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tomomichiSHARING TIME:
Urgh. I've been around and I've been reading a lot of fic, just... man, lately actually writing recs down has seemed like a lot of effort. Someone else should write all my recs for me, okay? I've got a list of about fifty fics here that I totally do not want to start working on and I'm not afraid to whine about it. :|
AND ONTO THE RECS:
Cardcaptor Sakura - 5 Fanfics
Community - 5 Fanfics
Criminal Minds - 2 Fanfics
Durarara!! - 3 Fanfics
Enchanted - 1 Fanfic
Junjou Romantica - 4 Fanfics
Pokemon - 1 Fanfic
Tales of the Abyss - 2 Fanfics
Cardcaptor Sakura: Sake and Strawberries by Ryuu no Tsubasa - Okay, this one was really kind of just fun to read. Touya and Yukito are out in Roppongi and decide to get a little drunk with each other (maybe more than just a little) and they're in a happy, jovial mood together and it's very sweet. And then it starts raining and they're too out of it to find their way home and then Yue comes out and it's even more fun, because he's a total wet blanket and Touya can't help teasing him just a little. But mostly it's a sweet fic about how much Touya cares about both sides of them, it's not a huge moment, but it's an important one, Touya and Yue out in the rain, when he can't resist kissing the guardian. It's nicely written and, yeah, I'm pretty sure I could read this kind of fic forever. (Touya/Yukito/Yue.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Starlight by eternata - This is just a short piece, but it's a lovely one full of pretty imagery and a blend of Yukito and Yue that I really liked. It's a bonus that it's not quite porno, but it's not precisely work-safe either (it's vaguely described, but they are in bed together) and was a fun read this morning. (Touya/Yukito/Yue, a smidge nsfw.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Reunion by cygna_hime - I wish I'd paid more attention to the CCS fandom, because I might have found this fic earlier and been not quite as cranky at the series for the way the Amamiya storyline was handled. (Though, upon a reread it wasn't as frustrating as I remembered it, honestly.) Because this fic is about how the Amamiya family ignored Nadeshiko's first child and then came around once Sakura ran into them and it's... hard not to be a little hurt on Touya's behalf. This is the kind of fic that, admittedly, hits me exactly so close to home, so of course I was going to be a little more emotional about it than most people, but it really kind of knocked me for a loop. The execution is lovely and very powerful, almost hard to read because of how understated yet intense everything is in the writing. This is one of those fics that makes the fandom that much more complete for me. (Some Touya/Yukito, but it's not really the focus.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Concentric by Aegis - [Note: There are bonus ficlets in the comments as well!] So, one of the things that I am frequently fascinated by in this fandom is the question of just how much Yukito and Yue look alike, since Touya and Sakura both remark on how they're the same. On top of that, there's an obvious connection between the two and I really love the way the author touches gently on that, the way Touya is around both of them and everything just feels... comfortable and natural. I really adore the author's Touya, who doesn't have to be an explosive character to still have that intense presence he does and his interaction with both sides is spot-on. It's hard to write a rec for this series of scenes because I kind of just want to keyboard mash over them--it has Yue being coaxed into curling up on Touya and it works. Be still my fangirl heart. (Touya/Yukito/Yue.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Balancing the Moon by Aegis - This fic starts off with the line: "So," the stuffed bear says in a manner of great import. "If he doesn't feel weird, that power transfer totally failed.", which is an excellent indicator of what's to come with it. Granted, I'm biased because it was written for me and my crappy days lately and my preferences with the CCS manga post-canon, but this is honestly one of the best fics I've read in the fandom and certainly one of those that's made my face hurt from all the grinning and shrieking I did. The author has an amazing way with the characters, both in balancing the major cast members that Touya interacts with and in absolutely nailing each and every one of them, making them not only IC but shriek-inducingly funny. Her Kero-chan is especially a delight, but there are moments with Fujitaka, Eriol, Syaoran, Sakura, Yue, Yukito, Dark, Mirror, and more that are just as amazing to read. It's post-manga where Touya gets his power back and there's magical theory worked into the fic and her Touya is spot on, with the way he's so gruff with everything and yet you can still pick up on how much he cares, which was fantastic. I'm honestly not sure what I love most about this fic, I just kind of... want to explode all over it, in a shower of sparkles and love, because it's exactly what I have always wanted, like it was made just for meeeeeee! (Implied Touya/Yukito, Touya/Yue, but it's not the point.)
Community: it's my heart, not me, who cannot drive by anythingbutgrey - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 finale in this fic.] When I started browsing the lady fest '10 responses, I wasn't sure what series I was going to end up reading a lot for, but I don't think Britta Perry was going to be the character I focused a lot on. And yet... I like Britta, so I was curious and picked one of the first fics to read, getting a really sharp and spot-on fic about her! The Wonderfalls crossover was a nice bonus, but the real highlight of the fic was Britta herself, the way she cuts and runs here because that's what she does, making her such a strong, interesting character here. It totally set the mood for me when I read this fic. (No real warnings/pairings.)
Community: my smile can distract you by ava_leigh_fitz - As long as I was reading Community fic, I could hardly pass up an Annie fic that looked promising. And, really, it was more than promising--this was a sharp, intense look at Annie in high school, the sweet girl who tries so very hard and has all this pressure built up inside of her, the fic showing how she tumbles down just a little bit at a time, until she's a little too far gone, and how no one notices. It's heartbreaking and lovely and bittersweet and makes me love Annie all the more because it's so... her. It's so easy to see this as her backstory, it's a beautiful pre-series fic and an amazing character illustration piece. This is the kind of thing for why I love the fandom-wide memes like this. (No warnings/pairings.)
Community: ON HIATUS by falseeeyelashes - [ part 01 + part 02 + part 03 + part 04 ] - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 final in this fic.] And another amazing Britta piece! It's a fantastic look at her character by herself, but this time it's also about her interactions with the rest of the study group, how she puts herself back together after the events of the finale, the journey she takes herself on, both literally and emotionally. Which sounds pretentious, but the fic is amazingly well written and gets Britta's character. And what I really loved about it is that it's less about other people and more about Britta herself--though, Abed's brief scene in this fic? Pure gold. I love the details, I love Britta's relationship with Annie, I love the way it touches on all the characters in the study group, and I love the way it makes me so fascinated with Britta Perry as a character. (References to Jeff/Britta and Jeff/Annie, but neither are really the point.)
Community: you need a flame before you fizzle out by summerstorm - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 finale in this fic.] This is another fic in the same vein as the above--Britta dealing with the events of the finale and the place that puts her in, trying to get herself back on track after the disasterous confession. And, like the fics before it, what make this so sharp and fantastic and amazing is that it's about Britta, not really about Jeff or Slater. But it's a bit more light-hearted and there's some great group dynamic stuff going on with the fic here and it was a really great little addition to the collection of amazing Community fic on this meme. (References to Jeff/Britta, Jeff/Slater, and Jeff/Annie, but they're not the point.)
Community: This could be a brand new start by horchata - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 finale in this fic.] And one more fantastic Britta piece where it's about her pulling herself back up, taking a look around at her life, about putting herself back together, the focus on her. It has yet to get old! Especially when there's a determination and hope to her character here that's spot-on, the way she's determined to make this all be a good moment for her, even after she scrapes herself off a couch after a drunken party and drives herself back to her apartment. It's so easy to see Britta in this fic and it really does get at what an interesting character she is. A fantastic way to cap off my collection for today! (No real warnings/pairings.)
Criminal Minds: The Queen of Hearts by nataliadarimini - Criminal Minds is another series that I hadn't expected to find myself reading fic for when I started browsing the meme, but I could hardly help myself when it came to an interesting Garcia fic like this. I love how full of life she is, I love her doing tarot card readings on the plane ride home after a difficult case, even with just a regular deck of cards, and I love the conversation she has with Prentiss over them. I love that it's about the women of the show, but even more than that, it's about them as characters and about Garcia and how incredible and bright and full of life she is, even when she's upset. (No warnings/pairings.)
Criminal Minds: Friday Night Goddess by nataliadarimini - To offset the tone from the previous fic, this one is just pure, hilarious fun. It's Garcia at her best, with the amazing voice and dialogue for her, the brilliance of the character just being herself and-- I don't know what else to say about this fic, other than it's Garcia over the webcam being herself and her Friday night webcast and just. as;ldkfjljks oh I love her forever, this was beautiful. (No warnings/pairings.)
Durarara!!: Allergies by Uphill Both Ways - The premise of this fic just kind of cracks me the hell up, because I love the way it plays with fandom cliches and the idea of Izaya crying and it's just... as;ldfkjas;lkjs hilarious because this is about the only way I could really see Izaya crying (no matter how much fanart I look at on Pixiv) and Shizuo's reaction is just... well, it's kind of beautiful. The whole thing was great. (Sort of Shizuo/Izaya, I guess?)
Durarara!!: Details, Details by Uphill Both Ways - This author is quickly becoming another of my favorites in the Durarara!! fandom because she has me cracking up with fics like this, ones that are hilarious crack, yet keeping the characters surprisingly IC! Izaya notices something about Shizuo and, being the completely batshit nutter that he is, reacts to it in a typical Izaya fashion. I love how weird Izaya is sometimes and I love Shizuo's reaction and I really adore the author's comedic timing for a piece like this. Totally worth the read for the beautiful second half of this short fic. (Sort of Shizuo/Izaya, but it could be gen, too.)
Durarara!!: The Stuff of Legend by summer-sierra - I have this thing about Shizuo and Celty. Sure, their usual ships are far more popular and I love both those ships a lot. But my heart still keeps occasionally thinking that I want the two of them together, more than just friends, because it would be amazing. And I love that this fic captures so much of that--how they're a blend of sweet, understated moments or soft, almost shy looks and then crazy, over the top street brawls, all at the same time. Even the author's writing style works well for me, especially with a series like Durarara!!, giving it... not quite a dream-like style, but whatever it is that the series has. This was a delightful find for me. <3 (Shizuo/Celty.)
Enchanted: This Tired World Can Change by ordinarygirl - Oh, man. This fic--! It's Giselle getting lost in a bad neighborhood post-movie with "unsavory types" and being so... Giselle about it, that I think I nearly clapped my hands over my fangirl heart with utter love for her. It was a short piece, but was just utterly delightful and so completely true to the movie and how Giselle interacts with the real world around her that I'm just over the moon for it. It was perfect. (Slight Robert/Giselle, but it's not the point.)
Junjou Romantica: Who Wrote the Book of Love by MidniteMarauder - Another favorite of mine is when Nowaki gets into Hiroki's books, especially those books, the ones that are total trash and yet Hiroki can't bear to get rid of or, you know, not keep buying them. I love Nowaki in this fic a lot, so dearly in love with Hiroki, so sweet when they're first moving into their new apartment, so genuinely wanting to help organize Hiroki's books, and he doesn't even mean to stumble onto Hiroki's stash. Hiroki himself is fantastic here as well, so much bluster and ranting and constant headaches and in the middle of such a difficult life, you guys. I love that it's not just about Nowaki getting into Hiroki's books (though, that part is super hilarious), but also about the little moments, like when Akihiko first asks Hiroki to look over his Jun'ai novels or when Hiroki isn't feeling well one day and Nowaki gets him to lie down, even though all the books are still scattered about or the ending when Hiroki catches Nowaki and kind of has a fit about it. Which, I guess, is the thing about this fic--I loved it enough to write a flailing, incoherent rec about it, didn't I? orz (Nowaki/Hiroki, somewhat NSFW.)
Junjou Romantica: Aftermath by Hemera4 - When I read the first chapter of this fic as it was posted, I wanted to quibble with some of the characterization--I don't think Nowaki would leave so easily/just like that, I think Hiroki would have a harder time getting over his pride, etc--and I think that's something I'd still want to warn for, that it's somewhat rushed in the beginning. At the same time, when I finished the chapter that had just been posted, I did the ants in my pants dance because, holy crap, I wanted the next chapter now. I wanted to see where this was going! I was genuinely affected by the heartache that Nowaki and Hiroki were putting themselves through again! I kind of wanted to smack them because, yes, they are stupid enough to let this shit get betwen them again! The writer has an otherwise really solid grip on the characters and chapter three is all kinds of really satisfying resolution, making the wait between the chapters totally worth it. I admit, part of what hits home for me with this fic is that it's an issue I love to see played with (Nowaki's jealousy that Hiroki's feelings for Akihiko linger even to this day) and I am all about the whole plot of one character leaving so that the other person has to wake up and go after them and put things back together. I read this fic knowing that of course there would be a happy ending and that's what made it so fun for me, because it didn't lessen the impact of Nowaki's hurt or Hiroki's desperation, instead I just sat back and enjoyed the show. This is the kind of thing I love, shut up. XD (Nowaki/Hiroki.)
Junjou Romantica: Why Now? by CheyanneChika - I'm not sure what made me pick up this fic and, I admit, that I read it pretty quickly and almost skimmed it at points. It's... I guess the thing about it, for me, is that I was in the right frame of mind for it, especially because I like Junjou Romantica for what it is--sometimes it defies cliches and that's fantastic, but other times it's all about the cliches and I love it for that, too. This is a fic about Nowaki's mother coming back into the picture and you can pretty much predict where everything is going to go, but that's almost deliberate and it's kind of what I ended up liking about it? It's hard to describe, I guess. Granted, I'm ridiculously in love with the Egoist pairing and I like that the chapters were broken up into easily managable chunks, but it's... I'm at a loss to describe what hooked me into this fic, other than to say that it was well-plotted and paced, keeping me always going, "Okay, just one more chapter before I peel myself away for bed." Not that it's a terribly long fic, (just under 18,000 words, so you'll finish it pretty quickly) but I tend to read at night before I go to bed. It's not perfect and it takes some liberties (like where Nowaki was found when he was a baby, but I just chalk up to artistic license and I'm fine with that *g*) but I ate it up because I love this kind of shit, shut up. XD (Nowaki/Hiroki.)
Junjou Romantica: Kamijou Dates a Woman (part 14) by Qatari - I've tried to shy away from doing recs of specific chapters lately because it can look kind of silly when I archive everything, but... well, this fic is long enough that I think I can get away with it. Also, my site, I do want I want, and all that. But also that this chapter was kind of utterly fantastic--it has Shinoda picking up his kid at Nowaki's hospital! I didn't know how badly I needed Shinoda and Nowaki to interact on this level (because that one chapter was fine for canon, but I need it explored more fully in fic! XD) until I read this chapter and it was kind of ridiculously great and makes me hope SUPER HARD that Shinoda will show up in future chapters again. The chapter also has Hiroki trying to get Miyagi to stop being mad at him after Hiroki's conversation with Risako and, oh, man, I love Hiroki so much. Because it's so hard for him to connect with people or deal with this storm of emotions he has and yet you can tell he genuinely wants Miyagi to not be mad at him anymore--the resolution of that scene is utterly satisfying and hilarious as well! Which is what the whole chapter (and the whole fic) is about! It's really like the continuing adventures of the cast and it's genuinely emotionally satisfying! (Implied Miyagi/Shinobu and Nowaki/Hiroki.)
Pokemon: Affinity by wordsnatcher - I actually came here because the fic was labelled as having Red and Green, so I was curious, even if their relationship wasn't really the center of the fic. Instead, it's a bittersweet piece about Red and Pikachu, their connection and friendship over the years, the way Pikachu is getting older and can't keep going the way it used to, the way Red has grown up as well, how he's no longer a child, either. They're still important to each other, but time does change things and it can't stay like it was. Sure, it was sad, but it was a gentle sort of sadness that was lovely to read and somehow... it felt like it really fit the Pokemon universe. (No real warnings/pairings.)
Tales of the Abyss: The first day by Tammaiya - For my birthday, Siobhan did a series of quick fics, and naturally I took the chance for some Peony/Nephry because we're both big Abyss fans and I crave more of them. And this was perfect! Set post-game, after there's no more Score, and the first half is this lovely, almost breathless thing as they finally can reach out to each other--and then, well. Because the world loves me, they are suddenly not the only one in the room. Which satisfied my desire for lolz (at Peony's expense, naturally) but also how much I love how stupid Peony and Nephry were for each other. It was just. Everything I could ask for. ♥ (Peony/Nephry.)
Tales of the Abyss: Who needs enemies? by Tammaiya - Well, I could hardly let a birthday request go by without asking for Jade/Saphir and Peony/Saphir. Because one of our running jokes is that a) Peony/Saphir would be really hot and b) Jade would be so annoyed. And this fic was perfect, I love the Keterburg boys so very much and Peony is such a cheerful dick and Saphir is... oh, I love him so much. Especially when Jade and Peony are making his life difficult. Also, the ending of the first scene. Lolling forever. (Peony/Saphir, Jade/Saphir.)
Urgh. I've been around and I've been reading a lot of fic, just... man, lately actually writing recs down has seemed like a lot of effort. Someone else should write all my recs for me, okay? I've got a list of about fifty fics here that I totally do not want to start working on and I'm not afraid to whine about it. :|
AND ONTO THE RECS:
Cardcaptor Sakura - 5 Fanfics
Community - 5 Fanfics
Criminal Minds - 2 Fanfics
Durarara!! - 3 Fanfics
Enchanted - 1 Fanfic
Junjou Romantica - 4 Fanfics
Pokemon - 1 Fanfic
Tales of the Abyss - 2 Fanfics
Cardcaptor Sakura: Sake and Strawberries by Ryuu no Tsubasa - Okay, this one was really kind of just fun to read. Touya and Yukito are out in Roppongi and decide to get a little drunk with each other (maybe more than just a little) and they're in a happy, jovial mood together and it's very sweet. And then it starts raining and they're too out of it to find their way home and then Yue comes out and it's even more fun, because he's a total wet blanket and Touya can't help teasing him just a little. But mostly it's a sweet fic about how much Touya cares about both sides of them, it's not a huge moment, but it's an important one, Touya and Yue out in the rain, when he can't resist kissing the guardian. It's nicely written and, yeah, I'm pretty sure I could read this kind of fic forever. (Touya/Yukito/Yue.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Starlight by eternata - This is just a short piece, but it's a lovely one full of pretty imagery and a blend of Yukito and Yue that I really liked. It's a bonus that it's not quite porno, but it's not precisely work-safe either (it's vaguely described, but they are in bed together) and was a fun read this morning. (Touya/Yukito/Yue, a smidge nsfw.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Reunion by cygna_hime - I wish I'd paid more attention to the CCS fandom, because I might have found this fic earlier and been not quite as cranky at the series for the way the Amamiya storyline was handled. (Though, upon a reread it wasn't as frustrating as I remembered it, honestly.) Because this fic is about how the Amamiya family ignored Nadeshiko's first child and then came around once Sakura ran into them and it's... hard not to be a little hurt on Touya's behalf. This is the kind of fic that, admittedly, hits me exactly so close to home, so of course I was going to be a little more emotional about it than most people, but it really kind of knocked me for a loop. The execution is lovely and very powerful, almost hard to read because of how understated yet intense everything is in the writing. This is one of those fics that makes the fandom that much more complete for me. (Some Touya/Yukito, but it's not really the focus.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Concentric by Aegis - [Note: There are bonus ficlets in the comments as well!] So, one of the things that I am frequently fascinated by in this fandom is the question of just how much Yukito and Yue look alike, since Touya and Sakura both remark on how they're the same. On top of that, there's an obvious connection between the two and I really love the way the author touches gently on that, the way Touya is around both of them and everything just feels... comfortable and natural. I really adore the author's Touya, who doesn't have to be an explosive character to still have that intense presence he does and his interaction with both sides is spot-on. It's hard to write a rec for this series of scenes because I kind of just want to keyboard mash over them--it has Yue being coaxed into curling up on Touya and it works. Be still my fangirl heart. (Touya/Yukito/Yue.)
Cardcaptor Sakura: Balancing the Moon by Aegis - This fic starts off with the line: "So," the stuffed bear says in a manner of great import. "If he doesn't feel weird, that power transfer totally failed.", which is an excellent indicator of what's to come with it. Granted, I'm biased because it was written for me and my crappy days lately and my preferences with the CCS manga post-canon, but this is honestly one of the best fics I've read in the fandom and certainly one of those that's made my face hurt from all the grinning and shrieking I did. The author has an amazing way with the characters, both in balancing the major cast members that Touya interacts with and in absolutely nailing each and every one of them, making them not only IC but shriek-inducingly funny. Her Kero-chan is especially a delight, but there are moments with Fujitaka, Eriol, Syaoran, Sakura, Yue, Yukito, Dark, Mirror, and more that are just as amazing to read. It's post-manga where Touya gets his power back and there's magical theory worked into the fic and her Touya is spot on, with the way he's so gruff with everything and yet you can still pick up on how much he cares, which was fantastic. I'm honestly not sure what I love most about this fic, I just kind of... want to explode all over it, in a shower of sparkles and love, because it's exactly what I have always wanted, like it was made just for meeeeeee! (Implied Touya/Yukito, Touya/Yue, but it's not the point.)
Community: it's my heart, not me, who cannot drive by anythingbutgrey - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 finale in this fic.] When I started browsing the lady fest '10 responses, I wasn't sure what series I was going to end up reading a lot for, but I don't think Britta Perry was going to be the character I focused a lot on. And yet... I like Britta, so I was curious and picked one of the first fics to read, getting a really sharp and spot-on fic about her! The Wonderfalls crossover was a nice bonus, but the real highlight of the fic was Britta herself, the way she cuts and runs here because that's what she does, making her such a strong, interesting character here. It totally set the mood for me when I read this fic. (No real warnings/pairings.)
Community: my smile can distract you by ava_leigh_fitz - As long as I was reading Community fic, I could hardly pass up an Annie fic that looked promising. And, really, it was more than promising--this was a sharp, intense look at Annie in high school, the sweet girl who tries so very hard and has all this pressure built up inside of her, the fic showing how she tumbles down just a little bit at a time, until she's a little too far gone, and how no one notices. It's heartbreaking and lovely and bittersweet and makes me love Annie all the more because it's so... her. It's so easy to see this as her backstory, it's a beautiful pre-series fic and an amazing character illustration piece. This is the kind of thing for why I love the fandom-wide memes like this. (No warnings/pairings.)
Community: ON HIATUS by falseeeyelashes - [ part 01 + part 02 + part 03 + part 04 ] - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 final in this fic.] And another amazing Britta piece! It's a fantastic look at her character by herself, but this time it's also about her interactions with the rest of the study group, how she puts herself back together after the events of the finale, the journey she takes herself on, both literally and emotionally. Which sounds pretentious, but the fic is amazingly well written and gets Britta's character. And what I really loved about it is that it's less about other people and more about Britta herself--though, Abed's brief scene in this fic? Pure gold. I love the details, I love Britta's relationship with Annie, I love the way it touches on all the characters in the study group, and I love the way it makes me so fascinated with Britta Perry as a character. (References to Jeff/Britta and Jeff/Annie, but neither are really the point.)
Community: you need a flame before you fizzle out by summerstorm - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 finale in this fic.] This is another fic in the same vein as the above--Britta dealing with the events of the finale and the place that puts her in, trying to get herself back on track after the disasterous confession. And, like the fics before it, what make this so sharp and fantastic and amazing is that it's about Britta, not really about Jeff or Slater. But it's a bit more light-hearted and there's some great group dynamic stuff going on with the fic here and it was a really great little addition to the collection of amazing Community fic on this meme. (References to Jeff/Britta, Jeff/Slater, and Jeff/Annie, but they're not the point.)
Community: This could be a brand new start by horchata - [Note: There are spoilers for the Community s1 finale in this fic.] And one more fantastic Britta piece where it's about her pulling herself back up, taking a look around at her life, about putting herself back together, the focus on her. It has yet to get old! Especially when there's a determination and hope to her character here that's spot-on, the way she's determined to make this all be a good moment for her, even after she scrapes herself off a couch after a drunken party and drives herself back to her apartment. It's so easy to see Britta in this fic and it really does get at what an interesting character she is. A fantastic way to cap off my collection for today! (No real warnings/pairings.)
Criminal Minds: The Queen of Hearts by nataliadarimini - Criminal Minds is another series that I hadn't expected to find myself reading fic for when I started browsing the meme, but I could hardly help myself when it came to an interesting Garcia fic like this. I love how full of life she is, I love her doing tarot card readings on the plane ride home after a difficult case, even with just a regular deck of cards, and I love the conversation she has with Prentiss over them. I love that it's about the women of the show, but even more than that, it's about them as characters and about Garcia and how incredible and bright and full of life she is, even when she's upset. (No warnings/pairings.)
Criminal Minds: Friday Night Goddess by nataliadarimini - To offset the tone from the previous fic, this one is just pure, hilarious fun. It's Garcia at her best, with the amazing voice and dialogue for her, the brilliance of the character just being herself and-- I don't know what else to say about this fic, other than it's Garcia over the webcam being herself and her Friday night webcast and just. as;ldkfjljks oh I love her forever, this was beautiful. (No warnings/pairings.)
Durarara!!: Allergies by Uphill Both Ways - The premise of this fic just kind of cracks me the hell up, because I love the way it plays with fandom cliches and the idea of Izaya crying and it's just... as;ldfkjas;lkjs hilarious because this is about the only way I could really see Izaya crying (no matter how much fanart I look at on Pixiv) and Shizuo's reaction is just... well, it's kind of beautiful. The whole thing was great. (Sort of Shizuo/Izaya, I guess?)
Durarara!!: Details, Details by Uphill Both Ways - This author is quickly becoming another of my favorites in the Durarara!! fandom because she has me cracking up with fics like this, ones that are hilarious crack, yet keeping the characters surprisingly IC! Izaya notices something about Shizuo and, being the completely batshit nutter that he is, reacts to it in a typical Izaya fashion. I love how weird Izaya is sometimes and I love Shizuo's reaction and I really adore the author's comedic timing for a piece like this. Totally worth the read for the beautiful second half of this short fic. (Sort of Shizuo/Izaya, but it could be gen, too.)
Durarara!!: The Stuff of Legend by summer-sierra - I have this thing about Shizuo and Celty. Sure, their usual ships are far more popular and I love both those ships a lot. But my heart still keeps occasionally thinking that I want the two of them together, more than just friends, because it would be amazing. And I love that this fic captures so much of that--how they're a blend of sweet, understated moments or soft, almost shy looks and then crazy, over the top street brawls, all at the same time. Even the author's writing style works well for me, especially with a series like Durarara!!, giving it... not quite a dream-like style, but whatever it is that the series has. This was a delightful find for me. <3 (Shizuo/Celty.)
Enchanted: This Tired World Can Change by ordinarygirl - Oh, man. This fic--! It's Giselle getting lost in a bad neighborhood post-movie with "unsavory types" and being so... Giselle about it, that I think I nearly clapped my hands over my fangirl heart with utter love for her. It was a short piece, but was just utterly delightful and so completely true to the movie and how Giselle interacts with the real world around her that I'm just over the moon for it. It was perfect. (Slight Robert/Giselle, but it's not the point.)
Junjou Romantica: Who Wrote the Book of Love by MidniteMarauder - Another favorite of mine is when Nowaki gets into Hiroki's books, especially those books, the ones that are total trash and yet Hiroki can't bear to get rid of or, you know, not keep buying them. I love Nowaki in this fic a lot, so dearly in love with Hiroki, so sweet when they're first moving into their new apartment, so genuinely wanting to help organize Hiroki's books, and he doesn't even mean to stumble onto Hiroki's stash. Hiroki himself is fantastic here as well, so much bluster and ranting and constant headaches and in the middle of such a difficult life, you guys. I love that it's not just about Nowaki getting into Hiroki's books (though, that part is super hilarious), but also about the little moments, like when Akihiko first asks Hiroki to look over his Jun'ai novels or when Hiroki isn't feeling well one day and Nowaki gets him to lie down, even though all the books are still scattered about or the ending when Hiroki catches Nowaki and kind of has a fit about it. Which, I guess, is the thing about this fic--I loved it enough to write a flailing, incoherent rec about it, didn't I? orz (Nowaki/Hiroki, somewhat NSFW.)
Junjou Romantica: Aftermath by Hemera4 - When I read the first chapter of this fic as it was posted, I wanted to quibble with some of the characterization--I don't think Nowaki would leave so easily/just like that, I think Hiroki would have a harder time getting over his pride, etc--and I think that's something I'd still want to warn for, that it's somewhat rushed in the beginning. At the same time, when I finished the chapter that had just been posted, I did the ants in my pants dance because, holy crap, I wanted the next chapter now. I wanted to see where this was going! I was genuinely affected by the heartache that Nowaki and Hiroki were putting themselves through again! I kind of wanted to smack them because, yes, they are stupid enough to let this shit get betwen them again! The writer has an otherwise really solid grip on the characters and chapter three is all kinds of really satisfying resolution, making the wait between the chapters totally worth it. I admit, part of what hits home for me with this fic is that it's an issue I love to see played with (Nowaki's jealousy that Hiroki's feelings for Akihiko linger even to this day) and I am all about the whole plot of one character leaving so that the other person has to wake up and go after them and put things back together. I read this fic knowing that of course there would be a happy ending and that's what made it so fun for me, because it didn't lessen the impact of Nowaki's hurt or Hiroki's desperation, instead I just sat back and enjoyed the show. This is the kind of thing I love, shut up. XD (Nowaki/Hiroki.)
Junjou Romantica: Why Now? by CheyanneChika - I'm not sure what made me pick up this fic and, I admit, that I read it pretty quickly and almost skimmed it at points. It's... I guess the thing about it, for me, is that I was in the right frame of mind for it, especially because I like Junjou Romantica for what it is--sometimes it defies cliches and that's fantastic, but other times it's all about the cliches and I love it for that, too. This is a fic about Nowaki's mother coming back into the picture and you can pretty much predict where everything is going to go, but that's almost deliberate and it's kind of what I ended up liking about it? It's hard to describe, I guess. Granted, I'm ridiculously in love with the Egoist pairing and I like that the chapters were broken up into easily managable chunks, but it's... I'm at a loss to describe what hooked me into this fic, other than to say that it was well-plotted and paced, keeping me always going, "Okay, just one more chapter before I peel myself away for bed." Not that it's a terribly long fic, (just under 18,000 words, so you'll finish it pretty quickly) but I tend to read at night before I go to bed. It's not perfect and it takes some liberties (like where Nowaki was found when he was a baby, but I just chalk up to artistic license and I'm fine with that *g*) but I ate it up because I love this kind of shit, shut up. XD (Nowaki/Hiroki.)
Junjou Romantica: Kamijou Dates a Woman (part 14) by Qatari - I've tried to shy away from doing recs of specific chapters lately because it can look kind of silly when I archive everything, but... well, this fic is long enough that I think I can get away with it. Also, my site, I do want I want, and all that. But also that this chapter was kind of utterly fantastic--it has Shinoda picking up his kid at Nowaki's hospital! I didn't know how badly I needed Shinoda and Nowaki to interact on this level (because that one chapter was fine for canon, but I need it explored more fully in fic! XD) until I read this chapter and it was kind of ridiculously great and makes me hope SUPER HARD that Shinoda will show up in future chapters again. The chapter also has Hiroki trying to get Miyagi to stop being mad at him after Hiroki's conversation with Risako and, oh, man, I love Hiroki so much. Because it's so hard for him to connect with people or deal with this storm of emotions he has and yet you can tell he genuinely wants Miyagi to not be mad at him anymore--the resolution of that scene is utterly satisfying and hilarious as well! Which is what the whole chapter (and the whole fic) is about! It's really like the continuing adventures of the cast and it's genuinely emotionally satisfying! (Implied Miyagi/Shinobu and Nowaki/Hiroki.)
Pokemon: Affinity by wordsnatcher - I actually came here because the fic was labelled as having Red and Green, so I was curious, even if their relationship wasn't really the center of the fic. Instead, it's a bittersweet piece about Red and Pikachu, their connection and friendship over the years, the way Pikachu is getting older and can't keep going the way it used to, the way Red has grown up as well, how he's no longer a child, either. They're still important to each other, but time does change things and it can't stay like it was. Sure, it was sad, but it was a gentle sort of sadness that was lovely to read and somehow... it felt like it really fit the Pokemon universe. (No real warnings/pairings.)
Tales of the Abyss: The first day by Tammaiya - For my birthday, Siobhan did a series of quick fics, and naturally I took the chance for some Peony/Nephry because we're both big Abyss fans and I crave more of them. And this was perfect! Set post-game, after there's no more Score, and the first half is this lovely, almost breathless thing as they finally can reach out to each other--and then, well. Because the world loves me, they are suddenly not the only one in the room. Which satisfied my desire for lolz (at Peony's expense, naturally) but also how much I love how stupid Peony and Nephry were for each other. It was just. Everything I could ask for. ♥ (Peony/Nephry.)
Tales of the Abyss: Who needs enemies? by Tammaiya - Well, I could hardly let a birthday request go by without asking for Jade/Saphir and Peony/Saphir. Because one of our running jokes is that a) Peony/Saphir would be really hot and b) Jade would be so annoyed. And this fic was perfect, I love the Keterburg boys so very much and Peony is such a cheerful dick and Saphir is... oh, I love him so much. Especially when Jade and Peony are making his life difficult. Also, the ending of the first scene. Lolling forever. (Peony/Saphir, Jade/Saphir.)
