#hopefully this sheds some light on the must-reads in the fandom as well as some lesser known hidden gems

[penchanteds]

gendrya fic recs

a non-comprehensive list of my favorite arya/gendry fics

required reading; or: arya and gendry fall in love today, tomorrow, and probably for the rest of eternity (modern au)

hope will put the colors in the sky by monroeslittle

the most iconic gendrya modern!au. reading this is an intitation into the gendrya fandom. so true to their characters and angsty and will probably hurt you but still so good. after this, you crave more fics where arya goes pub-hopping and gendry buys her cheap beer and they eat greasy pizza together on the floor of his apartment.

we can pretend that they don't know our name by scrubclub 

fulfills your wildest richgirl!arya x stableboy!gendry dreams. this fic is an absolute gift, a national literary treasure. please read it for the romance in the countryside aesthetic and the westerosi political intrigue. inspired by this timeless photoset.

re: weapons (and you) by scrubclub

these two are academic nerds who spend all their free time talking to each other about weapons and dating (and unfortunately not doing enough of the actual dating thing). the cutest fic told in a creative epistolary format. it has lots of archaelogical musings and sword euphemisms and absolutely delivers on the will-they-or-won’t-they; the correct answer is they definitely will.

the dating game by scrubclub

arya’s friends set her up on dates and have a terrible taste in men, but that’s okay because there’s good old gendry right around the corner if only both of them would open their eyes. there’s a group project involved and meddling friends and makes you wonder if it will really take an entire village to get these two together.

the waiting game by scrubclub

companion to “the dating game,” equally adorable, guaranteed to make you love gendry more if that was even possible. we love our somewhat clueless, unfairly attractive mechanic who doesn’t think he’s good enough for richgirl!arya.

pascal's triangle, revisited. by pentaghastly

in which arya thinks sansa and gendry are together behind her back, and gendry continues to be the clueless idiot with hearts in his eyes. fluffy and angsty and straight out of a teen romcom, just the way we like it.

insert here - a sentiment re: our golden years by pentaghastly

the fake!dating trope is a privilege and a right. 

five times in the bathroom by stutteringpeach

obviously arya and gendry can’t stay away from each other. in different bathrooms. at various family functions. repeatedly.

grrm wishes he wrote this (in-universe au)

arya of the thousand days of by drholland

[work in progress, ~200k words, but a masterpiece that is required reading!! cannot emphasize this enough] this fic is a triumph, a gendrya epic that honors the strength and heart of these two characters. set years post-series, reading this is a journey in and of itself. it is an intimate portrait of how gendry and arya are truly meant to be together, of how their love endures and conquers. brilliantly plotted and emotionally introspective, this is everything the game of thrones tv series wishes it were and grrm could only dream of writing the canon that these two deserve. 

all we know is falling by youcallitwinter

a beautiful take on gendry in the post-season two uncertainty.

you made a slow disaster out of me by i-revel-in-chaos

this fic will break you and make you want to curl up and wonder how two people so right for each other seem to have such horrible timing. arya returns from braavos and only gendry is there to hold her together. some days, he’s simply a bastard blacksmith in love with a rich highborn girl; other days, it’s not so simple and he let’s himself forget. 

i was looking for a breath of life by i-revel-in-chaos

in this one, arya dies and gendry is a mess in the aftermath. he is heartbroken and struggles to move on in her absence. this is grief told in multiple stages, before it seems to nearly consume gendry whole. it hurts to see a man so broken, but that’s his world without arya. 

when next to wild animals -- by arbitrarily

haunting, mesmerizing, dark and twisty; a third person, almost out-of-body narration of a girl and no one.

five times arya stark shared a bed with gendry by vixleonard

it is established canon that arya and gendry slept next to each other and that is of greatest importance; end of message.

gonna make this place your home by argyledpenguin

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) 

a series of five different au’s that range from arya and gendry growing up on the streets of king’s landing; a gendry stark character swap; and arya as a granddaughter of the lannisters.

a dark world aches (for a splash of the sun) by argyledpenguin

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3) (part 4)

a four-part au about prince gendry, heir to the throne, and lady arya, his bethrothed, and the royalty!au we deserve because theirs is the fury (and fury burns).

another in-universe au by argyledpenguin

they are betrothed at an early age and slowly fall in love because of course they do, they always do. 

they belong together, again and again and again (other au)

dream until your dreams come true by crossingwinter 

softball and dreams and guess what they were soulmates. a soulmates fic where the soulmates don’t communicate and it gets angsty but it’s so obvious they love each other.

 misfits au by argyledpenguin

in which arya really is death and there’s superhuman powers and time travel and arya and gendry fall in love in this one too.

the dry season by arbitrarily

a stylistic masterpiece. the starks meets the grapes of wrath. arya finding justice when it bled her dry. gendry on a ranch, leaned against his worn pickup truck.

fixing the hole that season 8 left in us (s8 canon)

the fury by nymja

[work in progress, post-series] just read it. it will help you heal after the ending of season eight, mend some of the heartbreak that left with arya on the ship. the most renowned post-series fix-it fic, and a welcome antidote to the tragedy we were otherwise left with. 

sing more absurd by scintillio_coll

this fic has a lot of feelings. gendry learns how to lord and arya sails the seas, and eventually they find their way back to each other. in the years they’re apart, they become rebuilt as people and it’s so gratifying to read their reunion. gendry grows into his lordship in the way he knows best: forging nails to keep his world together. 

left for dead by nymja

award for best use of a “still rowing” punchline. bonus points for jon losing his mind over his little sister together with the random blacksmith he once met in a cave.

5 ways jon snow finds out about arya and gendry by vixleonard

another jon snow knows nothing fic because arya and gendry are the exact opposite of subtle.

1,500 miles by nymja

arya and the hound on the road to king’s landing and the comedy writes itself.

approval by nymja 

i will read any and all fic where the hound spectates his favorite idiot murder couple.

with the wild wolves around you by lady_lyannarose

post battle-fic that is so soft and tender and aches with beautiful prose: “he’ll love her anywhere she’ll let him.”

quiet birds in circled flight, soft stars that shine at night by Anonymous

arya reflects on surviving the long night and the life that comes after. 

originally posted 06/10/2019, last updated 06/30/2019

[earnestly-endlessly]

Hi, how are you? Your blog is amazing and your recommendations have already allowed me to read wonderful stories, so thank you so much! I wonder if you could suggest me any cherik fics of them as detectives? I remember reading one a long time ago, but unfortunately I don't know the name and even less the synopsis. Thank you in advance for your help.

Thank you so much @remember5novemberv for your kind words. I'm so sorry this took me so long but I hope you enjoy this list. There are some excellent detective AUs in this fandom so you're in for a treat.

Cherik Detective AUs

Their Mouths Always Lie – keire_ke

Summary: Charles adheres to most police protocols like they are a personal code of conduct. Erik gets things done and over with, for better or worse. Raven knows what she's doing, most of the time. The serial killer kills, regardless. Police AU.

Guilty by Association – Reagan

Summary: While investigating the homicide of a John Doe who he suspects might've been murdered while working the streets as a prostitute, Detective Erik Lehnsherr finds an unexpected ally in a hooker named Charles who seems as determined as he to solve the case. As they become more deeply involved both with the case and each other, there's just one thing that Charles neglects to mention -- that he's really an investigative journalist, one quickly convinced that what they're dealing with is more than simple murder. cop!Erik, fake-hooker-slash-reporter!Charles, Modern AU.

Incy Wincy Spider – Tawabids

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is a renowned homicide detective, with his husband Charles at home and his partner on the job, Moira MacTaggert. When a twisted serial killer starts targeting mutants, Erik and Moira are the perfect team for the job, especially since Erik himself is the mutant poster-boy of an NYPD trying to improve their image.

But what they don't yet know is that the serial killer is an old soul out of Erik's past, and his next move is to pull Charles into his web.

The Theory of Partnership Dynamics – Pangea

Summary: “Detective Lehnsherr, how wonderful to see you out on the job!” The fed in the front greets him as they draw nearer. He’s shorter than the other two by a full head, and he’s beaming at Lehnsherr as if completely undeterred by Lehnsherr’s paint-peeling scowl.

“What do the feds want?” Lehnsherr asks bluntly.

“You know I can’t tell you that,” the fed answers cheerfully. Then his gaze lands on Alex, and, impossibly, his grin gets even brighter. “Did you get a new partner?"

“No,” Lehnsherr says through his teeth while at the same time Alex says, “Yes.”

Charles’ Killer – luchia

Summary: When detective Charles Xavier finds himself hunting down a vendetta-driven serial killer, it doesn't take long for him to realize he's in over his head. It only takes a little longer for him to realize his killer is, too.

Demoted – JayPendragon

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is a detective-specialist with the NYPD Mutant Tactical Unit, ready to help out where his skills are needed. Or he would be, if he and his partner hadn’t been demoted. For the next four months, he is patrolling the Lenox Hill precinct with Azazel – if he doesn’t die of boredom first.

One night they are called in to investigate a potential case of domestic violence, yet the tenant assures them he is both alone and unharmed. However, there is something about this Charles Xavier that compels Erik to follow up.

Watching the Detectives – Clocks

Summary: Detectives Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr are good friends and colleagues. However, when they go undercover at a Christmas party to nab a prime suspect, Erik keeps reminding himself to stay professional and ignore feelings of unexpected jealousy.

Oh, Sinnerman (Where you gonna run to?) – TintagelCastle (orphan–account)

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is one of the best homicide detectives in New York. From small time stabbings to high end mob hits, Erik (and his equally scary partner Logan) makes sure all the bad guys get caught, searching for the final clue to nail his mother's killer. As a string of murders draws the net ever tighter on Erik's life's work, he needs to catch the nightmare of his past whilst continuing to be the darling of the Force...

And so what if he's completely in love with the British guy on Forensics? Who's he ever going to tell?

Wrap up my bones – waifornight

Summary: Damaged detective Erik Lehnsherr is grimly searching for a serial killer whose victims all have extraordinary gifts. But without any clues or leads he and his partner Logan are in the dark. Until Charles Xavier, abducted by the killer, escapes. Together Erik and Charles must confront something far darker than either of them had ever imagined.

Alternate Universe loosely based off the crime movie Kiss the Girls.

I’ll see your heart (and I’ll race you mine) – sirona

Summary: For Kriminalhauptkommissar Erik Lehnsherr, this case will change everything.

Paralyzer – Yahtzee

Summary: In 1965, Erik Lehnsherr has infiltrated the NYPD for his own purposes -- but his powers make him a brilliant detective. Yet that's not why FBI agent Charles Xavier has sought him out. It's because the mysterious killer they're both trying to find is murdering people like them: other mutants.

Their search for a madman binds them together. Their inner demons may tear them apart. But the greatest danger comes when the killer they're looking for looks back.

Wrap up my bones – waifornight

Summary: Damaged detective Erik Lehnsherr is grimly searching for a serial killer whose victims all have extraordinary gifts. But without any clues or leads he and his partner Logan are in the dark. Until Charles Xavier, abducted by the killer, escapes. Together Erik and Charles must confront something far darker than either of them had ever imagined.

Alternate Universe loosely based off the crime movie Kiss the Girls.

The Long Bright Dark – lachatblanche

Summary: Ten years ago Detectives Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr closed the case on a grotesque series of murders that continue to haunt them even in the present day. When they are pulled in for questioning a decade later, they finally have confirmation of something that they have both suspected for a very long time - that there is unfinished business for them to take care of and that the case they thought they had closed so very long ago is in reality still all too open.

A True Detective AU.

Finding North – ClarkeStetler, Goosenik

Summary: Charles and Erik are (loosely) friends with benefits. They don't share personal details, last names, or anything concrete about their lives. This is ruined rather spectacularly when Charles gets recruited by the Mutant Apprehension Division of the FBI. Surprised is a bit of an understatement for their reaction to finding themselves partnered up and sent out on cases with the team.

Closer (to God) – dsrobertson

Summary: Se7en/The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo AU-ish.

Political journalist and editor, Erik Lehnsherr, has just lost £150,000 in a libel case against businessman, Kurt Marko. Down on his luck and in need of money, Erik is approached by the Metropolitan Police’s Detective Inspector Charles Xavier. Well-known for his investigative journalism, Erik is asked to help in the search for a serial killer in return for £200,000 if the killer is caught.

Wrapped up in murder, religion, and sex, Erik gets more than he bargained for.

Homo Sacer – unveiled

Summary: In a not too distant future, Detective Erik Lehnsherr meets Charles Xavier: street magician, former academician, and telepath.

One Good Day – troll_under_the_bridge

Summary: One case which is going to turn Charles' world upside down, while he struggles to pacify his boss, investigate murders and come to terms with the mess his life has become.

Playing With Fire – professor

Summary: Charles is a detective determined to catch a serial killer.

If the serial killer doesn't catch him first.

Hold on or let go – aesc, pearl_o

Summary: Teenage telepath Charles Xavier takes a job as a consultant, working with prickly police detective Erik Lehnsherr. Charles is used to being on his own and taking care of himself; he has no reason to think that his relationship with this stern, icy man is going to change any of that. (Also known as: Tough Little Baby Telepath.)

MCIS: First Case – Pookaseraph

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr considers himself a great MCIS agent, and he puts up with a lot from his boss - Moira MacTaggart - in the name of solving crimes against mutants, but he's not so sure about this new empath, Charles Xavier. Their first case together will test Erik's patience, but doubtless be the beginning of a brilliant friendship.

MCIS: Fathers, Sons, and Brothers – Pookaseraph

Summary: Alex Summers has a single case that he has obsessed about ever since coming to MCIS two years ago: Su-M-94-0708-0034, the murder of Christopher and Katherine Summers, and the presumed kidnapping and possible murder of Scott Summers. Very little evidence was found at the time, but hopefully a new team - and new leads - can shed light on the case that left Alex an orphan.

When the Crazies come to town – Chinchillaatthedisc0

Summary: Erik is a surly detective with zero people skills who has just been assigned the murder case of Kurt Marko. Prime suspect? Charles xavier. Who's no where to be found.

My old man is a bad man – faerie_ground

Summary: Sebastian Shaw dies at two am in the morning with a dagger embedded in his forehead. Detective Erik Lehnsherr is on the case, and the number one suspect is the recently widowed Dr Charles Xavier, Sebastian Shaw's husband.

Deep Cover – Subtilior

Summary: Omegas in heat? The perfect whores. Sebastian Shaw? The bastard who kidnaps them for his Hellfire Club. Erik Lehnsherr? A hard-boiled detective who's been on the Hellfire case for months. The catastrophe that unfolds when he goes in on retrieval and finds Charles Xavier still writhing in a Hellfire bed? .... Deep Cover.

A Murder of Ravens – AbandonedWorld

Summary:Charles Xavier is wrongfully accused. Erik Lehnsherr is a top-notch homicide Lieutenant who stumbles upon the case of a lifetime: a serial killer targeting mutants–and only mutants. Charles bides his incarceration waiting on a miracle, reciting Poe's timeless gem in effort to retain his sanity...

Note: Unfinished

[rocknvaughn]

Why does it seem that (materialistically) that Colin's career hasn't taken off like some of his other co-stars? He was the star of Merlin, yet he's not capitalised on his Merlin fandom, apart from Humans, which was really good. A lot of us cannot afford to travel to another country just for a play 😭

I really feel you with regard to how difficult it can be to be a fan of Colin’s work, when much of it never leaves the UK.

From reading several of his interviews over the years, one thing stands clear in my mind (and yes, this is my own interpretation):

Colin is not in the business of being an actor in order to gain fame and riches. He wants to make art, and the best damn art he can make. He uses his art to push himself, stretch himself, to constantly improve his craft.

In an interview he gave in the Evening Standard in 2018, a couple of passages stand out:

He warns me that a film he’s attached to about the Easter Rising is having “a difficult journey”, but getting films made in general is a battle. “Some of the best scripts I’ve ever read aren’t getting made.”

He’s not sure what’s next, but his hunger for great work is palpable. “People are taking risks. I think there’s a real war against mediocrity right now,” he says.

Another interview from the London Times earlier this year (2020) sheds a bit more light on things:

Looking back on the early days, when Merlin took off, he is thoughtful. “You are not really equipped to deal with these things. I was used to going into the theatre each day, doing the show and going home. I still feel like that’s my job. Then you realise that when you do other things, you have to be there for the promotion. That was the big adjustment. I don’t enjoy it.”

Therein lies the rub. Most blockbuster films and television shows are not good art. Their storylines tend to be mediocre and predictable...all the things that Colin dislikes about acting. Add to that the fact that shows/films like those require lots of promotion, which is another thing that Colin has said he’s uncomfortable with.

Colin has said several times that projects he chooses must speak to him, challenge him, scare him a little. He has standards, and he sticks to them.

From his interview with Edge magazine earlier this year:

EDGE: How do you select the roles you play?

CM: I guess they select me in a way. I can’t play a role unless it speaks to me and provokes me in some way, but ultimately it’s the characters that I have a fear about playing, not knowing how I’m going to enter into the process of living them, when I don’t have all the answers it’s a good indicator of a character I must play. If I have all the answers, there’s less scope for exploration and discovery which isn’t as interesting for me.

And as frustrating as it can be for a non-UK based Colin Morgan fan, Colin’s first love has been and will always be the stage, which means he’ll always be doing it.

From the London Times interview:

Yet theatre holds his heart. “I will never, ever not do theatre,” he says firmly.

But there will be other projects in other mediums as well.

From the Evening Standard interview from 2018:

He’s also looking to write and direct his own work in future.

From the Radio Times interview, March 2019:

After working with Amstell and Everett on their passion projects, Morgan has the film-making bug. “We’ll see what the future brings, but there are quite a few stories that hopefully I will get to tell.”

From the London Times again:

He was off and running in an unbroken line of work that has taken in film — he recently starred opposite Rupert Everett in The Happy Prince — TV and the stage. “I want to do that juggling act my whole life if I can. I never want to be just the one thing.”

[beholdme]

All the Many Shades of Gerry - Chapter 6

Chapters: 6/19

Fandom: The Magnus Archives (Podcast)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Martin Blackwood/Gerard Keay/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Martin Blackwood/Gerard Keay, Martin Blackwood/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Gerard Keay/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist

Characters: Martin Blackwood, Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Gerard Keay, Tim Stoker (The Magnus Archives), Sasha James, Gertrude Robinson, Elias Bouchard

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Library AU, Librarian Jon, Artist Gerry, Trans Male Character, Trans Martin Blackwood, Canon Asexual Character, Asexual Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Ace Subtype - Sex Positive, Polyamory, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Romantic Fluff, Falling In Love, Boys in Skirts, Kissing, Demisexual Gerard Keay, Minor Character Death, Past Character Death, Canon-Typical Child Neglect, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Flirting, Minor Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist/Tim Stoker, Adventures in Hair Dying, Happy Ending, Banter, Gerry has a lot of sass, Gerard Keay is Morticia Adams, Jon is a very grumpy Librarian, Martin adores them anyway.

Summary: In which Gerry is a kaleidoscope and Jon and Martin can't help falling in love with him.

He happens to love them back.

Find it on Ao3

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

"Do you really hate Keats that much?" Martin asks Jon, sounding faintly betrayed. They're sitting on a pile of cushions in front of Gerry's big window, while the man himself stands painting nearby.

There has been no previous mention of Keats since they arrived several hours ago, nor in the entire course of Gerry knowing them together.

Granted, he had barely been awake when they had arrived, having rolled out of bed just seconds before the knock came, but Gerry thought he had been keeping fairly decent track of the overall conversation.

He had thought Sunday brunch was a great idea when Jon suggested it during the week. Only remembering half-way through his shift the previous night that he was normally dead asleep during that time on a Sunday. But needs must, and after coffee and food, he was feeling downright perky at having two cute boys in his apartment.

Jon and Martin had settled into the pillow pile to occupy themselves while Gerry wandered off to paint, and they had spent several hours each engaged in their own artistic endeavors, simply enjoying the energy of one another's company.

Jon had started out reading but kept getting distracted by the way the light in the studio catches in Gerry's dark red hair, tied up in a chaotic messy bun, and had idly been strumming Gerry's old acoustic guitar for a while instead. Martin had been writing in a notebook, tongue often caught between his teeth in contemplation, glasses pushed up onto the top of his hair.

Jon stops playing abruptly and Gerry winces at the discordant note the guitar lets out in protest.

"I think Keats is pretty cool," offers Gerry cheerfully.

"Thank you, Gerard, very helpful," grouses Jon in return, glaring at him. Gerry blows him a kiss and returns to his canvas.

"I don't hate Keats, Martin." Jon's voice is slow and soft in the way that indicates that he's actually trying to be sensitive, "I just think he's overrated. After spending so much time in uni pouring over his boring symbolism, I'm just sick of him."

Jon's English literature degree, which Gerry remembers with some humour does not qualify him for a job at a library, had been a pain to get, and he doesn't always remember that part of his life with any great fondness.

"I know, but-" Martin cuts off abruptly and there's unexpected silence for a moment.

"Gerry, do you have a cat?" Jon's voice is incredulous and somewhat delighted at the new development.

"Yes," Gerry replies, very casually. He looks around to find that the cat has indeed wandered in and is sitting in a shaft of sunlight, black fur shining. "Jon, Martin, meet Saturn. Saturn, this is Jon and Martin."

Saturn blinks at them, before abruptly standing, showing them his butt, and then walking over to twine between Gerry's legs. Gerry deposits his painting supplies nearby and reaches down to scoop Saturn up, before carrying him over to sit with the others.

"He's not always great with new people, but hopefully he'll warm up to you. He can be a great cuddler when he wants to be." Saturn eyes them all speculatively before sitting on his own cushion and curling up in a fluffy ball.

"So he's like the Jon cat?" Martin asks, sneaking out a finger to scratch Saturn's fluffy little ears. He purrs lightly and Gerry grins to see them getting along.

"Well-" Jon splutters indignantly, face warming beneath his tan.

They both laugh and Gerry leans towards Martin to whisper conspiratorially, "He's not even embarrassed about being bad with new people. He's shy that we know how good of a cuddler he is."

Jon presses his lips together with a long-suffering expression, also reaching out a hand to pet the purring feline. Saturn rolls over towards him and gets a belly rub for his efforts.

"There we go," Gerry mutters happily. "All my favorite boys, getting along so well."

There's more sputtering from both Jon and Martin at that, but Gerry only laughs and leans over to kiss the tops of their heads.

***

Jon sighs and rubs the back of his neck, trying to release the burning tension sitting in all the joints of his spine.

It's 1 A.M. and the library is long, long closed, doors locked and lights turned out. He doesn't know how he gets here sometimes. Elias has certainly never overtly demanded he work overtime, and yet Jon always feels the need to push a little harder, do more than anyone would consider even remotely reasonable.

He accepted a while ago, that his irrational drive for perfection in this job stems from his self-doubt and fear of inadequacy.

And yet, that understanding does nothing to get him home at a reasonable hour, even when he remembers the two men who always seem to be around when he needs them.

It's unfathomable to Jon how he managed to find himself in a relationship with not one but two incredibly understanding and supportive men who love him. He considers it a downright miracle that they also seemed to be finding their way towards loving one another. Although, who wouldn't love Martin and Gerry?

He checks his watch again. Martin is definitely asleep, and even just stumbling in to lie in bed with him would disturb him. He knows the sweet man would say he doesn't mind, but he feels like if he can't get back at a reasonable hour, he doesn't deserve to sleep next to him at all.

Gerry, on the other hand, is mostly nocturnal. A quick check of his phone shows that it's actually Friday, and he is working at the bar for another hour or so.

While Jon has his phone in his hand, he opens up their text chain.

Gerry: Don't work too late. Martin and I want you functional so that we can drag you out to that street market this weekend.

Jon: I won't.

Gerry: Yes, you will. But try to keep it pre-midnight ;)

'He's awake,' Jon tells himself firmly. 'He'll be happy to see you, even if you did work even later than he predicted.'

So Jon packs up his stuff and leaves the library. He considers a cab, but it's only a few blocks and he thinks the fresh air and exercise will unlock the tension in his poor abused spine.

He arrives at the bar just before closing. Gerry is busy charming a few drunk regulars out the door with promises of undying love and that the bar will be back tomorrow afternoon. After they stumble off, he turns to find Jon walking slowly towards him. Gerry is wearing combat boots, dark jeans, and a loose leather tank top, over a lace undershirt. He has his favorite hoop in his nose, and the light glints off the many piercings in his ears.

"Why, Gerry Delano, aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Gerry grins at Jon's teasing tone and echoed words, no sign of recrimination about him.

"I always am." Jon reaches Gerry at that, and they draw together, pressing tired lips against each other gently.

Gerry's hair has faded out a bit from the moody red, and Jon slips his hands into his hair to hold him close for a moment longer. They rock together on the street for a long, frozen moment.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Gerry asks, pulling away and sliding his hands down Jon's arms to connect their fingers.

"I missed you," Jon confesses shakily, emotion spilling out of his voice.

"Good, I missed you too." Gerry drags him into the bar and fills the air with stories from his shift while he and his colleagues clean for the evening, closing up the bar.

They walk home arm in arm, Gerry flirting with him mercilessly. Jon sheds the day's tension as they go, and by the time they arrive at Gerry's loft, he's warm and relaxed.

He supposes he should probably go back to his own flat, but it's not a place he spends the night very often anymore, and he fears the creeping insomnia that will take him without Martin and Gerry around to soothe him into sleep. Besides, Gerry is right here with him, and he seems so pleased to have him around.

"Are you going to paint now?" Jon asks as they shed their work clothes. Jon is sorry to see the lace shirt go, but Gerry makes up for it by simply throwing a kimono over his bare chest. He throws him a T-shirt, so Jon wears that and his boxers as they settle on the couch. Gerry is still wearing his jeans, but both their feet are bare as they tangle on the coffee table.

"I'm not sure, do you want to?" Gerry asks as he lights a cigarette and offers Jon one.

"What? Do I want to paint?" Jon's voice is taken aback. He takes the cigarette and lights it.

Gerry shrugs as if it's obvious. "Sure, you used to draw with me when we were younger."

"Yes, but…"

"But what, Jonathon? You're too old to paint now? Too proper and straight-laced to get charcoal under your nails? No more piercings, no more creativity?" Gerry sways into his shoulder, drawing smoke into his lungs and letting it out as he speaks.

"No, it's not that." Jon grouses back. Gerry hums derisively in return. "I just don't see the point of wasting your drawing paper when you can do that." Jon gestures wildly towards Gerry's most recently completed painting.

Gerry eyes it critically. It's the commission that he's been slogging over petulantly. It's large and impressively done, he can accept that, but he doesn't like it very much. He hates the subject and composition Peter Lukas has demanded and compensated by pouring all his best technique into it. It makes him sad and sullen to look at, and Gerry will be relieved when it's finally gone.

"For every painting like that I've ever done, Jon," Gerry spills all his affection into the name, and Jon can feel it, "I've done a thousand ridiculous sketches and colour studies. Art is time, and diligence and joy as much as it ever is masterpieces. You don't sit down one day and magically just know how to be a maestro."

Jon looks over and up at him with big green eyes. Gerry can't help but lean over and slide his hand into Jon's hair, pressing their lips together for a moment. "So Mr. Sims. Can I tempt you to make some art with me?"

***

What they create in those soft early morning hours can only generously be called art, even Gerry's efforts. But they laugh and kiss and somehow get covered in charcoal and acrylic paint. Gerry even allows Jon to choose the Spotify playlist. Slow piano music with nature sounds play softly in the background of their impromptu art party, reminding Gerry of nothing so much as Jon himself.

The dawn is just breaking through Gerry's massive bank of windows when he allows Jon to drag him off to bed, and they collapse together in the soft morning light.

***

Late the next morning, Martin lets himself into the flat and bounces down onto the bed between them, sending Saturn flying off in a huff.

"So, I heard there was a slumber party. I brought breakfast."

"Fuck off," Gerry slurs, but rather undermines his own point when he pulls Martin down and tucks himself around him. Jon does the same from the other side, and Martin finds himself in the middle of a very sleepy man sandwich.

Gerry seems to instantly fall back asleep, but Jon eventually drags himself to consciousness, even buried in Martin's neck. "What's time?"

"Almost ten," he responds, very cheerfully.

"WHAT-" Jon flies out of bed in a blind panic, desperately looking for his phone, which is dead when he finds it anyway. "I'm already so fucking late!"

Gerry groans.

"Relax Jon." Martin tries to soothe him but is hindered by the fact that Gerry is still clinging to him in a very enjoyable way. "Gerry, love, let me go. Jon is having a meltdown."

"How unusual," Gerry mutters very unsupportively, Jon manages to notice. He flops over onto his other side and attempts to bury himself in pillows instead of Martin.

"Jon, breathe." Swinging up to sit on the edge of the bed, Martin uses his best man-disaster steadying tone. Gerry has come to realize what that tone is, but he doesn't mention it to anyone. "It's Saturday."

Jon slumps and drops the pants he was desperately trying to wrangle himself into.

"It's Saturday?" He asks.

"It's Saturday," Gerry confirms from the pillow fort.

Jon glares at Martin in a very put upon way. Martin smiles at him brightly.

He turns and wanders off to the bathroom in an effort to collect himself. Martin resumes his spot in the middle of the bed, and drags Gerry towards him, tucking himself into his back.

"Hmmm. So much noise on a weekend." The goth mutters as he attempts to resettle himself in Martin's arms.

"I'll make it up to you later," Martin promises, pressing a kiss behind his ear.

"You let that happen on purpose, didn't you." It's not a question. "Just to see that look on his face."

"Yes," Martin says, chuckling into Gerry's pillow.

"Very good, sir."

[atypicalkataangist]

Swan Song

Type: Oneshot [Fluff/Angst?]

Summary: Aang comes home late on his birthday

Word count: 2721

Author’s note: Hey guys! I hope you’re doing well (if any of you are still active). I’m actually not sure what I’m doing here... I’ve left this fandom months ago. I still love Kataang and most of the fans and creators celebrating them, but as it always happens with me and ships, after a while i get bored with them, and this is what happened to me after an intense year of shipping. Maybe I’ll return some day (perhaps the live action remake will be able to reignate my love for this ship if it’s been portrayed properly? Time will tell). Until then I’ll remain inactive when it comes to posting, although I’ll still be using tumblr. I don’t just want to make a blank note where I say that you’ll probably never hear of me again, so I decided to end it on a high note, posting one story that I had written almost half a year ago and completely forgot about it. And I must say that I was pretty baffled when I read it earlier this day, because I’m actually pretty happy with most of it. There was supposed to be a smutty ending, but I never got to finish it. Although I think it works that way as well. I hope you’ll find some joy in it! It’s just as cheesy as most of my previous work xD

Special thanks go out to those people who really supported and helped me during my time of activity. People like @kristallioness​ who included me in some of her favourite writer’s lists (for which I still feel incredibly honoured!) and of course the only person I would consider a real friend on this platform, @azulamakesmeblank​. It’s been nothing but a pleasure getting to know you over the last few months, and I hope we’ll stay in touch! But I got no real doubts there :)

Anyway, i promised a story, right? Here you go. Maybe I’ll be back one day, who knows? Until then, keep shipping and enjoy Kataang as much as you can! Signing off (for now) - atypicalkataangist/ Phil

It was almost midnight when he finally set foot on air temple island again. On the one hand he felt incredibly relieved that he made it back on time, on the other hand he regretted that he didn't make it back sooner. He knew she was waiting for him... at least He hoped though.

Today was his birthday, and she always loved to prepare sweet surprises for him. He was always telling her not to make such a big fuzz about a day like any other, but a part of him really loved her sweet, thoughtful gestures and surprises on his birthday, hoping they would never end.

He had been out working since sunrise, attending important meetings, planning festivities, talking and giving his advice to important people. Usually he liked his job, helping and advising people, taking responsibility for the safety and freedom of the many souls in republic city and beyond. But today was different.

Today he had just wanted to spend time with his wife, even more so since he had been very busy for the last weeks, spending almost no time with her at home anymore, and it made him feel very bad. She didn't deserve that. He loved her more than anything else in the entire world, he would give his own life for hers in a heartbeat. One or two years ago, when they got married, he never got tired of telling her how he felt about her, but now... He remained silent, and due to his work, he didn't even have much time to spend with her, and when he was at home, he was meditating most of the time.

He really missed her... When was the last time the two of them went on a vacation together? When was the last time they went out on a date like they used to do? Heck, when was the last time they had the nightlong, earth-shattering, sweat secreting, simply incredible kind of sex like they used to have? They were still having sex sometimes, but due to him being tired all the time and her not really being in the mood anymore, it was not at all what it used to be. They had been married for only two years now, not twenty! He wasn't ready to give up on his marriage yet like many married couples did after a few years. He would never give up on her for that matter.

He landed Appa in front of his cave at the northern coast of the island. The shed they had erected for him after building their home on the island had never been his prefered resting spot; He quickly found the spacious cave beneath the Avatar's home more comfortable and whenever said Avatar would go look for his bison the next morning after parking him into the shed, he would find him snooze peacefully in the cave, so by now he just let him sleep in the cave directly. With a pat on the bison's huge nose he wished him a good night, earning a tired grunt from the huge beast.

The Avatar slowly made his way up the stairs he once bent into the cliff himself, wandering around the island in the cool night air. His thoughts were by his wife, they always were. Hopefully she was still awake... Though no light in their home seemed to be lit.

With a soft creaking sound of the door, he entered their home, greeted by absolute silence and a faint glow whose source seemed to come from around the Corner of their living area on the opposite side of the hallway.

He slowly made his way to their living area, hoping to find his wife sitting, or maybe, if he truly came too late, sleeping on the couch, waiting for him. His hopes were disappointed though, she was not sitting there. Next to the lit candle on their short table however laid a piece of paper, with his name written on top in the beautiful, distinctive hand writing of his wife.

The sight of this made him nervous. He wouldn't be the first man left by his wife with only a short letter left behind. But she wouldn't do that, would she?

He picked up the letter, his nervousness causing him to jitter slightly. He unfolded the piece of paper and began to read.

"Hey, Sweetie. I hope you are reading this while this is still your birthday. In that case: Happy Birthday, my love. Although I would prefer to tell you in person... but I'm afraid you have to find me first. I've hidden a few letters around our home. The last one will lead you to me, hopefully still on time for your birthday. I promise I'll stay awake for you in my hiding place - I don't want the same thing as last year to happen. The first hint for the next letter and where to find me, is that I might be with a friend of yours. I'm sure you can figure it out.

All my love, Katara."

After scanning the lines two or three times with his eyes he folded the piece of paper again and put it back on the table, relieved that she has not run off and was indeed waiting for him. But why did she have to make a game out of it? He didn't have much of a choice, so he had to play her game.

He didn't need to think too much about where to find the second letter. They were completely alone on their Island, all his friends either living in republic city, or somewhere in the other nations. She had written that she hid the letters around their home, so it had to be one friend who lived with them on the island. And his only friend who shared his home with them apart from Appa was...

"Momo!", He called gladly upon entering the lemur's living area in the attic of the air temple's tower. "Buddy, I've missed you!" The lemur, who had been rolled up on a pillow before his friend entered, screached upon seeing him again, jumping at him and climbing up his head, his tail coiled around the Avatar's throat, tickling him with his fur. He petted the animal, who seemed to enjoy his master's attention, with a few loving strokes, before noticing a piece of paper rolled up next to the pillow on which Momo had been sleeping.

With his lemur still sitting on the top of his head, he rolled out the Letter after lighting a nearby candle with his firebending, allowing him to read what she had written. His heart began to beat harder as he began to read.

"Hi Aang, Congratulations for finding the second letter! It wasn't too hard, was it? I hope you used the opportunity to say hello to Momo again. It's weird, I haven't seen you play with him for months now... but I hope you were as happy to spend some time with him again as he was with you. He loves you. And you love him. If he could talk, he might ask why you don't have time for him anymore. And when you would say that you are really busy, giving your best to provide for your family and making the world a better place everyday, he would smile and he would tell you that it is okay. That you should keep doing what you're doing because it's what makes you happy.

It would hurt him, because he loves you. And your passion for helping people in need would only make him love you even more. But the more you would be away, helping people, the more he would love you and the more he would miss you.

Search for the third letter at the only place that is all yours.

I miss you, Aang.

Katara"

His stomach began to twist as he read the second half of the letter, his hand was shaking and his heart was pounding in his chest. Of course he realized what she tried to say. He felt anger. Anger and disappointment in himself. She wrote down how she felt. She wrote down explicitly that she felt neglected. And she had every reason to feel that way! Why did he do that to her? Did he get so much used to her looking out for him that he took her for granted? Is that what he had become already? A neglectful husband who leaves his wife alone everyday?

"I need to fix this..." He thought after carefully calming himself down again, blinking away a tear in his eye, "I need to tell her that she means everything to me."

He needed to find her first, though. The next letter was supposed to be at the only place on the island that was all his. That one was a bit harder... He couldn't think of one specific place. They shared the whole island, with no real 'private areas' for each one of them. The only place he could think of, was his meditation pavillon on the edge of the small cliff at the east side of the island. Although it was not per se only his place, he always went there just by himself to have some time alone, meditating.

He ran down to the entrance, across the yard in front of the house, passed the empty shed, and went along the small gravel path to the pavillon on the east side of the island. Coming closer, he already saw another piece of paper attached to one of the wooden columns of the pavillon drifting in the wind.

He took one deep breath before lighting another fire in his hand, beginning to read. Could it become even worse than before?

"My love,

sorry, I tricked a bit on that one. I know that we share this Island and that of course this isn't your exclusive place. The only one would probably be the spirit world, but... you see why it would be hard for me to leave a message there, right? So this was probably the next best thing.

It's weird. It's weird, that I feel jealous for a few wooden beams on a stone floor at the edge of the cliff. When I wake up and you're not lying next to me, the first thing I'm checking by having a look out of the window, is if you're meditating, and most of the time, you are.

Aang, I'm worried for you. It's not just that I wish that we could spend more time together, like we used to... You changed so much in such a short time. I don't mean that as a reproach, sweetie... I'm just wondering if you are okay. I'm worried when you remain silent, and I'm worried to see you seclude yourself more and more.

If you have something on your mind, Aang, please, for the love of spirits, talk to me, sweetie. Please. I am your wife. I have to know if something's not right... i promised not too long ago to forever be at your side, whatever may happen. So please, Aang. If you still love me, let me in. I beg you.

Come find the last letter at our bedroom. There is one final thing I have to tell you, and it'll either be our saving grace or the ending of our story. I'm really not sure anymore.

I only know that whatever will happen, I will always love you.

Katara"

His legs were shaking and he could barely hold up all the pain and anger that bubbled up in his chest. He had   to stop reading and start over again and again, to finally reach the end of the letter. He needed to see her. He needed to apologize. He needed to take her in his arms. He needed her to support him.

He made his way back to the house, up the stairs, to their bedroom. there was a single piece of paper lying on their empty bed, with only two ligns written on it. He held his breath, lit one small fire in his hand. He needed to find her now.

"Look out of the window. We are waiting for you."

Before his brain had realized what happened, he had already checked the window and ran down the stairs. Did he think of start breathing again? He had no idea. His heart was racing, his stomach twisted even more, and his legs felt numb, though he couldn't stop running as fast as he could.

It felt like hours until he had finally reached her in the shed. He had seen a dim light glowing in the window of the shed all of the sudden as he looked out the window, so she had to be here.

When he entered, He was greeted by the glow of dozens of lit candles placed amongst mountains of hay that didn't seem to have an end in the back of the shed.

She sat on the exact opposite side on a roll of hay, her hands resting on her lap. She wore a light blue, quite simple, but beautiful nightgown, her long brown hair was open and combed behind her ear. She looked up into his eyes when she heard him enter. She smiled lovingly and got up, while he ran into her direction with a destined expression on his face.

"Aang.", she whispered, just as he reached her, raising her hand and resting it on his warm, sweaty cheek. "You're here."

He was shaking as he tried to lay his hands on his wife's neck to hold her.

"Katara...", he groaned, all the emotion inside of him, everything she had revealed him about herself about to break out any second now.  "You... you... are pregnant?", he half asked, half stated while tearing up, causing her eyes to become wet as well.

She nodded carefully at first, then more decisively, still unsure what think of his overwhelmed expression. "Y...yes, sweetie. I'm pregnant." Tears began to roll down her cheek. "We...we're going to be parents, Aang..."

He breathed out for what felt like the first time in ten minutes, causing all of his emotions to flush out as well.

And then he grinned, grinned and laughed while tears of joy as well as tears of guilt for his absence in the past shot out his eyes. None of them could say another word before he took her in his arms and kissed her. He put all of himself into the kiss, all his pain, his guilt, as well as his boundless love for his wife and his unborn child. His legs gave in and he fell on his knees, taking her with him. They didn't stop the kiss. None of them could have if he or she had wanted to. They didn't kiss like man and wife in that Moment. The didn't even kiss like two lovers. They kissed like two souls who needed each other to survive. They both wanted to say so many things, but everything and so much more was said in that exact moment. They both felt that they needed each other.

After what felt like hours, their lips loosened, but their grip around each others back did not. They kept crying as they held their opposite firmly in their arms.

"I'm sorry", he sniveled, his face buried in her hair, "So, so sorry for keeping you out, Katara."

"I know.", she whispered into his ear, pressing herself against him. "It's okay, Aang. Now it's okay."

"I love you, Katara. I love you more than anything else. Now, more than ever, you are the most important thing of my life. I'm so scared, Katara...  just so scared... and you are the only thing that can help me. I need you..."

She had seen him emotional many times up until now, but this was something new. It felt like he opened up his body, let go of all restraint and showed her his deepest, most intimate self, the very essence of his soul.

She kept him in his embrace, letting him feel that she was there for him, whispering calming, loving things into his ear. "I'm there for you.", she kept saying.

„I’m here for you.“

[polar-stars]

any ff recs (other than yours lol, I read all of them already and I love them btw)? Cool with any ships (even crack) and any genre/warnings, just want a good sns story to read now that the manga ended :/

Ooo! I’ll try my best to help you out, anon ;w; Hopefully I won’t forget anything ; 7 ;

Also hnnnN I am glad you enjoyed what I wrote ; 7 ; Your message made me very happy, so thank you ;w; !!

-

Okay so, @polar-star-dorks​ writes a Next Gen Fanfic that I love a lot and I am very excited for her future plans for them! Lovely and well-thought-out characters and also a very enjoyable style of writing to me. Especially how she handles the cooking is just A+++ and most certainly a trillion times better than how I do in my Next Gen fanfic. Here it is-> https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13199208/1/Jewel-s-Reincarnate-The-117th-Generation !

She also most recently begun writing a Pirate AU Fanfic for SouMegu that is also just a great read so far and I am SO EXCITED for more !! I’m such a sucker for good AUs and this is one. I heard about some of the details in discord already and hnnn!! It’s just a very fun, imaginative setting! -> https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13399131/1/Love-On-the-Seas

Speaking of AUs, @yourmoontothenightsky​ ( @soaringlanddormitory​ as a Shokugeki-specific blog) has tons of brilliant AUs and writes an ongoing story for two of them -> Eight Elements (for Isshiki/Nene) and Ready? Aim Fire! (for Eizan/Nene). The first one being an Elemental AU and the second one being a Yakuza AU. Both are plot-wise very intriguing, involve the writer’s most lovely OCs and also have great strengths in dialogue as the author has a particular talent for banter. She also writes an OC-focused fanfics that sheds some light on the 91st Generation which they so rightly deserve: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13228301/1/The-First-Step

Then there’s also @nightcrownsking​ with a beautiful, poetic writing-style and just, such a great talent to lay bare all the emotions that can go through a character and just….it’s just such a wonderful portrayal of feelings. It’s so very heartfelt and human. He recently made a fanfic account and published three POvs he has written, that gives insight to different character’s feelings and thoughts when they feel theirselves drawn to another character. I can highly recommend it ! -> https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13419855/1/Diary-of-Feelings

Now, if you like IsshiNene, anything written by @isshinene​ is an automatic must-read, I’d say. She’s very devoted to her ship and writes them very neatly and beautifully! I absolutely love her writing style and how she often choses to focus on smaller moments in life, which gives a lot of her stories a sort of comforting vibes. Her big ones I’d say are the Multichap fic Betting on Love and a One Shot Collection named How Do You To Spell Love. BoL was a fun read and a fun AU idea and I also absolutely loved the interactions of the characters. HDYSL has many great One-Shots and also my absolute fave one: “I Can’t Tell You That I Love You”. My other favorite One-Shots would be Yuki no Hana and Glimpse of a Mother

Then there’s also @wishingforatypewriter​ who enchanted quite a great deal of the fandom already with wonderful One-Shots and intriguing Multichapter fics. I always love to read their content and feel great joy once my notifications tell me they updated something. I wanna use this chance to shed light on what I think is their oldest contribution to this fandom, a One-Shot Collection called The Third Year, I just….it has a heavy sense of fond memories and nostalgia for me, because back then when it was active, I just always got so happy seeing an update! And just….give it a read. It deserves more credit. 

@hanzome-hasashi​ wrote my two favorite Sorina Fics: Akai Ito and Late Night Lullabies. They’re quite differing in tone, I’d say but both insanely enchanting in their own sense. Just like with the former One Shot Collection, I just have a sense of nostalgia with both of these stories and especially with Akai Ito I connect a wonderful memory. There’s a beautiful atmosphere in both of them and both of them, kinda leave me longing to fall in love myself, if I can say so. And that’s remarkable. 

@that-girl-at-the-corner also has a beautiful writing-style and great talent at Sorina. She has a Royalty AU! AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ROYALTY AUS! So, I am very excited about that one-> https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12704520/1/The-Royal-Engagement I love her take on both Soma and Erina and also the other characters and how they get included into the story so well! Because that’s not something a lot of stories in this fandom tend to do. 

Also, for your SouTaku needs, I just have to recommend this heartwrenching but so beautiful AU-Fanfic by @madokasoratsugu called “A Place To Be With The Sun” and it’s sequel “A place for the sun to return” . I should reread it some time soon, now that I think about it but yeah! It’s a very beautiful and heartfelt read and I love the idea and I can feel how much thought went into writing the fic. I also, once again, love the roles that were thought-up for the other characters and how they were included into the story. KUDOS. 

Also, I’ll be late for college, but ahdhd I’ll take the second but to also recommend “A Man For Flowers” by @mayuuunaise, a cute and also beautiful fic for Isami/Megumi that is just !! Ah, so many cute and neat little ideas and characters that are very in-character and just !! FLOWER SHOP AU!!! HONEYSWEET ROMANCE! ADORABLE EXCHANGES! I just !!! please take a look at it, it’s great. Very great

I really gotta go now, but take these few as well:

- Window of the Soul (Angst as Isshiki discovers heartbreak, has very beautiful metaphors)

- Glass Heart (poetic drabbles on the E10)

- Sweet, Salty and Everything In-Between (lovely SouMegu One Shots)

- Sun and Sea (collection of cute TakuMegu Drabbles)

- Love is a Beautiful Pain (angsty, heartwrenching unrequited love-fic for Megumi)

[darrowsrising]

YA vs. NA vs. Adult

Hey there! I wanted to share some (hopefully) fun facts about the book market in the US, and maybe shed some light on why ppl find the original RR trilogy in the YA section. BTW I hope none of this comes across as preachy - I’m trying to get a YA book published myself and I’ve done a lot of industry research and just wanted to share some stuff. 

In the US, “New Adult” never really took off as a category except in romance, with Sarah J. Maas’s books being the biggest success (this is all according to interviews and articles I’ve read from literary agents and authors). I’ve heard that in Australia New Adult really took off so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a more well known category in other countries? I wish it was a category here, and if it was I def think the original RR trilogy would be New Adult. 

Anyway, because New Adult never really took off in the US most bookstores don’t have a section labeled “New Adult.” So then the choice becomes, do you shelve RR in YA or Adult? 

I for sure think the new books have an adult ~ vibe ~ and belong in the Adult section (and that’s usually where I see them). But as for the original trilogy? I think that’s up for debate. 

YA Author Alexa Donne has a really interesting video on youtube called What Counts as YA Fiction? She points to some hallmarks of YA, one of them being an immediacy to the writing; you feel like you are there with the character and there’s lots of big emotions. I think RR fits that. In fact it was one of the things I loved about the books. Another big YA theme is the MC finding their place in the world, pushing back against conventions and establishing their identity. I think that was a big theme in the original trilogy. Also everyone was looking for the next Hunger Games at the time, and I think marketing ppl saw that RR was on the line between YA and Adult and pushed it toward YA since that was the better market and a book marketed as YA would probably sell better. 

Honestly, I’ve heard a bunch of different definition of what’s YA so I think it’s a little subjective. I certainly understand your point about violence and other more mature themes in the book and I probably wouldn’t recommend it to somebody say, 12 and under? But I think the original trilogy would be totally fine for most teens. 

You brought up movie ratings, and one interesting thing about those here in the US is that you can get away with a lot of violence before you get an R rating. For example, The Dark Night Rises, the batman movie where a guy gets lobotomized with a pencil and the villain has two ppl fight to the death with baseball bats, was rated PG13. Taken, where girls are abducted and raped, was rated PG13. It’s usually full nudity and swear words that get you an R rating. I think those standards are really backward, but the point is that teens aren’t strangers to violence, especially in media. 

I found a 2014 blog post on something called teenreads written by PB himself where he said RR was both a YA and adult novel, lol. So maybe that’s the answer. 

I’ve heard a lot of people debate whether the original RR trilogy is YA or not and ultimately I’m not sure why it matters. The one thing that bothers me is when people say that RR is essentially too good to be a YA novel. Nobody on this site has suggested that but I’ve heard others make that point. It bothers be because I think a lot of people who aren’t familiar with YA think it’s all girl books about romance and vampires. In fact, YA science fiction is struggling right now because publishers think young women don’t like science fiction. So maybe I want RR to be YA to prove that a lot of young women do like science fiction and we’d like more of it, please. 

Sorry, I know I’ve rambled. I hope some of this was interesting! 

Thank you for your imput! It really is interesting. Here are some things I figured out as a reader of fiction in general.

Sarah J. Maas writes YA. That's what it is marketed as in the US and UK. That's why it comes with warnings for mature themes (sex). She announced that she's moving to NA for future books - Crescent City. My book provider imports books from the UK and they market it like they are on the british market. And, if I am not mistaken, she won awards for YA.

I understand that YA has a very bad reputation these days, but it's not only from the outside, but also from the outside. The YA fandom is toxic. There is no doubt about it. They (in general) have the highest amout of purity police with a checkmarking list of certain things that must be handled in the books a certain way, otherwise is trash.

I totally understand and hate that YA is considered 'hot vampires for girls', I hate it with a passion. It is as condescending as the romanian translator who was invited to meet Pierce Brown at an event and her after thoughts where that his books has many young female fans and now that she has met him in person she knows why. Which is code for 'the guy' s hot so there you have it'.

Bitch, I stood front row at that event because my love for this series and Darrow is beyond human understanding! Pierce could look like Smaug and I'd still sit front row. Because I freaking love every aspect of it, sci-fi especially.

But getting back to the subject at hand, if you looked at the crowds when Pierce Brown visited Romania, I would too market the series as YA.

I know perfectly well that teens from 13 to 19 can handle violence well and understand complex themes and question things that happen in the real life. I don't doubt their intelligence in the least. I was like 17 when I read the RR trilogy, i'm not a hypocrite.

The reason I don't wany it piled with YA is because it gets critiqued to YA standards. And the YA fandom has the worst standards. They have so many and they must be habdled in certian ways and lo and behold this trilogy gets trashed because it's all the worst things you can possibly imagine, but still better than the new trilogy.

The Red Rising Trilogy is indeed faster paced and more violent than most of the YA books I have read. So if it's indeed too much for YA, I think it's fair for it to be considered NA. The themes are handled in more intense ways than you usually find in YA. The fluff and comfort, the moments for breathing are rare and even if the protagonist just sits somewhere, his emotions are at war while he remains cold on the outside, barely keeping it together. The rest is survival, war, violence of all types, danger at every step. It's never stoping, just slowing it down for the briefest of moments. And I think that makes the very shallow boundaries between YA and NA - the way you handle the themes.

The Iron Gold Trilogy is indeed more in tone with the likes of A Song of Ice and Fire or Broken Empire. And I think the sault wasn't that big from RR to IG. It basically moved from NA to Adult.

I can agree with Pierce Brown that up to a point the initial trilogy is YA and Adult. I mean...let's not fool ourselves, kids and adults alike were all over the Harry Potter books. So I understand why he would say that. There were middle schoolers to the Meet and Greet I went to. Kids love sci-fi and battles and stuff.

Also, I don't know what to say about 'immediacy of the writing' as being hallmark YA. I have read NA and Adult that has that. And 'protagonists finding their identity and establishing themselves and pushing conventional boundaries' are themes in A Song of Ice and Fire as well.

But thing is there are certain boundaries I consider the way the themes are handled.

So... that and the fact that there are triggering things that easily make the NA mark makes me believe that the Red Rising Trilogy should be marketed as NA.

Again, it's not only the fandom and the attitudes towards 'impurity', but also the way the themes are handled. Which is not a clear delimitation, because as you said it, it's subjective.

Thank you for the info you provided, very helpful. Good luvk with your book and never shy away from rambling to me, I love it!

[dhufflebee]

binary sunset (a mileven fanfiction)

One-shot Fandom: Stranger Things Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: El Hopper x Mike Wheeler Characters: Mike Wheeler, El Hopper Additional Tags:  Fluff; Mike is an awkward angsty boy; El is an emotional ball of cuteness; Characters Watching Star Wars; rated T for some swearing; set between seasons 2 and 3

read on:  AO3  |  ff.net Summary: Mike shows the first Star Wars movie to El, and she is so enraptured by the binary sunset scene that Mike kinda forgets about the movie and just stares at her. A lot of thoughts and tears and softness are involved, too.

(Based on a tumblr promt I sent to someone... before resolving to write the fic myself. Who knew this couple of awkward teens would be the thing that brought me back to writing fanfiction - hopefully I did them justice.)

Mike didn’t think El’s eyes could get brighter than they already were.

He had been planning the day for a while, and he had been more and more nervous as it approached. What if she laughed at him? Rolled her eyes at him? What if she didn’t like one of his favorite movies ever? Mike knew such a train of thought was stupid, that El would never be mean to him and mock his passions, but deep down he was afraid the tiniest thing might drive her away.

She had been back for so little time that, every so often, Mike still found himself catching his breath when she appeared in his line of sight while he was distracted. He had felt so desolate and angry while El was gone, reaching out into the void every single day hoping to catch a glimpse of her spirit, hoping to find support in those hardest months, that when she had finally reappeared and he had looked at her and smiled at her and hugged her, he had felt like something (no, everything) was cracking and being put back together at the same time. And the rebuilding part wasn’t over yet: every time El laughed, or scrunched her nose, or tucked her hair behind her ear, Mike could feel a spark, like a little part of his soul was going back into the right spot inside of him.

But at the same time, the previous year had left a scar on his heart (on both of their hearts), and he feared that the slightest incomprehension, the smallest silly thing could open the wound back again, throwing him into that dark hollow place where he had suffered so much.

At that moment, though, Mike’s head was in a whirlwind, all these thoughts progressively silenced by one distinct feeling: how on heart can El be so beautiful? And how are her eyes so much brighter than ever? He caught himself staring at her sitting beside him, her knees up to her chest and her feet bare on the couch. He tried to avert his eyes, and he managed to for maybe ten seconds, during which he dazedly looked at the tv screen. The way El’s hands were resting on her ankles and the way she had draped the cotton blanket on her shoulders as if it was a cloak, though, kept drawing Mike’s attention away from the movie. Not that he cared much about Star Wars, that afternoon.

No, scratch that: Mike cared. Not really about the movie per se, but about what El would think of it. He longed to share his passions with her, to introduce her to all the things he loved (and hopefully to be introduced to what she loved, as well), and he had decided Star Wars was maybe the best place to start. The story was compelling, the characters well-rounded, and the sceneries? He could gush for hours about those three movies, and he really hoped El would be willing to listen to him after that day.

The only problem was, Mike couldn’t remember a damn thing about Star Wars. Not while he was looking at El’s hair, at the way her curls were kind of disappearing now that she was letting her hair grow, but were still visible in the loose strands that would fall around her face. And neither while he was musing on the adorableness of her nose, perfectly shaped at the center of her profile, just above those cute pink lips of hers, whose smile and shape and warmth he had missed so much and was looking forward to never miss again.

Maybe he would need to ask El for a refresh about Star Wars, all things considered. For all of Mike’s staring, she had never looked away from the screen, so focused on what was going on that she was barely breathing. Most of all, Mike was in awe of the brightness of her eyes – and it wasn’t merely a reflection of the screen, but a light that he knew was coming from inside her, a fire they were trying to rekindle together and that was slowly getting stronger with each passing day. Maybe his eyes were that bright too, when he watched Star Wars… or maybe they were at that moment, while he was contemplating El. Had the circumstances been different (hadn’t he felt so damn awkward), he would have asked El about his own eyes (jesus), but he really didn’t want to disturb her (sure Mike, that’s the reason).

The minutes were passing by, and Mike’s brain was subconsciously registering the scenes of the movie as they were unwinding. He half-heard a dialogue about a farm, a harvest, and an academy, and he knew exactly which moment was approaching. Those few notes were enough to give him goosebumps, even though this time he suspected his emotional response to the Force Theme might be enhanced by watching El being enraptured by it. There it was, a binary sunset he could recognize without the need to see it, the music swelling, and— (holy shit, are those tears? why is El crying? shit shit shit shit shit shit shit)

Mike froze on the couch. Damn, those weren’t the kind of tears he sometimes saw mom or Nancy shed in front of the tv – El was bawling. She was shaking, water falling down her cheeks and dropping from her chin, her bright eyes getting redder and redder.

“El? W-what’s happening?” Mike’s voice was as shaky as El’s shoulder, and in the back of his mind he hated that he wasn’t able to project calmness and safety for her sake, even more so in such a mundane moment.

“Oh, Mike”, El answered in a tiny voice, with her face half-buried between her knees and tears still dampening her cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to cry like this, but I really can’t help it!”

(Ah shit damn it, I’m so stupid, I should have never made her watch Star Wars without checking beforehand somehow, and now I made her relieve god knows which awful moment and she hates it and she hates me and—)

“It’s just… It’s so beautiful!” El almost yelled that last word, but her voice cracked, and a new bout of tears pooled under her eyes.

“What?” Mike was taken aback, unable to properly process El’s words while his own internal monologue was still berating him. “What?” He must have been looking silly, eyes wide open and expression dumbfounded, because El smiled a little and reached for Mike’s hand, grasping it with her own and gently tugging his arm.

Mike shook his head and looked at El’s face: her eyes weren’t actually sad nor angry nor distraught… if possible, they were shining ever more than before. He could feel himself frowning for a second, but then something clicked. “Were those happy tears? Like, that many?” He asked her, eager for an affirmative answer, hoping he hadn’t fucked up completely.

Instead of answering directly, though, El laughed, and Mike inhaled sharply, before realizing that she wasn’t laughing at him, but that it was a genuinely joyous sound. Maybe he hadn’t ruined it all, maybe he’d been stupid for doubting himself so much – and El, too.

Her fingers still entangled with his, El scooted closer to Mike on the couch, reaching with her other hand towards his forehead to smooth the lines between his brows. “Mike, hey. Those were emotional tears, but from a good emotion… I’m not really sure how to explain it but, I don’t know, that sunset, and Luke looked so lost, and that music! It really spoke to me, I loved it, but it seems like the only way I could express it was by crying?” El was fumbling with the hem of the blanket and she wasn’t looking at Mike anymore, a shade of uncertainty in her expression.

While El tried her best to explain her tears, Mike felt something warm and soft grow in his chest, something similar what he had felt the very first time he had managed to make her laugh. He smiled fondly looking at her small hands and at the spots on her jeans still wet with tears, and reached tentatively with his hand to brush El’s cheek. As soon as she felt the light touch of his fingers, she turned her head towards him and smiled, gently pressing her face on his hand. Mike loved it when El did that, feeling (hoping) she was so eager for contact as he was while his own hand cupped her cheek, her hair all over her temple and his fingers.

“Thank you for showing me that, Mike. I’m happy I saw that scene with you.”

Mike thought about telling her that he hadn’t been actually watching the movie, but he figured it would sound silly, given how much he had insisted on them seeing it together. Instead, he leaned on the backrest of the couch a bit more, positioning himself so that El could rest comfortably on him. Mike would have gladly spent the rest of the afternoon, or of the week, or of his life (woah there, okay) in that exact position, with El’s head on his shoulder and him absentmindedly playing with her hair. “Thank you for being here with me”, Mike answered, and he felt El smile against his polo shirt.

A few minutes passed, aliens and spaceships and lasers still filling the screens, but Mike wasn’t paying attention, being focused more on El than on anything else, on how good it felt to be able to hug her and touch her and talk to her. On how at home he felt with her beside him.

“Mike?” El asked suddenly, her voice a bit muffled. “Do you think we can go back with the movie a bit? We missed some scenes and I’m not sure I’m understanding everything… And I really want to watch this properly because it’s your favorite movie and I want to know every part of you and I want to love this as much as you do.” El propped herself on her arm and turned towards Mike, blushing a bit and looking him in the eyes.

Mike smiled so fondly he felt he might start to cry, the warm bubble in his chest growing even more. “Of course,” he said, before kissing her softly on the forehead (oh, this is a first, it feels nice… why have I never done this before?). He grabbed the remote and rewind the movie until just before the binary sunset scene, so that they could watch it – again, properly – together. Hopefully El wouldn’t cry again, or maybe she would and he would as well, and honestly it wouldn’t even matter, because that scene had just become his favorite one in Star Wars, and maybe some wonderful music would be the perfect cover for the tears of joy and hope and dedicated affection he felt the need to shed.

[scarletrebel]

first things first, puppetweek.

so i wanted to do an introductory type thing for anyone who doesnt know me or is confused as to why ive fallen head first into all this antisepticeye stuff 

one of the reasons im so thankful to @fear-is-nameless​ for setting this week up is so that i can properly introduce myself to the jacksepticeye fandom. i was a bit too nervous for boss week and other weeks that i saw, and im trying to get better at shouting loudly about the things i like without worrying what other people think about it or if it suits my blog theme or whatever dumb excuses my anxiety can come up with. 

so, hi! my names jade, and i love things with a fiery passion. im mostly a fanfic writer and i write a lot of destiny stuff with mine and my friends oc’s. i have been dabbling in writing some anti stuff (and even a who killed markiplier thing that im 10k into, no wip because i am Very Nervous about that one) but im slowly working up the nerve to post what i’ve got. I also really like making aesthetics and i love watching amv’s and edited videos in general, which is probably part of the reason why i like anti so much aha.

i love anti as a character a lot, and all of jacks other characters for that matter. just scroll through my blog my love for chase brody is very apparent aha. so i want to do him justice when i write him and hopefully enough people will see it who are interested in reading it, cause obviously its very far removed from things ive been writing in the destiny universe aha. 

lately ive even been reading and watching more spooky things for inspiration, so hopefully this year i’ll be posting an anti-related fic. i do have a lot of ideas that im excited to share!!

my icon is my oc avia, a hunter who doesnt know how to emotion, and so is my banner if you’re on mobile, both drawn by my good friend @mrpinstripesuit. my blog theme itself is quite minimalistic, save for jj/anti, but thats subject to change.

i do mostly blog destiny and jacksepticeye at the moment. there are splashes of markiplier, overwatch, star wars, disney and marvel here and there as well. im just. im a huge nerd you guys aha.

i was also there for 12 out of the 16 or so hours of overnight watch, making frantic posts and checking all of social media. that must have been really confusing for everyone following me for destiny stuff aha, sorry. 

im really looking forward to reblogging and talking to more members of the jacksepticeye fandom and having people to scream at when anti decides to grace us with his presence again. ive done a couple of theories here and there (even some who killed markiplier ones if you’re interested) which is something i really enjoy doing. ya’ll should hear the conversations i have with my brother regarding anti and darkiplier tbh, they go on for hours aha.

so yeah! if you’ve been following me for a while hopefully this week will shed some light on why and how i fell face first into all this spooky stuff that a dang gaming youtuber has created. and if we haven’t met, i’ll be saying hi to as many people as possible this week! 

#puppetweek #jsepuppetweek

[kayoiwritingarchivies]

TITLE: We’ve met before, haven’t we? (Part 2)

CHAPTER TITLE: His lucky number is 4

WARNINGS & RATINGS: No warnings apply, Teen and up rating.

FANDOM: Overwatch

SUMMARY:  These three have met the supernatural, whether they wanted to or not. It’s a small world after all. (Or rather, this is the story of how three people keep running into the supernatural, and had favours and boons repaid.

Jack Morrison’s first encounter with the supernatural was when he was 15, overhearing his parent discussion.

“There’s something out there, killing the cows. I don’t know what it is, and honestly, if it ruins more stock, I don’t know what to do…” He heard his father say, and Jack was struck with an idea.

He’s going to get whatever’s killing the cows!

It wasn’t the best idea, but that didn’t occur to him as he snuck into the shed and “borrowed” his father’s shotgun, going out into the wheat field alone.

He’s standing there, in the middle of the field, when something sprung out at the field at him, and Jack didn’t shoot, and just stood in mute terror at the thing flying towards him, only for it to be knocked back by a jackrabbit with antlers.

The horned jackrabbit snarled at the thing, which scampered off, and turned to Jack, who was still paralysed fear.

And then, if the day hadn’t gotten any weirder, the horned jackrabbit spoke.

“What the blazing hell do you think you’re doing kid?” it said in a sort of high-pitched voice. “Trying to go shoot a Chupacabra like that! You suicidal or something?”

“You-I-what…” Jack stammered, trying to wrap his mind around what just happened.

The jackrabbit groaned, and looked at Jack “I’m a Jackalope, which is funny, because my horns are not from an antelope and jackrabbits are not rabbits, but you humans are stupid anyway so what did I expect.” The Jackalope introduced itself. “What’s your name anyway?”

“I’m-uh-what-who.” Jack stammered, still very much overwhelmed by the situation.

“Bah.” The Jackalope said, and turned to leave. “You take care of yourself, ya hear! Don’t want to be saving you again!”

Then it left, hopping off to go knows where.

Jack sat in the wheat field, staring at the empty fields before picking himself and his father’s gun up, trudging back to the farm house.

(Hours later, Jack Morrison would wake up to a pile of fruit on the doorstep of the farmhouse, with a large note reading “idiot” in large, messy letters. Jack didn’t question any of this and walked back inside to scream into a pillow or at his brother.)

-LINE BREAK-

The second encounter was better and worse at the same time, when Jack, fresh out of the SEP program, was currently lost in the tundras of Russia, alone and cold.

His team had disappeared into the blizzard, and his new-found friend Gabriel Reyes was also nowhere to be seen. His com had died ages ago, and even so, he would get no signal in the unforgiving storm of snow and ice.

And god it was cold, the snow already piling up to his knees and the wind howling in his ears, and Jack had collapsed from exhaustion, the last thing he saw was a great flaming bird, swathed in oranges, reds, yellows and golds, descend from the heavens before Jack Morrison blacked out.

When he woke, he was in a house, and he blinked a few times, when an old woman walked in, leaning heavily on a cane.

“Ah good, you’re awake.” She said, her accent thick but the English was understandable to a certain agree. “I was afraid you were dead.”

Jack patted his body a few times, before turning and saying “Ah, thank you Ms?”

“It’s Baba Yaga, and you should be thanking the firebird that brought you here.” She said, gesturing to a bird sitting on a perch with a weathered hand. “Anyway, you must be hungry. Eat something. I have some Guriev porridge and I expect you to eat some.”

She offered a bowl filled with a yellow-brown mix, topped with nuts, and a spoon, and Jack took it, eating a spoonful. It was warm, and was a strange mic between bitter and sweet.

Jack finished the bowl, setting it on a nearby table, before standing up and picking up his equipment. “You wouldn’t to know the nearest settlement, do you?”

The woman huffed, before declaring “I can do better. I can take you.” Before the house rose up a good 3 metres and began to move, unsteadily, but still rather balanced.

Jack sat back down, as Baba Yaga cackled, and the firebird hummed.

(It was a few hours before they reached a village, where the rest of his team were, ready to tell command that he had gone missing. They asked where he had been, and all Jack could reply with was “Someone found me, and got me here. They were rather nice.” He decided to leave out the whole moving house and firebird portion of the story, and instead, palmed the feather the firebird gave him, now in his pocket. It glowed a cheery red.)

-LINE BREAK-

Jack Morrison is in Switzerland now, the newly appointed strike commander of Overwatch, and he’s alone in the base kitchen in the dead of the night, staring down at a cup of tea between his palms when he hears Hissing. He looks up, only to see a large reptile with two, stubby front legs, it’s cat like head resting on the table, the rest of its body trailing off the table onto the floor.

He blinks.

The reptile blinks back.

Jack’s hand slowly reaches out to the creature, and the creature hisses again, prompting Jack to pull back his hand with a slow “Okay…”

It hisses again, pushing itself off the table, it’s tail smacking into Jack’s legs, moving it’s head to the corridor.

Jack had no choice but to follow after it, and he got up, leaving his tea to grow cold.

They go deeper into the base, the grey and orange hallways seemingly going on forever, the creature scampering around corners, its green scales in stark contrast to the rest of the hallways. Jack hears his own footsteps, the clicking of scales, and soon, they’re at a door, one that leads outside.

Jack didn’t have any weapon on him, bar the pistol he carries, and he opens the door, hand drifting to the gun on his hip as he follows the creature, now out of the base and going deeper into the woods.

That’s when they stumble upon a ring of mushrooms.

Jack doesn’t step in (He’s not an idiot, he knows the consequences for standing in one.) and he only stares as the creature gives out a low hiss, and the ring glows.

There is a ball of light forming, and a woman appears, wings seemingly made from starlight and glass upon her back, and she’s smiling, holding light in her hands.

“Greetings, I am the queen of the Fae, and I wish to speak with you, Jack Morrison.”

Jack stood, staring, not trusting himself to say anything.

The creature mewled, and curled up around the Fae queen’s legs, and she smiled as she regarded Jack. “I come with a gift, a warning and a guide.”

Jack considers before saying, slow and steady “There are always prices. There’s always a price.”

The Queen smiles, and says “There is always a price. I will collect my boon in due time, but for now, here is my help.”

A blue trench coat appears, and she hands him the garment, and he takes it, feeling the weighted cotton and other natural fibres, the pads on the shoulders made from a metal that was coloured blue, and the Overwatch insignia on the shoulders.

“A protection, something that will withstand the greatest of magic, of fire and sleet and snow. It will not tear, it will not rip, and it will not burn.”

He looks it over, and he thinks about the rules, of when accepting gifts from Fae. Then he puts on the coat, and it fits quiet well, the ends of the trench coat hitting his ankles.

The Queen continues, and she narrows her eyes. “I now come with a warning. Someone will betray you, a close friend, and they will cause the world to burn.”

Jack’s fists tighten, and he whispers “Who?”

The Queen cocks her head and replies with a quiet “I do not know.”

The she gestures to the creature wrapped around it’s legs. “He, is a Tatzelwurm. He will guide your way out of the forest, and hopefully later.”

The newly dubbed Tatzelwurm hisses, and pulls on the edges of Jack’s coat. Jack looks down before looking back up at the Fae Queen.

“I-Thank You, your Majesty.” He manages to say, and the Queen only smiles before turning to leave.

“Don’t make my gifts go into vain, Jack Morrison. I do hope we meet again.”

(After making his way out of the forest, he stumbles onto his bed in the base and sleeps the rest of the night off. When he wakes again, the coat is still on his shoulders and a note is left in it’s pocket, with only the words “Be wary.”. Jack doesn’t understand, and burns the note soon after, watching ash flutter into the sky.)

-LINE BREAK-

A year after the Switzerland base exploded, Jack, now Solider:76, roams the world with a stolen pulse rifle and an old jacket. His hair is no longer blond, but now a slivery grey colour, and there is a visor on his face. (His blue coat he keeps too, but it’s almost never worn.)

He’s in Mexico, after a scuffle with the local gang (Los Merutos, he think’s bitterly, are a bunch of shitheads.) and he stops when he sees…a skeleton.

An honest to god skeleton.

Jack almost shoots it, when the skeleton turns, waves it’s skeletal joints about, and yells (Somehow) “Don’t shoot! Don’t Shoot!”

Jack stands there, his visor blocking his face of utter confusion because there is a skeleton, wearing nothing but a pair of pants and a large sombrero, its ribcage on full display.  His skull is painted, covered in whites, blacks, blues and reds, the design circling around empty sockets.

The skeleton gives out a relieved rattle, and looks at Jack in the eye. “Amigo, I don’t know who you are, but you sure ain’t Mexican. Your Spanish is shit.” The skeleton says, a finger tapping against is tactical visor, where the mouth should be.

Jack shifts before saying “I’m from America, up North.” His grip on his pulse rifle tightens, and he’s pretty sure he wants to run.

The skeleton looks at him, and begins to guffaw before saying “Oh, you idiota americano, no wonder you sound so strange. Have you even eaten a good Mexican burrito? You haven’t, have you?”

Jack blinks behind the visor, and he’s suddenly reminded of Gabriel Reyes and Jesse McCree.

“No?” Jack says. “Unless Taco Bell counts?”

The skeleton regards him and says “You poor, poor man.”  

(Later, the skeleton introduces himself as Marco, and drags him to a restaurant, muttering about how “Taco Bell is not real Mexican!” and “Fucking pendejos work there that’s what.” Jack does not bother fighting against the sentiment, reminded about how he’s had the exact same conversation with Reyes so many years ago.)

-LINE BREAK-

The fourth time, it’s at Watchpoint: Gibraltar, and he’s sitting on a couch, watching the sun.

He’s met the new Overwatch, with the D.va girl (She’s too young to be here) who yells at nothing and Hanzo (Who’s quiet, reserved, and stares at empty walls and hallways and mutters about inugami and monsters.)

Jack watches the sun, and then he hears a roar.

At first, he assumes dragons, because Hanzo and Genji seem to have them, then he looks at the beach.

There is a snake like monster on the sand, thrashing, wings at odd angles and two legs scrambling for purchase.

He gets up, opens the window, and scales the cliff.

When he reaches the beach, feeling sand on his bare feet as he walks to the creature, a hand out, quietly saying “It’s okay, it’s alright, I won’t hurt you, it’s okay.”

The monster stops thrashing, judging Jack with careful eyes, before letting him closer.

Jack carefully looks the wings over, seeing broken bones and ripped skin, and he drops a few biotic emitters, letting them take over the healing while he comforts the creature, stroking its nose, and whispering reassurances.

After a few hours of being bathed in the yellow glow of the emitters, the machine’s shut off, leaving Jack and the monster on the beach, both asleep.

It’s the first time Jack sleeps without nightmares.

(Later, he wakes up to Hanzo shaking his shoulder, alarm in his eyes and mouthing “Are you alright?” Jack nods, and stands up, and notices a rainbow fish scale in Hanzo’s hands. He thinks about the fire bird feather in his pocket. The monster is long gone.)

[the-spoony-bard]

A Matter of Leverage - 7

Fandom: Fire Emblem Awakening

Style: Leverage!AU; modern setting; adventure/drama

Word count: 3,387

Read on Ao3

Gaius paces back and forth in agitation while Lon’qu gives Robin—and likely the world as a whole—the most incredulous look she’s ever seen. Olivia, finally allowing herself to show how shaken she was now that they’re back in the safety of the hotel room, tries again to take a sip of water, but ends up setting the glass down in defeat.

 “What are our options?” Lon’qu presses as Robin helps herself to the room’s minibar.

 “I’m still working that out.”

 “What’s the big deal about this guy anyway?” Nowi asks, the only one unaffected by Jakob’s appearance. She looks to Robin, but Robin is unable to meet her gaze, her head already aching.

 “This is Jakob Bedivere we’re talking about,” Gaius provides when Robin remains silent. “The guy’s insane.”

 Nowi raises her eyebrows, unimpressed.

 “There’s no questioning his dedication,” Lon’qu warns. “There’s a rumor that before he went to work for Excellus, he was some kind of Special Forces.”

 “Wouldn’t surprise me,” Gaius says, nervously stuffing candy in his mouth at an astonishing speed. “I heard that one guy he was investigating tried to arrange an accident and he ended up fending off his attackers with nothing but a dessert spoon.”

 “I’d heard that he waited in the trunk of a car for three days just to catch someone,” Lon’qu adds.

 “It was f-five,” Olivia says in a quiet voice, her nerves easing back down to their usual levels of fidgeting. “Five days.”

 “Really?” Nowi looks back and forth, one part horrified, the other excited. “You guys aren’t pulling my leg are you?”

 “T-this is really s-serious!” Olivia cries out, cheeks slowly flushing. “Y-you—you all know how g-good Robin was back in the day. B-but… Jakob has Robin beat in single minded determination. A-and he’s c-clever and strong on t-top of that.”

 “I’m still good,” Robin mutters from the minibar.

 “We’ve already got the horse though,” Gaius cuts in. “Can’t we just hand it over to Sumia and Cordelia then high tail it out of here?”

 “No,” Robin sighs, slowly massaging her temples. “Jakob won’t just let that slide. He’s convinced I’ve got some sort of scheme at play and he’s not going to let anything I do go. If I give Luna to Sumia and Cordelia, he’ll target them, and as you guys have just made clear, you do not want to be one of Jakob’s targets. Either way, the horse will probably end up back in Vasto’s clutches.”

 “This isn’t right,” Lon’qu says bitterly.

 “No, it’s not,” Robin shakes her head.

 “But Vasto can’t just get away with this,” Gaius steps forward suddenly, surprising Robin with his sudden burst of passion. “He killed nine horses, and almost did the same for the tenth.”

 “He won’t, Gaius,” Robin assures. “I gave Sumia my word, and I don’t intend to back out now.”

 “Robin?” Olivia looks up from her lap, though she still fiddles nervously with the light pink cloth of her skirt. “You… have a plan?”

 “I think. And one that should have a happy ending for everyone at that.”

 “What do you need?” Lon’qu asks, on to business at once.

 “I’ll need Nowi and Gaius to keep an eye on Jakob and run interference. Olivia, you need to bring Vasto back. As for you, Lon’qu,” Robin hesitates just a moment, but presses on. “I’ll need you to come with me. We’re going to look for a stable, and hopefully we can get Cordelia to help us.”

 Lon’qu tenses up reflexively just thinking about being stuck with two women, but still nods stiffly.

 “I-in the meantime,” Olivia stands up, planting her feet firmly to the ground as if she intends to gather strength from the gesture. “We should all get a good night’s sleep while we can. O-once we get started, there w-won’t be many more chances. Jakob is said to work on only four hours of sleep every night.”

 Nowi laughs, but stops when she finds that no one else is.

 “Aw, this isn’t gonna be much fun is it?” she pouts.

 “With Jakob involved?” Robin chuckles. “Unlikely.”

 ○

 Robin screams, hard and bloodcurdling. Her voice has long since grown hoarse, her throat burning. She screams again, throwing herself against the glass as the beeps cease, little green line going flat. Someone is saying something to her—trying to hold her back—but she throws them off, nearly tripping over her feet in her haste to reach the hospital bed.

 If she can just make it to him—if she can just hold him—then maybe…

 She doesn’t make it. She had back then, but it didn’t matter how tightly she clutched her son. Morgan was gone, and no matter how many tears she shed, she could not bring him back.

 She jerks forward suddenly. Lon’qu is staring back at her now, his eyes wide open in surprise. He leaps back before Robin even realizes he’d been reaching out to touch her.

 “I’m sorry, Lon’qu,” Robin groans around her pounding headache. He was likely just trying to wake her from her nightmare, though part of Robin is mortified that he’s even seen her like this.

 Lon’qu, to his credit, doesn’t start asking questions. Instead, he nods to the bedside table where a glass of water and bottle of aspirin awaits her. Gods bless Lon’qu, Robin thinks. She must have looked a sorry state if he was willing to overcome his aversion to shake her out of it.

 “Thanks,” Robin says once the glass is empty. “I hope I didn’t scare you.”

 “You didn’t,” Lon’qu replies evenly. “I’m no stranger to those kinds of dreams.”

 Robin regards Lon’qu curiously, but he looks away.

 “I’ll wait for you outside,” he leaves without a backward glance.

 Robin sighs heavily, letting herself slowly lie back down, staring up at the ceiling.

 “This is what I drink all the alcohol to avoid,” she gripes to the rough texture of the ceiling above her.

 The ceiling remains silent, but she’d hardly expected anything different.

 Robin drags herself out of bed, heading for the shower. Then she owes Miss Cordelia a call.

 ○

 “Thank you for being willing to meet with us,” Robin says graciously.

 “Thank you for telling me what’s really going on,” Cordelia replies.

 “I was a little worried you wouldn’t approve,” Robin admits.

 “Sumia is my best friend, Miss Validar.” Cordelia’s eyes narrow. “When Vasto massacred the horses, he broke Sumia’s heart. Anything you have planned for him is well deserved.”

 “So,” Robin draws out the ‘o’ as she looks around the stable Cordelia brought them to. Lon’qu stands some space behind them, but Robin knows he’s listening. “How would something like this normally work? Do all of these horses belong to me?”

 “Not all of them. Trainers board horses from multiple owners, and it makes sense to just house them all in one stable. Claiming all of them would be too farfetched.”

 “Fair.” Robin cranes her neck to look down along the series of stalls. “Technically, the stable belongs to the trainer though?”

 “That’s right,” Cordelia says, starting to walk further down, leaving Robin—and Lon’qu, still at a safe distance—to follow her. She inclines her head behind her in Lon’qu’s general direction. “Your office would be down this way.”

 “What about the logos?” Robin points a couple out pinned onto the front of the stalls. “We’re going to need some of our own to make it more official.”

 “Already covered all the signage, Bubbles,” Gaius pipes up form over the coms. “Me and Nowi printed off a few this morning while we were waiting for Jakob to do something.”

 “Oh,” Robin says, surprised that he’d already thought of it. “Nice work.”

 “What was that?” Cordelia looks back fully.

 “Nothing important,” Robin smiles. “Could you show us that office?”

 “Of course.”

 ○

 “Any sign of him yet?” Nowi asks. She sways back and forth in the passenger seat of the black van with her laptop on her lap, Gaius beside her in the driver’s seat reaching over to search the glovebox for one of his candy stashes.

 “He’s taking his sweet time, that’s for sure,” Gaius grumbles, snatching his bonbons out of reach before Nowi can snag one.

 “Aw, c’mon!” Nowi pouts, wiggling as much as she can without tipping her laptop too precariously. “I’ve been working hard all morning!”

 “All you’ve done so far is break your old record in Fruit Ninja,” Gaius drawls. “You shoved it in my face and everything.”

 “Hey, I printed those—”

 “I see him,” Gaius crawls over his seat to peer out the back windows at Jakob’s sleek grey car.

 “Don’t change the subject,” Nowi protests, crawling after him.

 “Now isn’t the time for this, kid.”

 “It’s the perfect time!” Nowi cries.

 “We’ve got to keep him out of Robin’s hair for now. You’re not planning on throwing all her hard work out the window because of a silly little temper tantrum are you?”

 Gaius cringes as Nowi’s face twists up. He sees Jakob pulling into a parking spot a short ways away.

 “Okay, okay! Take a bonbon! Take the whole box for all I care!”

 “Okay!” Nowi chirps, seizing her prize with a triumphant grin. She stuffs three in her mouth at once then hits a few keys. “I love these fancy new cars. Do you know what runs all of the nice new features?”

 Upon glancing at Gaius’s sullen features, Nowi places the box between them with a sigh. Gaius immediately digs in before she can change her mind. Nowi, however, has a more important task on mind than bonbons. In seconds she’s hacked into the computer system of Jakob’s car, locking him inside as he’s reaching for the latch.

 “I love technology,” Nowi lets out a dreamy sigh as Jakob’s wiper blades start whipping back and forth at full speed, the car alarm effectively blocking out all loud complaints Jakob could possibly make.

 Jakob does take a few moments to ineffectually attempt to regain control of his car, but he very quickly goes still, visibly looking around.

 “What are you doing…?” Gaius whispers, leaning forward.

 “Messing with that Jakob guy!” Nowi responds like it’s obvious.

 “Not you,” Gaius waves her off hurriedly, ignoring Nowi’s huff. “Wait, is he looking at us?”

 “The windows are tinted,” Nowi snorts. “And it’s not like he knows what we look like. There’s no way he’d…”

 She trails off as her laptop picks up Jakob’s call, listening in.

 “Hello, police?” Jakob says, all polite concern. “Yes, I’m by the racetrack. I just walked past a black van and I think I heard muffled screaming. I’m not sure, but I think I might have heard someone cock a gun. I’m pretty scared that someone might be in trouble and I don’t know what to do. Yes, I’ll stay on the line with you.”

 Nowi and Gaius exchange shocked expressions. When they look back to Jakob’s car, they can see him looking back, staring right at them. He even waves. They can practically hear the taunt in it: I can see you.

 “How?” Gaius says helplessly.

 “He’s like Robin if she were evil,” Nowi says breathlessly. “And taller. And a guy. And British. What do we do?”

 “Pray that we gave Robin enough time,” Gaius says quickly, climbing back over into the driver’s seat and cranking the ignition.

 Jakob continues to watch them as they drive away.

 ○

 “Mr. Vasto,” Olivia purrs. “You have my thanks for coming on such short notice.”

 “Well, I still owe you that drink I promised after all,” Vasto replies, Olivia giggling in response.

 “Oh, Mr. Vasto,” Robin says loudly, cutting the reunion short. Vasto prematurely begins grinding his teeth. Robin can’t help but feel some small modicum of glee at this.

 “Business first, pleasure afterwards,” Vasto promises aside to Olivia before he turns his full attention to Robin. “I need to talk to you.”

 “This better not be about you wanting to beg on your hands and knees for your horse back. He’s already settled in so nicely.”

 “I don’t beg,” Vasto bites back. “We need to talk.”

 “Sure, fine,” Robin shrugs. “Come on then.”

 Robin leads the way down the lines of stalls, opening the door at the end without ceremony. Lon’qu looks up at their unannounced arrival, halfway up from his seat when Robin barges over to stand beside him. She doesn’t give him a chance to tense up, shooing him off.

 “We need to use your office, Abel. Can’t take too long. Don’t imagine there’s anything too important to be said.”

 Lon’qu looks around grudgingly before squeezing past Vasto back outside of the office—Olivia, graciously, having already made plenty of room for him.

 “Alright,” Robin leans back in the chair, pointing at Vasto. “You’re on.”

 “Look, here’s how this goes. My insurance guy is a stickler. He says the sale can’t go through until my claim’s been sorted out.”

 “O’ course he did,” Robin rolls her eyes, sending Olivia a look of shared longsuffering as Vasto powers on.

 “Either way, I want to buy Luna back. I’ve got thirty thousand with me right here, let’s even it up.”

 “Oh, honey,” Robin says, voice dripping with honeyed condescension. “The price has gone up, my friend. I won’t part with that horse for anything less than two million.”

 “What?” Vasto exclaims, looking back and forth between Robin and Olivia for some clue as to what is going on. “Are you fu—”

 “Yeah,” Robin cuts him off smugly. “I’ve got a big deal coming up and could use the cash. Two million bucks or nothing, darlin’.”

 “You’re out of your damn mind,” Vasto hisses.

 “That’s just how we play the game where I come from,” Robin places her hand to her heart in mock innocence. “Now,” she leans forward to Olivia, suddenly serious, “you and I have some things to discuss about all of the money you’re gonna make me, and you—” she waves Vasto off dismissively “—you can run along back to your investments and give me a call when you’re serious about this.”

 Robin stands up with an air of finality and walks to the door, motioning for Olivia to follow.

 “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” Vasto sneers after them.

 “No, that’s how it is,” Robin replies matter-of-factly. “After you, Miss Lottie.”

 Olivia gives Vasto a sympathetic glance before she and Robin leave the office. Lon’qu leans against the wall outside waiting. He looks directly at Vasto, the two men’s eyes meeting.

 “R-remember what I told you,” Olivia coaches in a whisper. “Make that connection.”

 Lon’qu makes the smallest of grunts to let her know he’s received the message.

 “What are you looking at?” Vasto snaps.

 “It’s just…” Lon’qu softens his voice. “You’re not the first person to make that face after wrangling with Igrene Thoron.”

 “How do you even work with that bitch?” Vasto nearly shouts. Olivia’s jaw locks and her grip on Robin’s arm tightens.

 “It’s fine,” Robin pats her hand reassuringly.

 “She’s normally not in such a sour mood,” Lon’qu admits. Olivia clears her throat to prompt him to continue when the silence stretches just a little too long. “There’s just this big deal coming up and…” He trails off before shaking his head. “I’m sorry she wouldn’t sell your horse back.”

 “No,” Vasto scoffs. “There’s more than one way to play this game. I have my own backup plans. The current setup is so stuck in the past with cheap horses and cheap rates for trainers. It’s the perfect setup for big talkers like Igrene Thoron to take control. But me and some buddies have a plan to set up investments on horses.”

 “Investments?”

 “Yeah. The same way you’d invest in stocks. It’d be child’s play to modernize this game. Then bitches that think they’re on top like Igrene Thoron and her kind can scramble around when the big money starts flying over. They won’t be able to keep up. So consider this a friendly warning. Get in on this now or get the hell out of my way, because I don’t take prisoners.”

 Vasto practically shoves his card into Lon’qu’s hands before he stalks out. Lon’qu stands there a couple minutes to make sure he’s gone.

 “Did you get all that?”

 “Yeah,” Robin walks back, Olivia at her side. “Nice job, Lon’qu.”

 “We weren’t able to stall Jakob for long,” Gaius reports.

 “That’s fine,” Robin takes it all in stride. “We’ve got we need from Vasto.”

 “How does him being a big meanie help us?” Nowi asks. Robin can practically hear her face scrunched up.

 “Still working on that part.”

 “You don’t have a plan yet?” Nowi presses, her high pitch bordering on a squeak over the coms.

 “I have plenty. The problem is finding one that Jakob won’t see through in an instant.”

 “There’s no way to avoid him?” Lon’qu asks.

 “Too late for that now.” Robin shakes her head grimly. “As soon as he discovered my involvement his entire purpose here shifted. This is his perfect way of proving himself the right man to take over the job I left.”

 “I d-don’t think it’s quite that,” Olivia hesitates. She looks away at once at Robin’s questioning look. “I—I’ve always gotten the… the f-feeling that there’s more going on with him.”

 “It probably comes with the mysterious past shtick that he runs with.” Robin shrugs. “That’s a topic for another time. Now, I’ve got to think.”

 “Well,” Olivia takes a long pause, deep in thought. “What do we know about him?”

 “Besides the fact that he’s a diabolical genius?” Gaius cuts in.

 “Robin,” Olivia continues with more strength, following her thought to its conclusion. “You’ve known him since he started working at Excellus. Is there anything you know—anything from his past that could serve as… a clue, or… s-something!”

 Robin furrows her brow, still coming up blank. Jakob had never been one to open up and talk about his past. Back in the day, Robin was one of the closest to Jakob, and she still knew precious little about him.

 “Don’t sweat it, Bubbles,” Gaius appears in the stable with Nowi. They all walk over to meet in the middle. “Maybe you need to look at it from another angle. Jakob doesn’t seem the mushy sort to be hiding a secret like an attachment to a long lost cousin or something.”

 Robin immediately fixes her stare on Gaius. Unnerved, he glances around at everyone else.

 “What’s wrong? Is something on my face?”

 “Chocolate, but that’s beside the point,” Robin waves him off. “A long lost cousin…?”

 “I know that face,” Olivia whispers as Robin’s entire countenance brightens.

 “A long lost heir,” Robin announces with triumph.

 “Is that supposed to mean something?” Lon’qu asks, immediately cutting to the chase.

 “The long lost heir?” Olivia repeats. “O-oh! That’s… that’s a classic.”

 “But how does that work?” Nowi looks back and forth between Robin and Olivia. “That’s where you pose as a long lost member of a royal family right?”

 “That’s right,” Robin confirms.

 “But what does that have to do with this?” Nowi whines.

 “In the original form of the con, nothing at all. But this whole thing is about the horses.”

 “So…?” Nowi trails off pointedly, still awaiting a clear answer.

 “Oh…” Gaius’s face lights up as he catches on. “Bubbles, you sly fox.”

 “What? What?” Nowi wheels on Gaius, tugging at his sleeve.

 “The long lost heir is all about a claim that you’re part of a particular royal bloodline,” Gaius explains. “Horses bred for racing are all about bloodlines too.”

 “I’m impressed you know about that,” Robin admits.

 “Yeah, well… you pick up things here and there,” Gaius grins. There’s a flicker for an instant, but it’s too fleeting for Robin to hazard any guesses as to what it means.

 “Of course,” Robin relents.

 “So we pose a horse as the lost heir?” Nowi sounds skeptical.

 “Exactly,” Robin starts walking back out of the stables, the others falling into step around her. “We’ll pose Luna as our equine royalty, then use him to sell Vasto the greatest horse that never lived.”

 “What do you need from us?” Lon’qu asks from behind her.

 “Well, first thing’s first. Nowi, I’m going to need you to do some hacking for me.”