#dsc fic

[lilolilyr]

For the day 8 prompt of @duckprintspress' May Trope Mayhem 2025: a ficlet from DSC Michael Burnham's POV, ft. Sylvia Tilly, modern AU, pre-Milippa relationship - I might write another more shippier ficlet in this 'verse later if anyone's interested!

~

Michael flees to the bathroom as quickly and inconspicuously as she can, holding onto her dress, certain that every person in the ballroom is staring and judging, when in truth probably just a handful of people even notice her quick exit.

Her face feels hot and clammy, and Michael is glad that the bathroom is deserted when she walks in.

She lets go of her tight grip on the fabric, and the dress slides down, revealing her strapless bra. That one at least stays in place. Small mercies...

Wrestling with the dress to get the broken zipper at the back to the front, Michael curses when her nails catch on the fabric. It's just a small tear, barely visible at all, but it's enough to drive tears into her eyes. Does everything have to go wrong today?

~

A toilet flushes, and Michael freezes in shock. Fuck, she should have checked whether any of the stalls were closed. Then again, what would she have been supposed to do? Hide in a toilet stall until she is alone?

A woman with wild red curls bounces out of the stall to the sinks to wash her hands, smiling at Michael then doing a double take when she sees her state of undress.

Michael tries to smile back, more of a grimace, then looks down to fiddle with the closing mechanism. No, it's properly busted, she won't be able to fix that without actual sewing supplies and maybe an entirely new zipper...

"Everything alright?" The redhead asks as she dries her hands.

"My zipper broke," Michael replies, seeing no reason to lie.

"Ohh damn that sucks so much!"

With the stranger's honest sentiment, Michael feels a bit better.

"I don't suppose you have a jacket or top I could borrow?" She asks hopefully.

"Um, no... My friend has a shawl thing, maybe we could try that? But, oh! I've got safety pins, because I always manage to tear stuff, I mean not always but it's happened twice now so I come prepared! That could work, right?"

Michael privately thinks that using safety pins all the way on the back of her dress will look pretty ridiculous, but she doesn't want the other woman to feel bad about her suggestion, so she just smiles and nods. Besides, it's not like she has a better option.

~

"Just give me a - ah, here!" The woman pulls a small plastic box with the pins from her handbag and holds it out to Michael. "I'm Tilly, by the way!"

"Michael." She takes the pins and awkwardly holds up her dress with her elbow pressed to her side while she gets the box open.

"Oh, I know! I heard your speech earlier, it was really good!"

"Oh! You're in the field?" Michael asks, surprised. The symposium isn't mainly visited by experts of her own specialty, after all.

"Uh, no, but my friend Philippa is. She tried to explain some things to me, it mostly went over my head but I mean I still liked your speech! And Philippa likes it, so that's cool right?"

Michael nods distractedly, trying to fix up her dress, when she notices that once the safety pins are in, there's no way she is going to be able to pull it up anymore.

"Um..."

"Some help?" Tilly holds out her hand, and Michael gratefully hands the safety pins back to her, pulls up the dress and turns it the right way around before turning her back to Tilly, who quickly pulls the fabric together and secures it with the safety pins.

Once she is done, it feels tight enough that Michael isn't worried about it sliding down. She wants to turn around to thank Tilly, but the other stops her.

"Hmm, okay... They're kind of visible with all the metal, I guess I should buy pins in different colours, I've never had to fix a top with safety pins before..."

"Don't worry about it," Michael tries to sound cheerful but isn't sure whether she succeeds. "I'm sure it's fine."

"No, wait, let me ask Philippa for her shawl! It's dark green, that goes with the blue right? Be right back!"

~

Part 1 of ? • more Star Trek by me • web link

Prompt me • Tag list (lmk if you want on/off it):

@startrekgeorgiouery @toboldlynerd @badasspantiestalker @accio-baqat @spockblanket @geek-goth-gay @mlmcaptainpike @danisnotmyname @my-gaydar-is-on-point @yaminoendo @grapeyoda @wapwani @badwolfkaily @bookerandy @racethewind10 @toomuchactionforme @onaperduamedee @verbumproxen @justanalto @not-so-good-omen @blahaj-blazt @sad-tunes @forestcircle @die-schwanenkoenigin @dianessunflower @silvergoldsea

[astrasomnium]

Culmets ficrecs

list i’ve been working on for a bit, I feel like I’ve read almost all the culmets fic out there lol. this is very roughly organised by length. check the authors’ warnings.

Happy New Year by @misereremei- ao3 link Cute cuddle ficlet, based on a prompt about cuddling in public, so adorable I love it 

Untitled by @stellaviatorii- Coffee shop au ficlet? yes please. also smooth talking Hugh and clueless Paul, I’m a huge fan 

Did You Know I Loved You by @parvasilvi -  My favourite culmets ficlet oh my goodness. Based on that one line where Paul asked Hugh is he knew he loved him and Hugh said Paul showed him all the time. Just a few of the ways that Paul showed him :’)

more under the cut :D

with tides in your favour: basically ‘we’re the only two single people at this wedding table lets get drunk and talk shit about that asshat of a groom’ au. the banter and the flirting here is A++. (this one is only available if you have an ao3 account)

This series of Hugh carrying Paul around by @soundofcosplay- a series of ficlets and art of Hugh picking up Paul whats not to love oh my goodness, they’re all so cute but part 2 is my fave. part 3. part 4. part 5.

Didn’t Sign up for This by @jmalkki- I’m sure that her art is a fandom staple at this point but this is my favourite fic of hers. Its an episode fill for Context is for Kings about Paul prepping to visit the Glen and all the emotions surrounding that and his feelings about being part of Starfleet now. The interactions between culmets are so good here and its so true to their characters that its basically canon for me. 

if it all goes wrong darling just hold on - Paul and Hugh are stuck floating through war-torn space trying to hang on with few resources when they come across a young girl struggling to do the same. angsty but like wholesome too. give culmets kids! they’d be the best parents! 

DNA by @lucyisalive - Paul works to get Hugh back from where he’s trapped in the network. This story has really gorgeous writing and there are a couple of parts that made me tear up a bit. Very nice balance between angst and a happy ending.

a history of mushrooms by @cerebrosbeforehoes: amazing fic Paul and Hugh’s relationship at different stages of its development written in an incredibly beautiful nonlinear style. I love it and the characterisation is gorgeous here.

Loving Someone by @scienceofdeducjohn: academy au with pining and adorableness and paul’s emotional obliviousness what more could you want? also straal, we don’t get enough straal.

unfinished history- soulmate au! One where the first words your soulmate says to you are written on your skin. Paul is his emotionally closed off self and Hugh is decidedly not. This one is unbelievably great I love the characters here and the writing is beautiful.

Unintentionally Smooth by @sleepymccoy- Series of stand alone one-shots about Culmets that are really amazing or cute or funny or all of the above. chapter 7 is a fave of mine, so is chapter 11.

As Great As the Galaxies, As Bright As the Stars- another series of one-shots that I really really love. The writing is amazing and so is the characterisation. chapter 3 is canon and no one will ever convince me otherwise. Its 

I Cried to Dream Again by @godblessintheflesh- Another really touching fic about Paul’s attempts to rescue Hugh from the mycelial network. This one gets pretty dark and angsty, but there is also some quality fluff/comfort thrown in. I really love it for its build up of Michael, Paul, and Tilly’s relationship. The focus on it is really good.

A Very Sweet Heart/A Not so Sweet Heart (WIP) by @mushroommantakemebythehand - *reads the latest update of this fic, walks slowly but with purpose to my local library. prints out all 70k (x2!) of this fic. eats it* and thats all i have to say about that.. except not really, go read this fic its unbelievably gorgeous and sweet and soft and frustrating, like the slow burn between culmets is straight up austen-like at some points. Its the academy au we deserve. I usually don’t like to rec things unless they’re finished but for this and sunrises i make an exception. 

A Hundred Sunrises (WIP) by @shroom-boi - android!paul au that takes place on a future war torn planet. Paul is assigned to protect Hugh, a medic for the war effort. Trying to describe it is hard without saying that i would also eat this fic if i could. This has amazing writing and world-building, and a slow burn that is to die for. I never thought i’d scream over a wrist touch but here we are. 

also hey if you’re on tumblr and i didn’t tag you in this let me know :) I just didn’t make the connection

also, if you wanna send me asks with topics for ficrecs like ‘coffee shop au’ or ‘fluff’ or ‘getting together fics’, etc. please do? I’ll point you towards a few good ones 

((edited to include a couple more authors’ tags))

[lilolilyr]

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

The Guardian of The Future had tested her- what if stepping through the portal in time was another, second test, to only heal her if she was not just changing and aiming for peace, but willing to leave all of her life behind?

1k, POV Philippa & rated T for Trauma, emotional hurt/comfort, fix-it of sorts to Terra Firma (and the entire season, really)

[damon-stan-club]

DSC fic event final

Okay, the poll for the DSC fic event final has shown two things: 1) All our writers are great and the fandom apparently can't choose which fic they like most and 2) the fandom is kinda lazy compared to graphic/gif event, which is unsurprising. ;)

Taking into account the fact that the difference in percentage is so tiny that it wouldn't be enough even to get into the parliament if you were a political party, all three finalists will be the DSC botm for the next month. Of course, they get a screenshot promo. ;) Congratulations to damonsssexysmirk, damonsinsanity and standbydamon!

We haven't forgotten about the promo with comments for everyone who participated in the event. Give us a little time please, we've been very busy. ;)

Thank you for participating or voting <3

[damon-stan-club]

DSC fic event - Final

Entry #1

“Don’t pretend to care. I know you’re gloating inside.”

There’s an unpleasant tightness between my ribs and in my chest. The feeling is strange and unfamiliar, like somehow, her words…

Hurt me?

No way. Please. I don’t do hurt.

She’s not even being unfair. I should be gloating. My saintly brother fucked up big time, and I should be happy to know it has nothing to do with me, for once.

Instead, I feel helpless.

She’s hurt and betrayed, and I can’t do anything for her. She won’t let me. She doesn’t trust me. She sure as hell shouldn’t trust me, though I wish she did. She’s warm and vulnerable, and I want to pull her closer, hold her, promise her that he’ll never hurt her again. That I’ll never hurt her again.

Nope. She doesn’t need more lies.

I don’t know what she needs, and I don’t know why it even matters, but I reach out and take her hand. She inhales sharply, but doesn’t pull away.

“Let’s go back inside,” I say.

Her hand is so small, I can’t help but carefully stroke the back of her palm with my thumb. She smiles, and it’s exhilarating.

Oh fuck.

===============================================

Entry #2

Over the summer, he got used to the constant noise and action of having two (semi) living people around him. Elena’s music resounding through the house, the noise of her dancing across their room as she got dressed; the sound of dishes in the kitchen as meals were prepared and cleaned; Jeremy’s video games and cursing when he died, the gunfire and and music blasting from miniature speakers.

(Jeremy’s laughter and muffled voice as he spoke to someone Damon couldn’t hear.

Why didn’t he figure it out then? How could he have not known, all those months?

Why didn’t he know something was up when she didn’t call to threaten him, after Elena told her about them?)

Now, the house is silent except for the breathing above him. It’s amazing how similar the two sound when they’re asleep, how he almost can’t distinguish what is Jeremy tossing and turning in a nightmare (Bonnie’s death? His own? Elena’s?) and what is Elena fighting her grief, even this deep into sleep.

It’s too quiet. But he knows just the person to make it boom with activity again.

(Now, just to get her back.

Hell or high water, right?)

========================================

Entry #3

“You.”

One tiny word.

Elena stood before me, having said the word with a sweet little smile on her face. I stood in front of her in shock. Did I hear that right? Could this really be happening? I could feel the thoughts in my head being played out on my face, helpless to stop them.

No. I decide this can’t be happening. Not to me. And just as my mouth recovers the ability to speak, sidetracked by Professor Shadypants. I don’t want to leave her right now. Scratch that, I never want to leave her. But I do, because there are things that need to be done.

But in the back of my head, this exchange between us will play on repeat.

The way she looked when she called to me on the stairs, somehow confident and nervous at the same time. The way her dress shifted to hug her body as she walked. The clicking of her heels on the marble. The slight flush that crept into her cheeks while we talked. The way she averted her eyes when she said the word. The expectant look on her face after.

This could change everything.

It already has.

================================

Please, vote for your favorite fic here: http://poll.pollcode.com/998632

Voting ends tomorrow (November, 3), in the afternoon American time.

[damon-stan-club]

DSC fic event - final

Hi everyone!

Here's what's gonna happen as the result of the DSC fic event. :)

All participants get a special mention / promo with a little comment in a post by the DSC. (1 for all)

The three participants who have the most notes (damonssexysmirk, damonsinsanity and standbydamon) write another drabble by next Friday (November, 1) and send it to the DSC ask so the drabble is published anonymously. The winner is picked in a poll.

Good luck to the finalists and thanks to everyone for participating. You guys are all awesome. :3

[standbydelena]

I have no idea what I’m doing here.

It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. It wasn’t even a decision. A whim. Foolishness. Madness. Call it what you like.

Yet, I’m in Elena Gilbert’s bedroom, watching her sleep.

I shouldn’t be here, and though it has never stopped me before, I feel strangely uncomfortable. Like I’m letting her down. Like I’m breaking her trust.

As if we had anything to break to begin with.

In her sleep, she looks nothing like Katherine. I don’t even know how I confused them three months ago. She’s real. Open. Vulnerable.

Katherine has never been vulnerable.

That’s what I love about her, I remind myself. How blatantly invincible she is. Unashamed of her power and ruthlessness.

I’m here to remember how different they are. Remember that Elena is probably just a silly girl crazy about my saintly brother. That there’s no reason to care, even to like her.

I’m sorry. About Katherine. You lost her, too.

I can’t resist reaching out and caressing her face, barely touching the smooth skin with my knuckles. She’s so breakable it almost hurts.

She stirs and opens her eyes, and that’s my cue to leave.

Somehow, I’m even more confused.

[lookingtoyou-princess]

To say that he and Jeremy Gilbert had been good friends from the start was a gross misconception. When he first came to town he was a dick, and Jeremy was annoying in that special way reserved only for fifteen year old boys. To him, the kid was Elena’s little brother.

          But then things changed. Mistakes were made, and then worse mistakes were made, and somehow he ended up caring for Little Gilbert. Jeremy was just a kid, and no kid should have a life that sucky. The kid had an astounding record for “Most Girlfriends Dead”, not to mention all the other people to die on him.

          Jeremy was a fun roommate, he had to admit, and his heart was in the right place. As much as he loved Elena, it was nice to have another guy in the house. He had someone to do all of the “guy stuff” with that he didn’t do with Elena. The stuff that he missed doing.

          Though Damon would never admit it, Jeremy had become like a younger Alaric to him. And he was thankful for that.

          (Well, everything except for the day-drinking. He wouldn’t be fostering that habit in the kid.)