Fandom: NEWSIES
Pairing: Jack Kelly/David Jacobs
Length: 1400
Author on LJ: toomuchplor
Author Website: toomuchplor
Why this must be read: Jack and David are one of the common pairings in Newsies fandom because they gave us so. much. to. work. with. Seriously. The scene on the fire escape being just one of many really great Jack/David moments. toomuchplor rewrites that scene with a seriously hot ending. She has Jack's mannerisms down: his small half-smiles and the "Shaddup" being my favorites; but this story is from David's pov and it's really well done. You get the sense that he doesn't exactly understand what these new feelings are for Jack, but that Jack knows exactly what he's doing having lived on the streets for most of his life. The easy camaraderie and affection between the two is definitely there and it's easy to see them continuing a partnership, friendship and maybe something more from this point onward.



New York World

Fandom : due South
Pairing : Benton Fraser / Ray Kowalski
Author Website : benandrayk.com

Why this must be read :  On a website loaded with "Serious Duck Award" winners and "Serge Award" winners in multiple categories, it's hard to say why any one should be read rather than another, so I hope that y'all will peruse the rest of the site after you read this fic -- plus the website has terrific fanart accompanying the fics. As for this particular fic, though, it had me at the title...so if you love Dief it's a must-read right there, because he is central to the storyline...how the shared caring for Dief leads to realizations about marriage and family...and some good sex, too.

I <3 this scene where the assistant to Dief's vet flirts with Ray :

"Here we are," Ray said as he swung open the glass door and stepped inside.

A slim blond man with spiked hair and lots of earrings, dressed in lavender scrubs, rushed over and knelt by Diefenbaker, hugging him hard as Ray stood right inside the door, stunned. He looked up towards Ray and smiled a huge smile.

"Oh hello! You must be Diefenbaker's other daddy," the blond trilled before rising and heading back around the counter.

"Uh, hi…" Ray said hesitantly. "Daddy – uh –"

"Come on back to room seven. Doctor Lombardo is just finishing up with another patient, and she'll be right with you." The blond looked appreciatively at Ray, giving him the eye. "Lucky Sergeant Fraser and Diefenbaker."

Ray blushed.

Diefenbaker's Other Daddy

Fandom: STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Pairing: Qui-Gon Jinn/Obi-Wan Kenobi (aka-Quinn Masterson/Ian Prentice)
Length: 33k
Author on LJ: NA
Author Website: Merry Amelie's M-A story page
Why this must be read: Two men meet on a train and form an
instant connection. This is a modern-day Q/O story or in fandom terms an AR
(alternate reality). Of all the stories in this series, and there are many!
This first one remains a favorite. You feel more an observer than a reader
privy to something special unfolding in words and thoughts and small details.
A classic romance you'll read more than once.


Professor Quinn Masterson boarded the Amtrak train at Penn Station and
looked for an empty seat in Business Class. This was not an easy task during
Monday morning rush hour. Somehow, Quinn managed to look crisp and unrumpled
in his navy suit, despite the heat outside and his commute to the station.
He was on his way to Mace University in Windover, Massachusetts for a two
day conference on Tolkien's wizards.

Quinn finally spied a seat covered with newspapers next to a flame-haired
young man in jeans. "May I?" he asked, ever polite, although technically any
free seat was fair game. Quinn tracked the man's eyes as they swept over
him, higher and higher...and higher.

"Yes, of course," the young man answered, as he bundled the paper into the
seat pocket.

The conversation was clearly over for Quinn, who pulled out a copy of The
Fellowship of the Ring and began to read.


This is my final rec of the month. It's been fun as always. Until we meet again,
may the Force be with you! xx


A Symposium on Love

Fandom: SHERLOCK BBC
Pairing: none
Length: 13,408 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: A03
Why this must be read: Young Sherlock is mysteriously ill. Mycroft's concern for his young brother leads to horrifying suspicions. "Proxy" offers a very plausible history for Mycroft's constant, obsessive concern towards his younger brother even when they are adults. And for Sherlock's animosity towards him, as well as his dysfunctional relationship with food. It is a cold, dark story that will haunt you.

( An excerpt... )

Proxy

Fandom: PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS/HEROES OF OLYMPUS
Pairing: Gen
Length: 322
Author on LJ: artemisrae
Author Website: LJ fic archive | AO3
Why this must be read: Pre-series with little child Percy, this short story focuses on Sally Jackson-- a low-income single mother in NYC with the added burden of caring for a child who is hunted by monsters-- and how she came to be with Gabe Ugliano. Sally Jackson is, to me, the real hero of the Percy Jackson series, and this ficlet addresses her hidden heroism.

Of Ugly Sights

Fandom: NEWSIES
Pairing: Jack Kelly/Crutchie, Spot Conlon/Crutchie, Jack Kelly/Katherine Plumber
Length: 35,000
Author on LJ:rchan_fic
Author Website: Renee-chan
Why this must be read: Okay, so RL has gotten in the way of me writing a new overview of the Newsies fandom that includes the Broadway musical, but I still want to rec this story because it is awesome and it sort of fuses the two stories together. Remember how Crutchy was sort of annoying? Well, the musical changed it to "Crutchie" and gave his personality a little less whining and a lot more adorableness. Seriously. They cast super-hot Jeremy Jordan as Jack and then have the two of them do stuff like this onstage - shipping was inevitable. The new love interest for Jack is a reporter named Katherine Plumber who is so much better than Sarah. There are other changes but none that are essential to this fic. Renee-chan basically smooshes the movie and Broadway musical together and it is AWESOME. The story is set after the strike when things are supposed to be getting back to normal, except Jack has a new girl now and Crutchie starts to realize that he's losing him. Spot comes in as the leader of Brooklyn but also as a very old friend of both Jack and Crutchie. The backstory for all three of them is heart-breaking, sweet, and has perfect characterization.  Katherine is fearless, intelligent, and never tips over into Mary-Sue Land as Sarah usually does.  Renee-chan treats the Jack/Katherine relationship well and never uses her as just a character that's in the way.  Crutchie is such a sympathetic and lovable character in this - you just want to wrap him up and snuggle him.  I keep re-reading this story because it's just so perfect.  Give it a try, even with no knowledge of the Broadway show I think you'll really love it.


A New Day Dawning