Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: dodger_winslow
Why this must be read:

This is one of those tiny little drabbles that packs a huge punch. What does it mean for Duncan, after 400 years of always being able to sense trouble coming, to suddenly know that the Watchers are out there, completely undetectable?

The Watching

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Amanda/Cory Raines
Author Website: Rhiannon's Eyrie
Why this must be read:

Rhi has a talent for taking one-shot guest stars and rounding them out to lively, full characters. Amanda and Cory Raines seemed perfectly content as an Immortal Bonnie and Clyde, so why didn't they keep going?

"Mr. Cory Raines?"

Cory, bless his heart, never blinked. He put down his cigar and commented mildly, "Only if that's something good."

"Telegram, sir. Station master said there was nobody with that name in town, but the gentleman sendin' it said to take it anyway and try'n'deliver it."

Amanda frowned then, delicately painted lips flattening as she started wondering who, exactly, could have tracked Cory here. "And how did you decide that this gentleman was Mr. Raines?" she inquired sweetly, giving the messenger her best blinding smile.

"Ain't that many strangers in town, ma'am," the kid grinned again. "And well, it's worth two bits to me if this is Mr. Raines, so I figured I'd ask."

"Two bits, hmm?" Cory grinned back at the kid, and for a long moment, they looked like brothers in mischief and pleasure. "Tell you what," Cory went on cheerfully, "I'll give you two bits anyway. Let me look at it, and then we'll decide if it's good news--"

"--and whether you're Mr. Raines?" the kid agreed with a laugh. "Sure, mister. I mean, if you ain't, he ain't in town, so I don't see where it c'n hurt."

Persona Non Grata

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: st_crispins
Author Website: St Crispin's Day Society
Why this must be read:

Cindy Walker is someone who, as the saying goes, needs no introduction. She's one of the most influential writers in the fandom and a quick glance down the crack_van memories page for UNCLE will reveal that approximately every tenth story recced is by her (my own two favourites, in case anyone reading this has just returned from three decades on the moon and hasn't already read them, are A is for Andy and The St Christopher Affair).

A striking difference between early MfU fanfic and the stories that are being written today is the treatment of Napoleon. Once upon a time, the fandom was full of Illya Chicks and Napoleon was presented as a superfluous character at best, and, at worst, a thoroughly repellent individual, whose sleazy selfishness extended to downright cruelty towards poor Illya. That the modern view of Napoleon sees him as an equal partner in the relationship, and as an interesting and complex character in his own right (in spite of being rather more resistant to woobification than his partner) is in no small measure down to Cindy. Her series of stories set in the St Crispin's Day universe has contributed directly to the rehabilitation of Napoleon in the fannish imagination, and for this alone no survey of influential UNCLE writers would be complete without her.

This particular fic was written in response to the “Necessary Lies” challenge on muncle and it's a very nice example of Cindy's talent for finding an original and intriguing take on a topic. It's a story in which nothing much happens, and yet it sums up so much of what it means to be a spy. On their way from somewhere to somewhere, Napoleon and Illya while away time at an airport, and Napoleon seizes the opportunity to flirt with an Innocent. The way the two worlds of agent and civilian can only ever touch tangentially is very cleverly rendered in the dialogue between them, without the topic ever being raised explicitly, and at the end the woman is left with a vague sense that there was more to this encounter than met the eye.

Necessary Lies

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: AJ/Brian
Author on LJ: zoicite
Author Website: Commoner's Tales

Why this must be read: Any day someone posts new AJ/Brian is a good day for me. Any day that Zoicite does it, it practically gets a special mark in the calendar. In this story, Brian's on the verge of separation (which is one way to deal with Brian's marriage) and has gone to stay with AJ while he figures out what to do. It's filled with wonderful quirkly little things, like The Great Sponge Experiment, but more importantly Zoicite makes AJ and Brian's friendship such an integral part of the story, which is what really gets me. The story is all about choices, and right up till the end I had no idea what Brian's decision would be, because Zoicite is such a great storyteller. The whole thing just flows. There's emphasis on the fact that these guys are a family in their own rights, and that they love each other, which is another thing I love about it. This story is fun, thought-evoking, even heartbreaking at times, and the characterizations of both AJ and Brian are absolutely brilliant. Can't recommend this enough.

( Excerpt )

Someone Else's Other People

Fandom: TORCHWOOD
Pairing: Ianto/Jack
Author on LJ: notevery
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

The greater part of the Torchwood authors let the Ianto/Jack relationship begin after Lisa. This one is different. They’re not in love - can’t be because Ianto loves Lisa, but they’re close. And there is sex. It’s a difficult thing to write, canon showed us how much Lisa mattered to Ianto and this story shows just that. But it also gives us a Ianto who’s attracted to Jack, who enjoys bickering with him, and who simply needs something to make it through his days. And sometimes that something is Jack.

"Whiskey"

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Howie/Brian
Author on LJ: arsenicjade
Author Website: Most Delicious Poison

Why this must be read: This is an amazing story that follows Howie and Brian's relationship, from the beginning and many years ahead. It's fluffy without being suffocating, and occasionally it's absolutely tragic. A lot of ups and downs, which only makes the read that much better. What's unique about this story is that there's really not any huge relationship drama going on. No will-they-won't-they business. They face a lot of hard stuff, but they're secure in their relationship. I really love that about it. It's a read that will leave you feeling completely content. Not many stories can do that.

( Excerpt )

O Bla Dee, O Bla Da