Fandom: WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE
Pairing: Cecil/Carlos
Length: 2,081 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: works on AO3
Warnings: a lovely inhuman creature of the radio, technically fluff
Notes: set after “First Date” (ep. 27), retells events from the pilot
Why this must be read:

This eerie, gorgeous story was one of the first fics I read in this fandom, and it has remained one of my favorites. The author does wonderful things with point of view; as she notes in a reply to one of the comments, “this has 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-person POV bits, and the 2nd-person is what I'd call 'coersive 2nd' (where the narrator is telling another character what they feel) as opposed to 'audience-oriented 2nd' (where the 'you' is the reader) or 'transparent 2nd' (where the 'you' is the (unreliable) narrator.” This is in an attempt to convey a bit of how Cecil, who occasionally demonstrates some form of clairvoyance, omniscience, or omnipresence in canon, experiences the world as he has Carlos over for a dinner date.

You use the hand that you've cupped behind my neck to pull me forward, and I end up a little bit in your lap, with my knees on either side of your hips and rather precariously balanced on the picnic table bench. Your eyes are very wide, and very dark, and not at all like the void inside the microphone, except that I think they might go on forever in much the same way.

You say, "You're broadcasting right now, aren't you," and you sound delighted.

How else would I be here with you? I say. Except by being the voice of Night Vale Community Radio, reaching out over the sand wastes forever –

I kiss you again to the sound of my own voice wrapping gently around us from the radio on the kitchen counter. You're a really enthusiastic kisser and you have a tongue. Neat.

-- over the sand wastes forever, and right here, right now with you --

“radio is a living art (try to get the words right)” on AO3

---

( And now, a word from our sponsor )

“Okay, a few last words and then I’m out. This has been a blast. I have had loads of fun and learned a lot, this time and on all my earlier forays, and I’m really going to miss it. Even if I find another group, it won’t be the same. I’m glad the records will be kept, and who knows what they’ll inspire? I guess this chapter is closing, but the story will continue, right? We’ll keep writing it.”

She tosses the van’s keys up, catches them, and hangs them from their ring on a hook, one of many set into the wall.

“Good night, Night Vale.

“Good night, Crack Van.

“Good night.”

Today’s proverb: It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, especially since the darkness has a much better command of profanity than you do.

Hi. I'm aralias and I'll be driving the Blake's 7 crack van for this, the comm's final flight.

( Some quick context about B7 and what I'm likely to rec before I get down to the business of actually reccing some fics )

There will be spoilers for the show in almost all of the fics, but I will try and keep them out of the recs unless it's absolutely necessary, in which case I will mark them.

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Predominantly gen, with Jenna/Cally and Avon
Length: 2599
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Stranger on AO3
Why this must be read: This fic was written in 1988 for a zine by one of the people who contributed most heavily and (I think) insightfully to the famous 1998 essay, 'Normal Female Interest in Men Bonking'. If you like femslash - well, actually, don't get excited about this fandom. This is my first rec, my first femslash rec - and my last femslash rec (but not my last rec). But I am very excited to have this one to rec first (even though, it was in a way, a quirk of its date) because while in one way it's unusual (sorry femslash), in another it demonstrates a lot of the stuff that's most exciting about B7 fic - great snarky dialogue between the ensemble, strong characterisation for all (even women!), unlikely friendship with people who go out of their way to look like jerks, and convincing world building. There's some femslash at the end and it's good and interesting femslash, but mostly this fic is a gen fic about the way the Federation looks to those inside and outside it.

Thanks go to wellharkather for showing me this fic after I'd already drawn up a shortlist of what I wanted to rec.

( Excerpt )

Link: Customs

Fandom: HOCKEY RPF
Pairing: Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews
Length: 2916 words
Author on LJ: twsomething
Author Website: Author page on AO3
Why this must be read
This is hot and sweet (in a chirpy way that rings true). I dunno, I just really dig it. Oh, and here's a photo that is a perfect accompaniment for this story--it's very Johnny.

Do It Better Than Anybody

(l-r: Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles)

In the summer of 2010, five boys from across the U.K. tried out as solo artists for the 7th series of The X Factor. All five advanced to Boot Camp, but were eliminated prior to the Judges' Houses and live performance segments of the show. They were still drying their tears backstage when producers called them back out; the judges had reconsidered and they now had a choice: go home as solo artists, or join together and advance in the group category. They retreated to a bungalow in the English countryside for some quality bonding time & came back in the fall to compete as One Direction. They didn’t win The X Factor (they finished third in the series finale), but by mid-season they were already inspiring the kind of mania that's been a hallmark of only the most beloved boybands in history.

In the two years since they released their first chart-topping album, Up All Night, One Direction's list of accomplishments has become too long to detail…but let me sum up. They've sold over 12 million records worldwide; debuted at #1 in 30-plus countries; won a host of awards, including two BRITS, four MTV Music Awards, two AMA's, and three Billboard Music Awards; broken several Guinness world records; performed for the Queen of England, and at the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremonies; sold out the largest venue in the world, Madison Square Garden, in under 10 minutes; and headlined two sold-out world tours. They've just released their third album, an eclectic mix of pop ballads, indie sounds, and 80's-inspired power rock throwbacks co-written by the boys. Midnight Memories is on track to become the fastest selling album of the year, and has made them the first band in history to debut at #1 on US Billboard charts with their first three albums.

What is the secret to their success? ( PROTIP: IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THEIR DANCE MOVES. )

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Diana Fowley
Length: 2,760 words
Author on LJ: hesychasm
Author Website: at AO3 | Fanfiction Master Post on DW
Why this must be read:

This is a smartly written post-ep for "Amor Fati" wherein Scully and Mulder finally talk about Diana Fowley. In case you are a Diana hater (I most emphatically am not), don't worry about her making an appearance, she's already dead. Jintian has great insight into all three characters: their strengths, their weaknesses, what they are willing to die for, and what they are willing to believe.

Read "A Collection of Remains" on: AO3 | DW.

I'm honored to pick up the Crack Van keys one more time, in a category that's new to the site: fairy tales.

One of the things that draws me to fanfic is the love the authors have for the characters. They redress wrongs, they provide back story and reasons for the unreasonable stuff that can happen, and they make the characters fully-dimensional. Never is that more true than in fairy tale fanfic, where the source material is often a short story that leaves little room for embellishment, or a long story that focuses on select characters. During this turn, I'd like to share some of my favorite fairy tale transformations.

Fandom: Fairy Tales: Snow White
Pairing: Snow White/The Prince
Length: 1428 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: What if Snow White wasn't a helpless victim but a woman with a plan? In this version, Snow isn't so much calculating as she is determined. Well, maybe she's a bit calculating. ::grins:: By setting her goals early, she's able to focus not only on herself but also on the world around her so she can avoid pitfalls and advance her cause.

The author does an admirable job showing the world through Snow's eyes. I'll never look at that Disney movie the same way again. Enjoy.

Pretty as a Doll

If you like this, take a moment to tell the author. You will absolutely make her day!

Hi, I’m Jupi, and I’ll be your guide to wonderful world of Pushing Daisies this month. Despite its brevity (it ran for only 22 episodes) and its relatively simple premise (guy wakes the dead, solves zany murders), this is a difficult series to sum up. Though a lot of what makes it so unique arises out of its idiosyncratic tone, highly stylized dialogue, and vibrant, retro-inspired sets and costumes, there’s much more to it than its gimmicks. It’s also about love and loss and loneliness, choosing to live life to the fullest or spend it trapped in fear, and being different and making connections regardless. Let’s see if I can do it justice.

( The facts are these... )

Fandom: SUITS
Pairing: Donna/Rachel
Length: 1133
Author on LJ: atheist_cheese
Author Website: atheist_cheese

Why this must be read: Whoops, here's even more Suits porn!

This was one of the first fics written in response to a scene from 1.11 where Donna and Rachel spend time inside Harvey's office drinking, playing his records and handling his (basket)balls. Also written for suits_meme, this made me fall in love with the paring and helped me develop my own headcanon between the two.


"...so, wait, how is this at all related to Mike again?" The tone is light, ironic, and Donna has to smirk at that. Points for effort, but it's going to be a while until you're as good as me at that.

"Oh, well, obviously since you're having trouble talking about your feelings I thought I'd provide you with some motivation. Think of it as...encouragement."


Good Girl

Fandom: PUSHING DAISIES
Pairing: Ned/Chuck, OMC
Length: 2514
Author on LJ: velocityofsound
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read:

Let's start with a fic that deals with one of the core conflicts of the show--the fact that the two main characters can never touch each other--in a particularly interesting way. It slots in neatly with the show's peculiar take on life, death, and the difficulties which arise when the two are mixed. The original character serves to hold up a mirror to Ned, as the author shows us an encounter between two men who've detached themselves from the world for very similar and yet essentially different reasons. Chuck has a large role here, too, and her usual fearlessness is on full display. The whole thing has a lovely, quiet, melancholy flavor.

( Excerpt )

The Tin Can and Jug Band Plays Songs of Life and Death

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Gen (apparently). Avon, Blake's clone (Roj)/Rashel, series 4 ensemble, particularly Tarrant and Vila
Length: 29,000
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: http://tarrantnostra.com/suzan/main.htm
Why this must be read: This fic was also published in 1988 - in a zine that I own (thanks eBay), accompanied by various nice illustrations by Jean Clissol. I've taken a photograph of the fic in situ, which you can find beneath the cut.

Suzan Lovett is one of the B-est BNFs there are (not just in this fandom - others include ST:TOS, Pros, S&H and more recently House MD). Although she's most known for her art, she is also justly celebrated for her fic, which is incredible. 'Road to Hell' and 'Gemini Rising' have already been recced here, which is good because it means I can rec this one, which is my personal favourite and one of my favourite 5 fics in the fandom, but not perhaps as accessible as RtH (which I also strongly recommend and which is more standalone). This isn't one you can leap into without watching the show, because I think to appreciate how gorgeous 'Doppleganger' is you have to know Avon and his weird, intense relationship (of heroism, disbelief and denial) with Blake.

This fic is about the absence of Blake, made obvious by the presence of someone who both is and isn't him (i.e. his clone - introduced in episode 2x3), and what that absense forces Avon to do and feel - and it twangs every heartstring I have about a million times over the course of its word count. And yes, I know that is an exceptionally high word count, but the fic's really easy to read, so give it a try. And don't be put off by the epithets. In terms of emotion derived from character, and in terms of character dialogue, there are none finer than Lovett. She needed that word count, and I'm pretty sure I hugged the zine after I finished reading this fic.

( Excerpt )