...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!
I love American Horror Story (AHS).
It's amazing, let's be honest.
I started watching a fair few years after the beginning, and started from said beginning - Murder House (as everyone should, imho,) - so haven't actually caught up yet.
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!
Now everyone is staring at Klaus, who had chosen to pick at a thread on the shawl he’s wearing. He looks up in the following silence, smiling.
“What can I say, the fans love me.”
I'm currently reading The Umbrella Academy (TUA) fanfiction like there's no tomorrow... which given the current state of the world is a possibility, but let's move on...
So, I'm heavy on the TUA fanfics-reading at the moment.
...Especially the ones that play around with my favourite, fandom-specific, tropes.
It's Thursday, I miss having a boy cat around (no shade to my girl cat - she rocks,) let's get some superhero-y comics-y goodness!
'Five was scowling, “Try harder. We’re trying to figure out-“
“Blah, blah, how to get home. I know .” Klaus rolls his eyes. “I’d like to see you try to listen with all this noise.”'
I love it when there are tropes that are specific to the fandom.
Like, someone -
(or several someones, separately, in fandom harmony,)
- will come up with an idea - like, for argument's sake: Klaus from The Umbrella Academy (TUA) makes the ghosts visible to his siblings and they Freak. The eff. Out. -
(If you're new here - I can't swear, because my mother. If you're not new here - I still can't swear, because my mother. I can only swear in fiction, I don't know why. 😅)
- and then fandom will take this idea to their beautiful, nerdy, hearts, and freaking run with it.
'He feels faint himself, his head swimming with a startling lack of oxygen. Stars peek through the leaves ahead, and he turns his eyes upwards, counting them over and over again.'
Never have I been tested so much by my 'if it's well-written, I must rec' rule...
...I genuinely didn't know whether to rec this fic.
You know I love, love, love it when fic authors get creative!
Isn't there something just so beautiful about taking that source material and just running with it?! Like it's not bound by the confines of the material that created it? Like it has a life and an essence that goes beyond one single medium?
Living art, dearest nerdlets. Living art.
So this week I have 4 fics for you where the fic author has gotten impressively creative!
As always with my fic-rec lists, please check the original rec'ing post - which will be linked - for Content Warnings and spoiler status.
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.
Originally published in the Medium publication Promptly Written, for the following prompt set by Ravyne Hawke:
Who doesn't love a ghost story?
...Don't answer that! 😅 I know they're not to everyone's taste.
But I love 'em - and there are some pretty awesome fanfic ghost stories out there (both spooky and not-so-spooky,) so I figured I'd remind you of a few of my faves
I was originally not planning on making this a specifically LGBTQ+ list, but this is fanfiction...
...so it turned out literally 100% of the fics I picked were LGBTQ+ in some capacity! Woo! Lol. 😅
As always with these rec-lists, check out the original rec'ing post for my full list of Content Warnings.
...Also check the rec posts for SPOILER status for the fics, m'k?
It's Thursday, this is Dora Reads, it's still looking very 2023 out there, so let's get some comics-y superhero-y goodness!
Warning: this post discusses all kinds of general horror themes (as you probably guessed,) as well as briefly mentioning mental health problems
I love horror - films, books, whatever, I am there.
Perhaps that's a bit stereotypical, given I'm a Queer millennial smol emo child with mental health problems, but I figure being scared of fulfilling stereotypes just gives them more power over me - and stereotypes can shove it, tbh - so here we are! Lol.
'His captain just looked sad, like he'd failed Izzy in some way.'
OH MY GOD THIS FIC!!!!
krhguergjopwrgm';¬!
...sorry, had to fangirl over the page a bit there. This fic is so good.
Like - page-turning, stayed up an extra hour to read some more, good.
The Black Phone is one of my favourite short stories of all time, from one of my favourite authors of all time, Joe Hill.
I've read the collection 20th Century Ghosts (where The Black Phone appears,) more times than it's truly a good thing to admit to - it's my comfort reading, don't judge me.
So I love this story. It's a masterpiece.
Not perfect, no - it mentions how fat the villain is at least six times too many, for a start - but a masterpiece, all the same.
And I'm fully prepared to admit that I'm entirely biased when it comes to this story. So be aware of that. 😅
'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.'
...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.
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.
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(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.)
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(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
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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!
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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.”'
(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.
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...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! 😎💬
Previous Friday Fics Fix posts:
Sharing and commenting makes me believe you wanna keep reading these posts! 😅
'"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 😅)
'Something about her made his skin crawl.'
I can't let an October go by without visiting the fandom of Sapphic masterpiece Jennifer's Body, now, can I?
For those who are (sadly) unaware, despite the resurgence in its popularity, Jennifer's Body is a 2009, explicitly Queer, horror movie, starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried.
(Yes, explicitly Queer. Don't let people 'Gal Pal' Jennifer's-freaking-Body: it is Sapphic, Harold.)
'“You gotta stop dying on me.”
“Okay? Sure”, Daniel snorted. “Anything else you need, dear?”
“Yes. Help me stay alive.”'
Let me introduce you to Grace Le Domas:
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- this is her wedding day.
Today she married the man of her dreams, Alex Le Domas, a family member of the Le Domas boardgame empire.
And tonight, in-keeping with Le Domas family tradition, she'll sit down with her new in-laws and play a game.
This is the horror film Ready or Not.
