Fandom: INCEPTION / Never-Ending Story
Title: dream a dream (and what you see will be)
Pairing: Arthur/Eames
Length: 60,000
Author on LJ: mizzy2k
Author Website: masterlist of fics on author's journal
Why this must be read: This is an astonishing fic. It begins with a complicated idea--that the main character of Never-Ending Story, Bastian, was actually the book's author, and that he grew up to be Arthur--with, er, one extremely serious caveat. When the Inception team attempts to save a little girl's life by building her a dream of Fantasia, the world of Bastian's childhood, they're faced with a terrible truth that could destroy Arthur and everyone he loves. With Ariadne as this story's narrator, Mizzy plumbs all kinds of depths here, achieving remarkable feats of worldbuilding, plot mastery, characterization, and emotional development, all in one scary, gripping, profoundly moving story that will have you on tenterhooks and in tears. Above all, it will make you appreciate Arthur's quintessential Arthurness so much--especially with Eames' love for him and Ariadne's belief in him serving as the driving forces as they embark on a quest that will either save or damn them all forever.

(Quoting a longish excerpts bc the fic itself is so long, and because I'm in love with Mizzy's writing, ahhh.)

( She tries to follow Arthur's gaze, and he's staring at Eames. He swallows, and it's like he's having trouble scraping oxygen into his lungs, and he says, helplessly, 'He doesn't even know what he's asking me to give *up.*' )

Fandom: INCEPTION, The Chocolate War
Title: Breaking Temper
Pairing: Arthur/Eames, background Cobb/Mal, implied Arthur/Mal and Eames/Robert.
Length: 22,000
Author on LJ: kunstundtechnik
Author Website: fics on author's LJ
Why this must be read: Heads up: this is not your average high school AU. Sometimes you just have to rec fics because they hurt so good, and if there's ever a formula destined to fuck your shit up and leave you crying for more, it's the combination of kunstundtechnik, whose fics are smooth and satisfying as bitter dark chocolate, and Robert Cormier's classically bleak YA novel The Chocolate War.

The amazing thing about crossovers is that when they're done right they make you see both universes in new ways, and the effect of putting each of the members of the Inception team into the darkly satirical roles in The Chocolate War is that the absurdity of the social rituals Cormier attacks becomes even more absurd, even more terrifying. Mal as the calculating and unflinching leader of the Vigils is chilling and believable, as are Saito as the teacher who spurs them on, and Robert as the holdout who refuses to follow the rules. And, of course, Eames and Arthur who get caught in the middle of it all.

Just as in Cormier's novel, for all its moments of lightness and comedy, the stakes are ultimately just as high as they are in Inception--and even higher, because this is reality. And if ever you forgot that the characters of Inception are amoral criminals and mind violators whom you love because despite this, they're also perfectly, imperfectly human, you're about to be reminded in the best/worst way. Weatherfront said in her review that this fic was 22,000 words of "pure fucking sleaze," and I really can't think of higher praise.

( 'You don't *want* to?' Mal asked, incredulous. Fischer nodded. A beat passed while Mal surveyed his expression, that fake sincerity still plastered on her face. )

Breaking Temper

Fandom: SHERLOCK
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Length: 1,960 words
Author on LJ: jedusaur
Author Website: on AO3, fic Masterlist
Why this must be read: Because sometimes, I read just for the lols. :D

"My applied research in the area of targeted haptic stimulation requires significant further investigation before my expertise reaches an acceptable level. I need to perform additional trials. You said all right," he adds reasonably.

John pauses for a moment to decode. "You want to be a better lay," he translates slowly, "and you're asking if you can fuck me for practice."

"For the third time, yes," says Sherlock.


Psychophysical Examinations of Perceptual Effects of Differential Somatic Stimulation (or: Fuck Off And Leave My Bloody Balls Alone, Would You, Sherlock?) by jedusaur

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: gen
Length: 525 words
Author on LJ: donutsweeper
Author website/archives: unknown
Why this must be read: This is a very short and very heart-wrenching ficlet (unless you don't know Tony's backstory...in which case, you'll probably just go "huh?"). But if you do know what happened to Tony during his College years, you'll read this and wince at the mere thought of what will happen next. It's written perfectly in Tony's voice and gives us a glimpse into the pre-series character. Go read! And then give Tony a virtual hug. He'll need it. :)

(The Big Break)

Fandom: WB/CW RPF
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Length: 7945
Author on LJ: cleflink
Author Website: Master Fic
Why this must be read:

This fairy tale fic makes me sigh happily every time I read it, and yes, I’ve read it many times. Jensen is a prince who was cursed/blessed with the gift of knowing his true love at first sight. To keep from falling for the wrong person, he’s been blindfolded since birth. Jared is the stableboy who befriended him as a child, and longs to be more than just Jensen’s friend. For a story about someone who can’t see, cleflink has created some beautiful imagery, and this is a joy to read.

( jared and jensen's first meeting )

At First Sight

Fandom: THE LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Haldir/Melpomaen
Length: 164,518 words
Author on LJ: celandineb
Author Website: Wellinghall, cels_fic_haven, on AO3, on FF.net
Why this must be read:
Have you ever thought about just how much fanfic has changed in the last 10 years? Does anyone else remember the old slash fandom tropes of love in the face of discrimination, hatred, adversity, and pain? I'm not saying it's not still there, but wow, the U.S. president now says he supports gay marriage! That seemed unthinkable just 20 years ago! I cut my fanfic-teeth on stories about men in partnerships having to hide their romantic and sexual feelings for each other, whereas nowadays it's not such a big deal in the fic, it seems.

This story was written 10 years ago and reflects that time period well, even though it is set in Middle-Earth. The pain and despair that Haldir, Melpomaen, and Legolas all feel in this story over their sexuality and the sense of alienation it causes them because of their distance from the accepted norms of their societies are artfully wrought in this story. This sequence is in turns sweet, painful, erotic, and bittersweet.

Celandine has an extensive body of work to read and is still an active (and very good) fanfic writer, so do explore the links I've provided if you enjoy the story!

Haldir Sequence by Celandine Brandybuck

Fandom: THE LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Aragorn/Legolas
Length: not too long a read (69 very short installments)
Author on LJ: alliwantisanelf
Author Website: more fic can be found at the above journal
Why this must be read:
This is pure slapstick comedy (in the sense of 13-year-old boys sniggering about S-E-X) with screencaps from the movies to make it even MORE hilarious. There is absolutely nothing serious or profound about this story and It. Is. Awesome.

The Cock Rock of Rohan by Al
start from the beginning