Friday Fics Fix - It's SamBucky Time!

'“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.)

Friday Fics Fix - A Beautiful Ball of Demons and Horror

'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.'

The Guest (also known, in English, as Son: The Guest or Hand: The Guest) is a Korean drama from 2018.

...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.

Friday Fics Fix - You Know I Love Me Some Weird

 

'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 😅

Friday Fics Fix - Bucky Barnes Is Not Leaving

'“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 😅)

Comics Wrap-Up - She Has The Kawaii Dumpster Fire On Her Desk

It's Thursday, it's February, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - It's Not His Fault He's Not Umbrella Ben!

 

'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.

Comics Wrap-Up - Some Sort Of Rundown On the State of Reality

It's Thursday, I'm trying not to fall back on overworking as an unhealthy coping mechanism in stressful times, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Comics Wrap-Up - You Can 100% Guarantee I Need Klaus Hargreeves

It's Thursday, this week has been truly awful for me, so let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - My Stand-Out Fics Of 2022

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.

Via Giphy

(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.)

Via Giphy

(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

Via Giphy

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!

Via Giphy

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.”'

These Things That Would Eat Us by Elisabeth Monroe

SamBucky are (teenage, camp counsellor,) Couple Goals™.

Sometimes you just want fics to be fun - maybe a little silly - and a lot entertaining.

(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.

Via Giphy

...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! 😎💬

You can follow me on Twitter @CeeDoraReads, on Pinterest, and on Dora Reads @ BlogLovin. For more ways to support me, check out the Support Me page

Previous Friday Fics Fix posts:

• Friday Fics Fix - There's A Surprising Lack of Angsty Ash Tyler Fics

• Friday Fics Fix - We've Established I'm Trash By This Point

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Comics Wrap-Up - The Surprising Amount of Feels Involved

It's Thursday, it's the first Comics Wrap-Up of 2023, this is Dora Reads, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - There's A Surprising Lack Of Angsty Ash Tyler Fics

 

'...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!

Friday Fics Fix - We've Established I'm Trash By This Point

 

'“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. 😈😅

Comics Wrap-Up - You'll Know His Voice

It's Thursday, the world is weird, let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - Five of My Fave Novel-Length Superhero Fics

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.

Friday Fics Fix - Bucky And The Shady Government People

'Maybe it’s the last many months catching up with him, or the fractured ribs, or the way Sam watches him like a damn hawk. Maybe it’s a peace offering. Maybe he’s trying to get Sam to let his guard down. Hard to tell, with a hundred year old assassin.'

Some fic authors I'll come back to again and again, cos they got the stuff I want.

This week's fic comes from one of those authors.

This is based on - what else? - The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS).

It involves mission fic-ness, novel-length (150ish pages,) superhero shenanigans, and enough angst to keep my goblin emo spaghetti brain from protesting too much.

Comics Wrap-Up - Think Like A Lawyer!

It's Thursday, it's November (somehow,) let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!

Friday Fics Fix - There's A Metaphysical Barn and Everything

'"So that's six ghosts, then. Six angry, murderous ghosts."

"Yeah," Duke said. The foundations of his anger had washed away, and now he just looked tired.'

 

There are some TV series which are truly amazing... until the ending.

Sometimes the ending just isn't up to scratch, y'know?

Sometimes the end is totally unsatisfactory and/or doesn't make goddamn sense.

And that's where fanfiction comes in.

Because Fix-It fics take that cr**py ending and/or plot development, and say 'no - that's not what happened.' And they write their own, instead.

(Yes, I'm talking Fix-It fics on Friday Fics Fix - keep up and don't let your tongue get too tied 😅)

Friday Fics Fix - It Works Weirdly Well

'She walked over to Thea and pulled one of the games out of the box. It was an old fashioned wooden box with the game’s name actually carved into the front. “Jumanji?”

“I’ve never heard of that one,” Ollie said. He joined them to take a look.'

 

Sometimes, you gotta give points for creativity, y'know?

And there ain't no-one more creative than fic authors! 😉

Friday Fics Fix - Whether Flesh or Cybernetic

'Sam nods anyway. “Okay. That’s fine. How ‘bout we use the door though, stead of charging through the window, huh?”

Bucky blinks. Door?' 

I am still very much The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) trash.

What can I say? The fanfiction's just that good 😅

Friday Fics Fix - This Fic Understands Mental Health Problems

Warning: this post discusses eating disorders, general mental health problems, and realted symptoms and themes

'Normally, when Mac had a problem, all it took was some spare parts and a Swiss Army knife...'

I thought, before reading this, that I wouldn't ever end up recommending it.

Honestly? I figured from the syopsis and tags on AO3 for this fic, that it would probably be trauma porn - which I've been known to indulge in when the need arises, but wouldn't y'know, recommend to anyone. 

Not least because trauma porn is often really poorly written, exploitative, and gratuitous.

I was wrong. This fic is freaking amazing.

And the fic author saying this was the first fic they started... wow!