HumiliatedRook’s Fics for Yuletide 2021, Originally Posted on Tumblr

Originally made by livelovecaliforniadreams.

I didn’t have this blog during Yuletide, so I’m just going to share them here! I wrote five fics (~35K words) in a short span of time, so I’m pretty proud. Fics are Beth/Benny unless otherwise specified.

💚 Reblogs, likes, comments, kudos, and concrit always appreciated, thank you! 💚

(1) Alone But Not Alone

for brella | E, 11K, with dialectica_esoterica

Beth Harmon Post-Moscow, fake dating Benny Watts, and discovering what’s real and what’s not.

Originally made by dcnnatroya.

Like wildfire in dry summer heat, the news spreads overnight.

Lee publishes his scoop announcing the relationship between Watts and Harmon, from his recollection of Cleveland ‘67 to today, Atlanta ‘69. They give him a few more crumbs but remain tight-lipped about any other details, like for how long and how serious and why. While Benny’s tongue is a talented shade of silver, Beth’s is not, so she avoids lying directly.

(2) Liminal Lens

for elegantstupidity | T, 6.6K

Post-Moscow chess-heavy exes-to-friends-to-lovers fic.

Originally made by orangesyellow.

Made by faearies.

They try to outwit each other in some perpetual motion wheel, chasing each other like the blades of a fan, like the Manicheans from her Methuen theology textbook that illustrate the world as an infinite struggle between light and dark.

Competitively, Beth never plays like Beth, and Benny never plays like Benny. If this were the bedroom, it’d be some kind of roleplay.

(3) your past becomes your present if it's always on your mind

for Arsenic | Beth & Jolene DeWitt, Jolene & Original Female Characters, Jolene / Original Male Character, T, 2.9K

Canon and post-canon fill-in Jolene-centric narrative.

Originally made by behbuh.

Jolene watches Beth, lifer no more, pack by the candlelight of her nightstand.

Beth accuses her of taking her book; Jolene tries not to let the sarcasm seep too deeply into her tone.

So color Jolene surprised when Beth says quietly, eyes averted, “I’m sorry you didn’t get adopted.

If even Beth is noticing something off with Jolene, then everyone probably knows that Jolene is angry.

“Shit. I make out just fine right here.” Jolene plays it off, turns around, and grits her teeth to sleep.

She doesn’t hug Beth goodbye. From a window, she watches Fergusson and Deardorff load Beth’s briefcase into the backseat of her new home, the mother full of hope and the father decidedly less so, and she watches Beth try to wave goodbye to Mr. Shaibel. Good riddance, Jolene thinks.

(4) the path through the mirrored maze

for thisismetrying | M, 10K, Dec. 2021, with dialectica_esoterica

Post-Moscow dementia fic. Beth/Benny POV. Warning(s): major character death

Originally made by onceandfuturehimbo.

“I still feel like I’m losing my mind.”

“Is it because you still feel like taking the vitamins?”

Beth shakes her head furiously. “No, not like that. Just...there are blank spots. I can see games still, but once they’re over, I can’t remember them. Like my memory’s not recording correctly.”

Jolene’s immediate instinct is to deny it. “No, no, you’re not.” Jolene takes a deep, wavering breath and says, “Well, hopefully things are okay long enough for you to come to my law school graduation in August.”

“I did say I would be there for you, just like you are for me.” Yeah, it’s a little mushy, but it’s more or less a direct quote from their conversation a couple months ago before Moscow. Beth’s smile reassures Jolene that she’s right, she’ll be okay for long enough.

After a hearty meal, Beth excuses herself to use the restroom.

She’s gone for ten minutes. Jolene opens a book to read.

She’s gone for thirty minutes. The waiter comes by the bill, and Jolene wonders if something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

She pays and starts combing the promenade for her friend. How hard can it be to lose someone with such vibrant hair?

“José Capablanca was a prodigy and lived his life handed to him on a silver platter, eschewed books and formal study for food and women and booze. They say the coroner put his ego as the cause of death. Alekhine played obsessively for years and years, became World Champion and then the alcoholic that showed up to every game drunk. His dead body was found hunched over a chess board. At least Beth isn’t like them.”

“Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up.”

Bonus fic that wasn’t finished in time but I enjoyed writing anyway:

(5) The Start of Something New

for paperclipbitch | E, 5K

New Year's Eve hate-kiss. High School Musical Fusion AU, enemies-to-lovers fic ft. canon-typical sexually charged chess for B2.

Beth Harmon and Benny Watts have an instant connection over chess, along with spades of hatred and attraction. From their first meeting they can’t stop fighting, and it’s all very confusing. No knowledge of High School Musical franchise required.

Originally made by smallscreensource.

Made by faearies.

“You know what? Someday you might thank me for this,” Hilton calls as he leaves.

The Boy-With-Really-Fine-Hair takes the seat next to her, where he deliberately keeps his eyes off any one person, trained instead on the chessboard, as if he can’t help himself. He enunciates carefully at his friend’s back, “Go to hell.”

“Or not,” mutters Hilton, sauntering away with a cheerful spring in his step.

She’s interrupted by a shout behind them: Ten! Nine!

The New Year’s countdown has begun. Well, that’s not going to keep her from shouting at him. “You arrogant jerk, there’s no way that the knight move is stronger, you need it for a defense against the threat of—”

Eight! Seven!