just me being here

Welcome to Week 8 of the E33 Reading Challenge! This is our penultimate week before the end of July, so there's still plenty of time to get to those fics you've been meaning to read.

You can find full instructions for the challenge here, an FAQ here, and a full list of the prompts here.

Week 8 Prompts

A fic featuring an AU you've never read before

A fic about cooking/food

A fic with a French title

Together Forever

Renoir/Gustave - Rated E

8,985 words

Centuries had passed since Renoir lost the love of his life, and he had resigned himself to an eternity of loneliness. The arrival of Gustave, however, changed everything.

Thank you so, so much! Oh my gosh! It's such a delight to see that scene illustrated 👀 Gustave is being exceptionally good and quiet there.

And I love the attention to detail, the colour of the tie (such a nice dark red!) and the way that it matches the sofa. And that poor lovely suit that is about to get so thoroughly defiled.

The silhouette of Verso in the forefront is so cool too, looming over Gustave and enjoying the exact same sight that the viewer is getting, such a neat effect! I love the blush on Gustave's face too and that look of intense concentration.

And this art is incredible?! Ouroboros of inspiration, with Palate having originally been based off of some of your vampire Verstave art as well.

I love the black-and-white with that dramatic splash of red blood so, so much. And their pose is so elegant and dancer-like, it really feels like something from the front of a classic monster movie poster, I love it.

And Gustave's expression?! That look of bliss? Yes, that man is absolutely where he wants to be, and he has played Verso like a fiddle to get there. He looks like he's busy collecting his third vampire bite scar for his neck collection 👀

Verso: Is this paradise?

This looks so, so good! That picture of Gustave sliding the metal hand into Verso's shirt? So good. And the third one with the near-kiss? Wizardry. Gorgeous.

Your pictures are always so amazing, and very very genuinely seem like magic to me. They're so good, and I consider myself so very fortunate that our fandom tastes align so well and I get to feast on your photo sets!

And AHHHHH this is no exception. Inscription art?! Oh my gosh.

The black and white with gold accents?! It looks so striking. The gold in Gustave's arm, his waistcoat, his glasses, it all ties together so well!

And I'm screaming about this moment in general (we got there! They finally kissed!!) with Gustave's fingers in Verso's hair and Verso pulling Gustave as close as he can? YES. ABSOLUTELY YES.

GUSTAVE'S HAIR! His lovely white hair! I cannot express how delighted it makes me to see it!

I also love the composition of the piece in general? The grey shading of the background, the light coming from the right hand side (go on, boys. Gustave and Verso walk into the light...)

And the details of Verso's uniform look incredible as well, I love how you've drawn his cape and his arm wrap, they look so good!

"Please. Don’t ask."

Help, this is so beautiful?! No wonder Verso was so absolutely taken in by Gustave in that scene, he didn't stand a chance (I'm giving Verso even more credit for the self-restraint he showed in making Gustave wait there so long 😆)

Gosh, just the look in Gustave's eyes. The intensity you've captured there?! So stunning!

And the softness of Gustave's hair?! You always draw his hair looking so beautiful and touchable, I love it!

THE GAG. THE DROOL. I want to say something really nice and coherent here but I am fully fully losing my mind over that. Full internet dial-up sounds in my mind.

THE SUIT. YESSSS.

And like the colours in general?! I love the colour palette of your pieces and the gentle tones to them, and I think that's so true of the shade of blue and the grey background here too, it's lovely.

The hands behind his back, the general pose, oh my gosh I love it so so much.

Happy birthday @walrusface

The person who write peak plot twisting, tear jerking, me jacking fics for verstave. Did you know that liminal inspired my whole immortal AU and kick me down the verstave drawing rabbit hole? Yeh me neither

This is so so so stunning - I can't cope.

Gustave's collar perfectly matching his arm?! The marbling effect and the gold accents. It's beautiful!

And then the expression on their faces?! How completely lost in it Gustave looks? H E L P

Verso's. Hand. On the back of Gustave's neck. H E L P. H E L P.

Verso fully clothed, Gustave fully not?! H E L P. H E L P. H E L P.

And oh my gosh the little movement lines and accents around them?! They're gorgeous. This whole piece is so gorgeous.

Thank you so much, I'm so lucky to share a fandom with you! I love your immortal AU so much and am so flattered to have had even the tiniest part in inspiring it.

Homecoming

Verso/Gustave - Rated E

9,780 words

After traveling the world to perform, Verso finally returned home to Paris. He was expecting a sweet reunion with Gustave, but his husband had some other plans…

Sooooo, in the land of the future, it is now @walrusface's birthday!! @thunderstyled did me the great honor of collabing with me to put together a little something for you to celebrate! To the surprise of exactly no one, it features Domso. :3c

/The sky is full of words you gifted me

/Stay awake inside this ancient dream