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Vidder: skyenapped Musical artist: Various (Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, REO Speedwagon) Pairing: Harvey/Mike Vidder on LJ: not that I know of Vidder's website: TumblrWhy this vid kicks ass: This is a clever mashup of scenes from Suits and 30 Rock. Harvey and Mike go to a therapist to work out their work-related issues. skyenapped is able to back up the 30 Rock therapist's claims using Suits footage. It really does seem like the therapist is shipping Harvey and Mike in this. Harvey/Mike couples counseling (you & i) | | |
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Vidder: Mithborien Musical artist: Great Northern Pairing: Danielle de Barbarac/Prince Henry Vidder on LJ: mithborienVidder's website: at AO3 and on LJ Why this vid kicks ass: I enjoyed the movie "Ever After" from the first time I saw it. Everyone did a wonderful job with their roles and I loved that Danielle was such an intelligent and strong character. Of course, she would have to be, to put up with her burdens. The clips really spotlight her and the choice of song, with its moody melody and words, is great. Since fairy tale original source material predates moving pictures or vids, I guess you can consider this a derivative work, once removed. ;^) Created for the 2010 Festivids, the Mediafire download of the file appears to be defunct, but it's still available as a Vimeo streaming. Enjoy. Fingers (at the Festivids site) and Fingers (at AO3) | | |
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Fandom: ONE DIRECTION Vidder: Mark ParsonsLength: 18:12 Why this vid kicks ass:My video rec isn't a fanvid in the traditional sense; it's a full-length fanfic flawlessly animated and voiced by creator-fanboy Mark Parsons. Evil Lord Faptaguise has kidnapped all the pussycats (...catnapped? ...catnipped?), and only Earth's most, er, capable superheros can save them. The Adventerous Adventures of One Direction is chock full of 1D in-jokes, of course, but also enough fandom meta and fic cliches to have broader appeal. It's been viewed over 30 million times, including by the 1D boys, who loved it enough to meet Mark and consider voicing a sequel. The Adventurous Adventures of One Direction | | |
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Fandom: THE OFFICE Pairing: Kelly Kapoor/Ryan Howard Length: 760 words Author on LJ: honey_wheelerAuthor Website: AO3Why this must be read: This is a short fic that packs a big punch. Unlike the obvious OTP-ness of Jim and Pam, Kelly and Ryan have never really been an obvious couple. She’s bubbly and superficial; he’s a more laconic jerk. It’s never been entirely clear why they keep putting up with each other. “strings” was written back at the beginning of their relationship in Season 2, and it lends just the right insight, from Kelly’s perspective, as to the dynamics at work here. The author does so much in very little space, and it makes me wish the “documentary crew” was a little more nosy about office romances besides the headliners. ( Kelly's desperate for strings. )strings | | |
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I don't know of any rec-worthy fanvids for "The Office," but gosh durn it if this isn't the best fanmix I've ever heard. Fandom: THE OFFICE Mixer: suchaprinceMusical artist: Various Pairing: Pam Beesley/Jim Halpert Mixer on LJ: suchaprinceMixer's website: TumblrWhy this mix kicks ass: Not a fanvid, but I think “Save the Receptionist” is worth the exception. I’ve been listening to this fanmix pretty regularly for years, even though it’s been a while since I had any actual activity in the fandom. When I wrote my own Jim/Pam fic, this was pretty much the soundtrack I had throughout the entire process. That’s how fantastic it is. Save the Receptionist | | |
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Vidder: Lindsey/LadyofRohan87 Musical artist: Daughtry Pairing: Nathan Drake/Elena Fisher Vidder on LJ: blonde_leiaVidder's website: on YouTubeWhy this vid kicks ass:I found it really hard to rec only 1 vid for this fandom but I eventually settled on this vid because I liked seeing a good self contained vid about only the first game and thought it might serve as a nice introduction for anyone new to the fandom. The quality could be better, and the vidding is nothing flashy, but I think this vid got to the core of the action and the building sense of trust + danger in the game, and has the bonus of definitely showcasing Elena's role in it all. The song choice is pretty apt and if you've also seen the later games the lyrics have - probably accidentally given when the vid was made - added depth for the pairing. Crashed | | |
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Fandoms: UNCHARTED Characters/Pairings: Nathan Drake, Harry Flynn Length: 817 words Author on LJ: shugo_kradAuthor Website: on FanFiction.netWhy this must be read:This is a short simple piece but I'm reccing it as one of the few fics that have Nate's reactions post-UC2 regarding what happened with Harry. Most post-UC2 fics from Nate's POV have at best a line or two about it between what is usually focused on a Nate/Elena or Nate/Chloe resolution, and any more detailed fics looking at Harry's actions tend to be from the viewpoint of Chloe instead. So, I found this refreshing to get Nate's thoughts on it in this and his remembrance of their previous friendship. Reflections | | |
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Fandom: Fairy Tales: Rapunzel Characters: Dame Gothel, OCs Length: 3284 words Author Website: at AO3Why this must be read: It's an interesting and eerie telling of where Rapunzel and her stepmother, Dame Gothel, are living and how they are faring. We get our information from two sources: a stranger who stops for the night in the tiny village and an invisible oral biographer who allows us to hear from the villagers. There are recognizable bits and pieces of the original story; a lush garden, a pregnant woman with cravings, a witch, a girl baby, a tower. But as they are assembled like a jigsaw puzzle, a different picture emerges. Enjoy. The House at the End of the Village If you like this, take a moment to tell the author. Feedback is precious and appreciated! | | |
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Fandoms: UNCHARTED Characters/Pairings: Harry Flynn/Chloe Frazer Length: ~2500 words Author on LJ: reedybeanzAuthor Website: unknown Why this must be read:Among the characters in Uncharted there is always one thing - banter. There is absolutely no shortage of banter and wise cracks, sarcasm and teasing, in the source material. Not every fic can get that done well, nor is it always appropriate in every fic. For the little attention that this pairing gets we're not usually treated to banter for them, more commonly it is angst driven, which is why this fic set before events in UC2 stood out as such a fun piece where we get to see more of these two interacting as you might imagine they would. Mostly Professional | | |
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Fandoms: UNCHARTED Characters/Pairings: Nathan Drake/Chloe Frazer Length: ~1300 words Author on LJ: starshone_stormAuthor Website: on Ao3Why this must be read:Because it is a beautifully complex look at what Nate/Chloe could have been like. It's a little fun, a little sweet but quite a bit heartbreaking too. I love how the author takes what could be a throwaway line and a tiny detail in Nate's journal, both from UC2, and has built that into such a nuanced representation of them together to fill in canon gaps set before that game for parts of their history we'll probably never know any more for. I felt like this really enhanced what we know of the characters in game without any subversion of canon at all, just slotting in there. Chocolate and Flowers | | |
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Vidder: elviaprose Musical artist: Shania Twain Pairing: Blake/Avon Vidder on LJ: elviaprose Vidder's website: on YoutubeWhy this vid kicks ass: One of the things Blake's 7 fandom has always been very good at (in meta and RL, perhaps, more than fic) is simultaneously appreciating Kerr Avon for being a sexy, bad-boy, super genius (who thinks he's Elvis or something)... and for being an emotional cripple who falls over a lot and loses most of the time. This vid (2013) combines both of those views, filtering Avon through the eyes of our eponymous hero, who does (I would argue) like Avon very much for both those reasons, as well as finding him absolutely exasperating. The vid is obviously tongue-in-cheek and hilarious (elviaprose goes all out with the phallic imagery and shots of Paul Darrow being silly and adorable and Blake's weary faces - plus, what a great choice of song!), but I feel it's also a serious commentary on the way that Avon can be funny and clever and have his own car(!), but if he's not going to help bring down the Federation (and ideally without whinging) then he will never impress Blake. And unfortunately it is fairly clear in canon (whether you ship it or not) that he wants this, even though he'd really prefer not to. Link: That Don't Impress Me Much | | |
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Fandom: SUITS Pairing: Mike/Tom Keller Length: 1248 Author on LJ: shinymessoyayAuthor Website: master fic list on LJ, AO3Why this must be read: The original prompt for this on suitsmeme was: "Tom just seemed to really like Mike. Was that just me? Expand on this please?" This fill expands on that and more, making Tom's interest turn into a really hot one-night stand.
Mike isn't sure how they get inside with all of their clothes on, is only half sure they didn't give the cab driver a show.
It doesn't matter, it's fine, it's fantastic, because the minute they get inside, Tom pushes him into the door and doesn't care when Mike pulls on his hair and bites at his mouth.
"God, you don't even know," Tom mutters against his cheek. Mike's got his hands between them, somehow trying to undo both of their belts. "You don't know how many people try and bullshit me--"
"I'm nothing special," Mike confesses, "really--"
And Tom laughs and rolls his hips forward, trapping Mike's hands between them. "You have got to learn how to accept a compliment, man," he says, and then disappears.
The Future Never Looked This Good: suitsmeme, AO3 | | |
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Fandom: CRIMINAL MINDS Characters/Pairing: Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid Length: 4772 words Rating: PG-13 or FRT Author Website: Author on AO3Why this must be read: This fic isn't treading any new ground but luredin does such a lovely job of describing Hotch's eventual realization of his feelings for Reid that I go back to it over and over again. The writing is very descriptive and visual in nature so - for me at least - this story comes across as pictures rather than memorable phrases. The fact that the author lets us know the colours of things so often makes the visualization more immediate without being distracting or overly committed to a theme. Please note that for some reason the author has locked all of her AO3 entries so only registered site users can view her stories. Luckily, a quick Google search revealed a public posting of the fic here on LJ as well. Both links are provided below. Come Open Your Eyes by luredin on LJCome Open Your Eyes by luredin on AO3 for registered users onlyDid you enjoy this? Tell someone about it (or drop the author a thank you note)! | | |
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There was a bunch of great Rómeó és Júlia fic in Yuletide this year. I'll be reccing some of it before reveals, since I'm trying to mix up the character focuses a bit (the fandom as a whole is not quite as Tybalt/Mercutio-focused as my recs might suggest, but there's not much I can do about that within crack_van rules), and will come back after Jan. 1 to edit in the authors. Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA Pairing: Mercutio/Tybalt Length: 3922 words Author on LJ | Tumblr: cinaed | cinaedAuthor Website: fic on AO3Why this must be read:Mercutio and Tybalt have hated each other for a long time, and there's a lot of potential in exploring their backstory. This story explores Tybalt's apparently-traumatic first visit to a brothel (and his relationship with his father), as well as his conflict with Mercutio. It's gorgeously written, and the dialogue between them is sharp and complicated, as is their dynamic. Some non-explicit sexual activity between teenagers. Heed author's warnings, although it's not really much more fucked up than canon. ( Excerpt )what lies lurk in kissesIf you enjoy this story, please take a moment to tell the author. Tiny fandom writers always appreciate encouragement! | | |
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Fandom: THE X-FILES Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully Length: short story Author on LJ: elapsesAuthor Website: halfbyseaWhy this must be read:Because it's funny. Because it's crackfic for one of the funniest episodes of the series. She really nails the tone of their interaction from Mulder's POV. And I love how perfectly this fits in with that hilarious bit where Scully straightens Mulder's tie while they're waiting outside Skinner's office. Read Meanwhile, Back at the Sam Houston Motor Lodge. | | |
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Fandom: ONE DIRECTION Pairing: OT5 (Harry/Liam/Louis/Niall/Zayn) Length: ~19,700 words Author on LJ: disarm_dAuthor on AO3: disarm_dWhy this must be read:And then Louis says, “I bet £10,000 I could go longer without wanking than all of you,” which was probably his first mistake.Louis steps on a used condom on the bus, calls a band meeting, and a competition that literally no one wants to be a part of spirals quickly out of control as the boys take increasingly desperate measures to wind each other up. (Spoiler alert for happy endings all around.) In which Louis has some regrets, Liam isn’t worried, Niall wants to help, Harry tries to forfeit, and Zayn may or may not be bothered. | | |
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Vidder: freyatlast Musical artist: vocal artist, Emmy Lou Harris; song by Steve Earle. Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully Vidder on LJ: frey_at_lastVidder's website: No, but her vids are up at Youtube. Why this vid kicks ass:This vid portrays what the show was all about for me. It wasn't about the shippy moments. To me, it was about all of the doors they opened together, and the cars they rode in, together, and the fields they walked through together. All of the cases they solved and the ones that they didn't. So much emotion expressed through glances and shy half-smiles. Everything unspoken but still somehow understood. And my favorite Emmylou Harris song! Watch Goodbye. | | |
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Sorry this is late; I was too busy to post during the day, and I had a junior hockey game after work. Vidder: salvamisandwich (rocketlatte) Music: "You Told the Drunks I Knew Karate" by Zooey Van Gooey Length: 2:55 Vidder on LJ: salvamisandwichVidder's Website: Video Tag on LJ/ Author page on AO3Why this must be viewed:Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp being awesome together is so worth seeing. Also, this is a really likeable, off-beat Scottish indie pop tune (by a band that is sadly no longer playing together). The Dumbest Things (Vid post on AO3) | | |
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