March 2023 was like the rest of 2023 so far - it effing sucked.
This year is really going down as one of my least favourites atm, and I've got some bad years on record, y'know? *sighs*
Anyhow, a good neighbour - a neighbour who'd been my neighbour since I was a toddler - passed away suddenly.
They were always there, y'know? They came to my brother's wedding and everything.
So that, on top of everything else I've been dealing with this year, was pretty damned horrible.
'“We need to go to the park. There’s a wizard there: it’s his fault.” It is hard to know if Ben intends this to be helpful.'
I'm pretty sure there's time loop fanfiction for every fandom.
And ironically, despite being not that into time loops (aside from Happy Death Day, of course,) I keep reading time loop fics (over and over and... 😅)
(If you want to check out some SamBucky in a time loop, check this post out here. You're welcome.)
'Edward froze, glancing to the corner Stede had gestured to and seeing nothing there. Stede clearly saw something though, because he kept glancing over there...'
I finally got around to watching Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) - it will come as zero surprise to most people that I utterly freaking ADORE it!
And what I do with things I adore, once I run out of canon material, is read fanfiction - let's be honest, I am nothing if not predictable. 😅
(Fandom notes:
Canon is the 'official' stuff in the book/film/TV series/whatever.)
'Sam is pretty sure he won’t be getting up again.
“It’s not that bad,” Bucky says, his lips pressed together.
“Bad enough,” Sam rasps.'
Who wants super-angsty SamBucky?
...well that's what you're getting dammit!
The emo spaghetti goblin brain wants what the emo spaghetti goblin brain wants 😅
(Fandom notes:
SamBucky is a romantic and/or sexual relationship, also known as WinterFalcon, between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes from the MCU (Marvel movies and TV shows - especially The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS))
'Klaus applauded. No one joined him. No matter. He beamed brightly.
“So. Who wants to kill me?”
His siblings’ horrified faces peered back at him.'
Warning: this post briefly discusses suicide, in relation to the content of the fanfiction discussed.
I love the way fandom creators use source material.
I love their interpretations of both characters and plot points. I love it when they write novel-length fics, and I love it when those novel-length fics are written well.
It's just... breath-taking, isn't it? How characters and stories have their own lives, away from the source material. How the interaction of fan and material can create something new and special.
What can I say about February?
As February tends to do, because of the length, it kind of zipped past.
It was not as bad as January for yours truly (because that, unfortunately, would take some beating,) but it was still full of more downs than ups, really.
I struggle when the people I love are struggling, dearest nerdlets, I really do.
And I tend to turn those feelings back on myself - like if I was just 'good enough' then things would be better, if I knew what I was doing with my life then things would be better, if I was just fundamentally 'better' then things would be better.
Objectively, I know that is a pile of b*llsh**.
Subjectively, I feel it.
'Though he can barely recall most details from his childhood, and his entire 20s are a blur, Klaus’s memories of Vietnam are so vivid that he can still feel Dave’s rough fingertips on his skin when he closes his eyes...'
In my defence -
which is always a great way to start a blogpost
- the level of angst in this fic is such that originally I wasn't going to rec it.
But then the fic that I was going to rec turned out to be unavailable, so I thought 'f**k it, they're getting the angst!'
'“How am I supposed to help if you’re off in the land of the God-Complex?”
Loki’s lips thinned, but any glare was lost on Stark who had his back to him.'
I'm a fan of novel-length fics, I'm a fan of FrostIron. Put the two together?
Oh boy, do I have a treat for you.
'“Like deja-vu?” Sam asks, confusion evident in his voice.
“Yeah but for the whole day.” They’re silent for a moment, Sam looking like he doesn’t know what to say, so Bucky tries again. “Like we’re in a time loop,” he says finally.'
You can find time-loop fics for pretty much any fandom, and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) is no exception.
Though it isn't so much of a thing for TFATWS as it is for, say... the horror film Ready or Not. Where the fandom has decided that time loops will both be a thing, and be the primary premise of 80% of the fics available.
...Lol. I love fandom.
(If you're not sure what a time loop is, check out the TV Tropes page here.)
'Yoon Hwa Pyung had no idea how to use a rosary.
When he came to on the pitching deck of a small fishing boat, salt in his mouth and sun beating down on his face, he registered distantly the feeling of beads digging into the skin of his left wrist, a metal cross dug deep into his palm.'
...I found it on Netflix and couldn't stop watching it dammit!
It's a beautiful ball of demons and horror and angst and hope and... argh! I loved it.
January was hell.
I got some Very Bad news about a very close family member.
The 'it doesn't get better' kind of news.
I'm not really ready to go into it, further than saying I've found myself becoming a carer again. Yay.
So January was enough to say that 2023 is a bad year. Straight off.
I'm just hoping it stays at this level of bad and doesn't get worse. I can just about cope if it does that.
'There was an argument happening some ways away, Diego and Luther throwing another one of their hissy fits. Klaus was too high to follow what was being said even if he could see every molecule of air vibrating at its own frequency.'
This one's weird.
Good weird? Bad weird?
I don't honestly know.
But it's weird. And you know I love me some weird 😅
'“This isn’t some true-crime podcast, alright?”
Sam blinks again, taken aback by the sudden anger in Bucky’s tone. He opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again to ask, “Who taught you about podcasts?”'
Should I be concerned, do you think, that this isn't the first time I've rec'd a The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) fanfic where Bucky's the ghost in a haunted house, and Sam has to deal with this sh**?
Meh, I guess it's not the weirdest fanfic trope that's out there. (Please, if you know what the weirdest trope is - DON'T tell me, I want to preserve what's left of my web-based innocence 😅)
'Klaus was used to the floor tilting under his feet.'
I finished watching series 3 of The Umbrella Academy (TUA) this week - so obviously I'm now in desperate for more TUA content.
Because - as is well established by this point - I am trash.
'“It's been a year, Buck,” he said. “I hate seein’ you like this. When was the last time you talked to someone other than me?”
“I talked to Nat last week,” Bucky muttered, knowing it was a poor excuse.'
Hello 2023 nerdlets!
For this first Friday Fics Fix of the year, I figured I'd take a little look at some of the fics that stood out for me last year (2022 - in case we've all forgotten already 😅)
These aren't necessarily the 'best' fics - just the ones that stuck out most in my brain, for whatever reason.
I hope you find something you enjoy here! Or that destroys you emotionally (in a good way) - as fanfiction often does. 😅
And remember to check the original rec'ing post for the Content Warnings, and also the fic author's own tags.
'“Just give me a—hint, Loki. Jesus,” Tony says, panting when Enchantress’ fire trails a scorching path all around the exterior of the suit. At least that’s solved the weather problem, he thinks, as he unibeams her in the face.'
that one last tender place by oopshidaisy
So the whole *waves hands vaguely* deal with this fic is that Tony and Loki (from the MCU, in case you've stumbled onto this post by accident) have been linked mentally and emotionally in a sort-of-soul-bond type-deal-y.
Because magical shenanigans.
This is FrostIron. Because I am trash, and I don't care.
I just love Tony and Loki together *shrugs* - it weirdly works.
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(Fandom notes:
FrostIron is a romantic and/or sexual relationship between Iron Man, aka Tony Stark, and Loki, from the MCU (Marvel movies.))
Is there angst?
Well, this is me rec'ing it, so yes.
There's a butt-tonne of angst and hurt/comfort, and emotions every-goddamn-where.
What stood out to me about this one is just the whole interweave and dynamic between Tony and Loki, but also the actual plot being pretty damned good!
Original rec'ing post: Friday Fics Fix - Magical Shenanigans With Tony and Loki
'But the lies were out there, circulating, and were made into a movie, which is a really mixed blessing. Let’s pretend this narration is over the title crawl, and cut to our heroine...'
Anita's Voice by tangentti
Jennifer's Body is a 2009 cult-classic unapologetically Queer horror film.
This fic imagines an AU where the film Jennifer's Body is actually an adaptation of a true crime story
And Needy Lesnicki - the main character - still in the wind and on the run several years later, has seen the movie. She has some thoughts.
(Oh, and it should be obvious from the premise, but in case it's not: this fic is full of SPOILERS.)
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(Fandom notes:
AU = Alternate Universe)
As a true crime fan that tries to stay on the less-exploitative side of the media I consume, I kinda love the way it's played with in this fic.
It has some stuff to say about the lengths that true crime devotees and culture takes the celebrity and even mysticism bestowed on infamous killers.
...And you know I love me some fanfiction-based social commentary 😅
This one sticks in my head for the ingenuity and creativity involved - as well as a huge understanding of Needy herself.
Original rec'ing post: Friday Fics Fix - Needy Lesnicki: In The Wind and On The Run
'“Who is he?” Clint asks.
Sam shrugs his shoulders. “I don't know. He broke in, only thing he's really said is Steve's name.”'
Split Lip by Mjazilem
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AUs can be an incredible way for fic authors to play around with the characters and situations involved in the canon.
...and the best AUs are often the least fantastical.
(Fandom notes:
AUs = Alternate Universes.
Canon = the 'official' stuff in the book/film/whatever)
Basically, Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers (from the MCU/Marvel fandom, dearest potentially-lost nerdlets,) used to be foster brothers, until they lost touch and Steve heard that Bucky passed away.
Bucky had not passed away.
And now, at the worst possible time cos Steve's out of town, there's a bleeding teenager with a knife in Sam and Steve's kitchen.
The way the fic author commits to this AU, and manages to integrate the characters into it without it feeling forced, really made it memorable (plus... I couldn't stop reading it, OK? It was very page-turn-y!)
Original rec'ing post: Friday Fics Fix - Dealing With The Stabby Teenager In Your Kitchen
'“Alex,” he said quickly, his voice strained. “I need you to overrule security protocol and allow me access to a cell in the basement-level holding facility. Please listen carefully, I require several apparatuses to ensure my escape is at its lowest likelihood-”'
Present, Past and Future Hunt Me by Namesake
I had to include this one in the list!
Just the whole... *waves hands* -ness of it!
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It's like a whole-a** season arc of Supergirl.
It's incredible, and at just under 500 pages and, according to the author's notes, taking two years to complete - it shows some goddamn dedication!
And it has everything.
Action? Check.
Angst? Check.
Plot twists? Character interactions? The power of freaking love?! Check, check, check!
And not only do we have OTP Brainy and Nia taking front and centre in the fight against one of Brainy's evil ancestors, we also get Kara and J'onn being super superheroes, and Alex and Kelly doing their whole kick-a** Lesbian action hero schtick!
Oh and Lena! Lena's here too.
Honestly, if you're a Supergirl fan, you're gonna love it!
Original rec'ing post: Friday Fics Fix - Like A Whole Season Arc of Supergirl
'“Who would be controlling it?” Joaquin asked. “And why our camp?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Why those six kids in the movie? It’s just entertainment, right? Entertainment doesn’t need a big message with metaphors and motifs.”'
(Fandom notes:
SamBucky, also known as Winter Falcon, is a sexual and/or romantic relationship between Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes)
OK, so, hear me out: horror movie summer camp with teenage MCU characters.
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...Do I have to say more? Oh, I do, OK - how about this: there's Sam, Bucky, and Steve, as well as Joaquin Torres, Kate Bishop, and Yelena Belova AND America Chavez, Peter Parker, and Kamala Khan!
Just, this whole fic really sticks in my brain for it's perfect horror camp schtick, y'know? I love it.
Original rec'ing post: Friday Fics Fix - Horror Movie MCU
What fics stood out to you in 2022?
Have you read any of these?
Talk to me! 😎💬
Previous Friday Fics Fix posts:
Sharing and commenting makes me believe you wanna keep reading these posts! 😅
November wasn't great.
I mean... it wasn't the worst month ever.
And any month you can walk away from is a good one.
But yeah, November wasn't great.
Sometimes I think the world really did end in 2012, it just took a while for us to notice.
The 2020s just feel pretty apocalyptic so far, don't they?
'...he couldn’t quite grasp yet what that feeling had been.
He only knows that he had seen it mirrored in Ash Tyler’s dark eyes.'
In my opinion as a fanfiction professional -
(Lol - kind of, I've written literally hundreds of these posts dontcha know! So I reckon if anything qualifies me as a 'fanfiction professional' then that does 😅)
- there aren't enough angst fics about Ash Tyler.
I mean c'mon fic writers! He's right there and brimming with angst!
'“You think you can? You’re talking about a goddamn plane, you’re going to have to do better than ‘think’ you can, Bucky!”
“I’m pretty sure I can figure out a landing. Or at least a controlled crash. It’ll be okay.”'
We've established I'm trash by this point, so that'll save me a lot of explaining and justifying myself 😅.
So, with that in mind - this is an MCU (Marvel movies and TV shows,) The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) fic.
Yes, again.
Not explaining, not justifying. 😈😅
I love novel-length fanfiction!
I know, I know, it's not exactly a secret at this point.
...I didn't always; love novel-length fanfiction, that is.
I used to prefer the shorter the better.
But somewhere along the way my reading habits changed, and now I can't get enough of the novel and novella length stuff.
