nia_kantorka: (I love Hugo)
I chose these [livejournal.com profile] hp_nextgen_fest fics to rec before the reveals were up and didn't know two of them were written by the same author. Anyway, they were picked because they all are brilliant and got imo way too little attention.

Title: Villa Zabini
Author: favicon cabinetcaligari[livejournal.com profile] cabinetcaligari
Pairing(s): Blaise/Albus Severus
Rating: R
Word Count: 2,110
Content/Warnings: Cross-Generation Relationship, Harry Potter Next Generation, Non-Linear Narrative, First Time, Loss of Virginity, Anal Sex

Summary: Scorpius and Albus travel through Italy to celebrate leaving Hogwarts. They visit the Malfoy’s family friend, Blaise Zabini. However, when Scorpius leaves after only a day, Albus stays behind.

Why I loved it: This story. It's poetic and beautiful. It makes me want to write myself. Of days spend in shimmering heat at the sea, turquoise battling azure and verdigris water, and summer days that leave you detached from reality, like this dream too good to be true. I read it and reread it immediately. I'm still in awe about its imagenary. If you haven't read it, please do yourself a favour and read it. You might want to put on some music from Ludovico Einaudi, like Le onde (the waves), and will probably leave all thoughts of a cold, dark autumn day behind.

Excerpt )

xoxoxo



Title: Dear Lily, Dear Hugo
Author: favicon Ely_baby[livejournal.com profile] ely_baby
Pairing(s) Lily/Hugo
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 6,548
Content/Warnings: Cousin Incest, Implied Sexual Content, Epistolary, Letters, Weddings

Summary: Lily and Hugo are getting married and Rose has thought up the best gift ever to give them.

Why I loved it: We all have been to weedings and maybe even had one were we were a lucky bride or groom. So you know about the tradition to create something special for the happy couple? Sometimes it's done in advance, sometimes on the weeding day itself. As a married person myself let me tell you such an individually created book/journal/picture book/whatever is the best thing to get. It doesn't matter if you look at such a gift days, months, or years later, it will always make you smile. You remember your wedding day and all the love you felt then and hopefully you're still feeling about your partner, family, and friends.

Now think about such a beautifully gift given to Lily and Hugo by all their relatives and friends participating. Believe me it's not cheesy (or only a little bit), it's mostly hilariously funny because of the people who write their letters to Lily and Hugo. The author did an amazing job portraing a developing relationship, family ties and love in every from. It's stunning. Don't miss a perfect little story just because it's about a het pairing or written in epistolary form.
PS—My favourite letters were from Charlie, Percy (yes, really), and this one from Ron.


Excerpt )

xoxoxo


Title: Second Skin
Author: favicon cabinetcaligari[livejournal.com profile] cabinetcaligari
Pairing(s) Lorcan/Lysander
Rating: R
Word Count: 2,949
Content/Warnings: Pining, Jealousy, POV First Person, POV Alternating, Angst, Siblings, Background Relationships, Masturbation, Ambiguous/Open Ending

Summary: People always say we’re attached at the hip, Lorcan and I. He feels like home to me, and I trust him more than anyone. But there are things even Lorcan cannot know.

Why I loved it: This story is an absolute killer. It hooks itself into your heart and won't you let go. Not for hours, days ... weeks by now. I picked about five different parts for an excerpt and am still sure I didn't do it justice. Yes, it's a story about love between twins that are more to each other than 'just' brothers. But they don't know. Not Lysander, not Lorcan. It's beautiful and heartbreaking.

It ends open and we don't know what will happen afterwards, but it's perfect this way. You can make up your own ending. What will you choose? Bring them together? Keep them appart? It took me while to realise that it doesn't matter, because they are already each other's second skin, and yet it's so much fun to visualise fitting scenarios. As I said, it's perfect. Really wish I could leave more kudos and more love for this one...


Excerpt:I love to tell him about the things I’ve read, and the stories I daydream about. But most of all, I love to tell him about the adventures of two brothers on a Magisafari in rainforests, burning hot deserts, and the dark depths of the ocean. I tell him about their adventures, and he hangs on my every word, mouth hanging open and eyes shining. He searches out my hand, his fingers weaving around mine, and I tell my stories until his breathing evens out. I hold his hand until I fall asleep too, wishing life would always stay this way.

xoxoxo
nia_kantorka: (Inception gyroscope)
Wanted to rec more, but got hit by a head cold. Not sure if I'll manage to write another rec post in November. Will continue in December if needs must, as I have already two more themed posts planned.

Title: Lines That We'll Draw
Author: favicon VIII_XIII
Pairing(s) Arthur/Eames
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 21,086
Content/Warnings: Inception Reverse Bang, Epistolary, Slow Build, Introspection, there are major plot points that rely on art history, why can't I write an Inception story without any major plot points that rely on art history?, I'll link to images for people who don't know much about art history, Bottom Eames, Romance, Post-Inception, Canon Compliant, thousands of words of porn!

Summary:
And you know, there's something really liberating about putting your thoughts down and sending them out and not being able to take them back. I think you're probably reading this and thinking that I'm significantly weirder deep down inside than you'd thought, and that's all right because it's the truth. But maybe you don't care and you've already thrown this away and you'll toss any other ones I send out with the junk mail, unopened. And that'd be okay too. It's not the reading that counts; it’s the writing.

There are two boxes full of letters in Eames's desk drawer. The ones he receives from Arthur, and the ones he wishes he could send in reply.

Why I loved it: I read this story a while ago for the first time and stumbled upon it again because this year's [livejournal.com profile] i_reversebang is just finishing posting and this story (from 2013's reverse bang) came to my mind and I had to reread it immediately. It's not only beautifully crafted, but contains an irresistible atmosphere. There's much art - and I just love art in most of its forms - in the story. It's also a tale about these two men that thrive with the other though they need an outrageous amount of time to realise it. And then there's an explosive and wonderful love scene once they are finally in each other's vicinity.

I really loved that they weren't together for quite some time in Lines That We'll Draw, but are nearly always on the mind of the other. How gorgeous is that? They fall for each other nonetheless. Eamus at least gets Arthur's letters, but as Arthur travels and doesn't leave a return adress, Eames can only write his replies and stack them into a box at his desk. The letters they write are absolutely brilliant. Yes, I have a super soft spot for epistolary fics, but that's not all what this fic is. Eames and Athur grow quite a lot during this story. It's so beautiful to see. And yeah, at the end of the story there's not only a hot sex scene, but also some stunning art by kivvii to see. It is a whole package of beauty.


Excerpt )



Title: Love Is Pure Gold and Time a Thief
Author: favicon Aja[livejournal.com profile] bookshop
Pairing(s) Arthur/Eames
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 43,699
Content/Warnings: Military Backstory, mutual antagonism, Competence Kink, Pining, Inception Reverse Big Bang Challenge 2016
Summary: Having a history with someone isn’t the same as having a present.

Why I loved it: This story. Gosh, I can't. This story is a raw gem. Reading it hurts a bit, but well, it's only because they do talk a lot with each other, but not talk with each other. But it's so well done and I loved so many ideas here. Their shared military past, how Eames tricked everyone into underestimating him, how that came back to roost him later, how he helped Cobb though he couldn't stand his incompetent arse (for Arthur, of course), how he fell so hard and remembered every word he ever shared with Arthur, and yet, it took them so long to actually find a way. Jesus fucking Christ, these guys killed me. LOL

I fear this is neither a coherent nor persuasive rec, but I'm in awe about this fic. It is so beautifully written and hurtful in just the right ways and the sex is smoking hot and yeah ... please just do yourself a favour and read it. As it's also an Inception Reverse Bang story, it comes with fantastic art too. This one is by assasyngal - a great picture and a perfect match for the story.


Excerpt )

nia_kantorka: (Tony)
First, this post isn't about my favourite Marvel pairing, but other fics I enjoyed very, very much.
Second, chances are slim that there will be ever recs of main pairings containing Steve or Thor from me.
Third, enjoy!

Title: Not Less
Author: favicon sara_holmes
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairing(s) James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton, Steve/Tony (Background)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3812
Warnings/Tags: Winterhawk Week, winterhawk - Freeform, prompt - disabilities, Clint Barton Feels, Deaf Clint Barton, Bucky Barnes Feels, Hurt/Comfort, Happy Ending, Getting Together

Summary:
“Why can’t I hear?!” Bucky is screaming. “Where the fuck is my arm?”

Clint feels the weight of the metal despite the fact it’s trussed up, held against his chest by something that’s part sling, part restraint. He can sense the cold of the plate embedded in his shoulder and feels like a thief.

Why I loved it: Not Less is a wonderful story. Bucky, Clint, Tony and Steve were hit by some magic and switched their - lets call them - disabilities, even though that doesn't hit the nail on the head. Anyway, now it's Bucky who's deaf and Clint who's got a metal arm and ... better go and read the rest for yourself.

If you're a Harry/Draco fan you've probably all have read at least one fic by Sara Holmes. She writes MCU fics now and - of course - they are as great as her Harry Potter fics. To my astonishment I realised she has as much a faible for Bucky/Clint as she has for Bucky/Steve. As I love the more unusual pairings I just had to give the former a try.

Boy, am I glad I did. It's so wonderful to see Clint and Bucky grow close because they try to help each other. The story is told from Clint's pov and I just love him. He's so grateful to be able to hear again, but also feels guilty as fuck about it. He's also struggling big times with Bucky's arm as it's much too forceful for him. But life goes on, and it is so, so good to see them deal with it. In the end they all are not less than they've been before that magical accident. It's an awesome little story and I reread it whenever it comes to my mind (the blessings of shorter fics :D)!


Excerpt )

>X<


Title: Complications
Author: favicon flawedamythyst
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairing(s) James "Bucky" Barnes/Clint Barton
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 84.227
Warnings/Tags: Post-Avengers: Age of Ultron (Movie), Not Captain America: Civil War (Movie) Compliant, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Main Pairing is Clint/Bucky, Mention of past violence towards children

Summary: Clint's got a plan to retire and go find himself a simple life at his family's old farm. Simple is good, right? Easy to remember. Simple is why he doesn't really mind that his soul-print has never activated, because a soulmate could only add another layer of complexity to his life.

And then the Winter Soldier turns up at his archery range on the Avengers base, and simple slips through Clint's fingers.

Post Age-of-Ultron (minus Clint's wife&kids) Soulmate AU.

Why I loved it: Aw, this fic is just too lovely. Clint has these big plans for retiring from the Avengers, because being one of the only non-enhanced in the group sucks, especially when your joints don't like to get smashed into concrete or fall from heights any longer. But then Bucky shows up at the Avenger compound and Clint's the first to meet him. Somehow that sparkes a connection between them as does the fact that they share a past where mind control was involved. They just get each other. It takes them a while to realise there's even more connecting them.

I won't tell more, for example are there some interesting side pairings (beyond an obvious one), but I really loved this fic's writing style. No wonder as flawedamythyst is one of my favourite multifandom writers (I especially love her Sherlock and MCU fics) with an awesome sense of humour. There can never be enough to laugh about in the world. And yes, I really loved how she wrote Clint in this one. There's already a finished sequel (Publications) available which finished the series. I haven't read it so far, but am really looking forward to do so.


Excerpt )

>X<



Title: Planned Impossibilities
Author: favicon Mollz
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairing(s): none, Tony-centric
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 31,157
Warnings/Tags: sciencebros, Not Slash, Fury is a dick, Beware inconsistent updating, Loki does NOT just get off the hook for what he's done

Summary:
The universe has rules.

Sometimes, people are mistaken about what those rules are. (Humans can't learn magic.)

Sometimes, you can find a creative work-around. (Thanos destroys everything in his path.)

Sometimes, it turns out that the rules contradict each other. (F = G * (m1*m2)/(r^2) + Flight spells.)

But there are still a few rules that are supposed to be hard and fast. (People don't come back from the dead.)

And those are the rules that Tony Stark takes as a challenge.

Why I loved it: This story isn't like any other I've ever read. It's bizarre, but oh so wonderful. Acutally, it's the 2nd part of a series, but as this one impressed me even more than its prequel I picked this to rec.

Tony disappeared 2 3 years ago - well let's be honest - he died, and suddenly he's back. He can't remember much of the afterlife, but knows about a few things he has to do. So he does, and it all gets only more complicated and Bruce, Loki and the others try to follow his weird doings. Don't worry, it all makes sense in the end, and along the way you will read a story about friendship, dreams, death, and the laws of the universe (magic and physics included). It's hard to really describe Planned Impossibilities, but I'm so glad I found it in someone's bookmarks. Mollz has a faboulus writing style and Tony is hilarious in this one (they all are). It hasn't even a slash pairing and yet I love it to pieces. If you have a penchant for the weirdos, the impossible or the bizarre (a là Jasper Fjorde and Douglas Adams), you should give this fic and the whole series a try. So worth it.


Excerpt )

>X<
nia_kantorka: (Collar)
You might need these not to drown in sorrow...
I love bdsm fics. To read all the reasons why people want to submit to or dominate a person. The psychology behind, how our brains might crave an outlet for our body. And how those actions finally calm the mind ... yeah, I think it's one of the most fascinating things ever. Be aware that I love it when things get rough, so read the tags and proceed carefully from there.
If you have any recs yourself, please tell me about them. I'd even jump into new fandoms if the eveloping bdsm realtionship is worth it. Also, fair warning, this post is long. Most of the fics are long and worth some words and a proper excerpt. 'nough said, here we go:

Title: Strangers to Ourselves
Author: favicon Nonymos
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairing(s) Clint Barton/Loki
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 121,417
Warnings/Tags: Dominant!Loki, sub!clint, Dom!Loki, Dom/sub, Explicit Sexual Content, Porn With Plot, Smut, BDSM, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Bondage, Whips, Gags, Blindfolds, Painplay, Hair Pulling, Slapping, Asphyxiation, Masturbation, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Leashes, Begging, Cock Rings, Forced Orgasm, Humiliation, Subspace, BDSM - Freeform, Trying to escape the clichés here, Real-life BDSM is all about trust and respect, that shouldn't be an issue between those two, ha ha, Internalized Homophobia, Internalized BDSM-phobia, Denial, Aftermath of Fuck or Die, Self-Loathing, Trust Issues, trust issues everywhere, Angst, Truckloads of sex, Clint drops the F-bombs everywhere, but he's going through rough times okay, Coulson Lives and he's awesome, Loki's motives are a mystery, Clint is too stubborn for his own good, also Sitwell is a prick

Summary: Loki likes it when people kneel before him, and isn't that the sign of a heavy dominant complex.

Clint enjoys having nothing but his next target in mind, and isn't that the sign of a heavy submissive complex.

Loki and Clint slept together during a sex-pollen-induced frenzy. They both agree that it was an unpleasant, shitty road-bump, they still hate each other a lot and the situation is not going downhill at all, fuck you very much.

Or: What do you do when your greatest enemy becomes the one man you can't live without ?

Why I loved it:
It's hard to describe this fic and its companion piece (see rec to From The Top) and what they did to me. Last week I promised a rec about my favourite fic from 2016. That wasn't the truth, but not a lie either, because these two fics are my favourites so far. Tbh, I can't see that change in the few weeks that are still to go in 2016. They are an entity, but I still try to point out each's specifics.

In Strangers to Ourselves the reader gets Clint's pov. Loki's pov is told in From the Top. To read one after the other was kind of an revelation. There are scenes that are particularly hard to read from Clint's perspective and the reader gets too curious about Loki's view ... and the whole picture just blew my mind.
First, I should start with the story though:
There is that sex pollen event which is actually more a pwp fic and a short prequel to this story. Afterwards neither Clint nor Loki can get the events and the other out of their head. Well, it was easy to let go when one was high. In Clint's case that was living out a submissive streak more than a mile long, and in Loki's to thrive on it. He gave Clint something that comes easy to him and got a whole being just for himself to play with. Yeah, but that was when they were high as kites. Now, they aren't and it's not so easy for Clint to let go. With Loki of all people. The terrible, terrible God who brainwashed him. Of course he fights it. Without much success I might say. Because he got hooked, and now it's Loki and his treatment that Clint craves. The more he tries to suppress it, the greater the urge gets. It doesn't take long for him to break. He begs Loki to become not only his submissive, but his slave. Yupp, for real. He wants to be Loki's. That's when the Avengers come to know about them and shit really hits the fan. ... And all that is just the start.

See, it's difficult to describe this fic and even describe a tenth of what happens in it. It's even more difficult to explain their relationship. Clint is not an easy submissive. He's strong and doesn't just give in. Yet he needs it so badly, and he doesn't want safewords or consent or safety. There's a part where Loki has to leave him, and someone [can't spoil it, all right?] takes over. But it's not the same and he hurts and - even his friends finally see that they are unable to help him - only Loki can. Everybody should remember that and how Clint suffered like a shrivelling plant in the desert without him, because then he gets trained as Loki's slave.
Holy shit. I won't tell you much more. Lets just say Clint is stripped of his defences one after the other and ... that was tough shit at times ... and yet I loved it, every brutal step on the way. Even from Clint's pov you could see that Loki did care about him, even (or especially because) he has a sardistic streak more than the Bifrost long.

Now I cease my rambling about this one, because Loki has his own story. If you love bdsm fics and are willing to accept that it is a story and would never take place in rl (nearly nothing in this story is to be tried at home kids and adults!), you'll get a fantastic fic about two characters that badly need each other. How they discover just that, that the other's a perfect fit for their special needs, is told in Nonymos' fabulous story with such verve, vivid pictures, and an unexpected amount of humour. Both fics made it on my all-time-favourites-list in no time.


The excerpt will give you a pretty good idea if you can stomach the story or not. I love that scene, even if my heart always breaks for the Bilgesnipe. [Warning for a fictive animal dying, its death serves a purpose]
Excerpt )

xxoxx


Title: From The Top
Author/Artist: favicon Nonymos
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Pairing(s) Clint Barton/Loki
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 203,635
Warnings/Tags: Loki, not exactly Safe Sane and Consensual, more like Unsafe Insane and Sensual, BDSM - Freeform, D/s, Submissive!Clint, Dominant!Loki, sub!clint, Dom!Loki, Explicit Sexual Content, Porn With Plot, Smut, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Bondage, Whipping, Gags, Blindfolds, Painplay, Hair-pulling, Slapping, Asphyxiation, Masturbation, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Leashes, Begging, Cock Rings, Forced Orgasm, Humiliation, Sex Machines, Sexual Torture, Cages, Vibrators, Subspace, Domspace, Denial, Refusal, Aftermath of Fuck or Die, Self-Loathing, Trust Issues, TONS AND TONS OF SEX, also angst, Loki Angst, So much angst, The God of Chaos has disturbing fantasies, Thank God Barton shares most of them, Thor is trying his best, Jarvis is one upgrade away from turning into a Robot Overlord, What the fuck is Clint thinking, Odin's A+ Parenting, Loki Feels, Clint Feels, BAMF JARVIS, BAMF Phil Coulson, Bloodplay, Knifeplay, Breathplay, Tickling, Sounding, Cock & Ball Torture,Heat Torture, Shaving, Dehumanization, Objectification

Summary: Loki has always yearned for control; but he never did get to control anything.

Barton was made to be ruled; but he was never expected to realize it.

Power is the flame, and Loki Laufeyson is the moth; however, it turns out that even catching fire is not that easy. There are princes and monsters at war inside him – and Clint Barton got caught in the fight.

Or: Can Loki trust himself not to be a monster, when all the prince wants is to take power?

Why I loved it:
This Loki. Wow, he's really crazy, as in personality disorder crazy, and an incredibly lonely soul. It's kind of a blessing that he stumbles into that sex pollen situation and therefore discovers a new side of Clint. Breaking Clint gives him a new purpose, one that makes him care about things. Only about Clint at first, but - yes, there's still the threat of Thanos coming - later on even about the worlds. In the excerpts he already has that apple of Idunn. What he was willing to do to get it was astonishing. He humiliates himself just that Clint can't stay with him through the centuries (well, if he gets rid of Thanos that is...), yeah, he really does care for Clint. Yet, he breaks him over and over and over again. For his own sake and for Clint's.
It was so fascinating to see. There was a scene where Clint suffers for days and in the first fic you really can't believe that Loki left him like this, but here you see what it did to him. How Loki nearly broke down himself, how much it cost him to not intervene and not say, 'ah, it is just a game'. That he actually took Clint's wish, to be his slave to heart ... ah, it was perfect. And there were many, many more scenes like this, where you see why Loki did what he did.

I loved to read about Loki's struggle. There were these two parts of him, one that wanted to destroy everything, especially the things he held dear, and the other where Clint was his most precious possession: a lover, a slave, the perfect companion. And I loved the ending. Can't say much about it, but that their story carried on when Strangers to Ourselves had long ended. I was and am in awe about that ending. It was absolutely perfect and ... oh I just shut up now before I spoil things.

I'm planning to reread both stories this winter, not one after the other, but simultaneously. After the part of Loki's past, frist every chapter from Clint's pov and then again from Loki's pov. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

This fic broadened my horizon. I know it wouldn't be okay to do anything like this in real life, and yet it opened my mind about how deep the needs a person might have can run. I loved to see them becoming happy with their chosen life-style. I could go on and on about how this story spoke to me. If anybody gives it and its companion piece a try, please tell me how you liked them. I'm sure both will gain strong reactions. :D


And the same part - this time from Loki's pov [sorry, the Bilgesnipe is about to be killed again].
Excerpt )

xxoxx


Title: Smoke and Mirrors
Author: [livejournal.com profile] oakstone730favicon Oakstone730
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing(s) Charlie Weasley/Harry Potter, past Charlie Weasley/Remus Lupin
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 25,669
Warnings/Tags: Bondage and Discipline, BDSM Scene, Post - Deathly Hallows, Hurt/Comfort, Grief/Mourning, Sensory Deprivation

Summary: Charlie seeks out transient encounters to relieve the stress of dragon-wrangling after losing his partner Remus. When the mysterious Dom known only as Black offers him an unusual contract, he can't say no.
Time frame: 2008-2009. AU: Remus/Tonks & epilogue Harry/Ginny never happened.

Why I loved it:
This fic had some beautiful dynamics. There is Charlie, a submissive, but a wonderfully strong character. He lost his lover, Remus, ten years ago and never fell for another in all the time. Well, until he meets the mysterious Black in a Parisian BDSM club. The man calls him Red and offers him things he has only dreamed about for years. He fulfils said dreams, but there's one condition: Charlie/Red can't see Black's face. It comes how it must and Charlie learns that Black was Harry all along, just after he was finally ready to let Remus go... Don't worry, they manage to get there in the end. :D

The scenes in the fic were fabulous, and it was a real treat to see oblivious Charlie falling for Black. Of course he was really pissed when he learned the truth. And Harry? Seeing him as Black through Charlie's eyes, oh my god, he was so, so hot. I wish someone would draw them both in action. Though maybe the paper will catch fire...
I also loved that it was a story about loss and how you can get lost in it when you notice nothing beside your own 'bubble of desperation and loneliness'. It was great to see Charlie finally heal and carry on. Harry's demeanour wasn't perfect, but in his defense, he'd tried for years to get Charlie's attention. I could relate to him taking desperate measures.

Don't get me started on their scenes. Damn they were awesome. Harry had some great kinks for a Dom and they fit this great role reversal perfectly. Don't get me wrong, he didn't come across as weak or not capable to wield whatever instrument he chose to beat Charlie with, and the descriptions of his deep sexy voice gave not only Charlie gooseflesh. I just loved that Charlie - the strong and stout dragon tamer - was the one who craved submission in all ways possible. It's brilliant when a bdsm story plays with expectations and turns them upside down. Really these stories are the best. You probably know Oakstone730 as an author, but yeah, you might haven't read this story as it's not their 'normal' pairing. Give it a try nonetheless. I'm sure you won't regret it.


Excerpt )

xxoxx


Title: Stuck on the Puzzle
Author/Artist: favicon thespectalesofthor
Fandom: Dragon Age - Inquisition (#3)
Pairing(s) Iron Bull/Cullen Rutherford
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 235,586
Warnings/Tags: Kink negotiation, non-sexual kink discussion, Drug Withdrawals, resistance to aftercare, corporal punishment discussion, Cullen Has Issues, which surprises no one at all, references to unhealthy SM dynamics, watchwords, Flogging, Aftercare, Resistance, communication issues, Subspace, Touch-Starved, PTSD, covert self-harm, Masochism, Slow Burn, Scratching, Massage, Dominance/submission, Wrestling, Mild Humiliation, Mild subdrop, handjob, Blow Job, Size Kink, Mild Cock & Ball Torture (because I realised most people wouldn't know what CBT meant), Caning, Blood, Impact Play, Punishment, Rimming, Praise Kink, Rope Bondage, Dubious Consent, Clamps - Freeform, Anal Sex, Fingering, Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending, Assisted Suicide of Minor Character

Summary: Once, back in Kirkwall, Cullen had an arrangement with a member of the city guard that satisfied his needs. But time changed all things, and he despaired of ever finding a similar arrangement again - that was, until he met The Iron Bull. Problem being that Bull seemed to care far more about sorting out the nitty-gritty of such an arrangement than Cullen ever has.

Why I loved it:
I went through the relevant tags on ao3 on my query to find new and long bdsm fics à la Needs Must and found this one. I had literally no clue about Dragon Age, but there are ways - aka great wikis for all and every person on the internet - and after some reading I felt ready to dive into this fic. Man, what a journey. The author took canon and wove things into it, so let me try and explain:

There's Cullen, a former Templar with a ton of baggage. First, he is a former Lyrium addict (all Templars use this drug and as they rarely leave their order, they don't even know what it does to you if you don't take it anymore...). Yet Cullen left them because ... reasons ... and with that he had to learn to live with returning intervals of physical withdrawl. Lyrium never leaves for real, and on top to the physical side of things, whenever the drug is around, it literally sings to Cullen. Second, he has this craving for submission, he likes to be beaten and used and hates himself for it. In this world he has a name, a reputation, he's the Inquisitor's advisor in all things military, he commandeers the forces of Skyhold and ... he just can't give into this shit. Take also into account that the arrangement he once had with that man in Kirkwall was very, very unhealthy. That man let him feel that he secretly despised him for his needs. No wonder he has a problem to see himself as a healthy and worthy human being...
Then there's the Iron Bull, a mercenary, with his own horrible past (in imo the past of Cullen is an even bigger shitload of suffering, but yeah, one could have a lenghty discussion about that). Bull's a one-eyed Qunari, a big, strong and humanoid species with horns. Let's say he looks impressive and is normally paired with Dorian Pavus ... but yeah, not in Stuck on the Puzzle. Anyway, he has not a single problem with his sexual kinks and loves to let out his dominant side. He also is a very caring Dom. He has his problems, but not with Cullen's cravings, more with feelings and such things. Him being kind of a flagship-Dom makes it problematic for Cullen though. Cullen doesn't want aftercare, negotiations, and whatnot it is Bull wants of him. Mostly, because he doesn't feel worthy to get such treatment.

Well, it was truly beautiful and very angsty to follow these two on their journey. At times I thought they would never make it, but it was great, and especially when feelings entered the mix, it got breathtakingly bumpy. But they got there in the end, even though it took them a long time, which was part of the fun for me.

The scenes between them were wonderful, yet I loved it even more that both of them came from such contradictory positions. To see them overcome all the shit that stood between them was the real treat of Stuck on the Puzzle. Another gem was the worldbuilding. Yes, a lot is given by the games, but Thespectaclesofthor took canon and added their own stuff in such brilliant ways. For example Cullen's withdrawl episodes. The varied in intensity and hardship, and at times he and I thought he wouldn't survive it. And just think about a drug that sings to you. Not like a hallucination, but for real. And only people who ever used it can hear its song. How glorious an idea is that?

Yeah, this fic's bdsm scenes were pretty good, but not this fic's true speciality. No, it was the journey these characters took. They showed such great deepth, and their interactions and inner monologues were wonderful to read. It totally made me crave more fics with them. Sadly there are not that many more stories (I should probably try to fall for Dorian too), but this one was worth every minute I spent with it. A beautiful story.


Excerpt )

xxoxx
nia_kantorka: (Shaken)
When I write one pairing, I have a hard time reading precisely about these characters. That's why, while I was writing my bang story, I read lots of James Bond fanfics. I did so after I saw Skyfall in summer too and now I have quite a collection of really great 00Q fics to share. Well, can't share them all, so here are three stories that stayed with me and are still flittering through my mind every once in a while. Enjoy!

Title: Monsters at Our Back
Author/Artist: favicon thejabberwock (bondsboffin)
Fandom: James Bond (Craig movies)
Pairing(s) James Bond/Q
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 18.932
Warnings/Tags: Trauma, Deceit, Betrayal, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Guilt, Alternate Universe, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Fucking, Blowjobs, Frottage, Clothed Sex, Rough Sex, Barebacking, Explicit Sexual Content, Semi-Public Sex, Trauma Recovery, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Canon-Typical Violence, Established Relationship, Discussions of Suicide

Summary: After Q betrays him, Bond pulls him from the water and breathes him back to life. And then he walks away and doesn't look back. Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace AU

Why I loved it: The idea of this story, that Q is Vesper while he is also MI6's Quartermaster was absolutely brilliant. Don't worry - Q doesn't drown in Venice, but James nearly goes mad over Q's betrayal, and things are everything but easy for them after Venice. It's a rough story and yet I loved it, because I could relate quite well to James and to Q too. It's the hardest to forgive someone you love, who abused your trust. Can such a relationship heal? Does it count if someone was blackmailed and lied to you, but still had good intentions? That that person wanted to safe their boyfriend and the person they fell in love with to do so?
Yes, it's a tricky fic which makes you question your moral principles. Thejabberwock's characterisations are great and far from the usual black and white ones. For example James treated Q horrible for a while, who just took it because he felt so guilty. Yep, sometimes I wanted to shake them badly, but they got there. Aren't the things you have to fight hard for the best?



Excerpt )

>00Q<


Title: Mélomanie
Author/Artist: favicon dhampir72
Fandom: James Bond (Craig movies)
Pairing(s) James Bond/Q
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 40.671
Warnings/Tags: Slow Build, Music, Angst

Summary: After Skyfall, Bond moves into a new flat and falls in love with the music upstairs. [With Audio] ~
Mélomanie (French) - an excessive, abnormal love and deep attraction to music and melody

Why I loved it: This fic. Oh my god, this fic. It's so awesome. James has this neighbour in the flat above his own who plays the most beauftiful songs on the piano and the violin. They start to talk via notes and the mysterious stranger even records songs for him on CD. At work he becomes friends with Q and the more he gets to know him, the more he falls for him. But things aren't running smoothly and James - a badass in all situations - is not at all sure of himself when it comes to love and feelings. So he ruins this thing with Q ... but there's still the music from above.
It's easy to see from the beginning what this story is about and yet, it was written so beautifully that it broke my heart and put it back together again in the end. Dhampir72 has an absolute wonderful way with words and I have several of her stories bookmarked. Seriously, they are all so good. But of course this one was special. I love music, and while listening to the recommended songs, that all matched their respective scences, I found some gems of piano music and discovered a lot of things.
For example my favourite song of Mélomanie was and is 'Cloud Atlas Sextet' by Tom Tywker (Do you remember that he directed 'Perfume - Story of a Murderer' the movie which gained BW international success in 2006?). I got curious about it and learned that Cloud Atlas is a novel by David Mitchell and that a movie excists too. Guess what? It's a movie by Lana and Lily Wachowski (the formaly Wachowski brothers, whose 'V for Vendetta' is one of my all-time-favourites) and Tywker. I could go on about what other music I found because of this fic, but actually this should be about the story. I case it didn't come across: It's one of the most wonderful stories I read in 2016. Not the best, that'll be part of another post, but it is definitely in the top ten. I can only rec Mélomanie wholeheartedly!


Excerpt )

>00Q<


Title: Normal
Author/Artist: favicon hyphyp
Fandom: James Bond (Craig movies)
Pairing(s) James Bond/Q
Rating: R
Word Count: 5.154
Warnings/Tags: Fluff, Everyone Loves Q, Bisexual Q

Summary: In which Bond is not the most interesting person Q has ever been with. He's not even in the top five. (Or: Five people who want Q, plus the one Q wants.)

Why I loved it: After two angsty stories a funny one at last. This fic was hilarious. Q's exes. Gosh, I laughed my arse off. How James got more and more jealous the more he met in person. I mean it's hilarious just to think about, isn't it? James Bond - playboy with so many bedmates that there aren't even enough bedposts for all the notches he could make - becomes jealous of the ex-lovers of his boyfriend. LOL It's a shorter story, but it's amazing to distract you if you had a shitty day and just need something to laugh about.

Excerpt )

>00Q<

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