The Flash RarePair

Strange Bedfellows Part Two: All Fall Down Earth 2 Goldenvibe AU

It was late when her car pulled up. He was actually surprised she dared be so open about picking him up. Warning bells should have been sounding, but he shoved that aside. The Madame Mayor had made for strange bedfellows but he didn’t mind. She was so prim and proper, her and her stuffy brother. He knew she was holding back; he could see it in her eyes. Lisa was a hellcat but due to her position, has to hold it in. He would love to see her go wild…

The door was pushed open as her lovely eyes met his. “Get in,” she commanded.

He bowed dramatically to her and he heard Leonard groan from the driver’s seat. She looked amazing tonight, draped in faux fur and diamonds. “You look lovely, my dear,” he purred at her.

Leonard groaned again while Lisa just wore her polite smile, it was fake but her eyes were sparkling. “Cut the crap, Ramon. Any news?”

He tisked at her soundly. “Always business with you, isn’t it? Isn’t it a lovely evening? Couldn’t we ditch the dweeb and take in a meal together?”

To his surprise, she chuckled. “You heard him, Lenny. He wants to take in a meal. I think we could bring him by our humble abode.”

“Lise-“

“You heard her, Lenny,” Cisco sang out. “Humble abode.”

Cisco grinned as he caught Leonard glaring at him in the rear-view mirror. That’s when he felt Lisa’s hand on his knee. He looked over to her, noting she hadn’t changed her expression. There was nothing in her face or eyes. Glancing at the rear-view mirror, Cisco realized that Leonard was watching her now. His blue eyes watching her face. “What are you doing?” he murmured as he leaned over. “I’m not stupid, Francisco, I know what you want. You’ve earned…something,” she assured him in a low voice.

He knew this had to be a trap, everything in him screamed not to trust her but there was that small voice in him that said go with it. Oh well, if this backfired at least he’d go out with…a bang. He had to shake his head at himself and get out the thoughts that were starting to consume him.

As they pulled up to the Mayor’s estate, he still marveled at it. He couldn’t help it, it was lush and glamorous. It was very…her. Leonard dropped them at the front door as he pulled the car towards the garage. Cisco was honestly impressed he left her alone with him. As she opened the door and walked in the door, the first thing she did was remove her shoes. As she dropped down to his height, he reached out and cupped her face.

“Do you know how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked.

Lisa smiled, it was a rare, pure smile. “You’re sweet.”

“Is there a reason for your actions in the car?”

She leaned in and kissed him, the kiss was everything he knew it would be. Soft but easily could become something more. “I do like you, Cisco.”

“But?” he inquired, knowing there was something coming.

That’s when there was a blinding white pain and he fell towards he hit floor. “I’m sorry.” She said, unclenching her first, his blood on the diamonds that lined her fingers.

As his vision faded he saw Leonard come in, reaching for Lisa who took refuge in his arms. “You did what you had to do.” He was assuring her.

“He won’t forgive me.” She was saying.

“Does that matter?” Leonard shot back.

As everything faded he heard her whisper, “Yes.”

GoldenFrost aesthetic

Number of rarepair fics on AO3: 53Total hits on rarepair AO3 fics: 46,247Percentage femslash: 22.6% (12 fics)Percentage polyamory: 52.8% (28 fics)Percentage written since the beginning of the month: 18.9% (10 fics)

Do rarepair fics get the same kind of hits popular fandom ships get?  

No.  They don’t.  There’s a lot of good rarepair fic that goes underappreciated.  Saying otherwise would be lying; that’s just the fact of the rarepair life.  You might look at the hit count on my fic and laugh, and I would know why.  I’ve uploaded a Derek/Stiles, a Scott/Stiles, and a femslash fic all at the same time before, as an experiment to track hit counts within the first few days.  There’s a dramatic difference, even for short ficlets.  Like, a very, very dramatic difference.

So, yeah, the rarepair struggle is real.  Fewer people are willing to write it, because you don’t get the same attention.  A lot of what’s written doesn’t make it to AO3.  There are fewer blogs circulating/reccing your content on tumblr.  There’s inconsistencies in naming/tagging, because you develop pockets of rarepair shippers who use their own name smushes that are different and that don’t match up with other pockets of rarepair shippers (especially for polyamorous fic).  Sometimes people don’t even realize your ship exists.  Sometimes the only thing in your ship’s tag is a sad, lonely graphic made by @nighttimemachinery.  

With that in mind, why bother writing it, anyway?

I write some rare-ass ships.  I’ve created a few ship tags on AO3.  I have a few fics/headcanon posts that are the only thing in a tag on tumblr.  I write polyamorous femslash ships.  And guess what I’ve learned?

People read my rare-ass shit.  Way more people than I would expect.  In this big, beautiful fandom, chances are you aren’t the only person that likes a given ship.  People get excited when there’s content for a ship that they love and that not many people write.  People get excited when they go to their tiny, rare-ass AO3 ship tag and there’s a new story there, or a story there at all.  And even better - if you surround yourself with good people, supportive and engaging fandom friends?  Sometimes people are willing to give your rare-ass ships a try, if they like you and your writing, and they discover they like that rare-ass ship.  Maybe they even start creating for it themselves.

.. but he’s not really surprised when some time later, when he’s going through his stuff suddenly one bag starts to move and DAMN IT, Axel!

Rip wants to send him back, but Axel’s just adorable little puppy and Rip doesn’t want to risk another of his favorite coats exploding so he allows the kid to stay. Everyone’s happy. 

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: The Flash (TV 2014) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Henry Allen/Lisa Snart, Cisco Ramon/Lisa Snart Characters: Lisa Snart, Leonard Snart, Henry Allen, Martin Stein, Caitlin Snow, Barry Allen, Cisco Ramon, Kendra Saunders, Carter Hall, Clarissa Stein, Iris West, Joe West Series: Part 2 of Seasons Summary:

temptations grow as temperatures drop…

(or ‘Tis the season to gather and traumatize your loved ones…’)

     You know why I’d leave you alone?                Because I care about your feelings more than mine.

Rating: Mature || Relationship: Cisco Ramon/Earth-2 Harrison Wells

Summary:  Cisco gets caught doing something odd. Harry doesn’t seem to mind.

—-

The bar was loud and crowded and exactly the kind of scene that Sara had hated when she was younger, but now it afforded her the ability to hide in plain sight. She was situated at one of the corner tables, a round of tequila shots covering her half of the worn wood. Captain Freeze or whatever he called himself was sitting to her left, nursing a beer as he watched the flow of bodies around them.

“What are we doing here exactly?” he asked, not bothering with eye contact when he spoke.

Sara downed another shot and grimaced at the burn as it warmed her throat and chest. “I am looking for a way to unwind. You just,” she gestured at him, exhaling, “tagged along.”

Leonard huffed, tipping back in his seat. “As I recall, you grabbed my arm and said ‘let’s go for a drink Chilly’.”

Goldenvibe: Open Your Eyes

darling open your eyes let me show you the light girl you’ll never find the love that’s right darlin open your eyes let me show the light girl you think you’re so wise there are times when you need someone I will be by your side

Lisa was in midst of a con when she talked into the club zeroing in on her mark when a voice stopped her in her tracks. The smooth voice captivated and as she looked towards the stage Cisco Ramon was crooning. Watching his fingers dance across the piano keys hypnotizing her as they moved with elegance and skill. The lyrics struck her as if he was standing in front of her, belting it out just to her. Taking the advice in the song she found herself going home with him where she showed him that she would miss no more opportunities passing them by.