Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: 3,200 words
Author on LJ: mab_browne
Author Website: mab.slashzone
Why this must be read: Because it’s the only fic in my memories on LJ, so that should tell you something right off. In the author’s own words: ‘Jim’s father dies. Jim deals’. And what follows is the most beautifully observed viginette of grief and acceptance, of peace and humour, and of living and loving together. Everything here is pitched just right.

Blair is sitting in the chapel pew, wearing a top-coat over his suit. It is, Jim thinks, probably the first proper coat that Blair's ever owned, since Jim certainly doesn't count that old coat that Blair wore back before he even moved into Jim's apartment. Blair had bought the coat the same time he bought a decent suit. "Time is going to come that I'll need it, man, and at least it's warm." It looks damned incongruous with the long braid hanging down against the fabric. Jim braided Blair's hair for him before they left, needing something mindless to do, liking the distraction of catching up all the mass of hair and wrestling it into order. He told Blair that he didn't need to wear the full regalia of suit and tie, but Blair smiled and said, "It's a mark of respect, Jim. You and your Dad never talked about us, I know, but he knew; he wasn't stupid any more than you are. And he was okay with me, and he was totally a suit kind of a guy so I feel I should wear a suit to his funeral service."

"And a braid," Jim said, stroking down the length of hair one last time, feeling the rough silk of it against his palm.

"And a braid," Blair agreed serenely.

Where Do We Grow To?

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Length: ~ 2.200
Rating: PG
Author on LJ: tejas
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:

The idea of taking five things and writing fic about it is very well known in any fandom. There are good stories and there are... well, not quite so good stories. tejas' story is definitely one of the good ones as we accompany Tony when he gets all his firsts with Gibbs – including his first headslap and staying over at Casa del Gibbs. She weaves a story that is true to the characters and is funny and fast-paced. An enjoyable read all around.

Five First Times Gibbs Gave Tony

Fandom: THE MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Length: 13,500 words
Author on LJ: nickovetch
Author Website: A lot of her stuff can be found at U.N.C.L.E. File 40
Why this must be read: In the television program, Solo's dark side emerges only occasionally, but always with the same intense, barely controlled fury. I love it when Napoleon allows his dark self to come out to play. Here, Napoleon finds that Illya has been beaten, whipped and raped and as he nurses his partner back on the road to recovery, he is also preparing to stalk his prey. To find the man who has done this unspeakable thing to his partner, his best friend. And to exact his revenge.

You can't have darkness without the light and Nickovetch gives us a happy ending (with incredibly hot sex to boot) that is utterly believable. I love this story to bits and hope you do too.

( Here's a sample )


Complete Confidence

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: none
Length: 1,495 words
Author on LJ: liveforforever 
Author Website: couldn't find one, but here is the link to their other LoM fic on lifein1973 
Why this must be read: If there's anything I have a major weakness for, it's Sam in a mental hospital fic. With the way he consistently acts crazy in canon, especially when viewed from the other characters' POV, it's not a stretch to think Sam would eventually end up in a mental institution. This fic is brilliant for visualizing that possible situation from Sam's own perspective - everything Sam sees and feels (or tries not to feel) is described through colors, creating quite the visceral read. This fic will stay under skin for awhile after you've read it.

The author warns for darkness and implied character death.

The Patient

Fandom: TAMORA PIERCE (CIRCLE OPENS)
Pairing: Trisana Chandler/Kethlun Warder
Length: ≈1,100
Author on LJ: ???
Author Website: Fanfiction.net Profile
Why this must be read:

This fic is five years old and long since AU'd by Will of the Empress and Melting Stones new canon but it's still beautifully characterized and beautifully written. This is one of my few favorites from the early '00s to hold up against my own growth as a reader and a writer - which says something because most of us don't have consistently impeccable taste in our teens.

I've shipped Tris/Keth since I read Shatterglass, and this story is exactly the reason why.


ff.n adblock & link to story

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Length: 5900 words
Author on LJ: thete1
Author Website: http://teland.com
Why this must be read:

Te is one of my all time favorites. I’ll read pretty much anything she writes and if you’re a fan of the DC universe, you should definitely check her out. This particular fic is funny, and sexy and it showcases how witty Lex can be. Te is amazingly adept at dialogue, and I think anyone who has ever had a problem writing dialogue could take a lesson from her, and the dialogue in this story is stellar. She has their voices spot on, and she privides some of the most believable representations of Clark and Lex I’ve ever seen. PS, Clark learns to fly, but not well.

( Excerpt )

Freud

Fandom: Magnificent Seven
Pairing: none Chaucer (Ezra's horse), the Seven
Rating: PG13
Length: 4 chapters
Author on LJ: nottasha
Author's website: Nottasha's fictional exsistence.

Why this must be read
Point of view fics are a dime a dozen, but I always enjoy this one because it comes from a slightly different place. The POV is that of a horse...Chaucer. This series of four vignettes are told from Chaucer's POV, and his observations of the humans (Ezra's herd) around him are both amusing and accurate. The first tale; Sick horse, is a delightful story of a con run by Ezra with Chaucer's able assistance. Along with the story comes little glimpses of the other members of the Magnificent Seven and their horses. The other three stories trace the daily lives of the Seven through Chaucer's eyes and are a great light-hearted read.

Chaucer's Horse Tales

Fandom: PSYCH
Pairing: Shawn Spencer/Carlton Lassiter
Length: medium length
Author on LJ: auntie_climatic
Author Website: N/A?
Why this must be read:
This story was written for the 30_kisses comm on LJ, though technically, there aren’t thirty kisses. There are maybe six. But as the author says, it’s the moments in between that count.

This story is fantastic. It’s in character, and perfectly in keeping with the funny-yet-serious (under the surface) tone of the show. Despite being written as a series of short scenes and snippets between Lassiter and Shawn, it all comes together as one clear story. It’s a love story, yes, but also just a story of Shawn, growing up a little. (Only a little, or he wouldn’t still be Shawn). Each little snippet gives you a glimpse of what happened between them, what is happening, what could happen, if Lassi trusts Shawn, if Shawn lets himself trust Lassiter.

Of course, Shawn is a messed up liar, and Lassi is paranoid and divorced, so while I would definitely classify this as fluffy (with moments of angst); it’s hardly your typical (boring) chocolate and flowers courtship either. Though it is definitely a courtship.

(And did I mention how much I love Gus in this story? Well I freakin’ love Gus in this story).

Personally, as a writer who babbles, I love authors who not only choose different formats, but who stick to them, and who make them work. This is a lovely, thoughtful version of a love affair, that even Shawn, in the story, describes as “a unique relationship of unpredictable kisses and calcium poisoning.” You’ll have to read it to understand.



30 Kisses