[ DCU, Highlander, House, HMC, KH ]
Notes/Babbling: ....yeah, it was only a matter of time before I braved the comic fandom waters again. And I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time before I run away screaming again. ^_~
Also. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Omg, I am ridiculously excited!
Series:
DCU - 9 Fanfics
Highlander - 1 Fanfic
House - 1 Fanfic
Howl's Moving Castle - 2 Fanfics
Kingdom Hearts - 1 Fanfic
- DCU/JL:TAS - C is for Coffee by mtgat and dotfic - I admit, this fic started out a touch slow and I wasn't sure it rang right for me. But by about a page into the fic, I was seriously ready to sparkle like a good fangirl at the authors. The parallels between Roy, Dick, Ollie, and Bruce were wonderfully done here, the authors did a fabulous job of not beating the comparisons/contrasts into our heads, it was never even commented on, it was just there. Roy and Dick's friendship compared to Ollie and Bruce's not!friendship, the way both interact with their mentors, the way some things are so damn similar and some things are completely different, all topped off with little moments of characterization that are brilliant. It's one of those fics that satisfies that craving for something solid and well-done in fandom, the kind of post-episode coda that actually accomplishes something. This is why I still go back to DC fandom. (No warnings/pairings.)
- DCU/Outsiders - Now We Are Twenty-Four by basingstoke - I have this love/hate relationship with the Roy/Dick pairing because it's something I really love a lot, but can't see as particularily serious. So very, very little fic in the fandom resonates with my view of the characters and when Noel pointed me towards this one... I'll grant that the shifting pov distracted me terribly at first, but by the end of it, I was squeeing a lot more than I was complaining. It's a good, solid take on the characters and, hell, I can't even fault the emo!Dick characterization because it works for the fic here and it's not like it's against character. The author doesn't stray into woobie love, instead it's this sort of... friendship with benefits territory, but not quite as casual as that makes it sound. It's a really good balance and Roy's got a couple of moments in this where I just loved him. There's a line where I have no idea if he's serious or just fucking around with Dick and it's perfect because Roy would so say that. (Roy/Dick, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
- DCU/B:TAS - I won't suffer, be broken by Merlin Missy - This is a breath-taking piece of fic set in the Batman Beyond timeline (though, it's about the B:TAS characters) and I have to say, I'm impressed with all the details that were woven into the story in a way that didn't make me run away screaming. The author knows the universe very well, which shines through, but in a way that isn't an info dump, it's instead used to show what Barbara's lost as each little piece of her life falls away from her. The heartache and sense of feeling lost and ready to fall apart that Babs goes through in this fic, the way you feel everything with her, even as she's such a strong character still on the verge of falling apart, the final moments of the fic that had me practically aching with her... it's all gorgeously done. The writing is beautiful, the pacing is lovely, and everything about it is just... gorgeous. (Some implied Dick/Babs, some implied Bruce/Babs.)
- DCU - Five people Ollie will never admit he hit on, never mind what Roy says by Saone - Okay, I was poking around the author's fic and happened to see this one had been written recently. Oh, I said. It's short and I like those five things fics when done well! I can read it real quick-like. About three minutes later, I am laughing myself sick because it hit me just dead on right, I could just so completely, utterly, perfectly picture Ollie's expression on that last one. They're all fun. #3 amused me nicely. #4 very fun. But #5... just. Yeah. Hit me in the right way at the right time. I laughed. Kind of a lot. (Ollie/various.)
- DCU - Cupid Kills by Saone - I'll grant that there was a time or two during this fic when I was a little, "....." over the events. (Especially the whole bit about family and such.) But, at the same time, the characterization and voices for the characters was really, really strong. Roy especially just sounded right to my ear. I kept waiting for that moment when I would cross the line and hit the back button, but it never came and by the time I was at the end of the fic... I was all, "...that was pretty good." Every time I thought I might hit a point where I diverged in opinion with the author, she would put this deft little spin on things that kept me along for the ride. The dialogue was really sharp, the writing was really solidly good, and I even squeed over the couple; it hit all the notes I was hoping that it would hit. Don't get me wrong, I still brought my own issues to the table with this fic. But at the end of it, I look back and think there were a ton of lines I really liked, there was some sharp characterization, and I agreed with the portrayals in this fic. Thumbs up! (Roy/Dick, slight content warning.)
- DCU/Batman - Test Patterns by Alexis - I stumbled over this fic while browsing the author's journal (as I remember her longer work being some of the best I've read in the fandom) and it's not necessarily something I would have read from another author, the premise of Bruce giving himself a thorough physical and cataloguing all the new scars and ways his body is failing him; for all that the Bat-family appeals to me for its darker tone, I'm rather firmly in the "Bruce will be Batman forever, dammit" catagory. But this fic... there's something about the language of it, the hard logic way the narrative approaches it while still packing an emotional punch that I like. The ending line is especially impactful. (No real warnings/pairings.)
- DCU - Learning Curves by Jim Greeno - I'd read half of this story several years ago when it was first started, but it was recently updated/finished and when I saw, I pretty much zoomed over to read. It's set several years in the past, when Cass was first learning to speak and Nightwing was still in Bludhaven, but it's one of those fics I firmly stick in between the pages of canon in my head. Cass wants to learn how to be a partner, how to trust people, so she goes to the person who best knows how to teach it--Dick. Even before this fic came along, this was a story idea I desperately craved, an idea that would bring out so might insights and fabulous moments between both characters and Jim Greeno just nails it. The sense of fun mixed with touching moments, all wrapped up in top-notch characterization. Cass trying to unravel the puzzle (to her) that is Nightwing, such a deadly young girl but still learning so many things she has no clue about. Dick being so open and friendly, the way the different aspects of his skills are unlike anything she's seen before (oh, the perspective from her while watching him move across the city is just gorgeous, just enough action and sense of "omg that was so cool!" for me as a reader), the way the author so clearly understands what makes these characters brilliant and unique and it's just... the kind of fic that immediately goes on my favorites list while I practically have a glee-fit. ....shut up, I like this fic, okay? It's them as this dysfunctional family who have their ups and downs, but they're still family at the end of the day. ....and, yes, I totally squeed at the ending. Oh, Cass. I love her so. Just as much as I love that the fic focused on all of the dynamics between Bruce, Cass, and Dick, that I got the Bruce - Dick relationship out of this fic as much as I got Bruce - Cass and Dick - Cass. This rec is way too long, but I can't help it, okay? (No real warnings/pairings, nothing major enough to mention.)
- DCU/Nightwing - untitled by Corinna - I wasn't really that hopeful of finding any new (for me, anyway) Dick/Babs fic when I started poking at the DCU fandom again, but somehow I managed to stumble over this and it was one of those short little fics that's all about the quiet moments of happiness and flirtation of the Dick/Babs relationship, set at the end of the Shrike storyline. The writing is quietly lovely and the kiss at the end is really quite beautiful and I just... it's the kind of fic that makes me sigh happily and burble about OTPs. (Dick/Babs.)
- DCU - Dress Blues by Corinna - Okay, this is what I've been missing from fandom. Dick and Babs and gorgeous writing and all that chemistry between them, all that love between them even when things are hard and they're apart and I actually really love the author's take on both characters. It's hard to explain what this kind of fic does for me, in the way it satisfies because the writing was just so right on the money for the characters. Dick's optimism even when he's hurt or upset, Babs' strong personality even when she's afraid, all of it. Just fabulously characterized and lovely writing and it's the kind of prose that I don't even notice because I'm too busy having these perfectly clear pictures of the scene in my head. The level of sheer personality the author manages to convey without me even being able to point to any specific thing and go, "There, that's when I noticed this particular aspect of the character!" is sort of awesome. ....I maybe be in a really, really fangirly mood today, but this fic totally warranted it. ♥ (Dick/Babs.)
- Highlander - Intimations of Destiny by Merry - So, I was talking with Tammaiya tonight and we got around to discussing Highlander (and my rage at the series XD) and then, of course, like the lemming that I am, I went to look for fic. And I was surprised that this author had written Richie fic that I'd never read because a) I read tons of her The Sentinel fic back in the day and b) I've scoured the net pretty well for all readable Richie fic. But, man, this wasn't just readable, this was lovely. Richie's voice is fabulous, the frustration and fear that he's going through after becoming Immortal, the way things still hurt, but they're finding their way through, Richie's a survivor even when he knows the odds. And then there was that chilling last line, the one that got a little, "....oh." out of me, knowing what I know. A very powerful read. (No warnings/pairings.)
- House - How Much Salt by voleuse - I have this thing for Wilson/Cameron because it would play into so many of their bad habits and screwed up issues. This fic... while I would have preferred something more about the building of the relationship than the sex (which is more that I haven't read enough Wilson/Cameron yet, not the fault of the fic's), the sex is gorgeous and tinged with all those things they do wrong even as it feels right. The language of the writing is lovely, the author is so very talented at building up an atmosphere and making something so fucked up look so pretty. Right down to the way they have sex with each other. Sigh. And, of course, it makes me want more Wilson/Cameron fic. Woe. (Wilson/Cameron, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
- Howl's Moving Castle - one dress howl did not buy and another he did by memlu - Oh, dear lord, this is quite possibly the most perfect Howl that I have ever read. It's not just in character, it's absolutely fabulous and clever and sparkles right off the screen in that way that Howl absolutely should. Every detail is brilliant as Howl attempts to pick out a dress to buy for Sophie, every little touch of his personality is spot on and the timing/pacing of this is nothing short of brilliant. By the end, I was practically on the floor with laughter because that is exactly how Howl's mind would go. Exactly. Memlu just utterly nailed Howl's voice. (Howl/Sophie.)
- Howl's Moving Castle - five excuses howl uses on a daily basis by memlu - This is a bit shorter than I usually prefer to rec, but I've been making loads of exceptions lately, so why not. But, really, it's more about how incredibly awesome memlu's HMC fic is; not just good or readable, it's flat-out brilliant. The characterization is spot-on, the excuses Howl uses every day are are brilliant as well, so outlandish and so Howl without being over the top about it. There's something tremendously talented in that girl's brain and I'm not sure if I want to steal it or make her write more and more. Because, oh, the conversation with Morgan. How fantastic. (Howl/Sophie.)
- Kingdom Hearts - The 6th Hour (chapter 1) by refracting - Eeeeee! Axel and Roxas fic that fixes things, dammit and I didn't know how long I'd been waiting for this fic until it showed up on my friendsfriends list and intrigued me enough just to read the first few paragraphs. I have a lot of Divergent Timelines more than I do the vaguer AUs, where things might have gone a little differently if the characters had done a few things different. Especially when it's comined with Fix It Fic. The writing is solid, the details are really quite nice, and I adore the characterization. You can tell how much the author enjoys writing these characters, all the little touches (of friendly violence ♥) that make the pairing shine, that this could turn into one of those fics that makes me less hungry for decent KH fic. Also, Roxas and Axel in Agrabah? Kind of awesome. (Some Axel/Roxas implied.)
GOAL: 1149/1200
Also. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Omg, I am ridiculously excited!
Series:
DCU - 9 Fanfics
Highlander - 1 Fanfic
House - 1 Fanfic
Howl's Moving Castle - 2 Fanfics
Kingdom Hearts - 1 Fanfic
- DCU/JL:TAS - C is for Coffee by mtgat and dotfic - I admit, this fic started out a touch slow and I wasn't sure it rang right for me. But by about a page into the fic, I was seriously ready to sparkle like a good fangirl at the authors. The parallels between Roy, Dick, Ollie, and Bruce were wonderfully done here, the authors did a fabulous job of not beating the comparisons/contrasts into our heads, it was never even commented on, it was just there. Roy and Dick's friendship compared to Ollie and Bruce's not!friendship, the way both interact with their mentors, the way some things are so damn similar and some things are completely different, all topped off with little moments of characterization that are brilliant. It's one of those fics that satisfies that craving for something solid and well-done in fandom, the kind of post-episode coda that actually accomplishes something. This is why I still go back to DC fandom. (No warnings/pairings.)
- DCU/Outsiders - Now We Are Twenty-Four by basingstoke - I have this love/hate relationship with the Roy/Dick pairing because it's something I really love a lot, but can't see as particularily serious. So very, very little fic in the fandom resonates with my view of the characters and when Noel pointed me towards this one... I'll grant that the shifting pov distracted me terribly at first, but by the end of it, I was squeeing a lot more than I was complaining. It's a good, solid take on the characters and, hell, I can't even fault the emo!Dick characterization because it works for the fic here and it's not like it's against character. The author doesn't stray into woobie love, instead it's this sort of... friendship with benefits territory, but not quite as casual as that makes it sound. It's a really good balance and Roy's got a couple of moments in this where I just loved him. There's a line where I have no idea if he's serious or just fucking around with Dick and it's perfect because Roy would so say that. (Roy/Dick, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
- DCU/B:TAS - I won't suffer, be broken by Merlin Missy - This is a breath-taking piece of fic set in the Batman Beyond timeline (though, it's about the B:TAS characters) and I have to say, I'm impressed with all the details that were woven into the story in a way that didn't make me run away screaming. The author knows the universe very well, which shines through, but in a way that isn't an info dump, it's instead used to show what Barbara's lost as each little piece of her life falls away from her. The heartache and sense of feeling lost and ready to fall apart that Babs goes through in this fic, the way you feel everything with her, even as she's such a strong character still on the verge of falling apart, the final moments of the fic that had me practically aching with her... it's all gorgeously done. The writing is beautiful, the pacing is lovely, and everything about it is just... gorgeous. (Some implied Dick/Babs, some implied Bruce/Babs.)
- DCU - Five people Ollie will never admit he hit on, never mind what Roy says by Saone - Okay, I was poking around the author's fic and happened to see this one had been written recently. Oh, I said. It's short and I like those five things fics when done well! I can read it real quick-like. About three minutes later, I am laughing myself sick because it hit me just dead on right, I could just so completely, utterly, perfectly picture Ollie's expression on that last one. They're all fun. #3 amused me nicely. #4 very fun. But #5... just. Yeah. Hit me in the right way at the right time. I laughed. Kind of a lot. (Ollie/various.)
- DCU - Cupid Kills by Saone - I'll grant that there was a time or two during this fic when I was a little, "....." over the events. (Especially the whole bit about family and such.) But, at the same time, the characterization and voices for the characters was really, really strong. Roy especially just sounded right to my ear. I kept waiting for that moment when I would cross the line and hit the back button, but it never came and by the time I was at the end of the fic... I was all, "...that was pretty good." Every time I thought I might hit a point where I diverged in opinion with the author, she would put this deft little spin on things that kept me along for the ride. The dialogue was really sharp, the writing was really solidly good, and I even squeed over the couple; it hit all the notes I was hoping that it would hit. Don't get me wrong, I still brought my own issues to the table with this fic. But at the end of it, I look back and think there were a ton of lines I really liked, there was some sharp characterization, and I agreed with the portrayals in this fic. Thumbs up! (Roy/Dick, slight content warning.)
- DCU/Batman - Test Patterns by Alexis - I stumbled over this fic while browsing the author's journal (as I remember her longer work being some of the best I've read in the fandom) and it's not necessarily something I would have read from another author, the premise of Bruce giving himself a thorough physical and cataloguing all the new scars and ways his body is failing him; for all that the Bat-family appeals to me for its darker tone, I'm rather firmly in the "Bruce will be Batman forever, dammit" catagory. But this fic... there's something about the language of it, the hard logic way the narrative approaches it while still packing an emotional punch that I like. The ending line is especially impactful. (No real warnings/pairings.)
- DCU - Learning Curves by Jim Greeno - I'd read half of this story several years ago when it was first started, but it was recently updated/finished and when I saw, I pretty much zoomed over to read. It's set several years in the past, when Cass was first learning to speak and Nightwing was still in Bludhaven, but it's one of those fics I firmly stick in between the pages of canon in my head. Cass wants to learn how to be a partner, how to trust people, so she goes to the person who best knows how to teach it--Dick. Even before this fic came along, this was a story idea I desperately craved, an idea that would bring out so might insights and fabulous moments between both characters and Jim Greeno just nails it. The sense of fun mixed with touching moments, all wrapped up in top-notch characterization. Cass trying to unravel the puzzle (to her) that is Nightwing, such a deadly young girl but still learning so many things she has no clue about. Dick being so open and friendly, the way the different aspects of his skills are unlike anything she's seen before (oh, the perspective from her while watching him move across the city is just gorgeous, just enough action and sense of "omg that was so cool!" for me as a reader), the way the author so clearly understands what makes these characters brilliant and unique and it's just... the kind of fic that immediately goes on my favorites list while I practically have a glee-fit. ....shut up, I like this fic, okay? It's them as this dysfunctional family who have their ups and downs, but they're still family at the end of the day. ....and, yes, I totally squeed at the ending. Oh, Cass. I love her so. Just as much as I love that the fic focused on all of the dynamics between Bruce, Cass, and Dick, that I got the Bruce - Dick relationship out of this fic as much as I got Bruce - Cass and Dick - Cass. This rec is way too long, but I can't help it, okay? (No real warnings/pairings, nothing major enough to mention.)
- DCU/Nightwing - untitled by Corinna - I wasn't really that hopeful of finding any new (for me, anyway) Dick/Babs fic when I started poking at the DCU fandom again, but somehow I managed to stumble over this and it was one of those short little fics that's all about the quiet moments of happiness and flirtation of the Dick/Babs relationship, set at the end of the Shrike storyline. The writing is quietly lovely and the kiss at the end is really quite beautiful and I just... it's the kind of fic that makes me sigh happily and burble about OTPs. (Dick/Babs.)
- DCU - Dress Blues by Corinna - Okay, this is what I've been missing from fandom. Dick and Babs and gorgeous writing and all that chemistry between them, all that love between them even when things are hard and they're apart and I actually really love the author's take on both characters. It's hard to explain what this kind of fic does for me, in the way it satisfies because the writing was just so right on the money for the characters. Dick's optimism even when he's hurt or upset, Babs' strong personality even when she's afraid, all of it. Just fabulously characterized and lovely writing and it's the kind of prose that I don't even notice because I'm too busy having these perfectly clear pictures of the scene in my head. The level of sheer personality the author manages to convey without me even being able to point to any specific thing and go, "There, that's when I noticed this particular aspect of the character!" is sort of awesome. ....I maybe be in a really, really fangirly mood today, but this fic totally warranted it. ♥ (Dick/Babs.)
- Highlander - Intimations of Destiny by Merry - So, I was talking with Tammaiya tonight and we got around to discussing Highlander (and my rage at the series XD) and then, of course, like the lemming that I am, I went to look for fic. And I was surprised that this author had written Richie fic that I'd never read because a) I read tons of her The Sentinel fic back in the day and b) I've scoured the net pretty well for all readable Richie fic. But, man, this wasn't just readable, this was lovely. Richie's voice is fabulous, the frustration and fear that he's going through after becoming Immortal, the way things still hurt, but they're finding their way through, Richie's a survivor even when he knows the odds. And then there was that chilling last line, the one that got a little, "....oh." out of me, knowing what I know. A very powerful read. (No warnings/pairings.)
- House - How Much Salt by voleuse - I have this thing for Wilson/Cameron because it would play into so many of their bad habits and screwed up issues. This fic... while I would have preferred something more about the building of the relationship than the sex (which is more that I haven't read enough Wilson/Cameron yet, not the fault of the fic's), the sex is gorgeous and tinged with all those things they do wrong even as it feels right. The language of the writing is lovely, the author is so very talented at building up an atmosphere and making something so fucked up look so pretty. Right down to the way they have sex with each other. Sigh. And, of course, it makes me want more Wilson/Cameron fic. Woe. (Wilson/Cameron, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
- Howl's Moving Castle - one dress howl did not buy and another he did by memlu - Oh, dear lord, this is quite possibly the most perfect Howl that I have ever read. It's not just in character, it's absolutely fabulous and clever and sparkles right off the screen in that way that Howl absolutely should. Every detail is brilliant as Howl attempts to pick out a dress to buy for Sophie, every little touch of his personality is spot on and the timing/pacing of this is nothing short of brilliant. By the end, I was practically on the floor with laughter because that is exactly how Howl's mind would go. Exactly. Memlu just utterly nailed Howl's voice. (Howl/Sophie.)
- Howl's Moving Castle - five excuses howl uses on a daily basis by memlu - This is a bit shorter than I usually prefer to rec, but I've been making loads of exceptions lately, so why not. But, really, it's more about how incredibly awesome memlu's HMC fic is; not just good or readable, it's flat-out brilliant. The characterization is spot-on, the excuses Howl uses every day are are brilliant as well, so outlandish and so Howl without being over the top about it. There's something tremendously talented in that girl's brain and I'm not sure if I want to steal it or make her write more and more. Because, oh, the conversation with Morgan. How fantastic. (Howl/Sophie.)
- Kingdom Hearts - The 6th Hour (chapter 1) by refracting - Eeeeee! Axel and Roxas fic that fixes things, dammit and I didn't know how long I'd been waiting for this fic until it showed up on my friendsfriends list and intrigued me enough just to read the first few paragraphs. I have a lot of Divergent Timelines more than I do the vaguer AUs, where things might have gone a little differently if the characters had done a few things different. Especially when it's comined with Fix It Fic. The writing is solid, the details are really quite nice, and I adore the characterization. You can tell how much the author enjoys writing these characters, all the little touches (of friendly violence ♥) that make the pairing shine, that this could turn into one of those fics that makes me less hungry for decent KH fic. Also, Roxas and Axel in Agrabah? Kind of awesome. (Some Axel/Roxas implied.)
GOAL: 1149/1200