Fic Clique

Summer is soon upon us, and with it comes something new for the pod; your hosts are taking a hiatus beyond our normal summer break. Though we will be leaving for a few months, like any good teacher we've assigned you all some homework in the interim! We promise it's all in good fun though, and we're also leaving you with some media reccomendations, activities, and thoughts about the future of the pod. We'll see you all in the fall with a fresh, fun, and updated version of Fic Clique podcast. 

In our 107th episode, your hosts are back to talk about three baller fics: "primped and polished till you glow with pride" by VagabondDawn (Mulan) @17:30, "A to Z (of the Universe)" by Nope (NASA Visions of the Future Posters) @42:21, and "i'll tell them put me back in it" by yeahitshowed (Agatha All Along) @1:12:36. While this episode has no formal theme, it sure does celebrate women and feminine expressions of desire! Come listen to this femslash-heavy episode as we discuss filial duty, unexpected genre fusions, and fiction as a site for the unveiling of subconscious needs and desires.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts (re)discuss "The End of All Things," by Telanu (The Devil Wears Prada) @12:15, "Worldwide Lonesome," by loindexter (BTS) @45:42, and "A Cornstalk Fiddle," by notbecauseofvictories (Devil Went Down to Georgia @1:22:09. We are constantly talking about the cyclical nature of things on the podcast, a phenomenon of life from which we are not exempt! Our passion for previous fics discussed on the pod has us re-examining some old favorites in a new light. With distance and some new perspectives we were able to find commonalities through all three fics of sacrifice, inversions of tropes, and expectations of who you're supposed to be.

In today's episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Astronauts" by HawkinsLocal (The Bear) @16:33, "Harder for You, of Course" by pendrecarc (Think of England by KJ Charles) @44:09, and "Hero of Another Story" by Banhus (D&D Honor Among Thieves) @1:12:11. This classic three-fic format episode has no formal theme. It does, however, contain lots of informal passion as we create a beautiful and unique collaborative narrative, debate the mystery genre, and consider diction and detail as functions of POV.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Live From New York," by varnes (The Untamed/MDZS). We are back with another longer fic discussion, Ficlets! For your consideration, we present a Saturday Night Live AU full of laughs, heart, petty revenge, and sketches with multiple meanings. Join us as our discussion meanders from considering the premise and casting of each character to an iconic central slowburn romance and beyond. Alternate titles include: "His Angry Eyebrows Bring Flavor," "Gross, Charming, Wonderful, and Disgusting!" "I'm the Anti-Macklemore," and "She Learns How to be Bacon."

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "give me your hand, darling," by Omcree (Critical Role) @12:51, "Competition," by astolat (Game of Thrones) @42:28, and "The Downsides to a Secret Identity," by liodain (DCEU) @1:11:02. In this (slightly belated) Valentine's Day episode, we got granular with our focus and narrowed in on three variations of one romance trope-- [blank] to lovers. Looking at the different permutations let us identify some of the key elements we love most in these types of fics, and what draws us in as individuals. Be you a friend, an enemy, or something in between, there's a path towards love for you in this episode.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "The fox who can never be caught," by ionthesparrow (Top Gun Movies) @16:41, "Ammurapi, King of Ugarit," by the_alchemist (Late Bronze Age Collapse RPF, Hamlet) @46:32, and "Homecoming," by jellyfisheries (Ocean's Echo) @1:15:16. In this episode, your hosts explore how to navigate complex family relationships, the synchronicty of two tragedies coming together, and what expressions of vulnerability and trust can look like.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "The One Coming Back for You," by orphan_account (Teen Wolf) @15:41, "Blue on Blue," by Lindentreeisle (Sherlock) @42:05, and "all the world's a stage," by Abagail_Snow (Hunger Games) @1:13:23. Ficlets, did you keep your party hats on from last episode in anticipation of Nic's birthday? Well take them off, this is a solemn affair. In true Host Nic fashion, all three fics this week shared common themes of grief, trauma, and a home that will never be the same.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "5:35 pm" by belldamn (White Collar) @13:13, "Tintagel," by seperis (BBC Merlin) @43:18, and "The Curious Incident of Eduardo in the Night-Time," by jibrailis (The Social Network) @1:09:07. In this special birthday edition of Fic Clique, we're kicking off the year by celebrating Brenna & her fandoms of yore! We also perform a roast, talk about the urge to recreate a once-in-a-lifetime feeling, and do some investigative journalism into the prevalence of Tuesday time loops.

It's the end of another turn around the sun! As we come to the end of 2024, it's time for yet another minisode during which we can look both backward and forward (much like owls). Ficlets, join us as we review our years as well as our bingo cards, discuss our favorite fics of the year that didn't make it to the pod, and make grand and perhaps impossible plans to take over the world in the months to come.  Alternate titles include: “Mantra: I'm So There,” “Who Even is Joshua?” and “The Platonic Ideal of Fandom” 

In this episode-turned-minisode-turned new format, your hosts revisit their annual rec exchange with a new twist. Focusing in on the tropes of our respective gifted fics, we examined the optics of being a professional shipper, keeping your cards close to your chest, and the inevitability of fanfiction itself.  Alternate titles include: "The Chef's Special," "The Plate Tectonics of Fandom," and "I Only Know the Way of the Chalant" 

In this minisode, your hosts reprise their award-winning (citation needed) panel at Geek Girl Con 2024, wherein they discussed patterns of fannish migration and many of the factors that cause, influence, and direct these migratory paths. Come for the semiotics and reflections on what makes certain fandoms so compelling, stay for the discussions of Young Sheldon and the close encounters with various squares on the 2024 Fic Clique bingo card.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss “kintsukuroi,” by tomorrowsrain (Naruto) @21:55, “freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose,” by synecdochic (Stargate Atlantis) @53:00, and “The Fisher-Prince,” by roachpatrol & urbanAnchorite (Homestuck) @1:22:49.  It's No Knowledge November! This themed episode your hosts forayed into three popular fandoms we all were unfamiliar with it. Through this uncertain territory we found familiar themes of mentoring the next generation, holding grief for your past life, and navigating foreign ways of relating to one another.  

In this episode of Fic Clique, it's once again Halloween! For this horror special, we've decided to mix things up, so prepare to expect the unexpected and navigate some treacherous, touching, and nightmarish stories alongside your hosts. Join us for a thrilling chat that covers topics such as: where to find custom embroidered robes, how to muster the courage to ask about the contents of a punch bowl, and when it's a bad idea to kick rocks. Sfx sourced from Pixabay. "Baroque Noble Party" music is by @MichaelGhelfiStudios 

In this episode, your hosts discuss "You have [1] New Message," by torikabori (Star Trek AOS). Happy fifth anniversary to you all and to us, ficlets! Thank you as ever for joining us on this journey. This anniversary episode contains both fic discussion and reflections on the state of the show, as well as a dad of the pod lore drop, pitch for a new fannish term, and return to our roots.

In this minisode, your fearless hosts reflect on our own personal reading trends, books that may have started as fics, and offer some bespoke book recommendations for lovers of certain fics we've brought to the pod! Let's read, baby!

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Upside Down," by redbrickrose (Inside Out) @16:07, "Thick as Thieves," by robotboy (Black Sails) @42:21, and "sinking/synching," by radicchio (SVT RPF) @1:07:40. Reflections on personhood are at the core of this episode, with fics that consider what it means to be at the wheel of your own identity, how far you can or cannot stray from a predestined narrative, and refractions of ambition as a means of character work. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "the goosekeeper game," by offlight (The Untamed) @18:19, "Mercy and Augustine's Cake Simulator!," by reconditarmonia (The Locked Tomb) @47:39, and "suppose you are returning," by desmodus (Fire Emblem Three Houses) @1:16:18. Grab your controllers and get ready to lock in because Reid's birthday episode this year is all about video games. In the intersection of interactive fiction and video game canon itself, we found rich narratives that traverse genres and create potential for some true magic.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Wittenberg Days," by norah (Hamlet) @14:08, "bend and sway," by tciddaemina (Legend of Zelda) @41:33, and "Empress of Sand and Water," by Sheeana (Dune) @1:09:17. Ficlets, we heard your delight at our previous Dune June episode and your clamors for more, and we are here to deliver! This time around we tried to pick fics a little more connected to our source material, with overlapping themes of destiny, power, and the role of fate.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "And Harder Still to Make Noise," by sophiahelix (The Office) @18:13, "Death Insurance," by Nimori (Discworld) @47:45, and "a romantic fool," by spqr (Challengers Movie) @1:11:09. The sun is out, summer is here, and Fic Clique pod is bringing you three hot and fresh fic discussions to enjoy. The relationships in these stories encompass a wide array of dynamics; from quiet loneliness, to mutually beneficial gain, to something both sexy and a little messed up.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "most times a wish," by impossibletruths (The Untamed) @17:41, "the red dark shifting," by typefortydeductions (The Untamed) @45:38, and "蓝色生死恋; a blue love (to live and to die for)," by yiqie (The Untamed) @1:14:01. We are once again introducing a new series to the pod, and as you may have realized it involves bringing three fics for the same fandom! We're starting this series with a focus on The Untamed. In these works we found common throughlines of grief, the things you can no longer hide from one another, and the infallible truth that Wangxian invented love. Alternate titles include: "Whoops! All Wangxian," "Repression and Undying Devotion," and "Rolling in the Mud For 1,000 Years"

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "take the hidden paths that run (towards the moon or to the sun)," by erroneous_hedgehog (Wayward Children Series, Chronicles of Narnia) @ 8:43, "we could jump the state lines (we only get the one life)," by notcaycepollard (Captain America) @ 35:14, and "home is an anchor," by Marks (Sk8 the Infinity) @ 1:08:09. Travel with us along the many varied paths of fanfiction, as we voyage through discussions of the things you lose in childhood, avenues for characterization from fragmented canon, and setting as a means to reframe interpersonal dynamics. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "The Malteser Falcon," by Toft (Great British Bake Off) @15:22, "Threat as Greeting," by FlipSpring (Murderbot Diaries) @43:08, and "you and her loathing this cruel world," by thememoriesfire (Glee) @1:09:00. On your marks... get set... go! Right into this episode, where we cover the stylings of noir as a genre, how fic formats can be in service of character work, and one host's unfortunate first blorb.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Everything About It Is a Love Song," by pocky_slash (X-Men First Class) @10:56, "i am here like there is sky and there is air," by Lauren (Welcome to Nightvale) @37:28, and "The End of All Things," by Telanu (Devil Wears Prada) @1:04:29. While we don't quite tell the youths to get off our lawn in this episode, we have put a spotlight on older characters! These authors explored characters later in life; and we explored what one is willing to give up to be happy, the vastness of the universe, and an excellent example of tension and dread woven through a fic.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "on that dizzy edge," by littledata (Warrior Nun) @17:14, "Applied Heresy," by Kaesa (His Dark Materials) @44:27, and "A Country Mile," by bropunzeling (England Series - K.J. Charles) @1:12:38.  This unintentionally themed episode is all about WOMEN!! It's also about what makes a friends to lovers arc satisfying, morally flawed yet still compelling protagonists, and how to play off reader expectations within a genre. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Rubicon," by merionettes (FE3H). Ficlets, have you readied your hearts and minds to consider the epics highs and lows of professional ice dancing? If you haven't, now's the time to get on board with our latest addition to the For Your Consideration series! This hearty sports AU builds its rich world with questions about identity and self worth, deep and varied friendships, and a too-real stan twitter presence. Alternate titles include: "Harnessing His Natural Ennui," "I Have Some Conception of What a Twizzle Is," and "Slam Dunked Me into the Court"

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "A Needle, A Thread," by jibrailis (Queen's Thief) @14:24, "r/severed," by curtaincall (Severance) @40:05, and "Ten Degrees Below Zero," by kianspo (Star Trek: AoS) @1:06:08.  This episode promises gourd-shredding conversations about extraordinary moments in ordinary lives, stories built around the things you can't talk about, and the satisfaction of a well-plotted mystery. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Victory Lane," by astolat (Fast & Furious) @16:03, "all to play for," by linearity (F1 RPF) @44:22, and "Millstone: Director's Cut," by jolach (RTAH RPF) @1:17:34. In the spirit of Valentine's Day and with love on our mind, your hosts came together with one unifying theme: fast cars. Yes there's also discussion about trope executions alongside romance in plot-heavy fics, but mostly we're here for the cars. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "the place where cities and starscapes collide," by jublis (Jujustu Kaisen) @17:20, "just what i needed, too," by beethechange (BFU RPF) @45:03, and "The Blues Run the Game," by coyotesuspect (Hustlers Movie) @1:11:49. Fanfiction is often know for its happy endings, but what if everything wasn't wrapped up so neatly? For Nic's birthday episode we take a look at open & ambiguous endings, and specifically how the intersection of meta and fic narratives can shape our understandings of those endings.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "you'll never see the end of the road (while you're travelling with me)," by Eirwyn (Critical Role C1) @23:09, "The Polyphonic Tides of Revolution," by defractum (Les Mis) @47:56, and "we must unlearn the constellations to see the stars," by lacecat (Black Sails) @1:14:54. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen ye scallywags, we're off to sail the seas for Brenna's birthday! This episode is for seasoned sailors and landlubbers alike as we plunder the varied treasures that pirate narratives can hold, from allegories about queerness & monstrosity, to what stories we tell ourselves and others about who we are.

The end of the year brings with it yet another Year in Review minisode! We reflect on life changes we experienced in 2023, favorite media moments both fandom and not, and some fic higlights from this past year of Fic Clique. We also talk about hostile living environments, takes that might get us cancelled, and a ficlet potentially living in our walls. We hope this minisode finds you well, and we'll see you in the new year!  Alternate titles include: "My Old Woman Energy," "Fun Fresh New Horrors," and "It's Worse Than The Onceler" 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "sacrificial lamb (self-proclaimed)," by flemeth (Locked Tomb) @10:12, "voyages," by junos (SVT RPF) @36:14, and "leave no space," by linearity (Formula 1 RPF) @1:05:01. It's that time of year again where your hosts gather 'round and swap fic recs! While we always enjoy our host rec exchange, we think we really knocked it out of the park this year. If you enjoy the community efforts of fandom, AUs as a vehicle for character study, or how the burden of legacy can weigh on someone, you'll love this episode too.

In this episode, your hosts discuss "Honey and Wounds," by earlybloomingparentheses (Sherlock Holmes) @11:39, "they will us waving from such great heists," by laiqualaurelote (Ted Lasso) @37:54, and "la petite mort," by howlingmoonrise (Barbie, Dracula) @1:03:22. With a range of fanfictions for you to enjoy this episode, our topics include reconciling different versions of someone across a lifetime, the absolute joy of perfectly executed tropes, and the various natures of immortality.

In this minisode, your hosts present their panel from Geek Girl Con 2023: Genre and Subgenre in Fanfiction! We had so much fun crafting & presenting our panel that we wanted to immortalize it for you all. This somewhat more formal minisode takes a look at how genre & subgenre function in both published literature and fanfiction, with some key talking points covering romance as the foundation for fic, genre fusions, and our pitch for what "fic genre" entails.

In this fic, your hosts discuss "quelled and quenched in leaves," by Senri (Stardew Valley) @9:04, "red, and a little more red," by atwater (F1 RPF) @33:52, and "practical magic," by notspring (SHINee RPF) @1:04:31.  In this Halloween-themed episode, your hosts trick-or-treated through a delightful neighborhood of Ficlet recommendations and uncovered beautiful and mysterious truths about cycles of life, the nature of a haunting, and what to do when a guy infuriates you but man are his arms beautiful. Join us as we celebrate this charming holiday with a plethora of sub-10k fics, and perhaps also as we locate its true meaning.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "A Temporary Fix," by bosgood (Untamed) @10:41, "No Reservations: Narnia," by Edonohana (Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations RPF, Chronicles of Narnia) @41:07, and "A Wee Monster Problem," by isis (Witcher) @1:01:00. Would you like to have your heart ripped out via melancholic fanfiction? Explore a love of food as an avenue for culture? Bear witness to two co-hosts absolutely obliterating the good name of their third co-host? Whether you said yes to any of these questions or not, you should listen to this episode!

As one season tips into another, so too does Fic Clique make the transition into another year of podcasting with our fourth anniversary!! This episode features us finally getting our act (somewhat) together, loving and appreciating the ficlets, and witnessing a multi-award winning performance from host Brenna. There are never enough words to describe how truly grateful we are for you all joining and supporting us on this ride, but know from the bottom of our hearts that we love you. Here's to another year of fanfiction and wack nonsense.

In this episode, your hosts discuss "Maybe the Truth," by aceaceaceace (SHINee RPF). We hope you're enjoying our new "For Your Consideration" series, because we're back with another installment! It's easy to see why host Brenna championed this fic, as we all really enjoyed the smart authorial choices, realistic portrayals of the human experience, and multiplicity of truth that this story had to offer. Alternate titles include: "See If I Ever Validate You Again," "Don't Be a Coward, Read the OCs," and "Making a Gay Guy Happy Is So Ally of Me"

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "And Then We Shot the Ox," by coltsbane (Oregon Trail) @9:53, "RICHIE TOZIER IS...THE COMEBACK CLOWN," by owlinaminor & tinypersonhotel (IT) @35:52, and "it walks among us," by strangehunger (She-Ra) @1:02:58. This episode features lots of unintentional throughlines between our fics, from literalized video game mechanics to the many sides of someone's persona to delightfully clever twist endings.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Distraction Management," by sinsense (Semantic Error) @17:02, "Her Heart is a River," by angelan (Six of Crows) @43:00, and "Ere," by audreycritter (The Queen's Thief) @1:07:13. When there's someone you care deeply about and you need to talk to them, how do you communicate? Is it via a series of increasingly unhinged text messages? Letters where much is left unsaid? Stilted conversations in royal bedchambers? The fics of this episode offer you a plethora of really viable and useful options to explore in your own life.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Le Cirque Des Souvenirs," by AirgiodSLV, CompassRose, Ellejabell, epaulettes, kitkat50311, mahons_ondine, minnapods, & sisi_rambles (The Night Circus) @15:15, "gone to ground," by merionettes (FE3H) @44:25, and "if you would only let you," by gdgdbaby (Untamed RPF) @1:11:56. Your hosts have returned from their annual spring/summer break and we're ready to party, so put on a festive shirt and let's get celebrating with Reid's birthday episode! Alongside a lovely guest of the pod, we discuss creation for the pure joy of it, implicit trust in relationships, and the unstoppable train that is life.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Restitutio ad integrum," by AirgiodSLV (Locked Tomb) @12:26, "Life is Very Long," by Vamillepudding (Untamed) @38:21, and "A Cornstalk Fiddle," by notbecauseofvictories (Devil Went Down to Georgia) @1:00:34.  Your hosts debated starting drama with each other this episode, but instead decided it would be better to discuss humor in dramatic irony, music as a source of soulfulness, and the cruellest thing Nic has ever said to Reid. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "give me a tempest," by Klavier (SVT RPF).  Welcome to the start of a brand new series here on the pod: For Your Consideration! Similar to our Fandom Classic episodes, this series aims to take a look at one fic in a fandom that we think has the makings of a Fandom Classic without quite having obtained that status yet.  We could not have picked a better fic to kickstart this new series, as this delight of a romcom premise takes us through a story rich with impressive setting work, fantastic friendships, and dynamic protagonists living authentic human experiences.  Alternate titles include: "Be Gay Do Crimes Commit Marriage Fraud," and "Oops! In Love with My Fake Husband" 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "you can change right next to me," by simonlorden (Jolene) @15:00, "the love stories we share around starfires," (F1 RPF) @41:27, and "any greenness is deeper than anyone knows," (OTGW) @1:07:48 This episode is packed with journeys of all kinds, from growth & self discovery to apocalyptic roadtrips to beastly fairytale woods. Watch your step - it's a twisting and unfamiliar path out there. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Chapter 7.5," by ionthesparrow (Murderbot Diaries) @18:25, "Psychopompeii," by Eastling (Ancient Pompeii Graffiti) @44:00, and "...and a partridge in a pear tree," by strangehunger (The Locked Tomb) @1:06:30.  Take a break from the weight of the world with these three lovely fics, and the ensuing discussions on otherness, marks of human existence, and laugh-out-loud humorous prose. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "bad coffee & lemon bars," by abillionstars (Haikyuu) @11:00, "Strange Bedfellows," by orphan_account & ravenclawsquill (Harry Potter) @36:25, and "obliged to defend every love, every ending," by shinealightonme (Raven Cycle) @1:03:26. Caaaaan you feel the love tonight? It is where we are... and is also the theme(ish) of this episode! For this belated Valentine's Day ep, your hosts are here to deliver some classic romance tropes. In addition to tropey delights, we chat about ensemble casts, incisive fic choices, and Brenna's gripes with fiction authors.

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Days & Years," by hkafterdark (SHINEe RPF) @15:22, "A Field Guide to Common Birds in New York City," by Toft (Person of Interest) @40:41, and "sing each song twice over," by uraneia (Hockey RPF) @1:05:15. For such an auspicious episode number, we thought of a really nice (haha, wink) theme for you all. Whether or not our discussions actually pertain to it, however, is perhaps up for debate. Still, we hope you enjoy the themes of second chances, finding unspoken ways to voice your needs, and good fictional therapists. 

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "like the stars right here (director's cut)," by unconscious (SKZ RPF) @12:33, "Meditations," by Chantress, greedy_dancer, Jet_pods, LenaLawlipop & TheLordOfLaMancha (Witcher) @50:32, and "hunters seeking solid ground" by Attila (The Untamed) @1:16:23.  Keep those party hats on and get ready to enter Aquarius season with Nic's birthday episode! Featuring another wonderful guest of the pod, this episode explores how you have to work for your happy ending, the unfiltered joy of fandom creations, and the fantasy of perfect comfort. 

In this episode your hosts discuss "Victory Condition," by astolat (Transformers) @11:19, "betty cooper - runs in the family," by taylor xoxo (Riverdale Fanvid) @52:52, and "A Month of Sundays," by Kelfin (Hockey RPF) @1:18:29. You already know what time it is— that's right, Brenna's birthday episode is back and better than ever baby. With three certified bangers of fanworks, we explore the subjectiveness of truth, feminine violence and repression, and the gulf between internal and external personas. This episode also features our first ever guest of the pod!

Another year has come to a close, if you can even believe it. Before we get into all the great things Fic Clique has coming in the future, we first take a moment to appreciate what this year has encompassed for the pod. We look back at our reading habits, some favorite fics from this past year's catalogue, and reflect on goals both achieved and yet to come.  Alternate titles include: "Heartbroken Over Some Random Australian Man," "Having a Two Track Mind," and "It's Fun to Be a Hater"

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "all i want" by young legends (LOONA) @12:24, "Jeffery Nullier's 'Man with Fedora'" by copperbadge (White Collar) @40:59, and "Once and Future" by oliviacirce (Arthurian Mythology) @1:08:38.  Your hosts got into the spirit of giving with our third annual host rec exchange! We had a lot of fun exploring themes of genuine connection, identity & authenticity, and stories that exist in perpetuity.