Fic recs (HP, ST, tennis RPS, Southland)
Happy birthday today to the lovely court1429 and tomorrow to the lovely hpuckle -- hope your special days are wonderful, ladies!
I don't know how so many fics have piled up around here, eep. I'm going to start with one from Southland, a fandom I know absolutely nothing about. It was recced a while ago by noeon, who said that it was amazing and worked well as original fic even if you have no idea who the characters are. She was right: it is and it does.
Son is on a Midnight Run Like DeNiro
or We're All Just Train Wrecks Waiting for the Crash by hackthis (John Cooper/Ben Sherman, NC-17, rimming)
This is all I know of Southland canon (and it's entirely from reading this story): John Cooper and Ben Sherman are partners on the Los Angeles police force. Specifically, Sherman is a rookie cop and Cooper is his training officer. (If, like me, you like having a visual image of the characters, you can see a picture of Cooper and Sherman here. Sherman is the one on the left.) By the end of this fic, I not only felt like I knew these two, but I absolutely loved them with all their quirks and flaws. This fic is long, satisfying, and beautifully written -- with lots of hot sex scenes. I think anyone who likes gay fiction should give this one a try. :-)
ETA: OMG, I just discovered that there is an absolutely filthy porny outtake to this fic: Sticky Fingers (NC-17 NC-17 NC-17)
More recs, cut for length...
HP FIC
Light Unshone by liadan14 (Charlie/Draco, R)
It's always a pleasure to find well-written fic for one of my favorite rare pairs, and this is a gem. It takes place right after book seven, when Charlie decides he wants to be closer to his family and moves back to Britain. (As a side note, one of my favorite things about this is that Charlie doesn't have to give up dragons in order to move back home. I always get depressed at fics where he does. *g*) I loved the slow, natural way his relationship with Draco develops, and there are wonderful cameos from Harry, Hermione, and various Weasleys.
ST FIC
Kitchen Consequential by withthepilot (Kirk/McCoy, Sulu/Chekov, Spock/Uhura, others, NC-17, AU)
This is the ensemble epic I didn't know I wanted to read. So good. It's an AU set in a New York restaurant, with most of the main characters as chefs (Spock is the maitre'd, Sulu is head waiter), and as soon as I started reading I knew I wouldn't be able to stop. (Yes, I inhaled 66,000 words in one sitting.) The author does a great job of developing multiple storylines and romantic relationships, and tying them together to show how important this whole group is to each other. I have a huge soft spot for the Kirk/McCoy part of this, of course, but I was rooting hard for the other ships as well. A wonderfully satisfying read. ♥
Becoming Whole by emiime (Sulu/Chekov, Sulu/Uhura, NC-17, potentially offensive language)
This is a romance, yes, and it has some hot smut, but at its heart this fic is to me about something many of us can relate to, which is coming to terms with a part of yourself that you don't like. Sulu's struggle with his sexuality feels so real here, and I love Chekov's calm strength in reaction to it.
Bring Your Jukebox Money by rubynye (Kirk/McCoy/Gaila, NC-17)
This is a sequel to Glitter on the Mattress (McCoy/Gaila), which is one of my favorite PWP ficlets, and Bring Your Jukebox Money is the porny coda I've always wanted. This Bones continues to be the most delicious thing since chocolate -- rubynye writes him so clearly with that pouty mouth and those sturdy thighs and that cranky grumble (yes, he attempts to grump even when he's in bed with two people as irresistible as Jim and Gaila, nnnnf). Pure, joyful hotness.
Fashioned with hands, and heart and song by re_white (Kirk/McCoy with shades of Pike/Kirk, PG-13)
This is one of the most original fics I've read so far in this fandom. It takes place almost entirely within the surreal landscape of Jim's mind, and it's a lyrical portrayal of memory and desire and everything that makes him who he is. This one left me thinking about it long after I was finished reading.
The Pilgrim Soul in You by thistlerose (Kirk/McCoy, Spock/Uhura, Spock Prime/McCoy Prime, PG-ish, death and a little blood/gore)
Oh, Bones. This is part gen/friendship fic, part love story, around the theme of "five times Leonard McCoy was there for someone who needed him, and one time someone was there for him." There are lovely, achy scenes here with his father, his daughter, Spock, Uhura and (of course) Jim.
for a boy, for a body in the garden by re_white (Pike/Kirk, Pike/McCoy, NC-17, grieving, implied character death)
I couldn't resist reccing another one from re_white because this one is so angsty and gritty and good. With Kirk gone, Pike and McCoy turn to each other. The last line is a killer.
Diplomacy 101: First, Try Asking Nicely by silverlining_99 (Kirk/McCoy, NC-17)
Spine-melting porn plus a declaration of love/commitment from Bones that gives me chills. And did I mention the porn?
I Still Love You, Girl From Mars by 1297 (McCoy/Uhura, PG-13)
This is a little gem of a ficlet with a last line that just went "click" in my heart. Perfect.
TENNIS RPS FIC
I Know What I Am And I'm Glad I'm A Man by adela80 (Roger/Rafa, R, crossdressing, infidelity)
This one left me aching. The author doesn't shy away from the messy reality of infidelity, the the conflicting emotions and the inevitable hurt feelings, and her writing is so sharp and vivid I felt like I was going through every scene along with the characters. Her Rafa broke my heart.
See something you like? Leave some love for the author!
I don't know how so many fics have piled up around here, eep. I'm going to start with one from Southland, a fandom I know absolutely nothing about. It was recced a while ago by noeon, who said that it was amazing and worked well as original fic even if you have no idea who the characters are. She was right: it is and it does.
Son is on a Midnight Run Like DeNiro
or We're All Just Train Wrecks Waiting for the Crash by hackthis (John Cooper/Ben Sherman, NC-17, rimming)
This is all I know of Southland canon (and it's entirely from reading this story): John Cooper and Ben Sherman are partners on the Los Angeles police force. Specifically, Sherman is a rookie cop and Cooper is his training officer. (If, like me, you like having a visual image of the characters, you can see a picture of Cooper and Sherman here. Sherman is the one on the left.) By the end of this fic, I not only felt like I knew these two, but I absolutely loved them with all their quirks and flaws. This fic is long, satisfying, and beautifully written -- with lots of hot sex scenes. I think anyone who likes gay fiction should give this one a try. :-)
ETA: OMG, I just discovered that there is an absolutely filthy porny outtake to this fic: Sticky Fingers (NC-17 NC-17 NC-17)
More recs, cut for length...
HP FIC
Light Unshone by liadan14 (Charlie/Draco, R)
It's always a pleasure to find well-written fic for one of my favorite rare pairs, and this is a gem. It takes place right after book seven, when Charlie decides he wants to be closer to his family and moves back to Britain. (As a side note, one of my favorite things about this is that Charlie doesn't have to give up dragons in order to move back home. I always get depressed at fics where he does. *g*) I loved the slow, natural way his relationship with Draco develops, and there are wonderful cameos from Harry, Hermione, and various Weasleys.
ST FIC
Kitchen Consequential by withthepilot (Kirk/McCoy, Sulu/Chekov, Spock/Uhura, others, NC-17, AU)
This is the ensemble epic I didn't know I wanted to read. So good. It's an AU set in a New York restaurant, with most of the main characters as chefs (Spock is the maitre'd, Sulu is head waiter), and as soon as I started reading I knew I wouldn't be able to stop. (Yes, I inhaled 66,000 words in one sitting.) The author does a great job of developing multiple storylines and romantic relationships, and tying them together to show how important this whole group is to each other. I have a huge soft spot for the Kirk/McCoy part of this, of course, but I was rooting hard for the other ships as well. A wonderfully satisfying read. ♥
Becoming Whole by emiime (Sulu/Chekov, Sulu/Uhura, NC-17, potentially offensive language)
This is a romance, yes, and it has some hot smut, but at its heart this fic is to me about something many of us can relate to, which is coming to terms with a part of yourself that you don't like. Sulu's struggle with his sexuality feels so real here, and I love Chekov's calm strength in reaction to it.
Bring Your Jukebox Money by rubynye (Kirk/McCoy/Gaila, NC-17)
This is a sequel to Glitter on the Mattress (McCoy/Gaila), which is one of my favorite PWP ficlets, and Bring Your Jukebox Money is the porny coda I've always wanted. This Bones continues to be the most delicious thing since chocolate -- rubynye writes him so clearly with that pouty mouth and those sturdy thighs and that cranky grumble (yes, he attempts to grump even when he's in bed with two people as irresistible as Jim and Gaila, nnnnf). Pure, joyful hotness.
Fashioned with hands, and heart and song by re_white (Kirk/McCoy with shades of Pike/Kirk, PG-13)
This is one of the most original fics I've read so far in this fandom. It takes place almost entirely within the surreal landscape of Jim's mind, and it's a lyrical portrayal of memory and desire and everything that makes him who he is. This one left me thinking about it long after I was finished reading.
The Pilgrim Soul in You by thistlerose (Kirk/McCoy, Spock/Uhura, Spock Prime/McCoy Prime, PG-ish, death and a little blood/gore)
Oh, Bones. This is part gen/friendship fic, part love story, around the theme of "five times Leonard McCoy was there for someone who needed him, and one time someone was there for him." There are lovely, achy scenes here with his father, his daughter, Spock, Uhura and (of course) Jim.
for a boy, for a body in the garden by re_white (Pike/Kirk, Pike/McCoy, NC-17, grieving, implied character death)
I couldn't resist reccing another one from re_white because this one is so angsty and gritty and good. With Kirk gone, Pike and McCoy turn to each other. The last line is a killer.
Diplomacy 101: First, Try Asking Nicely by silverlining_99 (Kirk/McCoy, NC-17)
Spine-melting porn plus a declaration of love/commitment from Bones that gives me chills. And did I mention the porn?
I Still Love You, Girl From Mars by 1297 (McCoy/Uhura, PG-13)
This is a little gem of a ficlet with a last line that just went "click" in my heart. Perfect.
TENNIS RPS FIC
I Know What I Am And I'm Glad I'm A Man by adela80 (Roger/Rafa, R, crossdressing, infidelity)
This one left me aching. The author doesn't shy away from the messy reality of infidelity, the the conflicting emotions and the inevitable hurt feelings, and her writing is so sharp and vivid I felt like I was going through every scene along with the characters. Her Rafa broke my heart.
See something you like? Leave some love for the author!