Rec two non-Marcus/Esca stories in your journal.
UNCLE AQUILA'S PAST HEARTBREAKS STORY TIME!
First,
Blood Brother, by Isis, is a wonderful story about the tribesman whom Uncle A mentions in the book. There are awesome British OCs and it just feels so vivid and makes me FEEL THINGS and, yeah, lovely. It also has art by
motetus, which is beautiful and sad.
Secondly, I've just discovered
The Fire of Vesta, by
osprey_archer, which is this beautifully subtle story about farm life with Marcus and Cottia married and expecting a child, and Esca and Cottia still getting to know each other. I don't know, I'm not very articulate tonight (case in point: I just had to think for like a full minute before I remembered the word 'articulate) but just, read it. It's very good.