Vidder: AJ
Musical artist: Clint Mansell
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Vidder's website: AJ's Music Videos
Why this vid kicks ass: Oh, Jet Li, how pretty and violent you are. In this gorgeously stylised vid, AJ presents us with a love letter to the grace of Jet Li as he punches, kicks and swordfights his opponents to a standstill. There's no one like Jet Li for this kind of cinematic violence, and this vid makes me want to spend the whole day curled up watching Jet Li's back catalogue.

Jet Li Retrospective

Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: [Rikkaidai] Niou Masaharu/Sanada Genichirou
Author: star_in_my_soup
Website: n/a
Rating: [NC 17] Language, sex.

Niou Masaharu's apocryphal failings in Brit-Lit is on a collision course with the well-disciplined order of Sanada Genichirou's universe. Who will win the upperhand, the trickster or the Emperor? star_in_my_soup's classic battle never happens on the court. This is tight, well-written prose with a twist at its best.

Not One Stroke.

Last post for me this month.  I've really enjoyed reccing Samurai Champloo and I now encourage all you writers to produce some more fic to keep us reccers fed:)

Fandom: Samurai Champloo
Pairing: Jin/Mugen, Fuu/Jin, Fuu/Mugen, Fuu/Jin/Mugen (with the occasional foray into short-term pairings between one of our heroes and an OC)
Author on LJ: laurabryannan
Author Website: http://www.homestar.org/bryannan/champloo/

Why this must be read:
Starting mid-series, this collection of stories spans the second half of the anime and continues several years after as Fuu, Jin, and Mugen find each other again and build a life together. The first fic is fluff (and kind of PWP), but from there the stories leads into a long, thoughful exploration of the relationships between Jin, Mugen, and Fuu. Angst, humor, jealousy, cross-dressing, pirates, and redemption ensue.

There's over thirty stories in this AU at the time I write this and rather than trying to pick out one or two to rec, I highly recommend that you read the entire universe. It's a well-written look at the development of a seme and uke (top and bottom in English) relationship between Jin and Mugen, and as the series progresses Fuu gets drawn in as well. It's easily my favorite fic in the fandom and I love the way the the threesome develops, especially the way everyone's not perfectly happy to share. Threesomes sound great in fiction, but are a tough sell in real life and this series honestly addresses the difficulties such a group would face while still demonstrating how they need all three to make a truly functional, happy relationship. Especially since each person in the group has his or her own group of people attempting to assassinate him/her. An amazing body of work.

Laura Bryannan's Samurai Champloo AU

Fandom: Drake's venture
Pairing: Thomas/Francis
Author's lj: blakefancier
Author's website: none that I know of

Why this *must* be read: Blakefancier has a rare gift: she can pack in a very short fic all the emotions and ambiguities it takes me pages to convey. This is why, although short, this fic is just perfect. It's a reincarnation fic, a high-school fic and our heroes are in bed; but it's not quite as simple as that.

Until the end of the world

Fandom: Drake's venture
Pairing: None
Author's lj: kerravongenius
Authors website: none that I know of

Why this *must* be read: It's still a very short one. Sue me. But it's so good, and so canon and maybe it really happened this way, Thomas' young brother John trying to talk him out of the venture...

EXCELLENT! Read it! Fair prospect

Fandom: Drake's venture
Pairing: Thomas/Francis (reincarnation fic)
Author's lj: shimere277
Author's website: index of fics

Why this must be read: It's long and gorgeous. It's an AU, a reincarnation fic where Thomas and Francis are climbers - daring brave ones. Climbing the highest moutain of Himalaya, without oxygen don't scare them. They don't scare Frank because he's prepared, and quite experienced, and conscious of the risks - a professional. They don't scare Thomas because, like it is often the case in Shimere's fics, he doesn't give a fuck about dying, since he seems to be quite disturbed. But still very brave. It's a wonderful fic (get a coat and boots, it's so well written and vivid you'll think you're there). So they climb, it doesn't go that well, they nearly die, they yell at each other, and finally... Well, let's say they're still alive at the end.

( an exerpt )

All you need is in this fic: a beautiful writing, a plot, sexual tension... so, read The fatal impact (the link to part two is at the end of part one. You would have guessed. You just have to click on it with your frozen little fingers.) When you're done, go read all her fics. You won't regret it.

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: Izzie Stevens/Denny Duquette
Author on LJ: yahtzee63
Author Website: yahtzee63
Why this must be read:

Izzie and Denny were one of the nicest and sweetest pairing on the show and this story really shows that. It's nice to see Denny, well, courting Izzie and it's like the scenes we didn't get to see showing the build up to them loving each other so much.

Excerpt: Alex looks up from the chart then – aha, Denny thinks, got your attention. He clicks his pen like he's cocking a gun. "I'm saying you can walk to the cafeteria. But if you're asking if you can have sex, that's running a really big risk that your heart would essentially – let me use layman's terms for you -- explode."

"In other words, you're telling me not to do it."

Time Clock of the Heart

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: George O'Malley/Alex Karev
Author on LJ: _shades_
Author Website: _shades_
Why this must be read:

This story is what really brought me into the Grey's Anatomy fandom, it is the definition of wonderful. It's Alex's and George's love story
and it is fantastic. And it's so much like the show, like an episode or two from George's point of view and, it is the best.

Excerpt: Alex was already asleep when George left, so after only half a second's pause, he picked his alarm clock up off the night stand and turned it off. Just because he could.

something

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: George O'Malley centric gen
Author on LJ: hackthis
Author Website: http://www.obsessedmuch.net/dysfunctional/
Why this must be read:

This is the George fic. This shows you why you should love him if you don't and why you do love him if you do and it's amazing. And this IS the show, it's just another episode written down from George's point of view so the characters are so in characters and it's wonderful.

Excerpt: George just nods his head. When he grows up, he wants to be badass like Dr Bailey.

O'Malley's Anatomy

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: George O'Malley/Izzie Stevens
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

This story covers the beginning of something, and it's wonderful it watch their relationship develop and become more, and how it's just that easy. I find it interesting to read stories of how Izzie and George could have been done well, through it makes me more sad about the fact it wasn't.

Excerpt: Intimacy that just is.

He reaches out, and she bends with his winds so she can keep him from breaking. He has her to fall back on, and they share confidences and fears and gossip; they bond over bad horror movies and popcorn and comparing notes on surgical techniques.

They become better friends.

Ready to Rise

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: Izzie Stevens character study
Author on LJ: fox1013
Author Website: http://www.innergeekdom.net/
Why this must be read:

I was surprised when I realized I had yet to rec this. It's such a wonderful and interesting concept and really shows two different 'worlds' coming together well. Very unusual and very good.

Excerpt: George was shy, and geeky, and easily embarrassed, and sometimes when Izzie looked at him she could only see Alex, her Alex, and had to walk away.

Breaking

Last rec, thanks for hanging through it with me, it was fun!

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: George O'Malley/Alex Karev
Author on LJ: other_shades
Author Website: other_shades
Why this must be read:

This is my last rec and more so it's probably my favorite story from the Grey's Anatomy verse. It is the sequel to something and it's even better then that. And for a while I really didn't think that possible, but then I found this sequel and, well, wow. It's a bit tougher, a bit harder, a bit more cynical and a bit more sweeter. This is how I imagine the characters, I think this story best portrays them. I think a lot of this story.

Excerpt: They had made plans to watch a game the next night, but when George showed up with a case of Miller, Alex had cracked the door half-naked and just starred at him expressionless until George heard Izzie laugh somewhere in the apartment and got the clue that it was over.

He drank most of the case himself that night, and apologized drunkenly to Burke when he puked on the rug.

and it wasn't enough

Fandom: GREY'S ANATOMY
Pairing: Izzie Stevens/George O'Malley, George character study
Author on LJ: angelgazing
Author Website: angelgazing
Why this must be read:

This story is about how George is a gentlemen. He is good and kind and thinks low about himself and really, I think this story is pretty much about the guy getting the girl. Which is a nice thing to read about every once and a while.

Excerpt: His mother taught him manners, taught him to be polite to women. You open doors for them and buy them dinner and pat their shoulder when they cry and you love them, even when they break your heart, because some girls can't help but do that. Pick up their books when they drop them, pull out their chairs, never make lewd comments, never let your eyes linger below their neckline, women have eyes, they have brains, they should be respected.

Just a Daisy in the Shadow of the Sun

Fandom: FAKE NEWS RPF
Pairing: Stephen/Paul
Author on LJ: effetely
Author Website: lecoeurdu
Why this must be read:

A heartbreaking take on Stephen and Paul. Stephen's getting married to his wife, Evie, and they have to end their affair. Wonderful prose and metaphors of their relationship and even includes a small appearance with Amy, so in-character with only a few sentences.

To Rest On the Same Pillow

Fandom: THE PERSUADERS!
Pairing: Danny Wilde/Lord Brett Sinclair
Author Website: Dorinda's bare bones page
Why this must be read:

There were several Persuaders fics in the yuletide swap this year – joy! – and it seems like I should control myself and only rec one, so, whatever you do, don't miss Alfresco. It's set after the episode Five Miles to Midnight, which ends with Brett and Danny – at an early, cautiously friendly period in their acquaintance, with less of the sneering and sparring but before the comfortable intimacy – finishing up a rough couple of days by ( spoiler. ) Between the relief from danger, the stress of their current predicament, and the beautiful Italian countryside, it's a holiday or a disaster in the making... depending on who you ask.

This fic gives a thoughtful, serious take on the characters, with bits of backstory that'll sink into your personal canon immediately, and – no, in the interests of keeping this rec short, instead of raving on in detail I'll just say, imagine you've been handed a bowl of the most delicious, top-quality chocolate mousse to savour spoonful by luscious spoonful, only the more you have, the more you crave. Mmmmm. Now go, read! Read!

( Excerpt )

Alfresco

Fandom: GORGEOUS CARAT
Pairing: Florian x Ray
Author on LJ:
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1279036/Kirin_Morgenstern

Why this must be read:
A short piece exploring a bit of Ray's past and the effect it has on his present with Florian. A lovely, unusual story made better by the unembellished writing.

Sanctuary