Fandom:  YU YU HAKUSHO
Pairing:  None, Kurama, Youko, Yusuke
Length:  1:42
Music:  Aladdin and the 40 Thieves by Disney
Vidder on LJ:  Unknown
Vidder Website:  Megumiuramesi
Why this must be watched: 

The vidder's theme here is indoctrinating Yusuke into Youko's band of thieves and Yusuke's reaction to it. 

It's short, and snappy and has lots of Youko in his early days.  I also liked the unusual combo of Disney meets anime. 


Youko Kurama and the Forty Thieves

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Length: 3,300 words
Author on LJ: bree_black
Author Website: Fic Masterlist

Why this must be read: Summary: Without his soul, Sam slept with a lot of chicks. And only chicks. The noticeable absence of dudes makes Dean wonder about his own relationship with his brother.

I am not a season six fan, but this coda to 6.13 makes me quiver with what could have been on screen, in a more general way. *g* This is sexy beyond the telling, but it is also a character study of Sam and Dean, and where they are at with each other at this point in their lives. It's a solid read that hits all of my buttons and it's quickly become a classic one-shot for late canon.


The Way I Want You

It's Friday night videos time! \o/


Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam Winchester
Length: 03:39
Music: "Hey You" by Pink Floyd
Vidder on LJ: deirdre_c
Vidder Website: vidding tag

Why this must be watched: Together we stand; divided we fall.

This is a "When the Levee Break" Sam-centric vid that I watched as soon as Deirdre released it, and it has remained on of my favorite vids since 2009. The clips she chose to narrate the video fit the rhythm of the song perfectly and culminate in a gorgeous and tragic story that never fails to break my heart. It can be downloaded in several formats but the streaming option seems to be broken thanks to the hosting site. Definitely worth the download though, as all of her videos are.


Hey You

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Victor Henricksen/Dean Winchester
Length: 2,800 words
Author on LJ: smilla02
Author Website: master story list

Why this must be read: Summary: In which Victor lets Dean have what he wants, and ends getting something he wasn't expecting in return.

This an addictive rare pair, and this story is a perfect exploration of their push-pull dynamic and chemistry. It's full of smoking-hot porn, stellar characterizations, and beautiful prose. And did I mention the handcuffs?


I dare you to unlock my heart

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Length: 36,800 words
Author on LJ: locknkey with art by lightthesparks
Author Website: fan fiction master list

Why this must be read: Summary: Sam goes undercover at a prep school to try and figure out the source of a number of mysterious occurrences. When events escalate, Dean enrolls as well. A slip of the tongue and now everyone thinks they are boyfriends. Deceit and magic combine in a combination that changes their relationship in ways they could never have imagined. Here's one of my favorite parts of the story →

( & )

A well-rounded story that takes a simple situation that resembles canon and spins it into an intriguing case!fic and evocative love story that slowly unravels Sam and Dean until all they have left - all that they want - are each other. Sensuous, lush descriptions mixed with the violence of the supernatural make for a gorgeous fic and a story that can't be looked away from. And, fake boyfriends never, ever gets old, especially if it's a high school AU.


Your Heart on My Skin

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Ron Weasley/Hermione Grager
Length: 3:35
Music:  "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons
Vidder on LJ: I don't think she has one
Vidder Website: YouTube
Why this must be watched: Ron always gets such a bad wrap in fandom and it was so refreshing to see some hero worship of him and the mistakes he's made. This vid tries to understand things from his point of view. It is cut really well and it makes you fall in love wih the character all over again!


Little Lion Man

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Length:13,721 words
Author on LJ:cross_stitchery
Author's website: Elaine's page at A Storage Room 3 (Sentinel Fanfic)


Why this must be read:

Summary
Detective Jim Ellison of the NYPD goes undercover in a gay bathhouse in 1903 AD.

This story is the last in a series of historical AUs Elaine wrote describing how the relationship between Jim and Blair, sentinel and guide, might have occurred over the ages. The series is Five Ways Jim and Bair Never Met In Past Lives. The first four stories range from the totally absurd but hysterically funny snippet where Caveman!Jim steals Mate!Blair, to stories set in ancient Sparta, Spain in the eleventh century, and the American Northwest coast in the 1800s.

Ariston is the crown jewel of the series. It's based on the first recorded police raid on a gay bathhouse in the USA which occurred at the Ariston Bathhouse on 21st Feb 1903. Elaine captures the feel of those times, from the descriptions of the clothing to the atmosphere of the bathhouse.

Jim is a lonely man who doesn't even realize the extent of his isolation. His senses are both acute and at times painful, and it's because of his good eyesight that his captain picks him for the distasteful job of pretending to be a patron of the bath house and gather information on the homosexual activities that happen there, in anticipation of an upcoming raid.

Jim's exposure to a lifestyle foreign to him has a seductive effect, reflected in his dreams, and when a young, vibrant, bohemian-looking fellow chooses him one night for a sexual encounter, he finds himself unwilling to tell him no.

Ultimately, this story is about finding the courage to change your life, and Jim reaching out to the man who had become so much more than an anonymous sex partner.


( Jim's on duty at the Ariston Bath House, clad only in a towel-like sheet )

Ariston by Elaine

Fandom: WATCHMEN
Pairing: Bill and Byron
Length: 624
Author on LJ: cosmonautsister
Author Website: I couldn't find one. If anyone else from the fandom knows or the author sees this, please let me know.
Why this must be read: This is a somewhat short piece and I think that's part of what makes it's chilling atmosphere and charm. It feels final. It's a pretty disturbing fic, actually, but a total must for any Bill/Byron angst fan. It portrays Byron's insanity not only as one dangerous to himself, but also dangerous to others, even someone he loves, so it's very emotionally gripping.

Empty Threat

Fandom: SHERLOCK
Pairing: Sherlock, John, friendship, slash if you like
Length: 3:39
Music: Hurt by Johnny Cash
Vidder on LJ: Not to my knowledge
Author Website: andiownyousomuch on tumblr
Why this must be watched:

I rarely watch vids that aren't recced on crack_van but this month I have been bizarrely inundated with fabulous Sherlock vids and it was crazy hard to choose.

Hurt is a  look at Reichenbach from Sherlock's perspective. It is really sad. I defy you not to at least sniffle a little. It contains major spoilers from all of series 2.

Hurt

Fandom: Sherlock
Pairing: implied Sherlock/John
Length: 1+K
Author on LJ: Don't think they're on LJ, alas
Author Website: arthurdentures on Ao3
Why this must be read:

Just to follow up my sad sad vid rec, I thought I'd share this heart breaking little piece. It's a take on The Empty House and it's got some beautiful language. Read it, be sad for everyone involved, get the the end, and then read it again.

Here and God-Forsaken Places

Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Pairing: Chris/Vin (implied)
Length: 04:09
Music: "The Measure of a Man" by Elton John
Vidder on LJ: denorios
Vidder Website: denorios on AO3, youtube
Why this must be watched: Denorios is one of my favourite C/V authors in fandom, capable of the most beautiful, haunting prose (seriously, read her fic and be amazed), and then she tried her hand at vidding. This bittersweet vid chronicles Chris Larabee's life and tragedy and how lost and heartbroken he is until he meets the other Mag6 and they pull him onto a better path, one they all travel together.

The Measure of a Man on youtube

Fandom: GENERATION KILL
Pairing: Gen, ensemble
Length: 3:34
Music: Gangreen by Ministry
Vidder on LJ: condnsdmlk
Vidder Website: condnsdmlk
Why this must be watched:

There are few vids out there which really capture the essentials of Generation Kill. There are a lot of pairing- or character-based vids, but ensemble ones are a lot less common.

Set to the truly excellent Gangreen by Ministry (with a Sgt. Major's voice as the only lyrics), this fast-paced vid really captures the essence of the action of Generation Kill. The clip picks are excellently chosen, and you really get a feel for the brotherhood and badass and aggressiveness of the Marines. It really does the series justice, in a way few vids do.

Get Some

Fandom: Star Trek TOS
 Pairing: Spock/McCoy  
Length: 3:15
Music: Turn and Turn Again by All Thieves
Vidder on LJ:
vail_kagami
Author Website:  Star Trek Tag
Why this must be watched:
This vid is amazingly done the timing of the clips to the lyrics is perfect.  The song and the story the vid tells are kind of angsty but hauntingly beautiful which I think is perfect for the pairing.



Calling in All the Ships