#vicars

[krumpkin]

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[redwinevinegar47]

Good Omens Fanfic Recs - Trope #3: Priests

Why priests for Good Omens AUs? Many reasons. One is that priests are forbidden love. Forbidden love is a great trope but actually hard to generate in a modern scenario. There are not a lot real reasons that two consenting adults who love each other can't be together (IRL, maybe geographic distance is the main one I see but blorbos aren't going to be held back by that). I think it's striking that two people can actually be forbidden by religious dogma or church rules. They can risk profound ostracization, social death. So religious homophobia across denominations and Catholic vows of celibacy in particular create a legitimate contemporary scenario of forbidden love (and a reason to be in the closet, another trope for which I have recs & thoughts).

(Reflecting on the fandom classic Shotgun Wedding by @charlottemadison42 and its compelling forbidden love scenario: it's not a priest AU but it is, similarly, based on policies of organizations that Aziraphale & Crowley are members of).

In the Anglican tradition, as I understand it the vicar is allowed to date but is under a microscope, often in a small community, and that is interesting and inhibiting. How do you explore yourself when so many people are watching? It adds an element to risk and reason to sneak around. Sneaking around is fun (until it's not).

I feel like I'm just starting to scratch the surface of this trope. Aziraphale's Library has recs and there are 80 pages of Good Omens "priest au" tagged fic on A03. Search for Good Omens Priest AU on Tumblr for some amazing fanart.

Here are some that resonated with me.

*Newest* Companionable Silence by Literallymyusername (Rated E, 1K so far, work in progress)

Not exactly priests -- but religious baggage in this Mormon Missionary AU. It's written very well, with a lot verite and grit. I can feel the antipathy seething through... I can tell this is going to be amazing as it really gets going. The aithor last updated in March but only have 34 hits and I left the first comment. I want this to get more love in hopes that we get more chapters.

You and I, Stargazing by @altsernative (Rated Explicit, 22K so far, 6/45 chapters up and FULLY WRITTEN ALREADY)

Aziraphale is an Anglican vicar & serving as chaplain at NASA, doing pastoral care to the astronauts, including Crowley, who are staring into the Ineffable Void. And also kind of stressed out about messing up & killing everyone on their mission. I'm liking this so far because it has crisp world-building, and I feel immersed in the workplace culture where their instant attraction is... kind of a problem. So there's a spark between these two, and the tension is building deliciously.

The collar... was a little uncomfortable around his throat.

Wonderwall series: All the Light that Lights the Way & All The Roads That Lead You There by @feraltuxedo (Rated Explicit, 8K + 7K, finished).

I liked the charismatic characterization of Aziraphale as a self-possessed, affable vicar. It's a fun, sexy, surprising meet-cute. I found myself daydreaming about them after I finished reading, and what it would actually be like for them to be together, in their social world.

Readings From the Books of Ashtoreth by Quefish (Rated Explicit, 53K, finished)

Similarly, Aziraphale is the vicar and has a strong sense of self as he balances being a public figure in his community & a private individual. Also fun, sexy, surprising.

Now the heavier ones. I don't have much of an interest in theology but I can be pulled into the feelings of betrayal.

Communicatio in Sacris by @voluptatiscausa (Rated Explicit, 10K, finished)

Crowley is a priest, and an encounter with Aziraphale takes him deeply into questions of faith, love, and practice. This was beautifully written. I felt the full gravity of Crowley's choice to Question Things.

Crowley hadn’t realized how much he’d begun to feel like a ghost, like something apart from the rest of humanity. 

arise, my darling, and go forth by @naromoreau (Rated Explicit, 43K, finished)

Both priests, assigned to the same parish, and struggling over feelings for each other. Such intense yearning, such freighted small touches, such a painful arc, and such a hard-earned happy ending. I loved the characterization, the voices, and the earnestness.

The authors note says this was inspired by the Priest AU comic by @gayforgoodomens (scroll down then read up to get them in order). They are so playful and sweet, but then when they face the reality of what is happening... It's intense. The last panel absolutely breaks my heart. I read it as shock at what they've done.

Vine Slips of a Strange God (Rated Explicit and Jesus Christ it earns it, 183K, finished) and the sequel, Bring Your Seed to Blossom (Rated Explicit, 117K, unfinished) by @depraveddame and Zivilzz

Hot damn, that is one epic, kinky, angsty priestfic. This priest Aziraphale isn’t particularly devout, so this less about theological angst, but he carries tremendous guilt and turned to the priesthood to punish himself. Crowley’s the gardener at the Church, and bringing his own trauma history. They circle each other carefully for a while... The dom/sub dynamic gets spooled out slowly through innuendo and double entendre. It's so intense when fully realized in part because they have a lot of inhibitions that desire must overcome. The sense of taboo is breathlessly intense. So is the sense of connection between the two. I got really emotionally invested in these versions of Crowley and Aziraphale. I don’t think I can put it better than depraveddame: “ultimately it’s a story of of healing, kinky indulgence, raw vulnerability, and the radical tenderness of two broken stems growing into each other to produce something stronger and thirsty for life, for love, for light.” You should probably do this with any story you read but carefully read the tags and do what's best for yourself.

Final thoughts:

The priest and vicar stories feel very British and I like a story with a strong sense of place. I'm American, and I keep thinking of some other scenarios for Aziraphale and Crowley:

Southern Baptist preacher, having a crisis with his sexuality (different flavor of Catholic Priest)

Two Jehovah's Witnesses, going door to door, in matching short-sleeve white shirts and ties. They are young men in their early 20's and earnest. They can tell when someone is standing behind the door silently not answering and waiting until they go away. A lot of people are rude to them. It's hard and they really appreciate having a caring friend after facing so many hostile responses.

Two young people who met in Young Life, the popular youth ministry with weekly meetings and BIBLE CAMP. I did bible summer camp and there is a real frisson with the religiosity AND the way that summer camp allows a teenager to explore identity away from the people in their lives. First kisses, etc etc.

Two Quakers clerking who are in a deep fued about whether to pay to repair the roof on the Meeting House or replace it.

Tell me your favorite priest/vicar/nun/monk/pastor/etc fics!

RWV Good Omens Fanfic Recommendations By Theme

Social Media | Being in the closet | Priests | Dystopias | University | Punks | Long AUs | Everything Else

[aradxan]

Walking in the Rain by Bob C Images While visiting Wells Cathedral, I happened upon an incredible street with amazing architecture. Vicars' Close, in Wells, Somerset, England, is claimed to be the oldest purely residential street with original buildings surviving intact in Europe. John Julius Norwich calls it "that rarest of survivals, a planned street of the mid-14th century". As you can see it was raining but I waited around until someone started walking down the street with an umbrella. (Edited in Lightroom, Photoshop and Topaz) https://flic.kr/p/2ojnVWj

[picturesofthearsenal]

Vitoria Guimaraes vs Arsenal (1:1) | 06 November 2019 | Europa League

Mustafi 80′ (assist: Pépé )

[pointless-letters]

‪When nothing at all happens, but you don't let that get in the way of telling a story. ‬

[lovingtheuk]

Vicars Close, Wells by Ian Gedge Via Flickr: Wells, Somerset

[rhosyn-o-magdalene]

Fun fact: In England we rarely call ordained preachers ‘pastors’. They’re either just priests or vicars or reverends etc. What we do have, however, are a lot of farms with cows, especially in my district. So whenever I hear or see someone refer to their ‘pastor’, my mind always confuses it with ‘pasture’ and immediately conjures up an image of a cow in a bishop hat giving a sermon in an open field.

[verityreadsbooks]

Series Redux: Max Tudor

I know, it’s a bit of a cheat, but I’m finishing off my espionage-themed week with a reminder of the Max Tudor series of mysteries about a former spy turned vicar. They’re not set in the Cold War, so they don’t quite fit, but they do at least have links to the secret services so I’m claiming they count and I’m sticking to it. I’ve read seven of the eight* books in the series at this point and as…

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