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| Daria |
TITLE - The Daria Continuum
AUTHOR - Diane Long
UNIVERSE - Canon/Post-canon
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - M
WORD COUNT - 92,093
PAIRING - Trent Lane/Daria Morgendorffer
SUMMARY - Daria and Trent discover that getting together was the easy part. Staying together, however, will be the real challenge.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is hands down my very favorite Daria fanfic - I read it way back in the day (I'm talking 2006), and it's stuck with me ever since. It's a beautifully told story full of ups and downs - we ride the waves of friendship, romance, betrayal, and revenge through Daria's later HS years, college, and beyond. The author transforms Trent from unmotivated slacker to driven, creative force in a realistic way, and writes his romance with Daria beautifully, and authentically. Daria is not an easy person to love (neither, at times, is Trent), but there's something between them that keeps pulling them back together. It's lush and full of delicious tension, carefully balanced with some truly hilarious moments, and great takes on various fandom cliches. I love it, and have reread it often in the ensuing years ♥
TITLE - The Last Days of Solitude
AUTHOR - Jon Kilner
UNIVERSE - Early canon
GENRE - Drama, Friendship
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 12,865
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - Jane is alone and depressed until a new kid comes to Lawndale. See life from Jane's perspective as she encounters the new girl in town: Daria Morgendorffer.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - And now for something a little different. This fic is rich and dark - an interesting portrait of Jane Lane, and how her life is changed when she meets Daria. We have little insights into her relationship with her brother, Trent; how she deals with school; and why she's taken the self-esteem class six times before Episode 1. The sibling relationship portrayed here is amazing - I love the way Mr. Kilner writes the characters, the subtleties that bring out their canon personalities and give credence to why and how they look out for each other amidst the "benign neglect that has served them so well," as Jane quips in Season 3. It's a great, alternate look at the pilot episode from Jane's point of view, and well worth the read for any Jane fans out there.
TITLE - Howard (2004)
AUTHOR - The Angst Guy
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Friendship, Comedy
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 2,860
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - Daria Morgendorffer hears the story about Howard the duck (not that Howard the Duck) in this third-season tale that explains why Trent Lane will not go into a bookstore. A little shipperiness and angst included.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - In the Season 2 episode "Pierce Me," Trent tells Daria (rather cryptically) that he can't “set foot in a bookstore” but refuses to say why. The Angst Guy takes up the challenge of providing an explanation, and it is hilarious and endearing, all at once. Suffice to say it has something to do with a duck named Howard and a '68 Chevy...
TITLE - Reunited and It Feels So Good (2009)
AUTHOR - Person
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Friendship/Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 3,528
PAIRING - Trent Lane/Daria Morgendorffer; Jesse Moreno/Jane Lane
SUMMARY - Sometimes ten years can change a lot of things. And sometimes it just brings them spiraling back around again.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - He punched at the buttons for a minute before finally dropping it back on the desk. "There," he told her. "That's my private number, right at the top of your contacts. Let's stay in touch this time, huh Daria?"
She stared down at he phone's display, at the number labeled 'aaaTrent' to push it above 'Aaronson, Greg', and slowly nodded. "You're right. Let's do that."
This is basically a pitch-perfect post-canon OTP fic ♥ The author does a nice job future!casting the supporting cast as well as giving the members of Mystik Spiral an interesting (and unconventional) twist of fate. Jesse/Jane is the established side pairing, one that throws me right back to Season 1 and all the shippy goodness.
TITLE - Country Wisdom (2013)
AUTHOR - Kristen Bealer
UNIVERSE - Pre-canon
GENRE - General
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 1,389
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - What really happened during Daria's original stay at Camp Grizzly? A fanfic based on comments and flashbacks from "Camp Fear."
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A clever little fic based on the Season 5 episode "Camp Fear," recalling one of Daria's less fond memories of summer camp, and an encounter that made it all bearable.
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| General Hospital |
TITLE - Serendipity (2006)
AUTHOR - YanksLuver
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Comedy, Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 5,569
PAIRING - Patrick Drake/Robin Scorpio
SUMMARY - After Robin and Patrick become trapped in a supply closet, they learn a few interesting facts about each other and realize they share a surprising connection to the past.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because it is hilarious and snarky and touching and amazing. The supply closet is something of a running in-joke on GH, with various couples using it as a rendezvous point for a quick hookup, hence the hilarity of these two getting 'trapped' in the closet, and why the others immediately jump to conclusions when they're found. I also love this fic because the dialogue is very snappy and witty, and perfectly fitting with the sort of flirtatious sparring these two engaged in during their courtship. Patrick's a player, and Robin's not afraid to call him on it, which makes for some very sharp exchanges. What makes this story touching is the background the author weaves into the piece, of these two having unknowingly met before, a memory they both recall in a moment that brings them closer together than either ever expected.
TITLE - Home is Where the Heart Is (2006)
AUTHOR - YanksLuver
UNIVERSE - Canon divergence
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 19,864 (5 chapters)
PAIRING - Patrick Drake/Robin Scorpio
SUMMARY - Robin and Patrick travel to his hometown for his grandmother's funeral.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This was actually the first story by YanksLuver that I read, and I was simply blown away. From what I can tell, this is a divergence from canon, a little side story that delves further into Patrick's background and family. Robin accompanies him when he returns to his hometown for his grandmother's funeral, and learns more about him that she bargained for - and, in the process, he finally makes a move towards her, much to the delight of his meddling aunts :) Here again is evidence of strong writing and characterization, with a mixture of light humor and heavy romance. I was on the edge of my seat as the story progressed, with Patrick getting past some of the roadblocks in his life and finally being willing to admit just what Robin had come to mean to him. It's a beautiful story, one I'd recommend even to those not familiar with the canon.
TITLE - Charade (2006)
AUTHOR - YanksLuver
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Drama
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 3,421
PAIRING - Patrick Drake/Robin Scorpio
SUMMARY - Robin and Patrick finally speak following their breakup, during which Robin confronts Patrick about the man he pretends to be.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is a wonderful example of this author's versatility, in being able to write such a somber, heavy scene between her characters, who had just had a huge fight in canon and would not resolve it for some time. She even admits in her author's note that its a bit of wish fulfillment, only because it seems to be the name of the game in soap opera land to milk the agony of a breakup for all its worth. Here, she makes Patrick and Robin strong, each finding a way to take a stand for the other, even in the midst of their drama and heartache. There is also some nice exposition and comparison of their relationship to the one she had with Jason before Patrick appeared on the scene. It's a great piece with a bittersweet ending.
TITLE - When Everything Goes Red (2010)
AUTHOR - sugarpromises
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 748
SUMMARY - The sight of her clinging to the ground is unsettling, but he doesn’t dare disturb her state. He’s seen what shock looks like on Maxie and worries that one wrong move could lead her there.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Maxie's relationship with her ill-fated 'non-husband' has been star-crossed from the first moment (they bonded over her sister's death, for goodness sake!), and its interesting that the person she's confiding in is Patrick Drake, womanizer extraordinaire and someone who sent her cousin's world spinning (and not always in a good way). Maxie bemoans her inability to make the right decisions, so what is this?
TITLE - Baby, You Can't See a Target or a Tragedy (2010)
AUTHOR - sugarpromises
UNIVERSE - Canon divergence
GENRE - Drama
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 611
PAIRING - Lucky Spencer/Maxie Jones
SUMMARY - Tonight could be messy, but with Lucky Spencer, things always are.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - I love the complicated mess that is Maxie's and Lucky's wayward relationship. They can never seem to quite untangle themselves all the way, or let each other go (plus there's a positive mention of my OTP here, even if it ends badly!)
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| Heroes |
TITLE - Quite Comfortable (2007)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Comedy
RATING - Y
WORD COUNT - 1,606
PAIRING - Peter Petrelli/Claire Bennet
SUMMARY - Claire's comfort zone with her newly discovered uncle is tested. Canon Paire. Incest implications. UST.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - I'm a sucker for Peter/Claire (or, at least, paynesgrey's take on them), and this is a really cute oneshot, full of one-up-manship, in a battle over nudity and towel size and very strange Petrelli customs :P Claire is suitably feisty, and Peter suitably chided, as each discover a new piece of attraction - and work hard to fight it, now that they've discovered they're related. The banter is witty and cute, and the encounter full of delicious UST, as promised by the summary - a definite don't miss if you're a fan of their pairing, or sexual flirtation in general :D
TITLE - A Stranger's Gain (2007)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Angst
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 587
PAIRING - Peter Petrelli/Niki Sanders
SUMMARY - Claire doesn't like Peter's new girlfriend. Claire POV. Peter x Niki Warning for some incest feelings.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - I LOVE THIS. It is a beautiful portrait of the agony of unrequited love, as Claire meets her uncle Peter's new girlfriend for the first time, at her high school graduation. This little ficlet artfully blends one of the alt universes into the main canon timeline as well, in a way, bringing it all full circle. Claire suffers in silence on what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, as she realizes the man she loves is out of her reach, and there's nothing she can do about it. Exquisitely written.
TITLE - Death Wish (2009)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 2,456
PAIRING - Peter Petrelli/Claire Bennet
SUMMARY - Claire tells Peter why she really tries to kill herself. Season Three spoilers. Peter x Claire. ONESHOT.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because paynesgrey is such a big Heroes fan, I was curious to read some of her Heroes fic. (Sometimes enthusiasm rubs off like that, LOL.) I started reading some of her Peter/Claire oneshots, and was just completely hooked. This one certainly ranks up there as one of my faves, because of the increasing complexity of the characters' relationship, and the depth of conflict Claire herself feels, when faced with her own immortality. It's a really beautifully wrought piece, and the author writes this pairing very enticingly.
TITLE - Grave New World (2010)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
UNIVERSE - Alternate ("I am Become Death" exposed future)
GENRE - Action/Adventure, Drama, Darkfic
RATING - Y
WORD COUNT - 21,000 (5 chapters)
PAIRINGS - Noah Bennet/Sandra Bennet, Peter Petrelli/Claire Bennet, Sylar (Gabriel Gray)/Elle Bishop
SUMMARY - After Nathan Petrelli's revelation, the world panics and rejects people with special abilities. As fear and darkness spread, those who were once villains become the victims, a family is destroyed, and an innocent woman is forced to fight.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because it is amazing. This was the first Heroes fanfic I ever read, and it absolutely knocked my socks off. Its full of action, violence, dark drama, and foiled romance - and yet, it isn't a story that ends on an unhappy note. I love the exquisitely drawn characters here - Peter, Claire, Sylar/Gabriel, and Elle ~ they are each compelling in their own right, but the way they interact with each other is a real treat. They are their canon selves, but different, in fitting with this alternate timeline. I especially liked Sylar's character arc, going from an unrelentingly evil monster to a father, and learning everything that comes with such grave responsibility.
The fourth chapter is horrifying in scope and timbre, and rockets each of these characters in different directions, tearing apart the once-close Peter and Claire even as it brings the estranged Sylar and Elle closer together. I really like that relationship, in particular; they are broken and confused but stubborn, willing to do whatever it takes to protect the child that neither of them asked for. It's incredibly powerful, as is the dark turn that Claire takes at the end - a story that plays out in the sequel to this one, and one I waited with bated breath for over a year to read.
TITLE - The Devil and Her Treasures (2011)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
UNIVERSE - Alternate ("I am Become Death" exposed future)
GENRE - Drama, Suspense
RATING - Y
WORD COUNT - 23,743 (11 chapters)
PAIRINGS - Gabriel Gray/Elle Bishop, Claire Bennet/Elle Bishop
SUMMARY - Sylar, Elle and their son have been hiding for a long time, but when Pinehearst Agent Claire Bennet discovers them, they strike a deal to leave Sylar and his son alone, as long as Elle becomes her prisoner. Sequel to Grave New World.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A gorgeously-rendered follow-up to Grave New World, this piece very neatly ties together three swathes of canon, and follows Claire Bennet on her dark and destructive path. Following the deaths of her parents, she searches for her one-time love (and erstwhile uncle) Peter, whom she holds solely responsible for their murders. To get to him, she must go through Gabriel and Elle, whom she also blames for destroying her family to protect their own. She strikes a deal with them, taking Elle as her prisoner in exchange for Gabriel's life (and their son's), and tries to use her to figure out what Peter's next move is. Somewhere along the line passionate hatred turns into passionate lust, and Claire finds herself in thrall of her once-hated rival - and when worse comes to worst, Elle is the only person she is concerned with saving.
I really like this take on badass Claire - its fun to see a once-wholesome character take a turn for the dark side and really embrace it. I think its obvious how much paynesgrey likes Claire by how she writes her, and this story is no exception ~ it was well worth the year-long wait.
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| Kids Incorporated |
TITLE - Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right
AUTHOR - Dawne
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Comedy, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 5,426
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is the way to voice your displeasure at reigning shipwars - by writing an incredibly hilarious parody yourself! This story hinges on an old cliche - the "middle school gets married and has an egg baby" line so popular with YA series books and sitcoms alike - and pairs up the ultra-competitive Renee and Ryan in order to save both their skins. Of course, as is wont to happen when you start marrying people off, it messes with their personal relationships and threatens to blow completely out of their control, but each character steps up in the end, and it all works out. There's lots of humor to be had, a bit of romance (real and fake), and just enough angst to keep things interesting. Dawne calls it her "anti-Valentine's Day" story, but I think it makes for a pretty good little read on the day devoted to hearts and flowers, LOL!!
TITLE - How Will I Know? (2010)
AUTHOR - WhyteRoze28
UNIVERSE - Canon divergence
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 5,698 (4 chapters)
PAIRING - Ryan/Stacy
SUMMARY - This story takes place in August 2000, and in this AU, the band dissolved after Ryan left, so there wasn't anything after Season 5. Ryan and Stacy meet again at a KI reunion.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - *flails* AUGH SOMEONE ELSE IS WRITING KI FIC BESIDES ME, AND FOR THIS PAIRING! :D :D :D LOL, okay, let me calm down a little bit...this is actually a really adorable fic set 15 years after Season 5 (1988), in which three incarnations of Kids Inc reunite at the P*lace. It's lovely not only for the Ryan/Stacy storyline underlying the whole thing, but also for all the canon references, the love for Mickey, and the careers WhyteRoze28 assigned to everyone. They all really fit, you know? I'm a little jealous that I didn't come up with the idea first, LOL. It's awesome to see someone else's take on the characters, as well as the ship, because its feels like I'm flying solo 99% of the time.
TITLE - Let's Twist Again (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Family
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 261
SUMMARY - Ryan surprises his grandmother with a dance on a normal day.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is a very sweet little riff on the season two episode "Grandma, Won't You Dance with Me?" It was one of the earliest explorations of Ryan's character, and one of the first times he was given a little depth, which GloriaFan continues in this short piece. I have a soft spot for fics where Ryan indulges his inner nerd, and this is definitely one of them, LOL!
TITLE - Blessings in Disguise (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Family
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 633
SUMMARY - There I sat. Alone. Heartbroken. Crying into my pillow as I heard angry screams from my father, who was fighting with my brother through a payphone.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - It seems what GloriaFan excels at best are character-centric pieces, pushing a bit further into the depths of canon than what we see on screen. He does a great job here with the Kid, definitely the most tragic of the early characters, trading on not just the revelations made in the season four episodes "Still Appearing" and "What's in a Name?", but also pulling in bits and pieces from the rarely-aired pilot episode, "The Beginning". It's a neat little way of knitting canon back together, and it works, at least for me =)
TITLE - Christmastime is Here '83 (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 545
SUMMARY - The kids exchange Christmas presents for the first time.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - One of GloriaFan's emerging strengths as a writer is his ability to write really nice character-centric genfic, and this piece doesn't disappoint. A rarity, this is set at the beginning of the very first season, and focuses on the Kid's first Christmas with his fellow bandmates. He somehow manages to choose the perfect gift for each of them, including Stacy =) With lots of great little bits of meta, this is a story that goes down easy and unleashes the happy, even long after the Christmas season as passed.
TITLE - Dim All the Lights (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 294
PAIRING - Ryan/Stacy
SUMMARY - "Ryan! What on earth are you doing?" she exclaimed unhappy over being pulled off her seat. "Just wait and see, Stacy, dearest." He said as he led her across the house.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is an ooey-gooey slice of life piece (focused on my original OTP ship ♥ ) set a few months after the inevitable [see also - the next rec]. I don't know that I've seen *any* married-life-post-canon fic for this series, much less this pairing, but this little ficlet certainly hit all my squee buttons. There's a real sense of ease between the characters, and Ryan's surprise for Stacy on their anniversary is very touching.
TITLE - The Wedding (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Friendship, Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 4,112 (2 chapters)
PAIRING - Ryan/Stacy
SUMMARY - Ryan and Stacy's wedding day.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - HOLY SHIT. Just, holy shit. Talk about a beautiful, wonderful, amazing story, one that goes far, far beyond its description. If I tried to list everything I loved about this story, I'd probably spend more words than GloriaFan spent writing about it, LOL!! First of all, there's the obvious - the "official" joining in holy matrimony of my original and forever OTP, which, let's face it, hapless romantic fangirls like myself will always think about deep down inside ♥ . This is a fairly standard wedding story, detailing the nervous jitters before the ceremony all the way through the slightly cheesy reception, but it's the little things that GloriaFan packs into this piece that really put it over the top. You see that genre tag? That's no mistake - this story is just as much about the friendships the members of the band formed during their years together as it is about the romance between Ryan and Stacy. If anything, I enjoyed *those* parts of this story more - the interactions between Mickey and Gloria, Gloria and Renee, Devyn, Kenny, and Richie, and even some extra special conversations between Mickey and Ryan (who never met in canon but get along wonderfully here), Gloria and Ryan, and Kid and Stacy. It's a beautiful story, one I know I'll treasure always, and one which will reside at the very top of my KI rec list for quite a few years to come.
TITLE - Hello Goodbye (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
UNIVERSE - Canon (Season 2)
GENRE - Friendship, Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 2,154
PAIRING - Mickey/Gloria
SUMMARY - Don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is a sweet, angsty story that explains how and why Mickey came to leave the band he'd formed. His move was hard on everyone - but especially Gloria. The emotions in this story are vivid and real, as Gloria fights within herself to be supportive of Mickey's move, and yet keep her heart from breaking all the same. I especially like Riley's role in this piece, finally having the chance to play the all-knowing, advice-giving mentor to the younger kids. With cute cameo appearances by Renee, Stacy, and the Kid, this feels like the missing link between the end of season one and the beginning of season two.
TITLE - Love Grows (2013-2014)
AUTHOR - danzcoach24
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - M
WORD COUNT - 33,370 (29 chapters)
PAIRING - Ryan/Stacy
SUMMARY - Ryan and Stacy have remained close all these years. What happens when Ryan's true feelings for her get outed on national tv?
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - OMG, I just about fell through my chair when this fic popped up randomly in my Google alerts for this series. It was posted starting a few days before Christmas, and I was ridiculously excited to see it - finally, someone else writing for KI! Bonus points for it being about my OTP of OTPs!! This is the story that reawakened my love for the series after being pushed down to the bottom of my priorities list in the last couple of years.
The author captured the characters so well - their dynamics with each other, be it friendship or romance. I love the little bits of canon that were thrown in - the magic ring, the Sadie Hawkins episode, Stacy and the Kid having that epic fight in S4, that ridiculous chemistry Ryan and Stacy had on stage in S5, and especially the Foreigner cover that is at the heart of this fic. There's a bit of a twist on the old cliche, too, in that the characters are oblivious of their feelings for each other, even though its obvious to the rest of the world. That's fun to read about, especially when its done well. The author also does some great future!casting for the other characters (Richie as a morning drivetime radio DJ is an absolute stroke of genius), and she has a great ear for dialogue. It's cute and funny and sweet, a fairytale-like continuation for a series that covered more than its fair share of fairytales ♥
Though not the most technically proficient piece I've ever read, I think the heart of the fic more than makes up for it - a must for any fellow shippers who want a fresh look at our beloved pairing!
TITLE - Love Grows: The Wedding (2014)
AUTHOR - danzcoach24
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 3,942
PAIRING - Ryan/Stacy
SUMMARY - A one shot continuation of "Love Grows". Post canon. Ryan and Stacy's wedding day!
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A very sweet sequel to Love Grows, this is the epitome of wedding day fic. The author carries all of her strengths into this continuation - the wonderful dialogue, the expert handling of the characters, a great OC - and adds some touching insight into the pairing. The vows were perfect, and the two share a tiny moment after their first married kiss that's just beautiful. This one's definitely for the romantics at heart.
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| Sweet Valley High |
TITLE - Everything She'd Wanted (2010)
AUTHOR - WhatBecomesofYou
FANDOM - Sweet Valley
UNIVERSE - Canon continuation
GENRE - Angst, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 2,728
PAIRING - Todd Wilkins/Elizabeth Wakefield
SUMMARY - He had been her first kiss, her first love, and no matter how many years it had been since they had an uninterrupted conversation, some part of her would always be his. Elizabeth/Todd through the years. Oneshot.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because it's really quite innovative, and its wonderfully written. Reading this piece gave me the idea for Reinvent Me, and you will definitely see the similarities. I am a sucker for childhood-friends-to-lovers sorts of relationships, and I was one of the few who actually liked Todd/Liz while the series was still being produced, it seems :P So was this author, and she really treats their relationship beautifully, carrying it through from their first meeting in Sweet Valley Kids, all the way through the *entire* universe run, and beyond. There's no character or ship bashing, and she reunites the two quite beautifully at the end. It's a very mature piece, for a fandom that kinda sorta lacks it, if the fics at FF.net are anything to go by o.O
TITLE - Summer Fling (2011)
AUTHOR - snarky_imp
FANDOM - Sweet Valley High
UNIVERSE - Pre-canon
GENRE - Friendship, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 3,547
PAIRING - Ken Matthews/Lila Fowler
SUMMARY - N/A
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - OMG KEN/LILA FIC!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a pairing that was only hinted at in the beginning of Sweet Valley High (and, of course, was one of the end-game pairings in Sweet Valley Confidential), and boy does snarky_imp give them justice here. In her take on the tale, Ken and Lila had a fling the summer before junior year, one both of them find surprising, but pleasurable nonetheless. I *love* her characterization of Lila - its just so spot-on perfect, capturing both the snobbishness and the loneliness that comes with being the only daughter of an incredibly wealthy but mostly absent father. She finds herself falling for Ken in spite of herself, absolutely amazed at how much he's changed since the last time she paid attention to him - and its the same for Ken, who's pretty amazed that she's paying attention to him at all, considering their many differences. But not even a jealous dig from Bruce Patman can shake the deepening bond between them, so you know it must be love, LOL. Their first kiss was just as toe-curling for me, the reader, as it was for them, which is definitely the mark of a great writer :D
TITLE - Carelessly (2012)
AUTHOR - snarky_imp
FANDOM - Sweet Valley High
UNIVERSE - Pre-canon
GENRE - Angst, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 485
PAIRING - Ken Matthews/Lila Fowler
SUMMARY - N/A
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - I have a thing for enduring relationships that break up and reunite, and snarky_imp has tapped that vein here. Ken and Lila are together during the summer after sophomore year - on the brink of falling apart, no less - and, interestingly enough, they still don't even really know each other. They're still playing with their preconceptions of each other, and maybe that's what they can't quite get past. Quite interesting, especially given this is a canonical endgame pairing!
TITLE - Casual Observer (2012)
AUTHOR - snarky_imp
FANDOM - Sweet Valley High
UNIVERSE - Pre-canon
GENRE - Drama
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 753
PAIRING - Bruce Patman/Lila Fowler
SUMMARY - N/A
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Bruce witnesses Ken and Lila's breakup, and takes it upon himself to offer a bit of comfort to his old friend. snarky_imp captures Bruce so perfectly here - so cool, so deliberate, so him with that attitude - and hints at a Bruce/Lila backstory that I'm dying to know. This is my preferred pairing, and though its not really a pairing fic, it dances around the dynamic that I find so intriguing and fun.
TITLE - Holiday (2012)
AUTHOR - snarky_imp
FANDOM - Sweet Valley High
UNIVERSE - Pre-canon
GENRE - Friendship
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 1,005
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - N/A
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A great piece of friendship fic starring Jessica, Lila, and Cara having fun at the roller rink on a late summer evening. I love snarky_imp's take on Jessica, still a schemer without being such a bitch about it. And all the little things - finding Todd idly cute, thinking Enid's a drip, noticing with her own sense of cunning just how Bruce was paying attention to Lila, and how much she had to think about how to react to that. And I love the idea of Bruce skulking in the shadows! This reads like a sequel to 'Causal Observer', and ties in beautifully with that whole dynamic. This is a great little window into the characters before we formally meet them in SVH #1, and nobody does it better than snarky_imp in my book.
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| Commissions & Giftfics |
Because I have awesome friends who sometimes take commissions - and who sometimes give me gifts when I both least expect it *and* most need it :)
TITLE - Letters from France (2009)
AUTHOR - landofthekwt
FANDOM - Ouran High School Host Club
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 635
SUMMARY - Kyoya is irritated by Tamaki’s text messages.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - kwt's first foray into Ouran fanfic is a very strong one, as he explores Kyouya's thoughts behind his actions in France as he tracks down Tamaki's mother. The relationships mentioned are conveyed very strongly and clearly.
TITLE - O Christmas Tree! (2010)
AUTHOR - summerofsoaps
FANDOM - General Hospital
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 135
PAIRING - Matt Hunter/Maxie Jones
SUMMARY - Just a sweet, schmoopy little coda to one of my favorite M&M scenes ever.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because it's a really cute little bit of fluff for my favorite GH pairing of the moment, and because such pairing fic is very hard to come by =)
TITLE - Love You (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
FANDOM - Kids Incorporated
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 313
PAIRING - Ryan/Stacy
SUMMARY - Saying you love somebody means something, but it means more when you know they love you back. Short bit of giftfic fluff for LuxKen27.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This was a complete and total surprise, and a very much appreciated one. GloriaFan is the other prolific KI fanwriter at the moment, and I've basically over the moon to have stories for that fandom to read that didn't come from my pen. GF messaged me yesterday to alert me to this story, which he put up "just because" =) It's a beautiful little piece of fluff, the sort that pushes all my ooey-gooey romantic buttons for this, my oldest and most enduring OTP ♥
TITLE - My Own Price Charming (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
FANDOM - Kids Incorporated
UNIVERSE - Canon (Season 2)
GENRE - Comedy, Friendship
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 289
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - "Listen, Stace," said Gloria, "I don't think it's a good idea for you to dress up like Elvira."
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This adorable little drabble was one of the treats I received for the Halloween "Trick or Treat" meme ♥ I just love every aspect of Ryan's and Stacy's relationship in KI, but I have a particular soft spot for early canon friendship, and this totally hits the spot :) Stacy is despairing over ever finding a good trick-or-treat costume, when Gloria suggests she go out as a princess - and what princess is complete without her prince? This is definitely one of my favorite little pieces of KI fic, period ~ even sweeter than it's also a gift!fic :D
TITLE - The Sun Always Shines in Sweet Valley (2011)
AUTHOR - nic
FANDOM - Sweet Valley High
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Angst
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 4,592
PAIRING - Bruce Patman/Lila Fowler
SUMMARY - Lila reflects on what was supposed to be her Perfect Summer. (Aren't they always?)
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Well, first and foremost, this is just a well-written story. I asked for Lila-centric fic, and nic just knocked it out of the park. She captures all of the little nuances that make Lila Lila: we see into her disgustingly rich world, but we also see how lonely that leaves her. She was supposed to have an incredible adventure the summer after graduation from high school, but instead, she's stuck in Sweet Valley while Hurricane Jessica blows through Europe. The contrast of Lila's indifference to Jessica's manic tour of Italy is absolutely brilliant =)
The Lila and Bruce interaction is snarky and awesome, instead of straight-up romance. I've always enjoyed their somewhat prickly relationship in canon, and here, it's just extended a bit further - behind closed doors, when it's just the two of them, they can be themselves (and get along). Bruce convinces her (as only he can) that he's just the antidote she needs to her boring summer, and invites her along on his own European trip. This ties in really wonderfully with SVU canon, as Lila came back to town an Italian countess - so maybe this was the trip where she met the man she would marry?
nic throws in *wonderful* little mentions of canon - 1BRUCE1, warm wine in paper cups, the John Pfeiffer storyline, Jessica's inordinate love for the number 137 =) It's hard to believe this is the first story she's ever written for this series, because it is so evocative of the classic escapist SVH years - the characters feel familiar, but still sharp; the conversations are witty and fun and even a little heart-rending. If you were never sympathetic to Lila before, reading this story just might change your mind. It was pretty much the most awesome Yuletide gift I could've asked for, and I feel honored to have received it ♥
TITLE - Christmas is the Time (2011)
AUTHOR - pressdbtwnpages
FANDOM - Instant Star
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 539
PAIRING - Jamie Andrews/Jude Harrison
SUMMARY - Every present Jude has thought of for Jamie are best friend presents, not I’m-pretty-sure-I-love-you-in-all-possible-ways presents.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Yay! Jude/Jamie fic! :D They were (and are) my OTP for Instant Star, because I love relationships that grow out of very close friendships =) The characters are wonderfully in-character, and the scenario is pure holiday fluff/romance. What more could one ask for? Except more Jamie/Jude fic of course, LOL. (Tommy's cameo is also pointed and hilarious :P)
TITLE - Christmas is Love in Action (2011)
AUTHOR - GloriaFan
FANDOM - Baby-sitters Club/Kids Incorporated crossover
UNIVERSE - Post-series
GENRE - Family
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 356
PAIRINGS - Sam Thomas/Stacey McGill, Mickey/Gloria
SUMMARY - - Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas. - Dale Evans
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A wonderful slice-of-life post series (for both canons), we see the sending and receiving of a Christmas card between old friends: Kristy's harried rush to send out the family card, and Mickey's and Gloria's ecstatic reaction to receiving one =) Worth the price of admission, just to see the sheer number of characters who managed to pair off with their childhood sweethearts ;) A lovely little bit of fluff for the holidays!
TITLE - untitled (2012)
AUTHOR - mkrobinson
FANDOM - Sweet Valley High
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Angst, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 1,487
PAIRING - Max Pennington/Elizabeth Wakefield, Todd Wilkins/Elizabeth Wakefield
SUMMARY - N/A
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - An angsty look at Elizabeth's life post-canon, as her relationship with her dreamboat noble (and the man she finally gifted her virginity to) falls apart amid gossip, lies, and rumors. She turns to an old familiar friend for comfort, but in the end, still wonders how her life turned out as it did. I like the structure of this piece, as fifteen separate moments in time; it adds to the angst of the entire piece. Though it ends on something of a downer note, who am I to turn away compelling Sweet Valley fanfic? No one, LOL.
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| Miscellaneous |
TITLE - Dissonant (2006)
AUTHOR - sinaddict
FANDOM - Instant Star
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - X
WORD COUNT - 2,673
PAIRING - Tommy Quincy/Jude Harrison
SUMMARY - Honest to god, he used to be cool. He used to have girls falling all over him everywhere he went. He had groupies.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is a refreshingly humorous look inside the rising-hot UST between Tommy and Jude during the first half of the first season. It reads pretty true-to-life for any randy guy under the age of twenty-five, with a thick layer of guilt on top of everything else, for having the feelings he does towards this person. Tommy/Jude always had attraction in spades, even if they never really got to act on it properly (or live happily ever after), and this author exploits that with abandon. This is probably my favorite Instant Star story available today.
TITLE - Rusted (2007)
AUTHOR - AlamoGirl80
FANDOM - Law & Order: Criminal Intent
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Angst, Drama
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 3,141
SUMMARY - Even the best of partnerships are not made of steel.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Finding decent L&O: CI fic is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The whole of fandom appears spotty, at best, especially those who hardcore ship Goren and Eames, turning one, or the other, or both into shmoopy shadows of their former selves. This story is different, focusing quite heavily on the introspection of Eames right after Goren returns to work for his suspension, near the end of the series. He did some crazy shit to be forced into a leave of absence, and Eames is unsure that they'll ever have their old rhythm and camaraderie again ~ and that's what this story explores. It's a very nice character study that's stuck with me for a few months now. It's hard to write a character as quirky as Robert Goren with any skill or sophistication, but that's exactly what AlamoGirl80 does here, exploring all the ways he unraveled, and took his partner down with him.
TITLE - Narcolepsy (2007)
AUTHOR - kartography
FANDOM - Veronica Mars
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - X
WORD COUNT - 8,366
PAIRING - Logan Echolls/Veronia Mars
SUMMARY - 'There's a bone in my hand that connects to a drink, in a crowded room where the glasses clink.'
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is one of the best introspective character-driven stories I've read in the fanfic world. The author climbs deep into Logan's fucked up mind and cuts open every almost-healed wound until his soul is laid bare and he's left to deal with the consequences. The romance is almost a side story, except that it isn't, because of what Veronica represents to Logan - and the role she plays in his life. This is a fic that's stuck with me for a long time, and one that I reread whenever I need to go to a deep dark place.
TITLE - Four Conversations Byakuya Never Should Have Had, And Two That Were Long Overdue (2008)
AUTHOR - zangetsugirl
FANDOM - Bleach
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 3,586
PAIRING - Byakuya/Ichigo
SUMMARY - It takes Byakuya and Ichigo longer than it should to go from "having sex" to "being lovers."
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Not my typical fare (Bleach, yaoi) but very beautifully written, with an interesting scene structure and phenomenal imagery.
TITLE - Bayside Revisited (2008)
AUTHOR - fearlessfan
FANDOM - Saved by the Bell
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - General
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 14,552
SUMMARY - Bayside High's Class of 1993 celebrates its 15 year reunion. Ensemble, written originally for the 2008 Yuletide challenge.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is probably the best piece of Saved by the Bell fanfic I've ever read. It really reads like a natural epilogue to the original series, with characters who have grown since their time at Bayside, and yet who still retain those same characteristics that made them loveable in the first place. We get a peek into each of the main characters' lives - Zach and Kelly, Screech, Jessie, Lisa, Slater, even Mr. Belding has a cameo appearance here :) Life at Bayside might have been idyllic, but for one night, these characters are able to recapture that magic. There are lots of great nods to canon in this beautifully rendered story, and it's a great example of the power of writing in the present tense in order to drive a story forward.
TITLE - Stand in My Place (2009)
AUTHOR - zangetsugirl
FANDOM - Detective Conan/Case Closed!
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 285
SUMMARY - It's more than I'll ever deserve, but I need you to justify me.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A whiff of despair and resolve, all in the space of a breath - really lovely and beautifully done, making the reader want to know more about the character (always a good thing, LOL).
TITLE - Always Together (2009)
AUTHOR - zangetsugirl
FANDOM - Bleach
UNIVERSE - Pre-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 376
PAIRING - Isshin/Masaki
SUMMARY - I really need you to justify me, open my mind to the things I can be.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A lovely little snippet that manages to capture both fluff and angst, with a lovely sense of foreboding in the background. The couple shares a fleeting moment of happiness and contentment, even while realizing there may be something very special in store for their son...
TITLE - The Shadows (2010)
AUTHOR - zangetsugirl
FANDOM - She-Ra: Princess of Power
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 203
SUMMARY - Bow isn't the Rebellion's best archer because he's so good on the harp, but because he's lethal with a bow and arrow.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is a wonderful little slice of introspection from the Rebellion's resident archer, as he lies in wait to strike. Bow is not a character you'd automatically think of as heroic (especially not when the heroine of the series is fucking She-Ra, aka Awesomeness Incarnate), but zangetsugirl manages to make him seem just that.
TITLE - Too Much (2010)
AUTHOR - zangetsugirl
FANDOM - She-Ra: Princess of Power
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 182
SUMMARY - There's subtle and then there's She-Ra. In the middle of a war, a queen takes her amusements where she can find them.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because its one thing to suspend your disbelief, and quite another for the rest of the created universe to do it ;) A wonderful take on how the Rebellion is, quite possibly, humoring our girl-hero about her supposedly secret identity.
TITLE - Line in the Sand (2010)
AUTHOR - ndnickerson
FANDOM - Nancy Drew
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Angst, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 4,701
PAIRING - Ned Nickerson/Nancy Drew
SUMMARY - After Nancy turns down Ned's proposal, she finds they can't go back to what they were.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Sometimes you need a bit of bittersweet angst to fuel your romance, and this story is a perfect example of that. It's set in the mid-sixties, and though the author notes that at the beginning of the piece, she really brings it to life in the details - the description of the cars, the clothing, the songs on the radio. It feels natural, and effortless, and reads beautifully. Ned's character is given some dimension, which is also really great to see. I only have the most basic knowledge of the 'original' Nancy Drew series, but it seemed only Nancy herself was a fully developed character; her family, her friends, and her boyfriend were there to give her shape, not necessarily themselves. Here, Ned flickers to life under the icy numbness of rejection, and he is truly Nancy's equal, his actions having the ability to influence hers. The end of the piece is steamy (hence the rating), and satisfying, giving you a reason to believe that sometimes true love receives second chances.
TITLE - The Sleeping Prince (2010)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
FANDOM - Merlin
UNIVERSE - Alternate
GENRE - Action/Adventure, Romance
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 4,392
PAIRING - Arthur/Gwen
SUMMARY - Morgana puts Arthur under a spell of eternal sleep in hopes of exposing Gwen, but Merlin and Gaius have a plan to thwart her. Arther x Gwen, Merlin, Gaius, Morgana and Elena. ONESHOT.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A great twist on the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, as well as the traditional Arthurian legends. I don't know much about Merlin, other than its an incarnation of the Arthurian legends, but I enjoy some of the aspects it brings to the table, and how the author incorporates them into this fic. There are wonderful portrayals of new and familiar characters, and of course, I'm a sucker for a fairy tale ending =)
TITLE - What You Don't Know (2010-2011)
AUTHOR - Airplane
FANDOM - Tangled
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Humor, Romance
RATING - X
WORD COUNT - 88,185 (37 chapters)
PAIRING - Eugene Fitzherbert/Rapunzel
SUMMARY - It's become very clear to Eugene that Rapunzel has little to no understanding of amorous affection.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Two separate people (thank you, ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png) starzki & replicantangel!) directed me to this story when I sent out a call last year asking for some smut-spiration. I was hesitant at first, given the length of the fic and the fact that I'd never seen the movie, and know nothing about it beyond what one can pick up from Tumblr. But, I gave it a try and I'm glad I did, because after the first couple of chapters, I was thoroughly hooked :) I was caught stifling many a laugh during my lunch hour, because the author managed to strike a great balance between the smutty stuff and the humor, and then the drama/angst/happy ending. So basically, I came for the sexytimes and stayed for the romance, and came to care about characters I hadn't given a second thought to before.
It was because of this fic that I saw the movie, which led to me buying ridiculous amounts of merchandise (for me, at least) and dabbling in a bit of fanfic of my own. I adore these characters, because this author made them come alive for me. This is very much a "headcanon accepted" sort of story for me, because it dovetails nicely into the canon material. Its hilarious and sweet and touching and gripping, and just gets better on every re-read. I know this is a fic that's been recced to hell and back over the last three-four years, but it's one of the few that I think is actually worthy of that distinction.
TITLE - Good Times for a Change (2011)
AUTHOR - artemis_sparks
FANDOM - Pretty in Pink
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Comedy, Friendship
RATING - K+
WORD COUNT - 956
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - After Andie goes off with The Appliance and it's all college plans and obnoxious coupledom, Duckie just hangs around Trax a lot.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Ducky and Iona were the quirky side-characters in Pretty in Pink, but they were pretty damn compelling in and of themselves - and this little ficlet explores what happened to them after Andie left for college (and Blaine). They have a sort of erstwhile friendship, bridging the gap left by Andie, falling into a comfortable pattern of support and flirtation. This is sweet and wonderful and so beautifully in character, lush with 80s references and the original emo angst. It's the sort of fic that makes me want to watch the movie again - which is definitely the best sort ;) A definite don't-miss for fans of this teen classic!
TITLE - I Move in Circles Round You (2011)
AUTHOR - Lady Anne Boleyn
FANDOM - Instant Star
UNIVERSE - Post-series
GENRE - Drama, Romance
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 7,934
PAIRING - Tommy Quincy/Jude Harrison
SUMMARY - "Maybe it's time to let go of the things we wanted when I was sixteen."
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - "He can hear her smiling, and he thinks about how loving someone is like being blind. When you can't see them anymore, you learn to tell everything you need to know just from the sound of their voice."
This is one of the most amazing fanfics I've ever read, period. I'm a sucker for solid OTPs and reading about musicians doing what they do best, and this fic is full of both. Even better, the author has taken a much-reviled and cut-too-short series finale and shaped it into something beautiful.
Jude Harrison and Tommy Quincy have been in each others' orbits for five years, but they've never quite been able to get it together, and both be in a good place at the same time. The series ends on this sour note, and here we see what happens after - they fight, they separate, their work through their personal pain and sorrow and grow, as individuals and, eventually, as a couple. Both artists complete separate solo albums over the course of the story, and we see how their interactions inspire them both in unexpected ways.
The author goes the extra mile, sprinkling in bits of articles, Twitter battles, and late-night text conversations between the scenes, which fill in the gaps and round out the story, adding to the sense of isolation the characters feel as they struggle through their forced separation. It makes their reconnection all the sweeter, and brings them full circle, from raw anger and resentment to a new, quieter, more mature kind of love.
I could probably write more words than the author did in praise of this story ~ it's *that* amazingly good =) Behind my own gift, this is probably my most favorite Yuletide story of the year.
TITLE - Unreasonable Degrees of Happiness (2011)
AUTHOR - catie56
FANDOM - Clueless (1995)
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 3,574
PAIRING - Josh/Cher
SUMMARY - Cher and Josh: one year, five years, and ten years later.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This was probably one of the darlings of Yuletide 2011, but for very good reason: catie56 takes the light, fluffy, frothy atmosphere of the movie and extends it beyond the events we were privvy to in canon. It's hilarious and touching and romantic and heartwrenching, and the characters are so amazingly in-character. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll squee ~ it's just *that* amazing!
TITLE - how we spin (and spin) (2011)
AUTHOR - tree
FANDOM - The Cutting Edge (1992)
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - K
WORD COUNT - 2,428
PAIRING - Douglas Dorsey/Kate Moseley
SUMMARY - Doug wondered if he’d ever get the goofy smile off his face.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - A beautiful coda for the plot of the movie, here we see what happens beyond that breathtaking kiss on the ice. Doug and Kate celebrate their victory and try to figure out how to be a couple - how to laugh, how to love, how to feel after that diggy first rush of love and desire. They struggle to fit themselves into each other's lives; this story is worth the price of admission just to see Kate attempting to bowl. It's beautiful and fluffy and perfect if you're a romantic sap like me, hehe =)
TITLE - The Cheesecake of Christmas Present (2011)
AUTHOR - Sweeney Agonistes
FANDOM - Golden Girls
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - General
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 2,709
PAIRING - N/A
SUMMARY - There's no place like home for the holidays.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - This is a really lovely, introspective piece, delving into each of the girls' thoughts as they lay awake at night the day before they are to split up and go home for Christmas. We see Rose's sweet nature, Blanche's nostalgia, Dorothy's melancholy ~ and a pitch-perfect Sophia story, right before they devour one last holiday cheesecake =) I never thought I'd find Golden Girls fic (much less anything I'd like!) but this is really great, and feels like a missing scene from the canon.
TITLE - Scars (2012)
AUTHOR - paynesgrey
FANDOM - Downton Abbey
UNIVERSE - Canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - Y
WORD COUNT - 1,092
PAIRING - Matthew/Mary
SUMMARY - Matthew finds one of Mary's scars that has a story.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Oh, man, this hit *all* of my historical romance buttons. It reads like a scene from one of my favorite historical romance novels, in fact! It's a sweet but sensuous scene, with the characters still exploring each other - their pasts, their present. Just beautiful ♥
TITLE - Nickname (2012)
AUTHOR - starzki
FANDOM - Full Metal Panic
UNIVERSE -
GENRE - Comedy
RATING - T
WORD COUNT - 491
PAIRING - Weber/Mao
SUMMARY - Kurz tries to figure out from Celina what Melissa's old nickname was.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Because it's utterly hilarious. It's a rare dialogue-only piece, which can be very tricky, but starzki pulls this off with great pizazz - just enough inflection, misdirection, and cleverness to make it flow easily, even in those awkward moments of silence.
TITLE - Overwhelmed (2012)
AUTHOR - starzki
FANDOM - Full Metal Panic
UNIVERSE - Post-canon
GENRE - Romance
RATING - X
WORD COUNT - 12,457 (9 chapters)
PAIRING - Sousuke/Kaname
SUMMARY - Kaname and Sousuke finally have all the time they need to come together and explore their feelings for one another. Spoilers for the series. Post Always Stand by Me, Part 2.
WHY I'M RECOMMENDING THIS PIECE - Yet another piece of smut-spiration :D This fic is so lush - the author terms it a multichapter lemon, but it's much more than that: she captures the characters in a moment of vulnerability and guides them through it beautifully. After all these two have been through - together AND apart - their reunion wouldn't necessarily be all happiness and roses. It's not, but the exploration of each others' scars is just as wonderful as the sex. This is a very adult fic - not so much for the explicit content, but because it feels very mature.
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