An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
this week, we’re reccing AUs. Today’s fic is a oneshot. If you like it, please consider leaving it some love in the form of kudos/comments!
Shifting - bri_ness / @brionbroadway (4.5k words)
Tags: skam, evak, 3-5k, au, magical realism, oneshot, arin’s rec, rec post, T rated, @brionbroadway, Isak’s pov
Some people believe that when you fall in love, your world shifts.
Even runs a popular tumblr about the shift and how people experience it. Isak looks to it for help as he processes his feelings about the shift and his latest crush.
Notes & Ramblings:
This is a magical realism AU where people go through a “shift” in the way they experience the world when they fall in love. The world-building in this fic is brilliantly done, and is especially remarkable in a shorter oneshot.
True to character, Isak is a skeptic about the shift, but is also fascinated by it and follows an unknown blogger who is very positive about the shift.
Through the blog posts, this fic touches on what it means to fall in love, if there is such a thing as one great love, and whether romantic love is all it’s cracked up to be.
Isak’s headspace is really on point here as he grapples with cynicism, fear and hope about the role of love in his life and what the shift could mean for him, even as he finds himself falling for Even. Isak and Even’s relationship here is very sweetly but realistically done, with a nice mix of banter and serious discussions.
Favorite Lines:
Even’s fingers stop dancing, like they’re waiting. Isak reminds himself that the world has told Even he’s in love with someone else.
“What’s it actually like?” Isak asks. “The shift?”
“Oh, the usual. It’s like all my senses are affected. Things look different, smell different, feel different—”
“In a good way?”
Even hesitates.
“I’m really not sure yet.”
