Fanfic Review: Anthophilia
Anthony J. Crowley's life seems like it's finally falling into place: his floral shop has begun to gain an undercurrent of appreciation in the design elite of London, and he might have even finally found a boyfriend who looks just right lounging on his Tenreiro sofa. Things seem almost perfect, until one day the empty shop across the street is leased to frumpy fellow Oxford alumni, who doesn't seem to remember Crowley nearly as well as he remembers him, which really shouldn't bother him as much as it does - it was ten years ago after all, and it wasn't even that good of a kiss.
Length: 49,446 words
AO3 Rating: Mature / Spice Level 🔥🔥
Best for: Mostly Safe in Public, Pick-me-up, Human AU
Triggers: None
Read it here, fic by FortinbrasFTW
*Minor Spoilers* We are in Crowley's flower shop when he gets a blast from the past, the man he spent a night making out with at uni has just leased the bookshop across the street. The problem is Aziraphale doesn't seem to remember him. I love the way this unfolds. It's not necessarily a slow burn, but throughout their meetings they slowly and gently fall for each other.
Crowley in this story is seeing someone. Handsome and wealthy, Lucius is the opposite of Aziraphale. And things are new enough that Crowley genuinely likes some parts of dating him. It's common in fics to see Crowley's partners as abusive, and I love that this doesn't do that. Lucius is an ass. Arrogant, shallow, and uncompassionate. But he isn't abusive, he's just not the right partner for Crowley. Anathema is also a welcome character here. I like when she pops up as a nuisance kind of best friend. I feel like that has become fanon to have her as a nosey neighbor/bff and I love it every time. A minor detail about Aziraphale that I love, the author doesn't go for his usual fashion choices. Oh it's outdated, it's very outdated, and unfashionable. But it's the fashion from his human lifetime. It's 80's and 90's rather than his typical velveteen waistcoat. A small change that I don't see many human aus make and I really appreciated that detail!
It just so nice watching our pair become reacquainted, how easy it is for them to fall into each other's orbit. No more thoughts on the plot, let that play out for you. Safe ish in public, there are some references to sex early on but nothing graphic. The only longer scene is at the end. It's a nice balanced read, not exactly fluffy but not angsty either.
Read it here, fic by FortinbrasFTW
