A General Guide to Reading

Two girls' (Anna and Alice) descent into reading and their observations about it. Maybe comparing reading to going down the path to eternal punishment isn't the most kosher thing, but let's face it, fanfiction is not the most wholesome act anyway. Let's have fun and read.

[thewisepikachus]

Oh, Darling by JenNova

They're called 'terms of endearment' for a reason.

You should know that when I saw the title of this fic again, I spontaneously started to smile. It’s so sweet, and it melts my cold heart. I feel like the grinch whose heart grew five sizes when reading this. 

[thewisepikachus]

Don’t Feed Me, Seymour by gyzym

"This looks delicious," Eames fucking lies, because the only accurate statement would be This looks like intestines, and he would like Arthur to continue to shagging him.

No words but an odd squeeing noise might have exited my mouth continously as I read. Now, take what you will from that and keep in my gyzym wrote this. You know it’s going to be good.

[thewisepikachus]

Judas, I knew him well by astoryaboutwar

The key to being Eames's lover, Arthur knows, is not to love him.

Pain, so much pain, but good pain and pain that’s worth it. Those are really the only words I can use to describe this. Read it, cry, and repeat because you know you’ll be rereading this. 

[thewisepikachus]

Forgot To Mention by coffeebuddha

It's possible Arthur's missed a clue or two over the last several years.

Misunderstandings? Established relationship? Arthur and Eames? Was there anyway that I was not going to like this fic? It’s sweet, fluffy and tugs on your heartstrings. Please read it to share in my happiness. 

[thewisepikachus]

Waiting On by thehoyden

"French toast, pancakes, steak and eggs -- I could make you anything in the world, pet, but no. Egg-white omelette, morning after morning. It shows a distinct lack of imagination."

This fic is the equivalent of a warm blanket. If that sentence isn’t enough to convince you to read it, I don’t even know what else to say. 

[thewisepikachus]

Trouble with Dreams by sparkledark

College AU in which Arthur is a cranky senior and Eames is a professor of Dream Psychology.

I straight up cried during this one, and I don’t even know why. Just halfway through, I just started crying because it was so good and painful and why arthur why. Now, I totally recommend this fic, and I think that crying during fic is something that you should do at least once in your life. 

[thewisepikachus]

Counterpoint by PlaneJane

Twenty years after The Great Purge and the continuing effects of a High Priestess’s curse, Albion is a nation on the brink of collapse. Not even High Chancellor Uther Pendragon’s Compatibility Regime can curb the plummeting population. To add to his troubles, his wayward son, Arthur, makes no disguise of his unwillingness to wed. With good reason. Arthur is secretly leading the Movement, a covert organisation plotting to overthrow the government and return magic to Albion. Not to mention, it’s been foreseen that Arthur’s future, his destiny, is an indomitable union with a warlock—not marriage to the farm-boy matched to him by Uther’s Compatibility Machines.

uhh...What can I even say? I am on a merlin kick, and I can’t find the way out. And that may be because I don’t want to get out. Seriously though, this fic is awesome; there’s just an atmosphere that I like if you get what I’m saying. Whatever, just read it....

[thewisepikachus]

(1)5 Exes and Sid by WhatJustHappened (hazel_3017)

Five times Geno fell in and out of love, plus one time he stayed in love.

Or, the one where Geno dates a lot of people before realising the love of his life has been in front of him all along.

So I think that fandom often creates tropes for the characters involved, even in rpf, which makes it really interesting when a fic subverts the trope and introduces something new. That is probably why I enjoyed this fic so much. I think that the image of Geno as a player doesn’t really appear in fic form, and this was perfectly done. Read, marvel, and read it again!

[thewisepikachus]

A Piece of the Plate (Got Stuck In My Heart) by jibrailis

Iron Chef AU. In which there are cooking competitions, ruminations on the length of Eames' penis, professional jealousy, and second chances.

Ahhhhh, Arthur and Eames. Don’t tell anyone, but they might be my favorite fandom. I can’t help it; there’s just so much good work. I can’t stop reading and rereading. Speaking of fics, haaaaaaaave you read this one? I mean if you haven’t you totally should. Despite the vaguely cracky title, I promise you that the fic is entirely as brilliant as an Iron Chef au could be, maybe even better than your imagination. Happy readings!

[thewisepikachus]

This Silly Ol’Dance is Perfect for Two by SlantedKnitting

Arthur is young, gorgeous, talented, and captain of one of the best football teams in England; his life should be perfect. But he can't keep a girlfriend for more than a few months, and it's not just because he isn't ready to settle down. When his most recent girlfriend dumps him, he has a rough night at the pub and has to be dragged home by his neighbour, Merlin. Merlin is an archivist, a Ph.D student, and he hates football almost as much as he hates Arthur. They both have their own reasons for not wanting to spend time with each other, but after that disastrous night, remaining silent neighbors doesn't seem like much of an option anymore. Modern AU.

So, this is the first merthur fic I read, and boy did it cement my love for merthur writers. I think that this fic just tugs on my heartstrings, partly because of nostalgia, partly because of its amazing writing. Quite honestly, I’m probably due for a reread. 

[thewisepikachus]

Love is a Rebellious Bird by 100percentsassy and gloria_andrews

AU in which the boys still make music. Louis is the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Harry is the New! and Exciting! interim conductor/ex-cello prodigy who "has made Mozart cool again" according to Esquire Magazine (Louis hates him immediately, which is definitely why he internet stalked him in his dark bedroom late at night that one time), and Niall is the best. Zayn and Liam are around too.

Don't hum Bolero.

Okay, so I realize that there’s babygate, and Louis has a baby. BUT, I also realize that good writing is good writing, and I’m going to continue reading larry fanfic. And dude. this fic. THIS FIC. SO MUCH ANGST, and yet it doesn’t get melodramatic. You should read this. I should reread this. Let’s all read this together. 

[thewisepikachus]

Gamut by Nahara

Arthur is a recruiter for a branch of the Special Forces and goes to give a talk at Ealdor High School. Merlin is in the audience

Soulmates. AU. Manpain. Literally, speaking my language right now. Awesome descriptions, awesome characterization of Merlin. I mean I’ve reread this fic at least 6 times, and it never gets old. There’s something about the way Nahara writes Merlin and Arthur that captures their dynamic, and I obviously can’t get enough. What I wouldn’t give for a continuation of this universe. Happy readings :)

[thewisepikachus]

Loaded March by footloose

Captain Arthur Pendragon has put together the best team of specialists that the SAS has ever seen, but when his superiors assign Lieutenant Merlin Emrys as his communications officer, Arthur does everything to make him feel unwelcome. Arthur's job is to protect and guide his team through dangerous missions, and he worries that he can't do that when the newest member has a mysterious background and acts suspicious when he thinks no one is looking.

As their assignments become more dangerous, Merlin can't help but to use his magic to keep his team -- even his prat of a Captain -- safe from threats they couldn't possibly understand. But when they are sent on a undercover operation against a group of zealots intent on a magical apocalypse, Merlin needs to confront his fear of discovery and derision, and to finally trust his team with his secret.

Arthur and Merlin rely on each other for more than the sake of their mission. The entire world is at stake. When they learn -- from dragons, no less -- that they are prophesied to restore the balance of magic to the world, they fight on regardless of the outcome, because duty, honour and loyalty is a far stronger driving force than destiny.

Uhhhh. I don’t even know how to describe this series. It’s ridiculously good, and I wholeheartedly believe that it’s better than half of the YA on the shelves today. I mean literally speechless. The pacing, the descriptions, the emotional response....off the charts. If you like fanfiction, do yourself a favor and read all of footloose. God knows, I’m probably going to recced all her fics. 

[thewisepikachus]

Highway Unicorn by pentapus and thefourthvine

He saw the horn poking out from the pony's head, golden and straight and somehow delicate-looking despite the empty tuna can hanging off of it. The unicorn horn. "The fuck," Sidney said out loud, his eye skipping from the horn over the greyish-white body to the graceful gold-toned hooves.

Virgins and unicorns. That’s a trope I will never tire of. Also, the fact that an unicorn follows Sid around is both hilarious and entertaining. I just want to reiterate that there’s a unicorn that follows Sid. Come on, that should be enough to convince anybody to read this fic. In fact, I’m probably due for a rereading myself. Happy readings!

[thewisepikachus]

Kiss It Better by omelet

With all his knowledge of Sidney Crosby, Geno should've known that one day it would culminate to this.

Sweet fluff. That’s literally the entirety of this fic, and I love it. This fic combines Sidney’s idiosyncrasies with Geno, and oh I love how it turned out. Really go read it if you need a pick me up. 

[thewisepikachus]

Say Not the Struggle by torigates 

At nine years old, when his mother started talking about arranging Sid’s marriage, he hadn’t thought too much about it. She would find him someone in one of the Maritime Provinces, maybe Quebec. If really pressed, Sid might have imagined going to one of the Prairie Provinces, or maybe somewhere in the United Kingdoms of America. He never thought about being far away his family, because it literally never occurred to him that it might be something that could happen.

So, hockey rpf....I don’t know the hockey players but man do I ship sidney and evgeni. Like, have I seen more than 3 minutes of their playing, nope! But, I ship them. And this is an au, like how am I supposed to resist? Exactly, I can’t. Anyways, the fic is actually amazeballs, and throughout I was constantly just marveling at how good the writing is. I mean I don’t know Sidney and Evgeni, but the characterization felt real regardless. I mean there were some scenes in there that were heartbreaking (see: bullying scene). I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Happy readings and Monday!

[rohruh]

Long Sterek Fic Recs

A few days ago, I asked for some long fic recs and you guys PULLED THROUGH BIG TIME with a ton of really great fics! I’ve compiled them all for my future reading, but I figured I’d post the list here for you all as well. 

A Devotion by TroubleIWant (77k, M)

a mountain to climb by grimm (126k, E)

Friends of Early Theory by Nanoochka (23k, E)

Gravity’s Got Nothing on You by zosofi (83k, E)

here comes trouble by grimm (105k, E)

I don’t need any help to be breakable (believe me) by Oywiththepoodlesalready (35k, T)

I Know Where Babies Come From, Derek by DiscontentedWinter (51k, M)

I’ll Be Seeing You by thepsychicclam (81k, E)

Just to See You Again by MelleytheHun (14k, E)

(not so) Pure Imagination by theroguesgambit (33k, E)

Rats’ Alley by Auburn (101k, M)

Safety in Silence by Survivah (66k, M)

The Moon’s Gonna Follow Me Home by turningterrific (82k, E)

The Only Exception by alisvolatpropiis (37k, E)

The Rory to My Amy by linksofmemories (162k, E)

The Waves that Rolled you Under by TroubleIWant (35k, M)

tide pulls from the moon by paintedrecs (45k, M)

‘Till You Make It by standinginanicedress (46k, M)

When Rome’s in Ruins (We are the Lions) by Kedreeva (209k, E)

You Only Live Once…or Twice by WonderWolf (32k, E)

A special thanks to @cr3v @eeyore9990 @wireddifferently @stripeysocksandoxfords @roonilwazlib3 @lovesouthernsweettea @panic-at-the-adulthood @50-points-for-ravenclaw @munchkin-07 @stilesgrumpysourwolf and @ryvetted4 for the recs! ❤