someday, today, this day
Getting back, for a moment, to multi-fandom gloriousness.
Bertie Wooster, Cryptographer, or The Code of the Woosters, Redux!
Jeeves and Wooster by lucylou
Alternative story-telling. Jeeves and Wooster communicate though code, and various and sundry fun is had. A sweet denouement, as well. This is one of the coolest story structures I have seen in a long time. I do so like it when Bertie gets to be clever, and Jeeves is the one running frantically. Also, it's incredibly gorgeous, more of a collage of awesome than a straight-up story. I just, lack words.
Learn to Speak Canine in Seven Easy Steps
Due South by etcetera_cat
Dief's machinations, and there is nothing in that phrase which does not delight me. Spiky-Ray and Fraser need to have sex, clearly. A unique narrative, and it is so incredibly cleverly written that I am falling over myself here. If the idea of Dief voice, and how he actually talks to Fraser does not delight you beyond all reason, I am hopeless. Dief is totally everyone's favourite character, and let us frolic in love for him, and his clever way of getting Fraser and Ray to hook up.
"Are you okay? Things still Twilight Zoneish with Lex?"
"We're talking Bradbury territory. Worlds ending. That kind of thing."
"You'll work it out. Lex and Clark--it's like peanut butter and jam. Sticky, but sweet, and it never grows old."
When a Strawberry is Pushed into a Mountain
Smallville by thamiris
I love this story an unhealthy amount. Clark has to read a poem, and he is not sure what to do. Luckily, several things are resolved, not in the least Lex and Clark's fascinations, with, respectively, Clark and Lex. Eee. Hot as all heck, funny, a deeply-involved plot, and lots of drama. Just, I lack words to even suggest how cool this is. Not only is there hot sex, there's lots of character building, well-developed secondary characters, and hilarious dialog on everyone's part. It's the rare story that lets you figure out the mysteries for yourself, but subtly, so that you don't need to be entirely wrapped up in the mythos. Also, this was one of the first stories in this fandom that I read, and shortly thereafter, I had several encounters with the Beats, and I had a serious blushing thing going on, because, goodness, my English teacher is talking about something that is so clearly porn I cannot deal! And the poem is integral to this, and lovely, and excellent. Oh, I also have a suggestion about what not to do, aside from think about this in class. Do not listen to Salt n Pepa's "Push It" on repeat while reading, no matter how fitting it may be.
a clark/lex epic of staggering genius
Smallville by runpunkrun and wearemany
When I was in eighth grade, my favourite book was A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. I got it as a "sorry I didn't show up last week" present from my father, and I carried it around for weeks, until I dropped it in the bath. Then, I promptly found a new favourite book, as this one had to dry for a while. Anyway, there is abiding love for this kind of post-modern cleverness. And now, you can appreciate in handy Clark/Lex format, with footnotes, composite conversations, and Lex's consciousness. Admittedly, it makes more sense if you've read Eggers' book, but I do not think there is anyone out there who has not, and if you are among those unlucky few, read it now, although nothing, not even lack of knowledge about canon, can impinge your enjoyment of this. Shutting up now; I am confusing.
Scenes from a Lesser War
Stargate: Atlantis by amific
I like to imagine this bridges the gap between the two themes in this rec set, but that is empty flattery, even for me. So, I won't do that. The US military reverses the rule that causes so much trouble, also known as "that ill-judged attempt" or, alternatively, Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Which, while not outside of the realm of possibility, is terrific here, for we have it in the context of an emerging, and maybe not transitory, Sheppard/McKay relationship. I have nothing but adoration for this, even though I generally just don't get these two, it really works. I also lack words to properly describe how this not only does it make me happy on principle, but to watch the plot unfold, and the way it does so, reversing with flashbacks, and running a straightfoward narrative over it, makes me positively gleeful. I just cannot put into words my adoration.
I have no idea about TS, but I love me some mailing-list formatted fic, and okay, see, it's nice to leave shiny!new bandfic for a few moments and reflect upon our shared fannish heritage. Or something. Read action sequences and porn, more like. Those are awesome-cakes, so onwards.
Scorpions
The Sentinel/Stargate SG-1 by Ladyra
Aw! Alternate realities, Jim and Blair, crazy demons that will make you screech over the Highlander reference, Jack and Daniel, cool alien technology, sex, people being annoying as an autonomic reaction, and adventure! This is a short list of the things I love about this fic. Crossover, and yes, they could use Sentinels on offworld missions, true! Everyone gets together in the end, and man, there's action and sex and cool desert sequences, oh it's neat! It's also made me kind of incoherent!
"Don’t let me dork out, okay?"
"Given the company we’re in, I doubt if anyone would notice. An archaeologist, an astrophysicist, an alien first officer-"
"Spock," they mouthed at the same time and grinned.
"And an Air Force colonel with five pages of awards and honors." Even as quickly as things had happened, Jim had managed to get a background check done on both Jack and Daniel. "We’re talking some serious dork power here. If anyone should be worried about not fitting in, it’s me."
Scavenger Hunt
The Sentinel/Stargate SG-1 by DL Witherspoon
GAH! Ahah, I love this. Stargate/The Sentinel crossover, gen with hints of various pairings, but generally good fun. They have a chance to be considered as the "Fifth Race" a concept that got bandied about in the earlier seasons, but that has been forgotten by canon and fandom. Here, it returns with a delightful vengance. There's a race on, and with the help of our favourite dynamic duo from Cascade, SG-1 is going to make something of itself, on the interplanetary political level. Admittedly, more focused on Jim and Blair than SG-1, but a totally sweet story, nonetheless. They have to adjust to each other, solve problems, beat the bad guys, and come out ahead. It is not clearly resolved at the end, but I love it because of that.
Jim looked at him, his expression faintly puzzled. "Think about it. He's all alone, worried about his sanity, trying to research some kind of terrible -- ability, something -- that he doesn't understand and I will swear to you, doesn't want either, on the run from a military organization that I also guarantee is only interested in his strategic importance -- Sandburg, if you hadn't found me when you did, that would be me in there."
No. Not ever, not in a million years, Blair thought. But what he said was, "I hear you, man, I really do. Now I want you to hear me. This is the way I see Daniel. This guy's probably been way too brilliant for his own good his entire life. A few years ago he decided to step out of academia and he thought all those smarts would be enough to see him through. They weren't. So whether he screwed up or was just unlucky, the world has turned out to be bigger and scarier than he ever thought, and now it's too late for him to go back to the place where he could be more than just a cog in the military machine. I think I'm still angry at him for turning his back on his real gifts, but mostly, I just feel sorry for him. Either way, he's not our problem."
Jim smiled then, but it was an expression as sad as one of Daniel's. "Chief," he said, and reached out to pat Blair's face, "Do you even hear what you're saying? He could be you."
Lovely
The Sentinel/Stargate SG-1 by Martha
Ohmygoodness. I am sorry to use such a long quote, but it illustrates something cool, and the story is so long, you need to get a feel for it. I know, long, super-plotty, and generally amazing. A darker view of the mixing of these two universes. What with Daniel's penchant for addiction to alien drugs and Jim's problem with drugs at all, this sort of thing was bound to happen. Creepy and scary, all the way though, even with moments of levity. Roughly, the plot runs as such: Daniel, lost and more than a little crazy, happens across some very bad guys. Blair and Jim try to save him, in a frantic run for the Canadian border. Things get really complicated when Jack, Sam and Teal'c show up, and suddenly, it's a series of unsure alliances, but even scarier enemies. Of course, it all takes place on a snowy Christmas Eve/Day, which only heightens the pathos, especially when Daniel and Jim are running from an as-yet-unspecified enemy.
I really liked how Jim and Blair, so used to adjusting to utterly crazy things, freak out when confronted with the Stargate Program and aliens. Of course, anyone with half a brain would do exactly that, but their freak-outs are scary, because you know, with every passing minute, that danger is edging closer, although it's not the danger they expect. The Devil you don't, and all that. Jim is particularly excellent here, because he's brave, and totally in Army Ranger mode, but at the same time, so definitely vulnerable, and he clearly needs Blair, and Daniel, to help him out, although they certainly contributed to him getting in trouble in the first place. Blair is fun too, because even as things start to get really creepy, he's ready to charge in, and protect people, even if he doesn't like them very much; perhaps, especially if he doesn't like them very much.
This has a solid blending of the two universes: neither group of characters gets bashed or marginalized in favour of the other group. I like that in my crossover fiction, it is all too-rare. Sam and Teal'c are well-drawn, supportive and important, even as the action centers around Daniel and Jim. Of course, I would amiss if I did not talk about Jack here. Without being slashy, he is absolutely the rock that Daniel needs, and the great thing about this story is that Daniel figures that out. Friendship, yay.
I don't want to give away the really good bits, because so much of this story relies on the unsure nature of what will happen next, like any good mystery. I advise setting aside an afternoon to read this; about an hour will get you though the story, and you'll spend the next several huddled under your bedcovers, crying and chanting: "Oh, Blair. Oh, Jim. Oh, Daniel. Oh, Jack. Oh, greater Cascade area. Oh, Daniel." And you will be a wreck. Or, at least, that's what I do. That, admittedly, is what I do fairly often, especially, say, after watching "The Light" or, actually, many things. I am weak, okay?
Bertie Wooster, Cryptographer, or The Code of the Woosters, Redux!
Jeeves and Wooster by lucylou
Alternative story-telling. Jeeves and Wooster communicate though code, and various and sundry fun is had. A sweet denouement, as well. This is one of the coolest story structures I have seen in a long time. I do so like it when Bertie gets to be clever, and Jeeves is the one running frantically. Also, it's incredibly gorgeous, more of a collage of awesome than a straight-up story. I just, lack words.
Learn to Speak Canine in Seven Easy Steps
Due South by etcetera_cat
Dief's machinations, and there is nothing in that phrase which does not delight me. Spiky-Ray and Fraser need to have sex, clearly. A unique narrative, and it is so incredibly cleverly written that I am falling over myself here. If the idea of Dief voice, and how he actually talks to Fraser does not delight you beyond all reason, I am hopeless. Dief is totally everyone's favourite character, and let us frolic in love for him, and his clever way of getting Fraser and Ray to hook up.
"Are you okay? Things still Twilight Zoneish with Lex?"
"We're talking Bradbury territory. Worlds ending. That kind of thing."
"You'll work it out. Lex and Clark--it's like peanut butter and jam. Sticky, but sweet, and it never grows old."
When a Strawberry is Pushed into a Mountain
Smallville by thamiris
I love this story an unhealthy amount. Clark has to read a poem, and he is not sure what to do. Luckily, several things are resolved, not in the least Lex and Clark's fascinations, with, respectively, Clark and Lex. Eee. Hot as all heck, funny, a deeply-involved plot, and lots of drama. Just, I lack words to even suggest how cool this is. Not only is there hot sex, there's lots of character building, well-developed secondary characters, and hilarious dialog on everyone's part. It's the rare story that lets you figure out the mysteries for yourself, but subtly, so that you don't need to be entirely wrapped up in the mythos. Also, this was one of the first stories in this fandom that I read, and shortly thereafter, I had several encounters with the Beats, and I had a serious blushing thing going on, because, goodness, my English teacher is talking about something that is so clearly porn I cannot deal! And the poem is integral to this, and lovely, and excellent. Oh, I also have a suggestion about what not to do, aside from think about this in class. Do not listen to Salt n Pepa's "Push It" on repeat while reading, no matter how fitting it may be.
a clark/lex epic of staggering genius
Smallville by runpunkrun and wearemany
When I was in eighth grade, my favourite book was A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius. I got it as a "sorry I didn't show up last week" present from my father, and I carried it around for weeks, until I dropped it in the bath. Then, I promptly found a new favourite book, as this one had to dry for a while. Anyway, there is abiding love for this kind of post-modern cleverness. And now, you can appreciate in handy Clark/Lex format, with footnotes, composite conversations, and Lex's consciousness. Admittedly, it makes more sense if you've read Eggers' book, but I do not think there is anyone out there who has not, and if you are among those unlucky few, read it now, although nothing, not even lack of knowledge about canon, can impinge your enjoyment of this. Shutting up now; I am confusing.
Scenes from a Lesser War
Stargate: Atlantis by amific
I like to imagine this bridges the gap between the two themes in this rec set, but that is empty flattery, even for me. So, I won't do that. The US military reverses the rule that causes so much trouble, also known as "that ill-judged attempt" or, alternatively, Don't Ask/Don't Tell. Which, while not outside of the realm of possibility, is terrific here, for we have it in the context of an emerging, and maybe not transitory, Sheppard/McKay relationship. I have nothing but adoration for this, even though I generally just don't get these two, it really works. I also lack words to properly describe how this not only does it make me happy on principle, but to watch the plot unfold, and the way it does so, reversing with flashbacks, and running a straightfoward narrative over it, makes me positively gleeful. I just cannot put into words my adoration.
I have no idea about TS, but I love me some mailing-list formatted fic, and okay, see, it's nice to leave shiny!new bandfic for a few moments and reflect upon our shared fannish heritage. Or something. Read action sequences and porn, more like. Those are awesome-cakes, so onwards.
Scorpions
The Sentinel/Stargate SG-1 by Ladyra
Aw! Alternate realities, Jim and Blair, crazy demons that will make you screech over the Highlander reference, Jack and Daniel, cool alien technology, sex, people being annoying as an autonomic reaction, and adventure! This is a short list of the things I love about this fic. Crossover, and yes, they could use Sentinels on offworld missions, true! Everyone gets together in the end, and man, there's action and sex and cool desert sequences, oh it's neat! It's also made me kind of incoherent!
"Don’t let me dork out, okay?"
"Given the company we’re in, I doubt if anyone would notice. An archaeologist, an astrophysicist, an alien first officer-"
"Spock," they mouthed at the same time and grinned.
"And an Air Force colonel with five pages of awards and honors." Even as quickly as things had happened, Jim had managed to get a background check done on both Jack and Daniel. "We’re talking some serious dork power here. If anyone should be worried about not fitting in, it’s me."
Scavenger Hunt
The Sentinel/Stargate SG-1 by DL Witherspoon
GAH! Ahah, I love this. Stargate/The Sentinel crossover, gen with hints of various pairings, but generally good fun. They have a chance to be considered as the "Fifth Race" a concept that got bandied about in the earlier seasons, but that has been forgotten by canon and fandom. Here, it returns with a delightful vengance. There's a race on, and with the help of our favourite dynamic duo from Cascade, SG-1 is going to make something of itself, on the interplanetary political level. Admittedly, more focused on Jim and Blair than SG-1, but a totally sweet story, nonetheless. They have to adjust to each other, solve problems, beat the bad guys, and come out ahead. It is not clearly resolved at the end, but I love it because of that.
Jim looked at him, his expression faintly puzzled. "Think about it. He's all alone, worried about his sanity, trying to research some kind of terrible -- ability, something -- that he doesn't understand and I will swear to you, doesn't want either, on the run from a military organization that I also guarantee is only interested in his strategic importance -- Sandburg, if you hadn't found me when you did, that would be me in there."
No. Not ever, not in a million years, Blair thought. But what he said was, "I hear you, man, I really do. Now I want you to hear me. This is the way I see Daniel. This guy's probably been way too brilliant for his own good his entire life. A few years ago he decided to step out of academia and he thought all those smarts would be enough to see him through. They weren't. So whether he screwed up or was just unlucky, the world has turned out to be bigger and scarier than he ever thought, and now it's too late for him to go back to the place where he could be more than just a cog in the military machine. I think I'm still angry at him for turning his back on his real gifts, but mostly, I just feel sorry for him. Either way, he's not our problem."
Jim smiled then, but it was an expression as sad as one of Daniel's. "Chief," he said, and reached out to pat Blair's face, "Do you even hear what you're saying? He could be you."
Lovely
The Sentinel/Stargate SG-1 by Martha
Ohmygoodness. I am sorry to use such a long quote, but it illustrates something cool, and the story is so long, you need to get a feel for it. I know, long, super-plotty, and generally amazing. A darker view of the mixing of these two universes. What with Daniel's penchant for addiction to alien drugs and Jim's problem with drugs at all, this sort of thing was bound to happen. Creepy and scary, all the way though, even with moments of levity. Roughly, the plot runs as such: Daniel, lost and more than a little crazy, happens across some very bad guys. Blair and Jim try to save him, in a frantic run for the Canadian border. Things get really complicated when Jack, Sam and Teal'c show up, and suddenly, it's a series of unsure alliances, but even scarier enemies. Of course, it all takes place on a snowy Christmas Eve/Day, which only heightens the pathos, especially when Daniel and Jim are running from an as-yet-unspecified enemy.
I really liked how Jim and Blair, so used to adjusting to utterly crazy things, freak out when confronted with the Stargate Program and aliens. Of course, anyone with half a brain would do exactly that, but their freak-outs are scary, because you know, with every passing minute, that danger is edging closer, although it's not the danger they expect. The Devil you don't, and all that. Jim is particularly excellent here, because he's brave, and totally in Army Ranger mode, but at the same time, so definitely vulnerable, and he clearly needs Blair, and Daniel, to help him out, although they certainly contributed to him getting in trouble in the first place. Blair is fun too, because even as things start to get really creepy, he's ready to charge in, and protect people, even if he doesn't like them very much; perhaps, especially if he doesn't like them very much.
This has a solid blending of the two universes: neither group of characters gets bashed or marginalized in favour of the other group. I like that in my crossover fiction, it is all too-rare. Sam and Teal'c are well-drawn, supportive and important, even as the action centers around Daniel and Jim. Of course, I would amiss if I did not talk about Jack here. Without being slashy, he is absolutely the rock that Daniel needs, and the great thing about this story is that Daniel figures that out. Friendship, yay.
I don't want to give away the really good bits, because so much of this story relies on the unsure nature of what will happen next, like any good mystery. I advise setting aside an afternoon to read this; about an hour will get you though the story, and you'll spend the next several huddled under your bedcovers, crying and chanting: "Oh, Blair. Oh, Jim. Oh, Daniel. Oh, Jack. Oh, greater Cascade area. Oh, Daniel." And you will be a wreck. Or, at least, that's what I do. That, admittedly, is what I do fairly often, especially, say, after watching "The Light" or, actually, many things. I am weak, okay?