Fanworks Recs - Becky went nuts with the Batboys >_>

[tomomichi]

Notes/Babbling: I've, uh, been reading a lot lately, so I'm going to do something I don't normally do--seperate out the recs into different posts a bit. I counted up the total number of recs I did in the past few days (I've been too lazy to tote the list over here until now) and it was 40. That's just a few too many for one post, so I'll group the major series together. Starting with the series that sucked me back into fanfic, dug it's claws into me, and said, "Haha! You're mine again, bitch." That's right, the Bat-boys.
Series:
    DCU/Batman/Nightwing/Titans/JLA/TASverse/etc. - 17 Fanfics



- DCU/Batman - Things You Really Don't Want to Know and Things They Didn't Need to Know by Arlene - So, Amanda is bad for me. Because she makes me all geeked up about comics again and then we start exchanging fic links, quoting stuff at each other, and seeking out more fic. Which is how I stumbled over Arlene's stories and randomly chose one to read and started giggling like crazy. I, of course, started quoting at Amanda (which earned me an "....i hate you" that I'm still proud of ^_~) and promptly decided I must read everything of Arlene's. Because her sense of timing in these stories was just bloody perfect, it had me laughing so hard I was in danger of wheezing--and the sequel was even funnier, because... oh... Bruce... just... so funny... and then Dick and Tim... oh, just go read and laugh your ass off. (Some Alfred/Leslie.)

- DCU/Batman - A Bulter's Touch by Arlene - And we go from spastic giggle-inducing fic to a story that just completely and utterly ripped my heart out and then proceeded to crush it. It's so easy to forget how despite his incredible iron will, Bruce is such a wounded soul--his tragedy and the angst it causes him are ever-present, but it's easy to forget how much it hurts him. And in a story like this... it cut straight through me because it was so painful to see Alfred watching over him, unable to take that hurt away, to watch Bruce knowing how much pain he was in but never admitting to it. Just... ow. ;__; (No pairings/ouchy warnings.)

- DCU/Batman - A Difference of Opinion by Arlene - *sigh~* I realize that the point of a recs page isn't to do reviews, but to offer pointers to fics I liked, and just rec'ing one or two of an author's work will get the point across... but I can't help it! I feel like I must say something about each fic I liked and, sure, that's a bit egotistical, but, hell, my site. Oh, this was just wonderful fluff--and after reading the previous "A Butler's Touch" I definitely needed some good fluff. Alfred is such a wonderful character and I adore it when he gets fic that's this wonderful written about him, especially when it's got some good old-fashioned head-butting between Bruce and Dick in it. It wasn't the ouchy kind of argument, just... boys being boys and that made it all the more wonderful for it; I had the doofiest smile on my face the entire time I was reading it--I love that. XD (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU/Batman - Fatherhood by Arlene - *spazzes* I had to rec this fic because oh. my. god. The cuteness! It wounds me with its delightfulness! Bruce and Roy watching Dick and Lian playing in a rather quiet moment off, just a light-hearted thing, and it was a gorgeous ficlet because the writing was beautiful, it was lovely watching everyone be... happy, and because it was funny as all hell watching Dick and Lian play together. Plus, it's always wonderful when two characters who normally don't interact too much get a chance to have a moment together. But, really. It's all about the Dick - Lian stuff that cracked me up. XD (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU/Batman - Another Year Wiser by Arlene - There are two things I admire Arlene for--one is that she can make me laugh so hard I actually have to stop reading just so I can laugh for awhile. The other is that she can make me see the fluff--with the Bat-clan, Bruce in particular, I have a hard time seeing lighter moments, 'cause he's a big mopey-head and all that, but in her stories I can just picture and hear all of what happens. In this one it was also really great to see all of the Bat-crew having their moments, especially when they were just flat-out hilarious and such gorgeous, gorgeous comedic timing. ....man, these recs suck. Go read anyway. Now. (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU/Batman - It's Today by Arlene - ....this is the kind of fic that I dream of being able to write--one of those ideas that's rather simple at its base premisis, but when written with a talented hand, it turns into a gorgeous fic. Various Christmases in Bruce's life--some good, some hurtful, seeming to oscillate back and forth, but when all is said and done... the good seems to outweigh the bad and the fic becomes so touching for that. Even though there are moments that made me go ;_;, when I was done with this fic, I was... quietly touched at the moments in Bruce's life, the sweetness of how things turned out. (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU/Young Justice - Cancelled by Arlene - *bounces* Good Young Justice fic! *sparkles* I don't get to read enough of it is because I don't troll the YJ section for fic (as I'm not an obsessed fan, I just really, really like the series), so this was a wonderful treat. These are my three favorite YJ'ers--Tim, Kon, and Bart, and it was wonderful to see them in a cute little humor fic with lots of great lines and nice little bonding moments. Well. And Tim spazzing. That was fun, too. XD (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU/Young Justice - Friends by Arlene - Okay. So. Um. I know it wasn't, like. Intentional or anything. That it was. You know. Parody and all. But. I admit that I kinda like Tim/Kon, so the parody bits in this fic had me laughing hysterically--though, I also admit that I liked it on the level it was presented as. A funny little fic about Tim's friendship with the other YJ'ers, Kon especially. It's so easy to forget that Tim is a Batboy, which means he's got problems and issues out the wazoo, that just because he usually juggles everything with seeming ease, doesn't mean that it doesn't get to him sometimes, too. Combine that with some truly hilarious writing, some great comedic timing, and you've got a wonderful, adorable little YJ fic that made me sparkle to read it. XD (No warnings/pairings.)

- DCU/Teen Titans - Loser Takes All by Arlene - Eeee! Dick+Babs fluff! Yay! I love! I, of course, adore Arlene's writing and it was great to get to read a nice, sweet, chemistry-filled Dick/Babs fic plus! Dick and Roy interacting in that way that guy friends do that I love so much! This fic had both things I love about the author's writing--wonderful, wonderful humor and sweet, touching, gentle moments. Oh, and the ICness and gorgeous writing. ....I've been up too long so my recs are getting quite crappy. Just go read, giggle at the funny and smile and coo at the sweetness. (Some Dick+Babs.)

- DCU/Young Justice - Will the Real Robin Please Stand Up? by Arlene - Oh, just, hee! I *heart* Robin, I *heart* the way the author shows how smart and talented he can be, despite not having any super-powers, I *heart* how Bat-bastard her Bruce is, and I effing *heart* how funny the writing is. It's just a perfect combination of factors--the clever writing and humorous bits combine to make a perfect Tim-fic, especially interacting with Young Justice. And I still die laughing at that kitchen. (No warnings/pairings.)

- DCU/Batman - Spin Control by Arlene - Ahhh, I love a good humor fic that's both hysterical and yet containing wonderful character insights. I love a good humor fic where Bruce can be all Bat-bastard-y, yet still a human being. There were so many little touches to this story that I just sparkle over them all--I think the thing that made me laugh the most, though, was Superman's role in the story. I agree with Bruce, though--Superman sucks. XD XD XD *ahem* Anyway, I probably shouldn't rec this story because I've rec'd so many of Arlene's by now and I'm just repeating myself, but... funny! And a concept that isn't stretched beyond its limits, just in perfect proportion to how much potential was in it to how much was written out! I love that! Plus, you know. Wonderful writing and much laughter. Now go read. (No warnings/pairings.)

- DCU/Batman - Rantings of a Sane Man and Lucius Was Right by Arlene - Every once in awhile, there's a story that's not set from the Bat-boys' POV, instead from an anoymous person and every once in awhile that really works for me, as this first story did. The thing, though, that I loved most about the story was that there was this one moment at the end, when the guy goes back to the shed that was just... creepy and cool and, in an odd way, had me with hearts in my eyes. (Oh, okay, so I have my favorite character biases. ^_~) The second story was an interesting little story that so nicely illustrates Bruce's dillemma about keeping his secret from several people in his life. I admit... I wish that the story had been more fully fleshed about, that I now crave a fic about Lucius finding out Bruce's secret and how that affects them--and that's why I'm rec'ing these two stories. Because they great little moments in the characters' lives and left me wanting more. (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU - It's Too Darned Hot by Arlene - This was just... fun! I admit, one of the things I liked best about it was that... it was silly, but it wasn't outlandish silly, it was the kind of humor that made me giggle madly, but I could still picture it. The other thing is that there were just a few moments of Dick and Wally being such guys together, being such friends and I really miss that, it doesn't get written about anywhere nearly often enough (in the comics or in fic ;___; ). But I also love the way Arlene weaves all of the characters into the fic and just... reduces me to an incoherent mess when I try to stop bouncing around the room over the good fic. ..... */dork* (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU - Heart of Plastic by Arlene - You know, I keep saying, "Okay, this'll be the last one I rec, 'cause people can just click on the author's name and read all her stories, this is just getting to be rather ridiculous." But then she writes about a different set of characters or those Bat-boys I'm so weak for... and I just cave. Plastic Man... is not someone I generally care that much for, so when someone can make me read a fic about him and wish that there was more of it... damn, that's talent. ^_~ What I liked is that there was humor woven into everything he said, genuine humor that was funny stuff, but there was also a personality and a working mind behind all those quips. The reason the author gave for why he is the way he is... really shed a new light on him, made so much freaking sense that I was impressed as hell. Also? Her Dinah kicks some serious ass. Love her. Especially the way she punched Ollie. Clever girl. XD (Some slight Dinah/Ollie mentioned.)

- DCU/Batman - Fear-Based Responses by Arlene - No matter how much I stray sometimes... I think it's these characters who have the ability to touch me the most, the ability to draw me into how much I hurt with them the most. I adore the takes on the various characters in this fic, from Tim to Bruce to Dick to Alfred, the way each of them reacts to a bad night, the way they are such a family, the way they all hurt, but manage to work through it somehow. My favorite thing here is the way Dick's, uh, language would change with each version, depending on whose POV the chapter was from. Well. That and the touching moment between Dick and Bruce, but we all know how much of a dork I am for that father/son stuff. And, ohmygod does this rec suck--but the fic is good, so go read. (No pairings/warnings.)

- DCU/B:TASverse - Home Again by bk - I have a very special fondness for TAS!Dick, because... part of it is that Dick is my boy. He is, and probably always will be, my favorite fictional character ever. But part of it is also that TAS!Dick is such an intriguing character because he's so much angrier and angsty than the comics Dick (which is a surprise, usually it's the other way around ^_~) and that is wonderful fun to play around with as an author. And, ohhhh, how I love an author that plays with Dick's issues towards Bruce and the whole Bat-thing, the way Bruce seems to not give a damn, the way he was so easily replaced, etc.

Okay. This fic... could have used a little polishing, especially towards the beginning I found myself skimming a bit, just catching the highlights of the fic. But as it goes along, it gets better and there are some absolutely priceless scenes in here--any time Babs and Tim interact, I immediately sat up and paid attention, because the author nailed their TAS voices. The Bruce - Dick reunion scene got off to a rocky start, but halfway in, it started to rock. The angst is laid on rather heavily and the characters are a little overreactive/melodramatic, but, hell, I'm sure as hell not one to talk about that. ^_~ (And the author was hardly bad about it, I agreed with a lot of the directions she took the characters.)

But... when I read my way through all that's been posted (it isn't finished yet)... I genuinely liked what I'd read, I genuinely liked the way Babs wasn't going to let Dick off the hook for being a jerk, I genuinely liked the way he was a jerk, but eventually realized it and apologized (that's my boy *sparkles*), and I genuinely liked the way they were slowly coming back together. They didn't just fall right back into a relationship, the author was building them there. So it was a good read and, man, I miss those TAS characters sometimes--it's fics like this that remind me of that. ^_____^ (Some Dick/Babs.)

- DCU/B:TASverse - Monopoly and Life by bk - *squee's happily* Oh, my god, this was perfect! Just absolutely perfect. It's such a... simple, uncomplex idea (the Bat-group playing Monopoly as part of a celebratory night), but it's pulled off with such heart and cleverness and intelligence that it makes me melt. Everything was just perfect, from the way they argued, the way Babs was just utterly into the game, the little details with the pizza and the monopoly pieces, the way they teased each other, everything. I could not stop grinning like a loon the entire time I was reading--and dude. The thing with Babs' pizza was wonderful. So much love I have. XD (Some very slight Dick/Babs, not really the point of the story.)

Comments

[bk11.livejournal.com]

Duuuuuude. I was in the mood for Tim/Cass stories today, so did a google search. Found your website. And then through a series of links, found this rec journal (explaining so you don't get creeped out :P)

Thanks for the rec! (many many moons ago, haha). And gosh, I wish I had found these words for HA in 2003. Best feedback, EVER.

"This fic... could have used a little polishing"

Word, babe. ;)

And thanks. I can't believe how much time you've invested in all of this. I am amazed, and I'm bookmarking, if you don't mind.

[beckerbell.livejournal.com]

You probably don't know how much this kind of reaction makes me happy, because I always sort of worry or feel like a bit of a heel if I'm pointing out flaws with a story, since I'm not really trying to do reviews here. (Even then I sort of feel badly, because I know what it's like to try really hard and just not have the skills to write the way you'd like.) And I worry that sometimes people forget that I only talk about fics I really and honestly liked and thought were worth reading.

(I especially dislike the idea that it might be discouraging to authors who wrote a story I honestly enjoyed and think are very talented, who have a lot of really wonderful moments in the writing, and should write more. ....oh, lord, I digress badly here.)

Anyway, I just wanted to mention that I'm also sort of honored that you'd say such nice things, because I've adored your DCU writing and they actually still to this day rather stick out in my memory. (And feel free to bookmark, I'm always flattered whenever someone doesn't mind going through my ramblings. <3)

[bk11.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah, see the thing was your being honest and constructive. You're not complaining about the flaws. To me, it seemed a like a cautionary thing--you might want to check out this story, but perhaps look out for these things. Plus, it wasn't as if you said anything that I already didn't of myself.

*I* and honored that you still remember my DCU stuff. Thank you.