Thank you so much for the opportunity to rec my favorite tiny fandom! I'm sad to see the crack_van era come to an end. While my Rómeó és Júlia recs ended up being something of a Tybalt & Mercutio show due to what currently exists, there's plenty of opportunity to write about other characters, including the women, and our little fandom is always excited to lure in new writers. If you missed it the first time, you can find out more about how to watch the show in the fandom overview.

Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Characters: Tybalt, Mercutio
Length: 1040 words
Author on LJ: sophia_sol
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

A concise and deceptively complex take on another possible backstory for Tybalt and Mercutio, in "from the same sky" they might be something like friends—but despite their youth, Tybalt already has no hope, and Mercutio has already learned cruelty. They're "fine" for now, almost happy, perhaps (and the story delivers on gorgeous Tybalt hair porn as well), but it's all shadowed by the looming future.

( Excerpt )

from the same sky

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Fandoms: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA / LA VIE PARISIENNE - OFFENBACH
Pairing/Characters: Mercutio/Métella, Raoul de Gardefeu/Tybalt, Bobinet with implied Bobinet/Gardefeu/Tybalt/Mercutio/Métella
Length: 3 drawings
Artist on Tumblr: apfelstrudelz
Artist Website: most art is under the atovision tag (note: sometimes gory) | other art on DeviantArt at ruberoidz, although nothing Rómeó és Júlia as of this post
Why this must be seen:

Alas, there is no crossover fic for this fandom yet, but there is some glorious crossover art, and perhaps someday it may inspire fic! Atov's art all has an energy that I love, with interesting compositions, beautiful coloring, and distinctly drawn characters.

"Veronai élet" ("Veronese Life") is a series of gorgeous drawings depicting the results of a somewhat cracky crossover where Mercutio and Tybalt somehow find themselves in late 19th century Paris, entangled with the wacky lives of the dandies and courtesans of Offenbach's comic operetta La Vie parisienne. Instead of everyone dying, Métella finds Mercutio helpful for more than one purpose, Gardefeu flirts shamelessly with this weird angry guy who looks remarkably like his friend and rival Bobinet, and everything ends in champagne and probably orgies.

Veronai élet

Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Tybalt/Peter
Length: 1974 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: drcalvin | drcalvin
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

This is a lovely, bittersweet little story from the point of view of Peter, the Nurse's servant, that captures the odd dynamic between Tybalt and the Capulet servants in canon—where they seem to care about him and he's relatively friendly with them, but there's always an insurmountable class barrier between them—Tybalt may like them better than his family or Montagues, but he doesn't quite see them as people, so their care for him isn't enough. Only with porn.

( Excerpt )

That Forgiveness Unearned

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Mercutio/Tybalt
Length: 327 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: samgrass | harkerling
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

A compelling, painful take on Tybalt's tangled self-loathing and sexual issues, as well as the roots of his hatred for Mercutio. (Note that this story includes themes of self-harm and teenage sexuality.)

Crown Of Thorns

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Benvolio/Mercutio
Length: 2071 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: cinaed | cinaed
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio cross-dress as nuns to sneak into a convent so Romeo can get laid, but what are Benvolio and Mercutio to do while they're waiting?

It can't all be doom and gloom forever, even in post-apocalyptic Verona. It's a little bit of a puzzle to me that there isn't more Benvolio/Mercutio or trio hijinks, given how flirty some of the actors get, but this story definitely fills some of those needs and manages to be not completely depressing! There's also some great insight into the characters and their relationships, humor, and a hot blowjob—a little bit of everything.

( Excerpt )

talk not to me of blasphemy

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Mercutio/Tybalt
Length: 562 words
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read: This fandom as a whole tends to sad backstory and sad porn, so the occasional fix-it where everything isn't misery is a refreshing change! Here, in remarkably few words, madame_le_maire has deftly and lyrically managed to remove Mercutio and Tybalt (and the others, in the background) from Verona to where they can tentatively make a new kind of start. Bittersweet but hopeful.

Or: Tybalt and Mercutio play Spin the Bottle.

( Excerpt )

Those Lights of Fate

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Mercutio/Escalus, Mercutio/Lady Capulet, Mercutio/Tybalt, Mercutio/Nurse, Mercutio/Benvolio, Mercutio/Romeo
Length: 5499 words
Author on LJ: fyrie
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

The first "Mercutio Does Verona" story I know of, this is a dark look at a Mercutio who is very much a product of dystopian post-apocalyptic Verona, with some interesting looks at other characters as well (particularly Julia's Nurse, who is sharply perceptive and absolutely has Mercutio's measure). Some consent issues may apply.

( Excerpt )

Seven Sins

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Mercutio/Tybalt
Length: 7869 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: drcalvin | drcalvin
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

This is a gorgeously lyrical and complex exploration of both Tybalt and Mercutio's backstories, highlighting both their similarities and the fundamental differences that make them hate each other. I particularly love this take on Tybalt's possible relationship with religion, as well as the vicious banter between Tybalt and Mercutio (the hatesex is hot, too). As a bonus there are also some gorgeous illustrations of young Tybalt and Mercutio by Atov.

( Excerpt )

Pinning moths with slabs of stone | illustrations by Atov

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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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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 | 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

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing: Lady Capulet/Lord Capulet
Length: 2220 words
Author on LJ | Tumblr: drcalvin | drcalvin
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

Lady Capulet is one of the best-developed characters in this version of canon, but even so there are many questions to answer about her. Was her marriage always a mess? What motivates her fixation on marriage as the solution to Julia's problems, when it clearly didn't solve hers? What's going on under all that brittle, fragile beauty?

In this layered little backstory, drcalvin tries to answer some of those questions, painting a picture of a Lady Capulet who is neither wholly unlikable nor wholly sympathetic, while foreshadowing both the disintegration of her marriage and her rather weird relationship with her nephew Tybalt.

( Excerpt )

Becoming Lady Capulet

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Pairing/Characters: Mercutio, Benvolio, Romeo (more or less bring your own subtext)
Length: 1240 words
Author on Tumblr: pantalaimons
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read:

One of the most interesting things about the Hungarian production of this musical is the relationships between Mercutio, Benvolio, and Romeo, which take on different flavors according to the actors. The scene this story takes as its starting point is set right after the Capulet ball, when Mercutio mockingly flirts with Romeo and Benvolio in turn—but how much is mockery and how much is flirtation is hard to say—and it's based on the younger second cast interactions.

Here Pantalaimons has written a layered story full of poor communication, ambiguity, the bitter ache of unrequited love, and under it all the sense of impending doom foreshadowed by the title. Pantalaimons has a great feel for blending Shakespearean language with references to the musical.

( Excerpt )

Brontide

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Fandom: RÓMEÓ ÉS JÚLIA
Characters: Mercutio, Tybalt
Length: 700 words
Author on Tumblr: bro-stoevsky
Author Website: fic on AO3
Why this must be read: Prompt is: "Mercutio meets Tybalt in a bar during Carnival" -- and literally that is it plus a bewildered bartender trying not to get knifed.

What makes Mercutio Mercutio in any version of Romeo and Juliet is his biting, sometimes bitter wit. Although this story is short (as are many of the stories in this tiny fandom, we're not big on epics just yet), acaramelmacchiato packs an incredible number of layers into the simple scenario of two enemies encountering each other in a bar.

The language is gorgeous and clever, the verbal sparring enormously fun, and the deeper hints at the relationship between the characters intriguing. The ambiguity of the setting--is it historical? modern? space Verona? echoes the ambiguity of the show's production design. If you're only familiar with the original Shakespeare play, you may still enjoy this one.

( Excerpt )

Nothing but a gloomy theme

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Hi, I'm carmarthen and this month I'll be doing recs for the tiny-but-could-be-bigger fandom Rómeó és Júlia, the post-apocalyptic aesthetic, fire and leather Hungarian version of the French musical based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (whew)!

Don't worry--you don't need to know Hungarian (subtitles are available) and this is Romeo and Juliet for people who don't normally like Romeo and Juliet (as well as those who do)!

I'll give a quick run-down, since most people are probably familiar with the basic plot, and then spread out my handful of recs through the rest of the month. The plot summary will be a bit spoilery, but if you've been exposed to the Western literary canon at all you're probably already spoiled--most of what makes this production unique is in the aesthetic and character details, not in major plot changes. In fact, if you're not specifically familiar with this production, you may still enjoy much of the fic (although I highly recommend watching it, of course).

Rómeó és Júlia

Beautiful Verona greets you:
Don't get between me and my revenge!

Like the original Shakespeare play, Rómeó és Júlia is the story of a Verona torn by senseless violence. In this version, however, there's no Lord Montague, and while Lord Capulet seems ready to make peace, the ladies of the two houses are not--nor are the younger generation, who roam the streets in gangs despite the edict of the Prince against fighting. Romeo and Julia, of course, meet and fall in love against the wishes of their families--but love isn't enough to save them from the violence around them. Everything ends in fire and death, except in fanfiction, where fix-it AUs and sex are a more common outcome.

We're destined for hell and we'll all burn,
but heaven awaits Romeo and Julia.
( Read more... )

This is, tragically, my last musical theater rec for the month--I'm about to head out of town for the holidays, and Internet access will be sporadic (although I'll see what I can do for the Drive-In next Friday). It's been a pleasure sharing these new and old favorites with all of you this month. Happy holidays!

Fandom: Musical Theater / Chess
Pairing: Freddie/Florence, Anatoly/Florence
Length: 1500 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: "I Adjust" is a sharp-eyed character study of Florence, her flaws and successes, and the way she adapts to restarting her life over and over. Come for the rendering of her relationships with Anatoly and Freddie--each layered and distinct--and stay for the brutally honest look into Florence Vassy. Mardy has a clear understanding of these characters, and it shows.

( Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss, but between them, as often as not, it's a change of subject. )

I Adjust

Fandom: Musical Theater / Chess
Pairing: Freddie/Florence, Anatoly/Florence
Length: 262 words
Author on LJ: find_rightbrain
Author Website: Maybe There's a Light That's Always On

Why this must be read: As with yesterday's recommendation (and actually by the same author), this fic deals with the ongoing magnetism between Freddie and Florence even as she pulls away. "In the Blue Light of the Flame," an old favorite of mine, deals with the aftermath of Anatoly's departure, and considers how Florence deals with what comes next for her. It's a short entry but a headcanon-worthy one, and the author absolutely nails both characters.

( It would be so easy to go back... )

In the Blue Light of the Flame

Fandom: Musical Theater / Chess
Pairing: Freddie/Florence, Anatoly/Florence
Length: 262 words
Author on LJ: find_rightbrain
Author Website: Maybe There's a Light That's Always On

Why this must be read: There's something long-term and abiding in Florence and Freddie's relationship. It's pretty clear by "Nobody's Side" why she would want to leave him, but you don't end up having "taken shit for seven years" without a reason. In almost no space, this fic gets right to that contradiction, as well as the fundamental differences in the way the two champions treat her. There's not necessarily a better or worse, just a quiet respect for what Florence and Freddie had.

Together and Apart

Fandom: Musical Theater / Chess
Pairing: Gen, really, though I suppose it could be Anatoly/Freddy if you squinted enough, and there are references to canon pairings
Length: 50 one-sentence drabbles
Author on LJ: chicafrom3
Author Website: fandomfrom3

Why this must be read: Most Chessfic focuses on individual characters, or on Florence's relationship to the Russian or to the American. So it's refreshing to see fic like "Things I Didn't Want To Know," which focuses on the relationship between the two champions, as adversaries in chess and romance, and the grudging respect that grows between them over the years. This particular story is told through a series of one-sentence snippets out of chronological order--which turns out to be less confusing than it sounds, and just the right way to tell this particular iteration.

( Checkmate. )

Things I Didn't Want To Know

Fandom: Musical Theater / Rent
Pairing: Mark/Roger, Mark/Maureen, Roger/April, Roger/OFCs
Length: <2K words
Author on LJ: thinkatory
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: Mark/Roger doesn't technically exist in Rent canon, and it lacks much of the subtext-rapidly-becoming-text of, say, Magneto and Professor X. Yet Mark/Roger is probably the dominant pairing in the fandom. And in spite of the fact that both characters spend the entire show pining after women (Roger/Mimi is really the main plot), it works. In "Addictions," thinkatorypaints a rich picture of the layered relationship between our boho boys. Vaguely dark and sex-ridden without being explicit, this fic builds a plausible bridge between canon and fanon. It's frank and raw, and the bits of filmmaking jargon go a long way.

( Roger is destroying himself with heroin, yet drinks Diet Coke. Mark finds it funny. )

Addictions

Happy Crossover Day!

Fandom: Musical Theater / Rent crossover with The West Wing
Pairing: Gen (background Josh/Donna)
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: At FFN

Why this must be read: Roger Davis and Josh Lyman walk into a bar. Is that not reason enough?

Seriously, though, this one-shot is actually a fairly worthy look at the gap between the good-hearted, well-intentioned D.C. types (I promise, they do exist outside of fiction) and the people they mean to help but never quite do. PythonFan has an intimate knowledge of both fandoms, and it shows. Roger is right on the money here--rife with potential and apathy--and if Josh seems a little nicer than usual, we can chalk it up to the influence of his Midwestern spouse. This fic was written well before most people had heard the name Barack Obama, but the author even manages to bring the clear (and partially intentional) parallels betwene our President and Matt Santos to bear.

( Mark was out running around somewhere with his camera, trying get film of Santos for some nefarious purpose. )

Reality in 21st Century Bohemia

Fandom: Musical Theater / Rent
Pairing: Mark/Maureen, Roger/April, Benny/Alison
Length: <4K words
Author on LJ: thinkatory
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: Rent is an amazing show, and the world and characters it builds feel real, whole, and complete. But because of that, and because the show only documents a year in their lives, there are so many unanswered questions about what came before.  How did they get here? In "Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor," thinkatoryconcocts what's more or less my headcanon, starting with April's suicide and following our boho boys (and Maureen) as things start to unravel and set the stage for Mark's deciding, "From here on in, I shoot without a script." The characterizations are spot-on, from Maureen's larger-than-life presence, to Collins' role as the lone adult in the room, to Benny's fading out. And the Mark-Roger (though not Mark/Roger, in this story) relationship is every bit as unyielding and intact as it needs to be for Roger to muddle through the hell of addiction, withdrawal, and recovery. The story isn't always pretty, but it may as well be true.

( He set up the reel. He turned the projector on. )
Scenes from the Cutting Room Floor

Fandom: Musical Theater / Wicked
Pairing: None
Length: ~ 2.5K words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: Wicked is an interesting study in fandom. Despite major divergences between the universes of the book and musical, it's usually taken as a single fandom, with fic writers picking and choosing which aspects of which canon they prefer. "Silent Prayer" is rooted in the book-verse, and probably wouldn't make a ton of sense to a reader only familiar with the musical. But it's a good read nonetheless, and its kinder outlook is certainly more in line with the show's portrayal of the Thropp sisters. This fic is nominally a look at Elphaba observing Nessarose over the years while considering her own role as the older sister, but in the process, the future Wicked Witch reveals quite a bit about herself.

( Elphaba found it rather sad, the first time she had seen her baby sister attempt to crawl against their splintering wooden floor, chin against the ground as she scraped forward on her knees. )

Silent Prayer

Fandom: Musical Theater / Next to Normal
Pairing: Natalie/Henry
Length: ~1K words
Author on LJ: violacoye
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: This fic not only captures Natalie's character--dead-set on a track she's less than certain of, desperate for something to change--but it also does so in a tone so perfect for her. From Natalie's tryst with Henry to her talking to Gabe and interactions (or lack thereof) with her parents, Mimi finds a post-finale progression that is absolutely my head-canon now.

( Mom's not around to fuss over him--what she thought was him--so it's easier to not hate him. )

Spin This World Around

Fandom: Musical Theater / The Last Five Years
Pairing: Jamie / various OFCs
Length: ~1K words
Author on LJ: seekingferret
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: I haven't seen a lot of L5Y fic out there, but if there were to be a full-fledged fandom, I imagine there would be quite a lot of angst, with maybe some "Goodbye Until Tomorrow" fluff mixed in. This fic is neither of those things. It's a quicky, funny look at Jamie's utter lack of success having "Shabbos dinners on Friday nights / with every Shapiro in Washington Heights." You can imagine why he's been waiting for someone like Cathy, with dates like these.

( Jessica Shapiro looks like all the rest. )

Jamie and Every Shapiro in Washington Heights (And One Shiksa Goddess)

Fandom: Musical Theater / In The Heights
Pairing: Benny/Nina
Length: ~500 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: How could you listen to a song like "Sunrise" or "When You're Home" and not hope these two crazy kids can find a way to make it work? It's true Benny and Nina have a few things working against them--not the least of which is the considerable physical separation of Washington Heights and Palo Alto--but MiraMira makes you believe they'll go the distance (literally and otherwise).

( Everyone says long-distance relationships don't last. Apparently no one told them that Nina Rosario is going to change the world. )

Change the World

Fandom: Musical Theater / Hair
Pairing: Sheila/Berger (/Claude in the background)
Length: Short, five-things
Author on LJ: phlogistics
Author Website: At FFN

Why this must be read: Post-finale, the Tribe passes through the five stages of grief. Told mostly from Sheila's perspective, this fic finds a series of small moments that add up into something real, and certainly give the Tribe the sense of cohesion and family it has in canon. Sheila's characterization is spot-on, and the writing is vivid and poetic without being wordy.

( Sheila picks up on the third ring. )

Grief

Fandom: Musical Theater / Company
Pairing: Bobby/various
Length: ~1K words
Author on LJ: nestra
Author Website: At AO3

Why this must be read: In this great take on the classic five-things meme, nestraconsiders the potential outcomes of Bobby's marrying Susan, Sarah, Jenny, Amy, or Joanne. Given the considerations of "Someone is Waiting," the author teases out short but detailed looks into lives unlived--not all of which are sad, but each of which has its own little tragedy hidden in there somewhere. As Amy reminded Bobby, "You need to marry somebody. Not some body." 

( Think what we can keep ignoring )

Marry Me a Little (Five Women That Bobby Never Married)

Fandom: Musical Theater / A Chorus Line
Pairing: None
Length: 7,773 words
Author on LJ: beatrice_otter
Author Website: At FFN, Dreamwidth, and AO3

Why this must be read: A textured, emotional look at the aftermath of the auditions. The friendship between Diana and Paul feels real, and, most importantly, the author ties the heart of A Chorus Line--the love and need to dance--into the heart of the story.

“They’re waiting for the X-rays,” the receptionist said. “Are you his girlfriend?” She looked Diana up and down, frowning.

“No,” Diana said, raising her chin and refusing to be intimidated. “I’m his best friend.”

“Oh,” the receptionist said. She glanced around the near-empty waiting room, as if trying to find someone else to pawn Diana off on. “Well, I suppose I could show you where he is.”

Diana bit her tongue and followed.

The Beat Goes On

 (Mods, we need some serious musical theater tags!)

Musical theater fandom is an interesting animal. Like any entertainment genre, its topics and themes are as varied as human experience. What’s curious, though, is that Broadway nerds like me often tend to just enjoy musical theater, period, whether it’s the Gothic gore of Sweeney Todd, the feel-good brightness of Hairspray, or the madcap history lesson of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Despite a range of musical styles and diverse modes of storytelling, musical theater somehow lends itself to a comprehensive fandom of sorts.

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( The Contemporary Favorites )
 
( The Big Two )
 
( Fandom Support! )