Fic Clique

72: “Can a Mullberry Do a Little Jig?”

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," by distressedgremlin (F1 RPF) @41:27, and "any greenness is deeper than anyone knows," by DesdemonaKaylose (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. 

71: “Mark Antony Hive, Rise”

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. 

70: “Nothing Says Valentine’s Day like Breaking Up”

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.

69: “Grazing the Fandom Pastures”

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. 

68: “Ding Dong It’s the Misery Fairy”

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. 

67: “My Little UwU Transformer”

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!

Minisode: 2022 Year in Review

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"

66: “Oh My God, She’s a Lesbian”

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. 

65: “Lost in My Own Sauce”

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "The Seventh Test," by mylordshesacactus (Original Fiction) @12:47, "The Art of Negotiation," by language_escapes (Elementary) @40:20, and "I STOP TO SMELL THE BLOOD IN THE TREES AND FOR A MOMENT THE WORLD IS SO BEAUTIFUL IT BRINGS ME TO TEARS," by perennials (Zelda BotW) @1:08:09. 

Ficlets there is indeed a theme this episode, and it's, well, the abscence of a certain thing shall we say. While the theme might've started as a silly joke, we found surprisingly touching throughlines in all of our fics with portrayls of varying types of intimacy and recurring stories that we are drawn to tell over and over. 

64: Fandom Classic: Switch

In this episode of Fic Clique, your hosts discuss "Switch," by Ceres_Libera (Star Trek AOS). As we expand the repetoire of our Fandom Classics series, we would like to welcome in this truly novelesque fic. With so much material to cover, our conversation meandered through immersive settings, the conflicts of big institutions, and how the things that hurt us are also the things that make us human. 

Alternate titles include: "Kirk on the Brain", "The Slowest of Burns", & "Deus Ex Winona"