Fandom: TEEN WOLF
Pairing: Derek/Stiles
Length: 2,785 words
Author on LJ: dsudis
Author Website: AO3 profile, website
( Why this must be read )

Responsible Use of Magic

Fandom: THE HUNGER GAMES
Pairing: Light Katniss/Gale
Length: ~2k words
Author on LJ: audreyii_fic 
Author Website: FFN

Why this must be read: You'll be on the edge of your seat reading this short but powerful what-if in which Gale stops Katniss from volunteering. Some things change, others don't, but the penultimate section still gives me chills after multiple reads.

( Her dress is made from flickering candlelight. None of the other tributes look at each other, but Peeta holds tight to Prim's hand and sometimes leans down to whisper in her ear. )

The Bad in Each Other

Fandom: DEATH NOTE
Pairing: Matsuda/Misa
Length: ~6000
Author on LJ: Unknown, as the anonymous author never outed themselves, at least not that I could find. Their single known fic is on both dn_kink and on dn_kink2, but comments can only be left on the new meme's copy, because the old meme is defunct.
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

The Death Note fandom is full of angst-fics, particularly because of the heavy moral issues that canon addresses, and because of the difficulties of creating a fanfic alternate ending where people on both sides of the conflict end up fine. It can be wearing and emotionally draining to encounter so many angst-fics, and these exhausting experiences often leave fans with a desire to avoid them.

This romance between Matsuda and Misa is an angst-fic, but it is surprisingly rewarding to read. Yes, there's a strong chance it will make you cry, but it's meaningful, fulfilling and strangely rewarding in a way that is incredibly rare among Death Note angst-fics. Rather than being exhausted after you read it, you will likely find that a poignant and nostalgic place inside your heart has been touched. It's sad, but the good kind of sadness. As it is set after the anime/manga series has ended, there are spoilers galore, so only read if you've read/watched all of the main series.

Everything I Touch (OLD meme's copy)

Everything I Touch (NEW meme's copy)

Fandom: Avengers (movieverse)
Pairing: Bruce Banner/Tony Stark, Clint Barton / Phil Coulson, Darcy / Natasha
Length: 1844 words
Author on LJ:smaragbird
Author Website: http://archiveofourown.org/users/smaragdbird/pseuds/smaragdbird
Why this must be read: There are a lot of stories that build upon how people see the Avengers after the Chitauri invasion, but for me, this was the first one that dealt with Paparazzi,and fake rumors. It's a small piece, but it's so worth it for things like Darcy not being a manic pixie girl, and Bruce being the utterly calm one despite everything.

Rumors

(Hi, I'm luxshine, I'm your terribly late driver for Avengers movieverse this month. Sorry for that, but RL was impossible)

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Frank/Gerard, Lyn-Z/Matt Skiba
Length: 16,600 words
Author on LJ/DW: tempore / tempore
Author on AO3: Tempore

Why this must be read: The one where Frank and LynZ loves riding their bikes and an encounter with a strange man on the trail leads them into quite an adventure.

This is a wonderful adventure story. It's captivating and entertaining, and the premise and setup fascinating. I love how rooted in nature it feels - as if the time travel is a completely natural phenomen with no outside intent or power involved.

I really liked the way Frank and Lyn-Z's friendship was written and that it stayed important even after Gerard and Matt had been introduced to the story. I also really appreciated that the growing closeness between Frank and Gerard - no matter how lovely it was written - wasn't allowed to completely dominate the story. That the relationship between all four of them, and their struggle to find a way to reunite with their families and to survive in the forest for maybe years, was just as important for the story. And the ending was absolutely perfect.

( Excerpt from the story... )

Into This World We're Thrown

Fandom: SHERLOCK BBC
Pairing: gen
Length: 57485 words
Author on LJ: americanjedi
Author Website:  Ao3
Why this must be read: summary: Dr. John Watson is turned into an eight year old child, dealing with Sherlock who doesn't know him in a world where he was never born. He's a little stressed out, but he's got his priorities straight. Original characters and London as a war zone, and John's accidentally inventing a super genius.


Wee Doctor takes a cracky premise and turns it into something truly beautiful. John is such a tremendous BAMF in this story. John doesn’t let being turned into an eight year old stop him helping people and taking care of Sherlock. I really love the way americanjedi writes Sherlock and John’s relationship. You really feel these two are family. The OCs are wonderfully drawn and I find the great Holmes brothers attempts to puzzle out the mystery of doctor, soldier, badass eight year old John delightful. Wee Doctor and its sequel are two of my all time favorite Sherlock stories.




Wee Doctor and wonderful WIP sequel Small Families

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Uther/Ygraine
Length: ~16,000 words
Author on LJ: lady_ragnell
Author Website: AO3; Masterlist on LJ
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: A sorceress's spell brings Ygraine back from the dead with no memory of what's happened in the years between. | When the queen is brought back, all of Merlin's secrets start coming out.

I would have loved if canon followed the same route as this fic. A nice way to balance out the angst of most reveal!fics, this one leads to the big revelation on a much gentler slope. Morgause uses the ultimate sacrifice to bring back Ygraine and through her save the future of magic in Camelot. Ygraine brings so much balance and gentling to those around her that she allows for a smoother transition into a magic-restored Camelot.

Lady's characterization of Ygraine is superb; she's wise, distinguished despite her years, and determined to right the wrong she sees in her kingdom. The characterizations of everyone else is also very well done. Morgana feels betrayed but is willing to forgive in future. Gwen is gentle and supportive. Uther is angry yet grows wiser each day in regards to magic. Arthur is brash and heroic. Then there's Merlin. A bit afraid to reveal himself but finding the courage to do so as he sees Arthur being more open to magic. This whole fic made me smile like crazy.
( Ygraine being full of awesome-sauce )

Belong to the Living

Just a reminder that December is Small Fandom Month on crack_van, and there are still open spots if you'd like to make take a turn behind the wheel.

Sign up over here!

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS: THE AVENGERS (comics)
Pairing/Characters: Gen (pre-femslash), Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel), Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch)
Length: 3270 words
Author on LJ: jazzypom
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:
Summary: The palest ink is sharper than the clearest memory. This is what Wanda remembers, and what Carol feels.

There aren't enough fics written that feature either Carol or Wanda, and even fewer that do their characterization justice.  So I was thrilled when I read this fic which features both Carol and Wanda and has fantastic characterization to boot.  The story takes place towards the end of Avengers Disassembled in the immediate aftermath when Wanda destroys the Avengers Mansion.  I loved how the canon was referenced to how well Carol's friendship with Jessica Jones was characterized. And  jazzypom does a lovely job of positing diary entries with flashbacks and interweaving the moments between Carol and Wanda with the given canon.  You can feel the tension between the two of them as well as Wanda slowly deteriorating mentally after everything she's been through.   Just beautifully heartbreaking.

The Palest Ink