September recs

[spatz]

All Nine Worlds fic this month, mostly canon-divergence AUs, presented in alphabetical order because why not:

Backslide by Owlwinter

After eight hundred glorious years of working together, his Radiancy is rather distressed at the news of his secretary’s probable death.

Or: in which a certain landslide happens far earlier than in canon.

In which the Emperor has a very badass planetary mage reaction to Kip being presumed dead.

dancing like we did last night by Ariaste

“I love you, and I’m forming a committee about it.”
Fitzroy spluttered on a laugh. “A committee? And what is the purpose of this committee, my Lord Mdang? I believe it has to be, what, two sentences or less?”
“The purpose is to love you.”
“Ah, truly poetic simplicity,”

-

Cliopher gets his shit together, weaponizes parliamentary procedure in his own brain, and finally does some self-examination and clear communication. Fitzroy is just happy to be here.

This one's been recced all over for good reason! Adorable premise, fantastic execution, wonderfully romantic and thoughtful look at the ins and out of being a sex-positive asexual in a relationship.

diving for a flame pearl by ariex09

It took me an appalling three hours and thirteen minutes to even realize that Kip was gone.

Ah, but that was too charitable. Once we had a timeline together, we discovered that Franzel had seen Kip last, turning in for bed at twelve minutes before midnight, and it was not until Shoänie went to wake him at dawn that anyone knew he was anything but asleep in bed. This meant that by the time the knock on my study door came, shortly past the third hour of the morning, Kip could already have been missing for more than nine hours.

In which Cliopher goes missing midway through The Hands of the Emperor. Fortunately, he has friends and family willing to do whatever it takes to bring him home.

So many fanoa feelings, a marvelous adventure, and an always-excellent Ludvic.

Friday Keeps Coming Next by rattyjol

Cliopher's first morning with the Sun-on-Earth was everything he could have dreamed of, until it wasn’t.

or: Cliopher and his Radiancy break time. Again.

Delightful and epic time loop fic kicking off after their first meeting.

Saving Fitzroy by kerithwyn

Sardeet gets arrested.

AU where Sardeet actually makes it to the Emperor, and handles things in her inimitable Sardeet way. My heart grew three sizes, I swear.

We’ll Make It Right For You by Owlwinter

You turn to look at Cliopher in absolute, utter betrayal. Cliopher discovered that you have daughters - daughters! – and brought them to the Palace!? Here, the name Damara would smother any child of yours with taboo and tradition, any ounce of freedom stripped painfully away-

“While away, I encountered these two girls, named Circe and Aurelia,” Cliopher tells you, steady as the rock on which the world has always turned. “With your permission, my lord, I will adopt them myself, and raise them as my daughters here in the Palace of Stars.”

Or: in which rumors reach the Lord Chancellor of two teenage girls with golden lion eyes.

Never thought I'd want kidfic in this fandom, but it's immensely charming, and I loved seeing the ways their relationship did and did not change with the added co-parenting. (why are they LIKE this?!)