[ Chuck, Glee, Gundam 00, REBORN!, Sailor Moon, Umineko ]
SHARING TIME:
You know, if you guys loved me, more of you would be playing A Witch's Tale. It's a perfect little Halloween game and the graphics are beautiful and the story is pretty charming so far! Just looking at the character designs and how awesome the trailer is, I don't know why more people aren't playing this with me. I want so badly to pimp out this fandom but, cripes, it's even worse than trying to find Odin Sphere or Okami fanworks. (Whyyyy do I like the small fandoms all the time?)
AND ONTO THE RECS:
Chuck - 1 Fanfic
Glee - 5 Fanfics
Sailor Moon - 3 Fanfics
Gundam 00 - 2 Doujinshi
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! - 3 Doujinshi
Bleach - 7 Fanart
Gundam 00 - 2 Fanart
Sailor Moon - 1 Fanart
Umineko no Naku Koro ni - 2 Fanart
2009 GOAL: 814 (+ 365)/1700
Chuck: Real Spies by serendipityxxi - This little fic had a really great Chuck voice as he lies in bed and thinks about what makes up a real spy and is just... so Chuck as he sort of fumbles his way through the fic. But it's also got some sharp internal monologue and it's the kind of fic that just makes me remember absolutely everything I love about Chuck Bartowski and how it's about what he wants for himself, but then also a little about what he wants with/for Sarah. It's a great blend and a lovely little fic to read this afternoon. (Chuck/Sarah, it's only half the point.)
Glee: In a Giddy Whirl by waldorph - [Note: Just go ahead and assume there are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] I'm not sure where to start with this rec, because I just sort of want to explode with joyful glee over this fic. I continue to love fics that don't shy away from Puck being kind of a real dick, but with a genuine personality that's not entirely bad underneath that, right down to a hilariously great narrative voice for him. But it's not just that, it's also all these little scenes Puck has with the other characters around him, the way Rachel is just this tiny little giant force of nature, the way the rest of the Glee club is wonderful, the way there are all these little moments worked in. And I love, love, love the semi-meta-esque reference to movies without it being a suffocating ever-present theme. Instead, it's Puck and Rachel working towards realizing they could maybe work out and lots of hilarious lines along the way (I want to quote so many of them omg) and just. I could not stop grinning the whole time I read this. Also there were sexytimes. That just made my day. Also also also. Puck's thoughts on Finn. SO MUCH LOL. (Puck/Rachel, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
Glee: The Ones that Entertain by waldorph - [Note: This is a sequel to the previous fic by the author, it would help to have read that one first. Also just assume there are spoilers for 1x08.] I saw there was another fic by this author and assumed I was going to get more of the same delightful Puck point of view. Instead, I got an awesome Kurt point of view that's less focus on the romance of this series and more on how much Kurt loves the girls in Glee and how much fun it is to watch him be his entirely awesome self. I love how very flaming he is here, but yet it's like him on the show--it doesn't overwhelm the fact that there's an actual person in there, you feel that real person in there the whole time. Plus, all the celebration of clothes and pretty things and hair and nails and all that girly stuff is so much fun. (Background Finn/Quinn and Puck/Rachel and Kurt-->Finn, but none of them are the point.)
Glee: Glee drabbles by fuzzy_paint - [Note: Go ahead and assume there are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] I think what I like most about this fic is the potential future that's unfolding for the characters here, set in short little ficlets all along the timeline. I even like that they're not in chronological order, somehow that added to the interesting feel of this piece. I like that it's mostly about Puck (and a little about Quinn and their kid, a time or two) because it helps narrow the focus down and I like that it's not just about Puck/Rachel (though, it's there in the background sometimes, just not necessarily the focus) and it's a neat little exploration of where his life could go. I-- have apparently really warmed up to Puck's character after the initial dislike. (Some Puck/Rachel, but it's not the point.)
Glee: I sing the body electric by Nova802 - [Note: There are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] This is not as happy a take on 1x08, but part of what I fell for with this pairing is the versality of them and how some stories about them aren't going to have them working out. (At the same time, I love that this fic is only mostly about that, it's also about a very quiet thread of something that may or may not go somewhere eventually, someday.) The story is beautifully written and I really like this Rachel voice, it feels spot on for where she was at the end of that episode, just a little painful but still with her forceful positive spin on things. Very pretty writing. (Mostly Puck/Rachel, but the whole Puck/Rachel/Finn/Quinn thing is in the background.)
Glee: two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, chapter 1 by of_hearts - [Notes: There are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] Another fic with a really solid Puck voice in the narration, but also one with a whole lot of potential to go really interesting (and fannishly satisfying) places. There had to have been at least five different lines I wanted to quote from this one fic alone (which wasn't quite a thousand words--though, it felt a lot shorter than that because it just sailed on by), but I also like that the fic is about Puck trying to be Rachel's friend because he needs someone to talk to, even if he realizes how pathetic that is, while there's obviously something more driving it. I really, really want more of this one. (Puck/Rachel, background Finn/Quinn/Puck/Rachel stuff from canon.)
Sailor Moon: A Silent Look of Understanding by Aislinn Cailin - So, I've been in quite the Sailor Moon mood lately and I was browsing all over FFNET for some readable UsaMamo fic, finally stopping on this one. It definitely got my attention right away with the passionate kisses between the two of them, using their fighting with each other as cover so that no one knows what they're up to at the beginning of their relationship, and I liked that it acknowledged the way they started--at each other's throats. I had a little trouble following the progression of things (but my memory of the exact order of events in the series is a bit spotty at times), but the focus on the relationship between them was really nicely done, I liked this take on their characters. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: White by Aislinn Cailin - Well, as long as I was on the author's FFNET profile, I figured I'd click on another one of her fics, and this one intrigued me. Even more than the previous one, this fic has a slightly different take from most fic I've read, it's a little more painful and darker, Mamoru isn't quite what I'm used to, but this one paragraph really sold me on this fic: He wasn’t attracted to her because of her benevolence, her sunshine, her luck. No, it was none of those things. He was attracted to her because of her masochism, her insistence to wear her heart on her sleeve, her determination to feel every cut, every bruise, every stab that anyone, he himself included, sent her way. He was fascinated. He wanted to learn that from her, that act of self-inflicted cruelty. Because after years of feeling nothing at all, any pain was better than the numbness in his heart. It's different, I'm not sure it quite matches my own feelings on the characters (the fic overall, that is), but I found it really interesting and I could see it. I really adored the ending, too. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: On a Cold Windy Day by ADeerInHeadlights - I have a thing about the Sailor Moon universe and its destiny that's all been laid out for its characters--Usagi and Mamoru have to get married and have to become King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo and have to do all these things that were pre-destined... so how does that (potential) burden affect the two of them and the others around them? That's what this fic is all about, Usagi feeling the weight of destiny on her shoulders on her wedding day and wondering if she's alone in that. I like it because it deals with the issue the way I think the characters do, along with just a little sap to make it sweet. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Gundam 00 Doujinshi (scanslated) - If It’s for Your Sake, I’ll Die - [Note: There are multiple links on this page, but I'm going to rec each one separately.] Oh, god. As if this AU doujinshi with Lockon as a businessman while Tieria is a housewife wasn't great enough, the introduction of the characters in the beginning also listed Patrick/Katie and Patrick was the house husband. It's like. It's like this doujinshika knew what would make me a) LOL and b) be forever happy. And, lord, it's all domestic cuteness and apartment life and all their neighbors are from 00 (and it has a brief bit of Allelujah/Marie as well!) and mostly done in 4koma style, but the art is still really pretty anyway. A lot of the stories revolve around trying to adjust to newlywed life or Tieria being jealous of their new "pet" Haro and the absolutely adorable way they work it out. Seriously, I smiled the whole way through this. (Lockon/Tieria, some background Patrick/Katie omfg.)
Gundam 00 Doujinshi (scanslated) - Abnormality - [Note: There are multiple links on this page, but I'm going to rec each one separately.] I have this thing about the idea of Setsuna/Tieria, where I can't say I precisely ship it, but I definitely think it would be really hot. So, I see adult-rated Setsuna/Tieria doujinshi. Well, I have to download it and at least see, right? And a;sldifjalksj w-well. Setsuna driving Tieria inna dress to the formal party and stops the car because he can't resist Tieria like that and it's porn with Tieria in that dress. I feel as if I've been waiting my whole life for this! I know I shouldn't like the slight "not here, not right now" aspect to it, but that kind of just made it hotter with this doujinshika. The art is serviceable and this whole book is... really, it's about the kink of Setsuna fucking Tieria in the back of the car while he's wearing that dress. If it's your thing, you'll hopefully like it. If not, probably not then. I... I'm weak, okay. (Setsuna/Tieria, NC-17.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (raw) - Love Attack Mail - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] Another short anthology stories that's only nine pages long (including the extra info pages) but... it's Dino constantly messaging Hibari! And everyone else in the cast constantly messaging him! And Hibari is about as thrilled with this as you'd expect! Plus the art is really pretty cute and has a couple of really nice panels throughout the story, so I was easily pleased. (Half gen, half Dino/Hibari.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (raw) - Kyoutan - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] ....once again, it's only a short little thing (and two even shorter than usual stories at that) but it's little baby Hibari! Being taken care of by Dino! With really kinda totally cute art! I am all wibbly and was in the mood for heart-warming things this afternoon, so this was just right for me. (Dino/Hibari.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (raw) - Aenai Jikan ga Ai wo Sodateru to Iukeredo - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] It's been too long since I read Ryohei/Hibari anything, much less a doujinshi with porn in it! Much less doujinshi with Ryohei making Hibari's life so difficult that you don't even know. Because that was the really fun part about this one--as much as I liked the sex (and I did), it was Hibari's hilarious facial expressions that were my favorite. The art is on the simple side and Hibari's a little too easily shocked sometimes for my taste, but the things the doujinshi did right made up for that for me. (Ryohei/Hibari, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I really, desperately wanted some pretty Orihime art this morning. So, I braved my way back into the j-fanart sites to look for more of it and asldkfjaslkjskj if nothing else, I'm glad for this pairing because PRETTY ORIHIME ART. I love the artist's uses of black/white/orange together, the way the slick and glossy colors are so pretty. Plus, there's a handful of Orihime images by herself (in a black shirt or in a bikini or, hell, even an occasional Rukia/Orihime b&w sketch) and that really won me over. I grudgingly admit the UlquiHime art was very pretty, I suppose. *g* (Ulquiorra/Orihime, some other het pairings.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - No, seriously, I am so incredibly weak to Orihime art (and desperate for it) that I'll just eat up sites that normally wouldn't be to my personal tastes otherwise. The art here starts out sketchy and a bit simple, but I actually really liked the way it looked, the almost watercolor-like style at times, the way her hair flowed all through the images, the way the colors were very vivid at other times. There was a nice, warm feeling to several of them or else sometimes they reminded me of Halloween, which was perfect for today. (Not that they were Halloween-esque in nature, but the black/orange/white scheme reminds me of it.) I think... if I were a bigger fan of this pairing, I'd have been a lot more squeeful about this site, but, hell, even as it stands, I enjoyed the lovely Orihime art. (Some Ulquiorra/Orihime, some Orihime gen, a smidge of Hitsugaya/Matsumoto.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Moar Orihime art! Which does start out small and a little in need of tightening, but there's a lot of potential in this artist's lines right from the beginning. Plus, Orihime being cute! And I never quite lost my ability to be intrigued by Grimmjow/Orihime! And I do think Ulquiorra's design is interesting from a visual standpoint! Actually, I think some of my favorites from this site might have been the GrimmHime ones just because they're so well-done, the artist really ramps up their game for those. The rest of the art is really cute, but I totally got my kicks from being an Orihime fan on this site. (Grimmjow/Orihime/Ulquiorra mix-and-match, some Nnoitra/Tesla, some gen.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Granted, this site is going to be for fans like me, who a) love Orihime to little bits and b) are over the moon for Ichigo/Orihime. The artist has a very... when I was going through the gallery, I was actually rather strongly reminded of shoujo manga-style covers, which the artist has a strong sense of for me. It's not necessarily what everyone will go for, but I was pleased with it on this one site. Plus, you know. Ichigo/Orihime art, my fangirl heart wants it. And I really did like the super cute sketches on this site, I'd like to see more from this artist. (Ichigo/Orihime, some Grimmjow/Orihime/Ichigo triangle stuff.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - So, I was looking for Orihime art this afternoon. And... somehow found myself looking at Aizen art instead. Well, okay, it's more of a Gin-centric site, but the artist is clearly fond of Aizen as well and the art of him is what sucked me into this site at the beginning. Some of the art here is really just beautifully done, she does that gentle evil smirk amazingly well and Aizen is really kind of hot in her hands. (Aizen with his shirt half-undo? I did not know how much I needed that until I saw it, wow.) The Gin art is nicely done as well (though, a bit more focused on the oekaki and sketches than I'd have liked) but, man, once I got into the Aizen/Gin art, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite sites for this pairing. The artist has some great lines, it's all detail and just a hit of messy hair and soft colors, all things that are perfect for this surprisingly subtle pairing. There's also some Gin/everyone, some Matsumoto standalone art that's hot, etc, but I was definitely here for the Aizen/Gin, mm. (Mostly gen, but some Aizen/Gin and a bit of other/Gin.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I sat on the fence with this site as well for awhile and wound up scanning quickly over a lot of the images, I admit. But there was enough art here that was just darling that I eventually wound up slowing down and taking my time properly--especially the Orihime art. (I have my weaknesses, I know.) There's a fairly decent selection of various Hueco Mundo-centric characters here, but it was the soft, glowing colors on the Orihime (and Ulquiorra/Orihime) art that really sucked me in; some of it is SO CUTE. But it's also that there's a super cute Aizen/Orihime image! And a darling little formal wear Grimmjow/Orihime image! There's a lot of Arrancar art if you're into that as well. <3 (Mostly gen, but some Ulquiorra/Orihime, some other/Orihime het.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - This site follows in the trend a lot of my previous recs fell into--I sat on the fence with this one for a bit, but ultimately there was enough cute Orihime art that I couldn't resist. I tended to like the sketches and oekaki art the most, because it showed off the really super cute style the artist had and there were a lot of them. A lot of art (to the point that it takes me awhile just to view all of them) can really win me over with just about anything. (Ulquiorra/Orihime, some gen.)
- Gundam 00 - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I believe I've been to this site before, probably for the D.Gray-man art, but now that I'm more solidly into Gundam 00's fandom, the Allelujah/Marie art is just what I wanted to find. I do wish there'd been a bit more regular art (instead of a bunch of comics), but it's hard to complain when the artist has such a cute style and soft, pretty lines to everything. Plus, the comics are all about soft, cute looks towards each other or lovely hugs or the occasional super-pretty kiss. There's a smidge of Tieria/Feldt to be found on the site as well, which is a pet crack pairing that I can't help liking sometimes. Everything is drawn really well--occasionally a little on the simple side, but it's all very clean and really pretty. That's all I ask. And it does look a lot better on the regular art, where the artist has a bit more time to work on them--the log images of Allelujah hugging Marie or even Marie by herself are gorgeous. (Allelujah/Marie, a bit of Tieria/Feldt.)
- Gundam 00 - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I sat on the fence with this site for a bit because the artist has a lot of potential but I'm not sure they were quite there yet... and then I started getting into the more recent stuff and the artist had some really lovely pieces up and... well, it's a third Setsuna/Marina, a third Graham/Setsuna, and a third mash-up of everything else. I know my own weaknesses, especially if it's Setsuna in his s2 uniform with Marina in a pretty white dress or Setsuna/Marina semi-nakedness together. So, yeah, I wound up really, really liking this site by the end! Plus, the log art is really cute, too. <3 (Setsuna/Marina, Graham/Setsuna, a little everyone/Setsuna. Occasional NSFW content.)
- Sailor Moon - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - About the time I got to the cute little comic strip of Mamoru and Usagi studying together, where she just crawls right into his lap and then falls asleep on him, I knew this site and I were going to get along amazingly well. It's almost pure little 4koma style comics in b&w and the art is very simple, so I imagine you probably need to already be an UsaMamo fan, but... oh, man, this site pushed my buttons in all the right ways. It's SO CUTE and the more I look at the art, the more darling it becomes. It helps that the other senshi appear semi-often, in the same cute chibi-esque style, but it's mostly focused on the main couple doing things like watching meteors or being super cute when they finally (even just lightly) kiss each other or Usagi being adorable as she climbs into Mamoru's lap while he's driving or or or--! I just. I love it so much. (Usagi/Mamoru.)
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I wasn't even intending to look for Umineko art this morning, but the banner for this site caught my eye and it has pretty Amakusa/Ange art on it, so who am I to resist clicking on over? There's not a lot of art here, I definitely wish there'd been more (though, there is some very nice stuff on the log account), but the artist has gotten really good with her stuff for this series--the Ange images are lovely, the group images look fantastic, and there's even this one of Bernkastel/Lambdadelta that was very pretty, which I appreciate (a good variety of characters, that is). There's also a beautiful one of Maria and a couple of Kannon/Jessica images that made me happy. I almost never see art for them. (Some Amakusa/Ange, some Kannon/Jessica, mostly gen, I'd say.)
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I believe I've been to this site before for the Higurashi art, but the Umineko art is all new to me now, which is a delight because it's such a pretty site. Sure, a lot of it is in sketches or little doodles, but when the artist goes all out, she creates something really lovely. The colors are so shiny and slick, the lines are clean and sharp, the details really good, creating just... really intriguing pieces. And of very nearly every major cast memeber at some point! The one of little Bernkastel/Erika is beautiful with its deep blues and purples or Beatrice in these lovely, glowing golds that are also just gorgeous or-- well, pretty much everything. This site is easily one of my favorites in the fandom already. (Nothing I'd really warn for.)
You know, if you guys loved me, more of you would be playing A Witch's Tale. It's a perfect little Halloween game and the graphics are beautiful and the story is pretty charming so far! Just looking at the character designs and how awesome the trailer is, I don't know why more people aren't playing this with me. I want so badly to pimp out this fandom but, cripes, it's even worse than trying to find Odin Sphere or Okami fanworks. (Whyyyy do I like the small fandoms all the time?)
AND ONTO THE RECS:
Chuck - 1 Fanfic
Glee - 5 Fanfics
Sailor Moon - 3 Fanfics
Gundam 00 - 2 Doujinshi
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! - 3 Doujinshi
Bleach - 7 Fanart
Gundam 00 - 2 Fanart
Sailor Moon - 1 Fanart
Umineko no Naku Koro ni - 2 Fanart
2009 GOAL: 814 (+ 365)/1700
Chuck: Real Spies by serendipityxxi - This little fic had a really great Chuck voice as he lies in bed and thinks about what makes up a real spy and is just... so Chuck as he sort of fumbles his way through the fic. But it's also got some sharp internal monologue and it's the kind of fic that just makes me remember absolutely everything I love about Chuck Bartowski and how it's about what he wants for himself, but then also a little about what he wants with/for Sarah. It's a great blend and a lovely little fic to read this afternoon. (Chuck/Sarah, it's only half the point.)
Glee: In a Giddy Whirl by waldorph - [Note: Just go ahead and assume there are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] I'm not sure where to start with this rec, because I just sort of want to explode with joyful glee over this fic. I continue to love fics that don't shy away from Puck being kind of a real dick, but with a genuine personality that's not entirely bad underneath that, right down to a hilariously great narrative voice for him. But it's not just that, it's also all these little scenes Puck has with the other characters around him, the way Rachel is just this tiny little giant force of nature, the way the rest of the Glee club is wonderful, the way there are all these little moments worked in. And I love, love, love the semi-meta-esque reference to movies without it being a suffocating ever-present theme. Instead, it's Puck and Rachel working towards realizing they could maybe work out and lots of hilarious lines along the way (I want to quote so many of them omg) and just. I could not stop grinning the whole time I read this. Also there were sexytimes. That just made my day. Also also also. Puck's thoughts on Finn. SO MUCH LOL. (Puck/Rachel, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
Glee: The Ones that Entertain by waldorph - [Note: This is a sequel to the previous fic by the author, it would help to have read that one first. Also just assume there are spoilers for 1x08.] I saw there was another fic by this author and assumed I was going to get more of the same delightful Puck point of view. Instead, I got an awesome Kurt point of view that's less focus on the romance of this series and more on how much Kurt loves the girls in Glee and how much fun it is to watch him be his entirely awesome self. I love how very flaming he is here, but yet it's like him on the show--it doesn't overwhelm the fact that there's an actual person in there, you feel that real person in there the whole time. Plus, all the celebration of clothes and pretty things and hair and nails and all that girly stuff is so much fun. (Background Finn/Quinn and Puck/Rachel and Kurt-->Finn, but none of them are the point.)
Glee: Glee drabbles by fuzzy_paint - [Note: Go ahead and assume there are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] I think what I like most about this fic is the potential future that's unfolding for the characters here, set in short little ficlets all along the timeline. I even like that they're not in chronological order, somehow that added to the interesting feel of this piece. I like that it's mostly about Puck (and a little about Quinn and their kid, a time or two) because it helps narrow the focus down and I like that it's not just about Puck/Rachel (though, it's there in the background sometimes, just not necessarily the focus) and it's a neat little exploration of where his life could go. I-- have apparently really warmed up to Puck's character after the initial dislike. (Some Puck/Rachel, but it's not the point.)
Glee: I sing the body electric by Nova802 - [Note: There are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] This is not as happy a take on 1x08, but part of what I fell for with this pairing is the versality of them and how some stories about them aren't going to have them working out. (At the same time, I love that this fic is only mostly about that, it's also about a very quiet thread of something that may or may not go somewhere eventually, someday.) The story is beautifully written and I really like this Rachel voice, it feels spot on for where she was at the end of that episode, just a little painful but still with her forceful positive spin on things. Very pretty writing. (Mostly Puck/Rachel, but the whole Puck/Rachel/Finn/Quinn thing is in the background.)
Glee: two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, chapter 1 by of_hearts - [Notes: There are spoilers for 1x08 in this fic and this rec.] Another fic with a really solid Puck voice in the narration, but also one with a whole lot of potential to go really interesting (and fannishly satisfying) places. There had to have been at least five different lines I wanted to quote from this one fic alone (which wasn't quite a thousand words--though, it felt a lot shorter than that because it just sailed on by), but I also like that the fic is about Puck trying to be Rachel's friend because he needs someone to talk to, even if he realizes how pathetic that is, while there's obviously something more driving it. I really, really want more of this one. (Puck/Rachel, background Finn/Quinn/Puck/Rachel stuff from canon.)
Sailor Moon: A Silent Look of Understanding by Aislinn Cailin - So, I've been in quite the Sailor Moon mood lately and I was browsing all over FFNET for some readable UsaMamo fic, finally stopping on this one. It definitely got my attention right away with the passionate kisses between the two of them, using their fighting with each other as cover so that no one knows what they're up to at the beginning of their relationship, and I liked that it acknowledged the way they started--at each other's throats. I had a little trouble following the progression of things (but my memory of the exact order of events in the series is a bit spotty at times), but the focus on the relationship between them was really nicely done, I liked this take on their characters. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: White by Aislinn Cailin - Well, as long as I was on the author's FFNET profile, I figured I'd click on another one of her fics, and this one intrigued me. Even more than the previous one, this fic has a slightly different take from most fic I've read, it's a little more painful and darker, Mamoru isn't quite what I'm used to, but this one paragraph really sold me on this fic: He wasn’t attracted to her because of her benevolence, her sunshine, her luck. No, it was none of those things. He was attracted to her because of her masochism, her insistence to wear her heart on her sleeve, her determination to feel every cut, every bruise, every stab that anyone, he himself included, sent her way. He was fascinated. He wanted to learn that from her, that act of self-inflicted cruelty. Because after years of feeling nothing at all, any pain was better than the numbness in his heart. It's different, I'm not sure it quite matches my own feelings on the characters (the fic overall, that is), but I found it really interesting and I could see it. I really adored the ending, too. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: On a Cold Windy Day by ADeerInHeadlights - I have a thing about the Sailor Moon universe and its destiny that's all been laid out for its characters--Usagi and Mamoru have to get married and have to become King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo and have to do all these things that were pre-destined... so how does that (potential) burden affect the two of them and the others around them? That's what this fic is all about, Usagi feeling the weight of destiny on her shoulders on her wedding day and wondering if she's alone in that. I like it because it deals with the issue the way I think the characters do, along with just a little sap to make it sweet. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Gundam 00 Doujinshi (scanslated) - If It’s for Your Sake, I’ll Die - [Note: There are multiple links on this page, but I'm going to rec each one separately.] Oh, god. As if this AU doujinshi with Lockon as a businessman while Tieria is a housewife wasn't great enough, the introduction of the characters in the beginning also listed Patrick/Katie and Patrick was the house husband. It's like. It's like this doujinshika knew what would make me a) LOL and b) be forever happy. And, lord, it's all domestic cuteness and apartment life and all their neighbors are from 00 (and it has a brief bit of Allelujah/Marie as well!) and mostly done in 4koma style, but the art is still really pretty anyway. A lot of the stories revolve around trying to adjust to newlywed life or Tieria being jealous of their new "pet" Haro and the absolutely adorable way they work it out. Seriously, I smiled the whole way through this. (Lockon/Tieria, some background Patrick/Katie omfg.)
Gundam 00 Doujinshi (scanslated) - Abnormality - [Note: There are multiple links on this page, but I'm going to rec each one separately.] I have this thing about the idea of Setsuna/Tieria, where I can't say I precisely ship it, but I definitely think it would be really hot. So, I see adult-rated Setsuna/Tieria doujinshi. Well, I have to download it and at least see, right? And a;sldifjalksj w-well. Setsuna driving Tieria inna dress to the formal party and stops the car because he can't resist Tieria like that and it's porn with Tieria in that dress. I feel as if I've been waiting my whole life for this! I know I shouldn't like the slight "not here, not right now" aspect to it, but that kind of just made it hotter with this doujinshika. The art is serviceable and this whole book is... really, it's about the kink of Setsuna fucking Tieria in the back of the car while he's wearing that dress. If it's your thing, you'll hopefully like it. If not, probably not then. I... I'm weak, okay. (Setsuna/Tieria, NC-17.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (raw) - Love Attack Mail - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] Another short anthology stories that's only nine pages long (including the extra info pages) but... it's Dino constantly messaging Hibari! And everyone else in the cast constantly messaging him! And Hibari is about as thrilled with this as you'd expect! Plus the art is really pretty cute and has a couple of really nice panels throughout the story, so I was easily pleased. (Half gen, half Dino/Hibari.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (raw) - Kyoutan - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] ....once again, it's only a short little thing (and two even shorter than usual stories at that) but it's little baby Hibari! Being taken care of by Dino! With really kinda totally cute art! I am all wibbly and was in the mood for heart-warming things this afternoon, so this was just right for me. (Dino/Hibari.)
Katekyou Hitman REBORN! Doujinshi (raw) - Aenai Jikan ga Ai wo Sodateru to Iukeredo - [Note: This post is locked, but the comm should be freely joinable.] It's been too long since I read Ryohei/Hibari anything, much less a doujinshi with porn in it! Much less doujinshi with Ryohei making Hibari's life so difficult that you don't even know. Because that was the really fun part about this one--as much as I liked the sex (and I did), it was Hibari's hilarious facial expressions that were my favorite. The art is on the simple side and Hibari's a little too easily shocked sometimes for my taste, but the things the doujinshi did right made up for that for me. (Ryohei/Hibari, somewhere between R and NC-17.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I really, desperately wanted some pretty Orihime art this morning. So, I braved my way back into the j-fanart sites to look for more of it and asldkfjaslkjskj if nothing else, I'm glad for this pairing because PRETTY ORIHIME ART. I love the artist's uses of black/white/orange together, the way the slick and glossy colors are so pretty. Plus, there's a handful of Orihime images by herself (in a black shirt or in a bikini or, hell, even an occasional Rukia/Orihime b&w sketch) and that really won me over. I grudgingly admit the UlquiHime art was very pretty, I suppose. *g* (Ulquiorra/Orihime, some other het pairings.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - No, seriously, I am so incredibly weak to Orihime art (and desperate for it) that I'll just eat up sites that normally wouldn't be to my personal tastes otherwise. The art here starts out sketchy and a bit simple, but I actually really liked the way it looked, the almost watercolor-like style at times, the way her hair flowed all through the images, the way the colors were very vivid at other times. There was a nice, warm feeling to several of them or else sometimes they reminded me of Halloween, which was perfect for today. (Not that they were Halloween-esque in nature, but the black/orange/white scheme reminds me of it.) I think... if I were a bigger fan of this pairing, I'd have been a lot more squeeful about this site, but, hell, even as it stands, I enjoyed the lovely Orihime art. (Some Ulquiorra/Orihime, some Orihime gen, a smidge of Hitsugaya/Matsumoto.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Moar Orihime art! Which does start out small and a little in need of tightening, but there's a lot of potential in this artist's lines right from the beginning. Plus, Orihime being cute! And I never quite lost my ability to be intrigued by Grimmjow/Orihime! And I do think Ulquiorra's design is interesting from a visual standpoint! Actually, I think some of my favorites from this site might have been the GrimmHime ones just because they're so well-done, the artist really ramps up their game for those. The rest of the art is really cute, but I totally got my kicks from being an Orihime fan on this site. (Grimmjow/Orihime/Ulquiorra mix-and-match, some Nnoitra/Tesla, some gen.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - Granted, this site is going to be for fans like me, who a) love Orihime to little bits and b) are over the moon for Ichigo/Orihime. The artist has a very... when I was going through the gallery, I was actually rather strongly reminded of shoujo manga-style covers, which the artist has a strong sense of for me. It's not necessarily what everyone will go for, but I was pleased with it on this one site. Plus, you know. Ichigo/Orihime art, my fangirl heart wants it. And I really did like the super cute sketches on this site, I'd like to see more from this artist. (Ichigo/Orihime, some Grimmjow/Orihime/Ichigo triangle stuff.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - So, I was looking for Orihime art this afternoon. And... somehow found myself looking at Aizen art instead. Well, okay, it's more of a Gin-centric site, but the artist is clearly fond of Aizen as well and the art of him is what sucked me into this site at the beginning. Some of the art here is really just beautifully done, she does that gentle evil smirk amazingly well and Aizen is really kind of hot in her hands. (Aizen with his shirt half-undo? I did not know how much I needed that until I saw it, wow.) The Gin art is nicely done as well (though, a bit more focused on the oekaki and sketches than I'd have liked) but, man, once I got into the Aizen/Gin art, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite sites for this pairing. The artist has some great lines, it's all detail and just a hit of messy hair and soft colors, all things that are perfect for this surprisingly subtle pairing. There's also some Gin/everyone, some Matsumoto standalone art that's hot, etc, but I was definitely here for the Aizen/Gin, mm. (Mostly gen, but some Aizen/Gin and a bit of other/Gin.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I sat on the fence with this site as well for awhile and wound up scanning quickly over a lot of the images, I admit. But there was enough art here that was just darling that I eventually wound up slowing down and taking my time properly--especially the Orihime art. (I have my weaknesses, I know.) There's a fairly decent selection of various Hueco Mundo-centric characters here, but it was the soft, glowing colors on the Orihime (and Ulquiorra/Orihime) art that really sucked me in; some of it is SO CUTE. But it's also that there's a super cute Aizen/Orihime image! And a darling little formal wear Grimmjow/Orihime image! There's a lot of Arrancar art if you're into that as well. <3 (Mostly gen, but some Ulquiorra/Orihime, some other/Orihime het.)
- Bleach - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - This site follows in the trend a lot of my previous recs fell into--I sat on the fence with this one for a bit, but ultimately there was enough cute Orihime art that I couldn't resist. I tended to like the sketches and oekaki art the most, because it showed off the really super cute style the artist had and there were a lot of them. A lot of art (to the point that it takes me awhile just to view all of them) can really win me over with just about anything. (Ulquiorra/Orihime, some gen.)
- Gundam 00 - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I believe I've been to this site before, probably for the D.Gray-man art, but now that I'm more solidly into Gundam 00's fandom, the Allelujah/Marie art is just what I wanted to find. I do wish there'd been a bit more regular art (instead of a bunch of comics), but it's hard to complain when the artist has such a cute style and soft, pretty lines to everything. Plus, the comics are all about soft, cute looks towards each other or lovely hugs or the occasional super-pretty kiss. There's a smidge of Tieria/Feldt to be found on the site as well, which is a pet crack pairing that I can't help liking sometimes. Everything is drawn really well--occasionally a little on the simple side, but it's all very clean and really pretty. That's all I ask. And it does look a lot better on the regular art, where the artist has a bit more time to work on them--the log images of Allelujah hugging Marie or even Marie by herself are gorgeous. (Allelujah/Marie, a bit of Tieria/Feldt.)
- Gundam 00 - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I sat on the fence with this site for a bit because the artist has a lot of potential but I'm not sure they were quite there yet... and then I started getting into the more recent stuff and the artist had some really lovely pieces up and... well, it's a third Setsuna/Marina, a third Graham/Setsuna, and a third mash-up of everything else. I know my own weaknesses, especially if it's Setsuna in his s2 uniform with Marina in a pretty white dress or Setsuna/Marina semi-nakedness together. So, yeah, I wound up really, really liking this site by the end! Plus, the log art is really cute, too. <3 (Setsuna/Marina, Graham/Setsuna, a little everyone/Setsuna. Occasional NSFW content.)
- Sailor Moon - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - About the time I got to the cute little comic strip of Mamoru and Usagi studying together, where she just crawls right into his lap and then falls asleep on him, I knew this site and I were going to get along amazingly well. It's almost pure little 4koma style comics in b&w and the art is very simple, so I imagine you probably need to already be an UsaMamo fan, but... oh, man, this site pushed my buttons in all the right ways. It's SO CUTE and the more I look at the art, the more darling it becomes. It helps that the other senshi appear semi-often, in the same cute chibi-esque style, but it's mostly focused on the main couple doing things like watching meteors or being super cute when they finally (even just lightly) kiss each other or Usagi being adorable as she climbs into Mamoru's lap while he's driving or or or--! I just. I love it so much. (Usagi/Mamoru.)
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I wasn't even intending to look for Umineko art this morning, but the banner for this site caught my eye and it has pretty Amakusa/Ange art on it, so who am I to resist clicking on over? There's not a lot of art here, I definitely wish there'd been more (though, there is some very nice stuff on the log account), but the artist has gotten really good with her stuff for this series--the Ange images are lovely, the group images look fantastic, and there's even this one of Bernkastel/Lambdadelta that was very pretty, which I appreciate (a good variety of characters, that is). There's also a beautiful one of Maria and a couple of Kannon/Jessica images that made me happy. I almost never see art for them. (Some Amakusa/Ange, some Kannon/Jessica, mostly gen, I'd say.)
- Umineko no Naku Koro ni - [ Japanese Fanart Site ] - I believe I've been to this site before for the Higurashi art, but the Umineko art is all new to me now, which is a delight because it's such a pretty site. Sure, a lot of it is in sketches or little doodles, but when the artist goes all out, she creates something really lovely. The colors are so shiny and slick, the lines are clean and sharp, the details really good, creating just... really intriguing pieces. And of very nearly every major cast memeber at some point! The one of little Bernkastel/Erika is beautiful with its deep blues and purples or Beatrice in these lovely, glowing golds that are also just gorgeous or-- well, pretty much everything. This site is easily one of my favorites in the fandom already. (Nothing I'd really warn for.)