(Bi-)Weekly Fanwork Recs #26

[myrdschaem]

A bit late again here. Mostly I have been reading Clone Wars fic and being underwhelmed, I admit. But there were still some outstanding works. The first one deserves to be over the cut even!

But can it run Doom? by gifbot. Doom (Video Games), Crack Treated Seriously, Rated T, Warnings for Graphic Depictions of Violence.
If you missed the news, this fanwork is not a fic, it’s… Doom run on ao3, played by everyone who is currently checking the page. As far as I know, it’s not going well for the readers, but what an achievement. Shitpost of the year, easily.
Some technical explanation on what is going on - mostly the Doom is run on a remote server, gets input via links and rendered as an endless gif, but. technicalities. So yeah, of course ao3 can run Doom, why did we ever doubt that?

The Evening Arallute by galateaGalvanized. SW The Clone Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~13k.
Scarlet Pimpernel AU. I admit I have never seen or read the Scarlet Pimpernel, yet I clock those fics because the writers often have outstanding taste. The yearning and identity porn in this is great and there is Obi-Wan in slinky dress.

From the Garden, Grow by galateaGalvanized. SW The Clone Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rated M, No Warnings Apply, ~51k.
Fairytale turned fantasy epic AU! Cody rescues royals professionally, Obi-Wan is in a tower and doesn’t want to be rescued. They fall in love, of course. The reason this was written seems to be Disney Princess Obi-Wan, which is a great reason tbh. This fic goes pretty far into the happy fairytale road while not being completely over the top - which is an achievement since it’s based on a canon that comes with literal evil step-parents. It pulls it off neatly imo.

Binary System by Cimila. SW Prequel Trilogy, Jango Fett/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, Soulmate AU, ~24k.
This fic has a great plot set-up with great smut! After Qui-Gon’s death, Obi-Wan and Anakin get cornered on Tattoine and have to flee into the desert. There is a lot of grueling desert survival. Their only communication to the outside world are Obi-Wan’s soul mate dreams.
The problem: Jedi renounce their soul mates in this setting and shield against dreams, so Jango hasn’t dreamed about Obi-Wan in years and isn’t willing to let him go. Obi-Wan walks on the thin line of fleeing from Sith into the sand wastes with seemingly no way out vs. breaking his vows as Jedi by acnowledging and even falling for his soul mate, who might provide help. Really good.

there is no death (there is a wedding) series by virdant. SW Prequel Trilogy, Jango Fett/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rated G-T, No Warnings Apply, ~9k.
Based on the tradition of Chinese Ghost marriage, Obi-Wan has to marry the ghost of the former Mand’alor in his teens. This is fine, until he finds out his spouse is alive, a bounty hunter and they have 2 million clone children. The approach is very cracky overall as Obi-Wan goes with the flow and everyone else is losing their cool. Hilarious.

Life Didn’t End When The World Did by alyyks. SW The Clone Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, Post-Order 66, Implied Torture, ~20k.
This scratches the Hurt/Comfort itch well! Obi-Wan thinks Cody is dead or lost after the war ended, but gets a Force Vision (™) of Cody, who has been made. A rescue and a reunion, where both parties worry about what they did and pine, follow with a deserved happy ending. Very sweet towards the end, but has enough bite up front to not be fluff alone.

i just wanna keep calling your name (until you come back home) by BadWolfGirl01. SW The Clone Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, ~16k.
Similar starting point as Life Didn’t End When The World Did, the story is set post-Order 66 and Obi-Wan meets Cody in Force visions. This Cody is still under control of the chip, however, leading to some antagonistic dreamsharing while the actual Cody finds ways around the parameters. And of course, Cody gets rescued at the end.

The Sun Swings East by kj_feybarn. SW The Clone Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi/Rex, Rated M, No Warnings Apply (author), Graphic Depictions of Violence (me), Suicide, Temporary Character Deaths, ~33k.
Obi-Wan is caught in a time loop by Palpatine during the last days of the Republic. He has mostly given up, after he tried to make changes but got stopped every time. Rex and Cody help. This is amazing whump and Hurt/Comfort. Mind the tags, Obi-Wan has been through a lot even without on-screen depictions of all of it.

[Podfic] A Prayer for Strength in Adversity written by project0506, read by blackglass, Ellejabell, godoflaundrybaskets, Tipsy_Kitty. SW The Clone Wars, Clone-centric, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, ~9 min.
All of Cody’s siblings dragging him for his instant crush on his general.

THE FORCE WILLS DOCUMENTARY by jessseventy. SW Prequel Trilogy, Gen, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, ~24.5k.
Excellent outside pov on Jedi via fake documentary. Drawing on the wider canon to worldbuild and contextualise Jedi and the Force, there are character moments all over this. A positive take on Jedi culture and getting them a bit more relaxed.

Readiness Assessments by project0506. SW The Clone Wars, Gen, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ~1k.
Ah yes, fake bureaucracy! In this case, it’s twice fake because the Clones just make up an Readiness Assessment for Padawans of their Company on their own. They really want to adopt one, awww.

When Duty Is Done series by thosenearandfarwars. SW The Clone Wars, Cody/Obi-Wan, Rated T mostly, No Warnings Apply, ~61.5k.
AU where the investigation into the chips happen and the Vode get to build their own society. It starts off centering on Obi-Wan and Cody finally resolving their pining and goes into post-war reclamation of self. The fics are sometimes sad too, but always with some hope in them.

Bluebells by Stairre. G1, Rodimus/Ultra Magnus, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~27.5k.
After Optimus comes back to life and takes over leadership again, Hot Rod and Ultra Magnus aren’t sure how they fit anymore, nevermind the unaddressed pining from both sides. They get relationship advise from two unexpected sources: Optimus and Galvatron. A light, humorous fic that makes use of canon in an excellent way. Optimus getting back from the dead has to be awkward, right?

Your Second First Impression by TrebleTwenty. TF IDW, Drift & Rodimus pre-slash, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ~6.5k.
This fic is somewhat Drift-centric, focusing on the early days after he defected and joined the Wreckers. Other people… are not happy. Rodimus comes in from being betrayed and snaps. I really adore the subject matter and how it’s treated. In the comics, most of Drift is either firmly rooted in the Autobot cause or right before he turns over his new leaf. The repercussions and reacitions from both faction, especially first-hand, are rare. So yay for more Drift limbo fic! It’s also a good Rodimus fic - he is hotheaded and snaps, but also shows his good qualities as he makes an effort to connect. Also, Rodimus failing at meditation is comedy gold.

Contract Law: Special Vengeance Unit by DesdemonaKaylose. MTMTE, Megatron/Rung, Rated M, Chose Not To Warn, Past Abuse, Triggered Trauma, ~7.5k.
I fucking love this fic. Rung is trying to get laid with Megatron, who makes the whole thing very difficult. First he needs a cluebat, then… Rung suggests making a mutual consent contract, which is a Decepticon social convention. Only Megatron has never heard about any of it. Finally, the secret star of the fic gets revealed: Tarn implementing anti-abuse laws zealously after Megatron delegated and therefore influenced Decepticon culture deeply. Past-Megs didn’t have that good of a head on his shoulders, oops.
Needless to say, noone gets laid, but Tarn has the distinction of being good at his job because Megatron just gave no fucks in some ways. Recommended for everyone who wants to sympathise with Rung getting cockblocked, Megatron looking pretty foolish and a wild swerve between comedy and trauma. Ultra Magnus will end up with the paperwork, of course.

The Mating Call by neveralarch. G1, Skywarp/Starscream/Thundercracker, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~3.5k.
Another case of cracky premise treated as serious porn plot: Cicada au based on brood X. That is: forged mechs emerge in cycles and spent their first week or so having extremely public sex. Starscream is annoyed by everything and maybe a little jealous. He comes around to it.

Tantric Sex, and Other Mysteries of the Divine by DesdemonaKaylose. Mtmte, Rung/Megatron, Rung & Nightbeat, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~7.5k.
Nightbeat is on the case of many crew members having spontanous, mysteriously synced orgasmic experiences. Megatron also investigates. If you know the LL ending, the answer is probably clear. No actual tantric sex practices, sadly, just Rung masturbating more.

[Podfic] Poor Imitations written by Spoon888, read by Gilraina. TF IDW, Tarn/Starscream, Rated E, Chose No To Warn, ~13 min.
I keep reccing whatever transformers podfic Gilraina makes because they are all great. Starscream and Tarn having hate-sex while they both think about Megatron as a concept alone is hot. And then Gilraina has the perfect snide voice for him and it multiplies. Some sort of magic is being used here, truly.

[Podfic] Thorough written by Spoon888, read by Gilraina. TF IDW, Megatron/Tarn, Rated E, Chose Not To Warn, ~12 min.
Another Spoon podfic! Here, Tarn acts as a service top for Megatron, who can’t stand the personality but will take the dick, thank you very much. Gilraina brings a sexy Tarn voice that sounds sophisticated and transforms the fic thoroughly.

[Podfic] To Give written by Spoon888, read by Gilraina. TF IDW, Megatron/Tarn, Rated E, Chose Not To Warn, ~15 min.
See above, honestly! Service top Tarn lives on.

[Podfic] Home is Not a Place written and read by sksninja. Overwatch, McHanzo, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, ~45 min.
In which Hanzo is a lost deity sitting in his sword in an antique shop until McCree, who breaks curses, takes an interest. It’s a cute concept - for Hanzo variables of cute as he is practicing his self-loathing - and nicely wrapped up. The loneliness Hanzo feels as he waits for McCree is very relatable right now. Sksninja has a great voice and actual acting experience, which shows.

[Filk] Demons of London by Ceewelsh. Good Omens, Aziraphale/Crowley, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ~3 min.
Filk podfic has been on a rise lately and this is the latest treat. Delightful listen!

[Podfic] Statement #0210502 by godoflaundrybaskets and Jetaina. TMA/Water Fandom crossover, Gen, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ~7 min.
Listen. I don’t know what some podficcers are doing or where they get those ideas, but I support them. Love the crack, but I am also burrying my head in my hands. So… Water Fandom. Is a thing now. How? Why? Idk. You get a nice fanwork of the archivist interviewing water about their fear encounter. The water is answering in water sounds only. It works, it’s funny, I cannot for the life of me explain how it happened. I support it though. Great water fandom podfic, I’m sure it won’t be the last I see of this fandom.

His Greatest Adversary Yet by architeuthis. Original Work, Male Supervillain/Male Superhero, Rated M, No Warnings Apply, ~15.5k.
Signalboosting this excellent rec from Snickfic! Besides identity porn and a villain protagonist, this story really uses some unusual features. Both the hero and the villain are *old*, not 40s but retirement old, which is honestly a rarity. The villain also only got into the game late in life, which is logical for him.
I really adored the pov character, he was a teacher, is not really interested in harming people when he doesn’t have to, a mad scientist of the gentle sort doing some experiments and with a clear goal. He also discovers his attraction to men late in life. The villain doesn’t get gay panic, but is rather delighted to find there is something new about himself to discover. I have rarely seen it handled so well. The positivity towards growing on your own timescale is strong in this and a welcome balm.