There is a method behind the madness

A couple of great reads for a cold winter's day =)

Title: Steel and Salt
Author: Scribe Figaro
Universe: Canon
Genre: Romance
Rating: Y
Warning: Citrus
Pairing: Miroku/Sango
Word Length: 4,815
URL: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_ch.php/164651/581058/
Author's Summary: Miroku recovers from the injuries sustained with the group in the Oni's Stomach. After awaking to Sango's vigil, the two decide to share some well-earned intimacy. Canon, or close enough to it.

Why I'm recommending this piece: Because for all I love the Mir/San corner of fandom, it seems a grand majority of the authors who currently reside here are afraid to write intimacy for this pairing. Don't get me wrong - higher rated fic doesn't automatically mean greatness...and, after all, I also write mostly T-rated fic myself - but its refreshing and exciting to see someone else's take on the sort of intense, romantic, sexual bond these two form over the course of the canon story and beyond. This piece is set around mid-manga, after the end of the first anime, and it slips into the universe so well. It's beautiful, erotic, and mature all at once, definitely a rare trifecta to find in any fandom. There's a reason we like to call Scribe Figaro the GOD OF ALL MIR/SAN FANDOM, and he just proves his worthiness with this piece =)


Title: A Pillow of Twisted Grass
Author: Milareppa (zigsa)
Universe: Pre-canon
Genre: Drama
Rating: K+
Warning: A bit of violence
Pairing: Miroku/Sango
Word Length: 11,921
URL: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5633658/1/
Author's Summary: As two children struggle with the hardships life throws their way, they have no way of knowing how the physical distance separating them hides their shared destiny.

Why I'm recommending this piece: This is one of the most beautiful yet haunting pre-canon stories I've ever read. The author traces the childhoods of Miroku and Sango, finding and illuminating those key events which define them as characters, and shape the destinies we begin to glimpse as they're introduced into the manga. It's full of recurring motifs, drawing on the canon as well as Japanese culture, and the end result is something I'm just a sucker for - learning how and why characters find each other and what ultimately brings them together.


As always, you can also check out my recommendations post, which I try to update as I find wonderfully fantastic new fics worth sharing and squeeing over :D

I have really wonderful readers and reviewers for my work, and I'm always looking for ways to show my appreciation for them and the feedback they give me. This can be tough sometimes, especially when they don't write/post stories themselves, but then ~ what am I, if not creative? :P

*pulls out pimp hat*

One of my favorite readers is *janey-in-a-bottle. If you're on dA, you might have seen her crocheted emoticons, which were put up for a Daily Deviation one day last week (they are awesome, LOL, especially the lovey-dovey one). She has entered one of their many contests over there, and because the competition is so fierce, she's setting her sights on the Community Choice award.

Every favorite received for "Dream in Progress" between now and 11:59:59 PM (PT) December 22, 2009 will count for the Community Choice placement.

So, if anyone on my wonderful LJ f-list has a dA account, would you consider clicking over to her piece and giving it a fave? I, personally, would've fave'ed it anyway because I think its amazing (I swear - its like she drew my own thought processes when it comes to creativity o.O)

While you're there, take a minute to check out the rest of her gallery ~ she specializes not only in crochet items, but also amazing scenic photography - and there might even be a bit of fanart stashed away in there! ;)

[And, while I'm working it here :P I invite you all to take a gander luxken27_fics, which has a holiday-inspired layout that's hopefully a bit easier to read.]

The last few days have been really tough, but as always, there's a light at the end of the tunnel! This time, it came in the form of a beautiful little oneshot by our resident fluff queen, knittingknots. I clicked on a whim, and my depressed mood was immediately lifted. If I could reach through the screen and hug her, I would.

This is definitely one for Sesshoumaru fans ~ One Morning's Surprise

Also ~ I have updated my recommendations list to reflect some of the beautiful work coming out of iy_themes. If any of you out there are inclined towards fandom awards, you should consider some of these pieces ~ they are more than worthy of wider fandom recognition :)