embraidery

2024 was an excellent year for exchanges and fests! I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite works, which is by no means exhaustive. I’ve included some works by myself as well!

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

always me and you by embraidery. Kat Stratford/Patrick Verona, 1.4k, rated T. 

Kat and Patrick broke up during college. When they see each other again at Bianca’s wedding, they can’t help falling in love once more.

fascinating new thing by notyourwinter. Kat Stratford/Patrick Verona, 1.4k, rated T.

Kat gets a grey hair. She doesn’t want to care, but she does. Patrick cheers her up about it while also riling her up, because he’s Patrick. Just perfect for them and a delight. 

mesmerizing by embraidery. Kat Stratford/Patrick Verona, 1.6k, rated T.

“Kat looks sideways at Patti and loses her train of thought. Freckles! Hazel eyes! That jawline! She looks like that and plays guitar like a dream? Like, hello? Kat’s never wished she was a lesbian quite this fervently.”

Truth in the Mountains by blueyeti. Kat Stratford/Patrick Verona, 2.9k, rated M. 

After Kat impulsively marries Patrick, the knowledge that she has a husband and the feeling that she’s betraying all her ideals never goes away. She asks him for a divorce. He asks her if she still wants to stay. Heartbreaking and beautiful and so very Kat and Patrick. 

The Addams Family (Movies - Sonnenfeld)

Trick and treat by c_art. Gomez/Morticia and Wednesday. Art, rated G.

Gorgeous, sketchy watercolor and ink drawings. The one of Morticia and Gomez is particularly stunning in its lovely shading and their facial expressions, the look of love so fervent it’s almost pain on Gomez’s face.

Benlian - Oliver Onions

godhood by redgear. Benlian/Pudgie, <1k, rated M.

Just a gorgeous and horrifying piece about Benlian passing into the statue and Pudgie eating what was left over, to transfigure himself into a statue just as beautiful as Benlian’s.

though the weight was heavy by TisStrangerEerierAndPreposterousUsername. Benlian/Pudgie, <1k, rated T.

A beautiful post-canon fic: Pudgie looking back on what happened with Benlian, and what happened in his dreams. 

Bridgerton (TV)

For her own satisfaction alone by psychomachia. Simon Basset/Anthony Bridgerton, 1.5k, rated M.

Simone and Antonia still box, still drink. A fantastic look at how their lives might have been different. The dialogue is wonderful and very sharp. 

Use Him As He Uses Thee by within_a_dream. Cressida Cowper & Alfred Debling, 2k, rated G.

A lovely, mildly angsty, but ultimately very sweet fic about Cressida and Alfred finding respite in a lavender marriage.

Challengers (Movie 2024)

Material Girl by darkrosaleen. Art Donaldson/Patrick Zweig, 1.1k, rated T. 

High school-aged Art and Patrick go to a Purim party. The way Art feels about Patrick in his Britney costume combined with an eventful game of Truth or Dare leads to some realisations. Fantastic dialogue and a very fun premise. 

put your lips on my scars by buries. Art Donaldson/Tashi Donaldson/Patrick Zweig, <1k, rated E.

A gorgeous bit of smut with note-perfect dialogue for all three of them. 

Chronicles of Narnia - All Media Types

If It’s A Mirror You Want, Just Look Into My Eyes by Lady_Ganesh. Edmund Pevensie/Aleksander Morozova (Shadow and Bone TV), 1.4k, rated G. 

A wonderful push and pull between Edmund and the Darkling. Their implied backstory, times when Edmund had the upper hand, then the Darkling; what they can say to hurt each other or to endear themselves to each other; the shifting of the power dynamics between them, are all so tasty. 

The Morning Sun by Phantomato. Edmund Pevensie/Aleksander Morozova (Shadow and Bone TV), 9k, rated E.

In this world, a Narnia overtaken by eternal darkness does not tempt Lucy to return. Only Edmund, an Edmund who stays prickly and bitter, experiences Narnia. He returns again and again to spend time with a quiet woodsman who loves the light Edmund can summon. They have such a fascinating, complicated dynamic, where Edmund wants Aleksander; wants to seem grown up; and yet, there is something frightening about the man. As I said in my comment: Edmund “had the sense of having won something” in staying with Aleksander, but I am not so sure he did. 

A Touch of Grey by Rhizophora. 5.6k, rated M.

(It’s crossed over with The Voice in the Night, which you don’t have to have read to enjoy this.)

An absolutely chilling, dreadful, slow build of a horror fic set during The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The fungal and body horror is top notch. The foreshadowing is fantastic and lends itself well to rereads as you appreciate exactly how screwed everyone is. 

What the Thunder Said by WingedFlight. Edmund & Lucy, 8.9k, rated G.

A dark alternative universe where only the two younger Pevensies made it to Narnia, and where both of them started working with Jadis. The pacing and tension are absolutely stunning; the nonlinear narrative reveals a bit of information at a time. This Edmund and Lucy, older than Peter and Susan now, cold and sharp and willing to do what they have to, are delightfully characterised. 

The Country - Billy Collins 

only a mouse by redgear. <1k, rated G.

You can absolutely read this poem-of-a-poem without having read the original. A beautiful little poem about a mouse finding a match. 

Critical Role (Web Series)

help me to decide by withthekeyisking. Caleb Widogast &/ Kaz Brekker (Six of Crows), 3.2k, rated T.

Caleb flees the Empire and ends up in Ketterdam, where he catches the eye of another very dangerous teenager.

new bonds by DotyTakeThisDown. Mollymauk Tealeaf/Edgin Darvis (D&D: Honor Among Thieves), 2.7k, rated E.

Ed has a great night after chance encounter at a carnival. Using tarot to flirt, hot smut, just a delight. (Also some very cute Ed & Kira moments!)

so you’ll be an austrian nobleman by thatsparrow. 1.2k, rated G. 

Mollymauk Tealeaf is an AI given an android body that he proceeds to make wholly his own. The AU is just perfect for Molly, including such little but tantalizing details as people assuming that his tarot readings are absolutely true because AI can’t lie. (Molly can!)

(watch me) dissolve by embraidery. 3.6k, rated M. 

“Fjord accepts Molly’s offer to help him bathe after a tough battle, and then takes him up on another (unspoken) offer.” Lots of attention paid to caretaking, bathing, and playing with each other’s hair.

Devil Went Down to Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band

(I got several wonderful gifts for this fandom in late 2023; this was the only one that was posted in 2024, but I have recs if you want them!)

give the devil his due by thatsparrow. The Devil & Johnny, 4.1k, rated T. 

Johnny won the battle, but the Devil isn’t inclined to let him win the war. He gets under Johnny’s skin again, and again, and again. Delightfully sharp and twisty, very easily read as shippy.

The Great God Pan - Arthur Machen

A Fleck of Green by scioscribe. 1.1k, rated T.

I don’t know this canon at all and it was perfectly readable. Lovely and horrifying epistolary fic with the creeping knowledge that things are going terribly wrong.

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

Don’t Panic! Enjoy the Sapient Bathtubs of Quirt! by blueyeti. <1k, rated T. 

A very fun entry in the Guide about a planet where tiny sapient bathtubs eventually grow into ocean-sized ones. Perfect Adams voice. 

Howl Series - Diana Wynne Jones

Ladylike by Chocolatepot. Sophie Hatter/Howl Pendragon, 1k, rated G. 

In a world where Howl is a young woman, much is the same: the crackling banter between Sophie and Howl, Howl’s vanity. I also appreciated the tension between Sophie and Howl when Howl proposes to go talk to the king and play the role of a beautiful airhead. 

Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins

Negotiations by ChronicBookworm. Haymitch Abernathy/Seneca Crane, <1k, rated T. 

Haymitch wants the possibility of a dual win for Katniss and Peeta. Seneca knows what he wants in response. I love the Capitol politics!

never felt young by numismatium. Haymitch Abernathy/Finnick Odair, 1k, rated E. 

“In Haymitch, Finnick admires all the signs of age the Capitol will never allow him to show.”

Interview with the Vampire (TV 2022)

Fan Meet and Greet by acernor. Daniel Molloy/Tianlang-jun (Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System), 1.2k, rated T.

There’s a way drinking people’s blood usually goes for Daniel. Tianlang-jun turns that routine upside down. I love the power dynamic between them, the way Tianlang-jun is so blase about giving Daniel his blood, as though he’s doing Daniel a favour. 

I Saw Three Cities - Kay Sage (Painting)

The Third City by Ohdoyoucomeonthen. 1.9k, rated T. 

Absolutely gorgeous fic with a wonderful narrative voice, weaving an atmosphere of exceeding loneliness as the main character explored a foreign land. Eerie.

The Islanders - Christopher Priest

The Delicious Thryme and Other Tales of the Dream Archipelago by kitsunerei88. 10k, rated T.

A wonderful, thoughtful fic of in-universe documents that could be enjoyed without fandom knowledge. The first chapter is a review of a restaurant that, controversially, serves the meat of a kind of arthropod that is extremely dangerous to humans. It goes into the history of the creatures and the islands they call home. The second chapter is an article about those who undergo a surgical procedure to make themselves immortal. The in-universe author interviews four immortals with different views and experiences of their own immortality. The final chapter is an essay analyzing a short story and novel by an in-universe author. The author has constructed a mythos of his island making it difficult to leave, a mythos which may be completely fictional. All three chapters nail the voice of their format and explore fascinating, complicated topics.

Jaws (Movies)

some extinct animal by TheFlirtMeister. Matt Hooper/R. J. MacReady (The Thing 1982), 1.2k, rated T.

I don’t know either of these canons, but I loved this moment between two survivors. Just in case MacReady is infected, Matt won’t drink whiskey from the bottle MacReady drank from; MacReady tips the whiskey into his mouth. 

Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse

Jeeves Coshes Death on the Noggin by tablelamp. Jeeves & Wooster, 1.2k, rated T. 

A delightful, light-hearted fic about Wooster not realising he’s dead, and Jeeves putting it right again. Absolutely cracking narrative voice. 

Jeeves & Wooster

rubber duckie (i am awfully fond of you) by veryrach. Jeeves/Wooster, 1.1k, rated G.

A very fun premise, as Wooster acquires a rubber duck Jeeves fails to appreciate the way Wooster thinks he should. Absolutely wonderful pastiche of the narrative voice. There is also a delightful podfic by peasina!

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom

Temple of Time by deathcomequickly. Artwork, rated G.

Gorgeous pixel art of a temple. Very soothing to look at. 

The Little Mermaid - Hans Christian Andersen / The House of Asterion - Jorge Luis Borges

grace; a maze by primeideal. Asterion/The Little Mermaid, 1.1k, rated T.

The mermaid’s prince is condemned to be sent into the Labyrinth. The mermaid insists on going along with him. The mermaid and the minotaur find a sort of understanding.

The Gallery-Pool by Stellarete. Asterion & The Little Mermaid, 1.1k, rated T. 

The mermaid is sent into the labyrinth as a sacrifice to the Minotaur. There is no comfort to be had.

Lupin (TV 2021)

Come Here by acernor. Assane Diop/Benjamin Ferel, 1.8k, rated E. 

Gorgeous, atmospheric, hot, and heartbreaking. Assane and Ben both know Ben loves Assane and Assane doesn’t return that regard. But one night, when they wake up in the middle of the night, Assane asks if Ben wants to jerk him off. 

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

recoil by Fleetling. Ilya Kuryakin/Napoleon Solo, <1k, rated T. 

I think it’s best recommended by its own summary: “They're a muzzle flash pair, bright and painful in the night.” Gorgeous prose with a throughline of weapons metaphors and a sense of danger.

The Mandalorian (TV)

Considerations by Semjaza. Din Djarin/Cobb Vanth, <1k, rated T.

A lovely fic about Cobb trying to convince Mando to stay with him (gently, so as not to spook him). Lovely Din Djarin & Grogu vibes in the background.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

dreams of your hair and your stare and sense of belief by lazyfish. Steve Rogers/Natasha Romanov, 5.8k, rated T.

A 5+1 of times they touched each other’s hair. I loved the look at “different kinds of intimacy,” Steve always thinking about how Nat has her guard up and her surprising him. The banter, the love, the thoughtfulness and gentleness with which they relate to each other are just beautiful. 

Much Ado About Nothing - Shakespeare

go on as three by noblydonedonnanoble (commanderdameron). Beatrice/Benedick/Don Pedro, <1k, rated T. 

A delightful epistolary fic sketching out the way our heroes navigate their getting together. I particularly enjoyed the use of strikethrough to show Benedick’s struggles to find the right words. 

una misma cosa by embraidery. Beatrice/Cyrano de Bergerac (Cyrano de Bergerac). 1.3k, rated T. 

Cyrano teaches Beatrice how to fence; perhaps she can teach him how to love. Banter and pathos. 

One Piece (Live Action TV 2023)

Bare Your Throat by nununununu. Red-Haired Shanks/Dracule Mihawk, 1.1k, rated T. 

In which Shanks shaves Mihawk’s face when Mihawk can’t do it himself. Chock-full of impeccable banter, flirtation, and innuendo.

Haven by embraidery. Kaya/Nami, 1.5k, rated T. 

That night when Nami tried to steal all Kaya’s valuables, Kaya invites her in to braid her hair…and share their first kiss. 

Playfight by embraidery. Red-Haired Shanks/Dracule Mihawk, 1.7k, rated E.

(Transmasc!) Mihawk grows a set of wings; turns out having them played with is a turn-on. 

Special Princess by embraidery. Red-Leg Zeff & Sanji, <1k, rated T.

Zeff’s sick; Sanji fixes his mustache; they affectionately snipe at each other the whole time.

A Useful Tactic by nununununu. Red-Haired Shanks/Dracule Mihawk, <1k, rated G.

I’m just such a sucker for the way nunu captures their banter & the way Mihawk pretends not to be completely gone on Shanks (and the way they both know the truth). 

Were those words my blood-sucking too? by rosarosi. Red-Haired Shanks/Dracule Mihawk, 3.1k, rated E. 

*clears throat* Ahem. Extremely hot knifeplay/bloodplay tinged with murderous and cannibalistic fantasies.

Original Work

Corruption by blarfkey. Tyrannical Emperor/His Morality Pet Childhood Friend (M/M), 13k, rated E.

An astonishing piece about the reunion between the new emperor and the prince of the country he conquered, ten years after they were torn apart. The layers and layers of feeling between them… The deposed prince, captive and at his friend’s mercy, still fighting against the execution of others in his country and the attempt at exchanging sex for their lives… And very hot. 

Eat Like a God by Sath. 1.7k, rated M.

Gorgeous, chilling, and a very cool original setting in space. When a ship crash-lands on an alien planet, things don’t go well for the crew. The 2nd person POV fits so well. 

free floating by sassaffrassa. Prince in Disguise/Commoner Who Saved Him from Danger (M/M), 8k, rated E.

Hot and fun with delightful sci-fi worldbuilding.

gold-lie by cheju. Spoiled and Entitled Prince/Feisty and Recalcitrant Peasant Gifted to Him as Sex Slave (M/M), 15.7k, rated E.

I don’t normally go for sex slave fic but I clicked on this on someone else’s recommendation, and oh man, am I glad I did. The speed with which Enzo (the peasant) flips their dynamic on (Nikolas) the prince and makes it that Nikolas can’t complain about anything Enzo does without humiliating himself in front of his guards and his brothers. The power Enzo has over Nikolas (while also having very little, given he’s a slave)! The humiliation he puts Nikolas through in private! The emotions are wonderfully complicated and the smut very, very hot.

love is not a debt you pay by lazyfish. Honorable Female Warlord/Her Worst Enemy’s Widower (F/M), 1.5k, rated T.

Very cool worldbuilding with meaningful face paint! I love the respect that Fieyr (the warlord) has for her worst enemy, and the way that she hopes that she will one day care for her new husband, because it’s what her enemy “would have wanted.” 

a movement that persists by sassaffrassa. Starship Captain/His Loyal First Officer (M/M), 5.7k, rated E. 

A stunning fic about a captain and his first officer waiting for rescue on their defunct ship after sending the rest of the crew home. Such beautiful emotions and loyalty on both sides, pining finally resolved. The smut is so sweet and so hot. 

per my last email by TheFlirtMeister. IT Guy & Sentient Printers He Cares For, 2.4k, rated G.

Really, really sweet. One of the emails from the printers to the IT Guy: “A child was in the office and a child is like a smaller human you may not know that henry but it came up to me and it put a sticker of a glittery butterfly on my shell and everyone else was so jealous of my sticker we could see the envy in their eyes but we were the only one sticker-fied and we would like to keep the sticker forever and ever we would like to be a butterfly.”

Ptarmigan Griffin by crowloft. Artwork, rated G. 

Delightful drawing of a ptarmigan-rabbit griffin!

under the olive grove by embraidery. Nobleman/His Childhood Friend Returned Disabled From War (M/M), 6.9k, rated E.

A nobleman is astonished to find himself arranged to be married to a man he hasn’t seen in fifteen years: his best friend, the son of his family’s servants, now elevated to lordship. 

The Orville (TV)

who will believe the fantastic and beautiful story of our survival? by lazyfish. Kelly Grayson/Ed Mercer, 3.1k, rated T.

I hadn’t yet watched the show when I read this and it worked very well all the same. Lovely and aching hurt/comfort (both physical and emotional) between a captain and his second-in-command, who also happen to be exes.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians & Related Fandoms

a fine and true romance by marcaskane (commanderdameron). Sally Jackson/Poseidon, <1k, rated T.

A lovely and sensual pre-canon fic in which Poseidon gives Sally a slow, gentle bath. 

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

The Darling Buds of May by RussetFiredrake. Caroline Bingley/Original Female Character(s), 10.7k, rated G. 

A beautiful and bittersweet post-canon story for Caroline. She makes friends with a brother and sister who came to money from a common background; their manners are rather less than genteel. All the same, Caroline finds something that makes her happy. 

I appreciated the letters from another original character it’s implied Caroline had feelings for in the past, highlighting some of Caroline’s struggles and heartbreaks as a closeted woman. 

every change of season a new beginning by Vaznetti. Charles Bingley/Fanny Price (Mansfield Park), 9.4k, rated G. 

I haven’t read MP, but reading the Wikipedia summary was enough. A lovely, gentle, slow romance.

Saltburn (2023)

Ways Out of the Labyrinth by longwhitecoats. Felix Catton/Oliver Quick, 1.2k, rated E.

The party went differently; Felix and Oliver fuck and Felix kind of hates Oliver and Oliver finds another way to get Venetia out of the way. Delicious. 

Six of Crows Series - Leigh Bardugo 

Hearteater by terribletressym. <1k, rated T.

Jurda parem turns Nina into a vampire.

Skyggen | The Shadow - Hans Christian Andersen

Infinitely diminished, infinitely increased by psychomachia. Learned Man & The Shadow, 1.8k, rated G.

A gorgeous and eerie space AU of the original story, which you shouldn’t need to know to enjoy this. A man, accidentally separated from his shadow, sends him away. Years later, the shadow returns to haunt him. 

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

As we lie in fields of gold by RoselynnThornwood. Achilles/Patroclus, <1k, rated T. 

Achilles and Patroclus’s reunion in the afterlife, described in absolutely stunning prose.

slipstream by sassaffrassa. Achilles/Patroclus, 1k, rated E. 

Achilles and Patroclus’s first time, figuring out how their bodies go together – especially because Achilles doesn’t have human anatomy down there. Very sweet, very hot. I love Achilles’ cluelessness about human bodies and the frankness with which he asks Patroclus if having a boner hurts. 

The Southern Reach Trilogy - Jeff Vandermeer

A Fire That Knows Your Name by Rhizophora. 1.3k, rated T.

I hadn’t read the book yet when I read this and it was still extremely readable. Stunningly gorgeous prose as the main character lets go and lets herself transform into…something else.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV)

aces wild by Daxs10thHost. La’an Noonien-Singh/Number One | Una Chin-Riley, 1.2k, rated T.

I have never seen this show, but this fic is a delightful and funny snapshot of life on the spaceship. Una’s subordinates have a betting pool on how she will wear her hair each day…and when Una lets slip something about La’an’s hair that day, a certain hidden truth is revealed.

Stardew Valley (Video Game)

and all the greens of summer come blowing through the door by straightforwardly. Caroline/Wizard | M. Rasmodius, 1.2k, rated G. 

A beautiful and melancholy fic following Caroline as she slips out into the green rain and runs into someone she hasn’t seen in a long, long time. 

cut. by afterism. Abigail/Emily/Haley/Leah/Maru/Penny, 3.2k, rated T.

A gorgeous and creepy time loop fic about the bachelorettes-break-up-with-farmer cut scene.

epiphytes by embraidery. 2.1k, not rated.

Abigail discovers, to her horror, that the green rain is different in the secret woods.

imposition by redgear. Elliott/Willy, <1k, rated G.

Not yet together, but aware of a mutual interest, Elliott offers to let Willy spend the night in his cabin. Very sweet and mildly angsty. 

Raindrops by embraidery. Sebastian/Willy, <1k, rated G.

Sebastian catches a frog. Very sweet!

rivers in his hair by embraidery. Elliott/Willy, 1.4k, rated T.

Elliott and Willy sit together after the Luau; Willy playing with Elliott’s hair leads to something more.

Top 5 CRAZIEST Trail Cam Captures! by fayharley. 1.7k, rated G. 

Abigail, Sam, and Sebastian debate the existence of junimos (or, as Abigail and Sam call them, night bouncers) in a delightful and wonderfully characterised Discord chat. 

Taste - Sabrina Carpenter (Music Video)

binary black holes by afterism. 2.6k, rated M.

I don’t know if I can put together words for what I love about this one, but it is just fantastic. The relationship between Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega’s characters through the centuries, killing each other, seeing each other, obsessed with each other. Funny and sharp and perfect.

The Terror (TV 2018)

disaster in motion by numismatium. Thomas Blanky & Harry Goodsir, 1k, not rated.

Blanky lets vampire!Goodsir feed from him.

he whom i love so dearly by embraidery. John Bridgens/Harry Peglar, 1.4k, rated M.

A getting together fic where John is the younger one. 

Rules and Rewards by Cousin Shelley (CousinShelley). John Bridgens/Harry Peglar, 1.9k, rated E.

God, they <3 Combining reading lessons with sex! 

take of my flesh by numismatium. Francis Crozier/Thomas Jopson, <1k, not rated.

Jopson dreams of that banquet table. He dreams of feeding himself to Crozier.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Fairy Tale)

on and on and on by embraidery. <1k, rated M. 

A take on the fairy tale where the castle is sapient and wants to feed. 2nd person POV. 

Tortall - Tamora Pierce

falling prey by numismatium. Roger of Conté/Thom of Trebond, 3.3k, rated E.

It’s only too easy for Roger to manipulate Thom into his bed, not because he wants him there, but because it’s an easy way to keep him under Roger’s thumb. Thom is in way, way over his head.

Where Angels Fear To Tread - E. M. Forster

Not The Face of A Gentleman by psychomachia. Gino Carella/Philip Herriton, 6.5k, rated M.

I hadn’t read this novel, but a quick Wikipedia skim was enough to get what was going on. This is a wonderful, melancholy, touching friends-to-lovers fic set as Philip recovers from his injuries. 

魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

dangerous appeal by dottie_dramas (dottie_wan_kenobi). Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian, <1k, rated M.

I haven’t read MDZS, but this is a very fun and sexy mermaid au where WWX teases Lan Wangji with threats of kidnapping and eating him. 

天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù

Playing with the Big Kids Now by thetrickisnotminding. Background Hua Cheng/Xie Lian, 1.8k, rated T. 

A crossover with Maverick (1994). Bret Maverick takes Annabelle with him to Ghost City when he wishes to gamble with Hua Cheng. Absolutely delightful Bret and Annabelle dialogue and a very fun combination of fandoms.