#startraveller776

Please NOTE* I want to limit the list to 10 fanfics, so not everything she has written is mentioned in the list. But my advice to you is that you should basically read everything written by her!! EVERYTHING! (the same disclaimer can be applied to all my fic recs). Also this list is NOT ranking fanfics in how good they are or whatever, it’s just listing them in no order. **

1. Heavy Love: In the period following Marian's return Regina is visited by many forms of comfort...and surprisingly much of this comfort comes from the most unlikely people. (A look at the unexpected encounters that ease the tortured Queen's soul). Tumblr Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 

So this is a multi-parter that takes place a few weeks after season 3 finale. And…it’s also the fanfic that I mentioned above in my mini-rant ;). Read it. You won't be sorry. There’s also minor Mad Queen brotp and semi-jealous Robin, which is always a plus :D. Thank you for saving my heart originalovp!!! (b/c after the season finale I really needed a reunion fanfic)

2. Somewhere Out There Our Paths May Merge: "Please!" For the first time the maid stares straight into the Evil Queen's eyes and she's always been perceptive and she's heard many tales of their illustrious monarch. But now she sees the beaten, broken woman who has had everything taken away from, and her every opportunity for happiness stripped away by Rumpelstilskin and so many till all she had left was anger, vengeance and. Read on Tumblr 

This. This is exactly what I wanted to happen in S4. Marian isn't crazy, Regina sacrifices herself for Marian, Robin is heartbroken and desperate (what? I needed to see him need Regina and be heartbroken after all the haters were like Robin’s going to drop Regina like a hot potato now). A perfect S4 oneshot. 

3. The Blue Parrot: A darker look at the honor that Robin has chosen to follow and what his divided loyalty means. Episode 4x03 Rocky Road Tag. 

Angst. That’s all I can say for this one and the next two. The end of this will simply BREAK your HEART (I promise). Ugh! The possibilities that the end has is crazy and awesome and your mind starts to wander and develop several scenarios. 

4. Scarf Drabble/One Shot: Marian goes to tie the maroon scarf around his neck one day but he grabs it just out of her reach before she can and hastily ties it around his neck. “It’s nothing to worry yourself with.”

Remember when the promo pics came out of Robin with a scarf that look pretty similar to Regina’s purple/maroon one? Well this is all you wanted in terms of Robin’s POV and his headspace during that time. It’s pretty angst-filled as well. Thank you so much for writing this one, originalovp! At a time when I was desperately looking for scarf (?) fanfics this one was just a pleasure to read. 

5. Untitled Drabble (No): He keeps saying these words to her, find it in your heart to understand, and now he stands in her office, again, repeating them repenting, asking for forgiveness. 

Oh God. This drabble. Its short but god does it bring out all of feels. After seeing Regina’s heartbroken face during the Hood family reunion, no one can blame her if she said no to Robin. I love it but at the same time Im like Regina No baby just say yes, take him back. 

6. Thought of You: Picking up the bottle Marian had peered at its mysterious liquid, the Queen had given a definitive nod preparing to leave till she dared to ask, “and you? Will you be drinking the potion too?” "No," grit out the monarch looking out the frost encrusted window fiercely gripping the top of the booth for support as she shuddered. "I need to remember. Remember so I don’t make the same mistake again."

I love this fanfic. Everyone in this piece is so beautifully written - Regina as the woman who once again has been defeated by destiny or fate (whatever you want to call it), Marian as the wife whose come to a realm that’s so different than the one she left, and Robin as the man who desperately loves another and can’t bear to forget. Also Marian’s portrayal is just amazing, such dignity and class; she could’ve taken away Robin’s choice but she respects him too much to do that. 

7. Meet Uglies: Not every meeting is a happy ending. Mini outlaw queen drabbles (slightly OOC) based on the meet ugly prompts. Parts: 1 | 2 | 3

These are really good! They’re unique, different and really stand out in AU portion of the OQ fandom. They’re really funny too! I pretty much end up laughing at the situations Robin and Regina find themselves in. 

8. The Five Times Robin Almost Met the Evil Queen: Destiny works in twos. It wasn't only Regina who missed her chance at true love. Read on Tumblr.

So basically this looks at 5 times in Regina/Robin’s history, where Robin almost met Regina. It’s an interesting look at what could have been. I absolutely love this line _“_To think this creature might have been his wife.Somewhere in his mind a voice whispers she still can be.” It gives the reader a sense of optimism and possibility and then in the next section, originalovp rips your heart out so beautifully when Marian comes back and with the line “He looks at his wife, his wife it is a difficult word to swallow when days ago he saw another in her place..”

9. Those Spaces In-between Your Memories: "Because," he stated simply, "I hate this wretched tattoo."

This is a great season 3b AU fanfic, where Robin remembers what happened in the missing year and tries to make Regina remember. God, I can't even imagine Robin’s anguish when he remembered everything that happened between Regina and him and she didn’t. This just really really good and you must read it!! No seriously, you won't be disappointed :)

10. First Alarms | Wake Up Call:  Regina is vaguely aware that her alarm clock is blaring but she’s too comfortable to even attempt to move and so she lets it continue to ring in the background; at least until she is suddenly jostled into a stiff arms; | "I hate your alarm clock," groans Robin burying his face against Regina’s bare shoulder as the blasted thing blares in the background. 

Ok, last but not least fluffy OQ!! I know these are two but I rec both of them. B/C sleepy OQ in a bed? Enough said ;) 

Other Links: FF.net Link  AO3 Link

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The second author is the lovely startraveller776. So during the summer hiatus, I sent in a prompt (anonymously) about Regina moving on from Robin and telling him him thank you for loving her. That prompt was subsequently orphaned. And a few months later, I read THE MOST heart wrenching, tear causing, perfection of a fanfic that was actually a response to the prompt and it was written by startraveller776. After that it was true love at first sight (reading?) and ever since I have loved everything and anything she has written. 

Please NOTE*** I want to limit the list to 10 fanfics, so not everything she has written is mentioned in the list. But my advice to you is that you should basically read everything written by her!! EVERYTHING! (the same disclaimer can be applied to all my fic recs). Also this list is NOT ranking fanfics in how good they are or whatever, it’s just listing them in no order.

1. Honour Above All Else: He chose honor over his heart (for what is his heart without honor?), but he didn’t quite understand the consequences.

This is the perfection of a fanfic that I was talking about above. It’s a drabble, so its not very long but it doesn't need to be. You get so many emotions and feelings from this powerful and concise piece of writing. I felt proud of Regina, but at the same time I could feel Robin’s pain like it was my own. It’s angsty and its perfect. God, startraveller776 I just want to thank you so much for writing this! It’s my favourite pieces of fanfic. :) 

2. Common Sorrow: He’s a regular at Saint Roch’s Extended Care Facility, the attractive man trapped in the unending limbo between married and widowed. Despite his tragic predicament, he’s cheerful, kind, empathetic—the kind of person who draws people to into his orbit by simply being. Not even Regina Mills is immune to his easy charisma. But while their unlikely friendship begins innocently enough, shared pain gives it a depth that leads to something more.

I didn’t know that I need this fanfic, until I read it and then all I could think of is how freaking good this was. The concept, the writing, the characters, everything is so on point! It’s basically the perfect AU version of the show- verse outlaw queen. You can feel their emotions coming of the screen. Regina is trying to be a good person and staying away from Robin (not unlike show-verse Regina) and Robin, well Robin is conflicted. The characterization is just amazing :) Also the little tidbit at the end of the fanfic…wow! Just a great move by startraveller776, to include that. It really brought the whole fanfic together. And once again, I didn't know I needed that little tidbit (sorry for being vague I’m trying my best to keep spoilers out and not spoil the journey ;), until I read it. 

3. The Ultimate Transformation: Regina Mills, executive producer for America’s favorite weight loss competition, has approved the casting of a new trainer for the series: a Brit with the kind of poignant backstory that the viewers will eat up. The only problem is, while he’s winning the nation’s hearts, he’s also turning her life upside-down.

Another AU OQ fanfic and this such a great idea (idk how you come up with all your amazing ideas for fanfics startraveller776!). I enjoyed the scenario established in the first chapter (its a on-hold WIP), and loved how we saw other OUAT characters.

4. What You Think You Know: “I’m so sorry, Regina.” The sincere regret in Doctor Hopper’s tone stabs at her. “Unless something happened during the missing year, as far as anyone can tell, you and Robin have never met before.”

Ahhh, one of the most inventive S3B OQ one shots there is out in the fandom. What a great concept..Regina goes over the town line and gets memories of being Robin’s wife. WOW! Mind blown ;) I really felt Regina’s anguish in this piece; how she was wrestling with this memories she has that everyone is telling her are fake but to her seem to be the realest thing in her life. I also loved the pull Robin had to Regina (especially his confession about when he saw her in the hospital).

5. Desperate Measures: Regina Mills hasn’t been home in ten years, but when an old acquaintance convinces her to return to Storybrooke for her wedding, Regina decides she can’t come empty-handed, not when she’ll be surrounded by ghosts of a life she lost when her fiancé died.

Did I tell you that I absolutely LOVE fake relationship fanfics - the one where they have to pretend to be a couple and then end of falling in love? And did I tell you that I LOVE the movie the Wedding Date? No? Well Im telling you now and this fanfic fits both of this (which makes me insanely in love with this ;). 

6. Locked Up: Regina finds herself stuck in backwater town, thanks to a speeding violation and driving with an expired license. (The assault charge is definitely trumped up.) And the town sheriff seems determined to be friendly, despite throwing her in jail. FF.net parts 1 | 2 | 3 Tumblr Parts: 1 | 2 | 3

This fanfic is so sweet and fluffy. You have Sheriff Locksley, Mayor Mills and insane sexual tension. There’s also a bit of dimples queen, which in itself is worth a read. You should definitely read this!!

7. Person of Interest: Years after leaving his work as a criminal psychologist, Robin gets a call to come down to the precinct. But the woman he’s asked to evaluate is more than she seems, and soon even Robin has trouble discerning reality from fiction.

Ok, so I love psychological thrillers, regardless if is a book, movie, or tv show. Thus, I absolutely fell in love with this one shot. And there’s a really well-planned and well-thought of twist in the story that I didn't see coming. You won't regret reading this. 

8. Well, This is Awkward Drabble: Regina nearly screamed in frustration as she rattled the door handle for the third time. Locked? How could it be locked? She was going to choke on the discordant scents of every cleaner known to man in this god-forsaken janitor’s closet. That and the cologne of the miscreant stuck in here with her.“Well,” Robin said behind her, sounding annoyingly amused, “this is awkward.”

This is actually a pretty recent piece done by startraveller776. It was just a really cute and sweet drabble. You can just feel the crazy sexual tension and attraction between Principal Mills and Mr. Locksley ;) who are locked in closet.. ;) 

9. Quod Verus Amor Est Anathemate: There is a black secret hidden between the words “happily ever after”: when True Love sparks to life, if affection will not keep the fated together, compulsion surely will. 

This! OMG this is soo angst-filled and will hit you with so many feels, its not even funny. This piece is about how true love can be a compulsion, something you can't control even when you don't want to be with the other person, you still need to be. It’s a dark look at the concept of true love, so prepare to feel extremely sad, but its totally worth it. And the end..the end is simply perfection. 

10. Her Choice: Marian made peace with not being chosen, but she still ended up an obligation. She learns, however, that she has her own agency—that she can make her own choice.

So I went with Her Choice which is basically a Marian POV piece. I mostly like when Marian is portrayed to be a respectful, classy, awesome woman and not some nut job... (I say mostly b/c I love those fanfics w/ unstable Marian too..like dark!Marian..ohh whasupwhereitis’s Jealousy actually comes to mind (it’s really really good))…because it gives merit to Robin as an individual and to his choice in picking Regina. Its like if Marian is crazy, no wonder Robin chose Regina but when she’s an actual person - and especially a “good” hero person - and Robin chooses Regina and his love for her, well her must be crazy in love with her right? 

Back to this piece, the characterization of Marian is great - you feel sorry for tho woman - and at the end of the piece you respect her even more for her actions. I also love 3rd person POVs of Robin and his love for Regina, which you will get in this fanfic b/c Marian describes it for you :D :D 

Other links: FF.net Link AO3 Link

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So basically this was all my love, respect, and honour for these two, not only incredible authors, but also kick-ass ladies!! I know I didn't do full justice to these authors and their writings but hopefully my short and limited list and amateur commentary wasn't full-on terrible ;) 

Also, if in any way, form or manner I disrespected/hurt your sentiments or you completely disagree with my thoughts, please forgive me (that was NOT my intentions). And any mistakes or errors in this post are my own.