Fic Recs: Terrific Time Loops

For International Fanworks Day, I'm posting a few themed rec lists! To start with, here are my favorite time loop fics – a list that might have been better posted on Groundhog Day:

Tiān Guān Cì Fú:
a long day in yong an (66k) by ThreePlums

Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: 天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 天官赐福 | Heaven Official's Blessing (Cartoon)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Huā Chéng/Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú)
Characters: Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Huā Chéng (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Bái Wúxiàng, Ruòyé (Tiān Guān Cì Fú)
Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Whump, Claustrophobia, Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts, Awkward Flirting, Coming In Pants, Shame, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Flashbacks, Guoshi Grave, Blood and Gore, Time Loop, Misunderstandings, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Anxiety, Guilt, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting
Summary:

"Gege," San Lang calls, his voice oddly strained. He isn't looking at Xie Lian's face, his eyes instead fixed pointedly over his shoulder. "You remember me?"

Xie Lian takes a few tentative steps closer. "Of course," he says cautiously. "How could I forget San Lang so easily?"

"But you said," he croaks, and then stops to clear his throat. He shakes his head, and then quickly walks over to meet Xie Lian halfway. "Gege," he whispers. "You said it wasn't happening to you."

"I said what wasn't happening?" he asks, matching San Lang's volume.

"Today," San Lang says, finally meeting his eyes. "Haven't you lived it before?"

Featuring: a thrice-sealed coffin, an extravagant parade, and too many osmanthus cakes.

The Silmarillion:
A Thread Unraveled (91k) by ScribeofArda

Chapters: 21/21
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fingon | Findekáno/Maedhros | Maitimo, Maedhros | Maitimo & Maglor | Makalaurë, Celegorm | Turcafinwë & Maedhros | Maitimo, Caranthir | Morifinwë & Maedhros | Maitimo, Curufin | Curufinwë & Maedhros | Maitimo, Amras & Maedhros | Maitimo, Maedhros | Maitimo & Sons of Fëanor
Characters: Maedhros | Maitimo, Fingon | Findekáno, Maglor | Makalaurë, Celegorm | Turcafinwë, Caranthir | Morifinwë, Curufin | Curufinwë, Amras (Tolkien), Azaghâl (Tolkien), Húrin Thalion, Gwindor (Tolkien), Beleg Cúthalion, Celebrimbor | Telperinquar
Additional Tags: Anyone who was at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad is present or mentioned, Fix-It, Time Loop, Alternative Universe - Groundhog Day AU, Everybody Lives, Everyone who was still alive by the Nirnaeth, Sorry Aredhel and Fingolfin, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Hurt/Comfort, Temporary Character Death, In the way of time loops, Everyone is going to die at some point in these loops, But they get better, Need to emphasise the angst again, Maedhros is not doing great at times, But Fingon loves him so damn much, This is a fix-it I promise, Working title: How to Fix the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Maedhros is trying goddammit, He is going to make this right if it kills him, Which it does, A lot - Freeform, Still definitely a fix-it though
Series: Part 1 of Aurë entuluva
Summary:

Maedhros wakes up again, on the first morning of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

Of course, nobody calls it that. For them, it hasn't happened yet.

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Don't see your favorite here? Link it in the comments!

Fic Recs: Excellent Epistolary

For International Fanworks Day, I'm posting a few themed rec lists! This one is for epistolary (and epistolary-adjacent) fics, i.e., fics consisting entirely or in significant part of letters, documents, social media posts, etc. – one of my favorite formats!

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STAR WARS

Waste Not, Want Not (1.6k) by carmarthen and motetus

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: The Dianoga (Star Wars), Original Characters
Additional Tags: Humor, Worldbuilding, Epistolary, Sanitation, Military, Illustrated, Crack Treated Seriously, Science Fiction, Podfic Available
Summary:

Imperial Sanitation Specialist Yaran Avoset discovers a jam in Death Star garbage compactor 3263827. His superior is not amused. Fortunately, a resourceful man can go far in the Imperial Navy.

Or, how the Death Star got dianogas.

Words by Carmarthen, art by motetus.

Re: FWD: Re: FWD: FWD: FWD: FWD: (1.5k) by 13th_blackbird

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars: Thrawn Series - Timothy Zahn (2017)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Eli Vanto
Characters: Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Eli Vanto, Original Characters, Karyn Faro
Additional Tags: background/implied thranto, Epistolary, Bureaucracy, extremely poor email ettiquette, Supply Officer!Eli AU, forensic accounting, Sting operations, being good at math is sexy, needlessly circuitous plans (tm), karyn faro doesn't get paid enough, Chimaera staff, Comedy of Errors, this is silly, i mean it's just very silly, the height of action in this is an audit, Auditing, imperial supply forms, flirting through invoice comments, Podfic & Podficced Works
Series: Part 1 of bureaucratic nightmares
Summary:

Takes place in a world where Eli Vanto became a Supply Officer and shot right to the top of operations for Imperial Star Destroyer supply in and around Coruscant, and Grand Admiral Thrawn became the same scheming bastard we all know and love.

Emails are exchanged. Funds are embezzled. More emails are exchanged. There's very measured flirting. Jobs are offered and taken. Thrilling stuff.

(See above. Please advise.)

I have acquired a child. (2.8k) by stingrcy

Chapters: 2/?
Fandom: The Mandalorian (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Baby Yoda & The Mandalorian (The Mandalorian TV)
Characters: The Mandalorian (The Mandalorian TV), and a bunch of well-meaning but confused holonet users, mentions of other canon characters
Additional Tags: Attempt at Humor, Indirect Fluff, Epistolary, ManDadlorian, not explicitly at first but as we go on? ohoHOHO
Summary:

How can I ensure its welfare without having it become attached to me?
Thank you.
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(The r/Parenting AU some people wondered about but technically did not ask for.)

Note: Reads as complete despite chapter marking.

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TOLKIEN

Common Counsel (3k) by bunn

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fingon | Findekáno & Maedhros | Maitimo, Fingon | Findekáno/Maedhros | Maitimo
Characters: Fingon | Findekáno, Maedhros | Maitimo
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Letters, First Age, Beleriand
Summary:

A few letters sent between Fingon & Maedhros immediately after Maedhros went East with his brothers to Himring.

It is not entirely clear what the relationship was between Maedhros and Fingon during this period. There appear to be a number of things in these documents that are understood, but not spelled out.

The Sealed Letter (6.6k) by rhymer

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings - All Media Types, TOLKIEN J. R. R. - Works
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Aragorn
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Letters, POV Outsider, Angst, Framing Story
Summary:

An isolated farmer finds a badly wounded man in a ruined farm. Six hundred years later, a historian researching King Elessar comes across a sealed letter. What links these two events is a story long forgotten.

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MÓ DÀO ZŬ SHĪ

在此恭迎夷陵老祖; to yiling laozu, the great and venerable (6.8k) by yiqie

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV), 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn
Characters: Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Jīn Líng | Jīn Rúlán
Additional Tags: Epistolary, Urban Legends, Relationship Advice, Post-Canon
Summary:

“You don’t know? In Yiling, there’s a tree at the edge of town, one that stands at the fringes of where the city ends and the Burial Mounds begin, called the Lover’s Tree. They say if you write a letter and nail it to its branches, Yiling Laozu will receive it, and he’ll reply.”

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Don't see your favorite here? Link it in the comments!

Fic Recs: Creative Crossovers

For International Fanworks Day, I'm posting a few themed rec lists! This one is for crossovers and fusions, particularly the unexpected ones:

Star Wars x Portal:
Testing Limits (28k) by atamascolily

Chapters: 8/8
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars Legends: New Republic Era - All Media Types, Portal (Video Game)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Characters: Luke Skywalker, C-3PO (Star Wars), GLaDOS, Turrets (Portal), Weighted Companion Cube, Cray Mingla, Callista Ming, Nichos Marr, Other Star Wars Character(s)
Additional Tags: Crossover, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Artificial Intelligence, Body Horror, science gone wrong, Portal 2 Spoilers, Portal References, Whump, curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal, the ghost in the machine, essence transfer, Plot Twists, Fix-It of Sorts
Summary:

Trapped on the crumbling Eye of Palpatine warship, a grievously injured Luke Skywalker is forced to navigate an experimental training course managed by a sadistic, strangely human AI intent on carrying out its top-secret mission ... all in the name of science, of course.

Star Wars x Silmarillion:
Fear No Darkness (19k) by independence1776

Chapters: 10/10
Fandom: The Silmarillion and other histories of Middle-Earth - J. R. R. Tolkien, Star Wars: Rise of Empire Era - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maglor, House of Fëanor, Elwing, Eärendil, Finarfin, Original Characters, Nerdanel
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Star Wars Fusion, Jedi, Canon-Typical Violence
Series: Part 1 of Fear No Darkness
Summary:

Two years after the Empire's birth, Imperial forces led by Darth Vader devastated the Arda system. A few hundred Quendi fled the system's takeover. Among them is Maglor Fëanorian, the lone survivor of his Jedi-trained House. He has spent the past three years hiding in plain sight as a singer for a starliner cruise company. Now he is about to strike off on his own as an independent cargo pilot, unsure of what the future will bring him.

Star Wars x Stargate:
A Star to Steer By (99k) by dogmatix and norcumi

Chapters: 20/20
Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Stargate SG-1
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Characters: Jack O'Neill, Obi-Wan Kenobi, CT-7567 | Rex, Clone Troopers, Goa'uld - Character, Janet Fraiser, George Hammond, Daniel Jackson, Sam Carter, Teal'c (SG-1)
Additional Tags: not rex/obi in the conventional sense, but definitely a strong connection, Alternate Universe - Fusion, GFY, swearing/adult language, mention of clone/clone pairings, era appropriate homophobia, Don’t copy to another site
Series: Part 1 of A Star to Steer By
Summary:

Jack O'Neill runs into the weirdest snake he's ever met, and that's saying something. Obi-Wan just wants to get his people home.

Night Vale x His Dark Materials:
He Says He Is An Experimental Theologian (182k) by erinptah

Chapters: 33/33
Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale, His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Steve Carlsberg & Cecil Palmer, Carlos/Cecil Palmer, Khoshekh & Cecil Palmer, Past Lyra Belacqua/Will Parry, Carlos the Scientist/Other(s)
Characters: Old Woman Josie, The Angel Erika, City Council Messenger Children, Khoshekh, Steve Carlsberg, Cecil Palmer, Hiram McDaniels, Desert Bluffs Carlos, The Man in the Tan Jacket, The Faceless Old Woman, Earl Harlan, Pamela Winchell, Intern Dana, Xaphania, Carlos' Team of Scientists, Carlos the Scientist
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Daemons, Re-Education, Hurt/Comfort, Canon-Typical Violence, Bilingual Character(s), Alternate History, For Science!, Alethiometer Use, Español | Spanish, Visually Impaired Character, Christmas With Family, Culture Shock, Post-Traumatic Stress, Slow Burn Carlos/Cecil
Series: Part 1 of Republic of Heaven Community Radio
Summary:

Ever since Carlos was little, he and his daemon have been fans of Dr. Lyra Belacqua. Both as the most groundbreaking experimental theologian of the 20th century, and as the heroine of dozens of fantasy-adventure children's stories (based very loosely on her own mysterious childhood).

But Lyra's true legacy is still bigger than Carlos ever imagined...until he took a team of scholars to study Rusakov particles in the most theologically interesting community in Hispania Nova. Now his own day-to-day life is full of things like angels, witches, hooded spectres, portals between worlds, vague yet menacing branches of the Magisterium, and a man who walks around without his daemon and can read an alethiometer as easily as a stop sign.

Night Vale x Dresden Files:
Love is All You Need to Destroy Your Enemies (222k) by shadydave

Chapters: 20/20
Fandom: Welcome to Night Vale, The Dresden Files - Jim Butcher
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Carlos Ramirez/Cecil Palmer
Characters: Carlos Ramirez, Cecil Palmer, Carlos' Team of Scientists (Welcome to Night Vale), Cactus Jane/Judy/June, Tamika Flynn, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Mouse (Dresden Files - Butcher), The Traveler (Welcome to Night Vale), Anastasia Luccio, The Apache Tracker
Additional Tags: Original Character(s), Crossover, Time Travel, Magic, Science, Magic and Science, Mad Science, Comic Book Science, Dubious Science, Fake Science, Just Generally a Lot of Science, poorly researched, on Wikipedia, gratuitous Shakespeare references, Needs More Dinosaurs!, Covered in Bees!!
Series: Part 3 of Love is All You Need to Destroy Your Enemies
Summary:

There are a few things that Carlos may have neglected to tell Cecil.

Like his last name.

Or how he hasn’t actually dated anyone since his junior year of high school.

Or that he’s a wizard of the White Council and the regional commander of Wardens in the western United States and not, in fact, a scientist.

You know. Minor details.

Mó Dào Zŭ Shī x Tiān Guān Cì Fú:
Lan Jingyi and the Adventure of the Immortal Cultivator (5.5k) by litbynosun

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 天官赐福 - 墨香铜臭 | Tiān Guān Cì Fú - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù, 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Minor or Background Relationship(s), Jīn Líng | Jīn Rúlán & Lán Jǐngyí & Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī & Ōuyáng Zǐzhēn
Characters: Xiè Lián (Tiān Guān Cì Fú), Lán Jǐngyí, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Tiān Guān Cì Fú Ensemble, Módào Zǔshī Ensemble
Additional Tags: Crossover, Just a Fun Little Romp, Minor Injuries, Canon-Typical Violence, Ghosts, postcanon, (for both books), Friendship, A Pack Of Teens Roaming The Countryside With Swords
Summary:

Lan Jingyi likes to think he's fairly clever and observant. He's a Lan disciple, after all, and one of the more skilled ones! He's also, unfortunately for a cultivator, rather scared of ghosts. Now if only his friends would listen to him when he warns them about the newest addition to his group...

Or, Xie Lian takes a little vacation, certain important biographical facts are omitted, and Wen Ning makes a friend.

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Don't see your favorite here? Link it in the comments!