600k WIP, Erik the Red and Trash Polka Tattoos - #myxmenrecs #3
This time only 2 recs but since one is almost 600k I feel like I’m recc’ing a few ones ;)
Nine Eleven Ten by Subtilior
Charles/Erik | Words: 575000 (WIP!) | Explicit | Dystopia AU
Summary: Years later, Charles would remember that day. Sometimes he would wonder if he could have changed anything; other times he would despair over what he had since become. But he would always hold the image in his mind: Raven, laughing, and his thoughts flying alongside her on strong wings, silver-gold through the winter air. Once upon a time. More details, if desired, here. (Spoilers.)
Why I rec: I’ve been obsessed with this story for the last few weeks and I still cannot stop thinking about it! As usual, it’s really hard to write a review for something I truly loved, since no matter what I can say will do it justice.
I saw the amazing fanart by dwaroxxx here and ever since I was tempted to read this story. I was anxious about almost 600k monster of a fic though and a WIP on top of that…So I decided to just take a look and drop it. Oh, how naïve I was! :D This story has eaten my whole free time - both days and nights! I am in love with it, obsessed with it and I won't stop reading until it's done it seems! God, this is really a fantastic and fascinating one!
This is a post-apocalyptic universe in which nuclear bombs were unleashed in the 50s and every part of the world is in shreds. Countries are slowly rebuilding, the crimes of the WWII are forgotten because there are new ones, more horrid even, terrorist groups are organizing and the mutants are being captured and taken away. Young mutants are held in captivity by Frost in what used to be New York state. She trains them for war she takes part in. Charles is captured and the whole history begins.
The whole political and historical parts and the strategy for battles are well done, and I enjoyed how fictional characters are mixed with the real ones.
Charles is the main figure and the whole story is his POV. He is very real, very human, often annoying, with many faults but great heart. I love that he isn’t totally pure and flawless and that he does everything what he can to survive and protect those who he loves. Sometimes I wanted to shake him and scream "fuck you Charles don't do it - you promised, you little fox!!!"
The idea of telepathy here is done very differently to how it's usually done - more in a way like in the film "Cell" with Jennifer Lopez. When you enter someone's mind it's a representation - a real-looking-place and everyone has a different one, sometimes beautiful, sometimes horrid and dangerous. Whenever Charles enters someone's mind it's a little bit uncanny and even scary. Quite a fantastic description! Erik's mind in particular is bloody amazing. Bloody wow. Literally. A bit like Hell in "Constantine" <3
And Erik, oh Erik. I can't say how much I adore Erik in this one! I love how feral he is, how absolutely and hideously wild and very dangerous and cruel but so broken, probably beyond repair. I love how oblivious he is to everything that is good in the world, how he knows only killing and torture and doesn't get anything good.
I love Erik/Charles relationship here and how slowly it develops. The brutality is scary, yes, but I could see how it was necessary for the characters. Erik is a broken savage who needs to learn how to live and love again and what it means to be with someone. And Charles is a spoiled, debauched, clever one who's had his tough times in life, yes, but always made it out of them and now is in a situation in which he is not the one with the upper hand.
So many parts of this story made me cry - especially the parts related to Erik's past. And the last chapter, which I read with my heart clenched. Gosh.
I’d gladly read another 600k of this story. The plot is marvelous, the universe is mindblowing. I enjoyed my every minute of reading this :)
GAH!
PS. About the warnings: this fic has several serious warnings but for me it's not really triggering. There is dub-con or even non-con and rape but it's more a situation of prostitution or consensual sexual service than rape. There is one scene that is leading to rape but if you feel like you need reassurance I can give you some spoilers about this one. There is brutality and torture, also in between Erik and Charles but it's important for the plot and believable and it evolves, too, and it's not a thing that would leave you with distaste. Both Charles and Erik are adults here and Charles definitely knows what he’s doing even if he is forced to make some decisions because of the circumstances.
The boy with the heart on his sleeve by euphorbic
Charles/Erik | Words: 112163 (WIP!) | Explicit | Modern AU
Summary: Charles loses a high-stakes bet to Raven and is required to get a tattoo. However, when he makes a disparaging remark about the art form, Raven's acerbic mentor, Erik, steps in. Or, the one where Erik and Raven are tattoo artists.
Why I rec: What a great story! I love the idea of Erik being a tattoo-artist (and not just an avarage one, but a real style-developing artist!) and how precise are all the descriptions, the background and the people depicted in this story. Erik here is very intriguing and fascinating. Charles is infuriating (he is a total douche in this story) but also a good-hearted and troubled one underneath the arshole-behaviour. For once I love Raven and how sweet and multidimentional she is.
The writing style is quite clinacal and descriptive but it very much suits this story and allows to see the various shades of characters.
Warning: this story may make you want to get a tattoo rtfn. I desperately want my! I have been dreaming about it for years, true, but now I want the trash-polka black one Erik has, smth like this - lol at me).
No more tonight but I'm reading, reading! Will be back with more x-men and possibly Merlin.
Nine Eleven Ten by Subtilior
Charles/Erik | Words: 575000 (WIP!) | Explicit | Dystopia AU
Summary: Years later, Charles would remember that day. Sometimes he would wonder if he could have changed anything; other times he would despair over what he had since become. But he would always hold the image in his mind: Raven, laughing, and his thoughts flying alongside her on strong wings, silver-gold through the winter air. Once upon a time. More details, if desired, here. (Spoilers.)
Why I rec: I’ve been obsessed with this story for the last few weeks and I still cannot stop thinking about it! As usual, it’s really hard to write a review for something I truly loved, since no matter what I can say will do it justice.
I saw the amazing fanart by dwaroxxx here and ever since I was tempted to read this story. I was anxious about almost 600k monster of a fic though and a WIP on top of that…So I decided to just take a look and drop it. Oh, how naïve I was! :D This story has eaten my whole free time - both days and nights! I am in love with it, obsessed with it and I won't stop reading until it's done it seems! God, this is really a fantastic and fascinating one!
This is a post-apocalyptic universe in which nuclear bombs were unleashed in the 50s and every part of the world is in shreds. Countries are slowly rebuilding, the crimes of the WWII are forgotten because there are new ones, more horrid even, terrorist groups are organizing and the mutants are being captured and taken away. Young mutants are held in captivity by Frost in what used to be New York state. She trains them for war she takes part in. Charles is captured and the whole history begins.
The whole political and historical parts and the strategy for battles are well done, and I enjoyed how fictional characters are mixed with the real ones.
Charles is the main figure and the whole story is his POV. He is very real, very human, often annoying, with many faults but great heart. I love that he isn’t totally pure and flawless and that he does everything what he can to survive and protect those who he loves. Sometimes I wanted to shake him and scream "fuck you Charles don't do it - you promised, you little fox!!!"
The idea of telepathy here is done very differently to how it's usually done - more in a way like in the film "Cell" with Jennifer Lopez. When you enter someone's mind it's a representation - a real-looking-place and everyone has a different one, sometimes beautiful, sometimes horrid and dangerous. Whenever Charles enters someone's mind it's a little bit uncanny and even scary. Quite a fantastic description! Erik's mind in particular is bloody amazing. Bloody wow. Literally. A bit like Hell in "Constantine" <3
And Erik, oh Erik. I can't say how much I adore Erik in this one! I love how feral he is, how absolutely and hideously wild and very dangerous and cruel but so broken, probably beyond repair. I love how oblivious he is to everything that is good in the world, how he knows only killing and torture and doesn't get anything good.
I love Erik/Charles relationship here and how slowly it develops. The brutality is scary, yes, but I could see how it was necessary for the characters. Erik is a broken savage who needs to learn how to live and love again and what it means to be with someone. And Charles is a spoiled, debauched, clever one who's had his tough times in life, yes, but always made it out of them and now is in a situation in which he is not the one with the upper hand.
So many parts of this story made me cry - especially the parts related to Erik's past. And the last chapter, which I read with my heart clenched. Gosh.
I’d gladly read another 600k of this story. The plot is marvelous, the universe is mindblowing. I enjoyed my every minute of reading this :)
GAH!
PS. About the warnings: this fic has several serious warnings but for me it's not really triggering. There is dub-con or even non-con and rape but it's more a situation of prostitution or consensual sexual service than rape. There is one scene that is leading to rape but if you feel like you need reassurance I can give you some spoilers about this one. There is brutality and torture, also in between Erik and Charles but it's important for the plot and believable and it evolves, too, and it's not a thing that would leave you with distaste. Both Charles and Erik are adults here and Charles definitely knows what he’s doing even if he is forced to make some decisions because of the circumstances.
The boy with the heart on his sleeve by euphorbic
Charles/Erik | Words: 112163 (WIP!) | Explicit | Modern AU
Summary: Charles loses a high-stakes bet to Raven and is required to get a tattoo. However, when he makes a disparaging remark about the art form, Raven's acerbic mentor, Erik, steps in. Or, the one where Erik and Raven are tattoo artists.
Why I rec: What a great story! I love the idea of Erik being a tattoo-artist (and not just an avarage one, but a real style-developing artist!) and how precise are all the descriptions, the background and the people depicted in this story. Erik here is very intriguing and fascinating. Charles is infuriating (he is a total douche in this story) but also a good-hearted and troubled one underneath the arshole-behaviour. For once I love Raven and how sweet and multidimentional she is.
The writing style is quite clinacal and descriptive but it very much suits this story and allows to see the various shades of characters.
Warning: this story may make you want to get a tattoo rtfn. I desperately want my! I have been dreaming about it for years, true, but now I want the trash-polka black one Erik has, smth like this - lol at me).
No more tonight but I'm reading, reading! Will be back with more x-men and possibly Merlin.