#dedkake

Much as I love them both..... only one of 'em's a proper villain 😏

I wondered which evil mastermind would come up with this pair. I love them both soooo much 🥺

Sorry for the wait folks! Here now are Mods’ faves from this year’s Main Collection! As always, we encourage you to read ALL the amazing Remix fics!!!

(Note: In the interest of being as fair and impartial as we can, Mods have not included any of our own Remix fics on this list :D)

every sunrise (the diamond dust remix) by dedkake [Cherik, PG13]

“You didn’t need to feel jealous. You never need to feel jealous.”

Mod Note: A beautiful exploration of Erik’s longing and jealousy during the Gay Mutant Road Trip. It’s a very calm and quiet story, yet the more realistic for it. 

Little White Horses (The Drag Him Away Remix) by arcapelago (arcanewinter) [Cherik, PG]

Raven is called away from her activist duties to visit her old home while the school is shut down in wartime.

Mod Note: This is a short fic that diverges slightly from pre-DOFP canon but it really packs a punch. The relationship between Charles and Raven is beautifully presented in all its complicated glory, with Raven torn between the person she was and the reality of who she now is. It’s wonderfully bittersweet but ends on lovely subtly hopeful note.

To Breathe Again (Impossibilities Remix) by Unforgotten [Cherik, PG13]

After Staten Island, you think you must have burned that bridge at last. After Alkali Lake, you’re even more certain. What once seemed so easy is now an impossibility, and the dream that once plagued you no longer comes.

Then Charles dies and you know: Going home was never truly impossible until now.

Mod Note: Second POV is hard to execute, but absolutely engrossing when it’s done well. Set post X3, and serving as a bridge to the DOFP dark future, this fic is breathtakingly gorgeous, telling Erik’s life time of longing, stubborness and regret over ‘going home’ - with home being Charles of course.

fly me to the moon (To Catch a Thief Remix) by ikeracity [Cherik, PG13]

Charles is a wealthy noble who moonlights as notorious intergalactic art thief X in his spare time. Erik is the bounty hunter hot on his tail (who also happens to have a massive crush on him). A fateful encounter on the luxury resort moon Prioria changes things between them forever.

Mod Note: If you enjoy space escapades, bounty hunters and cat-burglary then this fic is for you! It features an Erik who is completely head over heels for Charles (however much he tries to deny it) and the dynamic between the two is sweet, frothy and delicious. The world building in this story is absolutely fantastic and you’ll finish the fic desperate for more from this universe.

Also consider: 

The Whipping Boy by TurtleTotem  [Cherik, PG13] 

The Results of a Sleepless Night (The Gothic Romance Remix) by a_q [Hank/Alex, M]

Willing to Burn by still_lycoris [Jean/Scott, Charles/Jean/Scott, Charles/Jean, PG13]

It’s Not a Wake-Up Call (the Facetime Remix) by nextraordinaire [Erik/Moira, NC17]

Sorry for the long wait folks, but here (finally!) is our list of favorites from the Secret Mutant Exchange 2016! As always, we encourage you to check out ALL the amazing fic/art by the talented contributors!

If It's Cloudy or Bright by pearl_o  [Cherik, R]

It's too late to write back now, Erik thinks. Not after all this time. But he would--he would like to see Charles again, he thinks.

Mod Note: This fic is gorgeous and atmospheric, conveying such a perfect sense of both Erik’s isolation and self-denial in the context of the time period (post- WWII).   

Fifty Dollars and First Impressions by pocky_slash [Raven/Angel, Cherik, PG13]

Angel's not thrilled at the prospect of spending her Friday night on a blind date with her boss' rich boyfriend's sister, but for fifty bucks and a nice bottle of tequila, even baby-sitting Trust Fund Princess can be bearable.

Then they meet. And suddenly, it's a lot more than bearable.

Mod Note: Funny, a little unusual rom-com style fic with some amazing Angel & Erik rapport.

Natural Gifts by annejumps (Jean/Erik/Charles, NC17}

Mod Note: Modern, powered AU where Charles and Erik run a PR company and Jean is their intern. Hot, sexy (and surprisingly tender) threesome that is beautifully written.

Tethered by fabeld [Cherik, PG13] 

After the death of his wife, Erik leaves his daughter in care of Charles and his school. He roams far but he always finds his way back.

Mod Note: This is a brutal one. It hurts, but it hurts so good!

Cellulose Acetate by bocje_ce_ustu [Charles/Logan, past Cherik, R]  

At first it is terrifying and, in a way, heartbreakingly beautiful, not unlike watching a star dying in fast forward.

Mod Note: This fic is a gorgeous, if painful exploration of what it means to lose your sense of self; doubly terrifying for a telepath who can so easily get pulled into the minds of others. Logan is gruff but tender, and Charles’ POV is heartbreaking.

In Sickness by Unforgotten [Cherik, PG13]

Decades ago, Charles would have given much for the chance to be at Erik's side when he was sick. Now that they're both in their nineties and on the run from Sentinels, there's still nowhere he'd rather be.

Mod Note: Old mutant husbands are always a favorite, and this fic really nails the sometimes sharp, yet comfortable (and comforting) relationship between Charles and Erik in the dark future. 

I say that fate should not tempt me by pearl_o [Charles/Jean, R]

Conversations, chess games, dreams--the months following Apocalypse give Jean a lot to work through.

Mod Note: The depth and complexity of Charles and Jean’s relationship post-XMA is really well explored, and the open ending leaves us breathless for more.

Society's Anxiety by phalangine [Cherik, R]

The day Charles Xavier's soulmate counter reaches zero is also the day he meets Erik Lehnsherr. It never occurs to him that that might mean something.

Mod Note: A very interesting take on the soulmate trope; the reveal of the how and why it took them so long to get there is heartwrenching, making the subsequent happy ending all the more deserved.

this sky, too, is folding under you by Nokomis [Gen, PG]

Nice things keep happening to Kurt. He wants to know why.

Mod Note: Kurt’s confusion over his presence at the School is charmingly funny, and his awkward relationship with Mystique (and the bittersweet reveal of their connection) makes this fic a delight to read!

trying to convince myself (that it's alright living without it) by nextraordinaire [Cherik, R]

Running from unicorns hadn’t been in the work description when Charles’d applied for the research position, but from reading all the reports about the ‘rather aggressive behavior’ they showed towards researchers in general, it shouldn’t have come as surprise.

Mod Note: Super trippy and with a great sense of humour this fic is really a creative and different addition to the collection.

for the love of food by dedkake [Cherik, PG13]

Charles is a struggling single father. Erik teaches him to cook real meals for his son.

003 | Give me a character & I will tell you John Sheppard

How I feel about this character: I find him difficult to understand? There's a lot about his background we both do and don't know.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Uhhhh Rodney, Radek, Todd, Holland

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Elizabeth

My unpopular opinion about this character: I think he's gay, that he knows it, and that he prioritized his career to the point that he never actually looks gay by sheer force of habit (mostly - the expedition seems to be well-stocked on good-looking men).

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: That he got some closure on Holland so he could have some self-esteem about his job skills again

my het ship: N/A

my fem/slash ship: McShep

my OTP: McShep

my OT3: Rodney/John/Elizabeth

my cross over ship: I haven't really thought too much about it? (I'm aware of the irony of that lol)

my kink: ?? Not sure what qualifies for this section

a head cannon fact: That he's really touch-starved and would probably go all melty if he got some honest affection

my gender bend: If the "always a girl" variant, then probably looks about the same as in canon, but might be an asshole for different reasons. If "wacky Ancients" variant, then probably both okay with it ("still like men? check") and freaking out about it ("still like men, but have vagina?" 500 bad gateway error).

004 | send me 2 fandoms and I will give you my crossover OTP The Mummy/SG-1

questions to get to know you

Last song: probably something off of noah kahan’s stick season, because I haven’t listened to much else lately. to anyone who’s ever tagged me in a music ask, i apologize. it is just not my thing.

Last show: i had to stop and think because i don’t think i’ve watched TV for a couple days. but um. yeah I had love island uk playing in the background some last night. (that absolutely cannot be my official answer tho. 🙈 before that it was 9-1-1 with my watch party partner, and season 2 of perry mason and st:SNW.)

Currently reading: unless you ask me to by elvensorceress which is breaking me. just. the ace/demi Eddie feels are outstanding. i’m not relating to Buck at all in this fic—nope. not me. i’ve had therapy, ok? i’m good. everything’s fine. <turns the page and cries some more>

Currently obsessed with: hmmmm. idk. it’s been a rough few months and I’ve been struggling with depression so... there were a couple of switch games i was being obsessive about, but i’m kinda just chilling at the moment. work’s been busy so i’m enjoy hanging on my porch with my flowers a lot. lol. and the renovated nature center in my city. summer is not my favorite time of year. 🤷🏻‍♀️ the rain is pretty today though.

F - What’s the longest you’ve ever been in a fandom

Oh, gosh. Technically I still consider myself “in” my very first—online—fandoms (X-Files and dueSouth), even though I don’t actively engage with them much these days. *Does the math*. Uh, that would be 30 and 29 years this year, respectively. 😂 That question didn’t make me feel old, at all.

R - A pairing you ship that you don’t think anyone else ships

Hmmmm. I don’t know if there’s anything I ship that literally no one else ships. But I can tell you that my smallest fandom is Whitechapel and that most of the time shipping Chandler and Kent feels a lot like being stranded alone on an island. Which is outrageous considering they’re flipping canon.

I also feel totally alone in all of my Killjoys ships. ONE DAY, one day I will drag one of you into that fandom with me. And you will thank me gdi.

W - 5 favorite ships and 5 kinks tropes you like best for said ships

I’m rewriting the narrative on this one because I don’t feel like talking about kinks right now. <3

Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid - Domestic Fluff

Bucky Barnes/Clint Barton - Hurt/Comfort (both emotional and physical)

David Starsky/Ken Hutchinson - Friends to Lovers + First Kiss

John Sheppard/Rodney McKay - Mutual Pining (the more oblivious the better)

Steve Rogers/Tony Stark - Soulmates and/or Fake Dating

Thank you <3 for the ask.

🤡 What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh?

Hmmmm. Pretty much any dialogue I write for McShep. I mean, they’re just ridiculous. The conversations they have in my head are always very amusing. The entirety of The Relative Merits of Blow Jobs is hilarious to me (even the fight/make-up scene on the pier made me laugh even though I’ve been told it was, like, emotionally devastating). But that fic is so 2022. This year is all about John coming out to Rodney and Rodney being an absolute disaster about it, so here’s a snippet from a current WIP. (I don’t know if it’s actually funny, but Rodney having an internal meltdown always gets a chuckle out of me.)

******

And then John says, “I like competent men.”

Competent in the bedroom? Rodney thinks but thankfully does not say out loud. Instead he asks, “Competent how?”

John shrugs. “Smart guys. Capable guys. Guys who can get shit done.”

Ok, that sounds—fine, Rodney thinks. He can work with that. He can extrapolate a few more data points—thinks he’s safely on his way to a workable hypothesis when Sheppard adds with an infuriatingly easy drawl, “You know. Men who are good with their hands.”

Rodney most certainly does not know. Men. And their hands. Why would Sheppard insinuate such a thing? Rodney certainly isn’t gay. Or bisexual. Or whatever the hell John—

“Relax, McKay,” John says, and then he stands.

He’s standing in front of Rodney, taking up all the space and all the oxygen between the desk and the bed frame pressed against the back of Rodney’s knees. Rodney’s trapped between two immovable objects and the atmosphere is thin. He gulps. John’s hands come up to grip Rodney’s biceps. “I’m not making a pass at you, Rodney,” John says, like it’s obvious—which it isn’t, because what’s wrong with Rodney that John wouldn’t want to make a pass at him? And that’s a thought—that’s definitely a thought that Rodney needs to bury and never, ever excavate again.

******

🛒 What are some common things you incorporate in your fics? Themes, feels, scenes, imagery, etc.

One thing I have a habit of including in my writing is weather—weather as a corollary to mood. I have a thing about rain (and water in general). I like to use seasonal descriptions to indicate the passage of time. I’m a bit of a nature nerd I guess? I get a little too prosaic when autumnal leaves are involved. I blame this entirely on the effect When Harry Met Sally had on my formative years. I also blame Charles Dickens. I think the less I say there the better.

✨ Give you and your writing a compliment. Go on now. You know you deserve it. 😉

I can write a mean drabble, which is defined as a 100 word story. Exactly 100 words. Unless it’s 200 words, in which case, it’s a double-drabble. Or in the case of a triple-drabble, 300 words. But I digress. I think I’ve written some nice drabbles over the past year.