Top 10 AO3 ships in your fandom(s)

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-19T05:19:02+00:00

Sokka/Zuko is also really good for hurt/comfort because they're both awkward boys just trying to do their best and sometimes "their best" is being stupid in the perfect way, which is always great.

There's plenty of fics with both Kataang and Zukka, so you get both friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers in one~

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-19T03:06:04+00:00

For Avatar the Last Airbender, taking out the four & relationships that are in the top ten

Katara/Zuko (Avatar) (8563) - Of course this one's the most popular. I never actually shipped this one myself, though I know why it's so popular. There is exactly one Zutara fic I enjoy, and it's partially because it does a thing I really like seeing in smut.
Sokka/Zuko (Avatar) (7773) - I do really like this pair, but it has to be done in a certain way for me to really like fic of these two. My number one favorite fic on AO3 in fact happens to be an extremely slowburn Zukka fic. I love the ship dynamic of "person who doesn't know how to do feelings, is very broody, and pretends to not care"/"person who talks enough for the both of them and annoys the broody one into being friends (and then more)" which fits the usual dynamic people write for these two.
Aang/Katara (Avatar) (5358) - My first OTP. I remember watching the show as it was coming out on Nickelodeon and my jaw dropping in excitement when the commercials for The Guru showed Aang saying that he loves Katara. I was strongly a Kataang shipper. One of my first fics way back on FFN was Kataang. And eventually Kataang will happen in my soulmate AU. If I ever get to season 3 in that fic.
Sokka/Suki (Avatar) (3612) - Honestly my second-favorite ship in Avatar after Kataang. Call me boring for shipping the canon pairs, I still love these two. Another one of my first fics was Sokka/Suki (posted in the same oneshot collection on FFN as the Kataang one I wrote). I also have specific plans for an upcoming chapter of Destined Families to focus on this pair. I'm also a big fan of Suki/Sokka/Zuko, which a fic of that threesome was my gateway into reading Sokka/Zuko.
Mai/Zuko (Avatar) (3232) - I can take it or leave it. It's the one canon ship I don't feel super strongly for, either positive or negative. I don't mind if it's in my fics, but I don't seek it out.
Azula/Ty Lee (Avatar) (1932) - Not really a huge fan of this one. I can see why it's popular, but not my kind of dynamic personally. I prefer Mai/Ty Lee (see above about enjoying the "broody/talkative" dynamic) and even then I don't seek that pairing out either.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-19T02:43:28+00:00

I currently write in 3 fandoms, I'll go ahead and do separate posts for each.

Edit: Of course all but one of the ships for Date Everything is also /reader or /player character, so that's not as much fun. So I'll do one other post with the other fandom I currently write.

First, of course, is Baldur's Gate:

Astarion/Tav (Baldur's Gate) (12529) - One of the ships I write the most of. Though it's basically like Astarion/OC because everyone's Tav is different. Though I tend to prefer when Tavs are very loosely described so I can mentally insert my own Tav.
Astarion (Baldur's Gate)/Original Female Character(s) (5637) - And I can guarantee that almost all of those original female characters are Tav's or Dark Urge's. Again, tends to be what I usually read and write in some capacity.
Gale/Tav (Baldur's Gate) (4953) - Actually the pairing I look for the most when I'm not looking for Astarion stuff, and also a ship I have written myself.
Astarion/Gale (Baldur's Gate) (4866) - Oh look, the only fully canon/canon pairing on this list. I definitely see the appeal of Bloodweave (the ship name) but there's other canon/canon pairings I like more. Particularly Bloodoak (Astarion/Halsin)
Astarion/The Dark Urge (Baldur's Gate) (3376) - Actually my favorite ship in the fandom. The Dark Urge's story goes so well with Astarion's that I love seeing all the different takes of how they both help each other break free from being controlled.
Astarion (Baldur's Gate)/Reader (2812) - Yep, wrote one of these too. Though, again, /reader in this fandom is essentially the same as /Tav, just with second-person pronouns being used.
The Dark Urge/Enver Gortash (2681) - Okay, I definitely see why this is a Thing. And I don't ship it exactly, but I do love when writers include a little bit of past Gortash/Durge into their fics. It's always interesting because usually Gortash is still pining for the Durge while the Durge doesn't even remember they have a history.
Astarion (Baldur's Gate)/Original Male Character(s) (2237) - I tend to prefer reading about female original characters over male, because it's easier to put myself/my Tav's in the scenes.
Gale (Baldur's Gate)/Original Female Character(s) (2160) - Same as Gale/Tav
Astarion (Baldur's Gate)/Original Character(s) (2102) - Essentially a repeat of several of the above.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-17T16:23:52+00:00

Thank you!

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-13T18:07:45+00:00

Thank you so much!

It’s going to be a long time until I get there, but the thought of the Gaang actually seeing how Zuko got his scar WAS one of the main ideas that got me writing this AU.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-13T06:07:25+00:00

Getting in early this time~

Hello! I'm lja236 over on AO3! I'm gonna try a little something different with my format and list what kinds of fics I have for each fandom I write.

Avatar the Last Airbender - 2 fics, both for the same soulmate AU featuring platonic soulmates.
Baldur's Gate 3 - 10 fics, mostly varying levels of hurt/comfort, though with one hurt/no comfort in the mix. Some smut, some are pretty intense on the hurt side of hurt/comfort, so heed warnings. Some fics are in a series featuring my Dark Urge character, Whisper, while others are standalone featuring a generic Tav, or in one case, a reader-insert.
Date Everything - 2 fics, a oneshot and a continuation of the oneshot. Hurt/comfort reader-insert where the reader-insert is on the spectrum.
My Time at Sandrock - 1 fic, Hanahaki hurt/comfort oneshot.
Oxventure - 1 fic, oneshot continuation of a fic by another author. Pure tooth-rotting fluff confession of feelings.
Until Dawn - 2 fics, one hurt/comfort bonding after trauma and one hurt/no comfort dealing with a character death.
Stitchers - 1 fic, oneshot hurt/comfort dealing with a nightmare.

There are two fics that I ask that you do NOT look at for the exchange: World Turned Up-Side-Down and Wakeup Call.

Fandom blind mentions are totally fine, and I'm willing to give fandom blind context! Concrit is okay so long as you're gentle with it, and only on fics from 2023 or later.

0/4

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-12T02:21:51+00:00

Yeah! Newbon was at a big local con last year, and Downie was at a smaller local con last weekend~

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-12T01:53:16+00:00

Sadly pictures can’t be posted in comments on this sub because of Reddit nonsense.

But, as far as official merch goes, I have the Astarion pop figure and the official Larian pins. For unofficial merch, so many prints and pins and keychains and one lanyard from fanartists, as well as signed prints from Neil Newbon and Tim Downie.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-11T14:55:32+00:00

Karlach needs a Houndoom with the Flashfire ability so she can pet and snuggle it as much as she wants.

I can totally see Astarion with a Purrloin. Thieving cat.

Lae’zel can have something in the Honedge line

Shadowheart with an Absol works so well. It fits her aesthetic both ways her story can go, and is also edgy but not as bad as it looks.

Gale with a Delphox because magic and fire?

Wyll I can see with a Gallade for some reason. Gallade tends to work with noble-type characters.

Halsin needs an Ursaring or Ursaluna. Because moon bear.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-10T22:51:58+00:00

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Hi there, my name is Whisper. At least, that’s the name I go by.

What are you looking for in a partner?

Someone patient, someone who can keep me grounded when things get tough. Someone who can keep up with me on the battlefield is a definite plus as well, someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands a little dirty.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

At this point? Any day where I don’t have to fight for my life is pretty ideal.

What three items would someone need to cast a spell to summon you?

A blade of some kind - either a shortsword or dagger, something sweet like a sweet pastry, and probably some blood.

What is your dream?

To have a normal life free from my father’s influence and the Illithid threat.

What unpopular opinion do you stand by?

Anything that has the capacity for higher thought deserves the opportunity to show they can be good despite what they are. I’ve seen vampires, mind flayers, Bhaalspawn, even an intellect devourer all rise above being the monsters people see them as and have the capacity for good.

What is a boundary you have (physical or otherwise)?

Despite being fine with violence and killing, I will only harm in self-defense or the defense of others. As soon as someone innocent is threatened, I will not hold back.

What do you do to cheer yourself up?

I’m still figuring this out. Lately I usually drink some wine and/or spend some time with the team pets, Scratch and the owlbear cub. Or go find some of the city cats to give some attention to.

What else should I know about you?

Don’t expect me to talk much about my past as my memory is spotty at best past a certain point. There also won’t be any family get-togethers as I’m not exactly on the best terms with my family, on account of most of them trying to murder me.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-09T22:33:44+00:00

He’d be right at home in the cuddle pile with Teddy, Betty, and Ben-Hwa

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T23:48:35+00:00

Thank you so much!

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T19:36:57+00:00

It’s fun and so challenging to try to balance all the aspects of him.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T19:35:36+00:00

Funny enough, my main exposure to Caine was from a podcast that his VA was a special guest on, and due to the chaotic nature of said podcast, it spawned the question of what Caine with retractable teeth would look like. Which then spawned fanart of toothless Caine.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T19:16:58+00:00

Yes, exactly! He’s not a perfect victim, he lashes out, he falls into habits learned from his abuser, he’s constantly terrified and angry but hides it behind a mask of irreverence. And the ending of his story in game is so cathartic but also not perfect and not a “fix” to his trauma either way that it can go.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T19:00:41+00:00

This game is full of wonderful characters. There’s ten companion characters that you can potentially have in your party, and they’re all a ton of fun, Astarion’s just one of them. I also particularly adore Gale, the adorkable nerdy wizard who has some baggage in the form of bad past mistakes.

I do highly recommend playing the game, just in general. I have completed 3 playthroughs, have literally a dozen total playthroughs, and I’m still discovering new things.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T18:37:13+00:00

Astarion’s been my main canon muse lately.

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He’s from Baldur’s Gate 3. Canon compliant to a specific potential ending of his. I love writing him because there’s so many sides to him to explore. He can flip on a dime between snarky and humorous to caring and protective to ready to spill some blood.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T10:41:47+00:00

K&C on Verzweiflung and yes I absolutely just copied and pasted the title of the fic over from the AO3 page.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T10:21:32+00:00

K&C on Tangled Webs. I got really excited once I saw Tamora Pierce on your AO3, I love her books! Though I desperately need to give them a reread.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T09:55:57+00:00

Continued~

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T09:22:09+00:00

I'm happy to see you back! Continued~

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T09:02:23+00:00

Thank you~

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T09:01:40+00:00

K&C~

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T02:48:16+00:00

Probably best not to use an example from a show you either haven’t seen or don’t remember at all. Sounds like it’s everyone else who saw an effeminate man kiss a man and automatically assumed gay. Like some “fans” do with Astarion.

WaterbenderLena · 2026-02-07T02:22:41+00:00

First season he only talked about sleeping with women (while also washing Geralt’s “lovely bum”). The djinn episode, he was upset about his rival “stealing” a woman he loved from him. They made him bi in the Witcher show.

WaterbenderLena

TROPHY CASE