#cynical_optimist

[evaksbinder]

Friday Fic Recs - Week 5

Hey friends, it’s Sarah! Yes yes i know it’s not Friday anymore anywhere in the world but like time is a construct and nothing is real so what does it REALLY matter

Anyway, i’m here with a handful of fics I love with all my heart! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did - and if you do, be sure to show them some kudos/comments love! <3

snow and dirty rain - grinsekaetzchen / @hotchocolatenthusiast (Even/Isak; 23k words; book club AU)

First of all i just have such a soft spot for the premise, where instead of kosegruppa Vilde decides to host a book club and that’s where Even and Isak meet

Really spot on characterization of Isak and Even, with a lot of attention paid to Isak’s headspace and the complexity of their interactions

I like that the plot has a similar structure to canon but still feels very much its own thing thanks to the richness that the texts they read in the book club adds to the fic

Speaking of which that’s one of my favorite things of this fic, how well-integrated all the literary references are! They’re very present and important to the text and the boys’ relationship, permeating throughout the fic, but not in a heavy-handed way, it just feels like a natural part of the narrative, plus you don’t have to have read them to understand their significance

Also i like that a lot of characterization is drawn out of the characters’ relationships to these texts; for example Even and Isak have important relationships with Richard Siken’s work, but they’re quite different and what those relationships are tells us a lot about these characters

Builds to a really sweet and heartfelt payoff of an ending; will probably leave your insides feeling all soft and warm and gross

in the rain, give you sunshine - cynical_optimist / @boxesfullofthoughts (Yousef/Sana; 6k words; missing moment/fix it)

The premise of this fic is that Sana helps Yousef and Even reconcile, and it’s done in a way that feels so emotional and real

Sana’s headspace is stunningly well drawn, capturing all her complexities from the strength of her character to her vulnerabilities

i love the relationship between Sana and Elias here, it feels so true to them while providing us with a more emotional side of their relationship that we saw maybe only briefly in canon

And the relationship between Sana and Yousef is so nice too! I love how easy-going their dynamic is and the quickness of their banter

The reconciliation between Yousef and Even is really, really well done. I especially like that this moment in the fic, their conversation, is a thing that happens solely between them; no one else is going to know what they talked about, and that’s okay, that’s the point

Keep in mind this was written just a few episodes into S4 so a lot of it is no longer canon compliant, but overall it’s a really touching look into what it might have looked like if the story had taken a different direction with regards to Even repairing his relationship with Balloon Squad

Come and paint the world with me tonight - LostInAdmiration / @call-this-a-mask (Even/Isak; 11k words; Isak crashes a wedding/fake dating)

Isak is dared by boy squad to crash a random wedding and in the process meets Even; Even helps establish his cover at the wedding by pretending to be his boyfriend

This is such a sweet and adorable read, if you’re anything like me you’ll probably be smiling the whole time you’re reading it

Extremely well paced; even though the boys’ relationship develops over the course of just a few hours, it feels entirely natural and not rushed at all, and the payoff the story develops to is just so well-earned

Isak’s characterization is so well done; i love that his backstory is used to explain his reactions to the wedding he crashes, and his development is really well done despite again only happening over the span of a few hours

Even and balloon squad are also really well characterized in this fic!! Even’s quirky charm especially, and even though balloon squad appears somewhat briefly everyone still manages to feel like their own characters, which is super impressive, plus their friendships with each other is just such a delight to read

[evaksbinder]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

This week’s theme is non-evak-centric fics. Today’s post is a short one shot. If you like this fic, please consider leaving it a comment/kudos!

towards the brighter side (of this) - cynical_optimist / @boxesfullofsanasmiling (Mikael/Adam, 2k words)

Our ramblings:

Amazing characterization of Mikael; gets into his head post-fight really well; his relationship to Adam feels really fleshed out despite the fic’s shortness

Mikael and Adam’s relationship is both full of pining but also the knowledge that both of them have known each other for ages probably and are so very comfortable with each other

Great writing that captures the feeling of coming down from an adrenaline rush perfectly

Sarah’s favorite lines:

Mikael feels warm fingers trail over his cheek, and he opens his eyes slowly. Adam is looking at him like he’s going to fall apart or disappear in front of his eyes, like he’s struggling to hold onto Mikael as he slips through his fingers. Mikael swallows, and Adam’s fingers sweep up his cheek, so gentle he can hardly feel it.

I’m fine, he doesn’t say.

I hate that people hurt you, Adam doesn’t reply.

Kathi’s favorite lines:

Whatever, he can admit that. He's mature enough to realise that he's head over fucking heels in love with his best friend. It's not a big deal. Adam looks back, eyes warm and concerned, and his heart speeds, tripping a little over its own feet. Mikael is the first to look away, but he does so by nestling his head a little more comfortably between Adam’s neck and shoulder.

[evaksbinder]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

This week’s theme is childhood friends to lovers fics. Today’s post is an Adam/Mikael one shot. If you like this fic, please consider leaving it a comment/kudos!

don’t want anything but all of you - cynical_optimist / @boxesfullofsanasmiling​ (8k words; Adam/Mikael)

Five times Adam kissed Mikael and one time it was the other way around; or, Adam and Mikael have had each others' backs since they were kids, and there's nothing in the world that can change that fact.

Our ramblings:

Great grasp on the characters’ voices, lets them mature believably; amazing characterisation of the balloon squad, fleshing them out and making them very three-dimensional

Absolutely lovely exploration of Mikael and Adam’s relationship; draws you in even if you don’t necessarily ship it (seriously!!!)

Beautiful writing, understated and calm; gut-punching dialogue that feels incredibly in character

Deals with the fallout from Even distancing himself from the balloon squad carefully and respectfully, focuses more on the absence he left behind (which is heartbreaking!!)

Sarah’s favorite lines:

Mikael nuzzles into Adam’s chest, and Adam breathes deep, contentment filling his lungs like oxygen. He sleeps, and the air tastes like home.

Kathi’s favorite lines:

“You’re not, Mikael, I swear.” He’s never been a knight in shining armour, but in no universe could he be a villain. In any other situation, Adam might joke about him being a damsel in distress, but that’s not true either. He’s helped Adam and needed helping, comforted him even as he made mistakes, even as he hurt. He’s not any of those roles, nothing quite so clean cut. “You’re Mikael,” he says. “That’s all. You’re Mikael. You’re my best friend.”

[evaksbinder]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

this week, we’re reccing non-evak fics. Today’s fic centers around Jonas/Mahdi. If you like it, please consider leaving it some love in the form of kudos/comments!

You just know (you just do) - cynical_optimist / @boxesfullofthoughts (1k words)

Sometimes that’s the end. Sometimes, though, Jonas keeps looking and looking and looking, when he's sure there will be no one else to see. He studies the line of Mahdi’s jaw and the arch of his nose, the way his mouth curves up at the edges, and the movement of his cheeks as he talks. This is noticing, like people watching, but deeper, more personal—meaningful in a way Jonas can't quite describe.

- What it is to be in love with your best friend.

Notes and ramblings:

A short and sweet fic detailing what it might be like if Jonas had feelings for Mahdi

The writing style in this is stunningly poetic; every word just pulls you along so effortlessly

And the atmosphere is incredibly well created, it feels so chill and comfortable and laid-back which fits Jonas’ character super well

It’s quite character study like which I appreciate for the insight it gives us to Jonas’ character

Overall this is just a really sweet quick read with some beautiful writing and some wholesome feelings!

Favorite lines:

It’s this, too: Jonas looks. He notices. He's always noticed, he realises in retrospect, right from the beginning.

[louevak]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: SKAM (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Even Bech Næsheim/Isak Valtersen Characters: Isak Valtersen, Even Bech Næsheim, Original Characters Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Assassins & Hitmen, Minor Character Death, Recreational Drug Use, SKAM Secret Santa, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Swearing Series: Part 1 of every breath you steal (is a breath i breathe for you) Summary:

Isak huffs out a short laugh. “Wasn't all bad, anyway.” He opens his eyes, shooting Even a sidelong look that lingers. “Right?”

All the breath rushes out of Even’s lungs, at that. “Yeah?”

“I met you.” Now Isak tilts his head back toward the sky, the long slender line of his throat exposed. “That's not bad, is it?”

-

A hitmen AU, wherein Isak and Even hate their jobs but love each other.

[louevak]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: SKAM (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Even Bech Næsheim/Isak Valtersen Characters: Even Bech Næsheim, Isak Valtersen Additional Tags: Winter, Swearing, So much domesticity it’s disgusting Summary:

Even cuts him off with a kiss to his lips, laughing, and Isak kisses him back, closing his eyes and losing himself, for just a moment, in the warmth and softness of this cold winter morning.

- Domestic winter mornings and pancakes.