pinksaltcrystals

[pinksaltcrystals]

If We Were Villains fanfics - a thread by me

Since some of you asked me to recommend some IWWV fics in order to process that devastating ending, here’s my personal thread. I vividly hope  you’re gonna enjoy it :) 

1. what is woven into the lives of others - helloearthlings - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 I think this is the most popular IWWV fic since the first review on Goodreads has posted a link to this story, but that’s only fair given that it is masterfully crafted. The story’s centre is Oliver and James’ reunion, and therefore Oliver’s journey to find him.

2. you’ve got me wrapped around your finger (do you have to let it linger?) - orphan_account - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

This is a “what if..”  and explores how things could have been if the night of their last party -the one in the library, talking through King Lear’s riddles- Oliver would have figured out the truth in time and they would run away together.

I’ve read it an embarrassing number of times, and each time it has the ability to broke my heart in shards not only for the two of them but for the bigger picture of those six as a family (I’m a sucker for a good found-family trope and this one didn’t fail to deliver a heart-warming feeling with only using spare details, shreds of memories and careless laughter from a payphone at 2am).  

Also, there’s this brief inner monologue that perfectly encapsulates Oliver’s perspective and his ardent loyalty for his real-life Shakespearean Tragic Hero:

“I never blamed him. Forever, I will blame the plays. I will blame the theater. I will blame myself and I will blame Richard, but I will keep James safe“.

 This is it. This is canon for me. I’d tattoo it on my skin if I could, there’s so much sentiment in these few lines. Also, can we please talk about the prose? ”but the sparrow had begun to open its eyes, and I met James’ glazed eyes with my own“, it had me in tears.

 3. as if it were the first - Chapter 1 - crownsandbirds - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 This is another reunion fic; it takes place two years after Oliver’s release from prison, and in this universe, we found a broken James who is living -literally- under Alexander and Colin’s wing since his failed attempt to suicide six years ago.

 It’s written by James’s pov, which allow us to know the real reach of his feelings, how pervasive is his sense of guiltiness, how broken beyond recovery he is –“James doesn’t self-harm physically anymore, but he doesn’t think he’ll ever stop looking for opportunities to break his own heart”- so buckle up for some angst -but really, when it’s not angst when we’re talking about two Shakespearean lovers?-.

 Bonus point: the story gives us an intimate view over Alexander and Colin’s relationship, a criminally underrated couple in IWWV in my opinion.

4.  the dead man’s float - misandrywitch - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 Another reunion fic -yeah, you can practically sense our desperate need of a closure whatsoever after M.L.Rio thrown us under a bus with that last line- passed with full marks not only for its peculiar use of a theatre structure which resembles the original novel’s structure -enter, final act, exeunt- but also for the honest portrait of its characters. There are not cheesy moments nor big declarations of love, which is something that represents the original characters: James and Oliver never opened up about their feelings, not even in the end (M.L.Rio once highlighted the importance of Oliver’s answers to James, a simple “you know why”; not even in that moment, behind the bars, they can state their feelings for each other), they’re only capable of Great Acts as papa Shakespeare taught ‘em (aka: go to prison for a crime you didn’t commit. Aka: fake your own death in order to recreate the only non-tragic Shakespeare novel. Aka: ME SICK AND TIRED OF THOSE THEATRE KIDS).

 Despite the premise, I very appreciate this Oliver: long gone the insecure shy obtuse kid, we now find a practical man that knows what and who he wants, who doesn’t step back in front of a confrontation with James -but still, he would blindly follow him to the end of the world-; and I deeply cherish this James Farrow who openly admits and accepts that he’s not the flawless Tragic Hero the Dellecher decided for him to be, so he’s finally free now to live his life according to his own rules and desires, that it’s okay if  he’s a bit coward; human.

BONUS SMUT FIC - cuz sometimes a brief first and only kiss in the middle of a school play is not enough, no matter how poetic it was

no other companion - crownsandbirds - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 Christmas came early this year. You’re welcome

Now, some secondary fics, shorter but still impressive

1.     home is where it hurts - crownsandbirds - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

This is through Alexander’s point of view, and it focuses on the weight of Richard’s death, the motifs that led him to say that fatidic and excruciating “nothing”. There’s a lot of James and Oliver here; there’s this part that to this day is still impressed on my brain:

“Oliver and James were truly a pair of the kind Alexander had only seen in books, old classical books that talked about turning a river into blood and defeating Gods. The prince and his companion, Hamlet and his Horatio”.

2. And Therefore is Winged Cupid Blind - Civilbloodoncivilhands - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

Set during the third year of Dellecher, the clique is in the middle of one of Gwendolyn’s classes; Oliver is oblivious, James is whipped, Richard is a dick and Alexander is the queer queen we all know and love.

3. Merely a Madness… - sapphicfratboy - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 This is a close-up on James Farrow’s private life, from his first kiss and first crush to the encounter with Oliver.

 Something I really appreciated here beside the impeccable prose is the way the author sticked to the truth of the facts: the students of his father that used to slip in the library with him, Oliver’s love for old rock band t-shirts, James addressing his own father as “Professor” in a sardonic way etc

4. Maybe This Is Where It Ends (Take A Bow) - fathand - If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio [Archive of Our Own]

 A brief “what if…” if James would have gone to prison. Short but incisive. 

[pinksaltcrystals]

Mood

Nothing like watching Love, Victor to make you feel all alone, unwanted and friendless

#love victor

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Love, Victor season 3 was about how much Victor Salazar loves Benji Campbell and how much Benji Campbell loves Victor Salazar, and I love that for us. ❤️

#love victor #benji campbell #victor salazar #love victor hulu #venji

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Love victor episode 1 thoughts:

Fuck yesssss he choose Benji!!!!

I love them

They are so cute

Awwwww I’m dead

Lol his dad

I love his dad

Awwwwww

I love them

Lol good answer

I’m very glad he choose benji

This is a very healthy conversation I love it

Yay

Yayyy

Sad for Rhaim but still happy

He deserves someone but not victor

Lol his mom

Felix 😂😂😂😂

Lol I love this scene

They are cute together but I’m still sad about Felix and lake

She is in 9-1-1 !!!

Lol the references

I like when characters do that

The smiles 😁😁😁🥹

Oh no Benji that’s very sad for him

🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

They are very cute but still weird

🥺🥺🥺Felix

I Just love lake

This is very cute

Ohh sad

I love Andrew

Go off Andrew I’m with you

Victor is so sweet

Awww benji😞

Lol filex😏

Lol victor ..

I love their bromance

Lol😂😂😂😂filex

Sofia Carson!!!I want to see her

Fuck her

Poor Mia

If they brake up over this I’m dead

Lol Rhaim

Lol his mom😂😂

Lake is adorable

Yay

Awwwwww

This season is even gayer and I love it

They are cute

Honestly the best friend sibling is my fav trope

I like them not sad over lake anymore

I love filex

Aww sweet

Not really crazy Victor

I’m happy he is taking responsibility

This is sad

I can’t believe this is the plot they are doing

Fuck this

I never know if I like this show or not

Awwwwwwww the hands😭😭😭😭

[pinksaltcrystals]

I loved season 3 and I loved the ending. I’m a huge Venji Stan and I love Benji the most so of course I was happy.

But I have to say…. they were a bit brutal in destroying Vahim very quickly and very hard 😳. I was like damn 😅, after a whole year of fostering this huge ship war?!? Victor had no doubts 😂❤️. I am sending thoughts and prayers to the Vahim’s. However, I really loved Rahim this season and I think he deserved a boyfriend who wasn’t Victor, so I’m glad he ended up happy! Also, the Bahim scenes were perfect.

#love victor #benji campbell #victor salazar #love victor hulu #victor x rahim #rahim #venji #vahim

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I’m going to miss this trash show so much! Not only that but the fandom ❤️. Like a recent Reddit user said, it may be trash but it’s our trash. This has been such a special ride and I’m so grateful for Love, Victor. 🥳

#love victor #benji campbell #victor salazar #love victor hulu #rahim #victor x rahim #vahim #venji

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Oohhhhh bestie 🤫

If Benji goes to rehab and victor tells anyone (especially rahim) istfg I’m gonna throw hands

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Episode 5

#love victor #benji campbell #victor salazar #love victor hulu

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I must be entering my villain era, because if you’ve seen the ep4 S3 description, let me tell you nothing would bring me greater JOY and FULFILLMENT than seeing Benji and Rahim as besties who unite against Victor 😂🙈.

Like, not only would it help stop people from literally shitting all over their characters, and finally make some fans humanize them, but it would also make Victor reconcile with what happens when you treat your bf/friend so carelessly. Like, love you Vic, but you have some growing to do in this scenario!

#love victor #benji campbell #love victor hulu #victor salazar #rahim #victor x rahim

[pinksaltcrystals]

I am tired of the hate in this fandom. I am tired of people attacking the actors. I am tired of people commenting on how ugly the actors are. And now I am tired of people making harmful comments about addiction. Sometimes I really hate this fandom even though I love the show. Please remember that there are fans that relate to each and every one of these characters. Please stop and think about what you’re doing when you are villianizing queer characters on a queer tv show about queer teens.

#love victor #victor salazar #benji campbell #victor x rahim #love victor hulu #vahim #venji #rahim

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100%! I get that people love Rahim! I love Rahim! But I ship Venji and I’m hoping they end up together. People need to remember that this is a show, they are teenage characters, and all of them deserve happiness! And that none of them are evil omg people take things WAY too far.

I still until this day am trying to understand why people spend so much time hating on benji, a literal high school kid. I mean crucifying him for being human and making mistakes when that's literally how teenagers are? The fandom is just ridiculously toxic.

#love victor hulu #love victor #benji campbell #victor salazar

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If you’re doing this, please take a good long look in the mirror and do some self reflection. Go touch some grass and be a decent human being. Everyone in this cast is beautiful!

this applies to so many fandoms, but I definitely think parts of the LV fandom needs to see this. I don't give a fuck who you want victor to end up with. who CARES who he ends up with. just stop saying nasty shit about how you're happy george doesn't appear in cast photos. stop making comments about his appearance and how ugly he is. regardless of whether you hate the character he plays, or hate venji, HES A REAL PERSON. and he's a cast member whether you like it or not. this is a fictional show we're talking about here, you don't have to be nasty towards an actor 🤮

#benji campbell #love victor #victor salazar #victor x rahim

[pinksaltcrystals]

Manifesting…. Victor and Benji being endgame…. kissing on the Ferris wheel at the end of the series….. every character having a great ending that makes us all happy……. The fandom healing ❤️‍🩹

#love victor #venji #victor salazar #benji campbell

[pinksaltcrystals]

Shameless plug for chapter 2: What does one do when they break up with their boyfriend, but you have the same friends?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37003249/chapters/92441251#workskin

#love victor #benji campbell #love victor fanfiction #ao3

[pinksaltcrystals]

So, Lukas Gage was tagged in that video post for LV S3, which I think means that Derek is coming back. I wrote a fic exploring what that might mean, and this is my shameless plug for the fic in AO3 😂 have a great night!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37003249

#love victor #benji campbell #victor salazar