#lolainslackss

[biaswreckmepls]

Fan-Chosen BTS fics #4 - April 2024 - Day 6

tiger tale

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31319462

Author: lolainslackss

Rating: Mature

Relationships: Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung

Status: Completed

Chapters: 1/1 (13221 words)

Tags: Witch AU, Magical Realism AU, Magic AU

Summary:

“Why don’t I hook you up with the people who paired me with Seokjin?” Jimin asks Jeongguk, face flushed like he’s tipsy even though they’re only drinking tea.

“What, is it like an adoption centre?” Jeongguk asks, genuinely curious. He hasn’t really put much thought into how witches and familiars are initially connected.

Jimin shoves him gently. “No,” he says, laughing. “Familiars aren’t pets, Jeongguk-ah. They’re companions. Partners.”

“So, it’s more like . . . a matchmaking service?”

Jimin snorts, amused, but then he purses his lips into a pout, looking thoughtful. “Well, I guess it is a little like that, actually.”

(Or, Jeongguk is lonely, and just wants to find his person. Fate delivers him Taehyung.)

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31319462

[film-in-my-soul]

tremor | 1,730 | badacts / @badacts

Summary: “Do I need to take you to the emergency room?” Andrew asks, feeling his eyebrows creep up.

a way (the find one/make one remix) | 2,561 | badacts

Summary: Neil dies. Andrew does deals with gods so he can drag him back.

(see more recommendations below!)

here | 1,191 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: It takes about a year for Neil to find the pattern, and once he does, he wonders how he didn’t notice it sooner.

brie my baby | 1,530 | moonix / @annawrites

Summary: Neil posts a Craigslist ad looking for someone to go on a date with, just to find out what it's like. Andrew plans to give it his best shot and ends up getting thoroughly romanced himself.

when the lights go out | 1,705 | flybbfly / @wilsherejack

Summary: Neil wakes up gasping in a bed next to Andrew, unsure if in this lifetime they love or hate each other, are meant to murder or save, and Andrew rolls over and presses closer to Neil in his sleep. His armbands, some form of them omnipresent in every lifetime, are poking out from beneath a pillow.

True Crime | 1,789 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: All Andrew needed was the WiFi password.

Bookstore Break-In | 1,833 | takitalks

Summary: Andrew's minding his own business, lurking after hours in his bookstore when Neil Josten breaks in and upends his peaceful evening.

worth it | 1,960 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: “What makes you think I want you fighting on my behalf?” Andrew asks. Neil pulls the ice pack from his face, features tightening with a new spark of anger. “What makes you think I care if you want me to?” he asks. “It’s my choice. And I will always choose to fight for you.”

Nothing Is Fine | 2,161 | mostly_maudlin

Summary: It’s not good, not at all, not for Andrew, or for this foul-mouthed FBI agent telling him to “forget about Neil Josten,” or for Wymack standing between them in this Baltimore motel room. Oh, sir, don’t you know how hard Andrew has tried to forget Neil? Don’t you know that boy is an expert in getting under people's skin? Andrew’s knuckles itch to clutch scarred shoulder, to brush against auburn hair, but they’ll settle for crunching against this fucking agent’s nose.

hypocorisms | 2,183 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: Three times Andrew calls Neil “rabbit,” and one time he calls him “bunny.”

Like Holding A Knife By The Blade | 2,663 | sambutwithbooks

Summary: “Rough day?” Neil asks, the upturn of his tone making it into a question. He’s being handled with kid gloves and the itching feeling under his skin ignites into fury. When Neil goes to reach for the half-finished cigarette, Andrew jerks his hand away with a scowl.  “Guess that answers that,” Neil says, too at ease in the face of his childishness. “What’s wrong?” Andrew makes a noise, something derisive and mean. He’s been on edge for days now, the loop of Neil’s voice playing between his ears- how casual and sincere he’d sounded despite the lie on his lips. I love you. 

transmission | 2,828 | badacts / @badacts

Summary: Living alone is more of an adjustment than Neil likes to admit. Or, 5 times they talk on the phone and one time they don't.

anywhere. everywhere. | 2,968 | moonix / @annawrites

Summary: In a moment of desperation, Neil summons a demon to protect him from his father - and gets a little more than he bargained for.

staff recommendation | 3,151 | flybbfly / @wilsherejack

Summary: Andrew works at a bookstore. Neil stumbles in during a bad storm.

long way up | 3,498 | moonix

Summary: “You have an awful lot of ideas about what I shouldn’t do,” he says, gaze rolling down Neil’s body like a single raindrop. “Yet I don’t even know your name.” “It’s Neil. And you’re the one who was about to jump off the roof.” “Was I?” The man says. “I don’t recall. Andrew.”

cover me (the enchanted ink remix) | 3,679 | lolainslackss / @lolainslackss

Summary: Andrew's very specific brand of witch-craft involves enchanting ink to create magical tattoos. Neil Josten has some dark magic scarring he wants covered up.

Bleeding Hearts | 3,796 | fuzzballsheltiepants / @fuzzballsheltiepants

Summary: An excessively attractive stranger comes into Andrew's bookstore looking for warmth after giving his coat away to a man in need. Extremely bad flirting ensues.

every time you curse my name | 4,011 | djhedy

Summary: minyard, when I said you have to make a twitter account, I did not mean make one and don’t use it. What a shame for you that you did not stipulate that in my contract.

at war with peace | 4,135 | wyverning

Summary: Only Neil fucking Josten could turn a break-up attempt into a proposal.

Jinxed All The Way | 4,165 | moonix / @annawrites

Summary: Andrew is the local reclusive curse-breaker. Neil has a knack for getting himself hexed, but it's been happening suspiciously often lately, even for him.

boyfriend privileges | 4,199 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: Andrew knows he treats Neil different. So why is it so bothersome that everyone else seems to know it, too? Five times Neil gets boyfriend privileges, and one time it doesn't piss Andrew off.

told me everything about you (that's a bold move) | 4,258 | Talls / @tallsinspace

Summary: Social misfit with flighty tendencies seeks email correspondence with someone who doesn’t like small talk and doesn’t ask personal questions. I don’t really know who would respond to something like this, but if you’ve ever been so alone that you knew for a fact that dying would have a net zero impact on the world, my email address is abramnewemail@hotmail.com and I want to know what you think makes people cruel.

Champion | 4,306 | exactly13percent_OLD (hymbeaux) / @evanfixes

Summary: Being a gymnast is not something that typically requires running. It's also not for people that are afraid of heights. Neil and Andrew really fucked themselves over. Maybe there's one good thing that can come out of it, though. Maybe meeting each other is enough.

if my love can hold you (i'll keep you with me) | 4,345 | Fortheloveofexy / @fortheloveofexy

Summary: Andrew isn’t stupid. He knows Neil is touch starved. He’s noticed the way Neil melts under him when they kiss, the way he stills and shivers at Andrew’s fingers sliding under his shirt. He’s noticed the uncertain hunger in Neil’s gaze when Andrew pulls away after getting both of them off. Like he wants something more, but he doesn’t quite know how to ask for it. And that’s the problem, isn’t it? Neil doesn’t ask for it. Or at least, he doesn’t ask Andrew.

your crown of thorns holds roses | 4,390 | quensty / @quensty

Summary: Three days after he signs his death sentence to Palmetto State, five after Andrew Minyard knocks him breathless to the ground, Neil's gaze snaps to the locker room mirror and stares, frozen, at the word threat scrawled along his spine in terrifying bold. All in all, he isn’t thrilled about the situation this puts him in, but based off the negative connotation, it isn’t one-sided, either. On the bright side, at least this means his soulmate doesn’t harbor any delusions of grandeur.

drape me in your warmth | 5,002 | queermccoy

Summary: Neil liked this apartment because the floors were even and the landlord was just as allergic to background checks as he was. Neil handed him a wad of cash for the first six months upfront and the rough-looking middle aged man had just sucked on his teeth and said, "what even is a credit score, anyway,” before slapping the lease down on the empty kitchen counter. He'd added, "The previous tenant offed himself" and "did Neil want to keep the kitchen island he left behind?" Neil said he did, that he didn't have a lot of furniture of his own. Might as well. He signed the lease under his newest name, Neil Josten, and then immediately went out to get his locks changed.

thorn in my skin | 5,861 | ephemeralsky / @nakasomethingkun

Summary: These days, both of them are able to sleep on the same bed without any weapons underneath their pillows and on their person, and Andrew is not sure what he wants to do with this knowledge. They have poured years into forging their armors, and now they are stripping them, piece by tattered piece.

can i get a kiss (can you make it last forever) | 8,995 | Talls / @tallsinspace

Summary: “I’m obsessive about everything,” Neil protests, sitting in a booth with the four upperclassmen he can stand. “What makes this obsession special?” “Okay, we get the Exy obsession, because you’re legitimately planning on going pro, and we get the Kevin obsession because he’s dedicated to teaching you to go pro, and we even get the Minyard obsession,” Dan says. “Shh,” Neil pleads desperately, hoping beyond hope that nobody heard that. “But the podcast has nothing to do with Exy! It’s half about music, and you don’t even like music that much,” Dan says. “It’s literally just music and a really weird guy talking about his homicidal impulses, and it sorta sounds like a joke, but on a much more real level it sounds like it’s absolutely not a joke and I would call the authorities if this guy gave any personal details at all,” Dan says. “It’s mostly a joke,” Neil offers, but it sounds weak to his own ears.

wingpeople | 11,308 | likearecord

Summary: I mean, what else could Nicky have done when he spotted Andrew smiling at the hot guy making his coffee? Not meddle? Not get all the Foxes on board? It's like you don't even know him.

eat the rich | 11,421 | bazookajo94 / @bazookajo94

Summary: A group of amateur thieves kidnap a senator’s son to ransom him for money. The senator’s son doesn’t want to go back.

cocoa dust | 22,319 | djhedy

Summary: Neil had seen the guy around campus a few times. It was hard not to. The exy team stood out. Or those three did, anyway. The twins with their shock-white blond hair and perpetual resting bastard face, and Kevin Day, the number 2 arrogantly tattooed on a high cheekbone, flanked as usual by at least one of the twins. And Neil knew their reputation. It’s why he stayed away.

under the kitchen lights (you still look like dynamite) | 26,365 | ephemeralsky / @nakasomethingkun

Summary: “Besides, you’re not a stranger,” Neil says. “You did not know my name until a minute ago,” Andrew points out. “I’ve been petting your cat everyday for the past month, though.” “That does not make us friends.” “I didn’t say we were.” Neil tilts his head, the hint of a smirk on his lips. “We’re neighbors.” (Andrew's recent Google search history: ambient sounds to help you sleep, what qualifies you for a service dog, why do cats like to sit in boxes, daily horoscope scorpio, does quoting shakespeare mean you're being flirted with, buzzfeed quizzes food, how to be neighborly)

2024 Reclists · INBOX · Blog Updates

[fortheloveofexy]

Hey babes would you be willing to drop a and andreil fic rec post? I’m in a bit of a drought (after finishing your mermay piece)

Hi anon! I don't often do recs (they're just not my thing, I'm not very good at them), but sure! Here are some fics I've read lately that are really nice :) some of them are smutty, but others are not!

Andrew's Kill List by sundowne | Pairing: Andreil | Rated E | 42k Words

Would you still love me if I was a worm? by @mostlymaudlin | Pairing: Andreil | Rated T | 3.6k Words

And the Sun Burned Low by SelflessAmbition | Pairing: Andreil | Not Rated | 5k Words

Think With Your Head by @halfpintpeach | Pairing: Andreil | Rated: E | 9.6k Words

I'll Come Back To You by @mostlymaudlin | Pairing: Andreil | Rated: T | 6.9k Words

hands like birds by lolainslackss | Pairing: Andreil | Rated: T | 4.6k Words

The Magic Touch by fuzzballsheltiepants | Pairing: Andreil | Rated M | 20k Words

you ought to give me wedding rings by absolutelithops | Pairing: Andreil | Not Rated | 11.3k Words

[splishsplashyouropinionistrash]

hello hello my loves, it's been a while since I've done a fic rec list and I'm feeling *inspired*

my qualifications are that i'm a loser and have read over a thousand fics so far in 2023

Was Sorta Hopin' That You'd Stay by jaydreamz (8/8)

Minyard Josten rivalry but they actually hate each other. They have a prank war. It's beautiful.

Eighteen Wheels And Three Beating Hearts by Autumnalpalmetto, IKnowWhoYouAre_Damianos (21/21)

Small town AU, Neil is a trucker with a son and Andrew runs a diner. So many found family feels, was giggling like a child the whole time. Connor owns my heart.

Die Free Or Die A Failure by Mickey_99 (54/54)

This one. This one!!! It's so good. Like, so good. It's a Raven!Neil fic, where Neil escapes the Nest and joins Kevin at PSU. It's super dark at times, but so lovely? The found family in this one is just *chefs kiss*

I Guess This Is Where I Say Goodbye by Artificiosus (2/2)

Listen y'all. I bawled like a baby reading this one. Full on ugly sobbing. It was amazing. It's MCD, so be careful. Neil gets in a car crash and calls Andrew, but Andrew doesn't pick up. The whole fic is Neil's voicemail and Andrew's reaction. It's so beautiful and so so sad.

Here And Where You Are by pentagrammed (1/1)

This one!!! It's almost sort-of MCD? But not actually. Read it, I'm begging. There's not much I can say about it without spoilers, so just... read it.

Dating & Other Disasters by lolainslackss, moonix (12/12)

Okok but this one. It's fake dating, the Foxes all go to a fine arts school. Neil is an actor and Andrew is a writer. It's so good !!! Andrew's poem lives rent-free in my head.

Murder Boyfriends by justadreamfox (3/3)

Heathers AU!!! It's beautiful, I'm in love with it. Go forth and read.

Better Than A Night Light by Ominous (1/1)

Literally 7k of fluff. Neil watches one of those alien horror movies and gets scared by it (but Drew is there to help, ofc)

Small Angry Gardeners by SensationalSunburst (8 part series)

Neil and Andrew's adventures in homeowning, gardening, meeting neighbors, owning animals, and other domestic bullshit. So fluffy, so sweet, so fun. Simply adore.

Heimkehr Means Homecoming by This_Witch_Writes (2 part series)

Cass is good! Andrew gets a mom! Family !!!! Literally so good, I cried a lot.

What Does 'Viral' Mean? by darkbluebox (1/1)

Kevin is a sports commentator after retirement, and Neil joins him for a game. So much bickering. Fucking hilarious

In Reel And Rout by maydaykevin (10/10)

Fantasy pirates AU. Vaguely Pirates of the Caribbean? So good though, oh my god. Andrew has water powers and shit. Neil is a pirate captain. I'm in love.

The Exy Team Is Nuts: A Survival Guide For The Uninitiated by Cute Negativity Cloud (Ofelia) (1/1)

The Foxes from the perspective of the other sports team. They have a whiteboard with rules for how to deal with them without being murdered/beaten up/insulted to death. It's fucking hilarious

Kill My Mind (Raise My Body Back To Life) by r3mus (1/1)

Ghostface!Andriel. They're murder boyfriends who kill bad people. It was such a fun read tbh

Queer Eye For The Demi Guy by neilwrites (13/13)

Neil goes on Queer Eye. The Monsters + Allison are the fab 5. it's wonderful, I love it.

Baby I'll Bleed You Dry by priorwalter (2 part series)

The Twilight AU this fandom desperately needed. In which Andrew is Edward, Neil is Bella, and many jokes are made. I spend a solid half an hour cackling

The Gaslights Burn Brightly by This_Witch_Writes (8/8)

Okok so Andrew and Neil were childhood friends, but Neil disappears one day and everyone convinces Andrew that he never existed at all. Eight years later, they meet again at PSU. It was so. Amazing. I love this author sm

A Dad By Any Other Name by SensationalSunburst (2/2)

Coach Wymack being a dad for 5k. That's it. That's the fic. (5+1 Wymack being a dad)

Called It Home by jingerhead (1/1)

Neil is spiderman. Spoilers for No Way Home. Guys it's so good !!

What We Ask by constellationqueen (40/40)

Neil gets hurt. Andrew helps him. SUUUUPER dark guys, like. Super dark. MCD too, so watch out. Really sad but so so beautiful, I sobbed so violently my sibling thought someone had died

The Suit Universe by marie_pothos (17 part series)

Ohhhhhh my god THIS ONE!!! My all time fave series. It's a popstar AU, but Neil is basically Taylor Swift. It's all based off of Taylor Swift songs. Absolute must read, even if you don't like TS that much. It's so beautiful, and funny, and so so sweet, and just- I could go on forever about this one.

Shake My Tomb by exactly13percent_OLD (hymbeaux) (10/10)

Butcher!Neil (sorta). kevin goes to Neil for protection from Riko, so neil goes to PSU. So beautifully written, I just re-read it today. It's so good guys.

Take To The Wing by iceEckos12 (20/20)

Neil signs the contract during his Christmas at Evermore. Surprisingly fluffy for a Nest fic, and there are some absolutely wonderful OCs. I would die for Joshua.

Something In Return by reaching_my_summit (10/10)

Neil and Andrew go to Disney World. That's the whole fic. Tooth-rotting fluff, it's amazing

Funky Happenings With The Fox Family by dobbypussypopper (27/27)

THE Fox group chat fic. It's fucking hilarious, I laughed so hard I started crying.

The Marks We Make by Fortheloveofexy (11/11)

Soulmate AU. Guys, this fic. It's one of my favorites. I reread it all the time. It's so good, and so sweet, and just UGH. I adore it so much.

Falling. by Idnis (16/16)

Art School AU where Andrew is a photographer and Neil is a painter. It's so poetic and beautiful, I'm begging you to read it.

Too Gay To Function by gluupor (1/1)

Mean Girls fusion. Andrew is Regina George. Enough said.

And there you go! This is a very very small fraction of the fics I've read this year, so obviously I have more if anyone's interested.

Go forth and read !

[skz-fanfic-recs]

what's out there by lolainslackss

“i’m sorry.” jisung shakes his head. “how did you know i was looking for a job?” “because you told me,” his neighbour says matter-of-factly, all brightness that refuses to dim. “the other night, in this very hallway. you said you needed to start looking for a job soon, and did i know of anything going at the moment, and could you work with me, even, since i look like i ‘have my shit together’.” “oh, fuck.” jisung’s heart sputters in his chest like a worn-out machine. “i’m sorry. i don’t remember . . . any of that. i was drunk.” jisung’s neighbour smiles. it’s patient, knowing, small. “yeah, i got that,” he says.

or, han jisung comes to of the end of a six-month-long self-destructive drinking spree wanting to get sober. his neighbour, lee minho, offers him a shoulder to lean on.

[joseopher]

hello! i stumbled upon your aftg sapphic summer post on my for you page and though i’d offer some aftg sapphic fic recs:

counting my blessings by quensty (https://archiveofourown.org/works/25203838) - renison in a wild west au

a hundred jewels on throats by poltergeists (https://archiveofourown.org/works/16443548) - renison as gods in a greek mythology au

sore-ring to cope by flybbfly (https://archiveofourown.org/works/8878429) - renison post-canon get back together at nicky and erik’s wedding

count me down, the future’s here by stranglerfig (https://archiveofourown.org/works/24351673) - an amazing transfem!allison character study with bonus renison

vengeance and death by cthulu_sun (https://archiveofourown.org/works/17104415) - hauntingly beautiful renison fic with renee as a guardian angel of vengeance/death and allison as sunshine

The Gracekeepers by wishbonetea (https://archiveofourown.org/works/26237314/chapters/63860944) - to my knowledge this is the longest renison-centric fic in the fandom and it’s a fantastic original post-apocalyptic universe

night and day by reneewvlkers (https://archiveofourown.org/works/11463897) - fic written pre-tsc where laila/alvarez are enemies to lovers

Don't Speak Against the Sun by zeffyamethyst (https://archiveofourown.org/works/898820) - this was the 1st ever aftg fic posted on ao3 and these oc’s were the inspiration for Laila and Cat

and if you’re cool with genderbends, I got a few recs for sapphic!andreil fics:

force of nature/flat affect by badacts (https://archiveofourown.org/works/14274867/chapters/32925354) - brief retelling of the series in an au where the twinyards and neil are cisswapped

who's that clawing your heart out? by lolainslackss (https://archiveofourown.org/works/15064868) - au centering around fem!andrew struggle with lesbian nails™️

in this world alone by mostly_maudlin (https://archiveofourown.org/works/44431072) - introspective college au

i hope you enjoy these! happy reading <3

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUCH A GIANT LIST🙏 Will be reading tonight and commenting as much as I can! :D

Thanks again for the recs!! <3 <3 <3

What is sapphic summer?

[aftgficlibrary]

Hey, I'm looking for a fic where Andrew and Neil are best friends and Andrew's in love with Neil but can't tell him bc he knows Neil doesn't feel like that and also Andrew's a poet and writes a poem about how he's in love with his best friend and Neils there for the poetry reading and dude it's 2 am and I can't find it and if be forever grateful if you could find it for me bc I'm kinda starting to hyperventilate over not being able to find it, thanks!!!

years late, but i think this is dating & other disasters !

-rocky

dating & other disasters by lolainslackss, moonix (T | 51,086 | 12/12)

Andrew thought it couldn't get any worse than having to watch Neil go on disastrous date after disastrous date with other people. Until Neil had the bright idea that they should fake date to mess with their friends.

[luvbug724]

Do you have fic recs I trust your opinion on things. LOL

i’m SO GLAD you asked. hey :)

brief disclaimer: i gravitate more towards gen fics & character studies & i didnt realize fic rec lists were surprsingly difficult to make bc i dont bookmark ANYTHING so its shorter than i wanted it to be SORRY

everyone i love's in this place by earthworms - the upperclassmen visit when neil is a 5th year senior & he’s struggling, allison & neil, allison pov

the later parade by hourtohour - THE kevjean fic sorry i have to rec it all the time. kevjean coming back to each other in the pros post canon, ao3 user hourtohour please come back to ME

stripped down to our skeletons again by sinistercacophony- aaron and andrew during aaron’s trial. it’s a bad time but they’re trying & neil is always up to some shit

the struggles by cuterus24 - neil keeps showing up at aaron & katelyn's house when they're the only two monsters in south carolina because he's a) bored and b) the worst and c) family :)

travelers series by sunrise_and_death - canon-ish au where lots of things are the same but neil and andrew have a psychic connection

stay as long as you need by lolainslackss - canon soulmate au where u have a timer that countsdown to ur soulmate's death and andrew's soulmate can't be neil because there's no way neil is dying that soon if andrew has anything to do with it

[fanficsimp7]

Canon Compliant + Fluffy Taekook Fics

All of these fics are canon compliant and have fluff 😊 (these are also some of the first Taekook fics I ever read 🥺 oh the memories…)

Summary: "Maybe it feels so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life." (By: taekookgi)

Summary: Not every domestic moment is morning pancakes and sunset cuddles. Sometimes they're a tad bit less fluffy. But the love is all the same. Or: five moments where Jeongguk and Taehyung are gross(ly) domestic, plus one not-so-gross moment. (By: orphan_account)

Summary: Taehyung’s gaze flits between the two blank scraps of paper lying on the table in front of him. He knows what he’s supposed to do. On one of them, he’s got to write a wish. On the other, a secret. (Or, Taehyung accidentally reveals to the whole group that he's in love with Jeongguk while filming an episode of Run BTS) (By: lolainslackss)

[foxsoulcourt]

Hej hej. Some time ago you wrote something like you don’t even know if you want to Andrew and Neil to be endgame in Hello world because Andrew treated Neil so badly. Now I am curious if you were able to finish reading the fic and if you changed your opinion? Just if you don’t mind sharing your thoughts. I just like the way you talk about fics and I am very curious. Hihi Have a lovely evening! : )

OH dear dear ANON! 

Hej hej indeed. Goodness you have a GREAT memory. Yes, I was VeRy vErY VERY upset w/Andrew in hello world (37k, completed...for those who have not read it yet) + wasn’t sure I did want he + Neil to be endgame. But, well, @lolainslackss is a pro + she made it A L L happen in that last chapter, didn’t she? Andrew got a talking to from his brother, did his work w/Bee, then a nudge from his coach + got on a bus to say those six words to Neil.

So, yes, I changed my opinion.  

Is there anything better than seeing a human, say like Andrew Minyard, who has navigated recovery to a certain point, tells themselves where they are is “all good, really” (which is just another version of “I’m fine”, isn’t it?!). Only to realise they want more out of their relationships + maybe they could move through that invisible barrier keeping them where they are because it turns out what they want is more important than what they fear. Ya, I’m a sucker for that story line + will read 104 fics just like this one to satisfy that craving.  

Guess what? Your question prompted me to re-read Ch 10 w/all its twists + turns and I realised I still haven’t commented on it yet!!! I do that often w/stories I love, tricking my mind into thinking “If I don’t comment, it won’t be over, will it?”  It’s a silly thing. But at any rate, I’ll re-read it again before I comment + thank the story and author for being such a lovely adventure + place to snuggle into for a bit. 

Tysm for your ask. I’m touched you like the way I talk about fics. I AM having a lovely evening + hope you are too, wherever you are. 

With much love,

Cory

[film-in-my-soul]

show me | 1,581 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: It's The King's Men, but Neil has one more secret to keep.

acoustic (the nerve ending remix) | 1,772 | flybbfly / @wilsherejack

Summary: Andrew needs a yes. No, a louder one.

acoustic | 1,814 | moonix / @annawrites

Summary: Andrew wants his boyfriend to be a little more demonstrative about his "yes". Neil gives it a try.

(see more recommendations below!)

it will not reconstruct | 2,047 | badacts / @badacts

Summary: It doesn't change anything. Or, Neil catches a clue on the bus to Binghamton.

like coming home | 3,087 | likearecord

Summary: A hot guy moves in downstairs. Allison sees him first.

intrusive | 3,665 | bazookajo94 / @bazookajo94

Summary: Neil was at a bus station, sprawled on the benches and staring at the ceiling, zoning out to the poorly tuned radio station and ignoring his throbbing body, battered and bruised, when he heard a voice inside him say I don’t like this song. Neil closed his eyes. “You don’t like anything,” he replied, but Andrew didn’t think Neil was real, so he never stuck around when Neil talked back.

now that I know you | 4,535 | djhedy / @djhedy

Summary: He wants to ask Neil, but he isn’t sure what answer he’ll get. He waits until they’re between classes, when they wander towards the benches to waste away their fifteen minute break. In fact waits until they only have eight minutes left, head counting away the time, watching Neil swing his legs under the bench, as Andrew is sat cross-legged next to him, watching the side of his face. Neil is quiet, almost knowing. Asshole. Andrew says, “Do you know me?” Neil’s legs stop swinging. He says, “What does that mean?”

tell me, are we there yet? | 10,216 | rwnjun / @rwnjun

Summary: It wasn’t supposed to go like this. It was supposed to be easy. In and out. Kevin and Neil knew the place better than anyone else, knew every niche and every corner. They made the plan, they did the math. In and out, no more than twenty minutes, grab Jean and go. No lingering. No disturbances. No alerting anyone to their presence. Andrew thought it was a bad idea from the start.

Candy Pop | 11,549 | loveroulettes

Summary: One very hot guy has been coming by for weeks now and bartender Andrew would very much like to get to know him for purely physical reasons.

an atom & a star | 31,247 | mostly_maudlin / @mostlymaudlin

Summary: Andrew Minyard isn't looking for fame. That's why he plays bass in a backing band. Even so, fame finds Andrew in the form of Four, the mysterious remaining performer of boy band sensation The Perfect Court. Four brings more trouble than he should be worth — his history littered with secrets, lies, and skeletons. But as they round the globe on Four's debut solo world tour, the stakes get higher, and two facts become clearer: Neil Josten isn't the man that Raven Records sells to the world. And now that Andrew has his hands on the man behind the mask, he's never going to let go.

the dominoes cascaded in a line | 35,642 | gsdlover16s

Summary: Sometime after being tortured in the basement of his childhood home and a spider bite that turned his new life upside down, Neil stops running and starts swinging instead. He tries not to regret his decision when a seemingly invulnerable mercenary starts breaking down every wall he's ever built. Or: Neil is Spider-Man, Andrew is Deadpool, and people only assume Spider-Man doesn’t kill because Neil is very good at hiding bodies.

hello world | 36,838 | lolainslackss / @lolainslackss

Summary: Everyone on the US national team knows that Andrew Minyard and Neil Josten hate each other, so of course they all think it's hilarious to force them to share a room in the name of 'team harmony' for the entirety of the Exy World Cup.

to know a man | 47,928 | moonix / @annawrites

Summary: In which the Foxes all work at a coffee shop run by Wymack, Neil is their newest recruit with a dark past, Andrew is obvious, Neil is oblivious, and everyone ships it apart from Aaron, who just wants to study in peace. With guest appearance by a stuffed jellyfish called Josephine.

quicksand | 89,063 | likearecord

Summary: Andrew and the Idiotic, Thirsty, Ill-advised, Very Off-Limits Crush on his College Roommate's Younger Brother.

fear in a handful of dust | 104,521 | flybbfly / @wilsherejack

Summary: “I need to talk to Minyard,” Neil says, sipping at a soda. “How do I make that happen?” Kevin chokes on his whiskey. “You don't.” In which Neil doesn't have Kevin Day to convince him to play, so he becomes a sports journalist; Andrew is a keeper in more ways than one; and Quidditch is the sport du jour. Featuring a frankensteined team, eternal roommate Matt, and hawkish sports section editor Dan. Oh, and Andrew has a shady past (present? future?) that Neil can't quite figure out. But that's nothing new for Neil, who is constantly hiding everything about himself anyway—this time with magical abilities greasing the way.

2024 Reclists · INBOX · Blog Updates

[jingerhead]

Hiya honey. If you wanted to drop another fic rec I’d gift you the biggest sloppiest forehead kiss 😘

Omg I want a forehead kiss *grabby hands* I tried a different order here to mix it up a little, I hope you find something in here that you enjoy lovely!!

Fluff/Lighthearted

hands like birds by lolainslackss

slipping by degrees by fueledbyfiction

stupid love by orphan_account

take a sip by Ominous

will you catch me if i fall? by bazerella (tw for fires and near-death experiences)

The case of the fever by Eli_Writes

250% by awoogah123

You're My Teddy Bear by tomat0head

Nightmare on Film by 5a5b5p5

Angst

Read My Mind by archiveofourfoxes

trying. by kauket_616

It's okay, I've got you. by andrewsknives

Meet Me Here by paradoxolotl

Let's see what Rabbit can do by Olympyas

Lost Connection by Carryonhowell (MCD)

Smut

Manners, and the Lack Thereof by thegirlwiththeprettybrowneyes

Room 308, Thursday Evening by elyteracy (katearron)

revelations by Ominous (kateaaron)

For His Ears Only by ConventionalExy (Conventionals)

Wanting by WhenInDoubtSleep

I'll be with you (from dusk till dawn) by ennui_ephemera

AUs

After The Rain by darkbluebox (Spider-Man/Deadpool)

freeze frame by broship_addict, syari

Rough All Over by bri_ghtly (The Outsiders)

i hate every inch of you by neilwrites (10 Things I Hate About You)

A Forgotten Place by JostenlovesMinyard (Peter Pan)

Favorites

Learning to be Human by coritkyo

can i get a kiss (can you make it last forever) by Talls

i need you (to hate me) by neilwrites (ITS FINALLY FINISHED EVERYONE BETTER READ THIS)

Brother of Mine by Paradoxolotl

You're hot, Neil by neilstriker

The Marks We Make by Fortheloveofexy

[aftgficrec]

HIIII!!! <3 academic rivals to lovers :p ?!?! neil “speaks 5 languages and loves math” josten vs andrew “has an eidetic memory” minyard would be the absolutely perfect pair!!

There are two fics that fit your ask – the previous recs kind of do if you squint, but I think you will like them. To round things out a bit more, I’m including some fun trivia night fics. -A

you may also like:

Neil is king of trivia here

Neil with math/language skills here

‘The Space Between Us’ here

‘So Let the Stars Fall’ here

‘Meow Meow Lullaby’ here

A lesson in rivalry by BookwormLostInWonderland [Rated T, 22828 Words, Complete, 2020]

Neil and Andrew are academics on opposing sides of a scientific argument. When a plane journey and a scientific conference throws them together, that all begins to change. Featuring rooftop conversations, Riko as a crooked researcher who gets put in his place, and a splash of domesticity at the end.

“And what makes you think I want to talk to you?”

“Because,” Neil began, glancing back at the doorway, back down to reality, “I’m slightly more interesting than the conference.”

Andrew cursed softly, barely audible above the sounds of the wind and the streets below, despite their proximity. “I already warned you not to let it go to your head. So is watching paint dry.”

Neil smirked, a cocky grin spreading across his face, twisting it into something Andrew really wanted to wipe away. “I’m starting to think I shouldn’t believe you when you say things like that.”

tw: implied/referenced abuse

me, you, and the multiverse by wishbonetea [Rated T, 20520 Words, Complete, AFTG Exchange 2020]

Ray Minyard was content to finish her PhD without the drama of her undergrad years. She had two friends, a twin brother who didn't talk to her, and an office to call her own. She didn't need or want anything else.

Enter: Talia Josten

tw: panic attacks, tw: implied/referenced abuse

NB: fic moodboard and art by @wishbonetea

trivia night/quiz bowl

zero expectations by poetic_ivy [Rated T, 3573 Words, Complete, AFTG Mixtape Exchange 2022]

Andrew blinked, uncertain if the roar in his ears was his own pulse or the remnant of Kevin’s low breathing. “What the fuck?”

Neil laughed. “You’re rubbing off on him.”

Andrew turned, bewildered. “Rubbing off.”

“Or you want to be.” Neil’s eyes glittered dangerously.

“Want to be.”

“Yes. You want to rub off on Kevin.”

“No I don’t.”

“Andrew. I have eyes.”

“You’re not supposed to use them. You’ve never used them.”

-

the boys play trivia at a bar. it gets gay.

general knowledge by lolainslackss [Rated T, 6246 Words, Complete, 2022]

“What should our team name be?” Nicky asks in an excited whisper.

“It’s Ancient Quiztory,” Kevin tells him. “It’s been our name for years now.”

“No freaking way,” Nicky replies, pulling a disgusted face. “That makes us sound old.”

“We are old,” Neil points out.

Nicky looks at Neil like he feels very sorry for him. “Thirty is not old.”

-

(An AU in which Andrew, Aaron and Nicky join Neil and Kevin’s pub quiz team.)

Follow You Through The Dark by sambutwithbooks [Not Rated (we say T), 22461 Words, Complete, AFTG Mixtape Exchange 2022]

When Andrew Minyard's twin brother signs them both up to participate in the strangest trivia competition known to man, Andrew agrees to participate under the stipulation that he is the sole recipient of this year's grand prize: three hundred and sixty-five days worth of free ice cream from Sweetie's. Instead, Andrew discovers a connection of his own with fellow loner and competition participant, Neil Josten.

tw: anxiety, tw: implied/referenced abuse  

[skz-fanfic-recs]

dating show au minsung recs

if it is written by lolainslackss

“we want to take pairs of recently matched soulmates who haven’t met yet, cover their marks, and put them in a luxury villa for six weeks. the aim of the game is for contestants to figure out who their soulmate is through living together and going on dates.”

“and you want me to be a contestant?” minho asks.

“that’s right,” the tv producer confirms. “there is over five billion won in it for whoever guesses correctly.”

minho’s hand tightens around his phone. “five billion?”

-

minho never envisioned he’d meet his soulmate through a reality tv show, of all things, but when he’s invited on written in the stars, a show in which the contestants need to figure out who their soulmate is through living together and dating one another, he figures he might as well give it a shot. he’ll come out of it knowing who his soulmate is and with a cash prize if he manages to guess correctly, and how hard can that be, really, to guess who’s the one for you? they’re your soulmate, after all.

rosy by gaeultaeyang

jisung walked over to the gym equipment, planning to do a bit of a workout. a few minutes later, as he was stretching, minho came to stand near him. confused, jisung stopped what he was doing and stared at him. “did you need something?” he tried not to sound annoyed. “you left pretty quickly, i was just seeing if you were okay. if i said anything that upset you i’m sorry.” “nah, you’re fine. i just didn’t feel like hearing any more about you and hyunjin pashing.”

-

in which hwang hyunjin, the world’s first gay bachelor, just wants a cute boyfriend and proper gay representation on national television. 20 attractive men submit themselves to the task of winning his heart. who will succeed? who will find their hearts wandering to others?

[aftgficlibrary]

Do you guys have any fics with Neil either being mute or having selective mutism

sure here’s what i found -maz

I Know What You're Saying by jjmash (T | 2,238 | 1/1)

It would be okay with him if Neil never spoke again. They could learn sign language just like they had learned Russian during Andrew’s senior year, and Neil would find a way to convey all of his snarkiness through hand gestures. But Neil’s voice, with its contradictory smooth tones and rough edges, sounds a little too much like home to Andrew.

The Wild Fox Den by lovelypipedream (T | Incomplete | 2/?)

Neil’s mother ended up killing off his father before she died. Neil decided to call Stuart before running to Millport. After having a rough time coping with the change, he ends up in group therapy, where he meets the foxes.

Stick around, will ya? by confusedandconflicted (T | Incomplete | 3/?)

It starts off with a no, funnily enough.

aka Neil is running from Riko and lands himself at Eden's Twilight, where all the Foxes live and work (Wymack owns the place and all the Foxes work there and live above the club like one big family).

gay shit ensues.

DISCLAIMER PLEASE READ: I am not selectively mute myself, so I tried to do as much research as I could. I am not perfect, and if I go about writing about Neil's mutism incorrectly or insensitively, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. It is not my intention to offend anyone or romanticize disabilities. I just want to explore an au where Neil's mutism changes the dynamics of his relationships with the Foxes, because such a critical part of the aftg series and Neil's character there was his mouth. Please let me know if you have any comments or concerns.

The Sound by jemejem (M | 17,796 | 5/5)

The cottage looked unassuming and quaint, with a wooden ramp up to the front porch and rose bushes beneath the windows. A little sign was nailed above the door, reading The Foxhole. It seemed peaceful. Quiet

Its patrons, however, were neither of those things. Neil could already hear the raucous lot from where he was stood outside the door. Having never spoken to anyone outside of rare, whispered words to his uncle, or his cat, or his mother's grave, Neil knew this would be interesting.

A blond woman opened the door with a smile and glittering eyes. Neil's stomach rolled over itself. He hoped this wasn't a dumb decision.

Winter Banquet by CourtneyEllen (M | 1,605 | 1/1)

Week 22: “You look good in it.”

hands like birds by lolainslackss (T | 4,698 | 1/1)

Busy working on his thesis and waiting tables, Andrew Minyard doesn’t have time to think about boys.

That doesn’t mean certain boys can’t be distracting, though, and between his cat-sitter who won’t stop flirting with him via post-it note and the new, unforgivably attractive kitchen assistant working at the restaurant, Andrew is very distracted indeed.

[palmettios]

I know this is a lot to ask,,,, but I just finished aftg,,,,, I’ve followed a bunch of accounts but I literally adore yours and was wondering if you had any account or fic recommendations? I need all the content I can get now Anything is appreciated have a lovely day ☺️☺️

omg first of all thank you so much!!

and second of all, i will link some of my fav fics down below! aftg content is what gets me thru the day so i’m happy to help :)

under the kitchen lights (you still look like dynamite) by ephermeralsky - a classic neighbor!fic

i hate the way i don’t hate you by gluupor - a 10 things i hate about you AU

those to come by jaylocked - a crack!social media AU

hello world by lolainslackss - a professional exy enemies to lovers hehe

a switchblade is my preferred weapon by badacts - neil is originally a raven

no mourners, no funerals by gluupor - the foxes but in six of crows/crooked kingdom

matchmaker by uwereamazing - the foxes don’t know andreil is a thing so they try to get them together

when you are close to me (the thumping in my chest remix) by gluupor - neil is oblivious and doesn’t know what a crush is

to know a man by moonix - coffee shop au

no place like home by gluupor + moonix - neighbor!fic but make it a prank war

those are all my favs - if you want more recs feel free to ask! hope you enjoy!