Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Brian/Michael friendship
Author on LJ: xhaleslowly
Author Website: xhale s l o w l y

Why this must be read:
Here's another older story in the fandom. I liked this one because it was plausible, and both guys are in character. Brian and Michael at 17--Michael's dealing with the realities of his life the best he can, with the help of his best friend.

Strangeways, Here We Come

I've waited out the long holiday weekend before issuing my maiden post.

Hi, I'm gaeta and I'll be doing the West Wing recs for July.
The West Wing was my first fandom, beginning way back last November. Because I came late to the fandom, many of the stories I love are old. If you've already read everything, you're likely to find me a bit boring, I'm afraid (unless, of course, you're one of the authors whose ancient story I dredge up).

Enough apologies. I'm a Josh gal first and a slash reader second, so yes, Josh/Sam is my OTP, but I'm not severely monogamous when it comes to fannish things. I generally choose good writing over good just about anyting else, so, even if you've read my selections before, you should enjoy reading them again.

With the obligatory babbling out of the way, here are the recs:

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Ensemble
Author on LJ: eolianbeck
Author's Website:But there's a Devil in the Lookingglass

Why this must be read:

I thought I'd start off my month with an ensemble piece. I also favor episode-related stories, and this one fits both bills. It's a small character study of each of the major characters as they, one by one, look in on Josh the night of the sniper shooting at the White House.

We get a little of each character's musings and a short conversation between each of them and Josh who patiently endures their well-meant concerns even though each time he's interrupted in the middle of an important phone call, the completion of which ends the story once all the others have finally left.

The characters are very well drawn. The author has chosen well the small details of thought that each of them is occupied with on this evening, revealing a tremendous amount about them and their roles -- public and private -- in a very short time.

In the end, though, it's a Josh-centric story; I won't deny that. And it concludes with just enough of the requisite Josh-angst to make me very, very happy. (But not too much for those who like their angst lite).

A Few Cards Short of a Full Deck

ETA: there appears to be a problem linking to this story. I'm having trouble addressing that problem at the moment but will keep working on it.

ETA: found a different link here it is:

A Few Cards Short of a Full Deck

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Brian/m; Michael/m; Brian/Michael friendship
Author on LJ: xof1013
Author Website: None: go to Across the Pond and search the fiction archive for stories under the name xof.

Why this must be read:
Here's one last story of Brian and Michael as teenagers, before I go forward to the period the series covers. This could be the story of Michael's first time, and of course Brian helps out. xof1013 is known for her QAF recaps, which you should check out of you haven't yet, but she also writes QAFUK and QAF: US fanfic.

Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer

First off, I have neglected to introduce myself. I'm tafkar, and this month I'll be your guide through the world of Firefly fanfic. My tastes often run to the humorous and non-slashy, but some of my favorite tales are slash stories; all that I ask is that the author remain true to the characters. I'm starting out with a couple of short pieces written for ff_friday.

Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: Zoe/Wash, Mal/?
Author on LJ: igeria
Author Website: None listed, sadly.

Why this must be read:
There's pre-slash, and post-slash - this story, instead, might be called next-door-neighbor-of-slash. igeria nails both Wash and Zoe dead-on, with a short piece that made me laugh often, and still does, every time I read it.

"But—But—damnit Zoe, I’m the only man who gets laid on this ship!"

She sat up. "Excuse me?"

"Sure, Mal can act all Captainy," he tried to explain. "And Jayne can strut around being all… ugh. Jayne. Sex. Disgusting. —But I know! I know damnit! If there’s one thing I know it’s that I—!" He gripped his hair in frustration. "Damnit! And who could it be? You’re lying right here next to me!"

The Morning After, One Room Over

Fandom: YAMI NO MATSUEI
Pairing: (Hisoka/Tatsumi)
Author on LJ: ranalore
Author Website: Fruit of the Vine
Why this must be read:

This pairing is rare in the fandom, and when done well can be a real treat. Hisoka and Tatsumi have one major thing in common - Tsuzuki; as mentioned in the fandom overview, much of the available fanfic pairs Tsuzuki with one or the other of them. To pair Hisoka and Tatsumi without detracting from their mutual love of Tsuzuki is no easy task. I like this short fic because Rana is able to address the inevitable presence of Tsuzuki hanging in the air between his partner and his ex-partner without cheapening their blossoming relationship, and without ignoring the lingering feelings of disloyalty that would surely crop up in this situation. Set not long after the Kyoto arc, in Tatsumi's point of view, the characterization of both is well done: Tatsumi's ever-present need for control is carefully integrated with Hisoka's budding concern for others, the newness for Hisoka of *not* pushing another person away is deftly explored. A sprinkling of angsty goodness does not impede the overall sweetness of the fic.

( Excerpts )

This fic is not yet removed from LJ to the author's website, so here is the LJ link:

In Your Arms, This Lonely Place

Fandom: Farscape
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: themonkeycabal
Author's Website: The Province of the Red

Why this must be read:

Yes, this is my second rec for something that Red's written. But, this one just cannot be ignored. This one is just chilling in nature, featuring a character that is canon but not so much. You'll get that once you read it. Once again, I praise Red's mind for just being a wickedly cool place to be. Red takes a whole new genre of fic in Farscape, and twists it, stomps on it, and makes your heart ache for it.

By the end, you're gnawing at your fingernails, still trying to really figure out what's going on when the ending does hit you. The ending is one...well, the dialogue alone is enough to make me cry. It's powerful.

Red herself says that this came from a dream she had and all I could think was why weren't my dreams that cool and in so much technicolor? This fic is smart, chilling, and so consistent with the show, it hurts.

Figment

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: gen; background Sydney/Danny
Author on LJ: scoutmol
Author’s Website: curiosity slowdown
Why this must be read:

I haven’t seen many authors really tackle Sydney and Francie’s relationship, so I was thrilled to discover this fic. This is a lovely, sweet, and painful look at Syd and Francie’s friendship--from the pre-series years leading up to the series premiere. Francie is wonderfully drawn and fleshed out.

This story reminds me of how much I miss Sydney’s connection to a “normal” life, missing so painfully throughout season three.

"You have such a cool name."

That was what Francie said to Sydney the night they first met, really met, in the second floor lounge of their dorm in college, late in freshman year. Francie was watching Jerry Springer on the cable TV, and Sydney was using the microwave to make popcorn. Sydney was one of the shy ones on the hall. Francie wasn’t.

"I guess," Sydney said, visibly surprised, a tentative smile following the words. "I’ve always thought it’s kind of weird."

"Weird?" Francie answered. "Try having a name like Francie." She wrinkled up her nose when she said it. "No one has the name Francie."

"I think it’s nice," Sydney said. Francie could tell from her smile that she wasn’t lying. The microwave dinged, Sydney pulled out her popcorn, and Francie told her she simply had to stick around to see Jerry’s final thought. They split the bag, watched an infomercial for a rotisserie contraption after Jerry was over, and went back to their rooms at 2:30 halfway to being best friends.

The Rarest Faith

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: gen
Author on LJ: miladygrey
Author’s Website: Unkown
Why this must be read:

Written in response to the Alias Femme (Fatale) extended challenge, Lady Grey takes up yahtzee63’s request for a fic examining Francie’s thoughts and feelings towards her best friend’s dad, Jack Bristow.

This story is a wonderful portrayal of Francie, as a friend and as a person, as well as being an excellent look at Sydney and Jack Bristow as individuals and family. This is a clever and sympathetic look at the human side of all the characters.

The first time she saw him, she thought of frost. The silver-grey rimming his hair, the clipped edges of his voice as he addressed his daughter. Even his hand, shaking hers with impersonal efficiency, was cold despite the California spring warmth. The frost was reflected in Syd, and the two Bristows stood with their arms folded the exact same way. Syd was also looking at him from under her brows, a disconcertingly charming expression that had no parallel on Jack's harsh features. That probably came from her mother. Which was probably why Jack left in under a minute, lips pressed into a narrow line. Icing over, Francie thought, and cordially (mentally) wished him a turbulent flight and lousy coffee.

Airplane Parts

Fandom: STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Author on LJ: Not that I know of
Author Website: Don't think there is one.
Why this must be read:

Kirk decides to present Spock with an article of clothing for his birthday. His first mistake was buying it with McCoy in attendance, his second was betting the good Doctor that Spock would wear it to the restaurant they were visiting that evening. Spock's only mistake was getting up that morning.

( Want to know more? )


Small Packages