shuake fic recs

» love will tear us apart (again) by theexistentiallyqueer (@theexistentiallyqueer) Rated T | 4.1k | Complete Summary: Maruki plays his ace in the hole, never expecting that Akira already knows. The punchline is: Goro never expected that either.

» Dice Games by senblades (@senblades ) Rated T | 6.1k | Complete Summary: He’s not friends with Akechi. Not at all. Spending time together is a prerequisite for such a label, perhaps, but not the definition.

» pumpkin spice and everything nice by chidorinnn Rated G | 3k | Complete Summary: Goro notices it belatedly, when he's already halfway through the mug — an underlying flavor that adds a little bit of extra something to his otherwise regular order.

A glimpse at a bad end that's just as beautiful as it is terrifying. Vivid, sinuous prose twines around the whole thing, and by the end we can only ask: "what the fuck, maruki"

Like a smile from a stranger, this piece of microfiction is here and gone, but leaves you the better for it.

A really fun encapsulation of the relationship as told through five moments in LeBlanc. Over light conversation hangs even louder unsaid truths. It's a clever choice of setting--untouched by the violence of the greater plot (supernatural and otherwise)--but the author still lets those moments echo and resonate. The author knows about Nov 20th, as does the reader, akechi, and akira. What else is there to do but have a cup of coffee about it?

A painterly vignette that makes for a perfect dessert after a long reading session.

» it’s not a dream it’s a memory by Alykas Rated G | 3.4k | Complete Summary:  Goro meets Kurusu for the first time in a TV station hallway—the marker of an end. Goro meets Akira for a second time in a TV station hallway, it's the beginning of something. At least he knows that much.

Sad, sweet, & sapphic. Atmospheric & domestic. Goro grapples with the impending fate of her father. It's a tall task making shuake sweet while keeping canon intact, but jumping twelve years ahead is a really smart way to handle that. It's enough time that I totally buy where Akechi is at. Leaves me wondering: which is a worse fate for Akechi? Being a man who resembles his father or a woman who resembles her mother?

A vivid, economic role reversal one-shot. An entire alternate game told in poignant flashes as our leads careen towards the inevitable Nov 20th. Even though their positions have swapped, goro & akira retaining (most of) their canonical backstories, personalities, and even behaviors during the game is fascinating. Goro is still the chatty one, still the one inviting Akira out, still initiating the duel. God it's so interesting when you twist the prism ever so slightly, suddenly all these actions seem so heroic. Of course the hero is going to doggedly pursue the quiet, unreadable dark-haired villain. How could it be any other way?

Saw "bad ending post-canon" & "script format" in the tags and did a little gasp of "oh that's so smart". Love Goro's micro rebellion. Really brilliant application of the script format. Akira's dialogue being omitted is such a clever touch. After all, scripts are only for actors.

Short, sweet, and exquisite use of the 'food as a metaphor for love' tag. Made me want to reread it a second time with a cup of coffee on hand.