...ironically, I thought I'd already done a rec-list on time-loops. I had not. 😅
I'm actually not a huge fan of time-loop fics.
If you don't know what a time-loop is - think Groundhog Day, or Happy Death Day, OK? OK.
In order for me to like it, a time-loop fic usually has to have a little something quirky to it - otherwise I get bored.
...So these aren't likely to be straight-forward, just a head's up!
'He looked up at the sky and sent a question to the stars.
“Loki, are you there?”
No answer.'
This is a melancholy little story about love and loss...
...I ended up liking it a whole lot more than I thought I would.
(Just goes to show that taking a chance on something sometimes pays off.)
'The people who know the Winter Soldier is rogue and hunting won’t exactly be shouting it from the rooftops, because telling people your pet murder machine has gone a little bit rabid on you is just the slightest bit bad for morale.'
I'm cheating, this week.
I have rec'd this fic before - way back, in the ancient internet age of 2018 (and also in a few rec lists since then.)
It's October everyone!
So I thought we'd revisit 3 horror-adjacent* fics that are novel/novella length for this week's F3 - because I'm nice to you like that 😅
They also all turned out to be LGBTQ+, because fanfiction be like that.
*If it has a ghost, I'm counting it 😎
As always, remember to check the tags and the original rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and other details, like SPOILER status!
'The first look at his demon had his mind reeling, and he swore softly.
"What in Hel?!"
Anthony Stark gave him a smug grin and a chuckle.'
You know in this house (...blog, shh,) we like creativity, yeh?
We also like FrostIron (Tony Stark and Loki in a romantic and/or sexual relationship.)
So... hopefully you can see where this is going 😅
'And here Bucky was, living his whole life slightly out of step and just now realising it, because no one had ever told him so.
Slightly out of step.
Different.'
Sometimes, you find fics which were written just for you, ya know?
My dearest nerdlets, a fic with Bucky Barnes (from the MCU/Marvel movies etc.) as a sad Queer boi with synaesthesia and migraines? This thing was written for me - no question.
'“Loki.”
His mouth quirks in a smile. Ah, yes. That was his name once. Long ago. Or maybe not yet. He can’t remember which description is most appropriate anymore.'
There are a lot of continuation fics based on the Loki Disney+ series, out there in the big wide world.
I must have read a good number all by my lonesome by now - I know I've rec'd some on more than one occasion.
'In the mirror, Cass’s eyes go wide in horror. “If either one of you says that to anybody I know, I’m gonna have to run away and change my name and join the circus. Is that what you want?”
Bucky pretends to think about it. “Would you at least be able to get us free tickets?”'
I enjoyed this one way, way, more than I thought I would.
So, this sees Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes from The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) and other Marvel stuff several years after TFATWS ends.
- Enough years, in fact, for Sam's nephew Cass to be going to his high school prom.
And of course Uncle Sam and Uncle Bucky volunteered to chaperone - because sometimes Captain America chaperones your high school prom, y'know?
'Sometimes, Klaus can’t look at Dave.'
OK, now that the trailer's out for the very lastest series of The Umbrella Academy (TUA) - for which I am both excited but also sad, because, lastest - this week's F3 seems super relevant.
...Happy coincidences, and all that jazz.
(Or maybe I need to read fanfiction from a wider range of fandoms - rec 'em in the comments if you got 'em!)
'The first time Bucky laid his beady yellow snake eyes on Sam, however, he knew none of the other demons’ vices held a candle to his own.
He fell in love with an angel, after all.'
I don't know whether I liked this week's fic.
...I mean, it's good. I just don't know whether or not I liked it.
Happens sometimes *shrugs*
'“Okay, get up, the both of you.” He took out his phone, typed Shuri’s address in, and sent it to Steve’s number. “You’re going to get blood all over the upholstery. And then I’ll have to set fire to it, and then to you for making me sacrifice my good sofa.”'
I love it when fanfic authors have the determination, the dedication, the goddamn verve to write full-length novels.
When those full-length novels are so freaking good - so well thought out, so fleshed out in terms of world-building, so passionate and compelling, that you would legit. buy this as an original novel?
OH MY GOD!!!
'"No, Sam, you're on vacation. Phone it in, let someone else do it."
"Bucky, it's an hour. We can go check it out, then stop at mine and get my stuff and be at the airport by five, half five at the latest. We've got time."'
Narrator: it did not take an hour.
...OK, so this is a The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (TFATWS) fic because I am trash and have run out of effs to give. 😘
'He grieves quietly.
The world is ending in three days; actually, truly ending.
Odd, how it feels like his already has.'
This is well-written, and you know we have a rule around these parts - if I find a well-written fic, I have to rec. it.
So - here we are! Rec'ing the fic.
Fanfiction can open your mind to new perspectives, ideas, styles, explore ideas and characters and art forms...
...or it can 'just' be a lot of fun. (Which is pretty impressive in and of itself.)
So I figured I'd give you four fun fanfics to enjoy (because I'm nice like that.)
As always with these rec lists, please check the original rec'ing post for spoiler status and Content Warnings.
Because this is me doing the rec'ing - it's entirely possible that even the fun fics need Content Warnings 😅
'It’s just that Bucky has spent his entire life trying to fulfill obligations — for the war, for Steve, for HYDRA — and now that he feels like he can make his own choices, he doesn’t know what to do.'
Bucky's bored.
He's really bored. Like - he needs hobbies. Badly. Preferrably ones with minimal interactions with people because are so... people-y.
Same, Bucky. Same. People are too people-y.
'"What's the matter, Cap?" Tony replied absentmindedly, an arm wrapped firmly around the god's torso to steady him. "Never been to a frat party?"'
Let's start this year how we mean to continue - with some angsty FrostIron! 😅
...No-one can say I'm inconsistent, tbh.
(Fandom notes:
FrostIron is a romantic and/or sexual relationship between Marvel's Loki and Iron Man Tony Stark. It works and I will go down with this ship.
Ship is a relationship - geddit?)
Since F3 is going on its regular break in December, I thought that now was a great time to give you my stand-out fics of the year!
- That's not the same as the best fics of the year.
It's more... the ones I can still remember when stressed and tired at the end of November 😅 (Expect a lot from the last few months, ngl.)
Remember to please check out the orginal rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and SPOILER status.
I'll leave the link to those original rec. posts when I finish up talking about each fic.
'O.B’s fingers freeze. He’s quiet for a moment, before moving to turn off his device. He turns to face Mobius.'
The end of series 2 of Loki was stunningly beautiful - and so is some of the fanfiction that's been inspired by it.
Yes, no sooner was the streaming streamed than the fandom picked up pen and pixel and set out to process, explore, enjoy, revel in, congratulate, commiserate, and everything in between.
Living art, right there.
I love novel-length fanfiction.
I am forever in awe of the dedication you have to show to something to write a full novel-length fanfic (especially if you're not planning on changing the names and selling it as an original novel like E. L. James 😅)
I gave a list (which you can see here,) about a year ago, of 5 of my favourite novel-length fanfics - and I figured it's time for another one! (Because I read a truly horrifying amount of fanfiction, lol.)
Remember to please check out the orginal rec'ing posts for Content Warnings and SPOILER status.
Some of these fics deal with difficult topics, so def. check the CWs!
I'll leave the link to those original rec. posts when I finish up talking about each fic.
'Tony froze and leaned back to study Bucky's face. He didn't seem to be exaggerating. Tony felt something dark and cold settle in his chest. He cradled Bucky's face with gentle hands, but his voice was hard as iron when he asked, "Honey, is there someone I need to take care of?"'
This week's fic is random af.
...I'd go as far as to say it's bordering on crack - don't get me wrong, it's not crack. But if you stand on your tippy-toes and look over the fence, you can probably see crack from here.
(Fandom notes:
Crack fics are the most random, surreal, and bizarre of fics. They are cracked (to give it the non-drug-related definition.)
Think terminally online meets Alice in Wonderland, or else the Sasquatch sequence in Tenacious D's The Pick of Destiny, and you're more-or-less there.)
