#and positivity

[autistobrat]

if you feel like shit, remember there are people who depends on ai.

[strawberrypinky]

I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed with negativity on the internet recently and thus I've decided to take matters into my own hands and spread some ✨love and positivity✨

And what better way to do that, than to recommend wonderfully written fanfiction I've come across this year? Admittedly, I haven't read as much as I would have liked, but I still want to share the few I did read. So without further ado, here are my fic recs of 2024 (thus far! Might add to this along the line):

Baldur's Gate 3 Fic recs:

O Fortuna [by @gufu-vire] on AO3 - Raphael x Dark Urge ❦ Plot: Post the events of BG3, a redeemed Dark Urge and Raphael renegotiate terms to fulfil a contract sworn upon during the crisis of the Absolute. An adventure fraught with tension, frustration, conflict, and more as the reader partners up with the devil you love to hate…

This is possibly a very biased mention on this list, because I consider Goof a very dear friend and moot, but it is a deserved spot nonetheless! I have yet to catch up with a majority of the chapters, but I'm enjoying a lot of sneak peeks and Gufu's creative process in private in the meantime. Between the conflict this story is utterly hilarious and witty and is a perfect balance between action and idle affairs. There are also so many intriguing takes on Raphael as a character & Harleep deserves a trophy on his own. I could talk a lot about this story, but truly, I cannot recommend it enough!

❦

Sleep Deprivation - [by @nyda-the-tav & Aisln] on AO3 - Gortash x Tav ❦ Plot: As Orin continues to harass the group of misfits trying to stop the Absolute, Ophelia (Tav) looks for safety in the arms of Gortash in an effort to combat sleep deprivation.

I've only recently started reading this story & both authors best believe that once I've caught up with all 50(!) chapters, I'll leave a more detailed review for Sleep Deprivation. But what I've read thus far has been nothing short of a joy, and I'm always down for a good Tav being absolutely ruined by Gortash himself. The dynamic between the supposed enemy and the hero is gripping, hilarious and not to mention really well written! Kudos to the authors! I'm really excited to read more of what you two come up with!

❦

His Star - His Queen [by @random-introverted-blog] on AO3 - Astarion x Tav/Astarion x Dark Urge ❦ Plot: An ascended Astarion kidnaps the Dark Urge/Tav from a different timeline, after loosing her in his. Desperate to save Tav/Durge from himself, Astarion follows her to rescue his love from certain suffering at his own hands.

I was recommended this story on TikTok (of all places, lol) and I wasn't sure what to expect - but holy shit. The first chapter alone had me on the edge of my seat, as you're really thrown into the action from the start, but the entire premise had me hooked as soon as Ascendant Astarion made his appearance. I often have issues with the ascended version of Astarion's character (I just looooove fixing him & I've got issues with the 'make him worse' story arc), but the exploration of what could have been in tandem with trying to save the heroine from inevitable suffering is beautiful & I can't recommend it enough. I've yet to catch up with every chapter (can you tell I've got trouble keeping up with fics, lmfao?) but either way, "His Star - His Queen" is deservedly on this list!

Note: This fic includes non-consensual sexual content

❦

Judgement by the Hounds [by @septembersummer] on AO3 - Gortash x The Dark Urge ❦ Plot: A look into the relationship of The Dark Urge (Seren) and Gortash, from their first meeting up to their shared end. "The rise and fall of the worst situationship of all time" indeed.

This one I actually finished (very slay), though I'm not sure I actually processed it. I went through all five stages of grief reading this and I'm not even sure I can say anything without spoiling the entire premise. Dear author, you have written possibly the most captivating and enchanting portrayal of Durge and Gortash & though I knew how it would end, I was wishing for a happy end through it all. There's nothing to say about this, other than it was utter perfection.

❦

Miscellaneous One Shot recommendations:

legacy with no memory by @discordsmuse on AO3 - Gortash x The Dark Urge The Weight of A Promise by @sserpente on tumblr [Part 2 is equally good!] - Gortash x Tav/OC kiddo. by @avocado-writing on tumblr. - Gortash & OC

to have and to hold by @littlejuicebox on tumblr. - Astarion x Tav

choices. by @deadtired-highkeyenergetic on tumblr - Astarion x Tav

how to win a custody battle in one easy step. by alltears on AO3 - Astarion x Tav

Dangerous by NaeveTheWizard on AO3 - Astarion x The Dark Urge

❦

Honourable Mentions:

I'm also giving a shout-out to @avani-telvanni & @infernaldaydreams, because while neither have written fanfiction I could recommend, I am obsessed with their respective artworks for Tav x Gortash/Durge x Gortash. You guys are absolutely amazing and I'm conistently in awe of what you create. You deserve all the recognition you receive and more 💕

Hogwarts Legacy Fic rec's: a very short list, but two are dear to me nonetheless!

Victory [by @jonquil] on AO3 - Victor Rookwood x Original Female Character ❦ Plot: Victor Rookwood is enraptured by the new, ancient-magic-wielding student attending Hogwarts - and Victor Rookwood always comes out on top.

Technically I started reading "Victory" in 2023, when it first came out, alas, it was finished earlier this year and I couldn't help but include it, because it remains one of my favourite fanfiction ever. To me, it's the best fictionalisation of "Enemies to Lovers" in a long time, as I was rooting for the villain to win from start to finish. From the wonderful characterisation of Rookwood to the alternative canon timeline and ultimately the victory of the villain - there's nothing like it and I was hooked from start to finish. I am still sad it's over, but I'm excited to read the prequel (as soon as I get to it, lmfao), because I know it'll be equally spectacular!

Note: This fic contains non-consensual sexual content.

❦

Invisible String [by @legacygirlingreen] on tumblr (though it can be found on both AO3 and wattpad too!) - Sebastian Sallow x Reader ❦ Plot: In an alternative, victorian-attitude-compliant timeline, Sebastian Sallow falls for the new fifth-year. This story explores the sweet beginnings of a tender love amidst hardships and battles ahead.

Admittedly, this is possibly the most biased fic rec ever, but I stand behind it nonetheless. While this fic started in March of last year & brought me and my platonic soulmate May, aka legacygirlingreen, together, it remains my favourite Sebastian Sallow fic to this day. The amount of love, time and creativity May put into this has me in awe time and time again. The sweet and tender love the two protagonists experience is perfectly fluffy and slice-of-life, yet the alternative version of the canon events of Hogwarts Legacy add the perfect amount of drama and action. I will always come back to this fic, because yes - It is that good.

[gastersreturn]

Yes yes yes we love the comic and we understand that it doesn’t take two seconds to draw this masterpiece take all the time you need

Oh boy, I was struggling to make a background at school when I saw this, the "masterpiece" made me giggle like a little kid. Thank you so much !

I'll take the time I need for the comic no worries, I still want to put myself a deadline though, simple technique to make myself draw more instead of procratinating (it's half working honestly, which is more than zero, so still a win to me)

[msfbgraves]

The fact that Daniel married Terry’s softer, safer, female lookalike tells me all I need to know. The CK writers did a lot harmful shit with their “writing”, but having Daniel and Amanda be a married couple was a masterful and fascinating choice. Maybe even the destined conclusion of Daniel’s love life. There is so much there subconsciously from Daniel’s side that a place like HBO Max would have explored beautifully.

I still say that Chozen and Kumiko could have been very good if written well…but considering the Big Three (🤮 ) apparently think having Chozen end up with a woman who murdered her own father and write Kumiko as eternally single and without romantic love is a great ending…maybe we all did indeed doge a Cobra Kai nuclear holocaust.

Anyway, I adore Silverusso and the surprisingly excellent scenes we got between Daniel and Terry even until the end of season 6.

Damanda is a fascinating choice, and for it to work you absolutely need Terry back so good thing they could wrangle that. It really would have needed the HBO treatment though. Goodness, to have a grooming victim marry their groomer-lite, unbeknownst to her, with the groomer accidentally having ruined his own love life. That is DEEP. Also, Daniel being the sweetest angel who also would end you if pushed, because he has a murder glint in his eye that the groomer recognised was there, and later Daniel's son realised was there, and Daniel himself was terrified of, and what that means for him as a person especially since that part also still loves Terry... The original films did not go there - you could have seen that ending as Daniel snapping out of that, but they went: no, he buried that, and now it's bleeding into his life.... And Terry has never moved on... That was GOOD. That was great, actually, and layered, and none of these writers truly knew what to do with it. Damn it, we should write it again without all the other flourishes. If you stick with The Karate Kid films in tone, Damiko should have been endgame, but if you want to go there, if you truly want to go there, it could make great tv, but then go there OK? It could have been the innocence of youth versus the weight of life, which I feel Top Gun: Maverick managed beautifully. They took a rather shallow 3/4 of a story and ran with The Implications. Cobra Kai beautifully Set Up The Implications but had no grasp of what it was saying. This happens in pop culture sometimes and those things tend to punch me in the heart. Especially because they then go "Anyway..." No. Not anyway! No come back here with that!

Chozen and Kumiko could work, as like an unofficial throuple with Daniel, it could even work with Chozen and Da Eun if he slowly would lead her to some light like he did with Tory and if she had something to give him emotionally as well. But then you have to care about her and the only one who did was the actress. They also didn't really know what to do with Chozen, according to Yuji on his podcast with Xolo and Jacob, he only accepted to return if they added way more depth to the character than they had originally planned. Feels the same way with Thomas. And then both were locked in in S6 and... well. Only so much you can do with what you're given.

Am I the only one who doesn't blame Da Eun for knifing that old man? He took her entire life to make her into a martial artist whom he constantly belittled. Also, she's not a great teacher; under her tutelage, none of the other students thrived. Kenny did, but he was taught by Terry. Chozen and Da Eun could have been a story worth telling, if a bit male saviour- like. But it's nice to see a man helping a woman access her feelings so I'd have taken it. As it was, her ancient grandpa kept going: I hate you kill me kill me! And so she did. Ever the obedient, deferring child. Good riddance, anyway.

But, they don't like writing character. They have the emotional depth of a fourteen year old. No adult would need to win that trophy for themselves. Having their student win would be enough.

But they are middle aged men who lack compassion for people unlike them. And looking at many current world leaders, so are many others.

I really applaud Ralph and Thomas for their efforts. It's hard to play two people dealing with the result of their actions when the writers believe no one should ever have to.

[cheryllclayton]

[tonguetiedraven]

Waaait, I see that horrible message only now.. Listen, I don't know you but I know you're a strong and beautiful human being who doesn't deserve so much hate, no one deserves that, and I'm here to remark the obvious: don't listen to them, in any case, you're loved and your work is appreciated by many (including me ♡) and send them that middle finger while I'm sending you a virtual hug^^

I happily take the virtual hug, and give you one in return

Also, I now really want to draw a chibi Bon giving the anon haters the middle finger, so thank you so much for that idea xD

Thank you for your kind words 💙💙💙 (⁀ᗢ⁀) (and your work is very appreciated by me as well 💙💙💙)

[hana-akari]

Im sorry I havent been very active the last two days. I had two seizures and because of some stupid drama in another rpc, Im being painted as a bad person. I’m like nothing but kind and polite to everyone but go off I guess. 

I think its a lil bit of a low blow going after a crippled guy with health problems.