[ Chuck, Gintama, Merlin, OP, REBORN!, Saimono, SD, ToA ]
SHARING TIME:
This Vampire Knight in 5 seconds made me laugh, even if that's a terrible thing to do. XD
AND ONTO THE RECS:
Chuck - 6 Fanfics
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! - 5 Fanfics
Merlin - 5 Fanfics
Gintama - 1 Doujinshi
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! - 1 Doujinshi
One Piece - 3 Doujinshi
Slam Dunk! - 1 Doujinshi
One Piece - 2 Fanart
Saiunkoku Monogatari - 1 Fanart
Tales of the Abyss - 5 Fanart
2008 GOAL: 1329/1602
Chuck: Things Bryce Larkin Knows by futuresoon - Okay, see. I have this thing about the show and especially about the idea of Bryce/Chuck. It keeps calling to me, but I'm not sure I can go there yet. So fic is such a dicey bag for me and I end up reading it warily or putting it down halfway through because I don't want full on make-outs yet or anything. I want the build-up first. But I read this fic and, even for one that was written probably less than halfway through the first season, it is a beautiful take on Bryce Larkin and how he looks at Chuck during their time at Stanford. It holds up incredibly well, but even more than that it fits the characters and especially Bryce's reasons for what he did and how he felt about Chuck and how he felt about his own life and just. a;sldkfjasl;kj yes. So, so good. And I think I needed to start with something one-sided, but I didn't expect to get something that so solidly nailed how I felt about the show. *__* (Bryce/Chuck, one sided.)
Chuck: Domach 'a chIy ghoS 'epagh? by futuresoon - As if the first one wasn't wonderful enough, there's another fic from this author, set after we find out Bryce is alive and it's just as amazing as the first one. Her Bryce feels so spot on to me, the way he views life and death and Chuck and Klingon and, oh, god, I'm never ever going to get over the brilliance of that move right there. I love the use of Klingon in this (and it's easy to Google the ones where you can't guess the context), I love how much of a nerd Bryce is here while still being a bad-ass spy, that's one of the best things about the character and makes me so interested in him. Same for the way he clearly has it so very badly for Chuck, but never does anything about it because it couldn't end well, despite how badly he wants it and yet he's smart enough to know himself and how this would go. This Bryce is fascinating and everything I saw of that complicated guy who got Chuck kicked out of Stanford for a reason. Just. as;ldfkjaslkj yes. (Bryce/Chuck, one-sided.)
Chuck: This Expansive Dose Of Words by mardia - Oh, oh, oh, this is what I have been waiting for. I mean, I understand why the show can't go there, with Ellie discovering Chuck's secrets, and they've been doing a great job of not stretching it too far, but I still want that day when she does find out and this fic-- This fic is spot on for everything I wanted out of it. This Ellie is amazing and I love her fiercely, just as much as I love her on the show, even right down to the dialogue that is all fantastic and so, so easy to imagine the actors in their roles for this fic. And the Bryce --> Chuck is perfect, just exactly what I wanted and where I think they would be at that point in time and, oh, some of the moments in this fic were actually painful to get through just reading about them, just exactly as they should be, and I'm sort of just sitting here and marveling over how badly in love I am with this fic. And Ellie. She is so, so amazing. (Some one-sided Bryce/Chuck, but it's only half the point.)
Chuck: Ten Snapshots of a Kidnapping by mardia - Oh, I don't care how god-awfully geeky or flaily this is going to make me look, but. Yes, yes, YES. I have been fucking pining for a fic where Bryce kidnaps Chuck and they go on the world's geekiest and awesomest roadtrip ever since... well, pretty much since Bryce was alive and definitely since the new Intersect came close to being up and running. And, oh, the only complaint I have about this, the only complaint I have, is that it's not a 30,000 word epic fic because that's about all that would make this any more fantastic. Even in such brief snapshots, the author brilliantly captures Bryce's geekiness, Chuck's entire personality, the fantastic dynamic between them and how complicated it can be at the same time, and then works in TOTAL LOL lines of geeky awesomeness and just. a ;sdlfkjasljk Bryce kidnaps Chuck and ROADTRIP and they're such boys about it even when they're in a really rather dangerous situation and a;sldkfjaslk I was starting to think I'd never get this fic and then here it is! (Bryce/Chuck.)
Chuck: Cross Your Heart And Hope by mardia - ...apparently I really am in a Chuck mood this morning. But. *flails hands vaguely* Another fic where Ellie finds out the truth about Chuck in various ways! And it's Ellie being so awesome and there are four different heart-stopping ways that the whole charade could come crashing down and each of them is so fabulous and makes me want to keyboard mash with incoherence. The sibling dynamic between Ellie and Chuck is wonderful here, even the little cameos by Bryce or Casey are wonderful as well, I love that there's so much humor in them, almost as much as there is heartbreak in all the right ways. So fabulous. (No warnings/pairings.)
Chuck: Chuck vs. The Unresolved Sexual Tension by dotfic - As much as I usually seek out Bryce/Chuck fic (because I have a complicated relationship with that pairing, besides I'm usually scared of how Chuck/Sarah fic would be written and I'm usually largely satisfied by it in canon), when I saw an author I really like has written fic for the pairing, I pounced on it. And it's just exactly what I would have wanted for these two right now--it's just the two of them on the couch watching an old movie, but there are so many things between them, so many masks that Sarah has to force herself to wear, so many things Chuck tries to hold back (even if he fails at it), and it's complicated and a little ouchy and perfect for where they are at the time this was written. The writing is fantastic and I think I loved this just as much for being a fascinating Sarah piece as I did for it being a Chuck/Sarah piece. a ;sdklfja;slj now I want more of these two, too. (Chuck/Sarah.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN!: Once Upon a Time, Aboard a Metal Pumpkin Carriage by Belladonna - You wouldn't necessarily think that REBORN! and fairy tales would go together, but there's something about Mukuro and Chrome with Tsuna that lends to them really rather beautifully. At least in this fic, with this author. The quiet scene, the way Chrome is so quiet and proper (if that's the word for it) yet Mukuro is obviously lurking on the edges, the use of various elements of different fairy tales worked into Tsuna's narrative here, the way the little details (of Ken's driving, of Chrome's clothing, of Tsuna's thoughts of the other Guardians) was all very lovely. <3 (This is mostly gen, but maybe a very faint hint of Mukuro/Tsuna?)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN!: Hideaway by vicious_lullaby - Omg, yes, more Lambo/I-Pin! I'm not sure I could put into words why I ship them so strongly, but I very much do and this was just as;ldkjfalskj so adorable and so much total yes and they are so cute. I love that Lambo is so... hapless, even in the future, even when he really is the Thunder Guardian and I love how sensible yet sweet I-Pin is and al;sdkfjslkj there needs to be more fic just like this one. (Lambo/I-Pin.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN!: Love Letter in Vermilion by Belladonna - I don't usually read a lot of Mukuro/Tsuna, but something about this one appealed to me, there was a certain... elegance, I guess, in the violence and the obsession here, it was a really interesting take on a look inside Mukuro's mind as he fights Tsuna. The sense of... a never-ending wheel that keeps turning and turning for him, always bringing him back to Tsuna, really worked for me here, the author wrote a lovely piece. (Mukuro/Tsuna.)
Katekyou HItman REBORN!: SONNET (& quite possibly devoid of everything which makes it so) by actualize - Oh, this was a fabulous read this morning. It's all elegant violence and fight scenes and constant frustration and anger and something so dangerous from both Hibari and Mukuro. This is the kind of fic that keeps me coming back to this pairing, where there's something that pulls on both of them, where Mukuro is taunting Hibari, who knows it and is so, so dangerous and violent, but he's not really listening just yet despite that he notices so much. a;sldkfjsljk the details of this, the little things Hibari notices or the fluid movements of their fights, all of it is suited to this pairing and just. I keyboard mash out of love. The characterization is really fantastic, I love both of the characters here, there's something so sharp about the both of them that's delicious. (Mukuro/Hibari.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN: What Hurts the Most by Umi-Chii - This fic is a little more... *waves hand* emotional, I guess, than I usually prefer, but it was solid enough that it kept me reading for the entire fic and I genuinely enjoyed it. It was nice to see the fic from Dino's point of view, the more serious side of him, so that you could see more about him and Hibari and the relationship between them than if it had been set in another POV. The fic also has some really pretty lines it and, hell, that's usually all I ask. From the PG fics anyway. <3 (Dino/Hibari.)
Merlin: Cry Havoc by suaine - So, I only intended to read a cute fic about the dog statue that came to life, I didn't expect to get a story with a budding plot! But it's hard to mind, when it had that tone the show itself has, when the characterization is solid and the writing really clean and wonderful, when the fic just sailed right on by. I love how much personality the dog got, even when he wasn't really the focus of any particular scene, just that he really made a fabulous addition to the whole thing and, a;sldkjfalsjks, I loved the background details put into this, the story with the dragons and Albion and just. It was a really nice read this morning. (Arthur/Merlin, maybe a little PG13.)
Merlin: And Still by imperfectcircle - It still delights me that Merlin fandom is getting their slashfics with plot sometimes, like aside from the kissing aspect (which wasn't really that much, almost incidental/about something else), it was really quite similar to an episode of the series. Which I adore, I loved the unfolding mystery of what happened with the disappearing children, I loved that Arthur was putting things together far more than Merlin initially gave him credit for, I loved that neither of them could have gotten out of their situation without each other, I loved that each of them had their moment to shine, I loved that there was teasing banter and bickering the whole entire time, even as they grew closer with every scene, I loved the resolution of this, I just. Loved all of it. <3 (Arthur/Merlin.)
Merlin: Arthur and the Widow by svilleficrecs - You know, this fic did a couple of things that I wasn't really expecting, one of them being that it's all about Arthur with an OFC while Merlin is caught in the room, unable to leave without giving himself away and... and that's not usually the kind of fic I read. But this fandom has been giving me a lot of things I don't usually read and I was kind of immediately charmed by the interaction between Arthur and the OFC. What I wound up staying for was the surprisingly depthful characterization of Arthur here, who is quickly turning into my favorite, because he already understands so much about his role in life and how others see him, a lot more than Merlin understands yet. The porn was actually very nicely done (for Arthur/OFC! which I didn't think I would like! but it was pretty good, made interesting by seeing it through Merlin's eyes) and the ending a lot harsher than I was expecting, making it all the better. (Arthur/OFC at least a hard R, implied Arthur/Merlin pre-slash.)
Merlin: Friends? by Beren - So, I've been reading a lot of PG-rated Merlin fic this morning and I needed some porn, okay. And this fic nicely fit the bill--it started out a smidge rough, but quickly got going much better and by the midpoint, I was pretty much reading through the whole thing in one piece. I like this characterization of Arthur, who knows what he's doing, is a little bit of a dick, but basically a decent guy around Merlin, even if they snipe at each other, and that's reflected through Merlin's point of view--even if he's not precisely putting it in those terms. I liked that the sex wasn't just over in the blink of an eye (which it shouldn't be, considering this fic is all about the porn) but didn't linger too long, either. Add in a few moments of humor and it was a nice read this morning. (Arthur/Merlin.)
Merlin: cor unum by thisissirius - So, sometimes, in order to balance out all the looks and non-resolution of the UST in canon, sometimes I just need fic where Arthur and Merlin are already in a relationship and it's established and I can skip straight to the snuggling. Especially if they're still bickering the entire way. I am totally, totally weak to the waking up in bed together and not quite ready to move just yet and the spooning, especially when Merlin himself is rather like, "....god, we're ridiculous." but doesn't actually move. alskdjfalskj this made me all warm and fuzzy, shut up. XD (Arthur/Merlin, not quite SFW.)
Gintama Doujinshi (scanslated) - Sennichikou - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] There's something very odd about Katsura topping Gin in doujinshi like this, it just... doesn't quite work to my brain. I would have given this a pass, except GinZura (well, ZuraGin in this case) is such a rare pairing that I want everything for it and this doujinshi is about what I expected. The art is very lovely, though, and I think those who enjoy this particular pairing should like it a lot. I'm glad to have read it. XD (Katsura/Gintoki. NSFW.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (scanslated) - Welcome to My Doghouse - I was totally unsure what I was going to get when I first opened up this doujinshi to start reading. It's not the kind of D18 art I'm used to, it's a lot like Amano's art was in the first few volumes, it's not bad, but it hasn't quite matured yet, but I suspect that's deliberate, because some of Dino's expressions are just spot on from the manga. But. What really makes this doujinshi is... well, the concept is, during their fights, Dino takes Hibari to a hotel to rest at instead of staying at Namimori and it... well, everything that could go completely lolarious pretty much does. Hibari's ultra-light sleeping patterns, his total lack of self-consciousness, his willingness to bite or kick or hit at any moment, Dino's sunny nature and how he kinda likes this kid and takes his own life into his hands by glomping onto the vicious little demon... all of it really, very strongly reminds me of the total cracked out LOLZ of The Daily Life arc. The art style really helps with that, too. This one might be a bit of an odd duck, but I totally, totally recommend it if you like that D18 dynamic because I was cracking up the whole way. (Dino/Hibari.)
One Piece Doujinshi (scanslated) - Hentai-san ga Iku - This... this doujinshi is completely on crack, you can't take it remotely seriously at all. But that's part of the fun of it for me, it's so over the top, with Zoro and Ace both trying to win Sanji's affections, that I just sat there and was amuzed the entire way through. The art was mostly pretty solid, occasionally the artist really did a good job of capture the canon style, but mostly... yeah, this one was for the lolz and you pretty have to already be a fan to shut your brain off for this one. XD (Zoro/Sanji, Ace/Sanji.)
One Piece Doujinshi (scanslated) - I Told You So! - This is a Sanji/Luffy doujinshi, which is a pairing I actually really kinda like, but doesn't get that much attention in fandom. So this short little thing at only nine pages was a nice little treat this morning. It's pretty fluffy--Luffy is sick and thus doesn't have his usual energy, so Sanji finds himself responding in kind and it's... well, I think it's another doujinshi where you kind of have to already be a fan of the pairing for it to work for you, but it was cute, there were some adorable panels, and I enjoyed it a lot. <3 (Sanji/Luffy.)
One Piece Doujinshi (scanslated) - Ichinomiya Shihan Best Selection [LovePotionNo.9] - [Note: You'll have to scroll down about 3/4ths of the way to find this doujinshi, you may want to just Ctrl+F for it.] This is another short one, only about ten pages long, but! It's fun and it starts off with a great moment--Sanji reading porn with a TOTALLY SERIOUS FACE because alsdkfjalskj it won't work anymore! And then Zoro comes along and proves, well, it doesn't work like that anymore and it goes about as you'd expect it. It's just a silly little thing, but I really like this doujinshika (who may not be to everyone's taste, the art is awfully pointy, but it's an acquaired taste for me, I think) and, really, I can't ask for more than that. <3 (Zoro/Sanji, NSFW.)
Slam Dunk! Doujinshi (scanslated) - Come With the Wind - I... I-- Is that Rukawa and Hanamichi drawn as Rhett and Scarlet from the Gone with the Wind poster? asl;dkfjal;sjk jesus christ sometimes I love Japan so much that I feel like I'm going to BURST with it. The doujinshi itself is kind of random and semi-pointless, but it's by Yamane Ayano and you can tell how talented she is (even if this seems to be one of her older works and the characters occasionally look a little off) and it's got Rukawa as a raccoon molesting Hanamichi, but honestly. That just makes it MORE AWESOME. I think I practically lol'd my way through this entire thing, god, I love Japan. (Rukawa/Hanamichi, not quite SFW.)
- One Piece - 2nd Punk [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Just from the banner alone, I knew I'd probably going to be recommending this site. But I was a little unsure when I clicked on the first image, not bad, but not quite blowing me away, either. Then I clicked a few more links into the gallery and... okay, it's still kind of hit or miss, but there are a few that are just kind of fantastic. Sanji all tied up and bloody on the floor? Should not be that hot, but he is. There's fanservice from just about all of the characters, really, including one of Nami in short shorts and a;lsdkfjasl;kj bless this artist, seriously. XD I'm sort of iffy on the artist's Zoro, but her Sanji is really cool, there's something really polished or smooth about the art with his character and you can tell that he's probably her favorite. But! I had fun all over this site and I only wish there were more art here. <3 (Some Zoro/Sanji, some gen.)
- One Piece - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - This artist took me a bit to warm up to, but I eventually got there because the art is really kind of interesting. I use that word a lot, I suppose, but I do mean it. There's something... well, it's not precisely like the canon style, but it feels like it has that OP spirit to it, there's a lot of really intriguing stylization to the ZoSan images. There are even a handful of group illustrations that just really neat to look at and I love the frequently used pastel colors and even the oekaki illustrations are fun to look at! For all that this is sort of a bland rec, I really did enjoy the hell out of this site. ♥ (Zoro/Sanji.)
- Saiunkoku Monogatari - RedPeach [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - So, I'm looking for Tales of Vesperia art and somehow I end up on a... Saiunkoku Monogatari site? aslkdjfl;wkj wtf? Not that I really mind, the site started out with a cute Kouyuu illustration and, well. That's certainly the way to get my attention. <3 There's also a fair amount of Reinshin here and a few very nice Shuuei illustrations and... it's not really a massive site (though, there's a lot of sketches/oekaki/etc. in the log sections) but it was a nice reminder of the fandom and how much I really do like it. I had fun. <3 (No real warnings/pairing themes.)
- Tales of the Abyss - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I don't think this site is going to be for everyone, but... well, I'm weak to Natalia, so I was always going to view it more fondly. And the art is kind of really cute and you should like it all right if you like Natalia's character or if you're as hardcore an OTPer with Asch/Natalia as I am, because the pairing seems to get the cutest art on the site. A lot of the art is in sketches or little doodles, but there's a lot of it and some if it just so awww-inducingly OTP that I can hardly stand it. There's also a lot of art on the site, so by the time I finished with it... well, I'd caved pretty hard. XD I adore how much you can tell this artist really loves Natalia. ♥ (Asch/Natalia, with some gen and some other/Natalia.)
- Tales of the Abyss - Microcosmos [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I had to recommend this site for a couple of reasons, the first being that it had some pairings I hadn't seen elsewhere and I'm a sucker for oddball pairng art to add to my theoretical list of Every Possible ToA Pairing Ever in Fanart. I mean, where else will I find Frings/Guy? XD But the second reason I'm recommending this site is because it does some damn fine Malkuth army illustrations--the artist's Frings is really lovely and her Peony is lovely as well. There's a lot of Peony/Guy on the site, actually, which isn't my usual pairing, but this site put me in such a Malkuth mood (odd that there's not as much Jade as you'd expect, but given that he gets a million sites elsewhere, I don't particularly mind this time XD) that I didn't mind at all. Plus, omg the one of Frings, Cecile, and baby Guy? L:AKSDJALSKJ SO ADORABLE. Occasionaly there's art of the other characters, but it's mostly centered on those three--the site is worth your time, I think, if you're a fany of Peony, Guy, or Frings. The artist has this really pretty, almost suneshine-esque sort of style that really works for them. (Some Frings/Guy, some Peony/Guy, some Peony/Frings, some other, especially other/Guy, some gen if you step carefully.)
- Tales of the Abyss - Little by Little [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - This site is pretty cute and solid, more adorable than anything else, but... what got me to cave was that there were a handful of the Keterburg characters as little kidlets and, holy shit, am I ever weak to that. Especially if you've got Peony beaming at Nephry or little Saphir obviously being tortured like you know he was. For the most part, the site is a general mix of most of the cast, semi-chibi-esque art to the style, lots of soft colors, often verging into pastels, but the artist clearly improved over time and once in awhile something really struck me. It's worth a quick skim through and, hell, if nothing else, the Keterburg kids made me really happy. ♥ (No real warnings/pairing themes, maybe a smidge of Peony/Nephry.)
- Tales of the Abyss - ZWEI FLUGEL [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Oh, goddammit. I was trying to avoid recommending this site, I was trying to get back to looking at Vesperia art, so I started skimming the gallery, clicking randomly to see if the art caught my attention or if I could leave. And then there was this really cute illustration of all the girls with cat ears and it was actually kind of really nicely done and asl;dfkajsl I'm weak. So, I went back through the gallery properly and... a lot of the art is fairly standard stuff for me, but you could definitely see progress with the artist throughout the site. By the time you get to the more current stuff, you'll have a handful of really good art and a;slkdfjalsj I'm weak, shut up. But I totally want to see more from this artist now. *__* Also, she follows it up with chibis that are SO ADORABLE, man. (No real warnings/pairing themes.)
- Tales of the Abyss - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - AUGH, SERIOUSLY. I'm hitting up the Vesperia search engines, so I don't know why I keep coming back to Abyss sites! Not that I really mind, I have deep love for Abyss obviously, but! I was trying to be at least a little balanced today! And yet. I cannot resist this site because... well, there's not a lot of art here and it starts off a little shakey, but the artist quickly improves and some of the illustrations just nail this really vivid, lovely anime style of art. Asch especially looks amazing, but there's a lovely one of Natalia and then a really pretty one of Luke/Tear and OMFG THE KIDLET LUKE ONE. SO CUTE. Seriously, my only complaint is NEEDS MOAR. MOAR AND MOAR AND MOAR. *__* (No real warnings/pairing themes.)
This Vampire Knight in 5 seconds made me laugh, even if that's a terrible thing to do. XD
AND ONTO THE RECS:
Chuck - 6 Fanfics
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! - 5 Fanfics
Merlin - 5 Fanfics
Gintama - 1 Doujinshi
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! - 1 Doujinshi
One Piece - 3 Doujinshi
Slam Dunk! - 1 Doujinshi
One Piece - 2 Fanart
Saiunkoku Monogatari - 1 Fanart
Tales of the Abyss - 5 Fanart
2008 GOAL: 1329/1602
Chuck: Things Bryce Larkin Knows by futuresoon - Okay, see. I have this thing about the show and especially about the idea of Bryce/Chuck. It keeps calling to me, but I'm not sure I can go there yet. So fic is such a dicey bag for me and I end up reading it warily or putting it down halfway through because I don't want full on make-outs yet or anything. I want the build-up first. But I read this fic and, even for one that was written probably less than halfway through the first season, it is a beautiful take on Bryce Larkin and how he looks at Chuck during their time at Stanford. It holds up incredibly well, but even more than that it fits the characters and especially Bryce's reasons for what he did and how he felt about Chuck and how he felt about his own life and just. a;sldkfjasl;kj yes. So, so good. And I think I needed to start with something one-sided, but I didn't expect to get something that so solidly nailed how I felt about the show. *__* (Bryce/Chuck, one sided.)
Chuck: Domach 'a chIy ghoS 'epagh? by futuresoon - As if the first one wasn't wonderful enough, there's another fic from this author, set after we find out Bryce is alive and it's just as amazing as the first one. Her Bryce feels so spot on to me, the way he views life and death and Chuck and Klingon and, oh, god, I'm never ever going to get over the brilliance of that move right there. I love the use of Klingon in this (and it's easy to Google the ones where you can't guess the context), I love how much of a nerd Bryce is here while still being a bad-ass spy, that's one of the best things about the character and makes me so interested in him. Same for the way he clearly has it so very badly for Chuck, but never does anything about it because it couldn't end well, despite how badly he wants it and yet he's smart enough to know himself and how this would go. This Bryce is fascinating and everything I saw of that complicated guy who got Chuck kicked out of Stanford for a reason. Just. as;ldfkjaslkj yes. (Bryce/Chuck, one-sided.)
Chuck: This Expansive Dose Of Words by mardia - Oh, oh, oh, this is what I have been waiting for. I mean, I understand why the show can't go there, with Ellie discovering Chuck's secrets, and they've been doing a great job of not stretching it too far, but I still want that day when she does find out and this fic-- This fic is spot on for everything I wanted out of it. This Ellie is amazing and I love her fiercely, just as much as I love her on the show, even right down to the dialogue that is all fantastic and so, so easy to imagine the actors in their roles for this fic. And the Bryce --> Chuck is perfect, just exactly what I wanted and where I think they would be at that point in time and, oh, some of the moments in this fic were actually painful to get through just reading about them, just exactly as they should be, and I'm sort of just sitting here and marveling over how badly in love I am with this fic. And Ellie. She is so, so amazing. (Some one-sided Bryce/Chuck, but it's only half the point.)
Chuck: Ten Snapshots of a Kidnapping by mardia - Oh, I don't care how god-awfully geeky or flaily this is going to make me look, but. Yes, yes, YES. I have been fucking pining for a fic where Bryce kidnaps Chuck and they go on the world's geekiest and awesomest roadtrip ever since... well, pretty much since Bryce was alive and definitely since the new Intersect came close to being up and running. And, oh, the only complaint I have about this, the only complaint I have, is that it's not a 30,000 word epic fic because that's about all that would make this any more fantastic. Even in such brief snapshots, the author brilliantly captures Bryce's geekiness, Chuck's entire personality, the fantastic dynamic between them and how complicated it can be at the same time, and then works in TOTAL LOL lines of geeky awesomeness and just. a ;sdlfkjasljk Bryce kidnaps Chuck and ROADTRIP and they're such boys about it even when they're in a really rather dangerous situation and a;sldkfjaslk I was starting to think I'd never get this fic and then here it is! (Bryce/Chuck.)
Chuck: Cross Your Heart And Hope by mardia - ...apparently I really am in a Chuck mood this morning. But. *flails hands vaguely* Another fic where Ellie finds out the truth about Chuck in various ways! And it's Ellie being so awesome and there are four different heart-stopping ways that the whole charade could come crashing down and each of them is so fabulous and makes me want to keyboard mash with incoherence. The sibling dynamic between Ellie and Chuck is wonderful here, even the little cameos by Bryce or Casey are wonderful as well, I love that there's so much humor in them, almost as much as there is heartbreak in all the right ways. So fabulous. (No warnings/pairings.)
Chuck: Chuck vs. The Unresolved Sexual Tension by dotfic - As much as I usually seek out Bryce/Chuck fic (because I have a complicated relationship with that pairing, besides I'm usually scared of how Chuck/Sarah fic would be written and I'm usually largely satisfied by it in canon), when I saw an author I really like has written fic for the pairing, I pounced on it. And it's just exactly what I would have wanted for these two right now--it's just the two of them on the couch watching an old movie, but there are so many things between them, so many masks that Sarah has to force herself to wear, so many things Chuck tries to hold back (even if he fails at it), and it's complicated and a little ouchy and perfect for where they are at the time this was written. The writing is fantastic and I think I loved this just as much for being a fascinating Sarah piece as I did for it being a Chuck/Sarah piece. a ;sdklfja;slj now I want more of these two, too. (Chuck/Sarah.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN!: Once Upon a Time, Aboard a Metal Pumpkin Carriage by Belladonna - You wouldn't necessarily think that REBORN! and fairy tales would go together, but there's something about Mukuro and Chrome with Tsuna that lends to them really rather beautifully. At least in this fic, with this author. The quiet scene, the way Chrome is so quiet and proper (if that's the word for it) yet Mukuro is obviously lurking on the edges, the use of various elements of different fairy tales worked into Tsuna's narrative here, the way the little details (of Ken's driving, of Chrome's clothing, of Tsuna's thoughts of the other Guardians) was all very lovely. <3 (This is mostly gen, but maybe a very faint hint of Mukuro/Tsuna?)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN!: Hideaway by vicious_lullaby - Omg, yes, more Lambo/I-Pin! I'm not sure I could put into words why I ship them so strongly, but I very much do and this was just as;ldkjfalskj so adorable and so much total yes and they are so cute. I love that Lambo is so... hapless, even in the future, even when he really is the Thunder Guardian and I love how sensible yet sweet I-Pin is and al;sdkfjslkj there needs to be more fic just like this one. (Lambo/I-Pin.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN!: Love Letter in Vermilion by Belladonna - I don't usually read a lot of Mukuro/Tsuna, but something about this one appealed to me, there was a certain... elegance, I guess, in the violence and the obsession here, it was a really interesting take on a look inside Mukuro's mind as he fights Tsuna. The sense of... a never-ending wheel that keeps turning and turning for him, always bringing him back to Tsuna, really worked for me here, the author wrote a lovely piece. (Mukuro/Tsuna.)
Katekyou HItman REBORN!: SONNET (& quite possibly devoid of everything which makes it so) by actualize - Oh, this was a fabulous read this morning. It's all elegant violence and fight scenes and constant frustration and anger and something so dangerous from both Hibari and Mukuro. This is the kind of fic that keeps me coming back to this pairing, where there's something that pulls on both of them, where Mukuro is taunting Hibari, who knows it and is so, so dangerous and violent, but he's not really listening just yet despite that he notices so much. a;sldkfjsljk the details of this, the little things Hibari notices or the fluid movements of their fights, all of it is suited to this pairing and just. I keyboard mash out of love. The characterization is really fantastic, I love both of the characters here, there's something so sharp about the both of them that's delicious. (Mukuro/Hibari.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN: What Hurts the Most by Umi-Chii - This fic is a little more... *waves hand* emotional, I guess, than I usually prefer, but it was solid enough that it kept me reading for the entire fic and I genuinely enjoyed it. It was nice to see the fic from Dino's point of view, the more serious side of him, so that you could see more about him and Hibari and the relationship between them than if it had been set in another POV. The fic also has some really pretty lines it and, hell, that's usually all I ask. From the PG fics anyway. <3 (Dino/Hibari.)
Merlin: Cry Havoc by suaine - So, I only intended to read a cute fic about the dog statue that came to life, I didn't expect to get a story with a budding plot! But it's hard to mind, when it had that tone the show itself has, when the characterization is solid and the writing really clean and wonderful, when the fic just sailed right on by. I love how much personality the dog got, even when he wasn't really the focus of any particular scene, just that he really made a fabulous addition to the whole thing and, a;sldkjfalsjks, I loved the background details put into this, the story with the dragons and Albion and just. It was a really nice read this morning. (Arthur/Merlin, maybe a little PG13.)
Merlin: And Still by imperfectcircle - It still delights me that Merlin fandom is getting their slashfics with plot sometimes, like aside from the kissing aspect (which wasn't really that much, almost incidental/about something else), it was really quite similar to an episode of the series. Which I adore, I loved the unfolding mystery of what happened with the disappearing children, I loved that Arthur was putting things together far more than Merlin initially gave him credit for, I loved that neither of them could have gotten out of their situation without each other, I loved that each of them had their moment to shine, I loved that there was teasing banter and bickering the whole entire time, even as they grew closer with every scene, I loved the resolution of this, I just. Loved all of it. <3 (Arthur/Merlin.)
Merlin: Arthur and the Widow by svilleficrecs - You know, this fic did a couple of things that I wasn't really expecting, one of them being that it's all about Arthur with an OFC while Merlin is caught in the room, unable to leave without giving himself away and... and that's not usually the kind of fic I read. But this fandom has been giving me a lot of things I don't usually read and I was kind of immediately charmed by the interaction between Arthur and the OFC. What I wound up staying for was the surprisingly depthful characterization of Arthur here, who is quickly turning into my favorite, because he already understands so much about his role in life and how others see him, a lot more than Merlin understands yet. The porn was actually very nicely done (for Arthur/OFC! which I didn't think I would like! but it was pretty good, made interesting by seeing it through Merlin's eyes) and the ending a lot harsher than I was expecting, making it all the better. (Arthur/OFC at least a hard R, implied Arthur/Merlin pre-slash.)
Merlin: Friends? by Beren - So, I've been reading a lot of PG-rated Merlin fic this morning and I needed some porn, okay. And this fic nicely fit the bill--it started out a smidge rough, but quickly got going much better and by the midpoint, I was pretty much reading through the whole thing in one piece. I like this characterization of Arthur, who knows what he's doing, is a little bit of a dick, but basically a decent guy around Merlin, even if they snipe at each other, and that's reflected through Merlin's point of view--even if he's not precisely putting it in those terms. I liked that the sex wasn't just over in the blink of an eye (which it shouldn't be, considering this fic is all about the porn) but didn't linger too long, either. Add in a few moments of humor and it was a nice read this morning. (Arthur/Merlin.)
Merlin: cor unum by thisissirius - So, sometimes, in order to balance out all the looks and non-resolution of the UST in canon, sometimes I just need fic where Arthur and Merlin are already in a relationship and it's established and I can skip straight to the snuggling. Especially if they're still bickering the entire way. I am totally, totally weak to the waking up in bed together and not quite ready to move just yet and the spooning, especially when Merlin himself is rather like, "....god, we're ridiculous." but doesn't actually move. alskdjfalskj this made me all warm and fuzzy, shut up. XD (Arthur/Merlin, not quite SFW.)
Gintama Doujinshi (scanslated) - Sennichikou - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] There's something very odd about Katsura topping Gin in doujinshi like this, it just... doesn't quite work to my brain. I would have given this a pass, except GinZura (well, ZuraGin in this case) is such a rare pairing that I want everything for it and this doujinshi is about what I expected. The art is very lovely, though, and I think those who enjoy this particular pairing should like it a lot. I'm glad to have read it. XD (Katsura/Gintoki. NSFW.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (scanslated) - Welcome to My Doghouse - I was totally unsure what I was going to get when I first opened up this doujinshi to start reading. It's not the kind of D18 art I'm used to, it's a lot like Amano's art was in the first few volumes, it's not bad, but it hasn't quite matured yet, but I suspect that's deliberate, because some of Dino's expressions are just spot on from the manga. But. What really makes this doujinshi is... well, the concept is, during their fights, Dino takes Hibari to a hotel to rest at instead of staying at Namimori and it... well, everything that could go completely lolarious pretty much does. Hibari's ultra-light sleeping patterns, his total lack of self-consciousness, his willingness to bite or kick or hit at any moment, Dino's sunny nature and how he kinda likes this kid and takes his own life into his hands by glomping onto the vicious little demon... all of it really, very strongly reminds me of the total cracked out LOLZ of The Daily Life arc. The art style really helps with that, too. This one might be a bit of an odd duck, but I totally, totally recommend it if you like that D18 dynamic because I was cracking up the whole way. (Dino/Hibari.)
One Piece Doujinshi (scanslated) - Hentai-san ga Iku - This... this doujinshi is completely on crack, you can't take it remotely seriously at all. But that's part of the fun of it for me, it's so over the top, with Zoro and Ace both trying to win Sanji's affections, that I just sat there and was amuzed the entire way through. The art was mostly pretty solid, occasionally the artist really did a good job of capture the canon style, but mostly... yeah, this one was for the lolz and you pretty have to already be a fan to shut your brain off for this one. XD (Zoro/Sanji, Ace/Sanji.)
One Piece Doujinshi (scanslated) - I Told You So! - This is a Sanji/Luffy doujinshi, which is a pairing I actually really kinda like, but doesn't get that much attention in fandom. So this short little thing at only nine pages was a nice little treat this morning. It's pretty fluffy--Luffy is sick and thus doesn't have his usual energy, so Sanji finds himself responding in kind and it's... well, I think it's another doujinshi where you kind of have to already be a fan of the pairing for it to work for you, but it was cute, there were some adorable panels, and I enjoyed it a lot. <3 (Sanji/Luffy.)
One Piece Doujinshi (scanslated) - Ichinomiya Shihan Best Selection [LovePotionNo.9] - [Note: You'll have to scroll down about 3/4ths of the way to find this doujinshi, you may want to just Ctrl+F for it.] This is another short one, only about ten pages long, but! It's fun and it starts off with a great moment--Sanji reading porn with a TOTALLY SERIOUS FACE because alsdkfjalskj it won't work anymore! And then Zoro comes along and proves, well, it doesn't work like that anymore and it goes about as you'd expect it. It's just a silly little thing, but I really like this doujinshika (who may not be to everyone's taste, the art is awfully pointy, but it's an acquaired taste for me, I think) and, really, I can't ask for more than that. <3 (Zoro/Sanji, NSFW.)
Slam Dunk! Doujinshi (scanslated) - Come With the Wind - I... I-- Is that Rukawa and Hanamichi drawn as Rhett and Scarlet from the Gone with the Wind poster? asl;dkfjal;sjk jesus christ sometimes I love Japan so much that I feel like I'm going to BURST with it. The doujinshi itself is kind of random and semi-pointless, but it's by Yamane Ayano and you can tell how talented she is (even if this seems to be one of her older works and the characters occasionally look a little off) and it's got Rukawa as a raccoon molesting Hanamichi, but honestly. That just makes it MORE AWESOME. I think I practically lol'd my way through this entire thing, god, I love Japan. (Rukawa/Hanamichi, not quite SFW.)
- One Piece - 2nd Punk [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Just from the banner alone, I knew I'd probably going to be recommending this site. But I was a little unsure when I clicked on the first image, not bad, but not quite blowing me away, either. Then I clicked a few more links into the gallery and... okay, it's still kind of hit or miss, but there are a few that are just kind of fantastic. Sanji all tied up and bloody on the floor? Should not be that hot, but he is. There's fanservice from just about all of the characters, really, including one of Nami in short shorts and a;lsdkfjasl;kj bless this artist, seriously. XD I'm sort of iffy on the artist's Zoro, but her Sanji is really cool, there's something really polished or smooth about the art with his character and you can tell that he's probably her favorite. But! I had fun all over this site and I only wish there were more art here. <3 (Some Zoro/Sanji, some gen.)
- One Piece - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - This artist took me a bit to warm up to, but I eventually got there because the art is really kind of interesting. I use that word a lot, I suppose, but I do mean it. There's something... well, it's not precisely like the canon style, but it feels like it has that OP spirit to it, there's a lot of really intriguing stylization to the ZoSan images. There are even a handful of group illustrations that just really neat to look at and I love the frequently used pastel colors and even the oekaki illustrations are fun to look at! For all that this is sort of a bland rec, I really did enjoy the hell out of this site. ♥ (Zoro/Sanji.)
- Saiunkoku Monogatari - RedPeach [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - So, I'm looking for Tales of Vesperia art and somehow I end up on a... Saiunkoku Monogatari site? aslkdjfl;wkj wtf? Not that I really mind, the site started out with a cute Kouyuu illustration and, well. That's certainly the way to get my attention. <3 There's also a fair amount of Reinshin here and a few very nice Shuuei illustrations and... it's not really a massive site (though, there's a lot of sketches/oekaki/etc. in the log sections) but it was a nice reminder of the fandom and how much I really do like it. I had fun. <3 (No real warnings/pairing themes.)
- Tales of the Abyss - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I don't think this site is going to be for everyone, but... well, I'm weak to Natalia, so I was always going to view it more fondly. And the art is kind of really cute and you should like it all right if you like Natalia's character or if you're as hardcore an OTPer with Asch/Natalia as I am, because the pairing seems to get the cutest art on the site. A lot of the art is in sketches or little doodles, but there's a lot of it and some if it just so awww-inducingly OTP that I can hardly stand it. There's also a lot of art on the site, so by the time I finished with it... well, I'd caved pretty hard. XD I adore how much you can tell this artist really loves Natalia. ♥ (Asch/Natalia, with some gen and some other/Natalia.)
- Tales of the Abyss - Microcosmos [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I had to recommend this site for a couple of reasons, the first being that it had some pairings I hadn't seen elsewhere and I'm a sucker for oddball pairng art to add to my theoretical list of Every Possible ToA Pairing Ever in Fanart. I mean, where else will I find Frings/Guy? XD But the second reason I'm recommending this site is because it does some damn fine Malkuth army illustrations--the artist's Frings is really lovely and her Peony is lovely as well. There's a lot of Peony/Guy on the site, actually, which isn't my usual pairing, but this site put me in such a Malkuth mood (odd that there's not as much Jade as you'd expect, but given that he gets a million sites elsewhere, I don't particularly mind this time XD) that I didn't mind at all. Plus, omg the one of Frings, Cecile, and baby Guy? L:AKSDJALSKJ SO ADORABLE. Occasionaly there's art of the other characters, but it's mostly centered on those three--the site is worth your time, I think, if you're a fany of Peony, Guy, or Frings. The artist has this really pretty, almost suneshine-esque sort of style that really works for them. (Some Frings/Guy, some Peony/Guy, some Peony/Frings, some other, especially other/Guy, some gen if you step carefully.)
- Tales of the Abyss - Little by Little [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - This site is pretty cute and solid, more adorable than anything else, but... what got me to cave was that there were a handful of the Keterburg characters as little kidlets and, holy shit, am I ever weak to that. Especially if you've got Peony beaming at Nephry or little Saphir obviously being tortured like you know he was. For the most part, the site is a general mix of most of the cast, semi-chibi-esque art to the style, lots of soft colors, often verging into pastels, but the artist clearly improved over time and once in awhile something really struck me. It's worth a quick skim through and, hell, if nothing else, the Keterburg kids made me really happy. ♥ (No real warnings/pairing themes, maybe a smidge of Peony/Nephry.)
- Tales of the Abyss - ZWEI FLUGEL [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Oh, goddammit. I was trying to avoid recommending this site, I was trying to get back to looking at Vesperia art, so I started skimming the gallery, clicking randomly to see if the art caught my attention or if I could leave. And then there was this really cute illustration of all the girls with cat ears and it was actually kind of really nicely done and asl;dfkajsl I'm weak. So, I went back through the gallery properly and... a lot of the art is fairly standard stuff for me, but you could definitely see progress with the artist throughout the site. By the time you get to the more current stuff, you'll have a handful of really good art and a;slkdfjalsj I'm weak, shut up. But I totally want to see more from this artist now. *__* Also, she follows it up with chibis that are SO ADORABLE, man. (No real warnings/pairing themes.)
- Tales of the Abyss - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - AUGH, SERIOUSLY. I'm hitting up the Vesperia search engines, so I don't know why I keep coming back to Abyss sites! Not that I really mind, I have deep love for Abyss obviously, but! I was trying to be at least a little balanced today! And yet. I cannot resist this site because... well, there's not a lot of art here and it starts off a little shakey, but the artist quickly improves and some of the illustrations just nail this really vivid, lovely anime style of art. Asch especially looks amazing, but there's a lovely one of Natalia and then a really pretty one of Luke/Tear and OMFG THE KIDLET LUKE ONE. SO CUTE. Seriously, my only complaint is NEEDS MOAR. MOAR AND MOAR AND MOAR. *__* (No real warnings/pairing themes.)