When Harry Met Sally

CHINA BABY

due to Guardian (40eps) being a hit in 2018, and the Untamed (50 eps) being the biggest drama of 2019 with 8 billion views to date, media companies in China now have multiple productions with gay protagonists on the way, (one produced by Jackie Chan). Even with explicit content scrubbed, still more than any US media org is doing in terms of scale and budget and mass exposure.

happy endings too btw

If Destiel Was a Movie. It is a truth universally acknowledged that every hetero rom com could be vastly improved by turning it into a queer love story. Over the years we have been often asked to find a destiel fic based on a popular book or a movie. And we get it! There’s something magical about combining two of your favorite things, right? Thus we have recced quite a few fusion fics and we keep them on our Crossover tag. Sorry about the misnomer, most of the fics there are fusions ie based on another story, and not true crossovers where SPN characters interact with characters from different canon. We also have a Reference post with a huge collection of fusion fics. Here are some of our favorite movie fusion fics. Now, grab that popcorn!

All links go to our fully tagged reviews except for those fic that are recced on our Reference post, in which case links goes directly to hosting site.

Fairytale Movies

Angelhawke by almaasi [Ladyhawke, movie,1985]

Aurora Borealis by unoshot [The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, 1968 & movie, 1982]

True as It Can Be by whelvenwings [Beauty and the Beast, fairy tale, movies] and ask about fics like Beauty and the Beast.

That’s How You Know He’s Your Love by janie_tangerine  [Enchanted, movie, 2007]

Teen Movies

A Priori by K_K_TiBal and whelvenwings [Harry Potter books by J.K.Rowling, 1997-2007 & movies, 2001-2011], our Hogwarts fic rec list

The Boy Done Wrong Again by seasideimprovisation [Easy A, movie, 2010]

Cas and Dean’s Infinite Playlist by kkingofthebeach [Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, movie, 2008]

Tell Yourself It’s Easy (And It’s True) by liadan14 [The Princess Diaries, movie, 2001]

Romantic Comedies

Close Encounters by Annie D (scaramouche) [My Stepmother is an Alien, movie, 1988]

Destiel, Actually by bloodism [Love, Actually, movie, 2003]

Don’t Walk On By by virtualpersonal & brimstonegold [Pretty Woman, movie, 1990]

The Holiday by AlreadyPainfullyGone [The Holiday, movie, 2006]

Imperfect Proposals by fallen_angel_meg [The Proposal, movie, 2009]

Muscle Memory by komodobits [The 50 First Dates, movie, 2004]

Sleepless in Lawrence, Kansas by princemalice [Sleepless in Seattle, movie, 1993]

Speak Low, If You Speak Love by amarillogrande [Much Ado About Nothing by W. Shakespeare, 1599 & movies]

Historical(-ish) Movies

A Reasonable Amount of Trouble by xylodemon [The Maltese Falcon, movie, 1941]

The Ghosts of Blackthorn Hall by linoresearch [Jane Eyre by C.Bronte, 1847, also movies & TV series]

it’s a lot like life by LoveIsNotAVictoryMarch [Downtown Abbey, TV series, 2010-2015]

Metaphysical Gravity by zoemathemata [Dark Shadows, TV series, 1966-71, also movie and new series]

Yare by a_frayed_edge [The Philadelphia Story, movie, 1940]

Reality TV Shows:

America’s Next Top Chef by emwebb17 (submitted rec), [Americas’s Next Top Chef, TV series, 2006-]

One-on-One by DarcyDelaney [The Bachelorette, dating game show, 2003-] 

Pies and Prejudice by linoreasearch [Pride and Prejudice by J.Austen, 1813, movies & TV series, and The Great British Bake Off baking competition TV show, 2010-], and ask about fics with Austen-ish vibe

The Reluctant Contestant by starcatcher17 [The Bachelor, dating game show, 2002-]

Shoulder to Shoulder, Hand to Hand by cornelius [Dancing with the Stars, dance competition TV series, 2004-] 

Fic rec lists with fusion and crossover vibes

check out our collection of fics with Fabulous Five on our Pride 2019  post

Reality TV ask has even more fics with other reality TV shows

Cinematic fic rec list has fics that may not be real crossovers but are very close

Created by @lightveils on Twitter, this sounded like a fun challenge to do - and I’ve managed to fill the whole card with #Malec fics! *In truth, I could’ve used a card for a number of individual writers on their own, but the fics I finally settled on are under the cut! ❤ Enjoy! And show the writers some love! :-))  

👇LINKS  TO THE 25 FIC RECS BELOW THE CUT 👇

fas est ab hoste doceri (OS, 10,5k)

Part two of the alea iacta est series

Alec finds Magnus Bane in Las Vegas.

If Destiel Was a Movie. It is a truth universally acknowledged that every hetero rom com could be vastly improved by turning it into a queer love story. Over the years we have been often asked to find a destiel fic based on a popular book or a movie. And we get it! There’s something magical about combining two of your favorite things, right? Thus we have recced quite a few fusion fics and we keep them on our Crossover tag. Sorry about the misnomer, most of the fics there are fusions ie based on another story, and not true crossovers where SPN characters interact with characters from different canon. We also have a Reference post with a huge collection of fusion fics. Here are some of our favorite movie fusion fics. Now, grab that popcorn!

All links go to our fully tagged reviews except for those fic that are recced on our Reference post, in which case links goes directly to hosting site.

Fairytale Movies

Angelhawke by almaasi [Ladyhawke, movie,1985]

Aurora Borealis by unoshot [The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, 1968 & movie, 1982]

True as It Can Be by whelvenwings [Beauty and the Beast, fairy tale, movies] and ask about fics like Beauty and the Beast.

That’s How You Know He’s Your Love by janie_tangerine  [Enchanted, movie, 2007]

Teen Movies

A Priori by K_K_TiBal and whelvenwings [Harry Potter books by J.K.Rowling, 1997-2007 & movies, 2001-2011], our Hogwarts fic rec list

The Boy Done Wrong Again by seasideimprovisation [Easy A, movie, 2010]

Cas and Dean’s Infinite Playlist by kkingofthebeach [Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, movie, 2008]

Tell Yourself It’s Easy (And It’s True) by liadan14 [The Princess Diaries, movie, 2001]

Romantic Comedies

Close Encounters by Annie D (scaramouche) [My Stepmother is an Alien, movie, 1988]

Destiel, Actually by bloodism [Love, Actually, movie, 2003]

Don’t Walk On By by virtualpersonal & brimstonegold [Pretty Woman, movie, 1990]

The Holiday by AlreadyPainfullyGone [The Holiday, movie, 2006]

Imperfect Proposals by fallen_angel_meg [The Proposal, movie, 2009]

Muscle Memory by komodobits [The 50 First Dates, movie, 2004]

Sleepless in Lawrence, Kansas by princemalice [Sleepless in Seattle, movie, 1993]

Speak Low, If You Speak Love by amarillogrande [Much Ado About Nothing by W. Shakespeare, 1599 & movies]

Historical(-ish) Movies

A Reasonable Amount of Trouble by xylodemon [The Maltese Falcon, movie, 1941]

The Ghosts of Blackthorn Hall by linoresearch [Jane Eyre by C.Bronte, 1847, also movies & TV series]

it’s a lot like life by LoveIsNotAVictoryMarch [Downtown Abbey, TV series, 2010-2015]

Metaphysical Gravity by zoemathemata [Dark Shadows, TV series, 1966-71, also movie and new series]

Yare by a_frayed_edge [The Philadelphia Story, movie, 1940]

Reality TV Shows:

America’s Next Top Chef by emwebb17 (submitted rec), [Americas’s Next Top Chef, TV series, 2006-]

One-on-One by DarcyDelaney [The Bachelorette, dating game show, 2003-] 

Pies and Prejudice by linoreasearch [Pride and Prejudice by J.Austen, 1813, movies & TV series, and The Great British Bake Off baking competition TV show, 2010-], and ask about fics with Austen-ish vibe

The Reluctant Contestant by starcatcher17 [The Bachelor, dating game show, 2002-]

Shoulder to Shoulder, Hand to Hand by cornelius [Dancing with the Stars, dance competition TV series, 2004-] 

Fic rec lists with fusion and crossover vibes

check out our collection of fics with Fabulous Five on our Pride 2019  post

Reality TV ask has even more fics with other reality TV shows

Cinematic fic rec list has fics that may not be real crossovers but are very close

Submitted by @cardiamachina

Five Favourite Stories

Dirty Water by @superficialpeasant

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: World building is succint but efficient, the environment is built through every sentence, through smaller descriptions but ultimately gives the readers a more natural entry. Sexual tension is immense, weaved into the fight scenes and packing a punch but also incredibly intimate. Just such a good fic all in all! Though it’s not the Magnus and Alec we know (and this is exactly the point of the fic itself), it’s so wonderfully written you would suspend belief.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “What’s the matter, Lighthouse?” He grunts, keeping the pressure with his thumb. Lightwood’s face goes a delightfully veiny pink at the effort to downplay his pain, “Gonna try to suck my dick out of this one, too?” Lightwood huffs a hoarse laugh, lips spraying spittle as they stretch into a smug smirk, “Why? So you can lie back and moan like you did last time?” (This is just so reflective of what the entire fic is all about lmao!)

*

Rumor Has It by @lecrit

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: Dialogue is impeccable, and Lu always has a knack for story telling that just feels so much like it’s lifted from real life. Something as light and funny as this shouldn’t have such a surprising amount of depth (Magnus’ reluctance to pursue Alec) but it does, and it works seamlessly through the fic, not a jarring surprise. So much delicious emotional tension that caught my breath in my throat!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The answer seems obvious when Alec’s thumb maps a faint, gentle but deliberate circle against Magnus’ shoulder, sending his whole world off its axis with a simple touch.” (Even rereading this quote I can’t breathe my goodness)

*

If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time by @j_writes

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: Jackie is another writer whose dialogue is just so natural and real. The way she wrote Magnus and Alec throughout this story is just so perfectly realized and characterized. The plot is simple but so well built, and it hit all the quintessential highschool AU tropes that one would ever want. You could really feel the push and pull between Magnus and Alec and it’s all because of how Jackie built it little by little  painstakingly throughout the thirteen chapters, which makes the epilogue have such good payoff.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Everything fades around them and Magnus is floating with only the soft gusts of Alec against his face; the wet sound of their kiss; and Alec’s quiet contented hum when he pulls back and opens his eyes to gaze on Magnus. He’s smiling, and the honey brown is a thin ring around his pupils.” (Eep. I squeal just rereading this)

*

Never Stand Between Two Mirrors by @oncethrown

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: This piece of writing is as captivating as it gets. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an author really go through SH lore the way this author did. I would choose this fic over anything CC has written as canon. Magnus has a spiel in this story that just astoundingly fleshes through the shadowhunter prejudice and it’s so well written you wouldn’t think it was taken from the book because it’s SO MUCH BETTER. This fic such a smart story delving into a lot of important themes, with such a good timing and a tempo that is just right. There’s promise not only for Real Alec but also for Alt Alec, and it’s like you’re getting two happy endings at the same time. And there never has been a better exposition of Lydia and Alec’s relationship even if it is in the alternate universe’s version of their friendship. I still love it a lot.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “You asked me, at the end of the day, what did I risk?” He asked quietly. “It’s everything, Alec.” (If you read what transpired before this quote, you would understand why it’s bears so much weight in my heart)

*

The Lonely Hearts Hotline by @unrestrainedlyexcessive

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: Oh, this wonderful, emotionally intelligent story. I thought I was just getting a funny prompt filled in. I didn’t expect this to alter my life in such a way. The plot of this story and how it progressed is so interesting - just when I feel like a resolution is coming and we’ve hit peak conflict, it yanks me the opposite way. The usual story would have a rising conflict that hits a climax. I feel like this fic has multiple little conflicts that rises and falls but still builds upon the ultimate climax of the story. It stays true to the main point of the fic: “It is so tempting to want the perfect ending, the storybook kiss. But that’s not how life works”. This story wasn’t wrapped up with a tidy bow on top, but still holds so much promise.

Author Story

FAVORITE QUOTE: “You taste like lightning.”

*And because I also write I’m gonna do the author part of this too :D

Submitted by @darknutmeg​

Five Favourite Stories

Bright Lights, Small Town by @lecrit  

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: There are too many reasons to list here without this turning into a 1K essay, so I will break it down into three things. 1) This is my absolute favourite characterization of Magnus in any fic I have ever read. His constant struggles to find a place where he truly belongs with someone he loves and a family to call his own. Found family, especially when it involves Magnus, owns my heart. 2) Its an honest and real look at grief, specifically the scene where burns his Mother’s paintings. Who hasn’t felt this way when dealing the loss of the loved one; wanting physical memories of them gone from your sight, thrown away or in this case destroyed. Luckily Magnus was saved by a pair of strong arms. A scene which really set the tone for their relationship. 3) The airport scene, straight from a rom-com and absolutely breathtaking.

FAVORITE QUOTE(S): “I thought it was pretty obvious, but maybe it isn’t to you,” Alec murmured, reaching out to wipe away a stray tear with his free hand. “You’re so full of doubt, so used to holding these walls around your heart that I realized maybe you doubted that too. So, well… I’m telling you not to. You can doubt many things but don’t doubt this: I love you.”

*

All The Right Words by @ninwrites

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: There are few fics in the fandom featuring deaf characters, it can be difficult to portray correctly and this story does an absolutely exquisite job. As someone who is fluent in sign language and has a deaf family member, I truly, truly appreciate this type of representation in any form of media, especially when it is handled so beautifully. Alec is adorable and sweet and so so in love, it takes my breath away. Magnus learning to communicate for Alec’s sake and choosing to learn a most important expression is a moment which will stay with me forever. 

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The charm is said to bring luck and protection.” Isabelle finishes, quietly. “Alec hoped you’d accept it - he told me that he doubts you need protection, that he knows you can look after yourself perfectly well, but he … he hopes that this can help you.” From the corner of his eye, Magnus sees Isabelle’s jaw pulse slightly. “Because he can’t.”

*

All The Things I’d Say But Couldn’t by kaythenorthface

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: There are plenty of alternate, early season one Malec getting together stories out there, each one with a unique take. This one however has a special touch. A parallel to an early moment in their pre-relationship: The memory demon. Having Alec reveal his long hidden feelings to Magnus through his memories, when the prior time it had forced him to face his issues. The force of Magnus’ “How long?” hits hard. I felt that. Alec kept his feelings from Magnus for years and hurt both of them in the process. Which makes the emotional confession at the end that much more beautiful, it’s ‘I’m sorry it took me so long.’

 FAVOURITE QUOTE(S): “Alexander,” Magnus says, looking very much like he wants to roll his eyes at Alec. “I told you a long time ago that I’d gone 50 years without wanting anyone before I met you. You were the first person I ever fell in love with without trying to. That isn’t something that just goes away. There’s always been a part of me waiting, hoping for you to change your mind.”

*

My True Love Gave to Me by @imawriteriwrite

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: This fic is my comfort fic; it’s like a warm hug. You get to watch them have more than one first kiss, share a few adorable dates and go along with Magnus as he slowly figures out to break the ‘curse’ while realizing his own feelings. It’s like Groundhog Day at Christmas but filled with love. Also, Magnus showing up to confess to Alec while dressed in pajamas is so on point.

 FAVORITE QUOTE(S): “Alexander,” Magnus says, looking very much like he wants to roll his eyes at Alec. “I told you a long time ago that I’d gone 50 years without wanting anyone before I met you. You were the first person I ever fell in love with without trying to. That isn’t something that just goes away. There’s always been a part of me waiting, hoping for you to change your mind.”

*

Reconstruction by bumblebeesknees

WHY I LOVE THIS FIC: Healthy communication between Magnus and Alec is something we often preach about and while the show did a decent job with it, they could have done so much more. Like with their reunion after the first ‘break up.’. This fic fills in all those gaps absolutely beautifully. Alec’s vulnerability about potentially screwing up and forcing Magnus to leave him, the broken trust they still need to rebuild and the love, there’s so much love here. Present scenes are built around past ones seamlessly so you see how they slowly find their way back to each other. And the bracelet. Don’t even get me started on that. It’s the omamori charm of Shadowhunters fic.

 FAVORITE QUOTE(S): “I love you,” says Magnus and even though Alec’s not consciously thinking about it, some part of him must realize that the necessary thing to do is pull away. But Magnus is still holding onto Alec’s hands, the beads of the bracelet is digging into Alec’s skin and Alec – Alec doesn’t understand. He doesn’t understand why Magnus refuses to let go, refuses to break away from Alec’s gaze when Alec can’t because he’s frozen in place.

“I love you,” says Magnus a third time, as though maybe this time around it’ll make sense to Alec. It doesn’t. “I shouldn’t have waited this long to say it. I just – I didn’t know how.”

Author Story

Shadowhunters made me dig out my fanfic writer’s hat for the first time in over a decade and it’s telling that the very first thing I wrote was a wedding fic because Malec was my inspiration. Malec made me come of out of hiding and I’m forever grateful for it. Playing with those two boys in various situations has been an absolute delight, Magnus’ character has so much depth and Alec is so stalwart and loyal. They are so many ways to make them fall in love over and over again.