weekly fanwork recs post #10

[myrdschaem]

This week, besides Transformers, I crawled out of mech hell to get caught up a bit with the R76 tag. The tag has run away from me in the few months I wasn’t there and had at least one exchange, so I am not nearly through all of it. Also: I have at least gotten time to listen to my ITPE treats - and yes, they are all getting recced.

Sacrifice bylaissemoidanser. Overwatch, R76, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, 3 pages.

A short fan comic about Jack and Gabe dealing with Ana’s loss. The art uses simple, clear lines paired with colour work to transport many moods.

Starting Again bytriruntu . Overwatch, R76, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, post recall, ~3.5k.

A straight forward piece about Gabriel buying secret Christmas gifts for Jack again after they make up in the future. Fluffy but not overly so and even when using the old wedding rings to wring emotions, it doesn’t get kitschy.

Pas de Deux bychibimono . Overwatch, R76, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ballet au, ~1k.

Outsider pov from Lena who is worried that the two male leads are fighting. I liked the way chibimono let Lena describe the situation and her conclusions while managing to signal how unreliable her pov on the relationship was.

unfolding byseraphy . Overwatch, R76, Rated M, No Warnings Apply, ~2.5k.

A reunited pair of Jack and Gabe reminiscing about their earlier relationship as prompted by poetry snippets. Seraphy had Jack forget some of their history thanks to injury or trauma, which he never gained back, leaving Gabe to tell these fraught moments where Jack often was in danger.

[Podfic] Decepticats written bySpoon888 , read by GeminiWishes . G1, Megatron/Starscream, Rated G, Chose Not To Warn, ~32 min.

In which Starscream becomes a cat owner on accident. What more could one want?

In the Wake of the Storm byEdgeLady . Overwatch, R76, Rated M, No Warnings Apply, ~3.5k.

One of the classic “perfect dream while in reality the character is in trouble stories” centering around Jack enjoying the farm life with his husband. I liked how Claws wove in the omen of the outside world and how he made his final decision.

burn after opening byglimmerFae . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, Warnings for Graphic Depictions of Violence and Major Character Death, Zurich fic, ~6.5k.

Another take on what may have happened in Zurich between them. Double-agent Reyes is up against a brainwashed Strike Commander, giving the old speculation a new dimention. I also enjoyed how the action sequences and the emotions were written.

The One Where Chromedome Loses His License byfascinationex . MTMTE, Chromedome/Rewind, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, Crack, ~1.5k.

Transformers fic is fun because the people can come up with the weirdest plot lines that could only make sense there and write them seriously. This week: Chromedome’s spike (aka dick, if you don’t speak tf fic) license expires which means it gets locked away. Ah, you might say, why not simply reapply for a license? That and why it’s not so simple is the topic of this short epic. Honestly so quotable and great crack taken seriously with implications through world building that are absurd and yet Must Be Asked. Worth it.

(Podfic) jonathan sims, the distortion written byscreechfox , read by godoflaundrybaskets . TMA, Gen, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, Body Horror, ~45 min.

AU in which instead of becoming Helen the distortion takes over Jon. Includes body horror that is excellent and angst as Jon tries to not succumb. Wonderful reading by Baskets as usual and some amazing cover art work.

High But Very Drear byhonorarycassowary . The Locked Tomb trilogy (TLT), Gen, Aiglamene & Crux, Aiglamene & Gideon Nav, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ~2.5k.

I don’t think I can improve on the summary: “Aiglamene and Crux receive the five hundred ancient dead gifted by the Emperor for the renewal of the Ninth, and also do something that could be construed as mourning.” A fic that is in tune with the Ninth House at its core.

None Wedding With Left Pining byDachOsmin . TLT, Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, ~2.5k.

Yep, fake marriage! Delightfully silly and at once pompous circumstances (Harrow must marry before the Necrolord visits so she can technically ascend to leadership and keep the stunt with her parents secret) result in hardcore goth/jock wedding planning.

The Magicians of Starecross Hall bythatbroadcast . Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, John Childermass/John Segundus, Rated M, No Warnings Apply, ~34.5k.

A post-book fic that is entertaining, mostly epistolary and written in the same style. It took me a while to get back into the regency of it all, but when I did it was a true delight. Segundus/Childermass is a new pairing to me, but I was sold on it fast by this fic.

The Other Student byetothey . TLT, Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Rated M, No Warnings Apply, art school au, ~3k.

This is, as it technically known, a galaxy brain idea. Both of them are art students, but Gideon has a titty-ful webcomic with an underground following. Amazing. We get Harrow’s pov, who is at once indignant and crushing hard. What a beautiful disaster they make together.

By The Sword byJeanLuciferGohard . TLT, Gideon Nav/Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, Harrow the Ninth spoiler, ~2.5k.

Set in the second book, Harrow deals with being a Lyctor and has to actually work out a bunch. Familiar theme by now, but well done grieving.

Brew the Dead byquantumvelvet . TLT, Gen, Rated T, No Warnings Apply, BARI au, ~2k.

Another great take on the lovely BARI au setting which really sells itself with the sentence “the coffee is haunted."

astragali series bychibimono . Overwatch, R76, Rated G, No Warnings Apply, ~3.5k.

A short roman mythology au featuring shade of the underworld!Gabe and centaur!nereid!Jack that are tasked to be champions of the gods. Mostly happy with interesting worldbuilding sprinkled in.

The Hearth byBaffledFox . Overwatch, R76, Rated G, Chose Not To Warn, fairy tale au, ~2k.

Jack gets lost in the woods and hunkers down for the night as someone comes to his fire. Evocative of the magic at play as they meet over the fire and in the spirit of these tales Jack only realizes the true danger after it is already over.

I can’t help myself (your taste is so seductive) byZavijah . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, Chose Not To Warn, ~3k.

Porn with Gabe in sheer stockings, what more do I need to say to sell this fic?

Seduction Methods byapostapal . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~3k.

On one hand, it’s incubus Jack using his tail during sex with Gabe, which should be enough. On the other, apostapal goes hard and also manages to put in some angst about their relationship status and how stable it can be. Someone apologizes for loving the other one. If you like your heart ripped out and sort of ambiguous endings, this is the fic for you!

A Prince and A Pauper bySkyyeStrike . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~12k.

I liked this fic because instead of the usual plot wherein each makes their own way after the switch - which is also a good plot, really - this one had the pauper show the prince around for a night on the town. Extremely happy overall and fun to read.

A Shadow of Time byZavijah . Overwatch, R76, Rated M, Chose Not To Warn, Monster Hunter au, ~14k.

It starts as a story about a hunter and a monster building a rapport, but what made this story unique is the turn of banishing the monster protagonist. After decades, they meet again - only with the monster possessing the body of the former hunter. Touches nicely on the themes of aging vs. possibly eternal creature as well as enemies to lovers.

Depth of Field byEdgeLady . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, No Warnings Apply, ~1.5k.

Photographer and act model is a great trope. Claws takes it and spins a short turn in which the model hired the photographer to get a date with the very same.

The Dead Don’t Talk byprimalrage . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, Chose Not To Warn, ~6k.

Oh dear, oh my. This one is unfairly hot and filled with dread. Gabe rescues Jack to nurse him back to health and they have sex, only Gabriel is unwilling to show himself to Jack. Spoilers: he does so anyway. Double spoilers: this is some awesome gore and body horror. Primalrage built up the tension and hints to the reveal like a master. The anticipation sat in my stomach as I read. And even then, it is still hot, thanks to the body horror too. Guhhh.

Sappy bySlynx . Overwatch, R76, Rated E, Chose Not To Warn, ~7k.

A finely written cursed bear and homeless veteran fic, starting with a strangely compelling Craigslist ad. The star of the whole thing are the three puns though. So many of them, including the title.