Fandom: GENERATION KILL
Pairing: Gen, Ray Person
Length: 3484
Author on LJ: petronelle (closed, archive only)
Author Website: DW, AO3
Why this must be read:

This is another of those 'dealing with the hard stuff' fics - I'm not even sure if it counts as AU or what - but regardless, it hits home hard, and is beautifully done. This is about trans-people and transitioning, lying to yourself, and the changing of identities with people you trust the most.

This fic is entirely Ray's - or rather, Rae's. The transition is dealt with with a mixture of sensitivity and head-on shock, and Rae's voice comes through clear and strong in the narration. The dialogue is excellent - especially Rae's conversation with Brad - and these are clearly the characters we know and love. This is one of those fics that makes you feel hopeful after you've finished reading.

  
( Excerpt... )

All Their Rights Respected

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/Tony
Length: 10,200 words
Author on LJ: generale_kenobi
Author Website: only her LJ that I could find
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: After breaking up with Gibbs, Tony accepts a dangerous mission in Afghanistan and is captured. Full of regrets, he thinks no one will come to rescue him, until help arrives in a most unusual shape…

This lovely fic illustrates the best that NCIS fandom has to offer in the shifter subgenre of ficcage. For a police procedural, there is a TON of shifter fics in this fandom, most dealing with wolves. What makes Secrets, Regrets, and Surprises stand out is the form of animal (horses) and the mythology and community that generale-kenobi builds for Gibbs' form. One of the author's passions is horses, in her words, so the way that the herd and horse!Gibbs acts is written with experience behind it. It makes for a very realistic look at shifter!Gibbs.

Then there's the Gibbs/Tony elements. I liked how even through the misunderstandings and missed connections, their love for each other made Tony want to understand and Gibbs want to extend that hard-earned trust so that Tony could. The rescue from insurgent hands in Afghanistan was a cherry on the top of an already wonderful fic. I loved the shifter lore, the Gibbs/Tony dynamic, and the working out of the kinks in this relationship. Altogether, a fic to be savored.

Secrets, Regrets, and Surprises

Fandom: HARRY POTER
Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Astoria Greengrass
Length: 200k
Author on LJ: Couldn't find her
Author's Website: FFN
Why this must be read: Not much is known about Astoria Greengrass, except that she eventually marries Draco Malfoy. This story is the cure to all 'who is Astoria?' fics. Audrey breathes life into the character and she is certainly not a Narcissa copycat in this story--not by far. Audrey classifies this story as 'canon compliant with a twist', so you can read it and picture the final scene in DH. The twist is also amazing and is explained really well so you go "well of course that makes sense!". The romance is wonderful and perfectly in character for Draco and also for families that were on the losing side of the war. Audrey also writes some sizzling smut in this, so much that she's been nominated over at hpfanficfanpoll. This story is long but so well written, you want to give your whole weekend over to reading it. An amazing exercise in quality storytelling and characterisation.



( Excerpt )
Dirty Little Secrets

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Length: short
Author on LJ: not known
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read: Because it’s Kate(CMT)’s story? Because it’s Hutch h/c? Because there is Grant? Because it was dark and snowy night?

“Babe?” Starsky rubbed a thumb against his cheek. “You gotta stay awake, hear? If I go out and play the Abominable, I wanna know you’re gonna be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I get back.”

“Would you settle for coherent?” Hutch ventured. He smiled tiredly. “And grateful.”

Starsky’s lips tipped upward in a faint grin.

Snow by Kate (CMT) (R) (page 167 in the Venice Place Tales #1)
Snow by Kate (CMT) (R) (direct link to the PDF file)

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Frank/Gerard
Length:
Author on DW: blue_soaring
Author on AO3: autoschediastic

Why this must be read: Frank's so fucking freaky he's potentially wigging out a fucking vampire. The one where Mikey's going away over the weekend and Frank promises to take care of Gerard, his shy and reclusive artist brother who happens to be a vampire.

This is such a fun and happy-making story. It balances perfectly between creepy and fluffy, with a healthy dose of happy, kinky vampire sex added. I loved the Frank characterisation, he's so wonderfully exuberant, and Gerard makes a perfectly adorable geeky artist vampire.

( Excerpt from the story... )

Black Market Blood (on AO3) or here (on DW)

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Length: one part
Author on LJ: diane_c
Author Website: HERE
Why this must be read: Because it’s one of the most beautiful post-SR stories ever. Because there is so much love and caring not only in the main story, but also between the lines (literally and figuratively) that you need to be very careful, so you don’t overdose. This story was written for me as last year’s Secret Santa and it’s beautiful. Just beautiful! If you want to know how Starsky and Hutch became pen-pals, give it a try. You won’t regret it!

Bay City Police Department
Inter-Division Memorandum

FROM: Officer David Starsky, Metro Division
TO: Officer Kenneth Hutchinson, Westside Division
RE: Lighten up

Can I talk about my uptight buddy in memos? Man, I think you miss me bad. You need me around to loosen you up. Maybe with a BEER.

BEER BEER BEER

Huggy might pour on the house for us if his boss ain’t looking. If not, it’s on me. I don’t have a wifey to support on my crap salary. Course that means I also don’t get the “benefits of matrimony” wink wink.


Bay City Police Department
Inter-Division Memorandum

FROM: Officer Kenneth Hutchinson, Westside Division
TO: Officer David Starsky, Metro Division
RE:

Thanks for Thursday. Huggy was cool. I like him.

What are the benefits of matrimony? Remind me. (Ignore that. Bad day.)

You’re right, I need you to loosen me up. Seriously – thank you for Thursday.

Wish You Were Here by Diane Coffin

Fandom THE SENTINEL
Pairing Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Length: approximately 5500 words
Author on LJ t_verano
Author's websites her fic page on LJ, her website for Gen stories (Pleasance), and her page at AO3.

Why this must be read:

T. Verano wrote this for sentinel_thurs's prompt, “pollen”,

This story made me laugh. Hysterically at times, and with amused chuckles at other times.

Some high points:

Blair and Jim exchanging zingers, Jim teasing Blair, Jim getting some insight into the development of Blair's ability to bullshit at a moment's notice, and Jim's dilemma when faced with Blair's naked butt.

And T paints a very cute picture of eight year old Blair stuck in a bee costume that he hates and what he does to convince the other kids that he's actually really cool.

( Blair Sandburg -- Alias a Zoomorph from Panet Zoon )


Breaking News on the Planet Zoon by T. Verano.