Making a list of all my favorite paulirulan fics bc I’m unemployed and I can’t write them so wooo here we go!
In no particular order (seriously it’s all over the place, but top two are obviously top two for a reason):
1. Fleshed in the wife: she’s number one on the pyramid for a reason, timeless classic we will be teaching this literature in schools. The dynamic is absolutely delicious in this one. Both Paul and Irulan feel so ridiculously in character. it’s truly like ms. Fudge took the weird world Dune and played into those fucked relationships the way they’re supposed to be played into given the extreme circumstances. There are so many sonnets in this one. I will never stop thinking about it. THE PROSE….you guys the way this is written. Someone get me a goddamn cigarette.
I just love how complex, chemistry riddled, and fluid the relationship dynamic is in the story. I love the stories where they challenge each other, and stories that lean into the power dynamics, and don’t shy away from it. This is #thee paulirulan fic, she is #her.
2. The Snake in the sand: another timeless classic that should be on bookshelves and will also be taught in schools everywhere. The plot is perfect. Paul and Irulan are truly there in canon pre-arrakis imperial selves and it’s so fun to read. There really is not enough fics of them before the events of dune, leaning into their imperial background. The story does it so beautifully. I love how we also explore caladan through irulans character in this. Her character arc is so great because she truly evolves not only because of her relationship with Paul, but through her circumstances. It’s the perfect story. I love the way it’s written. It’s poignant, it’s engaging. I love everything about the story and I’m so glad it’s coming back next year. defining power is also such a great companion piece to this (fingers crossed it comes back as well).
3. In this place of wrath and tears: let me just say this, everything written by aprilfeldspar, is platinum:gold certified Pulitzer Prize winning real literature that feeds families and sustains economies. I particularly love this fact because we truly go on a journey with Paul and Irulan as a couple untouched by the typical barriers that we normally see them have other stories. Don’t get me wrong I love a good love triangle, stories with Chani (even while not engaging with her character well enough for me in some stories) as a love interest really do interest me when written well, but it’s a difficult task. I love this fic because her presence haunts the narrative in a way where paulirulans relationship can still clearly progress because irulan it’s so clearly his destiny/future. One that Paul internally is fighting himself to not desire, even though he does. To make matters even more complicated she is the daughter of his enemy who he swore revenge upon, it colors their dynamic in such a way in this story, particularly. This fact also gives irulans character reservations, and I love how it’s handled. I can go on for ages about this fic.
Seriously, read everything by aprilfeldspar, you have to. The fault in ourselves has got to be another all-time favorite.
4. In name only: This was really ahead of its time. The only fic to the tags name at some point tbh. It threw the first brick, if you will. The fic is a bit excruciating in the best way because it’s so much of irulan yearning and Paul slowly catching up to his feelings. I love a physical fast burn with emotional slow burn, it’ll eat every time. I really like that they get to that place in their relationship because they consummated their marriage. I love the way that scene was written, because I think it was important that he was holding back from her and finally let go (even if only briefly). I like the way we kind of learn about where they are in their relationship through their intimate scenes. I’m also a sucker for happy ending, so I’m always happy to read this one. 
5. Empress of dune: so perfect. Legitimately no notes I’m serious. I need it to come back so bad. It’s the kind of fic I’ve always wanted for them bc it’s the best what if. It’s paulirulan with a past and it works beautifully, the angst just doesn’t quit and the yearning from both characters…GET ME A GODDAMN CIGARETTE.
6. Upper hand: I love an original premise. I particularly love when they are AU’s. I feel like this pairing in particular does not have many stories that are outside of canon. Which is kind of unfortunate because I feel like this dynamic can be played with in so many fun creative ways. Which is why I really like the story. I love the way their characters rich backgrounds parallels their imperial character backgrounds. this story also feels in character particularly with how I imagine Paul and Irulan as characters pre- dune events. I love the way this is written, very clear and engaging. I also love the different parental dynamics. Paul and Alia having different moms is cool and I can’t wait to see how that place out in the story. Paul being an outcast and on the outskirts of the rich crowd, pushing Irulan away in the process was delicious backstory. The history between them is so interesting in this one, it’s so palpable and it really feeds into their chemistry. I love me some angst, so I can’t wait till we get there. I can’t wait to read more.
7. Princess of my dreams: LOVE LOVE LOVE this one! It’s really hit after hit, sonnet after sonnet with this story. This was one of those fics that had me kicking my feet and giggling to myself. It’s kind of rare to get fics where Paul and Irulan are actually in a relationship and it feels like with this one we had to see it naturally come about and Paul make that choice to be with her. The love triangle actually plays out in a way that I really like because it doesn’t feel like it just casts Chani aside, we actually engaged with her character. I love seeing the love blossom between paulirulan here, it felt very natural and pure in a way that many of the stories on the tag don’t feel like but still inc character; so honestly, it’s pretty impressive.
8. Silent bonds: #realliterature. I was truly pacing around my room with this one. There is a scene here specifically where Paul is mid-vision/hallucination and Irulan brings him back…it’s so damn good. Like this food so fucking good. I really will think about that scene more than I should. I go back to read it just to feel something. Love the writing! I need more soon!
9. Fractured symmetry: LOVE THE PROSE. The relationship between paulirulan feels so organic in this one. Again I love how we engage with the tension here, this fic feels closest to canon while engaging with paulirulans dynamic thoughtfully. There are certain sentences in this one that just gag me. I really do think about this one a lot.
10. abiding the will of the universe: it really is about the yearning! I truly love fics that take place in alternate universes. This one is so great. Paulirulan just fit perfectly into this premise. I’m a fan of Mr. And Mrs.smith so when I saw that there was a paulirulan fic for it, you know I was there. I love their relationship in this one. It’s super layered. I love the way the author plays the setting and time. I love their failmarriage and that you can physically feel how much they want each other more and more through each chapter the build up of yearning is kinda crazy. It gets more amped up towards the later chapters in the best way. I seriously can’t wait for the next update because the last chapter was so good. I really like the fights they have in this one, it’s also revealing of their desires and well written complex dynamic.
11. Take the bull by its horns: this one’s pretty new to the tag, but I feel like it has such a promising start. For the multi shippers out there, I think it’s gonna have more of a heavy IrulanChani vibe, which I’m down with, but the bits of paulirulan in getting here are delicious. I love seeing the love triangle play out here, I’m an enthusiast of all points of the triangle touching. It really drives a compelling story to me when I can truly see it from all sides. What I’m really locked into here in terms of paulrulan in this story is Paul’s restraint, in most of the stories in the tag we sort of see him battling with his desires for her. Here in the story it feels more cut and dry, but in a way that’s revealing through his actions not necessarily what he says to her. I’m excited to see where the story goes.
12. secret cage: the same author also wrote a broken voice, which is perfection. I love how long each chapter is.
13. And so a touch that was my brithright became foreign
14. Which cannot be negotiated/human arguments
15. Opt: its first person perspective and usually it’s unforgivable for me but the premise is interesting and I like reading it. They also don’t feel super out of character in this one. I like the universe paulirulan are in for this one.
16. Chess: man was that first chapter something serious. Everyone remembers, everyone was there.
17. “There is no death for us”: I LOVE A GOTHIC VIBEEEE, I love it; I live for it. I want more paulirulan stories that play into that vibe it’s perfect for them. I need it.
18. Disturb the universe: this one is for the multi shipper truthers! If you don’t mind some focus on other ships as well as paulirulan this is a good story for you. I love the way paulirulans dynamic is fleshed out in the later chapters, irulan is so central and important to the story and to Paul in a way that’s so beautiful to read.
19. Wearied sins of flesh
20. So let me go towards the morning star, with hope it won’t disappear
21. Heavy is the imperial crown
Shout out to some of the fics in other languages, you hit that translate button honey, and everything changes, okay? This is real literature. I love these fics: the devil doesn’t bargain right? , sacrilegos de eden
Most of the ones I’ve listed are incomplete multi chapters but if you want some one-shots there are some in the tag that I like. Some one shots or stories that have got an interesting start and are pretty good on their own: waiting for summer rain, a great one shot - and he is kind, too, brighter diamond in the shadows, the archivists lens, the unyielding silence of stars, Alternates (corriedes one shots)
