#eighty-six

Ok, I'm so mad because I actually wrote 90% of this last night and then I lost it to unfunny Tumblr shenanigans.

I'm gonna cheat and name my top 5 fics from Eighty-Six first because, come on, I've been living in that ao3 tag ever since it was less than 50 works long, I'm a connaiseiur (well, until like one or two years ago when life caught up with me).

So!

edge of the world by garudyne: I mean, this is just a classic at this point, and I would recommend it to any person, even if they aren't familiar with the series (it's an AU, so you don't really need previous knowledge about the setting). Dear Haru's prose is always so beautiful and laced with so much feeling, and all the elements of this work work to make it so unsettling that it gives you the best shivers. Hmm, delicious.

Freight Train by OceanicEternity: This fic hits you like a punch in the gut, so much it kinda makes sad. I mean, Oceanic's typical dry, raw style of writing with his usual heavy topics make for some delightfully heartwrecking works that stay with you for the longest time.

Respite by Hanede: I know that Monochrome is the most famous work from my dearest countrycatwoman and best-est beta, but I chose this one because it's like... the starting point, and then you can jump to Monochrome if you crave angst, or to Wordless Voices if you want fluff, and I think that just show our beloved kodkod's range. Hane's prose is also so beautiful and thoughtful, and laced with so much feeling that I'm honoured to be mistaken with her every fic week (?).

Sun and Moon by meaninglessmusings: I always talk about this one because it's the perfect example of the absolute amazing range of from Mus: he can take a line on passing from the canon and use it to create the craziest crack ever seen for the human eye, or the most complex worldbuilding with characters so fleshed out you would forgive they were barely named in the original story in the first place. Seriously, it's impressive.

…For We Are Many by JordannaMorgan: Ok, the only one where I haven't interacted that much with the author, but come on. The dark premise is intriguing and heartbreaking, yet the story has the right amount of hope to make everything worth it, and without getting into spoilers, the body horror exploration? Amazing. Delicious. Get me more please.

Now, my top 5 from other fandoms:

In Carcere by Slaine (Aldnoah.Zero): AZ is that fandom which the original material ended so badly the fans rose to the occassion and took into themselves the mission of fixing it, and this fic is the perfect representation of it. I have SO much to catch up, but I have to say that the author took the story and its characters so more seriously than the original writers ever did, and develop them with so much care and thought towards the goal the readers of this fic were waiting for (orangebat, of course).

The Unknown Land by paperballoon (Aldnoah.Zero): Seriously, this fandom has so many great writers for such a niche mecha show, and this fic in particular it's so freaking good because it's like getting two cakes of completely different flavours at the same time, both equally good. At parts it hurts. At parts it makes you laugh so hard you get toned abs out of it. At parts it feels so rewarding that you cry your eyes out. It has everything!

and love is not a victory march by SomeEnchantedEve (ASoIaF): Remember when I said in a previous ask I'm weak for politics and arranged marriages? I blame 90% on NedCat and this author has an excellent repertoire of canon divergent AUs, and everyone is so freaking good. But this one is my favorite of all because it's been like ten years and it still lives in my brain free of rent, it's just... the perfect taste of a romance blooming through adversity and gloom. Delicious.

Out On A Limb by ArielleHermes (Leviathan Trilogy): Ok, I'm taking my hat off for Jill for tackling a premise that deal with topics that are so heavy and complex to write about. She nailed it, and in the end it's so rewarding. I can't wait to read the epilogues (actually, I can, and I will, because every writer deserves the time they need to finish their works to their liking)

(omg, it's been more than a decade since I got to reply to an ask here)

I feel very bad because I'm gonna name some unfinished things, and I promise to go back to them when I can, but life is chaotic rn.

So:

and somewhere inside is the key (Eighty-Six): my longest ongoing fic, which I basically wrote while procrastinating the thesis for my post-grad degree. Arranged marriages and political tension are things that I'm actually pretty fond of: I don't exactly remember how I got the idea, but the plot and the world built around it so nicely in my brain that I couldn't stop until I put down most of the ideas for it. And the thing about long fics is that you get to explore certain topics you can't usually get into in depth in shorter works, which I think is a challenge, and so, a good writing exercise too. I want to think I managed to set well at least the beginning of the story: after all, this fic had such a nice reception and good comments. I'm honoured.

… I will never look away (Eighty-Six): another long fic I have yet to finish, the first one I dared to write. What I said before about long fics applies to this one, too, and it feels even more challenging since it deals with heavier topics and unhealthy dynamics (which is what has kept me locked with it). But seriously, that's exactly what makes this interesting and fun to write.

Colorblind (Eighty-Six): this one is actually finished! Ok, but entering Shin's mind and getting to explore his sexuality comes almost naturally to me, and it was so interesting too. And well, it was my first published smut, so there's that. I'm really proud of this one and how it grew from random ideas to an almost character study.

Gloria (Eighty-Six): I'd like this fic to get more attention than it gets (I guess it's natural because it's an unpopular ship), because the feeling, the melancholy on it... I really like it. It's raw, and human, and bittersweet. Or maybe that's just my impression, but that's why I like it.

angels roll their eyes (Leviathan): I still can't believe I wrote a songfic from a Taylor Swift song. Ok, this is similar to Gloria in the sense I'd like it to get more attention, and similar to Colorblind because it's an exploration of one aspect of a character, in this case, Deryn's (or I should say Dylan's) gender identity and how it could affect his relationship with Alek. For some reason, I tend to get attracted to these topics.

I'm gonna cheat and add one more, but consider this the public's choice:

Echo Ein (エーコ・アイン), also known as Bobchi (formerly known as Bob Hair Girl), standing in attention and is in shock as she's being called by Vladilena Milizé (ヴラディレーナ・ミリーゼ)

Echo Ein first made her appearance in the anime of 86: Eighty-Six (86-エイティシックス ヤンデレ). as a nameless character, due to that she was often referred to by people as Bob Hair Girl or Bobchi for short.

Bob Hair Girl (おかっぱ 女の) (Bobchi) presents Raiden Shuga (ライデン・シュガ) with a kiss. They're from the anime and light novel 86 Eighty-Six (エイティシックス). Also Fido is in the final panel as well

Happy Valentine's Day

Vladilena Milizé (ヴラディレーナ・ミリーゼ) has seen better days. She's from the anime and light novel 86-Eighty-Six (86ーエイティシックスー)

Eighty-Six is still one of my fave old YT indie projects. It has such a unique vibe.