In honor of Crossover Day!
I do hope I've formatted this correctly...

Title and Author: The Mystery We Are by Aeron Lanart (PG13 - NC17)
Pairing: Methos/Captain Jack Harkness
Author on LJ: aeron_lanart
Author Website: The Gateway
Why this must be read:

This is a lovely, long story written with a deft understanding of both Torchwood and Highlander. The characterizations of Jack, Ianto and Methos are particularly lovely.

The first Immortal you meet in this tale is not Methos (or Jack, either -- don't worry, though, Jack shows up soon enough, and Methos' arrival is worth the wait) but a nicely realized OFC who the Torchwood crew don't quite know what to do with.

Humor, pathos, swordfights, Watchers and musings on what it means to be immortal are only some of the things that make this a very satisfying read.

The link takes you to the table of contents page. The chapters themselves are in rtf, and there is also an rtf file of the entire story.

The NC17 chapters are identified, and there is a 'condensed' version that is entirely PG13.
( A Taste: )

The Mystery We Are

Title: A Swell Party by Claire
Pairings: Assorted, mainly Nine/Rose/Jack
Author on LJ: mythverdandi
Why this must be read:

Recipe for disaster:
3 Time-travellers in various states of frustration
2 Ne'er-do-well gents from the Roaring Twenties
1 Unflappable butler
Add to taste: Troublemaking twins, marriage-minded harpies, alien artifacts.
Shake liberally, and serve up at a country estate.

A Swell Party (link is to the last chapter)

Yep, today is the 15th of the month, which means Crack Van Collisions, a.k.a. cross-over day.

Drivers, you may rec one fic that crosses over your fandom with another (no, this does not count against your maximum). Please post crossovers in the following format:

Subject: Fandom/Fandom (Rating)

Title: Title by Author
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Author on LJ:
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

(link to story)

Thanks, all!

Title: Certain Dark Things, by Plazmah
Pairing: Mulder/Scully, Brennan/Booth, Scully/Brennan
Author on LJ: plazmah

Why this must be read: It's so nice to see that even though X-Files has been over for years, people are still writing amazing X-Files fic. This is one of my favorite crossovers, because the shows have a similar style and similar relationships between the main characters. This is a post-apocalyptic AU (so...not exactly a post-ep, but oh well) with character death. It's bleak but fascinating and gorgeously written. The premise is awesome and even if you've never seen Bones, you should check it out!

( Excerpt )

Certain Dark Things

Title: Dead Like Them by Forcryinoutloud and Laytoncolt
Pairing: Sheppard/McKay pre-slash; hints of Jack/Daniel
Author on LJ: forcryinoutloud and laytoncolt
Author Website: mad_gaters
Why this must be read: I haven't seen a single episode of "Dead Like Me" and I still love this fic because the authors nail the characters. They also give enough explanation that it all makes perfect sense, and although perhaps I'm missing some of the subtleties that a DLM fan would get, I can't help but love the story. It works and it's by turns poignant and hilarious.

The premise: Rodney dies, but instead of passing on to the great beyond, he ends up being a reaper, someone who eases the souls of the soon-to-be-dead on to the next life. His fellow reapers are Jack, Daniel, Ronon (who enjoys his job a little too much), and John. This story is all about how Rodney adjusts to his new life (or lack thereof), and in typical Rodney fashion, he flails along insulting the people trying to help him and somehow still manages to endear himself to John.

It's the first story set in this universe, and although it will have you craving more, it certainly stands alone as a story. At the moment there are three additional stories, and plans for at least one more. (Easily found through the tags on mad_gaters).

( 'The coffee's great,' the cute guy said, apparently looking right at him. 'You're just feeling a little weird because you're dead.' )

Read the Story / Feedback the Authors: Dead Like Them

Fandom: MAGNIFICENT 7
Pairing: Chris/Ezra
Author on LJ: ryann_blackwood
Author's Website: ryann_blackwood
Why this must be read:

Because this is so wonderfully Ezra! 

I have already admitted that I am a Vin-fan, but one of the reasons that Vin is who he is is because the others are who they are - syngery, maybe?  Whatever the case, the pairing of Chris and Ezra is the one, to me, that is most diametrically opposed to the Chris/Vin pairing; where Chris and Vin share 'the look' in their first scene together in the pilot ep (the look that most C/V-ers take to mean they have touched souls and know each other already), Chris and Ezra clash from the very first - and it's a clash that remains constant, the two of them wearing at each other in a constant struggle for a sort of - respect, perhaps? Whatever the case, the episode that best shows this struggle is from the second season, "Serpents".

And even if you haven't seen the ep, the general differences in their natures is captured perfectly here in this story.  Ryann Blackwood not only captures the rich pattern of Ezra's language and personality, but she also captures the spare hardness of Chris's.  The other seven are there as well (not nearly enough Vin, of course, but what's there is delightful), and all nicely drawn.

The story is very new - posted yesterday! - so I'm glad I'm on duty this month so I can rec it!!!  A delight!

Let All Types Converge

Title: Not Quite A Sequel - Gifts by Aingeal
Pairings: Leroy Jethro Gibbs/Donald 'Ducky' Mallard. Abigail Sciuto/Timothy McGee. Benton Fraser/Raymond Vecchio
Author on LJ: aingeal8c
Author Website: Armani And Serge: Aingeal's Due South Site

Why this must be read:

Aingeal is well known in Due South fandom for her Fraser/Vecchio stories, which she writes superbly. Indeed I'd go as far to say that she is one of the best, if not the best, Fraser/Vecchio writers currently writing. Sadly, though she is somewhat, in my opinion, under appreciated, i.e. her stories do not get the recognition I believe they deserve. Thus I was delighted when she wrote this wonderful crossover for me for a birthday present, as it gave me the opportunity to recommend her for crossover day.

The story is set in today's NCIS universe, but is futuristic for Due South and as such can be considered AU/AR. It is also very mild crack!fic, but as with all of Aingeal's crack!fic stories, it works, it is completely believable. It is also set in the same universe as one of her Due South stories (Not Quite A Harlequin Novel). The premise is simple: 'someone' believes that Abby and McGee need a little help in getting their relationship sorted out. Gibbs, being Gibbs, is extremely suspicious of the 'help', so the 'helper' calls on previously satisfied 'clients': Benny and Ray. But it isn't just Abby and McGee on whom the 'helper' has a contract.

Aingeal writes all three couples extremely well and mild crack or not they are very much in character. She shows the love, friendship and affection each couple share for one another, even though we never actually see the Due South pairing, the appearance is all via the telephone. Her OC is superb, amusing and so very real. As well as love and affection, the story is full of humour and fun and has a great feel good factor. It is well worth a read.

( Extract )

---

Not Quite A Sequel - Gifts

Fandom: HOUSE
Pairing: Cuddy/House
Author on LJ: ellixian
Author Website: author's House tag on LJ
Why this must be read:

Because Cuddy is nothing if not purposeful and devious. And because so much of her life has been/is/continues to be merged with that of Gregory House. This Cuddy is sassy and compassionate; competitive and angry. The 'five times' frame offers an amusing and moving look at the challenging relationship between Cuddy, House and his cars.

She commits crimes the same way she does everything else - single-mindedly.

Read Five Times Cuddy Drives House's car.

Title: Rooms by epigone
Pairing: Dan/Keller, Keller/OMC, Dan/Casey)
Author on LJ: likethesun2
Author Website: Finishing the Hat

Why this must be read: Sports Night has more than its fair share of lightweight, fluffy fics – which are fine in their own way, in the same way that desserts are fine in their own way … but you wouldn't want to live on them all the time. (Those of you who would: hush, now, and eat your greens, or you will get spots.) Much rarer in the fandom are good, meaty, dramatic fics, stories that you can get your figurative teeth into, and which will leave you satisfied for a long, long time after.

The introduction here of a character and some backstory from Oz, a show not noted for its fluff, goes a long way toward remedying this situation. Not every author could have made it work – but likethesun2 is not just any author; she's one of the best in whatever fandom she's currently writing.

Here a restless Dan Rydell goes looking for something to fill a void in his life; finds something more than he had bargained for; and comes altogether too close to not being able to regret it.

Rooms

Title: Project Pygmalion by Azdak
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin potential pre-slash :-)
Author on LJ: azdak
Author Website: some of her stories are archived under the name Victoria Martin on File 40

Why this must be read:

Because Azdak has combined the characters of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the plot and music of Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, an epistolatory structure and created crack!fic that will leave your sides aching.

Harry Beldon bets Alexander Waverly that he can transform Illya Kuryakin, a "useless boffin" from U.N.C.L.E.'s labs, into a crack secret agent within three months. Entertaining mayhem breaks out as the unwilling Illya sings a ultra-violence version of "Just You Wait", a slapped Napoleon laments that women aren't enough like a man, and canon gains a bizarre new background that you'll want to believe.

Project Pygmalion

Title: How To Be Classy, and Other Sucker's Games by Pearl O
Pairing: Callum Keith Rennie/Katherine Heigl
Author on LJ: pearl_o
Author Website: but george you're a communist
Why this must be read:

So the idea is that Callum Keith Rennie has worked with Sandra Oh, because they're both CanCon gods, and Sandra Oh works with Katherine Heigl on Grey's Anatomy, who got her start on science fiction tv anyway, and IT ALL MAKES PERFECT SENSE, OKAY? In this story, Callum and Katie meet at one of Sandra's parties. Gratuitous kissing occurs. This story nails both Callum lazy charm and Katie and TR's fag-hag duo of awesomeness. Plus, Sandra. She's bad-ass.

"Ugh, wait," says T.R., "look, he's pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He's a smoker."

They watch the guy walk to the doors and let himself out on the patio, where Sandra's set up all the ashtrays for the tobacco pariahs.

"So?" says Katie. "I smoke."

"I wouldn't do you, either," T.R. points out, nudging her shoulder with his head.

How To Be Classy, and Other Sucker's Games

Fandom: RPF (SCI FI TV)
Pairing: Callum Keith Rennie/Katee Sackhoff
Author on LJ: marenfic
Author Website: skip the light fandango
Why this must be read:

PWP of the prettiest, most intense kind.

There's a hint of smirk on his lips, like he knows exactly what she's thinking, and he probably does.

body project (it's a wonderland)

I'm here, I'm here, I'm-Late.

Well. Sorry about that, folks. I'm revelininsanity and I'll be driving the Heroes van for, well, for what's left of this month. Sorry, RL and personal issues hit like a ton of rectangular rock-like things.

Heheheh.

Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Isaac Mendez/Peter Petrelli/Mohinder Suresh
Author on LJ: technosage
Author Website: None that I know of.
Why this must be read:

Remember? Remember when Heroes was new and bright? Remember when the possibilities for porn were endless? Remember last season?

Technosage wrote some of the first great porn in Heroes and this is certainly no exception. It's part of series but can be read on its own. This one features Isaac trying to paint the future in a since jossed timeline where he, Peter and Mohinder are working together. And playing together. Be warned, there is some power play and mild BDSM. Also some Peter and Isaac angst.

Oh, and exquisitely graphic sex.

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright

Fandom: Heroes/Supernatural
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: monkeycrackmary
Author Website: http://monkeywrench.net (it doesn't seem to be very fannish, though.
Why this must be read:

There's something a little heartening and a little heartbreaking about this. Jo and Claire meet in a battle(of course) and Claire gets a little cut up. They have a conversation and during it, you can almost see them, sitting and talking, two young women rather than the girls they should be.

I admit I'm not a Jo fan, but Claire(I fell for her the minute S1 started) drew me in and before I knew it I was trying not to cry.

Fearless

Title: Bayou by Guede Mazaka
Pairing: Grégoire de Fronsac/James Norrington, James Norrington/Jack Sparrow, Grégoire de Fronsac/Jean-François de Morangias
Author on LJ: guede_mazaka
Author Website: Tangible Schizophrenia

Why this must be read: Another day, another supernatural occurrence. Two pretty men from two pretty movies meet as New Orleans changes hands from the French to the Spanish crown, and a beast and a plague stalk the night. Moody and evocative, this piece reflects shards of both films as Norrington and Fronsac meet under desperate circumstances, watching ghosts of each other's past flit through a grotesque crowd of pestilence, pirates, armies, mercenaries, and perhaps something inhuman. Lovely slashy glimpses of what might have been in each film, and what could have been had the tide of events allowed them to meet for more than a briefly shared purpose.

Bayou