recs and links

cite"No, I've beat around the bush enough, I'm just going to come out and say it. You should accept the coronation, and at the same time announce that you are happy to announce a political union with the Coal Hills Mine, and you are marrying the daughter of their respected engineer, Jolly Littlebottom. Which is, um, me." Carrot ran through that plan a few times, before he was confident he got the relevant details. "Marry…you?"/cite Carrot and Cheery get fake engaged and it leads to real feelings. Oh heart.

citeNile’s world is upended. But she doesn’t lose family. Not all the way./cite This is a really nice look at Nile settling into the team and coming to grips with her new life.

cite“Inej,” Marya started, placing her cup and saucer down carefully on the side table. “I wonder if you would consider sitting for a portrait for me. Have you ever had your likeness taken before?” “I... no, I haven't,” she said, heart fluttering at being paid such a high compliment. Having a portrait of herself had never even crossed her mind. She knew that the process took time and effort and usually a lot of money. It was a frivolous thing that the wealthy and important would commission to line the walls of their grand staircases so they could watch over their future generations. Paintings were not for someone like her. “I wonder...” Marya began, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Do you think we could convince Kaz to join you?”/cite This is really lovely. (It's marked 1/2 but it appears to be complete)

Or: Alfred & Bruce throughout the years./cite Exactly what it says on the tin. #i'm not crying you're crying

citeBetween 2004 and 2023 Saira loses a sister, starts a band, gets and regrets a social media presence, breaks up the band and puts it together again, writes her first love song, headlines(ish) a music festival, listens to the worst song in the world over four hundred times, and falls in love for real. But this story is not about that. This is about music./cite This is a really excellent look at Saira and the band, and a wonderful slow burn romance between her and Amina (so much pining!). highly recommended.

citeThree gifts given by Kaz, and one he received./cite Exactly what it says on the tin. Oh heart.

citethe Bats have an extremely bad night in Gotham City/cite. This is a good, tense read.

cite"Honestly, she’s only 90% sure that Nicky is the white guy and Joe is the Middle Eastern guy. She’s been waiting for somebody to drop a name to 100% confirm it, but Andy just calls them 'Joeandnicky', and they call each other a lot of stuff in a bunch of different languages that are probably pet names."/cite Nile, Joe, and Nicky dogsit. Oh heart.

This is a really lovely coda for the movie from Nile's POV.

cite“We are embarking on a pilgrimage, Nile,” Joe says, with none of the irony of someone who has genuinely pilgrimaged over multiple continents. “Together, the four of us, we journey with the rest of the world to a common ground. A sacred ground. A place where brothers and sisters of all backgrounds gather together to watch the most fantastic displays of athleticism known to man—” “Wait, I thought the Olympics weren’t for two more years?” Nile interrupts, confused./cite This is adorable.

Exactly what it says on the tin. Oh boys. #siblings!

A cite“What I’m more curious about,” Keeley said, “is what problem you think handcuffs and a cock ring are going to solve.”/cite This is really hot and in character Roy/Keeley/Jamie.

citeThey used to enjoy sharing the role of Neal Caffrey among the entire family. Sadly, now that Neal has been arrested and is on a tracking anklet, that isn't possible anymore. Or is it?/cite This is a lot of fun!

Excellent Drummer vid! 3

citeA lot of people tell Tim that he looks just like his mother. They share the same eye color and shape, often cold and calculating. The same sharp smiles and ghostly pale skin, and the same, lean body frames that could almost be described as delicate. One last thing they have in common is an orange pill bottle. The only difference is the name./cite this is a hard read - Tim is suicidal and tries to kill himself - but a cathartic one. have tissues handy.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

emThe one where Oracle calls Red Hood and Red Robin in to deal with a Crane-shaped incident at the docks, a brand new strain of fear toxin is released, and Jason is horrified to discover that he’s NOT Tim’s worst fear./em Jason gets a little insight into Tim. Aw boys.

A week after the funeral, Bruce Wayne goes missing. He’s only made it a few miles past Gotham’s city limits when Clark finds him. Clark accompanies Bruce on his grief road trip after Jason's death. *sniffle*

emStephanie Brown has had many names and many lives through the years. But as Batgirl... she might actually see this one through./em ♥STEPH♥

citeWhen Dick finally learns what happened to Tim during the assassination tournament, it reopens an old wound. Trying to TALK about it opens a whole Pandora's box of old wounds. To make matters worse, Ra's still wants a new heir from Dick's little brother./cite I enjoyed how this dealt with the various issues the Batfamily has had with sexual assault. (There is a lot of tense switching though.)

Conner is sleepwalking and it's freaking Clark out. Then they work some shit out. Oh heart.

citeNot all stormtroopers start that way. Not all stormtroopers end that way, either. A Finn Skywalker retelling of the Star Wars sequels./cite I enjoyed this AU of the sequels which centers Finn and his relationships.

citeTim freezes, gaze still locked on Jack’s prone, silent form sprawled out on the floor, and pulls the phone back to look at the number. It’s kind of funny, he thinks hazily. Of course he would accidentally kill his dad and then mistakenly call Jason, of all people./cite Oh Tim.

cite"James," Melina said thinly. "I apologize. I will remember this. Names are important to you. Yes?" She paused. "It is how I think of you, over all these years. That is all."/cite This is really lovely.

cite“You don’t know pain, Nightwing,” Morgaine hisses. The portal howling into existence behind her is almost loud enough to drown her out, but not quite. “But you will. I swear, you will.” --- Morgaine le Fey curses Dick Grayson to absorb the pain of everyone he loves./cite I enjoyed this.

oh heart #precious spiderbabies

Aw boys. I enjoyed this.

“How do you know all this stuff?” Bruce asked. “You’re just a kid.” “I’m nine,” Dick said. “That’s half an adult. We learned about rounding today, and half or more, you round up. So technically, I’m an adult.” “That is not how that works,” Bruce said. “Nine-eighteenths rounds to one,” Dick told him. “Did that work on your parents?” Bruce asked. “Because it’s not working with me.”

It’s Damian’s fault that Drake is lying motionless and as pale as a corpse on the hospital bed. He was the sniper's target. OH heart.

Damian, upon finding an abandoned duckling, decides to call it Timothy. Overhearing his name, the duckling's namesake appears. this is too cute!