isabellerecs | Entries tagged with fandom: the old guard

Title: Ars Poetica
Author: superblackmarket
Canon: The Old Guard
Pairing: Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicolò di Genova
Rating: Explicit [NC-17]
Word Count: 4,348
Summary: Excuse me if this is condescending,” Yusuf said, “but it is fascinating to me that you can’t take a compliment.” Nicolò’s extraordinary eyes—likened to the ravishing waters of the Mediterranean—were wide and guileless. “Forgive me,” he said, in his formal, halting Arabic. “Give it to me again and I shall accept it this time.”

Recommendation: I liked this story and enjoyed it enough that I would like to share it with you.

Link to the Story on AO3
{Only available for AO3 users}

Recommendation #3,385

Title: These Moving Walls
Author: GreyMichaela
Canon: The Old Guard
Pairing: Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicolò di Genova
Rating: Teen [PG]
Word Count: 5,759
Summary: Sarwa is ladling stew into bowls and she hands the first one to Yusuf, who passes it to Nicolo and takes a drink from the now filled flask. “Is he your lover?” she asks. Yusuf chokes on water and Nicolo pounds his back, eyebrows peaked with concern.

Recommendation: I liked this story and enjoyed it enough that I would like to share it with you.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #3,384

Title: Remember Me for Centuries
Author: smilebackwards
Podficcer: cookiemom6067
Canon: The Old Guard
Pairing: Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicolò di Genova
Rating: Teen [PG]
Word Count: 6,613
Summary: “Quickly. Up,” the man at Joe’s side says, lifting beneath Joe’s elbow, and Joe doesn’t know him but somehow he thinks, I’d follow you anywhere, and then he gets up and he does. Or: the one where Joe has amnesia but he and Nicky are still devoted husbands

Recommendation: I liked this story and enjoyed it enough that I would like to share it with you.

Link to the Story on AO3 | Link to the Podfic on AO3

Recommendation #3,383

Title: Like a River Runs
Author: astatueofus
Canon: The Old Guard
Pairing: Andromache of Scythia/Quynh
Rating: Teen [PG]
Word Count: 31,732
Summary: In July 2019, a marine research vessel off Norway picks up a blip on its radar. In Budapest, Nile Freeman wakes from a nightmare.

Recommendation: Comment Hiatus ~ A partial hiatus in that I'll post a rec but I won't do the write up because I'm really behind and real life is getting in my way.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #3,290

Title: That Bittersweet Creature Against Which Nothing Can Be Done
Author: Coruscant
Canon: The Old Guard
Pairing: Andromache of Scythia/Quynh
Rating: Teen [PG]
Word Count: 5,705
Summary: Since losing Quynh to the ocean, Andy has died of the Hanahaki disease one hundred and fifty six times. After Merrick, the hundred and fifty seventh will be the one that kills her.

Recommendation: Comment Hiatus ~ A partial hiatus in that I'll post a rec but I won't do the write up because I'm really behind and real life is getting in my way.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #3,289

Title: Or, the Modern Prometheus
Author: liraels
Canon: The Old Guard
Pairing: Andromache of Scythia/Quynh
Rating: Not Rated
Word Count: 3,602
Summary: She says to Andromache, “I like the way they do eggs in this century.” “Quynh,” Andromache says again, like it’s the only word she knows. “Andromache.” Quynh reaches for Andromache’s glass and takes a gulp of orange juice. She makes a face. “I don’t like the way they do juice, though. All that added sugar.”

Recommendation: Comment Hiatus ~ A partial hiatus in that I'll post a rec but I won't do the write up because I'm really behind and real life is getting in my way.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #3,288

Title: Gifted

Author: The_Moon_When_I_Am_Lost

Canon: The Old Guard

Pairing: Nile Freeman/Sebastien le Livre

Rating: Mature [R]

Word Count: 4,537

Summary: Booker remembers that first conversation when Nile held her hand in the fire just to see what would happen. To test herself. He does not want to be another flame to her if all he does is rend her flesh.

Recommendation: So freaking good! I love all the slow romance and poetry from Booker and the quiet, steady affection from Nile. I love Nicky and Joe with all of their teasing and advice, and Andy and Quynh with their support that isn't usually advice except to send her to Joe and Nicky. All of this is beautiful and nothing hurts.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #2,526

Title: The Last Man on Earth

Author: Survivah

Canon: The Old Guard

Pairing: Nile Freeman/Sebastien le Livre

Rating: Mature [R]

Word Count: 20,421

Summary: It’s not lost on her that technically, her dating pool is now exactly one person, if she wants to be with somebody who won’t die on her. Still, “you’re my only option” is miles away from being a good enough reason to give it a shot. - - - 5 Times Nile & Booker Ended Up in a Romance Novel Scenario + 1 Time They Didn’t

Recommendation: I knew that I would love Joe & Nicky, and I was pretty sure I was going to dig Andy & Quynh, but, boy, Nile & Booker came out of left field for me but I DIG it. And frankly, this story has a lot to do with that. It is SO good. And so believable, and by the end, you are just WILLING them into it. (Kinda spoiler: but, oh, when Nile is trapped and calling out, heckin' man, that wrecked me.)

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #2,525

Title: The Goddess Finally Sleeps, in the Lap of Her Lover

Author: wrennette

Canon: The Old Guard

Pairing: Andromache of Scythia/Quynh

Rating: Teen [PG]

Word Count: 2,065

Summary: Quynh is Andromache's other half. Without her, she's lost at sea (aka the Andromache doesn't stop searching fic that wouldn't leave me alone).

Recommendation: Uh, right in the feels. This killed me. You feel Andy's dogged, but almost hopeless determination. But the pay off is sweet.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #2,524

Title: Shorelines

Author: Prevalent_Masters

Canon: The Old Guard

Pairing: Andromache of Scythia/Quynh

Rating: Teen [PG]

Word Count: 20,118

Summary: Quỳnh comes up for air, comes back to life, and comes home. It just takes her a little while to get there.

Recommendation: Oh my God!! This was so good! This story strikes a wonderful balance between how angry Quynh is with being left behind and how much she misses her family, and, oh, it's all so heart-rending but so good at the same time. Freaking, gah! Honestly, at this point, this all seems like the best-case scenario going forward but I can't wait for the sequel to find out.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #2,523

Title: (Don't) Blame It on the Moonlight

Author: liadan14

Canon: The Old Guard

Pairing: Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicolò di Genova

Rating: Explicit [NC-17]

Word Count: 14,340

Summary: “And it didn’t bother you that the guard thought you were -- that we were -- ?” Nicolò asks, for what is definitely the fourth time, as they bed down, hopefully hidden from view by the reeds and trees of the Nile delta. Yusuf sighs, rolling onto his back. “Do I mind that he thought I would be foolish enough to abandon all reason and take up with one of the men who helped sack Al-Quds? Yes, a little. Not enough to stop from using it as a perfectly serviceable escape route.” “No,” Nicolò says, “I mean, that you would prefer the company of other men at all.” Yusuf blinks, bemused. He hadn’t even thought of that. “As a rule, I try not to be insulted by accusations that are true,” he says drily. OR: Five times they were faking it and two times it was real.

Recommendation: Oh my God, this was so cute! But they are so dumb and so wonderfully adorable! Mutual pining while still making out, really guys! Nico's family was a little traumatizing, while Joe's was adorable as you would expect. All of this is just so great.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #2,522

Title: The Other Matter

Author: Survivah

Canon: The Old Guard

Pairing: Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicolò di Genova

Rating: Mature [R]

Word Count: 15,046

Summary: He wants Yusuf to hold his hand again. Grab his ankle. Flick his ear. Thrust his sword into his chest and breath into his mouth. Yet, they have the long ocean of eternity ahead of them. These whims are nothing but a swell under their ship: gone as soon as they come. Nicolo knows better than to jump overboard and drown alone trying to chase them. ----- Alternate title: "You'd Feel Pretty Weird If You Developed a Crush on the Only Other Immortal You Know, Right?"

Recommendation: As The Old Guard began to fill my dash, I became more and more intrigued and eager to see if Joe&Nicky were as advertised but it took me some time to find the time to watch the movie. Well, I can say that they are just as advertised and the movie was so, so awesome and I am so excited for a sequel! And if that wasn't enough then we have this story. So very good. I mean, just wow. I love all of the little character-building details. I love Nicky's voice and how in love he is even before he notices. And Joe, dear god, he is a treasure and a blessing. I really can't say enough about this one. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Link to the Story on AO3

Recommendation #2,521