The Rec Center #177
Hello all! This week we have a really interesting themed multi-fandom rec list from Galia, who’s gathered stories about characters “who realized that they needed to be rebuilt, and learned how to do it themselves.” Plus gorgeous Killing Eve fanart, proof that no superhero casting decision can remain un-complained-about, and more. — Elizabeth
new stuff
“All in Good Fun: How Fanfiction Reignited My Passion for Writing” by Briana Lawrence at Uncanny Magazine
“Fanfiction was, basically, the fun part of writing, the part I dreamt about when I was a nine-year-old girl who made books out of construction paper, pencil, and crayon.”
“My Journey With Lil Miquela, or the Life Cycle of Instagram Fandom” by Alyssa Bereznak at The Ringer
“She’s an effortlessly chic hottie pulsing with zeitgeisty cultural capital. She’s also fake. But her influence reveals the reality of online identity and the internet economy.”
older stuff
In lieu of a vintage article, we offer you these old (derisive) fan reactions to the casting of Robert Downey Jr and Heath Ledger as Iron Man and the Joker. It’s almost as if... casting directors know how to do their jobs...?
tumblr & beyond
Killing Eve fanart by holepsi
“Ironic that Bilbo is so annoyed with the Sackville-Bagginses for stealing from him and trying to evict him from his house, when his whole adventure involves stealing from someone and evicting them from their house.”
Some memes from people returning from the Snap in Avengers: Endgame.
In celebration of Glee’s 10th birthday, here’s a truly horrifying thread of appalling moments from the show.
Avengers: Endgame, anime opening credits edition.
fanfiction
Galia is a sex educator and critic of unrealistic smut, and has been working on writing her second fanfiction for over 6 years. She can be found on twitter and AO3.
Most hurt/comfort fics involve one character who experiences grief and trauma, and their love interest who helps put them back together. But I have a particular love for characters who put themselves back together—the slow process of practicing healthy thought patterns, spending time on self care, and noticing the small things that spark happiness. Most of these characters have a healthy and loving support team, but the part that inspires me is the conscious choice to be well. The following fics all star a character who realized that they needed to be rebuilt, and learned how to do it themselves. — Galia
“This, You Protect” by owlet. 64K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Marvel/The Avengers; Ship: Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes
Backstory: After the events of CA: TWS, Buckycan’s brainwashing slowly begins fading. He realizes that Captain America is no longer the enemy, but a big dumb golden retriever that desperately needs protecting.
Rec: Bucky begins the story as a blank slate. He’s mostly thrown off his Hydra programming, but he doesn’t know who he is, was, or wants to be. Over the course of the fic, he discovers grilled cheese sandwiches, a cat, Starbucks mochas, and some old people. His inner voices lend the story sarcasm and giggles as he struggles past trauma to make himself a home.
Content warning: Canon-typical violence
“In Defiance of All Geometry” by idiopathicsmile. 551K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Les Miserables; Ship: Grantaire/Enjolras/Combeferre
Backstory: College AU—Les Amis live in a student co-op, trying to change the world and make it through finals. Grantaire is a mess of a human being and isn’t even sure if he knows when it’s his turn to clean the dishes.
Rec: The fic follows Enjolras and Combeferre pining hopelessly after each other, but I’m particularly drawn to Grantaire finding self-worth in himself. He’s funny, talented, and kind, and he also fucks up and deals with mental illness. His friends patiently support him in the slow creation of a niche that feels just right for him. Featuring perfect hash browns, honest conversations about socioeconomic barriers, and terribly damp sledding.
Content warnings: N/A
“Theft of Assets, Destruction of Property” by Helenish. 23K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Harry Potter; Ship: Draco/Neville
Backstory: Lucius pulls Draco out of school after his 6th year and makes life intolerable. When the chance arrives, Draco seizes it—he marries Neville to settle a legal debt and get out of his father’s house.
Rec: Draco is largely unmade by his father. He isn’t sure if he has any worth or value, and spends the fic slowly learning his inherent worth, as well as skills and joy that he can be proud of and share with others. His timidity seems so natural, and his growth filled me with delight. I also have a personal fondness for the trope when someone thoughtful and patient turns a house into a home.
Content warnings: Some physical abuse
“Known Associates” by thingswithwings. 295K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Marvel/The Avengers; Ships: past Steve Rogers/ Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers/ Jim Rhodes, Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson
Backstory: Pre-serum Steve was a part of the roaring gay culture of Brooklyn in the 30s, an effeminate and feisty queer, deeply in love with Bucky Barnes. Suddenly it’s the 21st century, he’s the epitome of masculinity, and he has no idea who he’s supposed to be anymore.
Rec: Steve tries so hard to be who everyone expects him to be, but he quickly realizes that he needs to find a place in this new world that fits him. He explores his sexuality, his gender, and his relationship style while mourning the person he used to be and celebrating the person he gets to be. Genuinely heartbreaking and tearfully joyful all at the same time. I also love politically active socialist!Steve.
Content warnings: Homophobia/transphobia (addressed in the story)
“A Field Guide to Common Birds in New York City” by toft. 15K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Person of Interest; Ship: John Reese/Harold Finch
Backstory: John Reese is a emotionally-stunted, traumatized mercenary. He’s been hired by Harold Finch to follow directions given by The Machine to save innocent lives in NYC.
Rec: John gets some assistance pulling himself up from apathy to quiet enjoyment. He gets a therapist, he falls in love, he starts bird-watching and gets a tumblr. His genuine confused joy is so warm and tangible! Eventual smut, but it’s...really not the point. Featuring birb vs. borb discourse.
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence
“You Don’t Have To (Say Yes)” by luminousbeings. 192K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies); Ship: Jim Kirk/ everyone, eventually Jim Kirk/ Spock
Backstory: Kirk survived the famine on Tasus IV when Kodos took him under his wing. In return, Kodos claimed ownership over Kirk. Kirk survives and goes on to Starfleet, but he’s deeply traumatized and doesn’t know what safe and good friendships actually look like.
Rec: Kirk is so, so messed up. He doesn’t feel like he has any emotional value, but he knows what he needs to do to take care of the people around him. McCoy, Spock, Gaila, and Uhuru slowly recognize the ways in which their friend and captain needs their support, but he has to pull himself out of the mess he’s mired in. This fic both made me cackle out loud and weep openly, and Jim’s characterization is so raw and honest that I can’t help but read it over and over.
Content warning: Sexual abuse, grooming, underage, rape/non-con
“The Least of All Possible Mistakes” by rageprufrock. 118K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: BBC Sherlock; Ship: Lestrade/Mycroft Holmes
Backstory: Featuring always-a-girl!Lestrade, an incredibly competent and driven detective inspector who’s almost forty and fine with that. John and Sherlock are in this fic, but not on center stage.
Rec: George Lestrade is a marvel. She’s witty, flawed, angry, brave, and altogether delightful. Her life gets flipped on its head and she just keeps moving and working and making London a better place. The writing in this fic is sheer perfection, and joy and grief are both so beautifully handed to the reader.
Content warnings: Grief, canon-typical violence
FINAL THOUGHT
That’s all, folks! We’ll be back next week with multifandom Recency AU fic recs. In the meantime, please enjoy this Old Town Road fanvid of Finn & Jannah from Star Wars riding on their wolfhound ponies. — Gav
Have a favorite one-off rec? Please send it our way! We’ll use it in a future list. Other fanworks—comics, vids, zines, etc—are strongly encouraged as well. And if you have any interest in doing an entire rec list, explainer, or ship manifesto, please get in touch! elizabethandgav at gmail dot com.
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