what lies lurk in kisses, by Cinaed (T)

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

There was a bunch of great Rómeó és Júlia fic in Yuletide this year. I'll be reccing some of it before reveals, since I'm trying to mix up the character focuses a bit (the fandom as a whole is not quite as Tybalt/Mercutio-focused as my recs might suggest, but there's not much I can do about that within crack_van rules), and will come back after Jan. 1 to edit in the authors.

Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Mercutio/Tybalt
Length: 3922 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: cinaed | cinaed
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

Mercutio and Tybalt have hated each other for a long time, and there's a lot of potential in exploring their backstory. This story explores Tybalt's apparently-traumatic first visit to a brothel (and his relationship with his father), as well as his conflict with Mercutio. It's gorgeously written, and the dialogue between them is sharp and complicated, as is their dynamic.

Some non-explicit sexual activity between teenagers. Heed author's warnings, although it's not really much more fucked up than canon.

“Has all this perfume addled my wits and all these bewitching ladies dazzled my eyes, or do I see a Capulet before me? I would ask what brings thee to this place, my good lord Tybalt, but even my imagination fails to suggest what you might do here other than the obvious.”

Tybalt receives the words like a blow, and shudders all over before he can quell his reaction. He does not have to open his eyes to know who stands before him, to picture the mocking slant of Mercutio’s mouth. He is torn between anger and something very much like relief. Where the duke’s half-mad nephew is, Montagues are sure to follow like the craven lapdogs they are. Should his father discover Montagues are frequenting this same brothel, there will be bloodshed, Capulet and Montague heart-blood staining the stones of Verona for the second time in as many days. Tybalt almost welcomes the prospect, for it will mean the assorted Capulets and Montagues spilling onto the streets to fight, away from the sickeningly sweet perfumes of the brothel.

what lies lurk in kisses

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