Twenty pieces of Awesome, countdown part 2
Alright, here's part 2!
#15- True Despair by Mahi-Mahi
Fandom: Bleach
Pairing: Ulquiorra/Orihime
Rating: M (seriously, very mature)
Summary: In your lost despair, it is my hope that binds me to you.
Why It's So Awesome: Most stories in this fandom humanize Ulquiorra too much. I get that he shows glimpses of emotion and morality, but he is not going to be happily eating cotton candy while riding a carousel. He's a hollow. That's just too far of a jump. This piece does none of that. It's brutal and heavy, full of angst and dark yearnings. It explores the psychology of stockholm syndrome with such sensuality (and sexuality) that it's almost overloaded. Almost. The smut in this piece is an natural overflowing of the story, rather than the converse, and the effect is breathtaking.
#14- Temperature by SkItZoFrEaK
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Shino/Tenten
Rating: K+
Summary: Shino probably just wasn’t in the habit of talking any more than necessary, but he was going to have to make an effort for her sake, Tenten decided.
Why It's So Awesome: This amazing author has some of the best Shino/Tenten fics out there. The epic, full-length work, The Middle Ground, takes the top place in every category for this pairing on ff.net (reviews, favs, follows). Temperature takes everything that was awesome about The Middle Ground and condenses it into three beautifully written chapters. The characterizations are spot-on and the balance of action and romance is perfect.
#13- Since Spring by NessieGG
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Neji/Tenten
Rating: T
Summary: Neji is driven to the brink of his sanity when his teammate disappears and is given an option. 'I can use a technique that will allow you to forget every memory you have of Tenten.'
Why It's So Awesome: My hubby spent a little over 5 years in the army, including a 1 year tour in Iraq when the fighting was at it's worst. This piece captures that worry, that gnawing feeling of being unsure, so perfectly that I remember crying when I first read it. What would you do if the one you loved most just vanished? Didn't die, because then you could at least have some closure, but just disappeared? I spent a year dealing with that possibility and this story is one of the few that I've read that does that struggle justice.
#12- Recent Photo by PSITeleport
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Shikamaru/Temari
Rating: T
Summary: What starts out as a normal, administrative operation turns into a rather stimulating game. But who will the real winner be?
Why It's So Awesome: It's sensual without being smutty. It's smart and clever and witty. It's well-written and SO in character. And honestly, it's just flat-out fun.
#11- She Loves by crazytreeotaku
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Gaara/Sakura
Rating: M
Summary: Sakura watches Gaara cut down his enemies like a scythe through so many stalks of grain. A strange short about a strange relationship.
Why It's So Awesome: This was the first ficlet that showed me the beauty of that type of writing style. To say anymore would be too much. Seriously, my comment can't be longer than the actual fic. Right?
This entry was originally posted at http://www.dreamwidth.org/12345.html. Please feel free to comment in either journal!
#15- True Despair by Mahi-Mahi
Fandom: Bleach
Pairing: Ulquiorra/Orihime
Rating: M (seriously, very mature)
Summary: In your lost despair, it is my hope that binds me to you.
Why It's So Awesome: Most stories in this fandom humanize Ulquiorra too much. I get that he shows glimpses of emotion and morality, but he is not going to be happily eating cotton candy while riding a carousel. He's a hollow. That's just too far of a jump. This piece does none of that. It's brutal and heavy, full of angst and dark yearnings. It explores the psychology of stockholm syndrome with such sensuality (and sexuality) that it's almost overloaded. Almost. The smut in this piece is an natural overflowing of the story, rather than the converse, and the effect is breathtaking.
#14- Temperature by SkItZoFrEaK
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Shino/Tenten
Rating: K+
Summary: Shino probably just wasn’t in the habit of talking any more than necessary, but he was going to have to make an effort for her sake, Tenten decided.
Why It's So Awesome: This amazing author has some of the best Shino/Tenten fics out there. The epic, full-length work, The Middle Ground, takes the top place in every category for this pairing on ff.net (reviews, favs, follows). Temperature takes everything that was awesome about The Middle Ground and condenses it into three beautifully written chapters. The characterizations are spot-on and the balance of action and romance is perfect.
#13- Since Spring by NessieGG
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Neji/Tenten
Rating: T
Summary: Neji is driven to the brink of his sanity when his teammate disappears and is given an option. 'I can use a technique that will allow you to forget every memory you have of Tenten.'
Why It's So Awesome: My hubby spent a little over 5 years in the army, including a 1 year tour in Iraq when the fighting was at it's worst. This piece captures that worry, that gnawing feeling of being unsure, so perfectly that I remember crying when I first read it. What would you do if the one you loved most just vanished? Didn't die, because then you could at least have some closure, but just disappeared? I spent a year dealing with that possibility and this story is one of the few that I've read that does that struggle justice.
#12- Recent Photo by PSITeleport
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Shikamaru/Temari
Rating: T
Summary: What starts out as a normal, administrative operation turns into a rather stimulating game. But who will the real winner be?
Why It's So Awesome: It's sensual without being smutty. It's smart and clever and witty. It's well-written and SO in character. And honestly, it's just flat-out fun.
#11- She Loves by crazytreeotaku
Fandom: Naruto
Pairing: Gaara/Sakura
Rating: M
Summary: Sakura watches Gaara cut down his enemies like a scythe through so many stalks of grain. A strange short about a strange relationship.
Why It's So Awesome: This was the first ficlet that showed me the beauty of that type of writing style. To say anymore would be too much. Seriously, my comment can't be longer than the actual fic. Right?
This entry was originally posted at http://www.dreamwidth.org/12345.html. Please feel free to comment in either journal!