Smutty Monday #1

[firethesound]

Hooray! Welcome to my very first Smutty Monday post! This is also my first rec, so bear with me through any awkwardness, please. :D

Title: A Princely Scent
Author: birdsofshore
Wordcount: 5k
Rating/Warnings: NC-17 - mild voyeurism, light bondage, frottage, wanking, and a blow job

Whenever I think of Smut Done Right, this fic is always at the top of my list because in just 5,000 words I went from thinking "Armpits? Who the fuck cares about armpits?" to "Yes please, all the armpit sex!!"


I thought this story was very well-crafted from start to finish. Because I was able to see how Draco was back at Hogwarts when his attraction with Harry started, so by the time we get to the smutty part, it feels less like a kink and more of just a part of how he is. And this Draco is just how I like him, with his desperation to get at Harry completely at odds with his eloquent narration. And that little bit of manipulation where he circles around Harry, carefully leading him to bed such that Harry decides the whole thing was his idea, urgh. Yes, please.

The sex in this is wonderfully described as well, with that same balance of desperate intensity and self-restraint, Draco taking things at his own pace, and the descriptions are just perfect. The whole scene feels eager and familiar at the same time and even though we don't see any more of their relationship than this one interaction, I really felt it come through.

One thing I thought was especially interesting was before the armpit sex happens, Harry grumbles "Draco... You're so freaky about my armpits," and afterwards he says "That... armpit thing. I kind of like it. It's, erm... weird, in a good way. Like you." And that absolutely mirrored the change I went through when I read this. Pre-armpit sex I wasn't sold on it, but afterward I definitely think it's weird-in-a-good-way. Much like Draco is. :D

Comments

[eidheann_writes]

You should do lots more of these, not just Feb. ;)

I think you perfectly summed up most reactions to this fic when it came out. I know I went from wtfarmpits to okay I see it. You just do a good job at voicing why.

[firethesound]

Aw, thanks! Not sure if I'll be doing more after February, though. This post took me a ridiculously long time and about half a dozen read-throughs for me to figure out how to put my reaction into words. I might keep doing rec posts, but they'll probably be more of the flaily "read this because it's good!" sort. XP

I'm really impressed with the way Birds made me care about armpits, because I really don't care about them, but she really sold me on how much Draco likes them. <3

[zeitgeistic.livejournal.com]

I agree with this comment!

[sophie-french.livejournal.com]

Great rec, thanks!!! birdsofshore is so talented! ♥

Can't wait for the next rec! :)

[firethesound]

Birds is wonderful. I always love everything by her. :)

[traintracks.livejournal.com]

She is extraordinarily talented and never seems to believe me when I tell her that -- over and over and over again! I have a tag on my LJ for her that says, 'Birds can fucking write,' ffs! ;-) :-)

[firethesound]

I may have to steal your tag. XD

[traintracks.livejournal.com]

Totally! \o/

[eidheann_writes]

That is a perfect tag

[traintracks.livejournal.com]

IKR?!

[sophie-french.livejournal.com]

I know! Same here!

[birdsofshore]

Goodness me, I am fabulously flattered by this. Thank you so very, very much. I don't know what to say. This is particularly interesting, because I am currently writing something quite similar in structure and feel to this, and when I looked back at Princely Scent recently, I found the first half very Tell not Show. I do like the richness of the imagery, though; it reads a bit like Draco and I were both on something when I wrote it :D I must not underestimate sensual details as an effective tool during sex scenes, although I think I ladled them on a bit TOO much here :D

I'm just so chuffed, not only at the kind things that you wrote, but that you chose this for your first ever rec. ♥ I do appreciate the effort it takes to write a nice rec.

By the way, I don't care a lot about armpits, either! I think they can be pretty nice, but, you know, I'm usually looking at other bits, if I am honest. Draco is terribly convincing, though, when he starts whispering in my ear about what filthy kind of stuff he likes, heh.

[firethesound]

I really liked the overload of sensory details because it really showed how much Draco was into what he was doing. Like, he's half-wild with armpit lust but he's still taking the time to catalogue every single detail, despite the fact that he's obviously done this many times before. He's helplessly obsessed and it shows through his elegant words, is even highlighted by his elegant words, and I really thought it worked well in this instance. :)

This really is one of my favorite fics. So, Draco needs to whisper in your ear more often. :D

[birdsofshore]

Oh! Thank you again. I'm just going to roll around in your praise for a while and then get up and try to make my face into something normal instead of a smug blissed out lump of dough.

He was whispering to me this week! The plan was to post it for Porn Sunday, but my netbook is poorly, and I can only write on my netbook, apparently (or on my phone under the covers, LOL)

[0idontknow0]

So, it turns out you're pretty good at recs. Just saying.

And I agree with eideann, you should do more. Maybe make Smutty Monday a year round thing (that maybe happens every other week if every week is too much)? Or just rec all of the things whenever you feel like it.

[firethesound]

We'll see how I feel when I get to the end of the month. I really do like the sound of Smutty Mondays, and maybe I could fill in the non-rec weeks with porny gifs or something. ::ponders::

[0idontknow0]

*stamp of approval*

[eidheann_writes]

*STAMP OF SUPER YES YES YES APPROVAL*

PORN GIFS/PICS ARE A TOTALLY APPROPRIATE SMUTTY MONDAY ADDITION SLASH FILLER.

[capitu]

I love this fic, and I love this rec! XD

[firethesound]

<3

This fic is one of my faves. :D

[traintracks.livejournal.com]

This was unbefuckinglievable. Thank you for reccing it!!!!!

[firethesound]

I know, right? Birds is an awesome writer!

[dicta-contrion.livejournal.com]

LOVE smutty Mondays. This was a fantastic rec and, especially for a smut-writing n00b, really helpful analysis. What you've said about pacing makes total sense, and was fantastic for putting words to something I saw in the story but hadn't quite been able to articulate to myself. Ditto the armpit line...some excellent insight into what makes it work.

Thanks, for both the rec and your thoughts about it!

[firethesound]

I'm glad you liked it and found it helpful. :D