Lydia's fic recs - Arashi only
You know how I don't read anything that is above PG-13, and how I don't read same-sex relationship fics?
Well, great fiction deserves exceptions.
I define great fiction as 'plausible premises, AU is accepted, a good command of the English language and a high level of punctuation and grammar use'. Characterisation should be a large factor as well, if I sense that the guys are out-of-whack to a point where I can't tolerate reading the fic, it's not on this list.
I'll do the same-sex ones first, just so you know. But subsequently they'll be sort of mixed in with the gen fics, as I update this list. Just look out for the pairing if you're really THAT uncomfortable. Don't worry, I understand :) I'm quite a prude myself.
The Nino Thing by
ant_power
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: If I had to choose a fic that is same-sex but is still within my comfort zone, as in I don't need to guard my heart nor my mind or wince about anything, this is my favourite and it wins hands down.
Yours, RamenLuver99 byprimroseshows
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: Refer to the above about what I said for
ant_power 's fic. This is my second favourite. Yes, my ichiban and niban. Hahaha.
Equilibrium bymaiaide
Rating: PG to R (multichaptered epic)
Pairing: Sho/Aiba, mostly, and then Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: This is something that shouldn't be classified as fanfiction, really. It's more original fiction, in my opinion, and Heather's done a great job researching everything. When you read it you'd be breathing and living the era that she's retelling (the age of feudal lords and samurai), and it really is nothing short of amazing. Please read it. You would never regret reading it.
Saudade, In That Certain Time and just a little further to your town by waxrose
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: This is my favourite set-in-the-future fic of all time. I like this even more than my own, and I LOVE my Great Big Family, don't get me wrong, but this, this is fantastic. I know the highlight is the relationship between Ohno and Nino, even though it's OT5 as well, and that sends conflict through my heart; but it's not great enough to tear my heart apart so it's all right. The relationship between Ohno and Nino was done very, very tastefully, and I seriously wouldn't have it any other way. And the greatest thing is - it isn't the ABSOLUTE highlight. The relationship is very important and is a central theme, yes, but throughout the universe you have a fantastic MatsuJun struggling with his own problems and Arashi just rally around, in their 30-something-year-old selves, to help each other live. It is absolutely safe to read and it is written very well. Please read this too. And read them in order! Saudade first. :P
Right Back to You by
vintage_belle
Rating: PG to R (multichaptered epic)
Pairing: Ohno/Nino, I guess? Rather fuzzy around the edges about same-sex, but bordering it all the same
Lydia's comments: This resembled Heather's Equilibrium in a certain sense - the old, this-era-has-passed feel - but it's totally different. This is AU, but I feel that it's a little historical, somewhat, maybe set in a place like England, perhaps in the early 1900s. That's the feeling I get from it. I can't describe it properly, but it's about bondage and slavery and being set free. That's the closest I can get to summarising it without quoting the whole fic.
Note: Work-in-progress as of 2009.03.12
This Might Have Been Easier Without the Death Ray by primroseshows
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: FANTASTIC college AU. The Ohmiya is just a distraction of sorts, really. The plot and the premise is so very fitting for Nino. It has this North American flavour to it that I'm very fond of, somehow. The sense of displacement really makes you engaged in the story. ACTION-PACKED AND WONDERFUL.
Ain't No Friend of Mine by primroseshows
Rating: PG
Pairing: Jun/Sho (okay, so Jun has a crush on Sho and it REALLY isn't same-sex PER SE, but it's still a boy liking a boy and it's cute, so there)
Lydia's comments: This has got to be my favourite Arashi-are-still-Juniors fic of all time. I constantly re-read it. It has so many funny lines, and so much characterisation. Very creative and very brilliant. Arashi are so young and juvenile - it's bliss.
Space by katzichan
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is THE best songfic I've ever read. It's based on Suga Shikao's 'Uchuu' and being a romantic myself, I can't help but love the mood of the fic. Listen to the song as you read it. It's a fantastic piece of Arashi love, and the greatest thing is that Aiba is the one speaking. It's lovely. Read it! It won't take up too much of your time, just about five minutes - as long as the song.
Missed Call and Flavor of the Week by youraddbuddy
Rating: G and PG
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: Two very short one-shots, dialogue-only pieces. Nothing short of brilliant. Well-delivered punchlines. You would laugh, really.
All Together Now by primroseshows
Rating: PG
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: No, Rose is not paying me for this fic recs post. I just happen to really like her fics, and she write quite a bit of OT5, which is my favourite genre, so go figure. All Together Now was the first fic I read from Rose, it sets Arashi in the future and it is exceedingly different from other set-in-the-future fics because of Rose's style. I won't give out spoilers, but I'll tell you that it's really good. It makes the Arashi friendship and dynamic so much more plausible. Rose tends to set up a premise and keep checking to the backstory frequently to establish the premise throughout the fic, and it's mighty brilliant. Other authors check to the backstory after a long scene, so it seems like a flashback, but for All Together Now it's not like that. I'm a media student so I tend to liken this to film, where the story 'cuts' instead of 'fades', so the impact is actually somewhat taking you by surprise. Both styles are great, but Rose pulls of the cutting really well.
Baby by maiaide
Rating: R (because of blood and cuss-words?)
Pairing: None (unless you count Sho/OC)
Lydia's comments: Heather needs to write proper humour, seriously. But this is so angsty that it's fantastic. I won't give it away for anyone, but it's about Sho having a baby and argh, it's so full of raw emotion and helplessness and Arashi gives him the unconditional support and it is excellent.
No Exit Signs by stardustlock
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is a fic that I would want to read again before I die. It is THAT good. It's a modern-day AU which, in my opinion, is very hard to pull off. Normally AUs are done in a different time, either in the past or in the future, but this is so current that it really impresses me. Oh, and Ohno works for the British government. I can't give out too many spoilers, but there you have it. Ha.
Note: Work-in-progress as of 2009.03.12
(untitled) by wingsonwords
Rating: PG (?)
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is one of the more ingenious crossovers that I've read - Yoiko no Mikata and Maou. I know, right? I was so surprised that they could even cross, but I really applaud the author for finding a link and working on it. It is very well-thought out, and is really one of the most creative - or maybe The Most Creative - drama crossovers I've ever seen in fandom.
Words by bclar
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is a very amazing little piece. Just a soliloquy that details Nino's understanding of words. The ending is so powerful, that if I hadn't been lying on my bed reading it I would have fallen off my chair.
Mizuhiki: Abstract Currents by
i_am_zan
Rating: G
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: I have no words. I HAVE NO WORDS. Okay, I have no words because this was more poetry than anything. It was like a song. I recommend it. HIGHLY.
JE AU Comment Ficathon of Doom ft. 'JE is actually Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory' by holdstheace
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: Have you read crack? Well, this is crack. And it's crack of the most fantastic kind. Please, give it a taste. XD
Created on: 12 March 2009
Updated on: 18 June 2009
Well, great fiction deserves exceptions.
I define great fiction as 'plausible premises, AU is accepted, a good command of the English language and a high level of punctuation and grammar use'. Characterisation should be a large factor as well, if I sense that the guys are out-of-whack to a point where I can't tolerate reading the fic, it's not on this list.
I'll do the same-sex ones first, just so you know. But subsequently they'll be sort of mixed in with the gen fics, as I update this list. Just look out for the pairing if you're really THAT uncomfortable. Don't worry, I understand :) I'm quite a prude myself.
The Nino Thing by
ant_power
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: If I had to choose a fic that is same-sex but is still within my comfort zone, as in I don't need to guard my heart nor my mind or wince about anything, this is my favourite and it wins hands down.
Yours, RamenLuver99 byprimroseshows
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: Refer to the above about what I said for
ant_power 's fic. This is my second favourite. Yes, my ichiban and niban. Hahaha.
Equilibrium bymaiaide
Rating: PG to R (multichaptered epic)
Pairing: Sho/Aiba, mostly, and then Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: This is something that shouldn't be classified as fanfiction, really. It's more original fiction, in my opinion, and Heather's done a great job researching everything. When you read it you'd be breathing and living the era that she's retelling (the age of feudal lords and samurai), and it really is nothing short of amazing. Please read it. You would never regret reading it.
Saudade, In That Certain Time and just a little further to your town by waxrose
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: This is my favourite set-in-the-future fic of all time. I like this even more than my own, and I LOVE my Great Big Family, don't get me wrong, but this, this is fantastic. I know the highlight is the relationship between Ohno and Nino, even though it's OT5 as well, and that sends conflict through my heart; but it's not great enough to tear my heart apart so it's all right. The relationship between Ohno and Nino was done very, very tastefully, and I seriously wouldn't have it any other way. And the greatest thing is - it isn't the ABSOLUTE highlight. The relationship is very important and is a central theme, yes, but throughout the universe you have a fantastic MatsuJun struggling with his own problems and Arashi just rally around, in their 30-something-year-old selves, to help each other live. It is absolutely safe to read and it is written very well. Please read this too. And read them in order! Saudade first. :P
Right Back to You by
vintage_belle
Rating: PG to R (multichaptered epic)
Pairing: Ohno/Nino, I guess? Rather fuzzy around the edges about same-sex, but bordering it all the same
Lydia's comments: This resembled Heather's Equilibrium in a certain sense - the old, this-era-has-passed feel - but it's totally different. This is AU, but I feel that it's a little historical, somewhat, maybe set in a place like England, perhaps in the early 1900s. That's the feeling I get from it. I can't describe it properly, but it's about bondage and slavery and being set free. That's the closest I can get to summarising it without quoting the whole fic.
Note: Work-in-progress as of 2009.03.12
This Might Have Been Easier Without the Death Ray by primroseshows
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: FANTASTIC college AU. The Ohmiya is just a distraction of sorts, really. The plot and the premise is so very fitting for Nino. It has this North American flavour to it that I'm very fond of, somehow. The sense of displacement really makes you engaged in the story. ACTION-PACKED AND WONDERFUL.
Ain't No Friend of Mine by primroseshows
Rating: PG
Pairing: Jun/Sho (okay, so Jun has a crush on Sho and it REALLY isn't same-sex PER SE, but it's still a boy liking a boy and it's cute, so there)
Lydia's comments: This has got to be my favourite Arashi-are-still-Juniors fic of all time. I constantly re-read it. It has so many funny lines, and so much characterisation. Very creative and very brilliant. Arashi are so young and juvenile - it's bliss.
Space by katzichan
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is THE best songfic I've ever read. It's based on Suga Shikao's 'Uchuu' and being a romantic myself, I can't help but love the mood of the fic. Listen to the song as you read it. It's a fantastic piece of Arashi love, and the greatest thing is that Aiba is the one speaking. It's lovely. Read it! It won't take up too much of your time, just about five minutes - as long as the song.
Missed Call and Flavor of the Week by youraddbuddy
Rating: G and PG
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: Two very short one-shots, dialogue-only pieces. Nothing short of brilliant. Well-delivered punchlines. You would laugh, really.
All Together Now by primroseshows
Rating: PG
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: No, Rose is not paying me for this fic recs post. I just happen to really like her fics, and she write quite a bit of OT5, which is my favourite genre, so go figure. All Together Now was the first fic I read from Rose, it sets Arashi in the future and it is exceedingly different from other set-in-the-future fics because of Rose's style. I won't give out spoilers, but I'll tell you that it's really good. It makes the Arashi friendship and dynamic so much more plausible. Rose tends to set up a premise and keep checking to the backstory frequently to establish the premise throughout the fic, and it's mighty brilliant. Other authors check to the backstory after a long scene, so it seems like a flashback, but for All Together Now it's not like that. I'm a media student so I tend to liken this to film, where the story 'cuts' instead of 'fades', so the impact is actually somewhat taking you by surprise. Both styles are great, but Rose pulls of the cutting really well.
Baby by maiaide
Rating: R (because of blood and cuss-words?)
Pairing: None (unless you count Sho/OC)
Lydia's comments: Heather needs to write proper humour, seriously. But this is so angsty that it's fantastic. I won't give it away for anyone, but it's about Sho having a baby and argh, it's so full of raw emotion and helplessness and Arashi gives him the unconditional support and it is excellent.
No Exit Signs by stardustlock
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is a fic that I would want to read again before I die. It is THAT good. It's a modern-day AU which, in my opinion, is very hard to pull off. Normally AUs are done in a different time, either in the past or in the future, but this is so current that it really impresses me. Oh, and Ohno works for the British government. I can't give out too many spoilers, but there you have it. Ha.
Note: Work-in-progress as of 2009.03.12
(untitled) by wingsonwords
Rating: PG (?)
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is one of the more ingenious crossovers that I've read - Yoiko no Mikata and Maou. I know, right? I was so surprised that they could even cross, but I really applaud the author for finding a link and working on it. It is very well-thought out, and is really one of the most creative - or maybe The Most Creative - drama crossovers I've ever seen in fandom.
Words by bclar
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: This is a very amazing little piece. Just a soliloquy that details Nino's understanding of words. The ending is so powerful, that if I hadn't been lying on my bed reading it I would have fallen off my chair.
Mizuhiki: Abstract Currents by
i_am_zan
Rating: G
Pairing: Ohno/Nino
Lydia's comments: I have no words. I HAVE NO WORDS. Okay, I have no words because this was more poetry than anything. It was like a song. I recommend it. HIGHLY.
JE AU Comment Ficathon of Doom ft. 'JE is actually Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory' by holdstheace
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Lydia's comments: Have you read crack? Well, this is crack. And it's crack of the most fantastic kind. Please, give it a taste. XD
Created on: 12 March 2009
Updated on: 18 June 2009