No additional comments here just my little (little-ahhah-funny) obsession with Hollanov and "Wolfbird" by @opal-apparition (ao3)
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No additional comments here just my little (little-ahhah-funny) obsession with Hollanov and "Wolfbird" by @opal-apparition (ao3)
okay but Shane takes a hit late in the game and doesn't return so in the post-game presser somebody (they're new, they don't know any better, they will never make this mistake again) asks Ilya "how's Hollander's head" and Ilya experiences every emotion at once as he wrestles with the lingering terror of seeing the love of his life take five seconds too long to get up (he's fine) and also the sheer delight at being offered this perfect, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on a silver platter
Sleepy boys đ€
Alpha Centauri
[a quick color study that near the end claimed fanart status, so here you go]
CLEAN SWEEP | rated E, 29k, shilya
Shaneâs brain cycled rapidly through a half-dozen celebrities, porn actors, Grindr profiles, every attractive bartender whoâd ever served him a beer, trying to find a comparison for this level of outrageously concentrated beauty in one person, but he was drawing a blank. The manâIlya Rozanov, Facilities Attendant, his badge readâgestured around the supply closet. âI help you find something?â -- Canon-divergent AU set during the 2017-18 MLH season. Shane Hollander doesnât have a single Cup to his name when he meets a very hot and very annoying janitor who works at the Metros stadium.
read here! with all my thanks to @nondeducible, @sexcromancy, @tackytigerfic and @thomasmomwell <3
hollanov honeymoon scenes
okay but Shane takes a hit late in the game and doesn't return so in the post-game presser somebody (they're new, they don't know any better, they will never make this mistake again) asks Ilya "how's Hollander's head" and Ilya experiences every emotion at once as he wrestles with the lingering terror of seeing the love of his life take five seconds too long to get up (he's fine) and also the sheer delight at being offered this perfect, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on a silver platter
#ilya baby get behind me
HEY HELLO JUST GIVE ME THE GUN INSTEAD
(sorry @joyousmistake these tags killed me)
Lil illustration for a wonderful fic Change your win conditions
"Heated Rivalry" Fic Recs (Crack Fics/Fluff)
Fanart by @wilmvandrr
Hurt/Comfort and Angst with a Happy Ending Fics
Crack Fic/Fluff
typing... (10/10) by @shaneviews
~ Â Shane Hollander receives a thirst trap from an unknown number - and absolutely should not reply, especially considering how much he and Ilya Rozanov canât stand each other in real life.
In Close Quarters (5/5) by Anonymous
~ Shane Hollander's next door neighbor is a menace who always opens the door shirtless. Shane is really nonchalant about this (he is not).
chirp, chirp, swing by @bananzie
~ Ao3 user accessible only. Five times Shane chirped back at comments about his relationship, plus the one time he threw hands.
mistaken identities (4/4) by @SleepingWave
~ In which Shane gets a text from an unknown number. Stranger to friends to lovers, crack treated seriously.
and it was all yellow by @belowtherabbithole
~ Shane keeps getting random packages sent to his door for an Ilya Rozanov. Problem is - he has no idea who that is. It's really frustrating. Lucky for him when they do meet, Ilya Rozanov is a tall, blonde, gorgeous model. Hm. Less frustrating.
My Girl by @fujobear
~ Shane has an embarrassing crush on his co-worker, Ilya. Unfortunately, the said co-worker already has a girlfriend he loves to flaunt. That's what Shane thinks, at least.
Hello, Mechanic? by @fujobear
~ Shane Hollander works in an auto repair shop. Ilya Rozanov owns a ton of spare sports cars and has a lot of free time. OR Ilya comes up with increasingly absurd reasons to bring his car to the autoshop to see the hot mechanic.
to be loved and to be in love (3/3) by @SuchASeeweedBrain
~ Childhood friends to lovers AU! Instead of taking her own life, Irina Rozanova takes her youngest son and flees to Canada in the middle of the night. It only makes sense for her to flee to Ottawa. Her son really only wants to do one thing, and that's play hockey. So it only makes sense for her to find him a team for talented young players. There just so happens to be another very talented young player already on that team.
cerulean (2/2) by @neostar
~ University AU! Shane sucks at Economics, and Economics major Ilya goes out of his way to help. (It's not because Ilya likes him, surely not.)
baby, do you want to come home with me? (3/3) by @masqueraders
~ University AU! Ilya keeps fucking his roommate accidentally. Friends with benefits to lovers.
i see the moon in his eyes, i'm paralyzed by @thoughtsechos
~ University AU! Four times Shane accidentally flirted with people and the one time it wasn't an accident. Starring autistic Shane and the horrible reality of living in a world surrounded by neurotypicals.
i just want you to come inside by @miss_milleni
~ University AU! Shane reads Men's Hockey RPF and tries using different fan fiction tropes to get Ilya's attention. It doesn't go as smoothly as he imagines. Thank fuck for Rose Landry.
i only threw this party 4 u by @ratherunnecessary
~ Ao3 user accessible only. University AU! Shane comes out. Shane finds out every not-straight man he knows is into him.
Emergency Contact (3/3) by @shanviews
~ Vancouver General Hospital has very strict rules about workplace relationships, and Dr. Shane Hollander and Dr. Ilya Rozanov follow every single one. The only problem is that theyâre married. And no one knows.
hidden in plain sight (my love) (4/4) by @lastdanceandgo
~ Shane is a struggling actor who works at a coffee shop, trying and failing to get his personal life together. His life is already complicated enough when Ilya Rozanov - a hot, eyeliner-wearing, definitely straight musician - moves into the apartment across the hall. Around the same time, anonymous gifts with handwritten notes start appearing outside Shaneâs door.
Who Do You Love by @dabforpalermo
~ 5 times Hollanov tries to come out publicly and it fails miserably, and one time it finally sticks.
Baby, Bend Over (8/8) by @TemporaryAltars
~ Yoga Instructor! Shane is convinced that Ilya Rozanovâcaptain of the Boston Bears and Shaneâs newest studentâhates him. Ilya joined Shane's yoga class specifically to get closer to the hot instructor, but every attempt at flirting only seems to make things worse. Neither of them has any idea the other is completely in love with them.
Human Resources (2/2) by Anonymous
~ Shane Hollander is a Cupid trying to mantain his flawless two-hundred-year-long track record. Ilya Rozanov just won't stop sleeping around. (Reminds me of Good Omens, the Good Place, Miracle Workers. Big fan of heavenly bureaucracy.)
Moon Child (3/3) by @dreamersreality
~ In the winter of 1923, Shane Hollander is unknowingly courted by a werewolf.
Hampstead by @outroscenery
~ Shane and Ilya are presidents of their own respective fraternities and Shane has the stupidest idea to fall for his rival (feat. a pining Shane and whipped Ilya.)
easier (honey, there is no right way) by @duquesademiel
~ University AU! Â Five times Shane and Ilya hooked up for Shane to learn, and the one time they went on a date instead.
Lily and Jane's Reddit Adventures by @BetterNameToCome(Spoon Deficiency)
~ Multipart (6 so far) series in which Shane and Ilya both take to Reddit to vent their frustrations about their decades long situationship under pseudonyms. Naturally, they become famous.
Freckles (9/9) by @winterschild
~ University AU! Ilya Rozanov, captain of his university hockey team, sees a boy with freckles and he absolutely needs to flirt with him.
ruin the...rivalry? (5/5) by @MoonyM77
~ Road Trip AU! Recently traded to the Ottawa Centaurs, Shane Hollander was having a pretty terrible year. A year that was made even worse when his biggest rival, Ilya Rozanov, unexpectedly joined the Centaurs at the same time. Unable to put their rivalry aside, tensions are high both on and off the ice. The team decides to take matters into their own hands and devises a plan to make them get along once and for all.
Boyfriends with benefits (4/4) by Anonymous
~ University AU! According to Ilya, Shane is the best boyfriend anyone could ask for. If you ask Shane, heâll tell you they are just fuck buddies.
say something batshit crazy (i'll do it, don't you make it) by @yrsaffectionately
~ Social Media AU! Ilya joins stan Twitter on a burner account. Pretty OOC for all characters but genuinely made me laugh.
treat me like an afterthought (4/4) by @lupuswrites
~ A meet-ugly turned friends with benefits frat boy college au. Shane is convinced heâs nothing more than just another hookup on Ilyaâs extensive roster. Ilyaâs spent his whole summer plotting on how best to lock Shane down. Misunderstandings, emotional constipation, and terrible communication skills have nothing on Ilya Rozanov's persistence when it comes to getting his man.
as you are by @afterglows
~ University AU! Shane catches feelings for his college hookup, and doesn't know what to do about it.
heated, realistically by @abitchforlasagna
~ Shane's friends don't believe that slightly socially awkward, normal-guy Shane is dating the famous, flirty hockey player star Ilya Rozanov
Can I get Shane's number? (2/2) by @MsMonserrat
~ Troy just joined the Centaurs. He's not doing well mentally, but a friendship with Ilya Rozanov improves his self-worth slightly. He musters the courage to ask Ilya something....for Shane's phone number. or... Watch Ilya Rozanov lose his mind over the idea that Troy Barrett wants to date his boyfriend.
Shane Hollander's PDA Agenda (2/2) by @virtual_typewriter
~ After Shane tells Ilya "don't touch me" during a stressful moment, he embarks on a mission to heal his husband's heart one PDA at a time.
i got my sights set on you by @rosepetal
~ Office AU! Shane has a secret admirer.
Gooey (4/4) by @genesisofmoderntimes
~ Office AU! Shane hooks up with a hot stranger at an office party, and spends the next months wondering why the new marketing guy won't send him any of the invoices on time. Ilya thinks Shane has forgotten him, and decides to be very petty about it.
tongues-a-wagging (4/4) by Anonymous
~ Barstool Sports Canada reports that Montreal Metros captain Shane Hollander has started learning Russian from new teammate and Russian rookie Sergei Dovonchezky. Ilya has some thoughts. None of them are particularly kind. (Ilya's POV is pretty angsty, but overall very cute and fluffy).
but daddy i love him (2/2) by @rachelrae
~ What if Shane gave Ilya permission to soft launch their relationship. Ilya is, of course, thrilled and immediately starts telling everyone around him. Problem is, no one believes him!
He's NOT Boyfriend Material (5/5) by @jiezieisinadaze
~ Centaurs Universityâs Shane Hollander, crowned âMost Boyfriend Materialâ by a campus-wide vote, and Ilya Rozanov, the universityâs hot Russian hockey star, who decides the only fair way to test the title is to date him himself.
I'll Talk (Like You're Listening) (2/2) by @OpalApparition
~ Over the years, Shane leaves messages to Ilyaâs voicemail believing that the Russian man will never hear them. At least, thatâs what he thinks.
thinking about you (craving us) by Anonymous
~ Shane accidentally 'kidnaps' mafia boss! Ilya while attempting to help Hayden prank a friend. Chaos ensues.
sweet locker by @seariarly
~ Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov play on the same team in college. However, for some inexplicable reason, Rozanov seems to hate Hollander's guts. Little does Hollander know that the one whose been leaving him love notes in his stall has been Rozanov all along.
Accidental Major in International Relations (4/4) by @wolliwillow
~ University AU! Shane Hollander shows up to university excited for another year of being the best at what he does. Unfortunately, the man who beat him at last year's World Prospect Cup is also there, and Ilya Rozanov hasn't gotten any less annoying. Or any worse at hockey. Now if only Shane could focus on the ice, and stop thinking about nice hands, pretty lips, and the sound of his name in a Russian accent.
that's that me espresso by @abitchforlasagna
~ Coffee shop AU! Shane keeps mispronouncing Ilyaâs name to ridiculous levels in the hopes that the hockey player will notice the number written at the bottom of the cup.
a simple case of mistaken identity by @LiarsandThieves22
~ After becoming a bit obsessed with solving the Mystery of Boston Lily, Hayden thinks he finally has it figured out. She must work for the Boston Raiders. Now all he has to do is find her next time he's in Boston and tell her that her and Shane shouldn't have to hide their relationship.
hot mics and hot rivalries (or how i learned how to stop worrying and let my boyfriend out us on national television) by @pucksandpower
~ Shane is wearing a hot mic, and can't get Ilya to stop dirty talking him on live air.
boys on film (for your eyes only) by @myohmoony
~ Shane works in a film shop. Ilya is trying out nudist photography as a new hobby.
Shane Hollander and his increasingly odd days at the Canadian Tire by @gargoylegrave
~ Shane works at Canadian Tire. He is curious about the purchases of their new regular.
Best Laid Plans and the Best Man by @Strawberrysmilees
~ Wedding planner AU! Shane is the CEO of Hollander Events organizing Kip and Scott's wedding, and Ilya is the infuriating best man.
Cigarettes After Sex by @shaneviews
~ Shane begins sending letters to Ilya Rozanov, his next-door neighbor, in an attempt to stop the constant cigarette smoke from drifting into his apartment. The idea was to solve the problem, not start a war.
Unpathed Waters, Undreamed Shores (2/2) by @MindelanKid
~ Hockey star Ilya Rozanov has a usual post-game routine: throw on his sluttiest leather jacket, go to any bar thatâs open, and let adoring fans buy him shots of terrible Canadian vodka until he forgets whether he won or lost. One night, a freckled busboy brings him a glass of water. To Ilyaâs chagrin, in a world of things he wants, Shane Hollander might be what he needs.
on the run by @validvali
~ Shane is Anya's dog walker and occasional pet sitter. Her owner, on the other hand, makes being professional extremely difficult.
Show Me How My Body Works by @Infinitely_Odd
~ It's the festive season, and university student Ilya needs a job. Lush is hiring. Also Known As: Ilya: World's Worst Lush Employee
(ass)ine confessions by @badmetaphors
~ Ilya waxes poetic about Shane while doped up after an injury. Hayden is the unwilling audience.
Dear Future Husband by @yearnology
~ Shane Hollander accidentally becomes the internetâs favorite âwork wife.â Ilya Rozanov thinks this is the funniest thing that has ever happened and commits to the bit with horrifying sincerity.
Integrating My Way Into You by @modudu
~ University AU! where Shane becomes Ilya's math tutor.
The Romance of Somewhere Where Trains Go Direct by @billowyy
~ Shane starts learning Russian because one of his rookies doesn't speak a lot of English, and he tries to convince himself that it's the only reason why.
you're a wag now, enjoy it by @peiceabread
~ Ilya expects the "Metros Queens" group chat to be a trap. Shane worries it's a forum for judging him. Instead, they find brownies, hair product recommendations, and a surprising amount of support for their relationship.
Ottawa Centaurs - The Mockumentary by @LunarMoonstone
~ Ao3 account accessible only. Office style screenplay of the Ottawa Centaurs reactions to Hollanov.
GRWM: Ilya's Version (ft. The Most Exhausted Man in Canada) by @slec
~ The one where Ilya becomes a beauty influencer using Shaneâs $300 moisturizer, and Shane tries (and fails) to remain invisible.
ilyuca81 (otherwise known as lucarosanov) by Anonymous
~ Social Media AU! Luca Haas tries very hard to not let anyone know about his dark (read: embarrassing) past. Unfortunately, the fans are ready to let people know for him. Or, Luca used to run a tumblr blog for Hollanov and the internet goes wild.
all eyes on you by @lanallite
~ Shaneâs Calvin Klein campaign goes viral, not only in the hockey sphere, but all over the internet. Ilya tries (and fails) to not show his jealousy.
Vanilla Sweetness Like I'm Sixteen (2/2) by @sunsetmagnolia
~ Coffee Shop AU! In which Ilya is a menace at his local coffee shop, but only to Hayden.
Too Much Ain't Enough by @isuiji
~ Shane secretly learns Russian over ten years (because he's very interested in the language...no other reason).
you were reckless, you were hungry, you were real by @rosemontstreet
~ University! AU. Ilya is the university hockey captain and Shane's Philosophy tutor. This fic perfectly encapsulates Shane's neurodivergence.
the snoopy expert by @pado_hyuck
~ Shapeshifter!AU. Ilya isn't sure why a dog that looks like a western cartoon keeps following him, but he will always welcome a visit from Snoopy.
a double double by @hightowered
~ Shane knows the coffee will be bad, the donuts will be wrong, and the order will be missing something. Ilya doesnât care. He just wants to see what Tim Hortons is like. (Endorsed by me, a Canadian making this masterlist)
family affairs by under_the_bracken
~ Ilya is left at the table with Shane's father. They talk.
Ilya Rozanov is the World's Biggest Troll by @frizzyanya
~ 5 times Ilya Rozanov told his Boston Teammates that he was hooking up with Shane Hollander and they didn't believe him, and 1 time they finally do.
Lost in Translation by @yeanology
~ 5 times Ilya's Russian chirps at Shane were hilariously mistranslated, +1 time they weren't.
not as dumb as you look by @CherrryBlossoms
~ Shane comes out to Hayden. Or more specifically, Shane comes out as Ilya-Rosanov-sexual.
All My Homies Hate the Montreal Voyageurs by @lazydisposition
~ A video from the Voyageurs locker room before Game 4 of Ottawa vs. Montreal leaks. The Internet flames the Voyageurs for homophobic hate speech.
I said nobody knows you by @rachelrae
~ The Ottawa Centaurs have their own theories about what their captain gets up to in his free time. Wyatt Hayes organizes a bet about it. If only getting an answer out of Rozanov would be easy.
r/HockeyConfessions by @farahist
~ 5 times Ilya goes to Reddit for answers and the one time he got help from Shane himself.
Hayden Pike, Noted Ally by @eden22
~ Hayden accidentally sees the dick pic that Ilya sent Shane, and assumes that Lily is a trans woman (and goes about proving his allyship to Shane).
home, where my music's playing by @Mathgeek12
~ The Centaurs stage an intervention to find out why Ilya missed practice and came back the next day so happy. Hollanov relationship reveal.
So, you like New Yorker? by @oxfordcommachameleon
~ While Shane is outside with his mother, Ilya finds unexpected understanding and warmth in a quiet kitchen conversation with the man who helped raised the boy he loves. Set during season 1 finale.
snapshots by @luminvies
~ Social media AU. The only thing the media knows about famous model Ilya Rozanov's secret boyfriend is that he exists. Shane is happy to keep their relationship private, until he isn't.
fall in love again and again by @galactictsukki
~ College AU. Ilya keeps interrupting Shane's dating prospects accidentally, and then keeps doing it less than accidentally.
Everywhere I'm Not by @paperwhitepen and @phoebefanforever
~ Shane Hollander is a famous hockey player. Ilya Rozanov is a Twitch streamer on the rise with a very one-sided beef with the Montreal Metrosâ captain. Under the username GingerAle24, Shane becomes a regular in Ilyaâs streams. Ilya has no idea heâs talking to the very same player heâs always losing against.
Line Change by @Oaks118
~ Â Instead of turning him down, Ilya and Shane become fast friends at the Prospects Cup. Their relationship (and how they hide the truth) completely changes when the media poses them as best friends instead of rivals.
Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov Read Thirst Tweets by @rinpanna
shane hollander boy kisser confirmed ! by @chuyasexual
~ In 2021, Shane Hollander reveals his relationship with former rival Ilya Rozanov to the shock of chronically online people worldwide, whoâve spent the last decade convincing the world heâs secretly in love with his teammate Hayden Pike.
Blundering Confession by @Buyerei
~ Shane recovers from a concussion and accidentally confesses his love for Ilya (while drugged out of his mind).
Ilya Rozanov's Free Rhinoplasty Service by @strawberrv
~ Ilya punches one of his teammates for saying racist shit about Shane.
Worst Sleep That I Ever Had by @plinys
~ Shane ends up with temporary amnesia after an injury and minor surgery and wakes up to find a handsome stranger by his bedside
connection by @isuiji
~ Crack fic social media AU in which Shane tries to find his one night stand on Twitter.
All the changes came my way by @WhimperSoldier
~ Yuna-centric fic with Married!Hollanov and a delightful amount of found family.
The Ottawa Centaurs' Relationship Chart by @leialoo7
~ Shane and Ilya are thrilled to be on the same team this year but can't resist a little on-ice fighting. The team is very concerned.
Young and Hopelessly Smitten by @jukoist
~ Ilya and Shane become childhood best friends at a hockey camp. This changes everything.
Just One Chance by @SuckonLarrysDick
~ College/University AU where Ilya is the captain of the hockey team, who may or may not have a crush on Shane Hollander.
The Montreal Girl by @some1_around
~ Five times Ilya lied (but not really) to his teammates about Shane, and one time he didnât have to.
COMPANION PIECE:
The Boston Boy by @some1_around
~ Five times someone asked who Lily was, and one time Shane told the truth.
Let it be infinite while it lasts by Anonymous
~ Married!Hollanov, Shane has Alzheimer's.
love me, hate me by @farahist
~ Grad student Shane is Ilya's #1 hater on Twitter. Social media AU.
I'm Reading Your Lips (You're Speaking My Language) (4/4) by @some1_around
~Despite an inauspicious start, when Russiaâs Ilya Rozanov learns that Canadaâs Shane Hollander is fluent in Russian at their first World Junior Championships tournament, it changes everything and sets them on a different course. Instead of being branded as rivals from the very beginning, Ilya and Shane start off as friends.
please leave a message by @Ravenesta
~ Ilya or 'Lily' is accidentally added to the Montreal Wives and Girlfriends groupchat.
golden-rayed lily by @.marigoldens
~ Ilya and Shane sending each other flowers starts out as a joke after a loss/win, and then becomes like a confession.
Loki, letting go
Love is so short, forgetting is so long. Pablo Neruda
Hudson Williams being so openly protective of Shaneâs autistic mannerisms and communication style and people STILL dissing those exact things as a way to call him a bad actor is so appalling to me.
Shane Hollander is a character I resonate with so much and I have such intense love and affection for his conversation style and behaviour. I keep rewatching the show because I rarely feel so related to a character, and I LOVE that Ilya not only accepts Shane but also just loves him for it too.
âThatâs French, Ilyaâ, being unable to hold eye contact (even when his mum begs him), crying but not letting the tears fall so it doesnât count, his playfulness coming out in episode 6, âI tried really hard but I canât help itâ (this oneâs about his sexuality but wow that moment was so relatable to me), having a comfort drink, finding it difficult to identify and express his emotions (âJust donât marry Svetlana, okay? Just donât.â He says with tears in his eyes and voice catching in his throat - AMAZING performance), and also the minute expression changes when Shane watches Ilya win the cup while they havenât talked for months (incredible).
I donât want to hear or see people dissing Hudsonâs acting. Weâve all seen his interviews; heâs expressive and dynamic in his conversation style. He has also described Shane in interviews as being more rigid and tight lipped, thus his whole performance as him is ACTING. The rigidity, the conveying of his emotions being less obvious (unless events are on the higher end of the uncomfortable spectrum and he just straight up starts crying because he doesnât know how to express himself. #relatable), and his straightforward dialogue are all characteristics of Shane; if you donât like him as a viewer that does not make the acting bad.
Idk how people donât like him though, heâs earnest, kind, and tries to be so understanding of others. Heâs also so fun to watch !!!! Iâm sorry but :
Ilya: *arriving at Shaneâs apartment in Montreal for the first time and seeing Shane* You are about to murder me?
Shane: Maybe! Get in!
I LOVE HIMMMMMM
Anyway that went off track. Basically Shane is my fave character and I would like everyone, even if they donât love and adore him, to extend empathy towards him and his mannerisms, and to not use their dislike for the character to shit on Hudson; he did an incredible job and Iâm so enthralled with his performance that I keep rewatching it lol
sorry i cant stop thinking about it
shane: hey :) play better next time best buddy :)
scott: take ilyas dick out of your mouth before you talk to me
Franco Lo Presti for HUF Magazine
Franco Lo Presti for HUF Magazine
A list of all unfinished hr fics I'm reading (part 2)
let's hope I remember enough details about the ones I read a while ago.
6. Soulmate marks that feel like a violation: win and bear it by Anonymous I am not a huge fan of soulmate AU's, because I am not a fan of the idea of one true love in general, and these stories usually require a lot of suspense of disbelief. But this one is interesting, maybe because there is so much of emotional torment. In this case, their soulmarks are like a physical manifestation of their attraction, like a tangible metaphor of homosexuality. The way they feel is undeniable, but it is forbidden, and knowing and confronting it is painful. The narration is from Ilya's perspective, and he is very unwell and doesn't know how to deal with anything - which is fair, you know, no judgement. I like his deliberations about his parents' lives, the parallels are interesting. He is never saying it as it is, because he is so repressed, and it is exiting, having to pierce what he thinks together. And the yearning is very good) I do wish his tattoo was not a bear though. I have nothing against bears in general, but you have to understand, I'm trying to forget that he is russian to enjoy the story. You might as well have made his mark a balalaika (or a tank, am I right? haha....ha..)
7. Scott Hunter derails the narrative, a fic: we cannot waste time (âonly ourselves.) by llamallamaduck One of my favourite fics overall. It is one of those forced coming out stories, except it's only Ilya who's affected, and with a notable change that Scott Hunter arrives at his doorstep immediately, to offer help. Extremely interesting both character-wise, because it is a strange situation to find yourself in (and I love it when people are friends), and narratively, because you can never guess what is going to happen next. Includes a lot of discussion of the meanings of sex and access to one's body, consent, assumptions, and heteronormativity in sports circles and wider society. Ilya is quite severely depressed and dealing with it with mixed results. Shane is haunting the narrative. He's not there that much, but I like how their connection is handled a lot, it is so tender and genuine. There are volatile emotions, but at the core they just want to be nice to each other, and they are curious. 10/10
8. Textual analysis fic: Halt and Catch Fire by mashawisotsky Composed almost entirely of news articles, reddit threads, podcast transcriptions, and internal emails, this fanfic paints a picture of the public reaction and private consequences of a data leak involving thousands of athletes across the Americas. What do you think about that review-worthy sentence, huh?)) I actually found this one through tumblr, and it is very satisfying to read. The amount of attention to detail is impressive. There are not that many character scenes, but seeing the reactions, speculation, meeting minutes, while knowing the secret, is very sweet, in an anticipatory way. 10/10
9. Disability, depression, and desperately clinging to a life you can't get back to in order to feel something again: Route 96 Kanata by Anonymous What can I say. Horrifying, heart-breaking. Relatable if you ever dealt with a life-changing injury, probably, but also extremely hard to read. There is Shane living a normal life, after hockey becomes impossible for him, early in his career. There is a feeling that, even though he is afloat now, he could sink and drown at any point. The balance is fragile, he is fighting for his life at all times. He has friends, his studies, but also a real sense that he left his life behind with hockey. Then, inevitably, he meets Rozanov. I honestly can't guess where the story is going. Is there a way for him to stop feeling like this? Can he ever recover from losing the most important thing in his life since he was 6? Is he using Ilya just to feel closer to the world that is not his? Could he deal with loving a person who has what he so desperately wants? It is very important to me that he can, but it seems so far away. 10/10
10. Almost lesbian, tragic o/o fic: To Be Boring With You by ZoinksSc00b Almost lesbian, because although they are both omegas, they can actually get each other pregnant. So this is a homosexual ship, except in this universe those two are like snails, apparently)) It is very fun, actually, to imagine a world with such a confused sex distribution - even if thinking about it for too long breaks the immersion, because what is the difference between male omegas and female alphas then? Noone knows and noone cares. What is important, is that they are, for almost all intents and purposes, female in this scenario. They have to deal with so much misogyny, and they do it together. It's kind of heart-warming, because they are alike. I appreciate this aspect of m/m ships in general - the fact that they are on equal standing sexually, they have the same to lose - and when in abo fanfic writers make them different sexes, this is lost. But not here, which is nice) There is an unusually, for abo, thoughtful discussion of what being a certain sex means or feels like. Entertaining also. Ah, and there are extremely tragic things also happening. Many tragic things. Very interesting story. 10/10