The True Story of the Butterfly and the Bumblebee by Renay (PG-15)
Title: The True Story of the Butterfly and the Bumblebee
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Pairing: Seifer Almasy/Zell Dincht
Categories/Genres: Pining, Misunderstanding, Romance, Developing Feelings, Fluff, Humor
Length: Medium (10102 words)
Warnings: N/A
Author/Artist on DW: ladybusiness
Author/Artist Website: Renay
Summary:
Seifer Almasy doesn't do crushes, but the rules in his reality have never really applied to Zell, anyway.
Review:
Having grown up with two parents who are basically the real life application of the 'opposites attract' relationship trope, romance between two vastly different characters is near and dear to my heart. Enter Seifer Almasy, our Stoic Jerk, who falls head over heels stupid in love with Zell Dincht, the Hyper Kid.
Don't go thinking this is your usual pining/misunderstanding/resolution/happy ending fic. No, in Butterfly and Bumblebee, our poor protagonist Seifer gets roundly and soundly rejected, yelled at, and avoided by his won't-be sweetheart. But he takes it in stride, getting back up on the horse and learning to settle for what he can get. Fortunately, good things come to those who wait (and bribe others with food), and Seifer gets the boy in the end.
I love a lot of things about this fic, romantic tropes aside: no matter how hard Seifer gets shut down, he always gets back up on his feet; Renay keeps the tone light and funny and the pacing tight to where it feels like you've read 2k words instead of 10k; the emotions are genuinely one-sided at first, and only gradually does Zell come to reciprocate Seifer's feelings; the Seifer voice is absolutely spectacular; etc. I could go on and on about all the many things that make Butterfly and Bumblebee literally one of my favorite fics ever, but I should probably let you discover some for yourself!
The True Story of the Butterfly and the Bumblebee
Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Pairing: Seifer Almasy/Zell Dincht
Categories/Genres: Pining, Misunderstanding, Romance, Developing Feelings, Fluff, Humor
Length: Medium (10102 words)
Warnings: N/A
Author/Artist on DW: ladybusiness
Author/Artist Website: Renay
Summary:
Seifer Almasy doesn't do crushes, but the rules in his reality have never really applied to Zell, anyway.
Review:
Having grown up with two parents who are basically the real life application of the 'opposites attract' relationship trope, romance between two vastly different characters is near and dear to my heart. Enter Seifer Almasy, our Stoic Jerk, who falls head over heels stupid in love with Zell Dincht, the Hyper Kid.
Don't go thinking this is your usual pining/misunderstanding/resolution/happy ending fic. No, in Butterfly and Bumblebee, our poor protagonist Seifer gets roundly and soundly rejected, yelled at, and avoided by his won't-be sweetheart. But he takes it in stride, getting back up on the horse and learning to settle for what he can get. Fortunately, good things come to those who wait (and bribe others with food), and Seifer gets the boy in the end.
I love a lot of things about this fic, romantic tropes aside: no matter how hard Seifer gets shut down, he always gets back up on his feet; Renay keeps the tone light and funny and the pacing tight to where it feels like you've read 2k words instead of 10k; the emotions are genuinely one-sided at first, and only gradually does Zell come to reciprocate Seifer's feelings; the Seifer voice is absolutely spectacular; etc. I could go on and on about all the many things that make Butterfly and Bumblebee literally one of my favorite fics ever, but I should probably let you discover some for yourself!
The True Story of the Butterfly and the Bumblebee