[ Bleach, ES21, Host Club, FFXII, Furuba, GundamW, House, Tutu, Utena, X:EVO ]
Notes: Chrissie has started up drabble_trade and I, of course, encourage everyone to go sign up. ♥ Drabbles are shorter than regular fic and you can totally do that! Give in to the peer pressure! Dooooo iiiiiiit.
Series:
Bleach - 2 Fanfics
Eyeshield 21/Ouran Koukou Host Club - 1 Fanfic
Final Fantasy XII - 9 Fanfics
Fruits Basket - 1 Fanfic
Gundam Wing - 1 Fanfic
House - 2 Fanfics
Princess Tutu/Shoujo Kakumei Utena - 1 Fanfic
X-Men: Evolution - 1 Fanfic
- Bleach - Polygons by Chrissie - Man, I love it when Chrissie writes fic, which, of course, never happens enough. The first of these two fics is a Byakuya POV and it's just... it's beautiful for that stoic, almost serene way it has on the surface, even when there are far more intense things happening underneath, the whole effect of still waters running deep, without having to tell the reader that, it just... is there. I think the first one is my favorite, simply because I adore those characters so much, but the second one shows how brilliant Chrissie is at capturing Gin's personality, especially through Kira's perspective. The imagery (especially of the fox, because it's so perfectly apropos), the lack of every specifcally defining even the tiniest little things, the way it's almost as much about Gin's relationship with that person who knows him and how to push his buttons as it is about Kira trying to figure Gin out and being a little afraid of the answers. Beautiful, gorgeous fic all the way around. ♥ (Nothing I'd really warn enough for.)
- Bleach - these happy golden years by acesodapop - The language the author uses in this fic is just gorgeous, which is so fitting for a pair like Byakuya and Hisana. Which is one of my favorite aspects, I love when imagery can be tragic and beautiful without feeling overwraught. But it's also... Hisana is a bit of a mystery, how much she loved Byakuya, how much she was still holding other things in her heart, and this fic does a beautiful, so very beautiful, job of balancing those two aspects of her. She is both of those things and then Byakuya is so... Byakuya and I cannot help but want to sigh breathily in that fangirl way as they are such the OTP for me. ....shut up. (Byakuya/Hisana.)
- Eyeshield 21/Ouran Koukou Host Club - unfortunately by acesodapop - I had no idea what I was going to do with an Eyeshield 21/Host Club crossover, what the author would do, how that would work in my head while reading. But this was fun and had a couple of really cute lines and I loved the ending line, because that's just pure ES21. Hiruma at Ouran was just... the chaos he'd cause is really great fun and watching the other scramble around is amusing. An enjoyable little read. (No real warnings/pairings.)
[ WARNING: FFXII stories may contain SPOILERS ]
- Final Fantasy XII - Seams by Mithrigil - I have been wanting Basch/Ashe for ages and while I would have preferred something slightly less bittersweet, that is a quibble on my own behalf, not a criticism of the story. Because the story is really beautifully written, it fits with the tone and language of the series, the level of detail on things so simple as even Basch's armor lending a richness that I felt in the game itself as well. But more than that, it's the characterization, it's the way these characters are still so... the way Basch is still a man of honor, a knight who protects and does not take for himself, the way Ashe is a princess and thinks of her country, yet she can take something for herself. The way they interact, the way there are moments of flashback interspersed between their actions in the present that so illuminate their character and motivation, the way Basch doesn't lose his personality but is still sort of... where she leads, he'll always follow, even if he has reservations. Add to that, the sex being intense without the focus being too much on it, rather that the point was the connection between them, the emotions and feelings there... this was a really gorgeous piece of writing. I demand more now! ♥_♥ (Basch/Ashe, some NC-17-ish content.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by ladysisyphus - Okay, seriously, if fandom keeps writing Larsa and Penelo so cutely, I'm not going to have any resistance left and then I'll cave into whatever you people try to make me like. That would be bad! On the other hand, cute Larsa and Penelo fic with candy and Larsa being adorable and never having had sugar-candy before, it's kind of difficult to argue with that 'cause, asdf;ljasdflj, holy crap, it's both adorable and just the right amount of seriousness. Adorable. ♥ (Some light Larsa/Penelo implications.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - I really don't know what to say about this ficbit that wouldn't end up spoiling it. Basically, it's set during a time pre-game, while Ffamran was a Judge and Gabranth decides he needs to have a conversation with Dr. Cid about this and it's just... perfect from beginning to end. Especially the end. The middle part is awesome, too, because Ffamran would indeed be the best Judge ever, but mostly it's the end that has me going LOL@poor Gabrathn. ♥ (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - Oh, oh, oh, this is Miguelo and Penelo pre-series, probably not too long after the war had claimed their parents and it's just... it packs so much into these characters, makes me re-realize how much I adored them and how much probably went on that we never got to see explored. This is a powerful little ficlet and the ending just... the ending totally makes me wibble and sort of want to melt into a puddle. (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - I have a continued soft spot for the idea of Basch and Fran interaction, despite that they didn't really connect much in the game. Because, underneath the obvious surface differences, there are a lot of things they have in common and this ficlet does a beautiful job of showing that quiet, almost understanding. Or something like it, at any rate. The writing is gorgeous, the little details are fantastic, and I love the use of the story and what they're each going through at that point in time to connect them together. Fabulous. (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - One of the most fabulous things about FFXII and the slowly blossoming fandom is that they do fabulous things with pre-series characters and connections, ways people might have gotten to where they were when we met them. This time, Basch post-Landis but pre-Dalmasca and there's so much... so much of everything Basch is/was/may always be here in this ficlet. I can't describe it any better than that, it's just... really very good and a neat idea. (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - Man, I wish there'd been a flashback or two of Ffamran's time as a Judge, just because there's so much to do with that era, as this little ficlet beautifully illustrations. I just. I flail at how great a Judge Ffamran would have been, especially if they couldn't fire him, and, yeah, okay, perfect little ficlet and I'll be over here LOL'ing in the corner for quite possibly the rest of my life. (....nothing I'm going to properly count.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - More adorably fun Larsa and Penelo (with a touch of Vaan) fic, another little piece that the author wrote without feeling like the story was shortchanged. As much as I love longer stories, sometimes I greatly enjoy reading short bite-sized fic memes like this because these ideas are so perfectly captured each time. The writing is lovely, the characterization is lovely, and the pieces always end on the perfect note to wrap everything up. And just. Larsa is so. Larsa and the way Penelo neatly reads between the lines and is firm without being bossy is absolutely everything I loved about her from the game. This is why I love Penelo's character so much. ♥ (It's gen, but if you want to read Larsa/Penelo into it....)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by ladysisyphus - Basch and little!Ashe fic! With archery and little!Ashe being so damn cute and so obviously having that same inner strength and fire that'll carry her through difficult times in the future and Basch being that strong, unwavering presence behind her and it's both bittersweet (for knowing what they'll go through in the future) and completely awwwwww-inducing. Lovely! (No warnings/pairings.)
[ /END FFXII SPOILERS ]
- Fruits Basket - Firstborn Son by Ysabet - Every so often in any given fandom, there comes along a story that's about an aspect of the series I've not given that much thought to or haven't seen explored much, and it's just... almost magical for how beautifully it echoes the series. This story about Momiji's mother, how she met her husband and came to Japan, the sense of love and romance and fairy tales layered over a lingering sadness beneath is just beautiful. There is something about the language of the story that lends itself to Furuba so very well, the little touches of language and foreshadowing are just... really, really beautiful. (Nothing I'd warn for/count.)
- Gundam Wing - Second Best by mintbot - I'm absolutely stealing the link for this off of Sharon, but I couldn't resist! ♥ My views on the whole Relena thing are complicated and uninteresting, but I have great, great affection for her and I think her relationship with Heero is an important one, so this fic sort of hit a dynamic that I really liked for them. It's... not particularly clear-cut with the three of them, but it's not over the top angsting, either. Instead, it's Heero figuring himself and his emotions out in a way that really hit me with the character. The writing is lovely, I adore the characterization, and it's one of those little pieces that I'm so, so glad I read. ♥ (Heero/Duo, some Heero/Relena.)
- House - you’re going to lose that girl by luvinaoshi - Non-linear storytelling very rarely works for me, there has to be a certain style or a certain deftness to the style accompanying that type of storytelling and it just doesn't often fit with a lot of authors. But when the right author comes along, there's something very intense and powerful about it. Capturing the what-ifs and what-might-have-beens, yet still keeping everything within the spirit of the show itself--ie, you sort of want to be depressed because everything is bittersweet at best. When the show was first starting, I didn't think I could ever like Chase/Cameron, because it would just be about the two "pretty" ones hooking up, but it's stories like these that not only turn me around on the idea, but make it one of those pairings I'm rapidly falling in love with. I want more, just like this beautiful fic. (Chase/Cameron.)
- House - Flamenco on a Breeze by voleuse - Picking the link up for this fic from a comment from Zau in the previous fic, which I shamelessly steal, yes. And. I think, what gets me about this fic, is that it might not have been things I could see Cameron doing (the drinking at lunch, the encounter in the garage) until I re-evaluated it in terms of what I could see Cameron justifying to herself. Those moments, especially during the encounters with Chase, how she's doing what she feels she should be doing as a grown-up, free young woman. Not that the fic says any of this, which is sort of fabulous because it got me thinking and coming to these conclusions on my own. (Not that I necessarily think it's what the author was going for, but that this is what I got out of the fic... which isn't going to make sense to anyone but me, I imagine.) The writing was fabulous, there was that sense of chemistry between them that I love, and it was just... it was good. (Chase/Cameron.)
- Princess Tutu/Shoujo Kakumei Utena - With No Companion by gaisce - The second I saw these two series crossed over, I knew that it was a fic that needed to exist! They both have such an allegorical nature, both depend on stories/fairy tales in their narratives and themes, both deal with heartbreaking yet oh-so-shoujo-esque issues of princesses in stories that it just... it was a gorgeous fit. And the author puts in all these fabulous little connections and comparisons, the way Anthy wanders through the story and into Rue and Mythos' lives for a short while, the way she's been through so much, the way Anthy herself is a fragment of a story, the way she recognizes what Rue is, what she could/will become, the way all of this is heartbreaking and yet still so lovely... it's a really, really fantastic fic that deals with the themes and elements of both worlds in an awesome way. *fangirls* And the ending, what Anthy tries to show Rue is just... perfect again. (Some Mythos/Rue, but it's not really the point.)
- X-Men: Evolution - little steps by acesodapop - This was a nice, fun little well-written piece of fic post-Mesmero-messing-with-Wanda's-mind. The author did a really nice job of weaving little details with breakfast into the story that created this air of... you could feel the rest of the household almost holding their breath to see if Wanda really was different now, if she really was calmer now, which is fabulous. The sense of something having shifted dramatically, even while things are still vaguely the same is one of the best things about this piece, I think. (No real warnings/pairings.)
NEW GOAL: 330/1500
Series:
Bleach - 2 Fanfics
Eyeshield 21/Ouran Koukou Host Club - 1 Fanfic
Final Fantasy XII - 9 Fanfics
Fruits Basket - 1 Fanfic
Gundam Wing - 1 Fanfic
House - 2 Fanfics
Princess Tutu/Shoujo Kakumei Utena - 1 Fanfic
X-Men: Evolution - 1 Fanfic
- Bleach - Polygons by Chrissie - Man, I love it when Chrissie writes fic, which, of course, never happens enough. The first of these two fics is a Byakuya POV and it's just... it's beautiful for that stoic, almost serene way it has on the surface, even when there are far more intense things happening underneath, the whole effect of still waters running deep, without having to tell the reader that, it just... is there. I think the first one is my favorite, simply because I adore those characters so much, but the second one shows how brilliant Chrissie is at capturing Gin's personality, especially through Kira's perspective. The imagery (especially of the fox, because it's so perfectly apropos), the lack of every specifcally defining even the tiniest little things, the way it's almost as much about Gin's relationship with that person who knows him and how to push his buttons as it is about Kira trying to figure Gin out and being a little afraid of the answers. Beautiful, gorgeous fic all the way around. ♥ (Nothing I'd really warn enough for.)
- Bleach - these happy golden years by acesodapop - The language the author uses in this fic is just gorgeous, which is so fitting for a pair like Byakuya and Hisana. Which is one of my favorite aspects, I love when imagery can be tragic and beautiful without feeling overwraught. But it's also... Hisana is a bit of a mystery, how much she loved Byakuya, how much she was still holding other things in her heart, and this fic does a beautiful, so very beautiful, job of balancing those two aspects of her. She is both of those things and then Byakuya is so... Byakuya and I cannot help but want to sigh breathily in that fangirl way as they are such the OTP for me. ....shut up. (Byakuya/Hisana.)
- Eyeshield 21/Ouran Koukou Host Club - unfortunately by acesodapop - I had no idea what I was going to do with an Eyeshield 21/Host Club crossover, what the author would do, how that would work in my head while reading. But this was fun and had a couple of really cute lines and I loved the ending line, because that's just pure ES21. Hiruma at Ouran was just... the chaos he'd cause is really great fun and watching the other scramble around is amusing. An enjoyable little read. (No real warnings/pairings.)
[ WARNING: FFXII stories may contain SPOILERS ]
- Final Fantasy XII - Seams by Mithrigil - I have been wanting Basch/Ashe for ages and while I would have preferred something slightly less bittersweet, that is a quibble on my own behalf, not a criticism of the story. Because the story is really beautifully written, it fits with the tone and language of the series, the level of detail on things so simple as even Basch's armor lending a richness that I felt in the game itself as well. But more than that, it's the characterization, it's the way these characters are still so... the way Basch is still a man of honor, a knight who protects and does not take for himself, the way Ashe is a princess and thinks of her country, yet she can take something for herself. The way they interact, the way there are moments of flashback interspersed between their actions in the present that so illuminate their character and motivation, the way Basch doesn't lose his personality but is still sort of... where she leads, he'll always follow, even if he has reservations. Add to that, the sex being intense without the focus being too much on it, rather that the point was the connection between them, the emotions and feelings there... this was a really gorgeous piece of writing. I demand more now! ♥_♥ (Basch/Ashe, some NC-17-ish content.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by ladysisyphus - Okay, seriously, if fandom keeps writing Larsa and Penelo so cutely, I'm not going to have any resistance left and then I'll cave into whatever you people try to make me like. That would be bad! On the other hand, cute Larsa and Penelo fic with candy and Larsa being adorable and never having had sugar-candy before, it's kind of difficult to argue with that 'cause, asdf;ljasdflj, holy crap, it's both adorable and just the right amount of seriousness. Adorable. ♥ (Some light Larsa/Penelo implications.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - I really don't know what to say about this ficbit that wouldn't end up spoiling it. Basically, it's set during a time pre-game, while Ffamran was a Judge and Gabranth decides he needs to have a conversation with Dr. Cid about this and it's just... perfect from beginning to end. Especially the end. The middle part is awesome, too, because Ffamran would indeed be the best Judge ever, but mostly it's the end that has me going LOL@poor Gabrathn. ♥ (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - Oh, oh, oh, this is Miguelo and Penelo pre-series, probably not too long after the war had claimed their parents and it's just... it packs so much into these characters, makes me re-realize how much I adored them and how much probably went on that we never got to see explored. This is a powerful little ficlet and the ending just... the ending totally makes me wibble and sort of want to melt into a puddle. (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - I have a continued soft spot for the idea of Basch and Fran interaction, despite that they didn't really connect much in the game. Because, underneath the obvious surface differences, there are a lot of things they have in common and this ficlet does a beautiful job of showing that quiet, almost understanding. Or something like it, at any rate. The writing is gorgeous, the little details are fantastic, and I love the use of the story and what they're each going through at that point in time to connect them together. Fabulous. (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - One of the most fabulous things about FFXII and the slowly blossoming fandom is that they do fabulous things with pre-series characters and connections, ways people might have gotten to where they were when we met them. This time, Basch post-Landis but pre-Dalmasca and there's so much... so much of everything Basch is/was/may always be here in this ficlet. I can't describe it any better than that, it's just... really very good and a neat idea. (No warnings/pairings.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - Man, I wish there'd been a flashback or two of Ffamran's time as a Judge, just because there's so much to do with that era, as this little ficlet beautifully illustrations. I just. I flail at how great a Judge Ffamran would have been, especially if they couldn't fire him, and, yeah, okay, perfect little ficlet and I'll be over here LOL'ing in the corner for quite possibly the rest of my life. (....nothing I'm going to properly count.)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by wreathsandbells - More adorably fun Larsa and Penelo (with a touch of Vaan) fic, another little piece that the author wrote without feeling like the story was shortchanged. As much as I love longer stories, sometimes I greatly enjoy reading short bite-sized fic memes like this because these ideas are so perfectly captured each time. The writing is lovely, the characterization is lovely, and the pieces always end on the perfect note to wrap everything up. And just. Larsa is so. Larsa and the way Penelo neatly reads between the lines and is firm without being bossy is absolutely everything I loved about her from the game. This is why I love Penelo's character so much. ♥ (It's gen, but if you want to read Larsa/Penelo into it....)
- Final Fantasy XII - untitled by ladysisyphus - Basch and little!Ashe fic! With archery and little!Ashe being so damn cute and so obviously having that same inner strength and fire that'll carry her through difficult times in the future and Basch being that strong, unwavering presence behind her and it's both bittersweet (for knowing what they'll go through in the future) and completely awwwwww-inducing. Lovely! (No warnings/pairings.)
[ /END FFXII SPOILERS ]
- Fruits Basket - Firstborn Son by Ysabet - Every so often in any given fandom, there comes along a story that's about an aspect of the series I've not given that much thought to or haven't seen explored much, and it's just... almost magical for how beautifully it echoes the series. This story about Momiji's mother, how she met her husband and came to Japan, the sense of love and romance and fairy tales layered over a lingering sadness beneath is just beautiful. There is something about the language of the story that lends itself to Furuba so very well, the little touches of language and foreshadowing are just... really, really beautiful. (Nothing I'd warn for/count.)
- Gundam Wing - Second Best by mintbot - I'm absolutely stealing the link for this off of Sharon, but I couldn't resist! ♥ My views on the whole Relena thing are complicated and uninteresting, but I have great, great affection for her and I think her relationship with Heero is an important one, so this fic sort of hit a dynamic that I really liked for them. It's... not particularly clear-cut with the three of them, but it's not over the top angsting, either. Instead, it's Heero figuring himself and his emotions out in a way that really hit me with the character. The writing is lovely, I adore the characterization, and it's one of those little pieces that I'm so, so glad I read. ♥ (Heero/Duo, some Heero/Relena.)
- House - you’re going to lose that girl by luvinaoshi - Non-linear storytelling very rarely works for me, there has to be a certain style or a certain deftness to the style accompanying that type of storytelling and it just doesn't often fit with a lot of authors. But when the right author comes along, there's something very intense and powerful about it. Capturing the what-ifs and what-might-have-beens, yet still keeping everything within the spirit of the show itself--ie, you sort of want to be depressed because everything is bittersweet at best. When the show was first starting, I didn't think I could ever like Chase/Cameron, because it would just be about the two "pretty" ones hooking up, but it's stories like these that not only turn me around on the idea, but make it one of those pairings I'm rapidly falling in love with. I want more, just like this beautiful fic. (Chase/Cameron.)
- House - Flamenco on a Breeze by voleuse - Picking the link up for this fic from a comment from Zau in the previous fic, which I shamelessly steal, yes. And. I think, what gets me about this fic, is that it might not have been things I could see Cameron doing (the drinking at lunch, the encounter in the garage) until I re-evaluated it in terms of what I could see Cameron justifying to herself. Those moments, especially during the encounters with Chase, how she's doing what she feels she should be doing as a grown-up, free young woman. Not that the fic says any of this, which is sort of fabulous because it got me thinking and coming to these conclusions on my own. (Not that I necessarily think it's what the author was going for, but that this is what I got out of the fic... which isn't going to make sense to anyone but me, I imagine.) The writing was fabulous, there was that sense of chemistry between them that I love, and it was just... it was good. (Chase/Cameron.)
- Princess Tutu/Shoujo Kakumei Utena - With No Companion by gaisce - The second I saw these two series crossed over, I knew that it was a fic that needed to exist! They both have such an allegorical nature, both depend on stories/fairy tales in their narratives and themes, both deal with heartbreaking yet oh-so-shoujo-esque issues of princesses in stories that it just... it was a gorgeous fit. And the author puts in all these fabulous little connections and comparisons, the way Anthy wanders through the story and into Rue and Mythos' lives for a short while, the way she's been through so much, the way Anthy herself is a fragment of a story, the way she recognizes what Rue is, what she could/will become, the way all of this is heartbreaking and yet still so lovely... it's a really, really fantastic fic that deals with the themes and elements of both worlds in an awesome way. *fangirls* And the ending, what Anthy tries to show Rue is just... perfect again. (Some Mythos/Rue, but it's not really the point.)
- X-Men: Evolution - little steps by acesodapop - This was a nice, fun little well-written piece of fic post-Mesmero-messing-with-Wanda's-mind. The author did a really nice job of weaving little details with breakfast into the story that created this air of... you could feel the rest of the household almost holding their breath to see if Wanda really was different now, if she really was calmer now, which is fabulous. The sense of something having shifted dramatically, even while things are still vaguely the same is one of the best things about this piece, I think. (No real warnings/pairings.)
NEW GOAL: 330/1500