straightforwardly: a black & white cat twining around a girl's legs; both are outside. (Default)
straightforwardly ([personal profile] straightforwardly) wrote2025-08-10 02:27 pm

313 | battleship 2025 gifts + recs, part one

In the spirit of “imperfect but finished is better than the perfect version no one ever sees”—here’s part one of my recs from this year’s round of Battleship.

This is only "part one" because I haven't actually finished looking through the collection yet. Specifically, I still need/want to look at Original Works section, the MDZS/Untamed sections, and sweep a look over what’s been posted since the game ended. But unfortunately, I haven’t been feeling very well the past few days, so I'm feeling rather doubtful about the chances of that all happening before the anon period ends (aka: my usual personal deadline for getting my recs posts finished). That’s also the reason why there’s going to be very little commentary on why I’m recommending each piece, despite my originally having the intention of doing that for everything I rec this year.

I’ve split this post up into three sections: showing off my gifts, and then the recs, first for fic, then for art.

My Gifts


I had an embarrassment of riches this year—by far the most gifts I’ve ever received for an event. 14 gifts (15 if we count the one that Leaf pregamed for me)—mostly fic, but also including one art gift and one podfic! I was in such a state of delirious, giddy delight while going through them <3 <3 <3

Fandoms included: Ace Attorney, EPIC the Musical, Frozen, Original Works, Ouran High School Host Club, MDZS/CQL, Naruto, Scum Villain, Stardew Valley
The Laughter of Our Sisters (Ace Attorney, Dahlia & Pearl, 5.1K)
As more than one bridge goes up in flames, Dahlia finds herself trapped at the Inner Temple with someone she was never supposed to meet.

*

Hold Him Down (EPIC the Musical, Antinous/Telemachus, 2.5K)
The little wolf is in need of another lesson, and Antinous is the one who is going to teach it to him.

*

I've Never Loved (The Way I've Yet To Love You) (Frozen, Hans/Anna, 1.0K)
Things transpire different between Anna and Hans when Princess Anna is brought back to Arendelle frozen half to death.

*

[podfic] blood like a ribbon in the water (OW, ~14 minutes)
Han Ya is sixteen when she’s married to a scholar who spent more time with his paintings than his family.

She’s seventeen when a rich merchant wheels a jiaoren who can cry pearl tears into the main square of their town.


DIRT EMPIRE (OW, Art)
n/a

*

take the jump and kiss like the wedding day on up (Ouran, canon-typical Tamaki/Haruhi, 1.3K)
Honey loved cake. Haruhi loved fatty tuna.

And Tamaki? Well...


*

just to see if it floats (MDZS/CQL, Wen Ruohan/Jiang Yanli, 2.6K)
"I suppose," he says at last, almost to himself. "If I have decided, I should simply get on with it. What would be the point of waiting?"

Or: what was going on with that qi transfer thing in chapter three of “it burns as it moves you”.


*

in our roots (Naruto, Minato & Kakashi, 2.7K)
“Has Kakashi-kun always been like that?” Kushina asks him, and well…

Truth to be told, Minato doesn’t really know. It’s true of course, that Kakashi-kun has always been prodigious, but…

Well, really, there’s no way to explain what’s happened to Kakashi-kun recently.


in the rain (Naruto, Itachi & Sakura, <1K)
n/a

It's a Bloodline Limit (Naruto, f!Itachi/Sakura, 8.9K)
"What," and Sasuke sounded so incensed for someone who'd been gifted Kakashi's most prized jutsu, "did Sensei teach you?"

"It's a bloodline limit," Sakura said, because what Sensei had taught her was to lie.


hisss & hers (Naruto, Orochimaru/Sakura, 1.8K)
Sakura ends up contaminated with fuck water on a mission and gets a little relief from an old (allegedly repentant) enemy.

*

1001 recycled stories (Scum Villain, Shang Qinghua/Tianlang-jun, <1K)
Ever since the betrayal and subsequent disappearance of his human lover, the heavenly demon Tianlang-jun has expressed his frustration with the species by taking several human wives. This wouldn't be much of a problem if he didn't insist on killing them all after only one single night as his wife, and honestly still wouldn't be that much of a problem if he'd only kept on marrying people who were not Shang Qinghua!

Luckily for Shang Qinghua, this particular heavenly demon is surprisingly fond of human-demon romance stories, and Shang Qinghua has plenty of those saved up.


Surprised (Scum Villain, Yue Qingyuan/f!Shen Jiu, <1K)
It galls her that so much of her safety is dependent on just how worried her fellow students are of Yue Qingyuan’s reaction.

tourist attraction (Scum Villain, Sha Hualing/Ning Yingying, <1K)
Sha Hualing looks furious when she strides into the tavern, red silk streaming behind her and bracelets clinking at her wrists. The other patrons shrink back beneath the face of it, a few even choosing to flee, but Ning Yingying just gives a fond, resigned sigh and takes a sip of her tea.

She's become used to dealing with the Demon Saintess. Perhaps a little too used to dealing with her, in fact. Ning Yingying has almost begun to look forward to these meetings.

Or, the mysterious author of The Resentment of Chunshan releases another book. Ning Yingying and Sha Hualing...deal with the consequences.


*

Caroline's Private Room (Stardew Valley, Caroline/Sebastian, 1.3K)
Sebastian gets caught peeping on Caroline. It's awkward until he realizes Caroline is using the opportunity to flirt with him.


Fic Recs


Fandoms included: A Dark Room, Devil Went Down to Georgia (Song), Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know, Disney's Descendants, Dragon Age, Eldest Princess Above, Fairy Tales & Folk Songs, Final Fantasy VII, Greek Mythology, Hades, Howl’s Moving Castle, The Princess Groom, Scum Villain, Stardew Valley, Star Ocean: The Second Story, Till the End of the Moon, TGCF, Thousand Autumns, Tortall, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
this is what peak martial performance looks like (Crossover - Scum Villain/TGCF, Liu Qingge/Pei Ming, <1K)
The War God of Bai Zhan Peak meets the Martial God of the North.

*

a ruined city (A Dark Room, Builder/Wanderer, <1K)
The wanderer finds you with your bruised knees pressed into cold concrete, your head bowed, a gun to your temple.

You raise your gaze to stare back at her defiantly, and spit acid-green blood onto the floor. You don’t need her. You never have.


*

Golden Strings, Silver Tongue (Devil Went Down to Georgia (Song), <1K)
The Devil concedes defeat at Johnny's hands.

*

FORUM: Male Slash Deserves to be Abused in Romance (Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know, 1.1K)
Discussion Board: WENRENJIANG: Forum Thread: FINISHED REWRITE (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!)

[MOD]: This thread is for discussing the recently finished rewrite of Abusive Romance. This thread might contain spoilers.


*

more than one route (Disney's Descendants, Evie/Mal, 2.3K)
For all that the entrance hall of the Evil Queen's house is spaciously outfitted and tastefully decorated, Mal rarely ever sees it.

the thing inside my chest (Disney's Descendants, Evie/Mal, 6.0K)
Mal and Evie get trapped inside during a storm.

*

The Best Joke (Dragon Age, Varric/F!Hawke, 4.7K)
"Varric, it's funny," Hawke said lightly, and it wasn't funny at all (except for how it sort of really was). "This looks like a marriage contract."

Set for Life (Dragon Age, Varric/F!Hawke, 6.7K)
The responsible thing to do would be to tell Varric.

Hawke, having gathered the strength and strength of will to return to the manor and lick her wounds, tries to imagine how that conversation would go.

"You remember that night we said we'd never talk about again? We can keep pretending it never happened, but in that case, I'll need you to pretend with me that we had a second night together, or, ooo, maybe we both touched a magic device meant to facilitate pregnancy without sex, and somehow, tragically, it got me pregnant instead of you. I think you'd do very well with a pregnancy, Varric. We should see if we can transfer this baby to you instead. Maybe Anders will have some ideas."


*

scars (are proof of her favour) (Eldest Princess Above, Gu Xuanqing/Li Yunzhen, <1K)
The Princess contemplates if her Xuanqing will make a sound, when she carves a new scar into his back.

*

can we keep her? (Fairy Tales & Folk Songs, 1.3K)
Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with a twist!

The Crossroads of a Minute (Fairy Tales & Folk Songs, 6.1K)
Marriage isn't always a happy ending.

Thyme management (Fairy Tales & Folk Songs, <1K)
Let no *man* steal your thyme.

*

Broken Pieces (Final Fantasy VII, Cloud/Tifa/Barret — feat. also Cloud/Zack, Tifa/Aerith, Barret/Myrna, 2.5K)
Three people finding life and love after losing their soulmates.

*

The Sea is a Cruel Mistress (Greek Mythology, Odysseus/Siren & Odysseus/Penelope, 1.4K)
A siren uses more than her song to tempt Odysseus into the sea.

*

It's A Love Song (It's A Sad Song) (Hades, Achilles/Patroclus, <1K)
Achilles’ grip tightens on his spear. His pride brought him here and his love will bring them back. And so he leans in for one final kiss, his lips on Patroclus’, confident that his love for Patroclus will lead them to the brightest future.

*

punk rock lesbian wizard (Howl’s Moving Castle, Howl/Sophie, 3.0K)
Sophie would have realised Howl was a woman earlier, if only she'd known women were allowed to wear trousers, and be wizards, and flirt with women with aggressive proclamations of adoration.

After, Howl takes her new girlfriend to Wales to show off her punk rock roots.


*

in shades of crimson and ice blue (The Princess Groom, Gilbert/Leticia, 2.6K)
Leticia and Gilbert's wedding night.

*

stampede (Revolutionary Girl Utena, Nanami/Utena/Anthy, <1K)
Nanami runs into two familiar faces.

*

like a devil in your skin (Scum Villain, Ning Yingying/Little Palace Mistress, 1.0K)
The Little Palace Mistress's whip is an ugly thing.

Its handle is sleek and well shaped, carved intricately if ostentatiously and designed for an easy, solid grip. The coiled iron of its shaft gleams dully in the light of her room at Qing Jing Peak—a disgrace to the refined air of this beautiful mountain.

Ning Yingying hates it. She hates how mean it looks. She hates that it's meant for pain more than efficiency.

Or, Ning Yingying uses the Little Palace Mistress's whip.


In Sickness and in Death (Scum Villain, Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu, <1K)
It was odd, how similar a bride’s veil could look to a cloth used to cover the dead. Even the finest wedding robes Luo Binghe could buy did not make Shen Qingqiu look alive.

in which not correcting your reputation as a womanizer has consequences (Scum Villain, Shen Jiu/Liu Qingge/Liu Mingyan, 3.7K)
Liu Mingyan is sex-pollened, and Liu Qingge takes her to Shen Qingqiu for treatment.

The Mobei-Jun Spreadsheet (Scum Villain, Mobei-jun/Shang Qinghua, 5.4K)
“See?” Shang Qinghua said, and gestured at his spreadsheet again. “I should be firmly in getting dicked down territory by now, but no! This courtship is just dragging on and on and on! Or maybe he doesn’t even know I’m courting him!”

Or: How to get into the pants of your local Ice Demon lord – now with 100% more spreadsheets!


ruinous reunion (Scum Villain, Yue Qingyuan/Shen Jiu, <1K)
Yue Qingyuan and Shen Jiu reunite when Wu Yanzi has ordered him to murder and loot disciples at the Immortal Alliance Conference.

Shen Jiu does not recognise him in time to hold his strike.


return (Scum Villain, Shen Jiu, <1K)
Shen Jiu rescues himself. In a way.

*

beginning (Stardew Valley, Elliott/Willy, <1K)
Ever since Elliott settled into the cabin on the beach, every season has been lovelier than the last.

*

Treasure Trove (Star Ocean: The Second Story, Celine/Chisato, 4.9K)
Celine and Chisato explore a haunted ruin and make an enormous discovery.

Used To It (Star Ocean: The Second Story, Claude & Rena, 1.1k)
There were an awful lot of bandits on Expel.

*

and what about this time around? (Till the End of the Moon, Tantai Jin/Li Susu, 2.3K)
They have had many weddings, over the years, over the lives, but this is the second time that they've been wed in this particular life.

*

can’t get by and I can’t let go and I can’t sleep alone (TGCF, Feng Xin/Mu Qing, 1.2K)
A wet, miserable summer evening in the mortal realm, and all the things Mu Qing and Feng Xin leave unsaid.

four and I’m under the host (TGCF, Jun Wu/Mu Qing, 2.1K)
“Your majesty,” says Xuan Zhen, looking at the bottle like a mortal might at a hanging sword. “I— that is to say, this one’s cultivation—”

Jun Wu smiles, first beneficent and then sharper like a private indulgence. “So long as one isn’t too moved, wasn’t it?”

Xuan Zhen looks at the wine; he looks at Jun Wu. You can see him thinking through whether he could afford to push. You can almost hear him deciding: no, he can’t.


A Symphony of Frogs (TGCF, Pei Ming/Yushi Huang, <1K)
General Ming Guan and kisses from pretty women, a study.

*

After all these many footsteps, it's yours I follow (Thousand Autumns, Yan Wushi/Shen Qiao, <1K)
The pavilion doesn’t remember how it was built, only the vague memory of skilled and calloused hands. But it quite remembers these two.

where it's due (Thousand Autumns, Yan Wushi/Shen Qiao, 1.4K)
"One might think you were the one afflicted, Yan-lang," he said, and ah, yes—there was strain in his voice, and something deeper beneath that. Something Yan Wushi only ever had the pleasure of hearing when Shen Qiao was spread out before him like a feast, hips straining to thrust up against Yan Wushi's grip and his cock glistening at the tip against his stomach.

Shen Qiao sounded a little bit desperate.

"Am I not?" Yan Wushi asked. "This Venerable One's husband has chosen to purge the toxin through meditation rather than through touch. It is somewhat humbling."

Or, Shen Qiao is accidentally dosed with sex pollen.


*

Folly (Tortall, Thom & Alanna, <1K)
Duke Roger killed Alanna, that first time. Thom brings her back.

*

reverie (We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Constance/Merricat, 3.5K)
Before and after the fire, Merricat investigates her own body.


Art Recs


Fandoms included: Avatar: the Last Airbender, Carmilla, Dracula, Fairy Tales, Lilo & Stitch, Original Work - Battleship Lore, Pokémon, Scum Villain, Stardew Valley, Sunless Sea, Vocaloids
Dear Fire Lord (Avatar: the Last Airbender, Azula/Ty Lee)
Ty Lee and Azula, in a BDSM relationship.
Not what I expected this to be based on the summary, but I like this even more, and it’s gorgeously drawn.
*

Your Sleep Demon (Carmilla, Carmilla/Laura)
n/a

*

Midnight (Dracula, Jonathan/Mina)
The scene after Dracula leaves Jonathan and Mina's room.

*

Is this how the story goes? (Fairy Tales, Snow White & Villains)
Black on white drawing. A little Snow White in a dress and apron reaches for the apple a caped figure is extending.

*

surfing's choice (Lilo & Stitch, Lilo & Nani & David & Stitch)
Making waves in space. (chaos)

*

Dream A Little Dream (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Luna & Twilight Sparkle)
Luna walks with Twilight.

*

something terrible has happened here... (OW, Slime)
the aftermath of an adventurer passing through the dungeon
Simple art, but very charming <3
*

Pearry (OW - Battleship Lore, PEARRY <3 <3 <3)
Pearry the X-Ray Machine with its pile of dirt!

The Fruit Heist (OW - Battleship Lore, Glorbo & Pearry & Barry)
Glorbo, Barry, and Pearry stealing fruits.

"There! That's the strawberry thief!" (OW - Battleship Lore, Glorbo)
Someone ate all the strawberries. Luckily, Detective Glorbo is on the case.

X-Ray (OW - Battleship Lore, The X-Ray Machine/Holes)
He's poking at the hole and is disappointed that there's stuff buried under it.

Patch of Donuts (OW - Battleship Lore, Donut Plant)
After days of digging in the field, Team Grape finds a patch of vege... donuts?

Art Series: Vegetable Patches...? (OW - Battleship Lore, The Four Plants)
You work hard digging in the field. After a day of drawing art and writing and recording fics, you dig up some... donut plants?

*

A time to rest (Pokémon, Umbreon & Raichu)
n/a

The Trail we Blaze (Pokémon, Bulbasaur & Pichu)
Even a little rain won't stop these avid adventurers!

Show of Strength! (Pokémon, Primeape & Tepig & Pignite)
Primeape shows off its lifting prowess.

*

Everything is okay when I’m with you (Scum Villain, Mobei-jun/Shang Qinghua)
Mobei-Jun rescues a beaten up Shang Qinghua. They realize they’re in love.

kitten attempts to assert dominance (Scum Villain, Little Palace Mistress/f!Liu Qingge)
Little Palace Mistress just wants to understand why that brutish woman has Luo Binghe's attention.

finding a new home (Scum Villain, Mobei-jun/Liu Qingge)
mobei jun gets left behind in the human realm by his uncle. he gets saved by a bratty human noble.

a quiet moment (Scum Villain, Liu Qingge/Yue Qingyuan)
n/a
Note: very NSFW. The second half of the image in particular is quite stunning.
A peaceful night (Scum Villain, Liu Qingge)
Liu Qingge is celebrating a night alone.
the summary is a LIE. (By which I mean, there is an adorable kitty companion here <3)
Shidi eating a snack (Scum Villain, Liu Qingge)
Liu Qingge eating fruit.

let this water carry my love (Scum Villain, Luo Binghe/Shen Qingqiu)
Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu enjoy a dip in a hot spring surrounded by baby capybaras.

Vampire Lord (Scum Villain, Bing-ge)
Luo Binghe in PIDW is a vampire.

fated to love in any universe (Scum Villain, Mobei-jun/Shang Qinghua)
A red string of fate connects Mobei-jun and Shang Qinghua in every universe.

set yourself on fire (Scum Villain, Qiu Haitang & Qiu Jianluo)
Qiu Jianluo is not the only one to die in the fires that night.

in your arms and in between your thighs (Scum Villain, f!Luo Binghe/f!Shen Qingqiu)
Shen Yuan initiates some morning sex.
Note: NSFW! As the summary implies.
*

late night conversation (Stardew Valley, Krobus)
Krobus gets the wrong idea about "fishing".
Some very cute pixel art <3
*

Lake-dweller (Sunless Sea, Zee-Captain & Kelpies)
What lurks in those deep waters?

*

Servant of Evil (Vocaloids, Rin & Len)
n/a

Post a comment in response:

This account has disabled anonymous posting.
If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting