X-Men Feels
Sonsofsilly asked me for my X-Men recs so instead of writing an email like she’s asked me to, I did this thing ;)
I’m totally new to X-Men fandom, so I’ve read only a handful of stories so far and I owe my thanks for reccing me those to asya-ana, magnolia822, alby-mangroves, zairaalbereo, spacealtie
As usual I'm using my comments for the fics.
lay down beside me (so still and so soft) by C_Gracewood
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 53534| Explicit| Canon FC AU |
Summary: A different take on the events of the film.
Why I rec: This was my first X-Men fic and wow, did it feel like I was entering a Promise Land in a way! And with a blast ;)
I loved this hurt/comfort story so much and after that all I ever wanted was ALL the Cherik! It was a really moving one.
I think Erik's character was done perfectly--with all his reserve and distrust. It was a long, rocky journey for him! And Charles--God this Charles was just as perfect: good and strong but also human and prone to his own insecurities and anger. My God was it hot, too, I was left totally breathless so many times I can't count even! And the German endearments made me teary - they were just agsgshskdyg <3
I want the X-Men story to end like this ;__; How do I proceed now to all the angst that awaits?
First - all the "fix-it" epic stories:
Tessellation by nekosmuse
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 116668| Explicit| Canon FC AU |
Summary: He had been following Xavier's career for years. He had read and reread and reread again everything the man had written. He had tried, on more occasions than he could count, to recruit Xavier into the Brotherhood, but each request for a meeting had been denied. Aside from his work, no one knew anything about Xavier. Not what he looked like, not the full extent of his power--though from what little they did know, he was by far the most powerful telepath in existence--and not what his intentions were.
The man was a recluse. As far as Magneto knew, Xavier had never once stepped foot outside his impenetrable Westchester manor. And now he was scheduled as the keynote speaker for the largest pro-mutant conference in the world.
Why I rec: What a GLORIOUS story! I loved this Erik - fierce but gentle, evolving under Charles' influence, intelligent and full of strong feels, and this Charles - powerful and strong but with so many faults, insecurities and so vulnerable. I absolutely loved the plot which was bloody amazing! LIKE ANOTHER MOVIE WOOT! And the sex, oh goodness. I am so spoiled after years of fanfics and I usually just read porny kinky pwps while in long stories I tend to skip sex but MY GOD MY GOD THOSE SEX SCENES WITH MIND-SEX WERE SO HOT. Really mindblowing ;)
I loved how Charles's disability was portrayed, how real it felt and yet so beautiful and so tender and raw and just... Hot! Truly amazing story. I am in awe and I am falling even more for this fandom! :)
A Curious Carriage of Crystal and Cold by Etharei
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 114261| Explicit| Canon FC SF AU (space)
Summary: Charles, a miner from a poor village in the countryside, saves the life of Erik Lehnsherr, scion of a successful business family and the richest man on the planet Eisen. Charles is a telepath and somewhat anxious about it, while Erik abstains from relationships because the lights flicker and doors open and electronics vibrate when he gets too excited.
Also featuring a long-suffering sister, a foul-mouthed bodyguard, and a best friend with a heart that is definitely not gold.
In which there are princes, spaceships, long journeys, and old secrets uncovered. (An AU sci-fi fairytale)
Why I rec: Wow. Wow. WHAT A TRULY EPIC STORY! It read like The Dune. Or Sillage comic books but with much more solid and elaborated plot! I am in awe - of the imagination, of all the ideas, of the ability of world building and making all the complicated events click together in a logical way. It was so gorgeous - the stars, the planets, the mines, the tragedy of Xavia and the beautiful love story of Charles and Erik. I loved how this was written, how sweet and innocent they both were - like the children of the future should be. The fairytale was beautiful, just what I love about space-stories the most. I loved how all the customs, clothes and planet's traditions were done, too. And the sentient ships concept? Wow! Yes!
So many amazing things packed into a brilliant story. Truly epic! <3
Anarchy In The U.K. by Yahtzee
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 162328| Explicit| Modern AU with no powers (Royal AU)
Summary: "Good God, Erik thought. The Prince of Wales is gay."
Charles lives in the unceasing glare of the public spotlight, yet keeps his sexual orientation a closely held secret, afraid he could lose his throne and force his deeply troubled younger sister into a role that would crush her. Erik, journalist and world traveler, has been a loner most of his life; he has little patience for closet cases. But a chance meeting in Kenya brings these two opposites together and sets in motion a love affair that will challenge the British monarchy -- and their most deeply held beliefs about who they are, and who they should be.
Why I rec: Oh my goodness what an epic amazing story!
I've fallen in love with this Erik and Charles from the get go and it only kept going better! I am in awe of how the setting was handled, the media reactions, the whole PR and customs and everything. Wow. Really I was blown away with this! So real.
But the emotional journey both Erik and Charles went through was just as fascinating.
Gorgeous, plotty, hot and gloriously intelligent read! This could surely stand as OF!
And now let's proceed to some serious angst.
The Attempt by Yahtzee
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 15811| Explicit| Canon FC AU
Summary: Written for the following prompt: Charles knows everything about Erik, knows how obsessive and self-destructive he is, how Erik would do anything, give anything, in his quest for vengeance against Shaw. But he also knows that Erik loves him in ways that aren't exactly platonic. I'd like to see a completely straight!Charles, out of pure love and care of Erik, initiate a romantic relationship with him. It can be because he wishes to give Erik something positive in his life or because he thinks it might help change Erik's mind about Shaw, the reason is up to author. Also, while Charles finds intimacy with Erik strange and awkward, he does enjoy the new, non-romantic layers that have developed in their relationship.
Why I rec: Oh God this story broke me - it was so beautiful, so bittersweet, so heart-wrenching. This also felt SO REAL. The situation felt so possible because yes - Charles could have tried that for Erik, and yes - Erik would be so madly in love with Charles to want to take this chance too. But also the sex, oh god, the sex, how Charles felt it, how he struggled but enjoyed it once it happened, it was so real. I cannot say how much I can relate to this Charles but to Erik, too. Amazing story, amazing scenes and such a perfect writing style. Left me sobbing. <3
By Faint Indirections by kianspo
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 23828| Explicit| Modern AU (no powers)
Summary: Erik is in his ~50s, and lonely and bitter. He survived the Holocaust and was only ~14 when the war ended; and even ~40 years later, living in a country that helped to end WW2 and the Third Reich, homosexuality is still a taboo topic. Then one day, he stumbles over Charles, who is young(early 20s) and bright and smart and cheeky and full of energy and beautiful. And moving in the same street where Erik lives.
Why I rec: This story has broken me even more than the one above. It was so fucking painful on so many levels and I am in awe of kianspo's talent (which is not a novelty beacuse some of the most beautiful Merlin fics I've ever read were also by kianspo). Kianspo's way with words is quite exceptional, but it's the way she reads people and their motivations and reactions that makes me love her stories so much - it's the layers and layers of emotions, processed by someone who must have seen a lot, been through a lot, and read a lot (I love all the references, they leave me in awe of her knowledge too).
The main story here was both tender and violent in terms of emotions, bittersweet, very raw and very real. I could almost smell Erik's house and see the light of the late evenings by the ocean. This story was a harsh one from the get go, and it didn't get any easier - all of the characters were too deeply broken to be right. Still there was peace and light in it too. I was deeply moved by the way Erik tried and couldn't resist Charles. I hate what times do to people, I hate that we are all products of history in a way, even if times now are vastly different. I always wondered how could people live after having lived through war, and I think the way this Erik is shown here, who's lived his life just pushing forward and then retreating and just trying to survive while punishing himself in a way, was very pointed. People's reaction to gays was so real too, so painful.
I'm not going to lie - the epilogue shattered me so much that I almost wish I haven't read it. I WAS IN TEARS FOR SO LONG.
If you don't think you can handle it don't dive for the epi and settle on the bittersweet ending of the main part.
And to fix your hearts a little:
Afterlife by Anna Green (arctic_grey)
Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier | Words: 41973| Explicit| Canon post DoFP
Summary: A year after Washington, Erik wakes up in excruciating pain as sudden awareness washes over him: Charles is dead. Erik has to adjust to yet another future: no extinction, just a world without Charles. But the death of his former friend leaves Erik weak and his powers drained. His quest for answers leads him back to Westchester, where Erik has to face his past with Charles and put together the puzzle pieces of what happened to the man he once cared for.
Why I rec: This is a beautiful fic with soul-bonding and loads of feels. I've forgotten to comment on it right after reading and now I'm all lost at what to say ;) But this gave me so much feels, the good ones, the hurty ones. God, this CHARLES. His letters to Erik! All the love that is hidden and repressed. GAH.
Since this is a new fandom I started this spreadsheet. ;)
PS: sorry if my formatting is all screwed up. I have no idea how to fix it, as I use plain text and not paste anything and it should STICK TO WHAT I WANT! It keeps deleting my paragraphs and it keeps changing fints and the size of the fonts, I have no idea why.
*kicks LJ in the shin*