December 27th, 2013 
08:30 am Vid rec: Harvey/Mike couples counseling (you & i)
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: Tumblr
Why 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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10:18 am VID REC: Fairy Tales: Cinderella (Ever After, 1998 movie adaptation) - Fingers
Vidder: Mithborien
Musical artist: Great Northern
Pairing: Danielle de Barbarac/Prince Henry
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] mithborien
Vidder'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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11:44 am VID REC: The Adventurous Adventures of One Direction
Fandom: ONE DIRECTION
Vidder: Mark Parsons
Length: 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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11:48 am “strings” by honey_wheeler (PG-13)
Fandom: THE OFFICE
Pairing: Kelly Kapoor/Ryan Howard
Length: 760 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] honey_wheeler
Author Website: AO3
Why 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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12:41 pm Fanmix: “Save The Receptionist” by suchaprince
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: suchaprince
Musical artist: Various
Pairing: Pam Beesley/Jim Halpert
Mixer on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] suchaprince
Mixer's website: Tumblr
Why 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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02:32 pm VID REC: Uncharted - Crashed
Vidder: Lindsey/LadyofRohan87
Musical artist: Daughtry
Pairing: Nathan Drake/Elena Fisher
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] blonde_leia
Vidder's website: on YouTube
Why 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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02:43 pm "Reflections" by kradnohikari (T)
Fandoms: UNCHARTED
Characters/Pairings: Nathan Drake, Harry Flynn
Length: 817 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] shugo_krad
Author Website: on FanFiction.net
Why 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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02:54 pm The House at the End of the Village by mailroomy (G)
Fandom: Fairy Tales: Rapunzel
Characters: Dame Gothel, OCs
Length: 3284 words
Author Website: at AO3

Why 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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03:40 pm "Mostly Professional" by reedybeanz (M)
Fandoms: UNCHARTED
Characters/Pairings: Harry Flynn/Chloe Frazer
Length: ~2500 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] reedybeanz
Author 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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03:56 pm "Chocolate and Flowers" by starshone_storm (PG)
Fandoms: UNCHARTED
Characters/Pairings: Nathan Drake/Chloe Frazer
Length: ~1300 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] starshone_storm
Author Website: on Ao3
Why 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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04:58 pm VID REC: Blake's 7 - That Don't Impress Me Much
Vidder: elviaprose
Musical artist: Shania Twain
Pairing: Blake/Avon
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] elviaprose
Vidder's website: on Youtube
Why 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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05:00 pm The Future Never Looked This Good by shinymessoyay (Explicit)
Fandom: SUITS
Pairing: Mike/Tom Keller
Length: 1248
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] shinymessoyay
Author Website: master fic list on LJ, AO3
Why this must be read: The original prompt for this on [livejournal.com profile] 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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07:15 pm Come Open Your Eyes by luredin (PG-13 or FRT)
Fandom: CRIMINAL MINDS
Characters/Pairing: Aaron Hotchner/Spencer Reid
Length: 4772 words
Rating: PG-13 or FRT
Author Website: Author on AO3

Why 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 LJ
Come Open Your Eyes by luredin on AO3 for registered users only

Did you enjoy this? Tell someone about it (or drop the author a thank you note)!
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09:59 pm what lies lurk in kisses, by Cinaed (T)
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 [livejournal.com profile] 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: [livejournal.com profile] cinaed | cinaed
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why 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 kisses

If you enjoy this story, please take a moment to tell the author. Tiny fandom writers always appreciate encouragement!
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10:30 pm Meanwhile, Back at the Sam Houston Motor Lodge by elapses (R)
Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: short story
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] elapses
Author Website: [livejournal.com profile] halfbysea
Why 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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10:52 pm All You Have To Do by randominity (NC-17)
Fandom: ONE DIRECTION
Pairing: Louis/Zayn
Length: ~8,700 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] randominity
Author on AO3: Randominity
Why this must be read:

Because what if all of Louis' nipple-tweaking and ball-slapping and pranks are really just badly disguised pulling of pigtails, and he's the last to know?

Louis doesn't want to win Zayn over - he just wants to win.
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11:09 pm Outlast by disarm_d (NC-17)
Fandom: ONE DIRECTION
Pairing: OT5 (Harry/Liam/Louis/Niall/Zayn)
Length: ~19,700 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] disarm_d
Author on AO3: disarm_d
Why 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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11:11 pm VID REC: The X-Files - Goodbye
Vidder: freyatlast
Musical artist: vocal artist, Emmy Lou Harris; song by Steve Earle.
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] frey_at_last
Vidder'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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11:50 pm Vid Rec: Hockey RPF - The Dumbest Things
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: [livejournal.com profile] salvamisandwich
Vidder's Website: Video Tag on LJ/Author page on AO3
Why 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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