A Blog About Books

Multi-fandom and ancient history geekery - aladyinbooks on ao3

[ladyinbooks]

Quick Links/Info

I’ve gained some new followers recently (hello lovely people! 😊) and figured it was about time I made a useful info post of where to find things.

***Please be aware - this tumblr does contain spoilers for all my fics***

Asks: My ask box is always open, and I’m always happy to ramble away about any questions you may have! I tend to answer publicly, so if you would like me to respond privately to your question instead, just let me know.

(I may be a little slow to respond to asks - life is quite busy at the moment, but I will always reply to you! ❤️)

Fic update schedule: Rarely Pure is the current fic in progress. It is updated every other Sunday evening (GMT).

Details on where to find things on my tumblr are below:

aladyinbooks on ao3

Current Fic: Rarely Pure

Completed: Path to Paradise Icarus, Burning Tales of the Interior Circle (side fics for Icarus, Burning)

Coming Soon: Going Down Handy Tags: #Ficlet Fridays (all tumblr ficlets from past/current fics) #Icarus Burning #Path to Paradise #Rarely Pure #Going Down #ladyreplies (public responses to questions) #lady’s phenomenal readers (amazing works inspired by my fics, created by incredibly talented people)

[ladyinbooks]

Hi, Lady! We know Aubrey did not react well to Lysander and Praia's engagement. It seemed to me that Lysander didn't have many lovers before Praia if Aubrey reacted that badly. (Actually, it seemed that Aubrey would fend off any "unworthy" lovers 🤔)

What would Aubrey's reaction be to Lysander having male lovers? (I'm assuming that Lysander didn't have any boyfriends before)

Hi lovely anon! ❤️

Ah, but Aubrey was fine about Lysander's engagement. Totally fine. Completely and absolutely fine. So fine he couldn't even tell you the first thing about it, or really who was even involved! (Lysander who?) 😉

(Yes, yes he absolutely did not react well. 😅)

Aubrey would absolutely fend off 'unworthy' lovers - mostly for two reasons:

What if someone works out Lysander's identity? This would be Very Bad, especially if it was someone Aubrey didn't have control over.

Who could possibly be good enough for his little darling? No one. No one could ever be good enough.

Lysander had a few casual partners before Praia (mostly because when he was younger he didn't think Praia would be interested in him), and Aubrey was vaguely uncomfortable with the idea, I think, but justified it to himself as, well - why wouldn't he be uncomfortable? That's his precious Lysander, of course he's going to feel like an overprotective parent! (I think coupled with this is a quiet relief that he knows Lysander isn't serious about these partners, and he chooses not to examine that relief to closely.)

I think male or female, Aubrey wouldn't care particularly. Where he would care is if he felt Lysander was being taken away from him. That... would have caused a lot of issues. (Possibly of the 'Oh no, your lover accidentally got chucked out of a window' variety.)

[ladyinbooks]

what are some habits, quirks, patterns etc that your couples have picked up from each other in their long relationship? do they notice it, and is the realization sudden or gradual? thanks!

Hmm, this is a good question, lovely anon!

Samiel and Jay: Samiel has picked up a little of Jay's way of thinking - he will take a bit more time to analyse a situation now before he jumps straight in. He also starts to relax around the home a little - he leaves things out rather than fastidiously tidying everything away! Jay in contrast has picked up Samiel's habit of wrinkling his nose when he finds something distasteful - he's always been very careful of his expressions (thanks to his job), but from time to time he now accidentally mimics Samiel's look of derision. I think he's also picked up a few Lenian sayings that he uses in everyday conversation without realising it.

Hess and Dan: Hess has (grudgingly) aligned himself with Dan's tea-drinking habits in the morning. It starts out as a courtesy (because Dan makes him a morning cuppa, but Hess prefers coffee), but grows into a habit. Dan has picked up a little of Hess's coldness, I think. He's a little more distant from people, and it comes from absorbing some of Hess's more cynical, cautious outlook. (He's also picked up some accidental Antichrist powers but, uh, we don't talk about that...)

Lysander and Aubrey: Lysander has picked up Aubrey's habit of catnapping in the sunshine, but only if he gets to catnap on top of someone (we all know who). He's also picked up on Aubrey's habit of fidgeting without realising - twirling a pen, absently smoothing someone else's hair, absently drumming his fingers. Aubrey has picked up Lysander's habit of moving meditation (it starts as a necessity to teach Lysander, and becomes Aubrey's own touchstone of control and comfort as well). He also tends to keep windows open wherever he goes to keep the temperature cooler (the way Lysander prefers) without even realising it!

[ladyinbooks]

Ohh if you ever get into Batfam I recommend Dick Grayson aka Nightwing! He's like if you combine Dan's righteous morality, Aubrey’s masterful manipulation, Jason's rationality, Lysander’s charisma, and he's incredibly kind! And in-universe everyone either respects him or is half in love with him 🤭

Oh lovely anon, it sounds like I'll be half in love with him too! Exactly my kind of character!

(I will have to put this on the list to investigate, right after SVSSS and 2ha!)

[ladyinbooks]

it's both hilarious and interesting (in a vaguely horrifying manner) to imagine the combination of a cryptic pregnancy with someone as willfully oblivious and *insert opposite of self-aware* as aubrey, and i can't decide if it's more or less funny if he's already married to lysander 😂

Oh lovely anon, it is most definitely more funny if he is married to Lysander! 🤣 (What can I say? I'm very mean to poor Aubrey.)

Like, that man could have all the early signs, and he'd just be going 'Oh! How strange! I must have picked up a terrible bug for multiple months. Clearly I am overworking myself.' 'Hmm, I appear to have put on a little weight - how odd! I must get a bit more exercise.'

Lysander may, perhaps, bring up the idea he could be, you know, pregnant. But no! That is impossible! Aubrey knows it is impossible! The chances are slim, don't be ridiculous Lysander!

(I imagine his obliviousness last all the way up until he gets hauled to the labour ward...)

[ladyinbooks]

I'd love to know more about Lysander & Aubrey in that one IB AU! How close are they compared to pre-amnesia RP?

Also, will that AU be continued?

Ohoho, lovely anon I do have a lot of thoughts about those two in the IB AU.

They are close, I'll say that, and they're pulling the same kind of con that they did pre-amnesia in RP. That said, I think necessity has forced Aubrey to move some of his plans up drastically, because the peace process in the IB AU is a lot quicker, and on top of that Aubrey is dealing with both Samiel and Jay (not Athannus), who are a much bigger threat.

It's heavily implied that Samiel has ambitions of empire in the AU (he does), and that one of his pretexts for war is the actions of the Drakkians with the rest of the galaxy (it is).

Which means Aubrey and Lysander are fighting a war on two fronts: the Xanthan Federation on Ataiy (backed by the Interior Circle) and then the Lenians in general (also backed by the Interior Circle).

All of which makes Aubrey far more ruthless, and he and Lysander are working very hard behind the scenes to disrupt as much of Samiel's plans as they can!

I may continue the AU, but I think if I do then it's likely going to have a bit of an Alskir-focused bent this time around! 😊

[ladyinbooks]

Random thoughts to end the year on:

I have officially found The Aubrey Song for my RP playlist (it's Natural by Imagine Dragons).

The next novel (hopefully starting mid-2026) is going to be the fantasy genre pirates, spies and sea gods (oh my!) thing - which... could well run to two books. I very much can't wait for you all to meet some new faces!

Lastly, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you all for your kindness, wonderful comments, fantastic asks and endless patience. I couldn't do it without you guys.

Wishing you all a fabulous end to 2025, and I hope 2026 is a kind year full of amazing things for you. ❤️

[ladyinbooks]

oh please write both of the rp marriage aus 🙏🏻

Ohh don't worry lovely anon, I will!

(And the first line of one of the marriage AUs strangely enough came to me a couple of days ago:

'Lysander's husband is a bitch'.)

[ladyinbooks]

Ohhh lovely anon, this is one of those moments that I desperately want to write a ficlet for (I will resist for now - I have subjected you all to enough angst this weekend).

please don't resist 👀

Don't worry lovely anon, this is definitely on the list because I do want to make Aubrey suffer (more). 😉

[ladyinbooks]

for the anon in search for original recs

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33829117

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3794482

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22681831

Thank you lovely anon! ❤️

[ladyinbooks]

What are Lysander and Aubrey’s builds like? I think you've already answered an ask about IB somewhere and Samiel has a swordsman's body and Jason is more of a brawler? How does this effect their fighting styles in combat? I assume long range isn't much of a question for the RP pair since they can turn into dragons lol.

A good question, lovely anon!

So, Lysander is tall, lean. He has a wiry build with the kind of muscles that come from a lifetime of running around and fighting, but not necessarily from actively working out. He's strong. Tough. All angles and sharp edges - very much a living weapon, but the kind of weapon that looks like a blade and fights like a brick to the face.

It informs his fighting style because he's fast. He relies on speed and strength to overpower people quickly, both at close range and long distance. He has the stamina and strength to be very dangerous and hit very hard, but in ways that throw his opponent off-balance.

(He's also a biter, but we already knew that. 😂)

Aubrey is much shorter (the shortest of all my protagonists, I think!). He has a slim build, almost delicate if not for the fact he has strong shoulders. His posture is arrow-straight at all times, so it looks like he never relaxes (he doesn't). He has strength, but not as much as Lysander or Retvja. This is because although he's been trained to fight as well, the very nature of his political role means that there is the expectation that others will be doing the fighting for him, so for a long time he rarely puts those skills into practice.

When he does fight, he is quick and he relies on feints and trickery, making it easier for him to leverage his opponent's strength against themselves. Going head to head against someone using pure strength he's unlikely to win, so he's learnt to compensate through different ways. He is also a crack shot, because it was one of the few 'acceptable' forms of fighting he was allowed to actively participate in!

[ladyinbooks]

you missed the mpreg au 😏

I missed the mpreg AU, lovely anon! You are right! The list has been updated - now with additional mpreg AU!

(Thank you! ❤️)

[ladyinbooks]

Will Lysander ever get to know (in story) about Aubrey’s horrible state (both physical and mental) during his recovery period?

I've popped my answer behind the cut, lovely anon, as it contains (very) minor spoilers:

He's going to learn a bit - mostly from another character and not from Aubrey. Aubrey is never, ever going to talk about it if he can avoid it, but someone else is going to point out to Lysander that he may be, you know, overlooking the whole attempted murder thing.

One day, however, I am absolutely going to write an Aubrey POV oneshot on this subject, because I need to pick apart that man's brain during that time period...

[ladyinbooks]

i want to shake aubrey like a doll...the denial in that one needs to be studied asap

also, you can't just leave us hanging with that ending lady, that's mean 😭

He needs to be put under a microscope, lovely anon! But the real question is: do you think he is, at last, maaaaaybe getting a hint that Lysander might be, you know, not totally and completely and platonically in like with him? 🤔 (Surely not!)

Hehehe, would it help if I said I absolutely always planned to end the chapter that way? 😈 (I hope the next chapter makes up for the cliffhanger! 😉)

[ladyinbooks]

Hellooo

What are the RP aus you've got lined up/are planning?

Hi lovely anon!

I have a couple planned, which are as follows:

The Horrible AU (aka The Oedipus Complex AU) - in which Aubrey Draxios raises a monster. (No one is actually related, but oh dear is Lysander's mommy kink showing in this one.) Rebellious!prince Lysander, and long-suffering mimmir tutor!Aubrey.

The Arranged Marriage AU (x2) - in which Aubrey and Lysander have an arranged marriage which... starts about as well as you'd think. Alternatively, in which Aubrey and Lysander have been betrothed for years, and suddenly there is a problem when Lysander finds his husband-to-be decidedly lovely.

The time-travel 'fix-it' AU - in which Lysander Kyrios travels back in time, and decides to take matters into his own hands.

The 'Two Amnesiacs Walk Into a Bar' AU - where Aubrey takes the other Baxol, and then the galaxy (and Lysander) have to deal with the consequences of that. (Weirdly, this one is actually fluff... 🤣)

Edit (that was not all of them!):

5. The OT3 AU - in which Retvja Varkir has to deal with not one, but two, headaches, and somehow manages to survive their sheer stupidity. 6. The mpreg AU (as another lovely anon has just reminded me) - in which Aubrey Draxios might be, possibly, maybe, pregnant. And Lysander definitely, wholly and completely loses his mind over it.

I think those are all of them - anyone shout out if I've missed one!

[ladyinbooks]

I'm guessing Lysander will shoot up to Grade 1 at the end of RP lol, or maybe break the scale 😂

They're going to have to invent a whole new scale for Lysander, lovely anon! 🤣

[ladyinbooks]

Ok lady, i have a confession to make, I'm a diehard fan of both ptp and ib. And I know, i *know* so very much that rp will destroy me and I will enjoy every fucking second of it. But. *But* it has been months and somehow I still don't feel ready. See, I just have this feeling from the very start that *this one particular character* will be it for me. And I just feel so so deeply for them, and like- as someone who's actually in my final year of masters in psychology, boy am I self aware...I'm rambling. But. The blorbo. They're it for me. In ptp, I adore them both equally, obviously, but I will always- idk how to explain it- but... it's almost like a protective semi caregiver (I'm trying to avoid using the word parental, can you tell) affection...anyway, dan is...special. and then in ib, jason is my absolute favourite, my boy (which is funny considering your absolutely funny bias for samiel, who is your favourite son, don't even deny it (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) it's ok, I get it... it's samiel, and if jay hadn't seduced me with that brain of his...moving on!)

Umm, so what I'm trying to get to is, despite not reading a single chapter, I know it's gonna be Aubrey. And considering how much more complicated everything seems...and considering the side relationships, and this is by no means like- serious, but you know those memes, I will become a shooter for him and idc if lysander stands in my way💀

And i knowwwww and i trust your writing, but I have been struggling with starting it, because that's already my blorbo my baby and he kinda reminds me of chu wanning in some specific ways, who is also one of my *characters™* and...wow i should perhaps not ramble this much. But. I already love him. I mean- I love all your characters, rp seems so cool but...Aubrey. he's the character™

I wanna read rp!! Idk if you remember but I'm the same anon who was worried about reading it due to lysander's...marriage? Which was like months ago at this point.

Honestly, I think I'm gonna cave in after exams. But. Aubrey. Comfort me, lady(⁠个⁠_⁠个⁠)

Anon! Lovely anon! ❤️❤️❤️🤗

Firstly, a big thank you from me - your message was such a lovely one to find in my inbox; you have no idea how happy you made me when I read you love P2P and IB so much. Thank you!

Much like you, when I read I tend to get protective of (usually) one specific character. (Unfortunately a lot of the time mine end up being side characters, whose fates are, alas, not always the best and then I end up with a lot of feels about them. 😅) I am very, very pleased you love Jay and Dan as much as you do! (As for Samiel being my favourite, I love all my children equally. Ahem. Excuse me a moment - for entirely unrelated reasons I just have to hide some evidence on my tumblr... 😉😉😉🤣)

Ok, but I am absolutely thrilled that Aubrey is going it be It for you. I genuinely mean that. RP is told from Lysander's POV, but I have so. many. feels. about Aubrey. So, so many. Channeling my inner Lysander here, Aubrey has done nothing wrong in his life ever, as far as I'm concerned (and I'm only partially joking when I say that). That man carries so much on his shoulders, and he does it alone, and firmly convinced that most of the time he has to fix things himself. He loves his planet, he loves his people, he loves Lysander (not that he's admitting it to himself), and he's been badly burnt (quite literally) by people he thought were on his side. Aubrey goes through a lot, even if we don't see it all 'onscreen'.

Chu Wanning! Ahhh! I have had a lovely anon rec me 2ha, and that is also on my list to be read after I finish writing RP. It looks like I'll have plenty to sink my teeth into!

I do remember your previous ask, and I always wondered if you wanted to give RP a go, or if I'd answered your question properly. (I hope I did! ❤️). I very much hope you enjoy RP when you read it, and that you love Aubrey as much as I do! ❤️❤️❤️❤️