EXCHANGE INTERFACE

So, I wrote two fics - one assignment, one treat.

They're pretty obvious when all's said and done.

Shiny And Dark
He doesn't kiss and tell; that's how he got this assignment.

This was my assignment for toucanpie and I'm not entirely happy with it. It's a Maria/Steve, BDSM World AU - namely, everyone has an orientation whether it's public or private - but still set pretty much in the Intelligence world of SHIELD/MCU. I wrote an extra 2K of sex, but I wasn't entirely convinced that it worked in the context of the story. (Yes, yes, I know, context of story is basically THEY HAVE SEX, but I wanted a something a little more and it's not quite.)

There were other options - the ones that interested me most were Canon AU – Prisoner(s)/Test Subject(s) of SHIELD and Canon AU - Role Reversal, and a possible Skye/Ward AU - Jaegers idea, but I couldn't complete those in time. I will, however. I think they would have been better options.

And the Role Reversal one was going to feature an ace Steve Rogers for beatrice_otter, but, yeah, didn't happen. (Sorry, hon.)

--

Between Destiny And Love
Maria Hill meets Clint Barton on her first mission as a full-fledged SHIELD agent, reared, geared, and ready to rumble. He walks with a swagger as most male operatives do, and she prepares to be paternalised as most female operatives are.
Sometimes love is complicated.

Pairings are Maria/Clint, Maria/Steve, and Clint/Laura. Plus, it's a Soulmarks AU, Age of Ultron compliant, and there's no cheating.

So, I'm skimming through the treats spreadsheet, basically looking to treat anyone who asked for Maria as a character. The shortlist is short, because most participants like Maria - only not that much.

And scribble_myname's request pops up - except she's asked for Maria/Clint which isn't one of my pairings and Clint's paired up in canon already...and then somehow, my brain comes up with the idea of "what if Maria and Clint are soulmates that can't be together?" And next thing I know, I'm 2.5K in and cursing this bunny which has invaded my brain.

I'm pretty satisfied with this one.

--

In spite of the generally tawdry treatment of Soulmark AUs, I'm deciding I rather like them, but not your straight up 'find your mate, live happily ever after' type; the kind that have complications and twists and maybe a little bit of heartache (but still a happy ending).

I also started a Soulmarks AU for galfridian because she asked for Maria/Steve, and I would have liked to write a Black Jewels AU for hiddencait because she was the only other person to ask for Black Jewels AU - even if I have no idea how to work Bucky/Jemma into it, but, alas, time...

So I've submitted "The Right Hand Knows Not" as my wipbigbang story.

*shivers*

I'm in the middle of Sokovia, Suburbia, and the Senate and this is not a short story (although it might be a bit boring; it's almost entirely domestic). Actually, none of my stories lately are turning out to be short.

I've just posted the next chapter of The Odd Couple and TBH, right now I'm trying to work out exactly where that one ends...

AUGH SO MUCH WRITING.

I have at least one quilt to quilt tomorrow - this one:



I'd do the art quilt with it's big, empty, complicated negative space, but I'm not sure how my leg will cope with that much quilting:



I'm not sure how my leg will cope with as much quilting as I'll be doing tomorrow... *sigh*

Anyway, I was going to post the rest of The Odd Couple for "Captain Hill Week 2015" but I think I'll finish off one of the myriad other fics I've got for them, and just try to complete The Odd Couple in the next week or two...

Okay, three choices for mcu_au and I need to decide. My first option might be complicated in terms of needing to explain all the bits in between, my second one is complicated in terms of needing to rationalise how it's going to work, and my third choice is essentially smut. Which is more difficult than one might think.

*sigh*

This is mildly out of left field, but I’m starting to wonder.

What if the Steve-pairing endgame in the movies really were Maria/Steve?

( yes, yes, I know, it's ridic, but WHAT IF? Hear me out! )

The Odd Couple @ AO3

More characters: Rhodey, Wanda, and a touch of Vision.

Three options for unconventionalcourtship:

1. Wife For A Week: High profile businesswoman Maria needs a fake boyfriend to keep Wade Wilson at bay while negotiating a buy-out; Pepper Potts suggests Steve Rogers, a friend who's in need of a distraction. On the surface, it seems like the perfect solution, and at first it all works without a hitch. Unfortunately, there's such a thing as being too successful: things are going so well that their friends start believing the lie...and if they're not careful, they might start believing it, too!

2. Nothing But The Best: Returning to New York after a long stint undercover, Maria Hill discovers her connecting flight has been cancelled leaving her stuck in the city. Attacked on her way to the hotel, a stranger steps in to help - unnecessary, but appreciated. Usually, she'd just say 'thanks' and walk away, but something about him catches her interest. He's struggling with huge life changes, she's looking for a connection - if only for a night. And then next morning, Maria Hill walks into the New York office and discovers her one night stand was with SHIELD's hottest new property: Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America.

3. Down On The Farm: Steve Rogers has been sent to 'rusticate' out at Phil's Farm while the music scene cools down after what should have been a harmless fling went very badly south. He expects to be worked hard and he's not afraid of that, what he doesn't expect is to meet a childhood crush. Maria Hill has been out of the music scene for nearly ten years, after the rock'n'roll lifestyle killed her cousin - the other half of their pop duo. She doesn't expect one of the current music scene's hottest stars to remember her; she also doesn't expect to fall in love with him. But she's not about to try to keep him down on the farm, and she has no wish to go back to Paree...

From scribble_myname, but also seen with several others on LJ!

You know that meme that goes around sometimes where you post your five favorite kinks and then five favorite couples, and it's like a wish into the universe to see if anybody will write it for you? Let's make it a little more interactive.

Comment here if you want to play, and I will give you 3-6 couples that I associate with you, and you make an entry in your journal talking about those couples and fics that you wish the universe would write for you.

The easiest thing to say that I want for these three pairings is what I consider an accurate depiction of the characters in-canon, with thought to who they are, what they are, and how their situation would affect their interactions with each other.

Mako/Raleigh

I haven't read much in this fandom lately, but there was some really good stuff in it back in the day.

These days, if I was looking for a fic for them, I'd want a post-movie, getting-together relationship fic complete with surrounding cast of thousands hundreds, the media blitz, fame, fortune, and learning the little things about each other, not necessarily about sex.

Insta-compatibility with the Drift is all very well, but I do like the stories about relationships, their development, how they cope with each other in the small things and the big, the good times and the bad.

For better or for worse.


Maria/Steve

The fandom on these two tends fluffy. Like FLUFFY-FLUFFY-NORMAL. Which, yes, can sometimes be cute (when done right, and when it's about the interactions) but fails to include the reasons why I like them as a pairing so much in the first place.

And I really want the "Civil War" fic in the MCU where it's Steve vs Tony for the professional aspect, but Steve vs Maria for the personal aspect. I'm just going to copypasta from my Tumblr entry about it:

Steve sees it as a betrayal of trust: this is what he is, and if she can’t trust that, then they don’t have any business being in a relationship. Maria’s problem is that she trusts Steve not to abuse his power, it’s all the other unknowns that they can’t just leave loose. And, too, she’s seen the files about the type of people who got sent to the Fridge: too much power, not half enough conscience. But Steve doesn’t get that he’s the exception; but they can’t make rules that the exceptions don’t have to follow - they have to make rules for everyone and work inside those spaces.

link

Basically it gets messy and it gets hard and they split and things are bad but - and this is important - they still love each other even when they're arguing, even when they're on different sides.

I know it's totally de trop these days to care about anyone who differs even slightly from you on any matter ("UNFRIEND! UNFRIEND!") but I really like seeing two people who have very strong opinions on different matters respect each other. It doesn't happen very often - in fiction or in RL.

And, of course, they resolve it in the end (common enemy) even if they don't agree on how to manage 'the superhero situation'.

Yes, I could write it myself, but sometimes one wants to read someone else's take on it, you know?


Maria/Bucky

I'm still in the 'I want to know' phase for this pairing. I want to read about how they meet, how they develop a relationship, how Bucky can be charming on top and completely borked underneath, and Maria can be functional at the professional level and very dysfunctional in her personal relationships, but they work each other out, and they work at the relationship and it all turns out okay (those crazy kids).

With extra added yenta humour - not the crass "trying to hook them up" kind of humour so prevalent in fics, but the subtle "are you asking me for advice on how to deal with him/her? Because, you know, I'm happy to give it" kind of thing. And the advice is not stereotypical, standard, or crass in any way, shape or form.

Actually, in any of these three pairings, I want fewer of the crude trope material and more subtle, nuanced interpretations - things that give them depth and development, and take them to places unexpected and quite pleasing (once you've gotten used to the scenery).

--

Okay, your turn (if you haven't already played, or if you have, and you want more options).

I don't have my computer back just yet, but I think I can answer this one without notes. :)

dhampyresa asked: ( Why do you ship Maria/Steve? Any other Maria pairings you like? )

tl;dr: She's a cool-headed stoic with a deadly aim, he's a hero questioning his place in the world; together, THEY FIGHT CRIME!

Fandom: MCU
Title: Steal My Kisses
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Relationships: Steve Rogers/Maria Hill
Additional Tags: kisses, Developing Relationship, Missing Scenes
Summary: He's ninety-five, not dead.
Notes: Basically 'five times Steve Rogers kissed Maria Hill' which was requested of me by someone long before CA2 came out, but which only gained plotbunny traction after the movie. I had four...well, actually, I had five, but I didn't like the fifth quite so much. And then I wrote this silly little PDA excerpt...and it got a good reception on tumblr and fit at the end of the others and... This is how things happen around here...

Seeing as it's the week that Captain America: The Winter Soldier comes out in cinemas through Australia and the US, I thought I'd pimp a couple of my favourite Maria/Steve fics.

There aren't very many of them. 118 works on AO3 under the Steve/Maria pairing tag.

And that's including all the stories in which it's a secondary pairing, or the ones which could be subtitled 'Everyone's Paired With Someone, Oh Look, There's Nobody For Steve, Let's Put In A Reference To Maria Hill' or 'I'm Writing This Slash Pairing With Steve But We Need Him To Fail The Heterosexuality Test'. And, of course, the 'Let's Infect Maria With Pollen And Have Her Throw Herself At Guys Who Aren't Interested For Laughs' story. (There's only one. Thank God.)

Of those 118 works, I've written 36. That's over 25% of the Steve/Maria fics on AO3. At one point, I'd written nearly 50%. That was a truly terrifying point in time - the realisation that I was fuelling this ship all on my lonesome.

It's gotten better since then.

Chiseled Out Of Brick – brandywine421

He was a grown man, hell, he was a superhero. Asking a girl out for a drink wasn't that hard. It wasn't rocket science or espionage or math or divine intervention - it was just asking a girl a question. Out loud.

If I had any complaint about this story, it's that the ending didn't quite finish on the strong note I was hoping for. However, the rest of the story is A-plus on the characterisation, story development, and relationship dynamic.

Basically, how Steve and Maria start off being fuck buddies and kind of fall in love along the way to managing the Avengers, rescuing Bucky, and keeping Maria from getting killed.

I have a thing for the stories where the Avengers come around to being on Maria's team; the ones where they don't trust her any more than she trusts them, but they get to it in the end. And this one is a doozy from start to finish, while showing exactly how awesome and BAMFy Maria is.

The introduction of Bucky is beautifully tense – die-hard Clintashas will have to read it through one eye squinting: it's Natasha/Bucky with a side-serving of past Clint/Coulson, but it's still pretty damn good.

She's written a sequel where Steve and Maria have a baby; which is self-confessed fluff all the way.


can't carve a whistle by irnan

Maria Hill's never found it easy to explain why she became a SHIELD agent, but she knows why she stays one.

This is the story that started it all off for me – and, I suppose, therefore started it off for a lot of other people, since I seem to have converted a bunch of people to Maria/Steve over the last two years.

I went looking for fic about Maria Hill, and this was one of the few that had her listed immediately after the pairings list. Most of the time, she appeared after all the Avengers, Nick, Phil, Darcy Lewis, and assorted other characters.

It's fairly safe to say that 'A Woman Of Edges' and 'Give A Girl A Moment' both had significant roots in this story.

I liked the idea of Maria having a family: people to ground her, to give her that anchor to why she's doing this – something personal. (And I'm tired of heroes/heroines who have no family attachments. At all. There's a rant in here about liminal heroes, but I'll leave that for another post.) The scene in 'A Woman Of Edges' where Steve meets Maria's family took a few cues from the scene in here where Maria's family meets Tony Stark. And Maria's conversation with Steve about the nature of their work is echoed in her thoughts on personal responsibility in 'Give A Girl A Moment And She'll Take You For All You've Got'.

Sadly, irnan only ever wrote two Steve/Maria fics, and the Steve/Maria was more of an incidental side thing than an actual focus on their relationship.


there is nothing like a dame by Anonymous

Very loosely based on an avengerkink prompt that wished for Steve going down on all the USO girls. Somehow it ended up being more about the road to Steve going down on all the USO girls, how he learned to pleasure a woman, and how these skills do not go unused in the twenty-first century.

First note: Not everyone will be able to read this fic, the author has restricted it – presumably only to AO3 users (there's a little padlock next to the anon'd author).

It's Steve/Maria and Steve/OFC – lots of Steve/OFC, in fact, and basically about how Steve gets his sexual education before he becomes Captain America and how he and Maria end up in a relationship. It's hot, it's pretty cute, and even if the author hasn't labelled it Steve/Maria, there's definitely an element whereby they're developing an actual relationship – even if that relationship is only 'fuckbuddies'. An excellent smutfic.

It's kind of nice to have people I can stocking-stuff for in my favourite pairings!

Three small fics:

Permissions And Apologies (300 words) by tielan
Fandom: Pacific Rim (2013)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Mako Mori/Raleigh Becket
Characters: Mako Mori, Raleigh Becket
Additional Tags: First Time, Oral Sex, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Marking, Whipping, Light Domme/sub
Summary:
The first time Mako has sex with Raleigh Becket, it’s...vanilla. Mostly.

Crazy Little Thing Called... (449 words) by tielan
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Maria Hill/Steve Rogers
Characters: Maria Hill, Steve Rogers
Summary:
They're too pretty to die.

Not An Act, But A Habit (1404 words) by tielan
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: James "Rhodey" Rhodes & Tony Stark, Bruce Banner & Jennifer Walters, Natasha Romanoff & Monica Chang, Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes, Thor & Sif, Clint Barton & Kate Bishop
Characters: Maria Hill, James "Rhodey" Rhodes, Bruce Banner, Natasha Romanoff, Steve Rogers, Thor (Marvel), Sif (Marvel), Clint Barton, Kate Bishop
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Jaegers
Summary:
She’s the voice in their helmets; the one thing outside the Jaeger of which they can be sure. And while the Marshal gives the orders, and the Jaegers fight the kaiju, the LOCCENT Chief keeps everything going. That's her job.