Fandom: SUITS
Pairing: Harvey/Donna
Length: 1860
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: FF.net profile

Why this must be read: I love the unresolved sexual tension in this fic. It builds up, and then it culminates on a good note, even if the culmination is not graphically told. As for the title:



The bun does Harvey in. It sits high on Donna's head, and her bangs flutter into her eyes so that she has to keep pushing them back. She looks elegant.

"Are you going somewhere tonight?" he asks casually.

She blinks twice, probably surprised that he noticed. But he can't not notice the beautiful red curls pinned high. He loves her hair.

"Date tonight," she says. "I have to go straight from work. Thought I'd just wear what I have on."



taking it down

Vidder: Davey647Returns
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Musical Artist: Glen Nelson and Todd Howard performed, Glen Nelson and Spencer Klinell wrote.
Vidder Website: YouTube Channel
Why this vid must be seen:

I was out to lunch last Friday, sorry. This vid shows how Star Wars grew to be not 'just some 1977 movie,' but inspired fannish efforts everywhere. To quote the video's creator, Dave Bouressa: "After The Forcecast started their "Mandalore Rain" contest (a spoof contest based on Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby), many people entered. However, the winner was arranged and performed by Glen Nelson and his band. This is that arrangement." Pursuing the growth theme of this post, this vid demonstrates the influence of the EU, and when you consider the social movement of the fandom, wow. Makes me proud. *gets a little cosmic*

Mandalore Rain

Fandom: Fairy Tales: Original folk tale
Characters: Rosebriar
Length: 1314 words
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: Although many fairy tales are transformed to the point that they are quite original, this one truly is an original fairy/folk tale. Written for a Yuletide request, this has the obvious feel of an old-fashioned story that anyone could read to their kids by the fire. Especially to little girls, who don't often get a role model heroine who doesn't look like a Disney Princess.

Rosebriar isn't a classic beauty; she's rather plain, has freckles and some crooked teeth. All in all, she's not going to get by on her looks. She is, however, clever with a good heart and willing spirit. As a result she not only saves herself from poverty, but her father as well. She does it by rolling up her sleeves to do the work that needs doing, and capitalizing on her talents.

Clever Rosebriar

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Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Length: ~1500 words
Author on LJ: ingridmatthews
Author Website: Writing journal
Why this must be read:

Obi-Wan turns inward after a devastating start to his exile, first to depression, then to re-discover what joy there can be in life. The Jundland Wastes become bearable, and even, with an unrestrained Qui-Gon, fun can emerge.

Blooming in the Sands

Fandom: HOCKEY RPF
Pairing: Danny Briere/Claude Giroux
Length: 73,133 words
Author on LJ: rsadelle
Author Website: Author page on AO3
Why this must be read
There's an appealing sweet domesticity in Danny and Claude's journey from friends with benefits to partnership: "It's less that they figured out they want to be together and more that they grew into wanting to be together."

A Good Education
Master post on LJ

Fandom: Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty (primarily although several others are intertwined)
Pairing/Characters: The Queen, OC; canon pairings
Length: 2400 words
Author Website: at AO3

Why this must be read: What goes into keeping up "happily ever after"?

We are witness to the Queen telling some of her life's story to a Scribe. She describes her meeting and friendship with Snow White and knowing about Red Riding Hood; what happened to her own children and Prince as well as others. It's got a sadness about it, not just because the Queen is on her deathbed more than a century later than it should have been. There's an ominous tone about the kingdom that foretells of changes. Enjoy

Dream's End

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Fandom: CRIMINAL MINDS
Characters/Pairing: Emily Prentiss/George Foyet, Emily Prentiss/Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, J.J. Jareau, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia, Derek Morgan
Length: 81,024 words
Rating: NC-17 or FRAO (please read any author warnings carefully)
Author on LJ: pink_siamese
Author Website: Author on AO3

Why this must be read: I'll admit that this is a tough one to read. The 'falling-for-a-killer' idea has never sat well with me, but I'm a big proponent of both readers and fan work creators reaching outside of their comfort zones in order to broaden their appreciation. And pink_siamese is a writer of a whole different caliber in fan fiction: she is aloof, mercurial, and paralyzingly erotic in her ideas. This story will challenge you and how you perceive the characters that you love. In places, her writing can leave you feel left behind and out of sync, but I encourage you to hang in for the whole ride. If nothing else, you'll never look at Prentiss and Foyet in the same way again. This is also one of the few fully-realized visions of a serial killer that is compelling while not sacrificing his inherent evilness. It is conflicting to put it mildly. One of the tags to this story is "mindfuck", and that's incredibly accurate. Consider yourself warned.

PLEASE NOTE: This story contains very adult themes including necrophilia. It also features major character death, so gird your loins or don't read it, okay?

Drawn In Slow Strokes by Pink_Siamese on AO3

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Fandom: ONE DIRECTION
Pairing: Harry/Louis
Length: ~54,000 words
Author on LJ: sunsetmog
Author on AO3: sunsetmog
Why this must be read:

Because sometimes there's nothing more satisfying than a long, angsty wallow. In this sixth form AU, Harry auditions for The X-Factor without his best mates; he returns the conquering hero, headlining his own tour, and hoping to make amends. The boys' friendships are written wonderfully, and Louis' pain and anger is so palpable you ache to read it.

The first Louis had heard of Harry auditioning for X Factor was the night he'd turned up on Louis' doorstep the day before leaving for Boot Camp, with a DVD and an illicit bottle of vodka. Thing was, Louis hated secrets, and he really hated being made a fool of, and he really, really hated Harry Styles.

Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairings and Characters: Tybalt/Mercutio, Tybalt/Julia, Tybalt/Lady Capulet, Friar Laurence
Length: 2877 words
Author on LJ: miss_morland
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

This is an iceberg story, the kind of story that fits more into fewer words than you expect. It's very subtly almost five things story--each scene illuminates Tybalt's relationship with another character (Julia, Friar Laurence, Mercutio, Lady Capulet, and Julia again), but in a way that carries Tybalt through growing up from a boy who's already damaged but not yet broken to the man he is in canon, bracketed by how his relationship with Julia changes. Gorgeously written, dark, and emotionally complex, this is one of my very favorite takes on a backstory for Tybalt, and a smart glimpse at several of the other characters as well.

Some semi-explicit sexual content between teenagers, plus similar level of general themes of misogyny, incestuous feelings, and violence as canon.

( Excerpt )

Fire Next Time

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