An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
this week, we’re reccing fics that have depictions of friendship we like. Today’s fic is a long oneshot. If you like it, please consider leaving it some love in the form of kudos/comments!
now my soul beats a sound loud enough to quiet the thunder - colazitron / @fille-lioncelle (17k words)
Isak takes the responsibility of Even's birthday breakfast very seriously. There's eggs, crisp bread, baking, and accidental soul searching.
This is a one-shot that takes place a few months after Isak and Even get together in canon, centered around Even’s 20th birthday. This fic is almost canon compliant, with the exception of Magnus and Vilde not getting together. The main plot here is Isak learning to bake a cake for Even’s birthday, but this story actually has a number of elements of character study, and the cake baking holds it all together.
I loved that Isak’s approach to cake baking is scientific and methodical, and very in keeping with his character. The details of baking are nicely described here and fit well with Isak’s pov as he applies his biology nerd mind to the kitchen.
There are some incredibly thoughtful passages where Isak reflects on his experience of coming out, and how it’s still unfolding for him, learning to be comfortable with himself and in relation to his friends. There are also a few very heartfelt moments with Isak’s friends as they realize how they contributed to him being closeted, and as they show their support for him now.
The friendships portrayed here are so strong and full of good feelings! There’s plenty of great teasing and banter, but there are also more serious moments where you really get to see how much Isak’s friends care about him, and how deeply he returns that. A lot of that is with the Boy Squad, of course, but there are also some sweet moments with Noora and with Eva, and with Magnus alone. I especially loved Isak and Magnus’s friendship depicted in this story.
Isak and Even in this story are sweet, playful, and just so happy to be together. Isak’s very clear love for Even is woven throughout the story, and is reflected both in his own thoughts and in his interactions with his friends and with Even.
This feel-good story is rich with great characterization, friendship, humor, and lots of love. Although it’s technically fluff, it has some really important moments dealing with coming out and friendship that feel very true to Skam.
“Dude. What the fuck,” Magnus says, mouth open a little. “You hooked up with a chick practically every time we went out, and like, it looked like you never even had to try? I mean, I guess that wasn't the dream for you--”
“Hardly,” Isak snorts on a laugh that Magnus answers with a little grin.
“-- but like, I used to be so jealous. You have mad game, bro,” he says. “You really haven't noticed?”
“I've just noticed that going to parties is fun now,” Isak says with an apologetic shrug. “Like, it was always fun hanging with you lot, but the whole girls part was just… because I was scared, you know? Like, actually terrified. So mostly I notice that I'm not terrified anymore.”
Magnus doesn't say anything for a while, and when he does break the silence again, it's with a slightly hanging head and a sincere, “I'm sorry.”
“I don't know. Whatever I – we – did that made you think you had to pretend,” Magnus says, kicking at the pavement a bit.
