God, I suck. I'm so sorry for being MIA this month - note to self, do not sign up for crack_van when starting grad school. :/ I'm going to post a few more recs today before I hand over the reins, and once again, I apologize for the lack of posting.

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur/Morgana/Gwen
Length: 3m 50 sec
Musical artist: Josh Ritter, "Empty Hearts"
Vidder on LJ: sweetestdrain
Vidder's Website: Vid Tag

Why this must be watched:
The vidder warns for complete fluff and lack of depth, but honestly, that's what makes this vid so charming and watchable. Arthurian Legend is thoroughly depressing, what with all the betrayals of love and friendship, and while the BBC version has hinted at this future, in the meantime it remains thoroughly committed to (at least in my mind) the OT4 dynamic of Morgana/Merlin/Gwen/Arthur. And I'm a firm believer that this version will prevail. This vid explores the various ways - the little touches and looks between the four that demonstrates their OT4ness and how they all depend on each other. I just want to draw sparkly hearts around this vid and I hope you get a similar feeling when you watch it as well.

Empty Hearts

Fandom: MERLIN
Length: 3,800 words
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur, Merlin/Morgana [sort of]
Author on LJ: ethrosdemon
Author Website: ethrosdemon

Why this must be read
Merlin is of many minds about Morgana. Some of his minds are more carnal than others. The fact that she's dangerous, disenchanted, deadly, and probably many things that don't begin with D, has occurred to him in the last year. Uther sewed a crop that Arthur will reap for most of his own reign.

This is poetic, darker futurefic, where both Merlin and Morgana have grown into their powers. Hints of legend are mixed in with the story and I absolutely love the ambiguous characterization of Morgana here - and Merlin, and the games they play with each other. I don't think the show will go here but if they did, it would be absolutely fantastic.

A strongly worded letter to Geoffrey of Monmouth

Fandom: MERLIN
Length: 1,470
Pairing: Gwen/Lancelot/Merlin, sort of, in a way
Author on LJ: ignipes
Author Website: Author's Merlin fic page

Why this must be read

The prince of Camelot was sulking.

"I am not sulking," said Arthur, scowling.

Morgana rolled her eyes. "Fine. You're brooding in a noble and princely manner."

"That's right." Arthur started to nod, then quickly changed his mind. "I am not brooding."

There is not enough non-angsty Morgana and Arthur interaction, I feel, both in the show and in fanfic. They grew up with each other, they're practically siblings! This fic is a perfect example of the kind of sibling-rivalry, complete with juvenile pranks that Morgana and Arthur might engage in, hee. They're worried about that scoundrel Lancelot doing unspeakable to their respective servants and they won't stand for it!

And there's pansies, that's for thoughts

And thus ends my month of Shakespeare recs. I am thrilled to have had the chance to do this, and I hope that someone else takes up the reins. I've given you twelve of my favorite stories, but there are so many more good ones out there. You just have to know where to look. In the meantime, as our Star Du Jour would say, once more into the breach, dear friends!

Fandom: SHAKESPEARE -- HENRY V
Pairing: Henry V/French Herald (Montjoy)
Length: 21,000 words
Author on LJ: hyarrowen
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1379714/Hyarrowen
Why this must be read: Oh, my. So much to be said here. Hyarrowen writes engaging, meticulously researched, lively AUs involving Henry V and the French herald. Her writing was what led me to watch Kenneth Branagh's 1989 Henry V, a modern classic. Hyarrowen's Henry is, as he should be, a highly charismatic kind of a guy, brilliant both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. He's the sort of guy who just naturally steamrolls almost everyone in his path, but can make them think that the steamrolling was their idea in the first place if he has to. And he's utterly taken with the herald, a quiet, perceptive Frenchman much wiser than he lets on. Together, these two men are a fantastic match, and Henry's Journey gives them literally the world to play with.

It's a sprawling epic (a rare enough genre in Shakespeare fanfiction, which tends toward the short) that takes us from France to Jerusalem to India, China, and the Silk Road, still under the spell of the mysterious Tamburlaine. Henry and the herald are both changed profoundly by this journey and the people they meet along the way. To say more would simply ruin the pleasures of discovery.

( You think this is hard work? You should try getting a giraffe to go on board. )


Henry's Journey

Well, my stint as Crack Van driver is over. I had a good time. I hope you did too.
I left the keys under the seat.


Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Leroy Jethro Gibbs/ Donald “Ducky” Mallard
Length: 7914
Author on LJ: nakeisha
Author Website: Partners Forever
Why this must be read: What better way is there to spend Halloween than dinner and ghost stories at Reston House? nakeisha has given us a well researhed and lovely tale of our team. And as always it is full of Gibbs/Ducky love



A Ghostly Tale

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Tim/Kon (Robin/Superboy)--sort of
Length: short: 757 words
Author on LJ: petronelle
Author Website: Dignity. Always Dignity.
Why this must be read:
Another creepy story in honor of Hallowe'en--Tim as Frankenstein. *hides*

Once More, With Feeling

Title: International Man of Mystery
Fandom: Burn Notice
Pairing: hints of Michael Westen/Fiona Glenanne
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Her Website

Why this must be read: This is a show about a man who became a spy. This is a story about how that happened. A series of vignettes reveals more about Michael than he would under interrogation.

Excerpt: ( Read more... )

International Man of Mystery

This is my last rec this month! I hope you enjoyed the ride. Also, I would love to see someone else do a month of Burn Notice, so I encourage you to sign up!

Title: Old Associates
Fandom: Burn Notice
Pairing: hints of Michael Westen/Fiona Glenanne
Author on LJ: emmademarais
Author Website: Her LJ


Why this must be read: Michael isn't the only character on the show with a past. They all do, and this one explores Fiona's - with all of it's rough and ugly edges.

Excerpt: ( Read more... )

Old Associates

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: none
Length: 16K
Author on LJ: greenwoman
Author Website:  GreenWoman’s Half Aft

Why this must be read:  In honor of Halloween/Samhain, a poignant story of loss and recovery.

The first stories of GreenWoman’s I read (and it was some of the first TS fic I ever read) was the devastating Treeline trilogy. I cried and cried.  Eventually, I dipped my toes back into her pool and discovered a nice variety of good tales. This story also deals with devastation but on a different scale. It is no less well-written and perfect for the more solemn aspects of the holiday.

Into The Mystic

From my spirit to yours I wish you pleasurable reading in this wonderful fandom.  Cheers until the next time I snatch the van keys.  And don’t forget to send those writers feedback! You’ll be amazed at how happy it makes them!

I figured I'd end the month on a happy, hopeful note.

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: none
Length: 2,900 words
Author on LJ: lyra_wing
Author Website: LJ memories
Why this must be read:

After saving the world and averting the apocalypse, Sam and Dean settle down and run a pie shop.

"We really doing this?" Dean skimmed a finger along the edge of a stove, and rubbed away the dust that collected on his fingertip.

Sam shoved his hands in his pockets. He seemed to be breathing in deeply. "Do you smell that?"

Now that Sam mentioned it, Dean could. It was like the ghost of a bakery smell: faintly sweet and floury, hints of vanilla and fruit. Whoever used to own this place could bake a mean pie.

"So… I guess we're staying here," said Dean, and Sam smiled at him, and that was the first time Dean really believed it.

And life is good. Especially after word gets out (thanks to a private eye named Emerson Cod, [yes, this is technically a Pushing Daisies crossover]) that the pie is good. This is adorable and happy and the kind of future we'll never get in canon.

Coeur d'coeurs by lyra_wing

And that's it for me this month. Hope you enjoyed the recs!

If you enjoy the story, please let the author know.

~*~

Fandom: CW RPF
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Length: 78,488, words
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: Fic archive
Why this must be read:

Modern day AU in which the boys are samurai!

One of the great things about RPS fic is its flexibility and the incredible ideas people come up with that the talented authors can make work wonderfully.

An amazing fic here with intricate detail in which Jensen trains Jared. I adore a teacher/pupil relationship, and this one is balanced with the character’s personalities expertly.

I love the characterization – consistent and tight throughout an epic fic, with the characters and their relationships developing beautifully.

Fast paced and exciting, this novel with hold you all the way through.

Monogatari