July 10th, 2006 
07:09 am Abstain by Resonant (NC-17)
Fandom: STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] resonant8
Author Web site: In Medias Res
Why this must be read: This story takes that old cliche, "aliens made them do it," and wonderfully turns it on its head: aliens make them not do it. McKay and Sheppard must undergo a ritual cleansing by...not having sex. Of course, they think this will be no problem at all: "Easiest diplomatic requirement we've had," McKay confidently asserts. Thus begins a long, long night together, a long night of not having sex, when the one thing you're not supposed to think about becomes the only thing you can think about. Resonant's spare, clean style opens up every line to subtext, richly developing something more than sexual tension between McKay and Sheppard, and revealing something about the nature of collegiality and friendship between men that changes when sex is thrown into the mix, when a realization is made that changes everything:

John felt a pang of something like loneliness. After tonight he was never going to be able to look at McKay the careless way he always had. His long fingers, his sturdy body, his oddly pretty eyes—this was no way to be thinking about a member of his team. But after tonight, he couldn't un-know what he knew.

Abstain (NC-17)

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08:50 am Brains by B. Cavis (PG-13)
Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] b_cavis
Author Website: B/Side
Why this must be read:

Ziva is not my favorite character. I don't hate her like some fans do, but she hasn't done much to endear herself to me. This only makes it all the more impressive that this story managed to me make me both sympathize with her and want to read more of her point of view.

In Brains Ziva has a rather candid conversation with Kate's ghost. The candidness works precisely because Kate is a ghost, and it is both sweet and sad to see her relax with and take comfort from someone who is already gone.

But despite how much I like that part of it, I think I like the final scene with Gibbs best. The little differences between herself and Kate that Ziva sees just seem to recall the earlier comfort, even with Kate gone.

Brains
crack_van: (Default)
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