Character Manifesto: Damon Salvatore
Fandom: The Vampire Diaries
Character: Damon Salvatore
Pairings Included in Manifesto: heavy Damon/Elena; Damon/Katherine; minor Damon/Bonnie; Damon/Caroline
To call Damon Salvatore polarizing might be the understatement of the century. Few people like him; they either passionately love him, or passionately hate him, and it really takes very little to see why. If you're in the haters camp, this post isn't for you.
Let me get the shallow out of the way first. See, there is a given that in fictional television, you're going to have pretty people to admire. What you may not know is that prettiest man on earth plays Damon Salvatore:
Otherwise, he's the guy you want to be loyal to you, because if he is, you've got him, for life. And since he's immortal, that's a very long time. He's passionate, slightly psychotic, and in desperate need of love. These fics explore some of that, and have good characterization of not just Damon, but the ladies in his life. (I've included some gifs for illustration purposes :D) [If you are interested in a very long explanation of why Damon Salvatore is such a fascinating character, you can read that HERE. A couple months ago I wrote a meta about why I fangirl him, but didn't feel it necessary to repeat all that here for this manifesto.]
Fic Rec #1: Loosen Your Grip Before It All Fades
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: midnightblack07
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): M
Why This Must Be Read: This is everything that's wonderfully dysfunctional about Damon and Katherine now, in present time. Fits in perfectly to canon as something we didn't see.
Fic Rec #2 a road trip for absolution / love, i get so lost sometimes / your flag on the marble arch [I call these the Road Trip Trilogy.]
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: youcallitwinter
Link: LiveJournal 1 / LiveJournal 2 / LiveJournal 3
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: Well, as far as road trip fic goes, these are, to my mind, PERFECTION. Because the only place Damon and Elena belong more than on a road trip is in a kitchen.
Fic Rec #3: Bless the Ignorant
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: midnightblack07
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: The longing is palpable.
Fic Rec #4: A Gesture of Kindness
Author: arabian
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: The characterization is perfect.
Fic Rec #5: Every Little Thing You Do is Tragic
Pairing: Damon/Caroline (implied Damon/Elena)
Author: abvj
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: Just trust me when I say the end of this fic will slay you. SLAY. YOU.
Fic Rec #6: I'm All Out For the War
Pairing: Damon/Katherine; Damon/Elena
Author: waltzmatildah
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: Elena kills Katherine to protect Damon.
Fic Rec #7: cross my arms and hope to die
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: ever_neutral
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: This is another road trip fic (I have a weakness for them), but it's a perfect balance of Damon being torn between his brother and his brother's girlfriend.
Fic Rec #8: It'll All Be Yesteryear Soon
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: stainofmylove
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: This is from Kat's POV, but a brilliant illustration of Damon.
Fic Rec #9: Adverse Effect
Pairing: Damon/Bonnie
Author: Farie Insignias
Link: fanfiction.net
Rating/Warning(s): T; this is a WIP that is not yet finished.
Why This Must Be Read: Of all the possible ships out there Damon with Bonnie is the least appealing to me personally. I was drawn into this fic because it's a time travel fic in which Bonnie accidentally gets sent back to 1864. Her interactions with both human!Damon and human!Stefan are delightful. I've been following it for a few months and hope that the author will not abandon it. I'm dying to know how it turns out.
Fic Rec #10: The Difference
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: ThreeJays
Link: fanfiction.net
Rating/Warning(s): M
Why This Must Be Read: This is written in first person, which I don't generally care for, but Damon's voice is spot on, SPOT. ON. So, so, so good.
Fic Rec #11: This I Will Oblige
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: midnightblack07
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s):
Why This Must Be Read: This is Damon at his loveliest, and most pathetic.
Fic Rec #12: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
Pairing: Damon/Katherine; Damon/Elena
Author: lit_chick08
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: A juxtaposition of Human!Damon with Katherine and Vampire!Damon with Elena, and how the two aren't really that different.
Fic Rec #13: Big Top
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: unoshot
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: This is an ensemble from Elena's POV, but it's perfect in every way, down to why Elena isn't with Damon.
Fic Rec #14: so darkness i became
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: littledivinity
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG
Why This Must Be Read: This is another fic from Kat's POV: Damon is dangerous. He is dangerous in a way that no one has been to her in more than a lifetime. He is bright-eyed, and wild of spirit, and he smiles with his whole soul. [Puddle of Goo, after that, I tell ya.]
Fic Rec #15: And It Took So Long Just to Feel Alright
Pairing: Damon/Katherine, Damon/Elena
Author: distant_lines
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: This is fic from Elena's POV, in which she proves that oft-repeated statement of being Damon's friend.
Fic Rec #16: Reflections
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: drkprncss17
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17
Why This Must Be Read: Every rec list should have that one go-to sexy fic. This is that fic. It's even better when you consider it could have really happened. GUH! :D
Fic Rec #17: Like a Dragon, Guarding His Gold
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: crowandfog
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): T
Why This Must Be Read: Because it belongs in the Damon and Elena Bible.
Fic Rec #18: Darling, I Want To Destroy You
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: kieyra
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: I've recced this story before, but I can't in good conscience ever rec any Damon fics without this one. It will probably always be my favorite fic that I didn't write myself.
Character: Damon Salvatore
Pairings Included in Manifesto: heavy Damon/Elena; Damon/Katherine; minor Damon/Bonnie; Damon/Caroline
To call Damon Salvatore polarizing might be the understatement of the century. Few people like him; they either passionately love him, or passionately hate him, and it really takes very little to see why. If you're in the haters camp, this post isn't for you.
Let me get the shallow out of the way first. See, there is a given that in fictional television, you're going to have pretty people to admire. What you may not know is that prettiest man on earth plays Damon Salvatore:
Otherwise, he's the guy you want to be loyal to you, because if he is, you've got him, for life. And since he's immortal, that's a very long time. He's passionate, slightly psychotic, and in desperate need of love. These fics explore some of that, and have good characterization of not just Damon, but the ladies in his life. (I've included some gifs for illustration purposes :D) [If you are interested in a very long explanation of why Damon Salvatore is such a fascinating character, you can read that HERE. A couple months ago I wrote a meta about why I fangirl him, but didn't feel it necessary to repeat all that here for this manifesto.]
Fic Rec #1: Loosen Your Grip Before It All Fades
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: midnightblack07
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): M
Why This Must Be Read: This is everything that's wonderfully dysfunctional about Damon and Katherine now, in present time. Fits in perfectly to canon as something we didn't see.
Fic Rec #2 a road trip for absolution / love, i get so lost sometimes / your flag on the marble arch [I call these the Road Trip Trilogy.]
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: youcallitwinter
Link: LiveJournal 1 / LiveJournal 2 / LiveJournal 3
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: Well, as far as road trip fic goes, these are, to my mind, PERFECTION. Because the only place Damon and Elena belong more than on a road trip is in a kitchen.
Fic Rec #3: Bless the Ignorant
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: midnightblack07
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: The longing is palpable.
Fic Rec #4: A Gesture of Kindness
Author: arabian
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: The characterization is perfect.
Fic Rec #5: Every Little Thing You Do is Tragic
Pairing: Damon/Caroline (implied Damon/Elena)
Author: abvj
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: Just trust me when I say the end of this fic will slay you. SLAY. YOU.
Fic Rec #6: I'm All Out For the War
Pairing: Damon/Katherine; Damon/Elena
Author: waltzmatildah
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: Elena kills Katherine to protect Damon.
Fic Rec #7: cross my arms and hope to die
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: ever_neutral
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: This is another road trip fic (I have a weakness for them), but it's a perfect balance of Damon being torn between his brother and his brother's girlfriend.
Fic Rec #8: It'll All Be Yesteryear Soon
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: stainofmylove
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: This is from Kat's POV, but a brilliant illustration of Damon.
Fic Rec #9: Adverse Effect
Pairing: Damon/Bonnie
Author: Farie Insignias
Link: fanfiction.net
Rating/Warning(s): T; this is a WIP that is not yet finished.
Why This Must Be Read: Of all the possible ships out there Damon with Bonnie is the least appealing to me personally. I was drawn into this fic because it's a time travel fic in which Bonnie accidentally gets sent back to 1864. Her interactions with both human!Damon and human!Stefan are delightful. I've been following it for a few months and hope that the author will not abandon it. I'm dying to know how it turns out.
Fic Rec #10: The Difference
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: ThreeJays
Link: fanfiction.net
Rating/Warning(s): M
Why This Must Be Read: This is written in first person, which I don't generally care for, but Damon's voice is spot on, SPOT. ON. So, so, so good.
Fic Rec #11: This I Will Oblige
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: midnightblack07
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s):
Why This Must Be Read: This is Damon at his loveliest, and most pathetic.
Fic Rec #12: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
Pairing: Damon/Katherine; Damon/Elena
Author: lit_chick08
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: A juxtaposition of Human!Damon with Katherine and Vampire!Damon with Elena, and how the two aren't really that different.
Fic Rec #13: Big Top
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: unoshot
Link: LiveJournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: This is an ensemble from Elena's POV, but it's perfect in every way, down to why Elena isn't with Damon.
Fic Rec #14: so darkness i became
Pairing: Damon/Katherine
Author: littledivinity
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG
Why This Must Be Read: This is another fic from Kat's POV: Damon is dangerous. He is dangerous in a way that no one has been to her in more than a lifetime. He is bright-eyed, and wild of spirit, and he smiles with his whole soul. [Puddle of Goo, after that, I tell ya.]
Fic Rec #15: And It Took So Long Just to Feel Alright
Pairing: Damon/Katherine, Damon/Elena
Author: distant_lines
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): PG-13
Why This Must Be Read: This is fic from Elena's POV, in which she proves that oft-repeated statement of being Damon's friend.
Fic Rec #16: Reflections
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: drkprncss17
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): NC-17
Why This Must Be Read: Every rec list should have that one go-to sexy fic. This is that fic. It's even better when you consider it could have really happened. GUH! :D
Fic Rec #17: Like a Dragon, Guarding His Gold
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: crowandfog
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): T
Why This Must Be Read: Because it belongs in the Damon and Elena Bible.
Fic Rec #18: Darling, I Want To Destroy You
Pairing: Damon/Elena
Author: kieyra
Link: Livejournal
Rating/Warning(s): R
Why This Must Be Read: I've recced this story before, but I can't in good conscience ever rec any Damon fics without this one. It will probably always be my favorite fic that I didn't write myself.
