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hey guess what the beta create entries feature has ZERO rte at all so it's actually even more useless

fic recs - archive from defunct tumblr page

Assorted fics I very much liked, Avengers list. This is cleaned up and updated; the original rec list is still AVAILABLE if there’s something you can’t find.

To Me My ABSOLUTE favourite Steve/Loki fic. This is the one that inspired June 21st, and I still adore it even if it’s a fucking gut punch every time. This is one of three fics that has actually made me whimper and sniffle and pretend I’m not crying.

Transient Here Below More Steve & Loki antics, with a lovely Paris backdrop. This right here is one of the reasons I ship these two so much–the dialogue in this is top notch, as is their interactions.

All the stars were crashing ‘round Fairy-tale AU with Steve has a war vet and Loki as a fairy prince. Delightful and sweet and air and lovely, and I am a sucker for fairytales already. Sweet sweet sweet.

Unlocking Lots of character death, as a warning. This is so end of the world and delightful. It captures that crazy long-plot Loki-villain that I adore so much, and all the characters are written top-notch for the high-stress situation that they are in. This is without a doubt one of my FAVOURITE fics.

you would be half mad to dream me up Trigger warning: mental illnesses; This fic hits me in the gut. It’s still in-progress but every time it updates I cry. Or come close. It’s an AU verse where Tony is bipolar and Loki anorexic and the interactions and everything is beautiful, and this doesn’t piss me off because it doesn’t actually glamorize the hell that is a mental ward.INCOMPLETE

That You Have But Slumbered Here Loki falls off the Bifrost and into the body of one Luke Lefferson–and forgets who he is. Very beautiful and soft and bittersweet.

You Feed Me From Your Hand A Clint/Loki, and one that doesn’t actually go around the issue of Loki being in Clint’s head, doesn’t make Clint into a wishy-washy sap, and doesn’t compromise Loki either. It’s such a delicate balance and it’s done beautifully. It also doesn’t creep me the fuck out like most Clint/Loki I’ve seen woop!

Cryptonomicon in Practical Application (In Pursuit of a Decreased Variable ’S’) This is hilarious and sweet and full of lovely math. WW2 AU where Loki is a Nazi defector and Tony is working with the Allies cracking codes. This thing is just chock full of beautiful metaphors and some of my favourite lines in any story. Could read it all day.

The Blade for the Honey Dreamy and slipping and sliding and just glorious. I could drink this down forever. Loki remembers all his past and future lives at the same time, and how Steve fits into that. Just. Yes

Of Magic and Nuclear Bombs (neither of which are the answer to anything) Series. The only MPREG I’ve ever actually liked. That should be enough, I think.

The Evaluation Process Tony dies. Jarvis copes. Beautiful beautiful beautiful

The Several Heirs of Loki Odinson, Prince of the Realm of Asgard It starts off light-hearted enough, but that’s how it gets you. What happens when Loki’s children are really just an elaborate prank, and when that prank gets a little too close

Can’t Go Back the Same Way You Came An AU look at Loki if he fell to Midgard instead of the Chitauri. Very slowly developing and very good; it feels like a very good extension of the mental place Loki was by the time Thor(2012) ended and where that goes.

Seriously By Ordis, this one is sharply funny and makes me laugh and wish that it’s actually what happened. What if the Avengers was just a great big field test?

Of Science Bros and Anger Management Fucking delightful. A really well-done glimpse into Fury’s head and how his life must be absolute hell. I 100% approve of this; it’s funny in just the right ways.

The Calculator part of series, though I haven’t read those and can’t vet for them. Loki’s magic ends up powering a computer that wants to steal the rest from him. Some poignant bro!feels, lots of humour. It’s got a lovely sort of Pratchett feel to it

Paintbox AU. No idea how I missed this for so long, but a deliciously done Steve x Loki fic. Loki is Steve’s publicist and Steve is an artist. Steve asks Loki to let him paint him–meaning on him. Loki is all half-truths and deliciously hard to read, Steve is totally full out in lust with his muse, and the entire thing is beautifully done.

Amateur Theatrics I want you to go read this. Right the fuck now. This one is marvelous, marvelous marvelous. It’s funny, it’s got a few dark edges in it, and kid Loki. Kid Loki is honestly the best thing: he’s so earnest and tries so very hard. Then the plot comes along and you see ‘oh wait shit’ and yeah. I reread this whenever I’m in a bad mood, because it’s both that good and makes me feel that much better once it ends. So yes. I recommend this one a million times over.

Midnight Train Steve takes a trip on a train because he would like to try it. Loki shows up. This is absolutely lovely, a beautiful little discussion back and forth, and I think Loki here is very well done. Conniving, scheming, and just the right amount of broken just beneath the surface. Go reeeeaaaad. It’s a fantastic Loki x Steve (and I’m not saying that just because I beta’d it either. I wouldn’t rec it if I didn’t love it.)

elionai Series. Read both the stories. They are fantastic. Just fantastic. This blend of the His Dark Materials with the Avengers in the best way possible. I definitely shrieked when I saw the crossover, but then the entire fic just blows the entire concept out of the water. This is FANTASTIC. Why are you still reading this, GO READ THIS RIGHT NOW.

The potential you’ll be (that you’ll never see) Oh, look. This is how FrostIron should be–broken, knowing it won’t work, and all dark edges. Mmm. Utterly tragic and no less delicious

Darkness, Flooded in Light A delightful take on the idea of Loki falling to Midgard instead of through to the Chitauri, with all the things that entails. Lots of ties to mythology and what is and isn’t so, lots of Loki feels, some wonderful thoughts to follow through. I quite enjoyed it.

Godchild This one is done and that’s literally been the only thing holding me back. Thor is turned into a child, evil villain Loki stumbles upon him and takes him. Growth and evolution of a relationship, some wonderful parenting/sibling feels handled in a way I enjoy

A Failing in Diplomacy Jotun-Loki! A happy Jotun-Loki who goes off on a diplomatic mission to Asgard to see about establishing trade relations and is thoroughly unimpressed. Asgard is full of misinformation and really racist jerk views, and I love the handling of this.

I sat alone and waited out the night This is a Frigga I can get behind. This is a Frigga I can appreciate, who doesn’t make me furious with her words about how Odin always has a plan. That’s saying something.

The Last Love Song of Anthony E. Stark Amnesia-fic. Tony starts to lose his memory after getting an Asgardian virus. Muninn is involved, we naturally get some really dark-edged Loki, and this is actually the only Steve x Tony I’ve ever been able to stand–partly because it’s really not in your face about the whole mess. This fic is amazing and where I started puttering the idea for Muninn around.

we may be better strangers Loki through the eyes of Freya. Freya’s experiences in Asgard as a goddess of fertility. This thing aches and is beautiful and ends at just the right spot, leaving you aching for more and already knowing what’s coming.

Love is for Children and Other Lies An in-depth look at Natasha’s history all the way through to the Avengers and a little past. Long, but well-worth it. Just a pure delight to read

Learning to Fly Loki’s punishment after the Avengers on Asgard. Some wonderful characterization on all parts, issues of patient choice, and Sigyn is marvelous despite her oh so brief appearance.

Leaves from the Vine Another Loki’s punishment after the Avengers fic, this time involving lots of brother feels. Thor’s perspective on this is something else, and Loki is his usual tricky self.

Exposure A very lengthy and incredibly beautiful look at how Clint sees the world and how that, in turn, leads to he and Steve falling for each other. All the art feels, all the Clint feels, just the whole thing is a stellar work and even if you don’t ship it (and I don’t) this is well worth a read

fic recs - coffeeshop AUs archive

catsbythegreat replied to your post: LET ME LIVE ON COFFEESHOP AUS AND ANGST FOR THE...

 

You should totally recommend some of these coffeeshop angsty au’s.

I mean coffee shop aus AND angst, not necessarily angsy coffeeshop aus. Though some have angst?

ANYWAY.

Consider this post fel's recs of really good AUs.

Paper Monsters - is X-men first class and erik and charles and so great and so trainwreck in the making and it makes me remember all my favourite things about a good coffee shop au.

I've Suffered Shipwrecks - Avengers, Clint and Loki, aka, the one coffeeshop au to rule them all. This is actually everything I want in a coffee shop AU: the perfect length, just enough angst to tinge the edges, crack and fluff and joy. I LOVE THIS GO READ THIS.

Mistakes and Accidents - Loki and Thor as fraternal twins; depression and dealing with. It's Thorki, and one of those that I approve how it was handled and actually seems to follow through and make sense. This one is very near and dear to me, because jfc but I've been there Loki.

To Ruin a Strong Tower with the Light of the Sun - IS NOT AN AU but IS very very good. It does a lot with the time surrounding the movies that isn't explored, also it was a gift for a prompt I submitted, and look, it fits the angst bit so so so well. ANGST. Here go read angst. This is angst and delicious.

The Mind Has Mazes - the Minotaur/Labyrinth myth with Tony and Bruce. What's not to love? It's fabulous.

Darkness, Flood in Light - a fix it fic, divergence from the end of Thor. Heart-breaking and beautiful and up-lifting all in one fell swoop. Bad things happened to children in the past, so give a miss if that's a deal breaker. 

A Failing in Diplomacy - Jotun!Loki au, with him as a diplomat. Lovely.

elioenai - AVENGERS GOLDEN COMPASS CROSSOVER AND IF THAT DOESN'T GET YOU TO GO READ IT THERE IS NO HOPE FOR YOU

Paintbox - Loki is Steve's agent. Steve is an artist. Steve asks Loki to paint on him. Lovely.

Amateur Theatrics - is NOT an AU but it IS good. Clint and kid Loki feels EVERYWHERE

Unlocking - nother NOT an AU but omfg angst everywhere character death everywhere yessssssss

Can't Go Back the Way You Came - canon divergence--Loki falls to Midgard, and another way to explore that

That You Have But Slumbered Here - ANGST AND AU IN ONE. eeeeeeeeeee. Warhorse in my Thor, yes please.

Cryptonomicon in Practical Application (In Pursuit of a Decreased Variable 'S') - aka the au that inspired Fractals. Not angst--it's hilarious and wonderful and in love. ww2 era with Loki as a defector and Tony trying to crack the codes the Germans use

Das Ende der Welt; das Ende Unserer Welt - ANGST and AU, detective Stark and SHIELD and tracking down a murderer and one long intense joyride of angst and horror yessssssssssssssssssssssss

(and very last and very quietly, my first FrostIron fic is a diner-au (diner's are kind of like coffee shops right) which I should wholesale rewrite but haven't and I'm still a little fond of, right here )

live read archive - thunderstruck fics

SORRY BUT THOR/TONY WRITTEN WELL DESERVES IT'S OWN ENTIRE LIVE READ

these are really more reviews and a reading journal than a live read, aren't they? 

ANYWAY I FOUND ONE AUTHOR WHO DID A BUNCH OF THOR/TONY AND THEY WERE SO GOOD FOR ME SO NOW I'M PASSING THAT BOUNTY ONTO YOU SUPER SAVINGS

• Thirty Pieces of Silver [fanfiction]
  manic_intent


• The Eternity Edda [fanfiction; 2-part series]
  manic_intent
  


• Electric Storm [fanfiction; 2-part series]
  manic_intent


• When in Midgard [fanfiction; 3-part series]
  manic_intent
  


• frozen on a circuit (no grounds against lightning) [fanfiction]
  beezy
  


• In-Between Places [fanfcition; thor/tony/loki]
  keelywolfe
  

Previously: 

{ALL}|{GAMES}|{LET'S PLAY}
{ARTICLES}|{FANFICTION}|{BOOKS}
{FILM}|{SHOW}|{OTHER}

Thirty Pieces of Silver 

This is possibly the weakest of the lot, which you should still take as a strong recommendation. I felt like it managed to set up why Thor would consider Tony his beloved the least of all of them, but again--it's still fucking excellent reading.

(I think I was just spoilt on the buildup in the others, while this focused on a  much tamer getting to know each other)

This is a Thor 1 rewrite, and I do mean a rewrite. It doesn't go the same way as the movie; I rather liked that. Thor's been hanging around as a soldier of fortune type for quite some time, and it's quite a good read. 

Tony's attraction to Thor, is, as ever, written so spot on it aches. Or maybe that's just me because when Hemsworth Thor smiles I want to claw my own face off.
 

The Eternity Edda

Two part series that runs pre-Thor 1 through to the Avengers. It's another rewrite, though not quite in the same vein as 30 pieces of silver. In this one, Tony is actually an ex-weaponsmith and Asgardian; it's quite delightful. 

It hits all my age kink related buttons, since Tony's written as being older than Loki and Thor, but not in a creepy way. There's all kinds of things that go on, and I thought that manic_intent did an excellent job of writing how Tony's presence made things different while at the same time adjusting for the canon so it could still all go down.

One of the best things about this for me is that everyone still has their voice; this is particularly critical for Tony, since he's the one getting the biggest shit character-wise. All the cores are very much preserved. This was one of my faves for establishing Tony and Thor's relationship (though not my favourite).

Electric Storm

This one wasn't my favourite but it's the one that's got in my head and stuck with me the longest. Tony basically steps in as a young Storm here, and gets paired up with Thor. This one has so many ideas that I want to just sick and pick apart and nod to in my own work.

The just raw power that Tony and Thor wield in this is so good, and I just adore the way that it gets talked about. Fenrir is fucking phenoemanl. I love the way the prophecy/future was laid out and the way that it gets handled. I love how you can pick up on Thor's attraction to Tony, and I love that Thor's clever enough to hide some stuff from Tony. I love how Tony's written--both him as younger and him after he's gotten older.

Just fuck. This is phenomenal work here.

When in Midgard

This is my favourite. The build-up between Tony and Thor, the way that Tony realizes he has feelings for Thor, the way that Thor has them for Tony. Thor's cleverness. Just all of it. The last fic in the series is where all of this really comes to a head (hah. hahaha. head) and shines, and you really want to read that one if you read none of the others. Manic)intent has a fucking amazing ability to do the world-building stuff, and it shows.

Yeah. This was the series that made want to do all of these as part of a live read. Tony dealing with alien tech, Odin being a crafty bastard, the way that Thor and Tony interact with each other...  just all of it. All of it. 

No one writes Thor like manic_intent does, not for me.

frozen on a circuit (no grounds against lightning)

Apparently this is part of a series now? who knew! That said, this review is just for this fic.

Which goddamn. I love the way that this ship gets written--I love Tony's raw, animalistic physical attraction to Thor, the way that there's always this edge of desperation to it. 

I love the way that Tony weaves in and out of all these things, the way that we see him trying to assess and figure out how to get in Thor's bed (or Thor's in his). I like that it doesn't just pretend Jane doesn't exist. 

Also this:

He starts thinking that maybe Thor actually enjoys Tony’s antagonistic, sarcastic brand of humour, that maybe Tony’s quips are endearing instead of this constant knife wound to Thor’s side, reminding him all too well of his asshole brother’s caustic wit.

I wish more fics picked up on this; frostiron fics are so ready to point out all the ways that Tony and Loki are the same and push that hardcore, but so few of them (and so few fics in general in this fandom, let's be real) take that to the conclusion that Tony's going to be a constant reminder (at least in behaviour) for Thor of Loki. 

Pepper's a gem in this--actually, all the characters that show up are. But I particularly love how Pepper was written, so she gets a special mention.

The build up to Thor and Tony actually being a think is fantastic, and this is still one of my favourite fics for it. This was the fic that sold me on Thor/Tony, and rereading it now, it's not hard to see why.

The second fic in the series is all smut that follows, so definitely give that a read too if that's you're cup of tea.

In-Between Places

This one is a threesome. Thor decides to invite Tony to be a mediator between him and Loki. Tony agrees without any idea what that actually means.

Delicious and somewhat hilarious pwp, with a good dose of bro-angst for those that like that. Tony's POV for the whole thing, and boy is it a good one. You get a lot of the fabulous contrast between Loki and Thor filtered through him, and I really loved the premise of this.

Wayback Machine Archive Links

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(no subject)

Spending all day archiving valued tags also ended up with me seeing just how much more active I was when I first joined the fandom--sure, I was writing a lot, but I was also reading a lot, and I was much less passive about my reading too. There were buckos of fic recommendations, with little blurbs and thoughts about them, not so dissimilar from the way I write book reviews now. It's certainly made me consider if I want to get back into reading fanfic more often, and make more of an effort of rounding up new stuff in the particular ships I like.


Not to mention seeing the early stuff that so inspired me in the first place, the stuff that sucked me into the fandom on the whole. For all the tedium of spending 8 hours archiving tags was, never once did I regret what I was doing--seeing these little glimpses and bits of my old work, of the early fandom, of fanart and ideas and stuff that I never managed to pursue....


I'll have to think about it. I need something to post, both here and to pillowfort, and I certainly ain't gonna just magically be able to churn out fic super fast like I used to.