audience got it. So, the exact opposite of a show like, say, Secret Life of the American Teenager. There were episodes that touched on privilege and entitlement and infidelity and the abuse of power by law enforcement, but it was subtle and real instead of, you know...Degrassi.

6. The Humor

It wasn't dark and humorous, it was darkly humorous and humorously dark. (Think combining the creepy weirdness of Twin Peaks with the banter of Moonlighting.) Logan's poignant answering machine messages, Veronica's epic takedowns, even Lamb got to be withering and snarky while he systematically fucked over the whole town.The humor kept us invested even when stories dipped into sentimental, Dawson's Creek-esque territory and deflected the romance-y moments that might have turned it into a mystery-style Felicity. Veronica's and Logan's jokes, in particular, also serve a psychological purpose: mask their pain at any cost. Unlike in Gilmore Girls, where every character speaks like a hyper-intelligent stand-up comic and not at all like a teenager or real human being, Veronica and the residents of Neptune make comments that feel true to their characters and relevant to their circumstances. If you watched any episode of Scream Queens and thought, "I guess they're trying to imitate...Scream? Heathers? Clueless? With the smart/bitchy blondes and the snappy comebacks and the eye rolls?" I understand. But actually, they were trying (and failing. Hard.) to do Veronica Mars. Smart sassy cute mean heart of gold flirty clever repartee? Yeah, that's Veronica Mars, and Ryan Murphy, bless his soul, is not Rob Thomas.

7. The Rape Plot(s)

From the very first episode when, in a flashback, golden-haired, white dress-clad Veronica walks, almost in a stupor (have you ever seen a more "perfect" victim?) into the sheriff's office to tell Lamb that she was raped—because she is a good girl and good girls go to the authorities—only to have him, basically, shrug it off, rape and sexual assault were core themes of the show, central to its purpose and story engine. Creator Rob Thomas initially envisioned the story as a YA novel with a male protagonist, and changing the lead's gender to female is arguably the best and most important decision he ever made. Veronica's sexuality is everything. How she flirts her way out of scrapes, plays innocent when it can help her, distrusts it when she's attracted to the "wrong" person, is allowed to enjoy it with Logan and, of course, how her virginity was taken from her one night she can't quite remember. The show takes Veronica's rape seriously as not just a plot point or easy motivation, but as a defining part of her character. She cleans obsessively and looks over her shoulder. She's sensitive to the potential aggressors—and victims—at her school. She knows that her rapist was someone she knew, and she has to live with that mystery every day. But it's complicated. That night she can't remember might have been semi-consensual, but then we learn, no it wasn't. Yes, there's a story about a false rape accusation (against Adam Scott!), but the truth only makes the situation murkier. And in an unfortunately rare move, Veronica Mars also depicts the aftermath of the sexual abuse of boys, including an exploration of how the stigma against male assault survivors re-traumatizes them. (The third season is, in my opinion, a missed opportunity to tackle the campus rape epidemic. By blaming the rapes on a psychological experiment gone awry, the show unfortunately ignores the fact that toxic masculinity isn't a role-playing aberration but a pervasive national issue. But its heart is in the right place, if not its logic.)

8. Veronica

Choker-wearing, dog-owning, private-detectiving blonde badass Veronica Mars. She's most often compared to Buffy, that other crime-fighting cutie with a ragtag army of friends and a ne'er do well love interest, and the comparison is apt. Both possess skills their peers do not and use those skills to solve problems both thrust upon them and sought. But the difference is that in the space that Buffy uses to explore the supernatural, Veronica Mars plays with loyalty and ethics. Is it wrong to snitch on your friends? Is a rumor evidence? Can you break the law to serve a higher good? These are issues Buffy doesn't wrestle with; it's pretty much a given that evil vampires are worth defeating (yes, there are definitely instances when Buffy is tested because she's fallen for a vamp or one of her friends is possessed or whatever, but that's not like, the thing of the show). And while so many other "outsider/observer/new kid" teen show protagonists (Ryan, Dan, Dawson, Lindsay Weir) long to get "in," Veronica's been there. She's been popular, and (a little) wealthy. She's not exploring a new world, she's re-learning her old one. In that she has more in common with Angela Chase, but way less whiny. You watch My So-Called Life and think, I'm totally Angela. You watch VMand think, I wish I were Veronica. When people talk about the strong but vulnerable but smart but flawed but cool but real but beautiful but relatable but empowered but conflicted but modern but iconic but a good role model but not unattainable with a job not defined by that job "interesting" female characters on television, a few names tend to come up again and again: Carrie, Murphy, Ally, Roseanne, Olivia, Dana. To that (very white!) pantheon I humbly submit: Veronica.

*....except for Freaks and Geeks.

[fashionkibatain]

Originally published on Blockbuster movies releasing in summer 2017 written by Zahra Hassan on Zahra Hassan

Summer is a great time for big budget movies to hit the cinemas. The younger lot is having the summer break and would sure to go to cinemas to watch their favorite movies. Most of the parents would also take their annual leave with the kid’s vacation. So the summer movie releases has become a big deal and people look forward to summer, besides for other things, for great movies to release too. Many blockbuster movies are releasing in summers this year too.

Here we take look at some of them and inform our readers about what is in store for them for this summer so they can plan ahead and book their tickets in time. Many sequels are in line as well as some new franchises are making their debut at the big screens this summer. Plenty of action, comedy and drama all in store for us this summer. And of course summer is not complete without a dose of super heroes and this year there is not one or two but three super hero movies releasing one after the other. Animations, and live action all you can enjoy this summer.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

Releasing on 5th May, 2017, the summer’s first big offering is the sequel to the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy. Once again the fate of the universe lies on the shoulders of the self-proclaimed Star Lord (Chris Pratt). As the trailer suggests Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana) and Star Lord are now more than just forced to work together, partners in crime. Finally we will know something about Peter Quill’s true parentage as we meet his father in this movie. Rocket, the sarcastic mercenary and bounty hunter, is back and along with him is what I think is the biggest attraction of this movie Baby Groot. The last movie was a big hit and it did leave a vast room for the sequel. Let’s see whether it lives up to the expectations or not.

Baywatch

The Baywatch movie releases on the 26th of May and features Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Zac Efron as lifeguards. Johnson stars as a man devoted to this job and his life centers on saving the lives of people on the beach. On the other hand Zac Effron stars as Matt Brody, a guy who has no respect for his work and is just interested in having a good time at the beach. The two of them hit off at the wrong end right from the beginning. However they are forced to put aside their differences to work together as a team to uncover a criminal plot that threatens to shut down the beach altogether. The movie also stars Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra (of Quantico fame) as Victoria Leeds, the main antagonist in the film. The movie is rated R and there is a lot of skin show as of course it is Baywatch movie. The director Seth Rogen has given us many comedies before, let’s see if Baywatch becomes a blockbuster movie and keeps the audience entertained or not.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

Summer is a great time to release movies for kids. In the long holidays kids are bound to get bored and parents would be more than willing to take the kids to theaters to keep them entertained. The wimpy kid series has been highly popular because of its near to real depiction of middle school life and challenges that young boys face during the adolescence and early teens. It is not in the blockbuster movies list but is quite good. Jeff Kenny’s comic timings is great and the hilarious situations that the protagonist Greg Hefley finds himself into, are enough to keep the audience entertained throughout the series.

In this new adventure, the family goes on a road trip to attend Meemaw’s 90th birthday celebrations. Sadly the cast has been changed completely. Of course Zachary Gordon who played the original Greg is now too big to reprise the role of a 5th grader, people are surely going to miss him and all the other original cast members. Whether the new cast can create the same magic as the original ones, remains to be seen.

Movies expected to be blockbuster this summer

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead men tell no tales

The final adventure in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, people will surely be thronging the cinemas just to see Johnny Depp reprising the beloved role of Captain Jack Sparrow for the very last time. This alone is enough to make this a blockbuster movie. Once again Jack Sparrow find himself in a peril, as the horrendous Captain Salazaar (played by Javier Bardem) is after the life of Jack Sparrow as well as every pirate that roams the seas. Jack needs the trident of Posiedon to save his life but in order to get it he has to form an unlikely alliance with an astronomer Carina (Kaya Scodelario) and a sailor from the Navy, Henry (Brendon Thwaites). The trailer looks promising. There is plenty of cool CGI. Although the last two Pirates of the Caribbean were not as good as the first three, this one being the last adventure may surpass all its predecessors.

Wonder woman

This year we are finally going to see DC world’s Wonder Woman on big screen. This trailer is by far the best among all the summer movies. Gal Gadot looks amazing as the wonder woman/ Diana prince. The movie looks fully action packed and Gadot shows some great action moves in the trailer. The cinematography also looks great and the scenic locations are an eye candy. Super hero movies, even if they are average do good at the box office. This one is all set to break records because it seems to be a better made super hero movie. It seems DC is finally about to create super hero franchise that is worth looking forward too. Chris Pine as Steve Trevor a US Air force pilot seems to have done a good job too but I really hope the main screen time is given to the wonder woman and Steve does not end up becoming her savior in the end. It releases in cinemas on 2nd June 17.

The Mummy

so this time The Mummy is hugely relying on Tom Cruise carizma to make the series work. It is not a sequel or a reboot of the original Mummy series. Infact it is a whole new story. The first half of the trailer shows some plane action. How does Tom cruise survive the plane crash, that will be answered after watching the movie. The similarity between the previous series and this one ends at the mummy rising from the dead. This time it is a female princess and she wanted something that was denied to her. This one does not look epic but will be a good one time watch. The mummy here does not look like a mummy but more like monster and the multiple pupils in the eye is downright creepy. Releasing on 9th June the movie stars Russell Crowe, Sofia Boutella along with Tom Cruise and if it is successful we are sure to see a lot of monster movies like this in future. It is a universal pictures production. If you liked the previous mummy movies, do give this one a try too.

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

Releasing on the same date as the Mummy, this one looks like a really fun movie. The captain underpants looks hilarious and lovable and we are sure to love his adventures. It is based on a reknowed book series of the same name by Dav Pilkay. This is the first adventure in the series. Two boys George Beard and Harold Hutchins have created their own comic book character Captain Underpants. They end up hypnotizing their extremely unfriendly and bad tempered principle into becoming captain underpants. What happen next remains to be seen but this one is must for those who are interested in having a good laugh. Of course parents with kids, do book your tickets for this one.

Cars 3

No matter how many cars movies Disney will produce, they would not lose their appeal. And this time the competition is tougher. Now our beloved Lightening Mcqueen faces competition with the new generation of cars. The new generation is stronger and faster and Mcqueen seems to be in trouble when facing such tough competitors.

Using the voice talents of Armie Hammer, Owen Wilson and Bonnie Hunt, this cars movie looks a promising one. Although the planes and trucks series could not become as great this series. Releasing on 16th June, even if the movie does not do well, the cars toys will give Disney millions of dollars in return so it is a win win situation for them.

Transformers: The last knight

The director David Bay returns with the Transformers series in the fifth instalment. Transformers the last knight. Here we witness that optimus prime has left the earth. Now humans and transformers are at war with each other. The earth is in a very bad shape and future looks bleak. Now let’s see what will bring optimus prime back and how the future will be saved. The story line may be weak like the last two movies but the CGI and transformer fans will make it a success once again. Frankly I still miss Shia Labeof and Megan Fox in this franchise. Mark Walberg is good but the rest of the cast is just forgettable. May be this movie needs a new young adult face instead of Walberg to make it better. Anyway not to offend any transformer fan, let us wait and see what this movie has to offer.

Despicable Me 3

Frankly this is the movie I am waiting for most anxiously. Whether it becomes a blockbuster or not, many people will find it to be their favorite summer movie. Gru and minions join forces in Despicable me 3. What more do you want. Here we see a new villain Balthazar Bratt. He was a child star and now he has hatched up a plan to rule over the world. The anti villain league has appointed Gru and Lucy to take care of him. Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Trey Parker have lend their voices to the movie. The movie will be a big hit banking on the success of the previous ones. Just wait for this one. It is releasing on 30th June. You all know what you would be doing on the 30th.

Spiderman: Homecoming

Another movie that is being highly anticipated and that is expected to be a blockbuster is, Spiderman: Homecoming is Tom Hollands Debut as the young peter Parker. Peter is trying to balance his school life with his web slinging activities when he comes face to face with a new villain, the vulture, played by Micheal Keaton. Robert Downy Jr makes an appearance here. This is the last movie of spiderman before he joins the Avengers. However it has been announced that after the avengers movie there will be a sequel to this spiderman. If you miss Andrew Garfield, brace yourself, you are going to see a lot of Tom Holland in the upcoming movies.

Dunkirk

It is a Christopher Nolan film so it is going to be huge blockbuster. The trailer looks great. Set in the back drop of World War II, it is a war drama with a strong plot line. The allied soldiers are surrounded by the German Army and are being evacuated. The cast includes Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance, Harry Styles and James D’Arcy. Nolan has penned the script for this one himself too, and it’s set to be the biggest non-franchise movie of the summer. Whether you warm to his films or not, Nolan has not disappointed us in the past. We are hoping this will be a big winner.

This is our list of blockbuster movies releasing this summer. Which ones do you wish to see? Let us know in the comments section.

  The post Blockbuster movies releasing in summer 2017 appeared first on Fashion Ki Batain.

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[absolutebl]

Top 10 Most Romantic BLs for Valentine’s Day

Here are my top 10 picks of the sappiest of the sappy that you can binge right now. I’m choosing ones that will make you smile with low angst, nothing too dark or serious. Pure escapism with very few triggers. 

Cherry Magic (Japan - indie subbed) AKA Doutei dato Mahoutsukai ni narerurashii - the sweetest, fluffiest, most charming bit of adorable ever, full of found family and pastry and serious slapstick, the characters are utter spazzes, but so cute about it. 

Wish You (Korea - Netflix or Viki, you want the movie version) AKA WISH YOU: Your Melody in My Heart - low stakes high pining romance about a pianist who falls in love with a busker who is on his way to being the next big idol. 

Oxygen (Thailand - YouTube) - softest seme in the universe sings his affection to the older boy at the cafe. Let the slow burn courting commence. 

Restart After Come Back Home (Japan - indie subbed) - this one is perfect if you just want a beautiful loving movie, and one that is well filmed and complex enough to appeal to those who don’t normally watch BL or romance (if you have a reluctant partner). 

Ingredients (Thailand - YouTube) - if all you want is two soft boys being domestic, cooking together, cuddling on the couch, cat sitting, and babysitting - just put this on and be comfy. 

HIStory 2: Crossing the Line (Taiwan - Viki) - super low stakes sweetest story of the bad boy who falls hard for the senior on the volleyball team and then works to earn his love. You know it’s Taiwan so the kisses are great but in this case it also ends well. 

He’s Coming to Me (Thailand - YouTube) - want your soft sweetness with a dose of paranormal and a little mystery but none of the violence or extreme triggers of MoD or UWMA? Then this is for you. 

To My Star (Korea - Viki) - is a touch quirky, but utterly appealing once it hits its stride. It’s the ultimate grumpy/sunshine pairing plus the most appealing light-filled kitchen of our dreams. Famous actor (adorable bundle of neurosis with a sweet glittery bow) take refuge in the house of a reserved chef and is immediately smitten by Mr Tall Dark & Glowering. The chef is also smitten but refuses to admit it to himself or anyone else. 

2gether & Still 2gether (Thailand - YouTube) - this show is ABSURD. But if you can suspend your disbelief and get through the first few episodes it is delightful to watch Sarawat pine after Tine and the levels to which Tine will go to remain willfully oblivious. 

Dark Blue Kiss (Thailand) - probably has biggest barrier to entry since we start this drama with the couple already together but it is a super romantic portrayal of a long term relationship. It features the perils of staying in the closest, amazingly supportive friends and family, and a morality tale on the importance of good communication. (If you want to spend all day with Pete & Kao start with their 3 Part BL Cut from Kiss Me Again.) 

I promise these will leave you smiling. They are hot toddy BLs. 

Bonus heritage BL of total and utter cuteness.

Seven Days 

If somehow you’ve missed out on Japanese BL Seven Days you are in for such a treat and I envy you getting to watch this for the first time. This is my number one comfort rewatch BL. It’s in two parts:

Seven Days: Monday - Thursday

Seven Days: Friday - Sunday

You can watch it eng subbed on YouTube.

It’s one of the best live action yaoi mangas ever made and that’s because it has a lot of the breezy style of the later Thai BLs, without losing its roots. The leads have excellent on screen chemistry although it’s low heat, there’s more than Cherry Magic. 

Popular first year Seiryo has a policy of going out with any girl who asks... for one week. On a lark, third year Yuzuru tests to see if that policy also applies to boys. Seiryo agrees that it does. Along they way they accidentally fall in love.

(source)

[inevitably-johnlocked]

hi steph! know of any fics where sherlock dates someone else and john gets jealous and confesses his feelings?

Hi Nonny!

AHHHHHHH Okay, so I have this weird thing where I have a hard time reading fics where Sherlock is dating someone else, LOL, because I’m garbage. I dunno why… the closest I can get is fics with Victor Trevor in them as a “replacement” or “past bf” D: I’m so sorry I’m useless in this regard… Methinks these lists may help you out a bit? :)

MY FIC LISTS:

Jealous John

Jealous John Pt. 2 and Jealous Sherlock Pt 2

Jealous John Pt 3 and Jealous Sherlock Pt 3

Jealous John and Sherlock Pt. 4

ALEXX’S LISTS

John is Jealous of Victor Trevor

Victor Trevor Appears

MORE Victor Trevor/Sherlock (Part 2)

Jealous John

Sherlock with Other Men

John thinks of Sherlock with Other Men

EDIT: ACTUALLY NONNY, I just found an offline list in my folders that I think you will like; I’ve been waiting to post it anyway :P I hope this is good :D

VICTOR TREVOR / VICTOR IS SHERLOCK’S PAST FRIEND (S4)

Unforgiven by 221b_hound (M, 4,721 w., 1 Ch. || Marriage Proposal, Victor Trevor, Jealous / Protective John, Jealous Sherlock, Sherlock’s Past) – Sherlock’s latest case is for his ex boyfriend, the brilliant and handsome Professor Victor Trevor. John is not too happy about that. But things aren’t what they seem, an old friend of John’s is involved in the case, and John has a few surprises up his sleeve. Also - a proposal! Part 16 of Unkissed

Laid Bare by esplanade (T, 6,529 w., 1 Ch. || Romance, Fluff, Pining, Angst) – “I suppose it comes as no surprise that I always rather detested grand romantic gestures. They struck me as unnecessary and contrived, feeble attempts at desperately holding together relationships, most of which should have been allowed to fall apart.”

I can’t pretend by Salambo06 (E, 7,692 w., 1 Ch. || Fake Relationship, Victor Trevor, Jealous John, Miscommunications, Bed Sharing, Love Confessions, First Kiss/Time, Anal, BJs) – They had arrived more than a hour ago, and the moment they had walked inside the hotel reception, John had understood why Sherlock hadn’t wanted to come. Two men, posh suits and expensive watches on their wrists, had come to greet them with sharp remarks and badly hidden mockery, and John had seen red. Sherlock hadn’t said anything, mostly ignoring the two men entirely, and without thinking twice about it, John had slid an arm around Sherlock’s waist and introduced himself as his husband.

My Life for His by QuinnAnderson (E, 8,816 w., 1 Ch. || Guardian/Protector, Greek Mythology || Growing Up, Sex, Religious Themes, Suicide, Minor Character Death) – It began when Sherlock was eight, and he attempted to climb all the way up to the highest branch in the old willow tree in his back garden. He’d thought he was still small enough that it could support him, but the second he’d grabbed hold of it to pull himself up, the branch snapped, and down he went, plummeting a solid twenty metres. The odd thing was, he never actually hit the ground.

Illogical, even. by magikspell (E, 9,119 w., 1 Ch. || Grey-Ace Sherlock, Character Study, Growing Up, Victor Trevor, Romance, First Time/Kiss, Sherlock-centric) – Five reasons Sherlock never believed in love and one reason he does now.

I’m content as we are (but) by inqui (The_Circus) (E, 13,086 w., 1 Ch. || Jealous John, UST/RST, Pining, Victor Trevor, Minor Whump, First Kiss / Time, Misunderstandings) – In which John Watson sees something unusual, becomes jealous, and makes too much of a small thing as an old friend of Sherlock’s shows up in the middle of a case.

Say For Me, Love by MirabileLectu (T, 13,147 w., 1 Ch. || UST, First Kiss, Drama, Pining John, Victor Trevor) – If you had asked John this morning what the result of his quiet afternoon at home would be, discovering a truth about Sherlock’s past startling enough to shift the foundations of their friendship would not have been his first guess. So naturally, that was what was bound to happen.

Let’s Make a Bed Out in the Rain by theimprobable1 (M, 17,664 w., 11 Ch. || Pining Sherlock, Angst & Fluff, First Kiss, Unrequited, Jealous Sherlock, Protective Sherlock) – John is devastated after his long-term girlfriend leaves him. Sherlock helps him through it.

That Partitioning of the Things of Youth by wearitcounts (E, 35,353 w., 7 Ch. || Humour and Angst, Post-TRF, Fake Relationship, UST / RST, Friends to Lovers, Jealous John) – Victor Trevor is in town, and nobody’s happy.

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

Resistivity and Relative Charge by liriodendron (E, 41,750 w., 8 Ch. || Synesthesia, Angst, Case Fic, Romance, Est. Rel., Homophobia, Religious Content, Victor Trevor, Mild Jealous John, Mild John Whump) – In which Sherlock Holmes meets an old acquaintance, John Watson doesn’t enjoy a trip to the country quite as much as he thought he would, and the past absolutely refuses to stay where it belongs. Part 3 of Conductivity

Sacré Coeur by Mamaorion (M, 95,236 w., 27 Ch. || S4 Fix It Rewrite, First Kiss, UST / RST, Eventual Happy Ending, Coming Out, Holmes Family, Marriage Proposal, Husbands, Healing, Evil Mary, Beekeeping, Caretaker Sherlock, Mind Palace, Alzheimer’s Disease, Protective / Big Brother Mycroft, TD-12) – In this s4 fixit, John must piece together the gaps in his altered memory if he and Sherlock are to face the terror that has plagued Sherlock since childhood. As they untangle the web, seven years of hidden love ignite. (TO READ)

A Further Sea by i_ship_an_armada & ShinySherlock (E, 125,492 w., 23 Ch. || Historical Pirates AU || Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Doctor John / Pirate Captain Sherlock, Sailing, UST / RST, Masturbation, Action / Adventure, Mild Angst & Peril, Romance, Shaving, Molly/Janine, Bottomlock, Hand / Blow Jobs, Past Drug Use, Slow Burn, Mild Violence, Happy Ending) – Here be a tale of adventure for both body and soul, but beware if ye be not of stout heart, for this be piratelock, ya savvy? Luckless ship’s surgeon John Watson takes a chance, and finds himself eye to eye with The Ghost, the scourge of the seven seas and a definite thorn in the side of the blaggard, James Moriarty. But when John finds there’s more to this most cunning pirate than be meetin’ the eye, he has to choose… is it a pirate’s life for him?

Colors by Quesarasara (E, 140,537 w., 17 Ch. || Pleasantville-Inspired AU || Soulmates, Colour Bonds, Alternating POV, Angst, Fluff, Pining, Case Fic, Medical Procedures) – Everyone on earth is born with eyes that see in black, white, and an endless series of greys. When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color. We’re all searching for the person who brings color to our lives. John and Sherlock are no exception. Part 1 of The Colors ‘Verse

SHERLOCK AND OTHER MEN

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w., 10 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

Drawn to Stars by Silvergirl (E, 66,392 + w., 42/56 Ch. || WiP || S4 Compliant to TLD / TFP Doesn’t Exist, Sherlock’s Italian Adventure, Jealous John, Mutual Pining, Misunderstandings, First Kiss/Time, Idiots in Love, Angst with Happy Ending) – After the Culverton Smith case Sherlock is clean, working, and looking for a romantic partner—since John has told him that’s what he needs. Shame John didn’t mention he was interested in that role himself, before Sherlock went off to Rome with a gorgeous Italian copper to try to fall in love and become a complete human being. (MARKED FOR LATER / TO READ)

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Any fics about hair? Whether it’s hair care or hair pulling, I don’t mind.

Hi Nonny!

Ah, I don’t have very many that deal SPECIFICALLY with hair, but more like hair is within the plot or one of the boys loves the hair! So here’s what I can remember; I know there’s another that’s 100% about hair (Sherlock wants to taste John’s hair and doesn’t know how to ask) and I can’t remember which one it is and it’s bugging me LOL. Anyway, here you are, everything that showed up in a search. I’ll also add Beard Fics too:

HAIR & BEARDS

See also: John Has a Beard

Upon Reflection, Tenable Frippery by emmagrant01 (T, 1,299 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S4, John’s Beard, First Kiss, Fluff) – John was, inexplicably, growing a beard.

Untouched by KittieHill (E, 3,239 w., 1 Ch. || Kissing, Frottage, Virgin Sherlock, Body Worship, Sherlock’s Scars Mentioned, Masturbation, PWP, Rimming, Multiple Orgasms) – Sherlock leaked a lot. John had never needed lubricant. John loved watching it, had once spent an entire afternoon edging Sherlock so he could watch as the thick precome drip, drip, dripped onto Sherlock’s belly.

Love and Hair Dye by Anonymous (E, 3,920 w., 1 Ch. || Est. Rel., Body Worship, Self Conscious John, Voyeurism, Idiots in Love, Smutty Smut) – Self conscious John decides to cover the greys on his head, and the colour isn’t what he thought it would be. Now he’s more self-conscious than ever.

The Oolong Disaster by unicornpoe (T, 4,151 w., 1 Ch. || John’s Beard, Fluff, Humour, Frustrated Sherlock, John Takes Care of Sherlock, Case Fic-ish, Pining Sherlock, First Kiss, Possessive Sherlock) – John has a beard. Sherlock has a panic attack.

If He Knows by shamelessmash (M, 4,513 w., 1 Ch. || TSo3 Fic, Pining Sherlock, Bed Sharing, Angst, Sherlock POV, Texting, Internal Monologue, Blanket Forts) – I imagine mornings: John handing me a cup of tea, hair sticking out at odd angles. How he would bend down to kiss me, smiling fondly as he pulls away. The way his skin crinkles at the corner of his eyes, the way his skin looks in the morning light. The soft sigh as he sits in his chair with the morning paper, the way his toes curl in the carpet, the way he rolls his shoulders before sinking deeper into his seat. I watch him, how he is when he is content, as it should be. As he deserves. Happy. With me.

Facade by distantstarlight (M, 4,715 w., 1 Ch. || Fluff, John’s Beard, No-Shave November, Grumpy Sherlock, Clueless Sherlock) – Sherlock is highly irritated with a challenge John has agreed to undertake. Why does he need to grow a beard anyway?

One Day Like This by nondeducible (E, 4,872 w., 1 Ch. || First Time, Bed-Sharing, Romance, Fluff, Virgin Sherlock) – When Sherlock emerged from the bathroom, the sight before him nearly took his breath away. The only light in the room was the small lamp on the bedside table. John’s skin shone like gold, his hair like the purest silver. He was on his side, facing the empty part of the bed, his outstretched hands ready to embrace whoever climbed in next to him. Sherlock could imagine, just for a second, that this was their shared bed and he was coming back to settle into John’s arms.

Survival Strategies for the Domesticated British Butthole by Atiki (E, 6,183 w., 1 Ch. || Crack, Rimming, Anal Sex, Iced Lolly, Hair Removal, Depilation) – In which there’s a rimming disaster, Sherlock depilates his butt, everything goes very, very wrong and groceries are mistreated. This fic contains hair removal creme in a butthole, ice lollies in a butthole and John Watson’s penis in a butthole. You have been warned.

The Death of Doubt by Gingerhermit (E, 6,584 w., 1 Ch. || Alternate Canon, BAMF John, POV Sherlock, Sherlock’s Mind Palace, Hurt/Comfort, Angst/Drama, Meddling Mycroft) – Mycroft asks for John’s help in rescuing Sherlock from his Serbian captors.

The Tip Over Into The Inevitable by ivyblossom (T, 6,894 w., 1 Ch. || Grief, Cuddles, Insomnia, Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers) - When his father dies, Sherlock avoids sleeping. Then discovers he can’t sleep at all. John finds a way to help.

Onomatopoeia by aquabelacqua (M, 6,904 w., 1 Ch. || First Time/Kiss, Frottage, Dirty Talk, Domestics, Word Kink, POV Sherlock, Dry Humping / Sex, Chair Sex, Hair Pulling, Lazy Mornings, Hand Jobs, Friends to Lovers) – Something is the matter with John. Sherlock is determined to figure out what it is. Mark his words.

Beg for Mercy (Twice) by Solitary_Endeavor (E, 7,060 w., 1 Ch. || Est. Rel., Bottomlock, Bearded John, Edging, Rough Sex, Idiots in Love, Canon Compliant) – Sherlock hasn’t left the flat in four days, the itch of impatience beneath his skin too great to allow him to suffer interaction with any human being who isn’t John. This is probably a mercy that goes both ways, as he’s driving even himself mad. Sherlock supposes there is a lesson to be learned here about having himself to blame, but of course he blames Mycroft.

Of Razors, Pipes, Red Notebooks and Rugby Jerseys, Or: Sherlock Doesn’t Like His Doctors Clean Shaven by allonsys_girl (E, 7,313 w., 1 Ch. || Est. Rel., PWP / Porn With Feelings, John’s Beard / Beard Kink, Roleplay, Love Declarations, Banter, Rimming, Anal, Domestic Fluff / Bliss, Idiots in Love, Emotional Lovemaking, Pet Names, Obsessive Sherlock, Sherlock POV, Bottomlock, Cranky Sherlock) – John grows a beard. Sherlock really likes it. Part 1 of Consulting Husbands

Christmas by Anonymous (E, 7,673  w., 1 Ch. || Worried Sherlock, PWP, Drunkeness, Christmas, Est. Relationship, Idiots So In Love) – John feels a lump rise in his throat, and it hits him, again, that this beautiful, infuriating creature is his. Completely, one-hundred percent his.

And if you say the word, I could stay with you by CaitlinFairchild (E, 12,842 w., 1 Ch. || Domestic Fluff, BottomJohn / Topping from the Bottom, Fluff and Romance, Dirty Talk, Proposals) – What Sherlock thinks is, On the day I die, be it in a dirty alley at forty or in my bed at eighty, the last thing I will remember is tonight, the way you looked at at me on the snowy pavement, cheeks pink with the cold, breath puffing in frosty white clouds, your heart in your eyes and snowflakes in your hair. I will remember that single perfect moment in my life, that moment I knew I had everything I ever wanted, and whatever happens next, I will die content. What he says is simply, “Marry me.”

Where Else Would I Be? by cwb (E, 34,910 w., 10 Ch. || Retirementlock, Domestic Fluff, Falling in Love, Parentlock, Fluff and Smut, Reminiscing) – John and Sherlock’s five-year-old granddaughter spends the weekend with them in Sussex. Sherlock happily indulges her whims, and John takes care of them while quietly revisiting the past thirty years of their lives together.

Albion and the Woodsman by Glenmore (NR [E], 54,437 w., 50 Ch. || Post S3, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst, Family, Drug Use, Depression, Sherlock POV) – Sherlock and John are devastated after Mary Morstan makes her final moves. Sherlock relapses at the crack house, John walks around the world … and a lot happens in between. Parentlock, in the good way.

The Thing Is by TSylvestris (E, 56,743 w., 21 Ch. || Case Fic, Dev. Rel., Anal/Oral, Blow Jobs, Meddling Mycroft, Drama, Romance, Humour, Casual Encounters, Pining Idiots, Possessive Sherlock, Orgasm Delay, Rough / Alley Sex, Public Sex, John Whump, Drugged John, Emotional Love Making, Awkward Relationship, Marriage of Convenience, Switchlock, BAMF John) – The problem with living with Sherlock, John thought, was that you never, never, ever knew the significance of anything. Like your flatmate’s nose buried in your hair. Whilst you’re in bed. Part 1 of Nitroglycerine

A Further Sea by i_ship_an_armada & ShinySherlock (E, 125,492 w., 23 Ch. || Historical Pirates AU || Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Doctor John / Pirate Captain Sherlock, Sailing, UST / RST, Masturbation, Action / Adventure, Mild Angst & Peril, Romance, Shaving, Molly/Janine, Bottomlock, Hand / Blow Jobs, Past Drug Use, Slow Burn, Mild Violence, Facial Shaving, Happy Ending) – Here be a tale of adventure for both body and soul, but beware if ye be not of stout heart, for this be piratelock, ya savvy? Luckless ship’s surgeon John Watson takes a chance, and finds himself eye to eye with The Ghost, the scourge of the seven seas and a definite thorn in the side of the blaggard, James Moriarty. But when John finds there’s more to this most cunning pirate than be meetin’ the eye, he has to choose… is it a pirate’s life for him?

MARKED FOR LATER

Curlock by 88thParallel (G, 1,285 w. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Sherlock’s Hair, Fluff, Ficlet) – How Sherlock learned to control and appreciate the incredible gift he was born with, and the man who helped him sort it out.

Of Razors, Pipes, Red Notebooks and Rugby Jerseys, Or: Sherlock Doesn’t Like His Doctors Clean Shaven by allonsys_girl (E, 7,313 w., 1 Ch. || PWP, Porn With Feelings, John’s Beard, Bottomlock, Domestics, Fluff and Smut, Banter, Declarations of Love, Rimming, Anal, Est. Rel.) – John grows a beard. Sherlock really likes it. Part 1 of Consulting Husbands

How to Sleep with Your Enemy in One Semester by 221b_careful_what_you_wish_for (M, 9,699 w., 6 Ch. || College / Uni Professors AU || Professor John/Sherlock, Enemies to Lovers, Rivalry, Bickering, Office Sex, Blow Jobs, Fluff, Domestics, John’s Beard, Idiots in Love) – Visiting professors John Watson and Sherlock Holmes are longtime academic rivals — and now unwilling office mates — at a prestigious American university. When their tense arguments give way to an undercurrent of mutual attraction, their war of wits turns into something more personal — until it goes off course. A party, a phone number, and deserted office at night might just bring them back together.