September 21st, 2009 
10:20 am Easy There by syllic (NC-17)
Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: ~50K
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] syllic
Author Website: Her fiction sticky post is here.
Why this must be read:

It must be my lucky month because, in another case of fortuitous timing, yet another amazing WIP has just been completed in time for me to rec it here!

Easy There is Merlin fandom's Oxford rowing AU, wherein Merlin is coxing and Arthur is rowing in the Blue boat. I know very little about the Boat Race and/or life in Oxford, but this is the kind of fic that's so rich and full of detail (and a glossary and notes!) that you feel as though you've lived and breathed in that world your whole life. Merlin and Arthur and Gwen and Morgana and Lancelot are all wonderfully realized as its inhabitants.

Despite the fact the this was written for [livejournal.com profile] harlequinmerlin and [livejournal.com profile] syllic claims it's full of cliches, what I like most about Easy There is how deftly uncliched it actually is. As we see Arthur and Merlin becoming friends and something more, [livejournal.com profile] syllic avoids doing things exactly as you might expect. What's left is a warm, awkward, slow-building connection between them that feels incredibly true to both characters and is all the better for it.


Tiny excerpt: 'Emrys! Are you hearing this? Come here! This punter says his name is Arthur!' )


I highly recommend setting some time aside, making a cup of tea for yourself and drinking every last bit of this marvelous story in.

Easy There
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03:30 pm The Cheese With the Beautiful Name by debbiechan (NC-17)
Fandom: BLEACH
Pairing: Orihime/Ishida
Length: 4,326
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] _debbiechan_
Author Website: Profile on MediaMiner
Why this must be read: It's a lovely PWP that looks at a romantic relationship between Orihime and Ishida in very thoughtful and interesting ways. One of my all-time favorites of the ship.

The Cheese With the Beautiful Name
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04:16 pm Bad Things with You by Hollycomb (NC-17)
Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Dean/Castiel
Length: ~ 9000
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] hollycomb
Author Website: Her Supernatural Fic in Memories
Why this must be read: This is one of the first Dean/Castiel stories I read, and it remains one of my favourites. What it did was convince me that the relationship between a skeptical sinner returned from hell and an Angel of the Lord could work in an NC-17 context, and be more than just hot sexin'. (Not that the sexin' isn't nice ...!)

In the time before Jimmy Novak, authors were free to create their own notions of Castiel's vessel--who he was and why he had prayed for this. This story gives us a background that's believable and helps shape the tension between Dean and Castiel. At the same time, it doesn't forget about Sam and Ruby; the story shows a Sam who's left Dean, convinced of the rightness of what he's doing, and a Dean who is struggling to make his way in a world without his brother at his side. It's dark, poignant, and most of all, memorable.

'You associate my touch with being pulled out of hell. It's a powerful sense memory. And I -- because I associate your safety and contentment with the will of God -- I, I --' [Castiel's] hands curl into fists. 'It's a dangerous combination.' )

Read the story and feedback the author: Bad Things with You

If you follow the "Continued" link at the bottom of the story, you'll find the next two stories in the set, although each story works well as a stand alone: Voluntary Offerings and Earth to Heaven Replies
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10:27 pm Shift, by iamshadow. (PG)
Fandom: TORCHWOOD
Pairing: Gen, mentions canon pairings
Length: 12,561 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] iamshadow
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:

This is the only story post CoE I'm recommending here. This is a kind of fix-it story that doesn't really fix it. I don't want to get too specific here because I love the unraveling of the story. The characters' interaction is wonderful and nuanced and so very believable. I love the tone of the story, melancholic and sad with a tinge of hope.

Read more )


Shift

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11:31 pm forever united here, somehow by fiercynn (PG)
Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex (or maybe Clark/Lex/coffee)
Length: one-shot
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] fiercynn
Author Website: -
Why this must be read: short piece, but amazing Lex characterization! And I like Clark's voice , too!
Neither Lex nor Clark are being changed into something completely OOC, and turned into more *loveable* personas, yet, this works! with Lois! ohh, and well, there is coffee :DD

"Not the point, Lex," Clark sighed. "I never let myself think about it before, but that's why there's this whole – whatever – between us now, isn't it? We've always been so similar, in so many ways. Similar in our differences, even – we're not like other people, and we must've found common ground in being outsiders. We're both secretive and fairly prone to lying. And apparently we're both obsessed with finding out each others' secrets."

"Do you have a point to go along with this?" Lex asked.


forever united here, somehow
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