Title: Frank Iero AI
Fandom: Bandom (My Chemical Romance)
Pairing: Frank Iero/Gerard Way; Gerard Way/Lindsey
Categories: AU, Apocalypse, Science Fiction
Length: Medium (4k)
Warnings:

Author on LJ: theladysnarkydame
Website:

Summary: post apocalypse or cyberpunk detective agenc

Review: The wold building in this fic packs a real wallop for its length. The fic is a casefic, so the backstory on all the characters is left purposely vague.

Part Noir novel, part post apocalyptic Virtual world, it makes for a dreamy and dark cocktail that will drag you under and not let you back up for air until it's finished.

Frank Iero AI

Title: There's Just People Like Us
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: Saffron/Jayne Cobb
Categories: het, post-canon, developing relationship
Length: Medium, 2,344 words
Warnings: none

Author on Livejournal: n/a?
Author Website: Miss_M on AO3

Summary: Third time’s the charm: Jayne’s path crosses that of the woman of many names and talents. Turns out, they go well together, even if she (almost) never gives him a straight answer to any of his questions.

Review: Jayne jerked half upright when the woman snapped her fingers right next to his nose. After that, he saw no point in pretendin’ to be dead.

“Gorram it, woman,” he said as he heaved himself up and squared his shoulders, pretendin’ he had another gun concealed somewheres on his person. “No one ever teach you not to disturb a man when he’s fully armed and restin’?”

She had to tip her head way back to look him in the eye. Her red hair caught the desert sun somethin’ awful nice.

“You’re about three guns short of being fully armed, and you’ve been playing possum so long you’re starting to burn,” she said.

It's been forever since I'd read Firefly and I can't say this is a pairing I'd ever thought of before, but Saffron is my favourite underhanded femme fatale in the 'Verse, so I jumped to read this when I saw it posted in Rare Pair Fest. And it works! It's like these two fit together in a tiny-underhanded-smart-and-sneaky x big-dumb-and-sneaky-with-a-tiny-core-of-decency sort of way.

Jayne's voice recounting it is just perfect, I can hear them so well in this, and the development of the relationship between them... It almost ends up a weird sort of sweet.

There's Just People Like Us

Title: Confusion and Consequences
Fandom: Haven
Pairing: Audrey Parker/Duke Crocker/Nathan Wuornos
Categories: casefile, threesome, genderswap (sort of), polyamory, established relationship (het), first time (threesome)
Length: Long, 20,765 words
Warnings: I'm... not sure how to warn. Duke and Nathan end up with some girl parts, but not completely genderswapped, and the fic revolves around the issues of masculinity and sexuality that come out of that. If that's likely to be a problem or potentially triggery in some way, don't go there? There's also a warning for mild mind control, but it doesn't go too far with anything happening consent issues-wise in terms of the main trio. There are maybe a few potentially triggery things happening in the background with the other people affected by the gendermixing Trouble.

Author on Livejournal: n/a?
Author Website: guiltyreasons on AO3

Summary: Nathan thought he had seen everything until a half naked woman walks up to him claiming to be Duke Crocker....

Review: “It’s Haven. Trans hate is the least of our worries...”

Oh, I enjoyed the hell out of this one. Last week I was emailing the link to friends after I read it, so it's still pretty hot off the presses. Yes, there is the odd typo and grammar hiccup, but really, with all the other goodies on offer here, I find myself disinclined to care about those.

I love the stuff that really digs into the questions of sexuality and masculinity and sexual dysfunction and this goes there and then some, as this particular Trouble turns Haven upside-down and Duke and Nathan end up kind of not their usual manly selves. The fic is told from Nathan's point of view, and I love the POV -- getting to watch him angst in his low-key way about all these things, weird sexual situations and hangups and shame, is entirely wonderful. I also love how his senses are used in interesting ways in the smut. :)

The fic is established Audrey/Nathan leading into an Audrey/Duke/Nathan threesome, and while usually I'm more partial to the latter and the Duke/Nathan dynamic, I've seldom loved Audrey and Nathan's relationship more than the way it's presented here. They are so understanding of each other, and such good friends as well as lovers, who talk about all the knotty things and work through the changes that have happened to Nathan's body and how those effect their sexual relationship. And how they make the decision together when it comes to taking Duke on... they are so sweet and down to earth in this.

Anyway, this is just so hot and odd and interesting, with such a good POV, and the issues of gender and questioning sexuality I felt were nicely dealt with.

Confusion and Consequences

Title: Be Bold, But Not Too Bold
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Vincent Valentine/Tifa Lockhart
Categories: post-canon, romance, first time
Length: Long (~17k)
Warnings: canon appropriate violence

Author on LJ: memoriamvictus
Author Website: Memoriam's AO3

Review: This is a post-Advent Children, post-Dirge of Cerberus fic focused on Tifa and Vincent. Tifa is still running her bar in Edge and generally juggles life and it’s a very, very chaotic night for her when Vincent drops in for a visit and there is some general bonding over past and present and also a long term crush is revealed and leads to… other things. There is some action and implied misogyny and a bit of a revenge subplot that has more attempted violence, but for the most part this is focused on these two characters sharing a few relatively quiet moments, talking about the past and coming together. (And that part is hot.)

The fic sets Tifa’s current life situation and general badassery up by having her deal with a sleezy client in the first scene. She’s mostly just her own private person running a bar now, even if people know who she is and that she used to be part of Avalanche, but she still can hold herself in a fight. So basically this all starts with a fist brawl. The action is well set up and realistic.

The amazing parts of this story are actually the slow-build, and the characterisation. Through the bonding moments it becomes clear how the shared past affected both their lives and their present, even if they are moving into new territory now. There are wonderful characterisation moments when their affection and their character traits shine through in the way they treat each other and talk to each other, Tifa being frank and sometimes putting her foot in her mouth with her assumptions - and Vincent being his quiet self and trying to hide his feeling and not intrude.

The writing is very beautiful, but it’s really the characterisation in this one that makes it one of my favorites.

Be Bold, But Not Too Bold

Title: We must unlearn the constellations to see the stars
Fandom: Justice League & Justice League Unlimited (Cartoons)
Pairing: Shayera Hol/John Stewart
Categories: Fluffy, Romance, Friendship.
Medium: Art - Digital
Warnings: No warning apply.

Author Website: Themisto
(on AO3)

Summary: Post-battle rest. [original summary] Part of the Rare Pair Fest 2015 Exchange.

Review: First I need to say how much I love Justice League and how I rooted for Shayera and John to get together. With that disclaimer, I can add that the artist’s style is amazing and totally captures the essence of their relationship. For anyone that watched Justice League, what makes John and Shayera good is that their romantic relationship develops as they fight to protect humans and defeat the villain of the week - it’s usually in the aftermath of a battle that they share companionship moments.

The picture illustrates just that, the two levels show their emotions and frame those little scenes we see in the show, adding a lovely pairing - first we see them in rest after the battle, then we see the sweet kiss. I really like the view from behind of them and the context of where they are, and I love even more their expressions in the first part.

Props for the gentle coloring and the style, so close to the canonical one.


We must unlearn the constellations to see the stars

Title: Howl
Fandom: Mad Max: Fury Road
Pairing: Furiousa/Max
Categories: AU, Domestic, Hurt/Comfort, Post-Canon, Supernatural,
Length: Long (20k)
Warnings: Canon typical violence

Author on LJ: raleighpuppy
Website: Raleighpuppy's Ao3

Summary: There's a dingo hanging around The Citadel at night and, when Furiosa befriends the dingo, she notices a few odd coincidences involving the dingo, which she names Max, and another Max quite dear to her.

And then a new threat appears.

Review: Max makes such a cute were-creature! The story is nice and straightforward which is in-keeping with the feel of the movie.

It allows us to get to know Max better and it's nice to see him getting a happier ending.

The fic also has an interesting take on lycanthropy. I can't say much more without giving anything away. But this is definitely worth a read if you like modernized Supernatural worlds.

Howl

Title:The Fruits of Hades
Fandom: Greek and Roman mythology
Pairing: Hades/Persephone
Categories/Genres: Mythology, Drama, Romance
Length: Medium (4246 words)
Warnings: Non-explicit mentions of prior rape to unnamed characters

Author on LJ: lesserstorm
Author Website: Lesserstorm

Summary:

Hades has his reasons. Persephone has hers.

Review:

Greek and Roman mythology has always bored me when it didn't faintly irritate me. The Fruits of Hades, with Persephone as its cunning protagonist, has crystallized in my mind why that is by way of a perpendicular contrast. On the surface, it intersects with canon, fitting into the traditional narrative. But although it seems as though the instigator of the narrative is Hades, things are not quite as they appear.

All the actors within this fic, from the lowly nymph Persephone to the god of gods Zeus, are chillingly mercenary in this adaptation of the myth. Each acts according to their own selfish desires vis-à-vis Persephone, who is objectively in the weakest and most vulnerable position of the lot. But fortune favors the bold, and through patience and deft cunning, she manages not only to evade a terrible fate but put herself into a position of power that gives her the autonomy she previously was robbed of.

The Fruits of Hades

Title: Regression

Fandom: Haven
Pairing: gen-ish, early seasons canon-level Audrey Parker/Nathan Wuornos
Categories: casefile!, adventure, angst, friendship, amnesia (sort of), hurt/comfort (sort of)
Length: medium, 14,717 words
Warnings: Implied past childhood abuse (heavily hinted in canon), and it's rated mature for a catalogue of dark themes but nothing heavily described.

Author on Livejournal: n/a
Author Website: author unrevealed (author link will be added when the challenge is revealed).

Summary: In the beginning it was almost funny. Audrey figured the photo of Duke clutching the teddy bear should be worth free coffee-the good stuff-at least once a week. If only it hadn't brought up the past quite so viscerally.

Review: The crying stopped and Duke stiffened. "Uh, Nathan? Care to fill me in on why I am half naked and crying into your chest?"

It's a Haven casefic! Here's a Trouble that regresses people, psychologically, back to the worst times of their lives. From Duke's initial somewhat amusing/simultaneously embarrassing/even horrifying re-experience of childhood, to the awfulness of poor, poor Dwight under the influence, to Nathan's struggle at the climax, that's a Trouble which paves the way for some truly interesting things to be explored.

The Troubled Person is an interesting original character in his own right, with history and motives that feel human and true. The story isn't afraid to look into a few dark corners. But it's got a vein of humour and acknowledgement of the ridiculous of the Troubles and Haven in general running through it, that never lets it get *too* dark. (Plus, bonus appearance by Dr. Lucassi, who has to be one of my favourite understated minor characters of the show.)

It's labelled Audrey/Nathan plus Duke & Nathan and reads in line with a gen-ish season 2 type canon piece, and ends with a sleepover on the Cape Rouge, so really how you want to interpret the relationships in it is up for grabs.

This fic is a product of the recent Troubled Tales fic exchange, so it is currently author anonymous.

Regression

Title: Clutter
Fandom: Inuyasha
Pairing: Kagome Higurashi/Sesshoumaru
Categories/Genres: Alternate Universe, Fluff, Romance, Humor
Length: Long (~20000 words)
Warnings: N/A

Author on LJ: forthrightly
Author Website: Forthright

Summary:

AU. Mrs. Higurashi decides to help her daughter put her life together; enter Sesshoumaru, professional organizer extraordinaire. Kagome resents having a perfect stranger rummaging through her messes, but he's bound and determined to show her the folly of her easy-going ways. A romantic comedy told in 100-word snippets.

Review:

If I had never watched a minute, nor read a page of Inuyasha in my life, my life would be poorer not for never having known it, but for having missed this fic. Clutter exists in my mind as the quintessential fanfiction version of a nineties romcom. There's a quirky premise, a lead pair who push and pull with fantastic chemistry, and a supporting cast of (sometimes inanimate) characters that add humor and depth and the occasional wrench thrown into the lead pairing's respective lives.

For the uninitiated, forthright's use of the drabble can be jarring, and the number of chapters dauntinng, but it's easy enough to adapt, namely because forthright is a master of the format. Each 100 word segment works to move the story forward. Forthright is also generous with the punchlines, the humor light and quick and charming.

Clutter

Title: Two Plants and a Girl
Fandom: Trigun
Pairing: Meryl Stryfe/Millions Knives, Vash the Stampede/Milly Thompson
Categories/Genres: Action/Adventure, Amnesia, Angst, AU, Drama, Family, Fluff, Friendship, Humor, Hurt/Comfort, Kids, Post-Canon, Pregnancy, Romance
Length: Epic (74,073 words)
Warnings: Minor (OC) character death, Non-descriptive mention of child molestation, Descriptions of gore

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Thunk

Summary:

Meryl becomes more important to Vash than he wants to admit. But Knives sees it. Knives capitalizes on it. But he finds it increasingly difficult to exploit the Insurance girl, for reasons far too old, and not buried deep enough.

Review:

I'm not entirely sure how I've gone this long without reccing this fic. Probably because it's posted on FF.net. No, don't run away! It's good, I swear!

Two Plants and a Girl is an AU fusion of the Trigun anime and the backstory that's revealed in the manga. It picks up from where the anime leaves off, with Knives slowly recovering from his fight against Vash in the anime's finale under the watchful eyes and tender mercies of Vash, Meryl, and Milly.

What I really appreciate about this fic is that Thunk knows their stuff. The bits and pieces of background and worldbuilding incorporated into the fic are sourced from the manga and thoroughly contemplated, providing a much more nuanced and believable Knives than the anime's straight-up-psycho interpretation. He's still an unrepentant asshole, but his canonical actions have weight and meaning and consequence that don't sit easy with him even a century later.

Thunk also presents a reasonable and quite logical plan to give Knives and Vash what they both want, pushing compromise rather than conflict in an anime/manga that basically centers around the conflict between the two. That's not to say that Thunk sucks all the friction out of their relationship, however.

Thunk also deals with Knives' massive damage with deft storytelling. The pacing of the story, which jumps over various stretches of time, can make it seem contrived on occasion, but the emotional depth of the events and the consequent growth of Knives' shriveled little soul signal to the reader a rocky but definitely substantial progress that is satisfying to watch.

There are some moments that are oddly OOC, mostly related to the forced early attraction between Knives and Meryl, and the very end, when Knives is so overcome with guilt and grief that he becomes a weepy parody of himself, but barring those, the interaction between the two is pretty damn great.

If you ever watched the Trigun anime and clicked away from the finale wondering, well, now what?, you absolutely read this fic. Yeah, I know it's on FF.net, but would I ever lead you astray?

Don't answer that.

Two Plants and a Girl

Title: Megamind Tries to Be Like Grace Kelly

Fandom: Megamind
Pairing: Megamind/Roxanne
Categories: Fanvid, romance, humour
Length: video, 3.02 mins
Warnings: none

Author on Livejournal: n/a?
Author Website: raspberryseedz on YouTube

Summary: ... Roxanne doesn't like it.

Review: I could be brown / I could be blue / I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful / I could be purple / I could be anything you like

This may not be my favourite song in the world (Grace Kelly by MIKA) but it's perfect for Megamind's exuberance in this good-natured, fast-paced vid. The clipping and timing is spot-on and it manages to make the song its own.

My favourite aspect of this is probably the use the vid makes of the shapeshifter/master of disguise element in the movie, matching the lyrics to Megamind's attempts to be anyone but himself.

Megamind Tries to Be Like Grace Kelly

Title: Thistledown
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Genres: AU, Genderswap, Romance, Historical, Adventure, Cross-dressing, First-time
Length: Epic (90,547 words)
Warnings: None

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Violette_Royale @ AO3

Author's Summary:
South-west England, 1140. Sixteen-year old Merlin is a novice nun. One day, she finds a wounded knight, and offers to hide him from his enemies. When she falls to temptation and shares a bed with him, the consequences are more far-reaching than she could ever have imagined, changing her life forever.

Written for this KMM prompt: Arthur/Merlin historical AU. Merlin is a [nun]. Arthur is a knight who asks Merlin to hide him from his enemies. At first he is happy to sleep on the floor, then he asks to sleep in Merlin's bed, then he cuddles close to Merlin to keep warm.

Review:
This is a romance through and through. Watching Merlin and Arthur's relationship develop is a delight; they're unable to keep their hands off each other, and yet they are also still the bickering pair we know and love. Girl!Merlin, for all that she's a nun, is still completely in character. Both of them are completely clueless when it comes to sex, and the way they learn and mature together is sweet and funny, and always equal and respectful.

Most of the fic is about their pilgrimage to return a holy relic to its place of origin, and their subsequent travels through the holy lands in the period between the First and Second Crusades. Their journey is wonderfully described and just as fulfilling to read as their romance. A beautiful fic in all aspects.

Thistledown

Title: Amour

Fandom: Angel: the series
Pairing: ~gen, ~Holtz/Justine
Categories: dark, angst, drama, flashback, sad stories
Length: long, ~20,000 words
Warnings: abusive relationship, canon character death, written prior to season 4

Author on Livejournal: viola_dreamwalk
Author Website: Viola_dreamwalk on AO3 (not all her stories are archived here) | Viola on fanfiction.net

Summary: An un-love story, happily never after.

Review: She looks at him the way Sarah did. The way Caroline had, at least at first. As though he's a poet and a prophet and a pilgrim soul. As though he's the hero of the piece, as though he could do no wrong. She looks at him and sees exactly what she needs, exactly what he wants her to see. He sees this and knows just how to make her love him. He finds he likes it.

This is the story of the antagonists of Angel: the series' season 3; Holtz, the archaic vampire hunter adrift in time, and Justine, who fought vampires like a cut-price slayer and will be remembered by most for slitting Wesley's throat. It's also the story of Holtz' wife Caroline and Justine's twin sister Julia, and the losses that forge Holtz and Justine's single-minded quests.

Viola is the author of my previous rec Percy Weasley, Rogue Demon Hunter, but the two works couldn't be more different. There is no light-hearted humour and quirkiness here, only velvet darkness and damaged, deeply flawed people, hampered judgement and loss. The prose is very beautiful.

This is a fascinating, lyrical exploration, filling in the gaps of who Justine and Holtz were and the skewed relationship between them.

Amour

Title: How to Train your Angel Wolf Boyfriend
Fandom: Jupiter Ascending
Pairing: Jupiter Jones/Caine Wise
Categories: Domestic, Post-Canon, PWP
Length: Epic (75k)
Warnings: Sex, lots of sex

Author on LJ: username
Website: OctoSally

Summary: The fact that she was still a little annoyed with him for the “I’m closer to a dog than you” quip might have informed what she did next.

She patted the warm cement next to her, and said, in the firm tone she’d heard animal trainers use:

“Caine, sit.”

[Pretty much what it says on the tin. Jupiter Jones and Caine Wise figure each other out, post-canon. Basically my exploration of their relationship and where it might lead. EDIT: Now COMPLETE! Enjoy the sex and plot and wacky OCs!]

Review: A lot of kinky sex, with lots of interesting world building, and relationship building along the way.

Octosally has a deft hand with weaving together long, intricate sex scenes with character building experiences. Jupiter experiences the complications of universe sized business inheritance while trying discover what it means to be queen of the earth and Caine's mistress.

How to Train you Angel-Wolf-Boyfriend

Title: January Girl
Fandom: Supernatural/Harry Potter
Pairing: Dean/Luna
Genres: AU, Crossover, Pre-Canon, Romance, Action
Length: Long (33,438 words)
Warnings: Minor character death

Author on LJ: parenthetical
Author Website: parenthetical @ AO3

Author's Summary:
With Sam trying out normal life at Stanford and his father working an undercover gig across the country, Dean is on his own and getting reckless. While investigating a series of mysterious deaths, he runs into a strange witch called Luna Lovegood, who is searching for what she calls a 'Horcrux'. (Seriously?) Suddenly Dean finds himself dealing with evil wizards, broomsticks, Bat-Bogey Hexes, Dementors, mirrors which order him to wear a pointy hat, and much more - all the while trying not to think too much about Luna's last name and whether it's accurate.

Review:
In this AU of the Deathly Hallows, Luna and some other members of the Order are in America tracking down a suspected Horcrux. Dean stumbles across her in battle, and her separation from the rest of the group results in her and Dean working together to track the Horcrux down. Luna is delightfully in character, and that results in an unusual - and all the more sweet for it - romance. Despite the dark subject matters that are Death Eaters and Horcruxes and Dementors, this is a light fic and an easy read. I don't quite believe that a Season 1 Dean would accept that there are good witches quite as quickly as he does, despite his protective instincts. Nevertheless, the fic is still a lovely read featuring a surprisingly compatible rare pair.

January Girl

Title: An Ever-Fixed Mark
Fandom: Fast & Furious
Pairing: Brian O'Conner/Dominic TorettoBrian O'Conner/Mia Toretto
Categories: Domestic, Family,
Length: Short (7k)
Warnings: Partner infidelity, Panic Attacks

Author on LJ: Anonymous
Website: Anonymous

Summary: Soulmarks never lie. But people do.

Review: While short this fic packs a nice punch. It is a soulmate AU, that takes soulmates in a different direction.

What if soulmates weren't necessarily people, but could be places to? How would that affect how you related to the world around you? How would you know who you were supposed to be with if more than one person made up the place your soul called home?

This is based off the first movie, so Brian is undercover for most of the fic, and there is some infidelity so if that squicks you, please don't read.


An Ever-Fixed Mark

Title: Laid Out

Fandom: Haven
Pairing: Audrey Parker/Nathan Wuornos
Categories: smut, kink, het, sensation play
Length: medium, 2198 words
Warnings: none

Author on LJ: n/a?
Author Website: Frostfire on AO3

Summary: So they're drinking.

Review: ...she’s made herself...several martinis, and Nathan has had...many beers, and they’re talking about the Troubles, and he has his serious brooding face on, which doesn’t fit with how the official night off was supposed to go. She decided herself, that morning when they made plans, that tonight they would not work and they would still somehow enjoy themselves.

So she reaches out and pokes him in the side.

The noise he makes is so very, very entertaining—sort of like a cut-off hiccup—that she has to do it again. And he makes another, even more entertaining noise, so she does it again. And again.

This is written for the kink prompt "sensation play", and, well, there couldn't be a better kink match-up for this particular pairing -- with Nathan, who can't feel, except for Audrey with her immunity to the Troubles. So here is a fic about Audrey getting drunk and touching Nathan. A lot. Touching which Leads Places.

It's basically partner sex, back in season 2 when they're friends who are so very comfortable with one another, with the joking and teasing and frank discussions. It's genuinely fun and sweet rather than saccharine romance, deals with Nathan's unique situation with frankness and directness, and the end result is raw and real and really damn hot. I wish there was more Naudrey like this around on the internets, because damn.

Laid Out

Title: but more than a feeling
Fandom: One Direction [Bandom/RPF]
Pairing: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson/Zayn Malik/Liam Payne/Niall Horan, Sophia Smith/Liam Payne, Liam Payne/Sophia Smith/Niall Horan
Categories: Romance, PWP.
Length: Medium [12756 words]
Warnings: OT5 Orgy, Het/Slash in equal parts - will explain the waring in the review, please check the author’s warnings for the individual kinks/sex acts.


Author Website: velvet_tuberose(on AO3) | velvetuberose (on Tumblr)

Summary: Liam doesn't mean to think about it over the next week. He doesn't purposefully think it over, but the thought pops into his head at the oddest of times: bunging a sausage roll into the cart at the shop, stopping Loki from peeing on someone’s shoe at the park, climbing off the treadmill after working out, there’s that random thought of I could sleep with all of them, maybe at the same time.


Review:

I had a hard time choosing what fic to rec this week, and when I went over my bookmarks I decided for this story. It is a short one, but is packed with feelings and smut, which I needed to get me out of the funk! So go read this lovely if you want something lighter.

This fic was written for a OT5 exchange, which means fics where the central relationship is of all the five boys in the band. It starts off with canonical Liam/Sophia and a surprising Niall/Sophia friendship that turns into a pre-orgy training with Sophia/Liam/Niall. I’ve been in love with fics that maintain the actual relationships the boys are and sidetrack it with side pairings.

The drama free element is the best part of the plot, simply because Liam and Sophia discuss things as a healthy couple and Liam gets consent from her to pursue this fantasy of his. The undercurrent of Sophia/Niall just makes the fic very complex and delightful, and gives a little wish of something more.

Basically, Niall and Sophia convince Liam that he could have sex with all the boys, because they all love him enough to give what he wants and Liam fumbles around until he figures he really wants that, because he doesn’t feel jealous when he sees the interaction with Niall and Sophia.

I warned for both Slash and Het, because while the fic summary suggest the central idea of the orgy between the five boys, there is sex between Sophia, Liam and Niall and just Sophia and Liam. Since I know there are people that don’t read het in this fandom or that simply don’t read Liam/Sophia or more urgently don’t read fics with sexual acts with any of the girlfriends/other real people, and are uncomfortable with the sexualization of people that don’t chose to be the in the spotlight I thought it was best to warn.

We also get a tiny bit of Harry/Louis and Zayn/Liam, which tie up a lot of feelings and discuss Liam relationship with the other boys and in between them. This is a great read if you want to have all the feelings between all boys and Liam being adorable without wanting to put anyone out for wanting to have an orgy.


but more than a feeling

Title: Tear A Way In
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Sarah/Jess, Gabriel/Balthazar
Genres: AU, Omegaverse, Werewolf, Angst, Drama, Romance, Virgin, Family
Length: Epic (41,813 words)
Warnings: Implied past child abuse, implied attempted rape

Author on LJ: lady_deathangel
Author Website: lady_deathangel @ AO3

Author's Summary:
Omega wolves are so rare Dean Winchester never thought he’d meet one in his lifetime, let alone end up involved with one. But when the strange, enigmatic Castiel comes to Jackson Springs, one instinctive act of kindness throws the two of them together. Bound by instinct and something that runs much, much deeper, Dean finds himself torn between family, duty, and the stranger who's already burrowed deep under his skin.

Review:
I've read this fic so many times. The prose flows so nicely, it has a great balance of drama and romance, and it's not over the top or shoddily written as Omegaverse can sometimes be. It's a fun read with a satisfying resolution. Yes, this is a fic where omegas go into heat and alphas seek them out, but it focuses on Dean and Castiel's journeys to happiness rather than their sex life. There's no healing alpha cock in sight, and in fact Dean is the one who's the most unsure about his path in life.

Castiel is entirely himself in this fic. Though it's implied that he's had a rough or at least very isolated past, he's nowhere near a damsel dreaming of the strong arms of an alpha - he's already made his escape into the wider world and is living happily with Gabriel and Balthazar. It's Dean's issues with pack politics and his struggle with being an alpha that are the main focus of the fic, particularly his relationships with an asshole John, the usurper Azazel and a rebellious Sam who wants to get away from pack life. Though this isn't a groundbreaking fic, it's a solid, easy read that always makes me feel good.

Tear A Way In

Title: Grab and Hold
Fandom: Kingsman: The Secret Service
Pairing: Merlin/Roxy Morton, background Harry Hart/Eggsy Unwin
Categories/Genres: Post-Canon, Plot What Plot
Length: Medium (5559 words)
Warnings: N/A

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: TheDamselfly

Summary:

There is a gun strapped to her leg under her dress, a grenade in her coat pocket, and even unarmed she is more dangerous than most thugs on the street. There's something that's missing, but she's certain that she's got it all figured out now.

"Kingsman doesn't expect me to stay celibate forever, yeah?" she asks, like she's just curious. Merlin stares at her like he's not quite sure what's happening to him right now.

Review:

Ask me what I think about Kingsman: The Secret Service. Then watch as I sprint to the nearest rooftop and start screaming all the things I loved about it. Because I do love the hell out of the movie. But make no mistake, while I'm up there, I'll also make a point to scream about how there wasn't nearly enough Roxy being awesome. Fortunately, I have fanfiction to remedy that shortage.

TheDamselfly's Roxy is the embodiment of confidence. She's confident in her appearance, abilities, and unabashedly possessed of her own sexuality in a way that female characters are not typically allowed to be. She knows what she wants, knows how to get it, and has no qualms about doing whatever it takes. And once she's got Merlin right where she wants him, she's utterly honest in her pleasure.

And it really is about her pleasure. TheDamselfly frames Merlin's pleasure as tangential to Roxy's, more of a means by which Roxy can scratch an itch than an end in an of itself. It's a direct subversion of common portrayals of sex in the media, where men's pleasure is paramount, while women's pleasure is very narrowly defined, if even explored at all.

Grab and Hold