i am just a dreamer wearing sensible shoes

I can not believe I haven't posted recs since August. What happened to when I did them every Friday? Also? This has some self-pimping in it, 'cause I'm not ashamed to do shit like that.

Crossover
Burn Notice/Supernatural

Smoke On the Water by ratherastory Gen.

Whoever these two guys were, they weren't FBI. They were doing a pretty convincing imitation of Feds, but there was something about the way the two of them moved that belied the act. They moved in synch with each other, which pointed to a long-standing partnership, but if they were Bureau then they wouldn't have been together for more than a year, maybe two at most, and that wasn't nearly enough to account for the unspoken communication I could feel coming off them. Besides, the FBI isn't in the habit of pairing up new agents: it's one rookie and one experienced agent, to prevent screw-ups.

It was Page who gave them away, although I doubt anyone other than a trained operative would have spotted it. Plant was the decoy, all swagger and good looks and loud-mouthed questions, but Page was sizing up the room, sizing me up, and within about ten seconds I saw he'd planned all their escape routes and spotted the pistol I was carrying.

Fake!RPS/Merlin

Pairing Pendragon/Merlin meta-fic, *hysterical* and quite moving too. 80K. Merlin pursed his lips. It was a lot, but he’d read White (fuck he loved White) and it wasn’t like he was actually going to do his coursework. Well, he’d do enough, but the lure of fic was way too much. And it was technically practise. Can’t do a degree in editing without editing something, and he’d much rather edit the sexy adventures of his fictional namesake than his actual Uni work, which had rather different mistakes, a lot less romance, and definitely no porn.

He dismissed the idea that he was ignoring Pendragon’s comment (and if he could surround it in little hearts, he would. He’d already screencapped it for posterity.). He wasn’t avoiding, or ignoring, or anything else -ing. He was participating (shit, that was an -ing) in fandom. And meeting people. And stopping being such an NNF that he got seven responses to anything he posted if he was lucky. Guinevere80 wrote hot knights slash and got a decent comment count; he was fortunate

The Vampire Diaries/Supernatural

untitled by ignipes Gen. Meta-fic Dean fills Sam in on why they can't go to Mystic Falls. HYSTERICAL

Fringe

13 Ways of Looking at a Betrayal by rivkat Olivia, Olivia/Peter. I bet you I've read this half a dozen times already. "Liv," her sister says, and Olivia closes her eyes, wishing that she could cross the distance between Boston and Chicago as easily as she can (now) swap realities. "Are you trying to excuse him, or condemn him?"

Rachel only vaguely understands what's happening, but she seems to have accepted 'identical replacement' for now.

Olivia sighs. "A little bit of both?" she says, missing the old telephone cords that you could twist during your uncomfortable conversations. "Anyway, I should go. Give Ella my love."

"Always," Rachel says.

Harry Potter

The Best Revenge by Arsinoe de Blassenville Teen. Gen. One of the most enjoyable HP fics I've read in years. The author goes right back to the beginning and asks the question, 'what would have happened if Snape saw Harry's Hogwarts letter addressed to the cupboard under the stairs. In this fic, Harry is HAPPY. Adults take care of children. The Heads of House are intelligent, witty, capable, and AWESOME.


A Muggle-born Magic Draco/Hermione Regency AU. Hermione Granger finds herself in need of a way to pay off her father's debts after his death. Draco Malfoy, retired from the politics of the Isolationists, a group of pure-bloods bent on separating 'true' magic from lesser folk, finds himself in need of a tutor for his son, Scorpius, who appears to be incapable of magic and must learn to survive in a world without it. Draco also needs a wife and mother for Scorpius, to satisfy a promise to his unwell father. After she saves his son from an attack by Isolationists, Draco hires the Muggle-born Miss Granger for the former, and after a riot in Vauxhall Gardens and a scandalous discovery made by his mother, weds that selfsame Muggle-born for the latter. While making the best of her marriage of (in)convenience, Hermione discovers that Scorpius' history of wild imaginings and dreams is more than just imagination.
Luther

Single White Female Alice Alice lived at home during university and grad school. Her parents weren’t as smart as her, but they weren’t stupid enough to let their child live with a bunch of coeds and no real adult supervision. So by the time she turned eighteen, Alice was desperate to get out. She found a flat and grad student to share it with and told her parents she was moving out. They could pay for it. Or they could pay for it. Their choice.

They chose to pay for it.


Make It Or Break It

by escritoireazul Also for me for Yuletide, also perfect. Emily, Payson, Gen. Sort of, Emily agrees, and she nods. But sort of, too, she thinks Payson is wrong. Because sometimes, what happens off the mat, that’s such a huge deal too. Like, she’s good and she’s getting better, but would she have been good enough for the Rock if she’d come out of another elite gym and not from the Y? How much of her story is the reason she’s here now, struggling to make the National Team? Can she really separate that from whatever talent she has?

Her story makes her Emily, and Emily is the one with that all-important skill. If it’s just about the moves, just about the technical skill, is Emily all important too?

Those thoughts make her head hurt. She puts them aside to deal with later.


RPS

The Doors of Time by felisbalnco Jensen/Jared ultimately NC-17. This is without a doubt, one of the finest AUs I have ever read, if not the best. The world building is truly astounding.

Sons of Anarchy

A Study of Courtly Love in Leather and Chrome by escritoireazul This was written for me for Yuletide. It is Tara and Tig and Courtly Love and it is perfect. Picture, if you will, the tableaux: The dark-haired beauty who will inherit the throne and rule beside her prince; all who cross her shall look on her and despair. Kneeling before her, head bowed, the knight who cannot bear to stand one moment more now that he has returned to his most beloved. Her hand, so delicate, outstretched to brush her fingertips against his hair.

She is no princess, this woman, but a doctor brave and true, and he no knight in shining armor.


The Good Wife
Vid

Shove It by bop_radar Kalinda Character study. Bop Radar is one of my favorite vidders and this vid is exceptional even by her standards.

Fic

Justitia's Hermes by turnonmyheels Cary character study I wrote for Yuletide. What? I think it's awesome. Life hasn't worked out the way Cary planned. He is going to rectify that as soon as he can. Spoilers through 2.08



The Vampire Dairies

Vids

Addicted by butterfly Damon gorgeous vid, beautiful visually. it can't help it though, because the actors are so fucking stunning

Dot Dot Dot by silviakundera Damon and Stefan awesome. funny. shiny

Run Fast by gigglemonster Caroline Forbes from beginning through the last aired episode, my notes read: fucking awesome, just like Caroline

Fic

Don't Hold It Against Me by smc_27 Adult. Caroline/Tyler "Stop avoiding me!" she hisses. He rolls his eyes like she's just the needy girl she was...until recently. "Tyler, this is..."

"Look, you saw me cry, okay?" he whispers, looking around to make sure no one can hear them. There's not even anyone else around. "It's not cool."

"It's fine!" She smiles and he narrows his eyes. "I cry all the time."

"You're a girl."

"So? Who cares? I just...I could...We could help each other." She shrugs one shoulder and looks at him, and he tilts his head and shakes it just slightly.

Yes, she's just given him the admittedly adorable look that has always, always gotten her her way.

"You're evil," he tells her. She actually laughs and he cracks a bit of a smile. "Fine. Whatever."

He walks away and she texts him before he's even at the end of the hall. She hears him whisper, "Goddamn," and laughs. When he turns to look at her, she just taps her ear and giggles when he looks totally confused.

She'll have to explain all that to him later.

The Fine Art of Poisoning by turnonmyheels NC-17 Damon/Katherine, Stefan/Katherine, Stefan/Katherine/Damon. In the Spring of 1864, Katherine Pierce poses as an orphan to gain entry to the Salvatore estate in Southern Virginia. She captivates the household with her beauty and charm. She has everyone under her thumb with one exception, Stefan Salvatore. Determined to seduce him without using compulsion, Katherine decides to use Stefan's only obvious weakness against him—his brother. Pitting the brothers against each other quickly becomes more than a game, turning into full-on obsession as Damon requires no compulsion and little seduction to corrupt his younger brother. As the triangle shifts and the body count rises, no one will remain unscathed.

Lame Ducks Don't Do Well as Parental Figures by badboy_fangirl. Jenna Sommers. The next time Jenna sees Andie, she's got this beautiful silk scarf tied around her neck in this abnormally stylish way and Damon Salvatore's hanging on her arm. Jenna gives herself a silent high five as she watches them nuzzling each other in a booth; that is until she turns around and sees the look on Elena's face.

Some days she'd rather be lame than parental at all, really. It's only on this day that she realizes she's both.

Like a Dog With a Bone by eenaangel PG-13 Caroline/Tyler “Tyler Lockwood is following me,” she says in lieu of a greeting, or an apology. She glares at Damon like this is his fault-because even though they get along a bit now, she still likes blaming shit on him. It’s easier than having to find the actual responsible party and it soothes her ego to slap him around when the memories of his abuse resurface and she’s trapped in a haze of anger and bloodlust.

Stefan and Damon share an ominous vampire look that must be something they inherited from their father, because she can never look that serious/frustrated/amused/worried without also looking constipated (so she’s trying out her vampire looks in the mirror-she doesn’t really need to sleep as much and sometimes she gets bored). Stefan wanders over to the windows, peers through the blinds, and then gives Damon a grave nod.

“And you led him here,” Damon rolls his eyes, but doesn’t lose that amused light in his eyes. “Thanks Blondie.”

No Claim On You by summerstorm Gen. Caroline Forbes This one time they're having coffee together outside, a couple of weeks into spring weather, and Bonnie says, "So how are you dealing with, you know, the cravings?"

She's halfway through a sip so that it looks almost casual, the way her voice is soft and she looks all concerned and stuff, so Caroline spouts off some crap about the tricks she's learned to quell her thirst when it gets dangerous, and thanks Bonnie for asking.

It's kind of awkward, because she doesn't want Bonnie to freak out or think Caroline thinks Bonnie supports vampirism as a rule now, which means she can't say what she actually means, which is Thanks for asking like you're concerned about how I'm doing instead of like you're a criminal profiler trying to predict a serial killer's next move.

But it's not glaringly obvious in a bad way, she doesn't think. She just points out that what she's saying is kind of personal, as an apology, but Bonnie reads it as an accusation and says, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

Not Your Rosalie Hale by iphignia939 Gen. Caroline Forbes

”Because it was safer if you didn’t know,” Elena says.

”But I wasn’t,” Caroline says – not rude or anything, because she gets it, now. She still thinks people messing with her head, like, once a week is messed up, but there are some things you don’t remember and stay the same. Like that nurse at the hospital. No one wants to remember being someone else’s salad bar. “Damon used me like a salad bar that gave blowjobs, and there was this dark-haired lady, and Stefan made me forget that night when he slipped me vervain to mickey Damon. I wasn’t safer. I was just stupider.”

And oh, man, now Elena’s crying. “I’m sorry!” Caroline says, waving her hands. “I mean, I’m not, really, because I’m not wrong, but I’m sorry I said it that way—“

”No,” Elena says, sniffling. She wipes at her eyes. “You’re not wrong. And – it’s kind of nice, actually, to know you’re still you. Only Caroline Forbes could say that that way.”

“Well, duh.” She shrugs. “I’m still me. I’m just bitey.”

The Pitchfork Play (Not) Its Part Well by havocthecat PG. Liz Forbes The vervain clears its way out of Liz's system in three days.

Throw Yourself From Skin to Skin by turnonmyheels Adult. Damon screws (with) Mystic Falls, episode by episode. Damon is a vampire. There will be death, rape, torture, sex, bloodplay, etc.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Alaric regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. He’d known better than to make small talk with Damon since the moment he met him.

“I’m sure Isobel is all ‘My darling girl, I can’t believe I let you go. Please come closer so I can drink your blood.’” Damon rolled his eyes and stared at Alaric. “And then Elena says, ‘No! You can’t drink my blood, but I’d like to get to know you, you’re my mother after all.’”

Alaric leaned back against Damon’s car and kept his eyes on The Grill. “Forget I said anything.”

“Generally speaking, I can’t even remember you exist much less your inane excuse for banter.”

The absurdity of the statement forced a chuckle from Alaric. “You are so full of shit.” Damon huffed out a noncommittal sound. “Seriously, you’re always, ‘Let’s go kill something, teacher!’ You can’t keep your hands off my weapons, you stalk me through town at any given opportunity, and now that my not exactly dead vampire wife is in town you’re shadowing every step I make.”

Damon kept his eyes on the entrance to The Grill and didn’t speak.

“I think you like me.” Alaric didn’t bother to hide the dopey grin on his face. “I think you want to be” -- he nudged Damon with his elbow and clasped both hands together in front of his heart -- “friends.”

Chuck

Occupational Hazards by recrudescence and nakeno. Porn battle Chuck/Casey entry -- FABULOUS Chuck voice

Dune

Twice Born But Unknown by Merfilly. Duncan Idaho character study. FOR ME!!

Hayt //Duncan, I am Duncan// stared across the rolling dunes of the deserts, trying to sort through who and what he was in full. Was he the man that the Beast Rabban had made in murdering a couple and hunting their son? Was he the famed Swordmaster of Ginaz, last of a dying breed in so many ways, chosen by Duke Leto Atreides to teach his young son Paul how to survive in a deadly empire? Was he the man that had gone into the desert and found the Fremen, kindred in spirit to him in ways he had not fully grasped until Leto made him a man of two masters? What was he, now?

Harry Potter

The Man Who Lived by chase820 Chase has finished another book in TMWL verse. If you wait for this story in chunks, now is the time to pick it back up again. Rating: NC-17 for sex, language, violence, and adult situations.

Warnings: In the interest of suspense, I don't give detailed warnings. Read at your own risk. Volume III: Desire and All the Sweet Pulsing Aches

February, 2002. As the situation in Postwar England becomes more dire, Harry becomes more unstable. The other Aurors are tasked with keeping him out of trouble, but the bulk of the work falls to Draco. How far is he willing to go to save Harry? How far will Harry push the situation? While they struggle to define their complex relationship, old secrets threaten their future and that of everyone close to them.

Harry Potter Crossover with Labyrinth

I Wish the Goblins Would Come by marginaliana. Gen

As Hermione read through it, her feelings of skepticism grew. When she got to the end, she tossed the book down on the table in disgust.

Pure snorkack dung, she thought. Goblin king. It's just like something Luna would make up. Anyway, if the goblins had a king, especially some super-powerful magical king, I don't see why they'd submit to the indignities that the Ministry has perpetrated on them.

She paused. Then again, her eyes were drawn back to the ornate cover of the book. There had been something utterly sincere about the text, a feature which she'd found to be rather characteristic of the most bizarre situations the wizarding world had to offer. Luna's been right about a couple of things. I suppose it might be true.

RPS

Counting the Steps to the Door of Your Heart by annella JA/JP, NC-17. The one where Jensen has the Dalek costume. SERIOUSLY funny.

Jensen keeps his Dalek costume in the corner of his room, next to the computer desk. He tells people it's there because it doesn't fit in his closet, or because the arms are useful for hanging stuff on, but the real reason is to test people out. He's still waiting for someone to see it and say, 'Cool, a Dalek costume!' instead of, 'what the hell is that?' but he's sure it will happen eventually. It's a truly awesome costume. Jensen had to have it custom-made, because most Dalek costumes are either completely lame or only available in children's sizes. But it was totally worth the extra expense, and it even has a voice modulator inside it so he can say EXTERMINATE with that awesome Dalek reverb.

Sex Corpverse Master Post by epeeblade NC-17. Jensen/about everybody. BDSM. Probably not for everyone, but I LOVE it. The world building especially. Great universe.

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles

Vid

DLZ by bop_radar In a word, stunning.

Fic

Seven Sunday Mother-Daughter Mornings by hradzka Catherine and Savannah Weaver. Gen. Brilliant.

"They say you look really young." Her mother didn't change expression. Savannah hadn't expected her to. "Some of them wonder if it's plastic surgery. Botox injections. That new nano thing." Savannah hesitated, then plunged ahead, to make sure her mother understood. "They say it's like you haven't aged a day in ten years."

"I see," said Catherine.

"They're not looking for much," said Savannah. "Maybe some wrinkles around your eyes, your mouth. A couple of gray hairs. Stuff like that." She shrugged, and took a bite of omelet onto her fork. "I always say it's good genes."

"Maybe you'll have them, too, when you grow up."

"Maybe."

Southland

Son is on a Midnight Run Like DeNiro by hackthis Cooper/Ben. NC-17. She says it's the fic she's most proud of. I can certainly see why. It's PERFECT.

And as soon as John stops laughing his ass off, he's going to make sure Sherman is okay. He really is. Except that Sherman's covered in carrot peelings and wilted lettuce and there's some orange sauce on his left sleeve, and oh god, John's lung capacity isn't prepared for this.

More Hackthis Cooper/Ben that's pure porn Sticky Fingers

Star Trek Reboot

Lunch and Other Obscenities by rheanna27 PG-13. Nyota liked her roommate just fine until she met her. The main dish is Uhura & Gaila friendship, with a tasty side order of Spock/Uhura
"The light was green," Nyota said, aware that was a conversational non sequitur, but past the point of caring.

Gaila's hands went still as she seemed to realize, for the first time, that all was not completely well. "Well... yes."

"Green," Nyota repeated. "Did you want me to walk in on you having sex?"

"Not especially," Gaila said, sounding puzzled. She frowned. "Are you annoyed we didn't ask you to join us? You know, I would have, except I'm a little pushed for time tonight."

Supernatural

I fell in love in Hell, and it is simply so distressing by rivkat R. Dean/Castiel

Castiel tilts his head. “When will I earn your trust, Dean? Will you require me to Fall?”

Dean struggles in silence for a minute. It is nothing for Castiel to wait, but Dean’s face is tight with discomfort. He blinks rapidly and his mouth twitches, half-formed protests discarded before they can be spoken. Even when he tries to close himself off, Dean is so open. His brother considers it a weakness, which is perhaps the primary reason that Castiel does not expect this cycle to end well for Sam. At last, Dean sighs. “You told me how to save Sam from Lilith. I—I appreciate that.”

Castiel shifts his weight, coming half a step closer. “Is that all that you feel for me?”

Not a lot of recs. I looked back yesterday and realized that my weekly recs slowly changed to bi-weekly and then spaced out further to once a month. I almost didn't rec today but I've made recs at least once a month going on a few years now and didn't want to break my streak.

CWRPS

The harder you come, the further you fall by moosesal NC-17 Sophia Bush/Chad Michael Murray, guest appearance by Jared Padalecki. Warning: Het? Pegging, ass-to-mouth, dirtytalk. Oh wait, some of us don't think of those as warnings ... *g* Sal says Possibly the dirtiest thing I've ever written. I'm kinda proud of that.

She should be.

Gossip Girl

Judge Not by bigboobedcanuck NC-17 but at its heart it's Chuck/Eric friendship.

Perfectly Chuck. And Eric. But most especially perfect Chuck

Gone With the Wind

No Gentlemen by solvent90 Adult. Rhett Butler/Ashley Wilkes. \o/\o/\o/ *seriously*

Harry Potter

Three Heroes by nishizono R Severus Snape/Draco Malfoy. *perfect*

"I always thought your hands would be cold," Draco whispered, bowing his head. The back of his neck was dotted with fine white hairs that shone like strands of glass in the lamplight. And Severus understood, for the first time in his life, what it felt like to be utterly seduced.

Torchwood

Acquaint Me With Your Fuck-Ups by paperclipbitch PG-13 Ianto, Suzie & everyone else [Jack/Suzie, Owen/Suzie, Ianto/Lisa, slight Jack/Ianto]. Suzie schemes to get Ianto hired.

This is the closest to a perfect Suzie voice that I have read. The character insights are spot-on, the fic is dark like Torchwood should always be, and absurd like Torchwood always is.

---

I need a new icon for reccing. ::anime eyes::

Buffy

The Substitute by snowpuppies PG Buffy/Faith 300 perfect words. I ache for Faith. Always.

Firefly

Like Describing the Alphabet by mosca NC-17 Mal/Jayne Completely in character. Perfectly executed. Totally organic. And the voices. goh shu (I made that up, I have no idea if it's the right phrase or not) the voices. This is fic to be *savored*

And my own secret, I read this fic and clicked on the feedback button, but the link was broken so I've been too lazy to tell Mosca how much I loved it. Hopefully, she'll see this and know. If not I may have to email her.

Gossip Girl

wherever you go, wherever you run by kaitoujeanne Chuck/Blair/Nate NC-17

He went to Paris looking for questions to answers that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive savin the world on his own. But the warm summer breezes, the french wines and cheeses put his ambition at bay. The summers and winters, scattered like splinters, and four or five years slipped away

Oh wait. I'm sorry, that was a Jimmy Buffett song. Oops. I realize I'm probably the only person in the world that would think of this song during and after reading this fic, but there you have it. It's AWESOME.

Iron Man, movie

A Small and 100% Innocent Token of Gratitude by svilleficrecs NC-17, Tony/Pepper Lovely fic, banter is *just* right, plus toe-sucking!!

Real People Fiction, BBC

Close Your Eyes and Think of England by sam_storyteller PG. David Tenant discovers fanfic. After he recovers, John Barrowman and Gareth David Lloyd introduce him to RPS. His head just *might* explode.

Torchwood

Flipping With A Coin That’s Got A Tail On Either Side by paperclipbitch PG-13 Gen/Het Owen/Martha, Owen, Martha Owen and Martha keep in touch. Sad, gorgeous fic, with phenomenal dialog