Fandom: ANGEL THE SERIES
Pairing: Angel/Wesley
Length: 3,698 words
Author on LJ: thebratqueen
Author Website: The Brat Queen's Home
Why this must be read: The story is set after the episode "Disharmony", while Angel is still trying to get his team to forgive him for the whole firing them all thing, and Wesley is still in charge of Angel Investigations. It was an interesting point in both Angel and Wesley's character arcs in canon, and certainly one of the times when pairing them together seems easiest and most natural to me. The Brat Queen does indeed do a smashing job of making this story read like an organic growth of the canon dynamic; it feels totally in-character, filled with all the mixed emotions of that time in canon, and absolutely plausible for both characters. Speaking of which. the characterizations are satisfyingly wonderful; it's especially impressive that they even play cards in ways that reveal their different styles and thought processes. The dialogue is excellently pitch-perfect and witty, too. But the thing I think I like most about this story is the way that The Brat Queen explores New Wesley (as in the post-firing more hardened and badass model) from Angel's perspective. I always thought that evolution in Wesley's character was fascinating, but it's even more striking seen from Angel's eyes.

( read an excerpt )

Vegas Odds

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Tim/Stephanie
Length: 17 part series
Author on LJ: teh_no
Author Website: livejournal plus ff.net site
Why this must be read:This is an extremely intricate and compelling story set during the time Stephanie is Robin. It has a lot of humor, some wonderful sexiness, and a Stephanie that is very much in character as a likable, smart and funny heroine. Tim is angsty and dark and dismal, just like I like him. And the villain is unique to say the least. The first seven chapters are a self-contained story also found at fanfiction.net under the name "Arkham", but on LJ the author continued the story, encompassing Infinite Crisis and the Omac and Max Lord situations, inserting Tim and Steph into those stories in a fascinating way and dragging along most of the Teen Titans and Justice League as well. Plus there's a really cool Sue Dibny and a wonderful surprise for Steph. It can be a bit triggery for suicide, but I can't believe this hasn't be recced before!

( excerpt )
Tag page for Arkham, start at the bottom

Fandom: STAR WARS [AU]
Pairing: Anakin Skywalker/Padmé Amidala
Length: 175,140
Author on LJ: helent 
Author Website: HelenT @ ffn
Why this must be read: So, in ROTJ, everyone dies. Well, okay, not everyone. Anakin dies. Anakin dies, and what do you think? He becomes one with the Force. He becomes a ghost. So does Obi-Wan. And Yoda. and so, presumably, does Padmé. And then, there's a reunion. And then, there is sex.

Except, there isn't. I know what you're thinking, and let me tell you: this fic is not fluffy. It's dark. It's scary. It's absolutely terrifying in its plot, its pace and its charactersiations. In Purgatory, the Underworld is split into three parts: the First World, where the good go, the Second World, a Purgatory, and the Third World, where the irredeemable are sent. Unsurprisingly, or maybe surprsingly, depending on your interpretation of canon, Anakin ends up in the Second World. To get to the First, he has to be redeemed. Hey, you think, didn't Luke just do that? Er, no. Things are never that simple.

I can't describe the plot without ruining the suspense that HelenT creates, but let me tell you this: it's angsty, it's well-characterised and it's gripping. Anakin is on the verge of falling to the Dark Side, Padmé is confused and bitter with it, and HelenT brings in a whole cast of believable, brilliant OCs that add to the story perfectly, such as the corrupt and power-hungry Lyonides, the gruff pilot Sal who is almost, but not quite, like a darker version of Han Solo, the soul-reader Lorne, who will read for you if you sing, and the Wookie Freyrr. There are the carvnivorous and deadly Nazargh, the ghostly presence of Obi-Wan, and the villain -- oh, come on, I can't spoil that for you. (That implies that no, it's not who you're thinking.)

This is simply, in my opinion, one of the best Star Wars fanfics out there. It would be a crime not to read it.

So. Read it.

Purgatory @ ffn

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Matt/Mohinder, with appearances by Molly, Peter, Nathan and others; implied past Sylar/Mohinder and Adam/Mohinder
Length: 12 chapters long (ie., like 50K words)
Author on LJ: baehj2915
Author Website: Writings
Why this must be read: Because it’s the most beautifully crafted, the best plotted, and the most charming Heroes fic ever (in my humble opinion, at least). It also attains the best mix of light humor and serious angst to be the most realistic. Basically, this masterpiece is a back-and-forth first person POV story that follows how Matt and Mohinder get together while roommates taking care of Molly. The Matt ones are just a smidge more engaging, so give it through the amazing chapter two if the first one doesn’t hook you immediately. Of all the stories I’m reccing this month, this one gets my number one spot.

Excerpt:

There’s a particular problem in simultaneously going out in public with Mohinder and being a mind reader. That is, everyone, freakin’ everyone, broadcasts their dirty, lascivious Mohinder-based fantasies at the forefront of their stupid, dirty minds. And I have to listen to them.

Yes. Mohinder is attractive. He’s very attractive. He’s so attractive that after knowing him for a couple of weeks, you already get tired of acknowledging it. I mean, he’s reduced unsuspecting teenage girl checkout clerks to stuttering mush with one of his errant smiles. Little old ladies have thought leather and handcuffs after seeing his face. I’ve heard grown men think, Does that mean I’m gay? after he’s walked past. (Not even exaggerating on that one. It happened twice in the first month.) Getting past the fact that, sure, I’m man enough to admit how good-looking he is… It’s still creepy.

Matt Is, Mohinder Isn't

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Scully UST
Length: 15,000+ words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Eve @ ff.net
Why this must be read: This is the story of what would have happened if Mulder and Scully had actually made it to the teamwork seminar in "Detour." I would have loved to see this one on TV. Amusing and witty dialogue, Mulder getting Scully drunk, another Southerner trying to hit on Scully, Kinsley and Stonecypher!!, and Mulder and Scully being handcuffed together and set loose in the forest. I absolutely adore this story!!

Unfortunately for our heroes, the Assistant Director had chosen this precise moment to walk in with the (thus far piteously ignored) sign-up forms for the annual teamwork retreat in Florida, apparently determined to handle his two favorite intractables personally and without restraint. Taking in the scene before him--wads of paper strewn over desk and floor and filing cabinet alike, Mulder and Scully practically nose to nose (a sight in itself; she, standing, hands on her hips, he, sitting, arms crossed in a posture of open defiance)--Skinner had placed the forms in front of them, uttering those two fateful words:

"You're going."

Still Life With Moth Men