Fandom: GENERATION KILL
Pairing: Brad Colbert/Nate Fick
Length: 9152
Author on LJ: nightanddaze
Author Website: nightanddaze
Why this must be read:

Here's a WWII AU that places Nate as a young soldier patrolling Algiers, with Brad as an enticing, shady shop owner. That description doesn't do it justice because nightanddaze has created a whole world here, so different from other WWII AUs and full of her gorgeously sensuous writing. She's written a series of interconnected snippets, of which this is the longest part, here telling the story of Nate's leave. It gives us a younger Nate than usual, but nightanddaze does right by him. Links to the other pieces are at the bottom; I'd suggest reading them all. Just gorgeous.

His chest feels odd without the little weight of being a good soldier on it, but Nate doesn’t want to be a good soldier today.

“Can you take these?” Nate asks, already dropping the tags into Colbert’s outstretched palm.

Colbert looks at them for a moment, swiping over the information like he could learn it by touch, and then carefully coils them on the beside table next to the clock and his watch.

Sea Change

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: None
Length: 454 words
Author on LJ: troyswann
Author Website: Outside the Box

Why this must be read: Honestly? I could probably write more words about why I love this story than it has in it. But let's start off with the beautiful language. The deft characterization. The incredible collage of colors that Salieri uses to paint a vivid picture of pain, loss and love. Bob Fraser being awesome, either as a hallucination or a ghost. And the final lines, which tug on the heart strings. Read it; you won't regret it.

Faster than Sound

Fandom: SKIP BEAT!
Pairing: sort of Shoko/Yashiro
Length: one-shot at 2,158 words
Author on LJ: bookelfe
Author Website: AO3 works page
Why this must be read: Observing the shipping wars of Skip Beat! from an outsider's perspective is a fun and welcome change. Shoko and Yashiro really go through so much for their clients; it's no wonder their own lives take a back seat to the job. This fic is a hilarious take on the fandom's love of fighting over which man eventually wins Kyoko. [Best to have read through volume 20 or so.]

Shipping Wars

Fandom: SHERLOCK BBC
Pairing: John Watson/Sherlock Holmes
Length: 7725 words
Author on LJ: madlorific
Author Website: Mad_Lori at AO3 and FF.net
Why this must be read:

"Alone on the Water" is one of the best-known stories in Sherlock fandom. I am amazed it hasn't been rec'd here before. It's heartbreaking and beautiful and bittersweet, told with delicacy and restraint by a master with words.

Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, Sherlock deals with fate on his own terms, as always. With John at his side, as always.

I sometimes get choked up over stories, but I never cry. This one made me cry.

PS. a group of students in Derby, UK are working on an audioplay of Alone on the Water. It isn't available as of this posting but information can be had here. I'm looking forward to listening.

( This is how it starts... )

Alone On the Water

Fandom: INCEPTION
Pairing: Arthur/Eames; Arthur/OMC
Length: 60,000 words
Author on LJ: bauble
Author Website: Master Fic list on LJ
Why this must be read: Big Bang stories are amazing beasts. They're long and epic and can take us worlds away from the canon we know while still maintaining the essence of the characters we love. Here, Arthur's life-saving (or at least disaster-averting) skills make an impression on international pop star, Eames - so much so that Arthur ends up being wooed away from his current job to act as Eames' bodyguard while on tour.

This Arthur is quirkily charming with a love of cooking, a failure to understand social media, and no appreciation of music, making him a strange choice for a singer's bodyguard. And Eames here is outgoing with the confidence of a star, but oddly vulnerable at the same time, which is such a hard combination to pull off as a writer. Yet, bauble does it beautifully.

There is a lovely build of the Arthur/Eames friendship/relationship in this story, and it feels realistic in many ways. Things aren't perfect. Arthur's trying to make a relationship with someone else work because he knows better than to date his clients (well, he mostly knows better). Arthur and Eames have misunderstandings and make mistakes. The humour in this story is slightly off-beat and it makes a nice counterpoint to the fact it isn't a smooth road for the characters.

I'm definitely an OTP girl, so I sometimes shy away from stories that have the characters with someone else. However, it's a storyline that's relevant, well-handled, and I think it makes the somewhat surreal pop-star world that Eames lives in seem a little more connected to the real world. Give this one a chance, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

( 'Remember, don't stand directly underneath the giant radish,' Arthur says. )

Masterpost for the story on LJ: Amuse-Bouche, including links to codas, and bonus materials such as art, soundtrack, etc.

If you enjoy the story, remember to feedback the author!