Fandom: INCEPTION
Title: Oxidants Happen - PG-13
Pairing: Eames/Yusuf
Length: 4,000
Author on LJ: stachelyjohnson
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: Summary: Yusuf and Eames accidentally each other. Saito purposely everything. This is my favorite version of Eames/Yusuf, a hilarious, whimsical, fun, and 100% believable look at the way Eames invades Yusuf's life in Mombasa, and the adventures and poignant moments and joy that he brings with him. It's sexy and sharp and atmospheric and full of delicious food, and has bonus Emperor of All Things!Saito striding around being powerful and commanding and hot. Also, Yusuf's cat! :D

( Yusuf thinks it’s going to end like a movie, he’ll go back to his flat for lunch and see nothing of Eames left there, save for something small he’ll find six months down the road. )

Oxidants Happen

Fandom: INCEPTION
Title: A Dream You Dream Together is Reality - PG-13
Pairing: Gen
Length: 7,814
Author on LJ: lady_ragnell
Author Website: AO3 profile
Why this must be read: I've already recced one fic that uses the 'Mal woke up' trope. This fantastic fic follows that trope into the future, by posing the question: what would it do to you, knowing your parents spent an entire lifetime with another version of you in a dream? Philippa Cobb is smart, practical, and completely illusion-free, and we watch her grow up among dreams--never apart from them, but never a part of them. Tinged with all the shadows and danger of dreamshare, but never losing its head, this clever, engrossing fic will stay with you for a long time, and have you rooting for Philippa, just as you may once have rooted for her father.


( 'He got your hair wrong, God, how could he get your hair wrong, my darling?' )

A Dream You Dream Together is Reality

Fandom: SHERLOCK
Pairing: John Watson/various dates, John Watson/Sherlock Holmes
Length: 62,537 words
Author on LJ: vash137
Author Website: on FF.net, on AO3
Why this must be read:
When Sherlock discovers that John is bisexual, he decides to set John up on dates with other men. Sherlock isn't so good at it, at first. He does get better, though.

This story is ludicrously fun. The author creates scenario after scenario that should be crack, but instead combines to tell a wonderful story. The ending is romantic and lovely. This is a story that will just leave you happy... a good note to end on! I hope you enjoyed my Sherlock recs this month!

Matchmaker, Matchmaker by Vash137

Fandom: THE LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairings: OC/OC, King Éomer of Rohan/Lothíriel the Princess of Dol Amroth, Éowyn of Rohan/Steward Faramir of Gondor
Length: 51,086 words
Author on LJ: virtuella
Author Website: on AO3
Why this must be read:
Déoric, the main character of this story, is an original creation of the author, as are many of the supporting characters, but don't let that dissuade you from reading one of the finest pieces of LOTR fanfic I've ever had the pleasure to read.

Déoric left Rohan for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields a soldier and rider of Rohan, but came back to Rohan without a leg and without his confidence. This is a story of healing, of Déoric's coming-of-age, and of the rebuilding of Middle-Earth after the fall of the Dark Lord. The author creates amazingly well-rounded original characters and we get to see the splendid world of Middle-Earth through their eyes. I really enjoyed the parts of the story where the canon characters like Éomer, Éowyn, and Merry are around, but I also loved the bits where they were not mentioned at all. This story serves to remind me that at the end of The Lord of the Rings, even with all the sorrow and tragedy, the Age of Men has truly just begun and there is so much hope to be had.

I really can't recommend this story highly enough. I also recommend the sequel (about 80k more words of awesome to read).

The Measure of a Man by Virtuella

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: None
Length: 427 words
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: On Ao3

Why this must be read: The Canadianism is strong with this one, and that's why you have to read it. A darling piece where Ray Kowalski goes philosophical about the differences between what milk comes in in Canada, versus in the US. Adorable, with spot-on voices, this is guaranteed to make you smile. Plus, with a title like that, how can you not read it?

And later, Ray will get to muse on the bag of ketchup-flavored potato chips Fraser bought him by Sossity

Fandom: COMMUNITY
Pairing: Britta/Jeff, Annie/Troy, Annie/Jeff, Britta/Abed, Annie/Abed, Shirley/Jeff, Shirley/Troy, Shirley/Abed, Britta/Troy, Abed/Jeff, Troy/Abed, Annie/Britta, Jeff/Troy
Author on LJ: engelen
Why this must be read: I thought I'd close out the month with a fanart project hooking up the entire study group (minus Pierce) in every combination possible. It's a truly impressive series of artwork, featuring some rare pairings alongside the Community fandom big hitters, and every picture (and ship represented) is just perfectly done.

Hook Them All Up: Love For All Community Ships

Fandom: WB/CW RPF
Pairing: Jensen/Jared
Length: 63,425
Author on LJ: nyxocity
Author Website: LJ link to master list
Why this must be read:

I can’t believe May is over already – driving the van has been a blast, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the stories I’ve recced as much as I love them. Make sure to give the authors feedback, because Comments = love.

I’m ending this month with a story whose summary alone had me jumping up and down, because it is based on one of my all-time favorite shows, Quantum Leap. Jensen is “accidentally traveling through time through a project of his own design.” He wakes up in his own past, face-to-face with Jared, and while he can’t remember exactly what happened between them, he knows it ended badly. Can he change his own destiny? And if so, what does that do to the timeline he remembers, and the project that brought him back to Jared in the first place?

There are so many reasons to read this –Nyxocity has a wonderful way with characterization, and casting. The story has elements of QL, but has definite twists and turns. It’s sweet, hot, funny, heart-wrenching… just an amazing read, start to finish.

Until You're Resting Here With Me

Hello, all!

I bring you another memo. This time, the maintenance people have a few things to say to Chief Anderson re: the team’s handling of the Phoenix.

Fandom: Battle of The Planets
Pairing: None
Length: 665
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Virginia on the Gatchaman Fanfic Archive
Why this must be read: Like other memo fics, you really don’t need the whole story. You just read the memo, and your imagination fills in the rest.

( Your G-Force crew has trashed the Phoenix so much that the union is talking about striking. )

Memo To: Security Chief Anderson

Enjoy! :D

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/Tony
Length: about 3,100 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author website/archives: eoenkethry.com
Why this must be read: Eoenkethry write some of the best NCIS stories out there. "And Other Duties As Assigned" has a special place in my heart because it's funny as hell, shows us competent Tony, portrays everyone perfectly in character, and proves once and for all that Gibbs can't live without Tony. Even and especially in the bedroom. *g*

(And Other Duties As Assigned)