191 | Darkest Night 2018, post-reveals

[straightforwardly]

The 2018 round of Darkest Night has wrapped up, and while I’m not entirely satisfied with my own output, in terms of gifts this exchange once again blew me out of the water. I got (uniformly excellent!) fic for three out of my four requested fandoms, including one which I’ve requested in many exchanges over the years but had never actually received something for!

The King Who Kissed the Beautiful Dark (Shall We Date? The Niflheim, Philippe/Isabella & Jean/Isabella, 1.3K)
For centuries, Philippe had longed for the return of the dearly departed Princess Isabella. But now that the seal upon her crypt has been broken, it would appear that undeath had transformed the presumptive Sun of Niflheim in unexpected and disturbing ways.

Featuring cosmic horror!Isabella, dark!Jean, and an excellently creepy/disturbing ending.

Cold Beyond the Stars (Star Stealing Prince, Astra & Erio & Snowe, 1.7K)
A third ending.

A bad ending which works for me so much better than the canon bad ending.

Metsänpeitto (Stand Still Stay Silent, Emil/Lalli, 6.1K)
As the team journeys into the far north of Finland for a mission of special importance, a mistake of Emil's could prove fatal for them all.

Featuring upset forest spirits, mysterious disappearances, and a very sweet Emil/Lalli relationship!

(Also, while I’m talking about Star Stealing Prince— I also got another amazing gift for a different exchange earlier this year / during my months of not-really-updating my dreamwidth that I’d also like to highlight:

Behind Crumbling Walls (Star Stealing Prince, Astra & Erio & Snowe, 6K)
On the way back from the Sepulcher, Astra, Erio and Snowe are separated from Hiante and Relenia by a broken bridge of all things. As the weather worsens, Astra, Erio and Snowe seek out shelter in a suspiciously well-hidden room in an abandoned village, treat their wounds, and try to work out what is happening around them.

Snowstorms! Huddling for warmth! Thoughtful looks at how the different kinds of magic can be used outside of battle!)