Fandom: INCEPTION
Title: life among islands
Pairing: Arthur/Eames & Yusuf/Ariadne
Length: 22,000
Author on LJ: wldnst
Author Website: masterlist of fics on author's LJ
Why this must be read: it's an AU based on The Holiday! This is a rom-com premise that can be a little uneven, but in wldnst's hands, it's lovely and even profound. I love wldnst's Arthur/Eames fics, and you should read them all! But her Ariadne/Yusuf is so completely endearing that it steals my heart every time. I love the settings in this fic, how Hawaii and NYC feel like the other romantic leads, and the inevitable collision of Arthur and Eames when they meet by chance; but it's really Ariadne in this fic, and her simmering relationship with Yusuf, that really does me in completely. Ariadne is so alive and her grief and love are so real and memorable. Wldnst writes her POV beautifully and lovingly, and she will steal your heart as completely as Yusuf steals hers. And the emotional tie to islands in this fic is real and tangible, something that's stayed with me for a long time.

( I think she’s from Hawaii, or maybe fucking Guam. But she’s vacationing from islands. )

life among islands

Fandom: COMMUNITY
Pairing: Annie/Jeff, Ensemble
Length: ~25k words
Author on LJ: dearygirl
Why this must be read: Dearygirl is one of the best writers of Jeff/Annie out there, and this story is my favorite from her - a long, flashback-y story that follows the entire study group through to their graduation four years later, after Annie transfers away from Greendale to a different college. It builds up to a mature and thoughtful look at a relationship between Jeff and Annie, with copious amounts of study group love and interaction and humor throughout.

Home

Still in the alternative universe, I have stopped at a museum, one that promises a Regency exhibition. Placing loved characters in different times, with their essential nature intact, is an interesting venture and one I wholeheartedly approve of.


Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 46,727 words
Author on LJ londonronnie
Author website/archives Circuit Archive Click on ‘authors’ and scroll down to Sally Fell to read this and one other long story plus two very short ones by the same author. Other archives unknown.
Why this must be read: This story follows the meeting between the two men at a point in their lives where Raymond Doyle is just entering adulthood. It is essentially a story of growing up and learning about the world. Of course, Ray grows up to love Bodie. Any initial imbalance in the power dynamics of the couple is explained by Ray’s youth and is soon dealt with. The fic is set in the Regency era and the problems faced are those of family and individual lifestyles rather than national crises but are nevertheless exciting and the moral questions raised are universal. I found this to be a beautifully written and fascinating story, with a wealth of period detail and enough essential characterisation to make me believe this was how it could have been if our heroes had been born back then. A very successful AU!


Hazardous Fortune

Fandom: INCEPTION
Title: The Road Trip 'Verse (99 Red Balloons):
     this is it boys, this is war
     just to prove the world was here
     panic bells, it's red alert
     something here from somewhere else
     everyone's a captain kirk
Pairing: Arthur/Eames
Length: about 40k total
Author on LJ: skyvehicle
Author Website: author's LJ
Why this must be read: I love this universe so much. It's the quintessential "Arthur and Eames are total BAMFS but also total idiots when it comes to each other" fic series for me, and I love how they're casually hopping across Europe narrowly evading certain death and kicking ass all over the place, but still squabbling over long trips in the car and being late for dinner reservations and who gets to tell who that they're in mortal danger--the usual! It's awesome and fun and hilarious and still full of heart-clenchy trepidation and gunfights and a really awesome female OC who assists in the gunfights and ass-kicking, and I love, love, love it all. Also, LOOK HOW IN LOVE WITH THEY ARE, god, I ship it forever.

( Eames offers him a nice, wide smile, all crooked teeth and earnest i-am-so-glad-you're-not-dead relief. )

The Road Trip 'Verse (99 Red Balloons): 1. this is it boys, this is war; 2. just to prove the world was here; 3. panic bells, it's red alert; 4. something here from somewhere else 5. everyone's a captain kirk

Fandom:STARSKY AND HUTCH
Pairing:Starsky/Hutch, Hutch/Vanessa
Length:29138 words
Author on LJ:nyssa
Author Website:http://archiveofourown.org/users/Nyssa/pseuds/Nyssa/works?selected_tags[]=11778

Why this must be read: Pre-series S & H become partners, and not just on the job. Problems arise, naturally. Hutch can't handle what has gone down (and being gone down on!LOL) between him and Starsky so he starts getting really involved with this girl he'd been dating named Vanessa. Things just go down hill from there.
( Read more... )

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin,
Length: ~ 24,600 words
Author on LJ: lady_ragnell
Author Website: LJ Masterlist and AO3
Why this must be read:

I think I have to take back what I've said about modern AUs and not liking them as much as canon AUs. I keep finding these fantastically written and characterized pieces that I devour all in one sitting, sleep taking a far back seat. Lady Ragnell's publishing AU is another stelling example. Merlin is a best-selling romance writer, Arthur his publisher and editor. When Arthur decides to expand out into the lucrative gay romance market, his relationship with Merlin takes a very emotional and heart-warming turn. I swear I had hearts in my eyes as well as tears from the beautiful A/M dynamic. Yeah, I'm a sucker for a good romance story. XD

I adored how Lady approached the characterizations of not only Arthur and Merlin but their supporting cast as well. Morgana was especially a treat. Her big sister role was so reminiscent of my own behavior with my little sister. We both just love to torment our siblings! LOL Everyone was so full of love and their interactions just made for a treat of a story to read.

Every Story is a Love Story

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: gen (author classified it as pre-slash, but it really only gently goes in that direction in the sequels which can be found linked to at the end of the story)
Length: about 4,700 words
Author on LJ: iniq
Author website/archives: unknown
Why this must be read: This is another classic that I'm surprised hasn't been recced before. The basic premise is simple: Tony DiNozzo is a deaf ex-cop who helps Team Gibbs out on a case. Kelly is still alive, though Shannon is dead, so Gibbs is a single father (and very protective of his little girl who just happens to be friends with Tony). I love the characterization throughout the story. Tony is still Tony, smart, funny, and not afraid to butt head with Gibbs. Besides, his Hearing Dog Elisha is awesome and totally reason enough to read the story! :)

(strange men who push girls on swings)