Yuletide recs post #2
Still reading about somewhat randomly. Which is fun.
Max Beyond (1610 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Batman Beyond
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maxine Gibson, Terry McGinnis, Dana Tan
Summary: Max's thirtieth birthday went exactly how she wanted. Okay, not the KOBRA goons. But ice cream. Which she used to beat up some Jokerz. And there was hot chocolate with chili powder in it.
Rec notes: Max! ♥ Delightful fic that showcases Max being awesome.
Max spun the tote over and under and whapped the goon clown in the back of the head. She considered, and rejected saying, “You’ve been creamed.” or “I creamed him.” or “Feel free to scream for ice cream.” Because she was classier than that.
Birth of a Lioness (1567 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Batman Beyond
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mary McGinnis, Matt McGinnis, Barbara Gordon
Summary: Six months after Terry started working for Mr. Wayne the second time, Commissioner Gordon brought Matt home from school.
Rec notes: Mary McGinnis' perspective on Batman. Heartclenchy and spot-on.
When Mary McGinnis was still Mary O’Connell, she used to tie her bath towel around her neck and run around the apartment screaming, “I am Batman.” Her gray kitten was famed jewel thief Catwoman, and her goldfish was the Killer Croc.
Down the Shore Everything's All Right (3532 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hawaii Five-0 (2010)
Rating: Mature
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Steve McGarrett/Danny "Danno" Williams
Characters: Steve McGarrett, Danny "Danno" Williams, Kona | Kono Kalakaua (2010), Grace Williams, Rachel Williams
Summary: There's a better than average chance that Danny is getting crazier by association -- and he wouldn't change it for the world (although he could do without the head injuries, thanks).
Rec notes: Well done h/c. Adorable and a tiny bit heartclenchy, with a terrific Danny voice and Steve/Danny interaction.
He'd meant that to be reassuring, but Steve's expression just goes blank in a way that says, more than anything, that this has been eating at him.
And Spring is Coming Soon (5106 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Winter's Bone (2010)
Rating: Not Rated
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ree Dolly/Gail
Characters: Ree Dolly, Gail (Winter's Bone)
Summary: Ree starts learning the shape of her life now, and discovers how Gail can fit into it.
Rec notes: Lovely and restrained follow-up to the movie.
She wanted so much for someone she loved not to be ground down to dust by the machinery of the world. It was the great hope of her life that Sonny and Ashlee might yet escape it, might be able to build lives that wouldn't crush their souls. But Gail had always seemed uncrushable to Ree, and Ree had always been certain she would escape intact into the rest of her life.
Independence Wars (3164 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: West Side Story (1961)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maria (West Side Story), Bernardo (West Side Story), Anita (West Side Story)
Summary: "If you had all that here, why would you want to go back to Puerto Rico?"/"Oh, even if you didn't have all that here, why would you want to go back there?"
Rec notes: Vivid backstory on Maria and her family that puts West Side Story in a historical context.
Maria spent her first five months in America learning English and assuming the Jets were made-up fairytale monsters. The stories Bernardo told her reminded her of her mother's stories of La Llorona.
Status: Surviving (1103 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Walking Dead (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Glenn
Summary: Two weeks before the world ended, Glenn had finally gotten on Facebook. [Post episode 6, with spoilers.]
Rec notes: Terrific Glenn voice, grounded and real with details that capture the feel of the tv series.
Maybe it would never be the world of Facebook and IMAX and SUVs and game systems again, but at least they would be safe; at least they'd have some sort of life.
Building Shelters (3003 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Friday Night Lights
Rating: Explicit
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tim Riggins/Julie Taylor
Characters: Tim Riggins, Julie Taylor
Summary: How to create a bond behind the scenes (or: three times Tim and Julie don't get together, and one time they do).
Rec notes: Believable, a little bit sweet and a little bit melancholy.
He asks about her father, about her classes, about Matt. They talk softly, and he brightens up when she bickers with him a bit. It's like being in a bar a few months ago, she tries to reason. The setting doesn't have to change who they are.
Till human voices wake us, and we drown (1834 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
Rating: Mature
Warning: Major Character Death
Relationships: Maxim de Winter/Rebecca de Winter
Characters: Maxim De Winter, Rebecca de Winter
Summary: They say the sea will claim its own in the end.
Rec notes: Fantastically haunting and atmospheric perspective on Maxim and Rebecca's relationship.
Her favourite story as a child had been the tale of the Lost City of Ys, the most beautiful city in the world until it disappeared one night beneath the rushing waves. Some said it had never existed; others that a woman's folly had hastened its end. Rebecca wondered if it had not been folly at all, but an innate sense that perfection was fleeting.
Marie of Roumania (7132 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Nanny
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Niles/CC Babcock
Characters: CC Babcock, Niles, Maxwell Sheffield, Sara Sheffield
Summary: Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Roumania.
-- "Comment" by Dorothy Parker
Rec notes: Delightfully spot-on voices, and bitingly funny. How Niles met CC, and the early development of their particular...whatever it is they have.
Niles didn’t look up from the laundry he was folding on the couch. “Why would you willingly attend your own execution?”
CC grabbed the pillowcase from his hand and shoved it over his head. “Stuff it, Downy Fresh.”
Synchronized Swimming (3008 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Moonlighting (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: David Addison/Maddie Hayes
Characters: David Addison, Maddie Hayes
Summary: "You know, you really should think about getting some clothes more appropriate for surveillance, Ms Hayes. Something in black, like a cat burglar would wear. Or something in black latex, like Catwoman would wear."
Rec notes: Banter! Utterly delicious UST! Banter! Unexpected moments of genuine emotion and jokes about the 4th wall and David sings.
"I'm not giving you my underwear, Addison."
Max Beyond (1610 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Batman Beyond
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maxine Gibson, Terry McGinnis, Dana Tan
Summary: Max's thirtieth birthday went exactly how she wanted. Okay, not the KOBRA goons. But ice cream. Which she used to beat up some Jokerz. And there was hot chocolate with chili powder in it.
Rec notes: Max! ♥ Delightful fic that showcases Max being awesome.
Max spun the tote over and under and whapped the goon clown in the back of the head. She considered, and rejected saying, “You’ve been creamed.” or “I creamed him.” or “Feel free to scream for ice cream.” Because she was classier than that.
Birth of a Lioness (1567 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Batman Beyond
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mary McGinnis, Matt McGinnis, Barbara Gordon
Summary: Six months after Terry started working for Mr. Wayne the second time, Commissioner Gordon brought Matt home from school.
Rec notes: Mary McGinnis' perspective on Batman. Heartclenchy and spot-on.
When Mary McGinnis was still Mary O’Connell, she used to tie her bath towel around her neck and run around the apartment screaming, “I am Batman.” Her gray kitten was famed jewel thief Catwoman, and her goldfish was the Killer Croc.
Down the Shore Everything's All Right (3532 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Hawaii Five-0 (2010)
Rating: Mature
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Steve McGarrett/Danny "Danno" Williams
Characters: Steve McGarrett, Danny "Danno" Williams, Kona | Kono Kalakaua (2010), Grace Williams, Rachel Williams
Summary: There's a better than average chance that Danny is getting crazier by association -- and he wouldn't change it for the world (although he could do without the head injuries, thanks).
Rec notes: Well done h/c. Adorable and a tiny bit heartclenchy, with a terrific Danny voice and Steve/Danny interaction.
He'd meant that to be reassuring, but Steve's expression just goes blank in a way that says, more than anything, that this has been eating at him.
And Spring is Coming Soon (5106 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Winter's Bone (2010)
Rating: Not Rated
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ree Dolly/Gail
Characters: Ree Dolly, Gail (Winter's Bone)
Summary: Ree starts learning the shape of her life now, and discovers how Gail can fit into it.
Rec notes: Lovely and restrained follow-up to the movie.
She wanted so much for someone she loved not to be ground down to dust by the machinery of the world. It was the great hope of her life that Sonny and Ashlee might yet escape it, might be able to build lives that wouldn't crush their souls. But Gail had always seemed uncrushable to Ree, and Ree had always been certain she would escape intact into the rest of her life.
Independence Wars (3164 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: West Side Story (1961)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Maria (West Side Story), Bernardo (West Side Story), Anita (West Side Story)
Summary: "If you had all that here, why would you want to go back to Puerto Rico?"/"Oh, even if you didn't have all that here, why would you want to go back there?"
Rec notes: Vivid backstory on Maria and her family that puts West Side Story in a historical context.
Maria spent her first five months in America learning English and assuming the Jets were made-up fairytale monsters. The stories Bernardo told her reminded her of her mother's stories of La Llorona.
Status: Surviving (1103 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Walking Dead (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Glenn
Summary: Two weeks before the world ended, Glenn had finally gotten on Facebook. [Post episode 6, with spoilers.]
Rec notes: Terrific Glenn voice, grounded and real with details that capture the feel of the tv series.
Maybe it would never be the world of Facebook and IMAX and SUVs and game systems again, but at least they would be safe; at least they'd have some sort of life.
Building Shelters (3003 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Friday Night Lights
Rating: Explicit
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Tim Riggins/Julie Taylor
Characters: Tim Riggins, Julie Taylor
Summary: How to create a bond behind the scenes (or: three times Tim and Julie don't get together, and one time they do).
Rec notes: Believable, a little bit sweet and a little bit melancholy.
He asks about her father, about her classes, about Matt. They talk softly, and he brightens up when she bickers with him a bit. It's like being in a bar a few months ago, she tries to reason. The setting doesn't have to change who they are.
Till human voices wake us, and we drown (1834 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
Rating: Mature
Warning: Major Character Death
Relationships: Maxim de Winter/Rebecca de Winter
Characters: Maxim De Winter, Rebecca de Winter
Summary: They say the sea will claim its own in the end.
Rec notes: Fantastically haunting and atmospheric perspective on Maxim and Rebecca's relationship.
Her favourite story as a child had been the tale of the Lost City of Ys, the most beautiful city in the world until it disappeared one night beneath the rushing waves. Some said it had never existed; others that a woman's folly had hastened its end. Rebecca wondered if it had not been folly at all, but an innate sense that perfection was fleeting.
Marie of Roumania (7132 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Nanny
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Niles/CC Babcock
Characters: CC Babcock, Niles, Maxwell Sheffield, Sara Sheffield
Summary: Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song,
A medley of extemporanea;
And love is a thing that can never go wrong;
And I am Marie of Roumania.
-- "Comment" by Dorothy Parker
Rec notes: Delightfully spot-on voices, and bitingly funny. How Niles met CC, and the early development of their particular...whatever it is they have.
Niles didn’t look up from the laundry he was folding on the couch. “Why would you willingly attend your own execution?”
CC grabbed the pillowcase from his hand and shoved it over his head. “Stuff it, Downy Fresh.”
Synchronized Swimming (3008 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Moonlighting (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: David Addison/Maddie Hayes
Characters: David Addison, Maddie Hayes
Summary: "You know, you really should think about getting some clothes more appropriate for surveillance, Ms Hayes. Something in black, like a cat burglar would wear. Or something in black latex, like Catwoman would wear."
Rec notes: Banter! Utterly delicious UST! Banter! Unexpected moments of genuine emotion and jokes about the 4th wall and David sings.
"I'm not giving you my underwear, Addison."