let's yap about thomas & phyllis fanfiction then, shall we? this is basically just me scrolling through the tag on AO3 and going 'oh, I liked this one!' because I am terrible at keeping track of fics (reverse chronological order).
windfall | darthnickels | 4.2k
Summer 1921: Phyllis Baxter is out of jail with nowhere to go. She has one last friend she can ask for help.
just such a fascinating exploration of their dynamic, darthnickels is an excellent writer, and there's also some lovely snippets of their relationship in another fic in this series
Wishing For Right Now | likehandlingroses | 5.4k
When Downton Abbey rings in the year 1920, Thomas isn't sure he'll like the next decade any better than the last. Things don't change on a whim...and it seems nothing in the world will ever change in his favor.
The next ten years uncover just how right--and wrong--he is.
a really wonderful character study; the phyllis & thomas dynamic is nice and realistic and messy yet underlined with love; comes with barris, thomas & anna, and thomas & sybbie (my heart!). likehandlingroses has such a great grip on thomas' character.
cut out the woman in you with a jackknife (god save the sweetness of your iron heart) | coldhope | 3.1k [Archive Locked]
Thomas Barrow is not often in the position of needing to be rescued, but when he is, rescue surprises him every time.
An exploration into the thoughts of some of the people who have given him their support over the years, despite his concerted efforts to be as disagreeable as possible: Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Bates, and Phyllis Baxter, possibly the first person in the world he has ever simply asked for help when he badly needed it. What really happened to him during the "treatment" he underwent in London, and what other tolls did it take?
this fic made my heart ache: such a poignant story. does not shy away from how much thomas' life often sucked.
A Poor Man's Riches | ama | 36.1k
Family has never mattered much to Thomas. Even so, when his estranged sister dies in childbirth and a helpful neighbor brings the baby to Downton, he resolves to look after her until she can be placed in a more suitable home—which is all anyone can ask of him, isn't it?
I think I've read this fic a few times, now: it is such a poignant, interesting concept. thomas' characterisation, his relationships with phyillis and anna... it's an amazing character study and incredibly well-written, highly recommend!
short list but hope people enjoy these wonderful fics!
janainaart
baratheonpilled
areudirty
annaxmalina
origamiaround
prguitarman
kaledo-art
blakekathryn
