[ ARASHI, Avatar, Bleach, FFVIII, Glee, Gravitation, Sailor Moon, xxxHOLiC ]
SHARING TIME:
Some my faaaaavorite OTP stuff!
ღ CONRAD/YUURI MANIFESTO, OMG MY HEART. ♥♥♥
ღ Ichigo/Orihime wallpapers and icons, which actually got me to change my wallpaper for the first time in, like, a year since I put up an Okami one.
ღ Squall/Rinoa icons that look amazing, I am seriously tempted to redo my entire journal theme again, just to be able to use these.
AND ONTO THE RECS:
ARASHI - 4 Fanfics
Avatar: The Last Airbender - 1 Fanfic
Bleach - 1 Fanfic
Final Fantasy VIII - 1 Fanfic
Glee - 6 Fanfics
Gravitation - 1 Fanfic
Sailor Moon - 3 Fanfics
xxxHOLiC - 1 Fanfic
ARASHI: Five Miracles (of Questionable Origin) That Happened to Arashi by Circe - You know what the best part of this series of five ficlets (where, as the title says, each of Arashi get knocked up) is? That it's totally making with the funny and it's enjoying the trope of mpreg while mocking it at the same time. Yes, perfect. (God, when did I become a fan of mpreg? I blame this fandom somehow.) Especially seeing the different reactions and the various jokes and just. a sd;lfkjaslkj Ohno's reaction to Jun's pregnancy is seriously the greatest thing ever. Well. That and Sho's reaction to his own. Seriously, A+++++ for HILARITY, even if you don't usually like this genre. (No real warnings/pairings.)
ARASHI: Arashi's Rules for when Matsujun Comes to Work in a Morning Mood by primroseshows - Omg, do you know what else I love? When fic makes fun of Jun's bad temper in the mornings, but clearly does it out of love! Yet doesn't softball it! Seriously, nothing is funnier to me than when the rest of Arashi are scared of Jun's temper in the morning and I seriously thought my face was going to start hurting from all the grinning I did while this fic recounted the rules for how to deal with Jun when he's in a mood. There were footnotes to the rules! There were explanations for the rules! There was Arashi just totally throwing Ohno to the wolves because that's what Arashi does. And I love that Jun's personality is intact through this as well! Yes, he has terrible moods and they're scared of him, but you also know he can't really help it and it's not done out of malice. Just. Man, do I love this group of idiots. P.S. I LOVE SHO SO MUCH IT IS RIDICULOUS. (No warnings/pairings.)
ARASHI: just a little prince and his rose by augustfai - I've been browsing around the fandom and trying new (to me!) authors (that are, you know, not directly on my flist) and, oh, hey, look, Aiba/Jun that I hadn't read before! And it's a cute story about The Little Prince and Aiba being such an intensely emotional person, someone who feels everything really strongly, and Jun who is quietly tolerant because you can just sort of feel how much he loves Aiba right back. It's very sweet and adorable. <3 (Aiba/Jun.)
ARASHI: just one thing by augustfai - Well, hiiiiiiiiii new Ohno/Jun fic that is really, really nice to read. There is not enough of this pairing (because it's one of my very favorite things ever but I generally do not trust fandom with it, not after what they usually pull, as far as I've seen) and then to get a delightful where Ohno takes Jun out fishing (which Jun is totally thrilled about because you know Jun totally would be) and porn, it's like the internet maybe kind of loves me again. I love Ohno in this one, I love how quiet he is, but that he's a little bit of a bastard sometimes, but in a good-hearted sort of way, and I love that Jun's just completely weak to him and they both know he's not good at faking having a fun time, but he's trying for Ohno anyway. Just. That and the super hot porn! Excellent. ♥ (Ohno/Jun, NC-17.)
Avatar: the Last Airbender: This is a Proposal, Seriously by primroseshows - I can't help it, okay. I still have such a soft spot for Sokka/Toph, especially when the headers tempt me in with background Zuko/Mai. Which is what I came for, but I wound up staying for the utterly delightful Sokka spazzing over trying to propose. I love how it captures that Sokka's more than just a joke, but also totally goes for the humor and I love the characters' reactions around him when he goes to them for advice. Zuko's response is beautiful. (And I love the brief mentions of Zuko/Mai in there, that was lovely.) And I love that this is much a Sokka piece as it is a shippy piece. <3 (Sokka/Toph, some Zuko/Mai.)
Bleach: heads up! and fall in love by alice hattercandy - It took me a bit to figure out that this is set way pre-series (because I'm a genius who totally pays attention, yes) but once I did, I kind of fell in love with it. Well. Once Orihime dropped into Ichigo's life rather literally, I completely fell in love with it. I love the structure of it, the author's writing style here, it's almost sort of sparse, yet brings to mind a sort of fairy tale between the tone of it and the bits of description. I adore the take on Ichigo's character--such a cantankerous little snot and then this girl just sort of drops down on him and he can't help the way he sees her. I adored this so hard, it's one of my more recent favorites for these two. ♥ (Ichigo/Orihime.)
Final Fantasy VIII: Something Blue by measuringlife - You know, lately I've really been in a shippy mood. And sometimes fic comes along that just hits all the right buttons for me, especially with these two, which are practically in the mold of a shoujo OTP. (Shut up, they are so!) Add in Rinoa being sweet and Squall being surprisingly patient as they go shopping of all things and planning for a wedding and Squall hardly saying a word yet you can tell how much he loves her, well. I am all over that. This was a lovely treat today. <3 (Squall/Rinoa.)
Glee: blame it on bartle & jaymes. by jan - I think what really got me with this fic was the use of the line from the second episode about Rachel not having a gag reflex--I love it when fandom runs with a line like that, especially when it's put together with a hilarious Puck narrative voice and great characterization for both of them. I love the way Rachel is about giving her first blowjob here, of course that's how she'd be. And I love that Puck is... he's a teenage boy still, but he's not a total jerk and there are moments of not being so bad even if he's not really a gentleman or anything. And mostly I just love that the whole thing felt right and was kind of hilarious. Plus, Puck/Rachel makeouts and more! Awesome. (Puck/Rachel, NC-17.)
Glee: Diverging Normality by dazeyhaze - [ part 1 - part 2 ] - I wasn't sure what to think when I read the prologue. Awhile later, I read the first chapter (not realizing that it was connected to the prologue, because I'm a genius and can totally remember stuff from day to day) and found that the first chapter stood pretty well on its own and sucked me in with a whole lot of curiosity--I really want to know where the author is going with this storyline! It's sort of a retelling of the first few episodes that sticks to the basic backbone of events, but works in a Puck/Rachel pregnancy storyline and I am not ashamed to say that I want more like burning, especially if it's a pairing I'm onboard with. And I do like that they're not instantly in love, that Puck is a dick with a lot of growing to do here, but he shows the same signs he does in the canon series. More plz. (Puck/Rachel.)
Glee: set myself on fire by dress without sleeves - I'd been waiting until this fic was finished to read it and then sat down and read over 40,000 words in one sitting. I think this is kind of a huge testament to how a) fucking much I love this pairing omfg and b) how really epic and great this fic is. It's a story that starts with Puck and Rachel as kids and then shows them growing up, takes the story all the way through 1x08/1x09, then creates this really kind of perfect future for them because it's not perfect. But it deals with their feelings for other people and the problems between them and the growth of both of their characters and touches on so many complicated issues between all four of the love quadrangle characters. Hell, it even addresses Finn and Puck's friendship! It's mostly centered on the Puck/Rachel relationship, but the voices for everyone are stellar, the building/use of fanon (the whole thing with Rachel and Puck having known each other since they were kids since they're both Jews in a small town) is the kind that's so completely in tune with the show that it'd be easy to blur it together with the actual canon.
This fic is one of those where it does things right, it doesn't just shove them immediately back together, but instead takes its time and builds something genuine between them again. It genuinely deals with the Finn/Rachel and Puck/Quinn. It genuinely deals with the ups and downs of kids that had a lot of growing up to do before they got to the point they're at. Hell, it even touches on all the other kids in Glee and I swear. One of the greatest things ever was the way Puck thought about Artie. Seriously, after reading about them in this fic, it was kind of a struggle not to hit up the rest of FFNET to see if there was more Puck - Artie interaction because it was just that beautiful and yet I know no one else would do it justice, but I didn't really mind. ....which is the thing about this fic, I guess. It was so complete, so satisfying that I really didn't need much more after it. Well. For that day. I think this'll probably always be one of those defining fics in the fandom for these two and one of the ones I hold up as why the Puck/Rachel fandom is so goddamned much fun. ♥ (Puck/Rachel, some dealing with all sides of the Finn/Rachel/Puck/Quinn thing.)
Glee: don’t do sadness by hariboo_smirks - And, no matter how satisfied I am by previous fics, I always want more and fic like this is the reason why. It's another fic where I plunked myself down and read almot 9,000 words of fic in one sitting, then being disappointed when there wasn't more to immediately read with this story. It's another fic that deals with so many of the issues of these characters and I think this Rachel is a little off from the canon Rachel in the sense that she's kind of a better person and has done some growing and is the Rachel that came out of 1x08 rather than 1x09 (meaning, a Rachel that never backslid) and this is the Rachel that I'm pining to see on the show. I know she's in there. And this fic brought out all that potential in her character, the way she's slowly making friends and she's good in this group of people and they're warming up to her as well. I even love that it's not precisely Puck/Rachel in the romantic sense but deals with their relationship in a really natural-feeling way, I can so easily see all of this. And I really like that the fic also deals with Quinn's pregnancy and deals with a lot of the hurt and pain so many of them have gone through, but is ultimately about healing. And I really, really adore this Rachel a whole hell of a lot. ♥ (Sort of Puck/Rachel with implications of the quadrangle, but is ultimately more gen than anything.)
Glee: Vera Wang by smilebackwards - Another fic based off a hilarious line from the show: I'm a stud, dude. I could wear a dress to school and people would think it's cool." I love it when fic does that. But I love it even more when it's a great fic that accomplishes two things--gets Puck to grow up a little more once again and kind of starts to build a friendship with Kurt. I love Kurt's reaction to Puck wearing a dress to school, I love the little details worked in and the things that don't have to be said to be understood, and I am in utter love with the ending of this piece. Wonderful. ♥ (No warnings/pairings.)
Glee: like that stupid police song by hariboo_smirks - This is a shorter piece, but a nice way to cap off my evening of fic reading, with Puck and Rachel making out on a couch, in Puck's POV. I am really charmed by how... fond he is of her crazy even as she drives him up the wall. It's the kind of dynamic that gives off a ton of sparks and is really kinda hot. It's fluffy, sure, but it's also so damn cute and fun to read. <3 (Puck/Rachel.)
Gravitation: He Kinda Proposed In A Taxi Cab by cuethe_pulse - I think what sold me on reading this fic was the line in the summary: He was always his grumpiest when he was trying to be sweet because, yes, that's Eiri and of course Shuuichi gets that. I love that this takes the whole "Yuki giving Shuuichi a ring" cliche and actually does something really funny and in character with it. I love this dynamic, where Yuki is grumpy because he's doing something kind of nice and Shuuichi is just... Shuuichi about it. asdlkfjalksj the notes about telling the grandkids were great, too. (Yuki/Shuuichi.)
Sailor Moon: Forces of Attraction by Aislinn Cailin - I continue to love stories set in the first season when Usagi and Mamoru were constantly bitching at each other as a cover for their attraction towards each other, which this fic plays very nicely on. It's a premise that could have been really cliche--Motoki thinks that their opposing natures make them attracted to each other, Mamoru thinks that's stupid, so Motoki makes a bet that he can't stay away from Usagi for a week, and thus true feelings start bubbling up to the surface--but the author has a solid grasp of the characters and gives it this really fun tone that's just so... Sailor Moon. I love that it's obvious the two of them like each other, but refuse to admit it even to themselves until they can't stand it anymore and it's just... it's Usagi and Mamoru and that pull they have towards each other. Like destiny without being so overwrought here. ♥ (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: Choose for Me, Old Santa Claus by Alicia Blade - This is another one of those stories (and again at over 10,000 words that I read in a single sitting, clearly I am very hyped on this series lately) where it's all about Usagi and Mamoru bickering at each other until they're nudged forward just enough to push them past that and into realizing just how much they really like each other. It's set around Christmas and it's just really cute and fun, watching two elves try to play matchmaker with Mamoru and all of the Inner Senshi until finally he and Usagi just... trip into their feelings for each other. It could have been cliche or too weird, but somehow the author just makes it really darn charming instead. ♥ (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: Return of the Moon Princess by Princess Nat - [Note: Chapter 4's formatting seems to have been stripped away, so you can also find the entire fic at the author's site.] So, the plot of this fic? Sailor Moon collapses after a battle and when she wakes up she only has the memories of Princess Serenity before she met Endymion. DO WANT DO WANT DO WANT. I love a good reveal and I love time-travel-esque or past-memories-resurfacing fics and this one was delicious for providing me with Mamoru and Serenity interaction. Set during the R season, not too long after the breakup, it's a fic that's allll about getting them to be in close quarters (since she's sick and needs to stay close to the Earth Prince to not die) and getting Mamoru over his dipshit ideas of staying away from her. The writing is solid and the OTP is lovely and the fic did the premise justice. I ate this up with a spoon without irony or restraint. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
xxxHOLiC: Tokens of Memory by smakn - [Note: There are likely spoilers in this fic and this rec.] Oh, man, I love how much Clow/Yuuko fic there's been around lately. Not that I've read all the things on my list (my backlog is kind of ridiculous) but I stop to read pieces every so often and this one was wonderful. The use of imagery and language was fantastic, it was just this really fantastic combination of anger and elegance and something almost like whimsy that made so much sense for Yuuko here, the way she thinks about Clow and looks at Watanuki. The way she feels herself slowly dying and her time finally running out, all of it is lovely. (Clow/Yuuko.)
Some my faaaaavorite OTP stuff!
ღ CONRAD/YUURI MANIFESTO, OMG MY HEART. ♥♥♥
ღ Ichigo/Orihime wallpapers and icons, which actually got me to change my wallpaper for the first time in, like, a year since I put up an Okami one.
ღ Squall/Rinoa icons that look amazing, I am seriously tempted to redo my entire journal theme again, just to be able to use these.
AND ONTO THE RECS:
ARASHI - 4 Fanfics
Avatar: The Last Airbender - 1 Fanfic
Bleach - 1 Fanfic
Final Fantasy VIII - 1 Fanfic
Glee - 6 Fanfics
Gravitation - 1 Fanfic
Sailor Moon - 3 Fanfics
xxxHOLiC - 1 Fanfic
ARASHI: Five Miracles (of Questionable Origin) That Happened to Arashi by Circe - You know what the best part of this series of five ficlets (where, as the title says, each of Arashi get knocked up) is? That it's totally making with the funny and it's enjoying the trope of mpreg while mocking it at the same time. Yes, perfect. (God, when did I become a fan of mpreg? I blame this fandom somehow.) Especially seeing the different reactions and the various jokes and just. a sd;lfkjaslkj Ohno's reaction to Jun's pregnancy is seriously the greatest thing ever. Well. That and Sho's reaction to his own. Seriously, A+++++ for HILARITY, even if you don't usually like this genre. (No real warnings/pairings.)
ARASHI: Arashi's Rules for when Matsujun Comes to Work in a Morning Mood by primroseshows - Omg, do you know what else I love? When fic makes fun of Jun's bad temper in the mornings, but clearly does it out of love! Yet doesn't softball it! Seriously, nothing is funnier to me than when the rest of Arashi are scared of Jun's temper in the morning and I seriously thought my face was going to start hurting from all the grinning I did while this fic recounted the rules for how to deal with Jun when he's in a mood. There were footnotes to the rules! There were explanations for the rules! There was Arashi just totally throwing Ohno to the wolves because that's what Arashi does. And I love that Jun's personality is intact through this as well! Yes, he has terrible moods and they're scared of him, but you also know he can't really help it and it's not done out of malice. Just. Man, do I love this group of idiots. P.S. I LOVE SHO SO MUCH IT IS RIDICULOUS. (No warnings/pairings.)
ARASHI: just a little prince and his rose by augustfai - I've been browsing around the fandom and trying new (to me!) authors (that are, you know, not directly on my flist) and, oh, hey, look, Aiba/Jun that I hadn't read before! And it's a cute story about The Little Prince and Aiba being such an intensely emotional person, someone who feels everything really strongly, and Jun who is quietly tolerant because you can just sort of feel how much he loves Aiba right back. It's very sweet and adorable. <3 (Aiba/Jun.)
ARASHI: just one thing by augustfai - Well, hiiiiiiiiii new Ohno/Jun fic that is really, really nice to read. There is not enough of this pairing (because it's one of my very favorite things ever but I generally do not trust fandom with it, not after what they usually pull, as far as I've seen) and then to get a delightful where Ohno takes Jun out fishing (which Jun is totally thrilled about because you know Jun totally would be) and porn, it's like the internet maybe kind of loves me again. I love Ohno in this one, I love how quiet he is, but that he's a little bit of a bastard sometimes, but in a good-hearted sort of way, and I love that Jun's just completely weak to him and they both know he's not good at faking having a fun time, but he's trying for Ohno anyway. Just. That and the super hot porn! Excellent. ♥ (Ohno/Jun, NC-17.)
Avatar: the Last Airbender: This is a Proposal, Seriously by primroseshows - I can't help it, okay. I still have such a soft spot for Sokka/Toph, especially when the headers tempt me in with background Zuko/Mai. Which is what I came for, but I wound up staying for the utterly delightful Sokka spazzing over trying to propose. I love how it captures that Sokka's more than just a joke, but also totally goes for the humor and I love the characters' reactions around him when he goes to them for advice. Zuko's response is beautiful. (And I love the brief mentions of Zuko/Mai in there, that was lovely.) And I love that this is much a Sokka piece as it is a shippy piece. <3 (Sokka/Toph, some Zuko/Mai.)
Bleach: heads up! and fall in love by alice hattercandy - It took me a bit to figure out that this is set way pre-series (because I'm a genius who totally pays attention, yes) but once I did, I kind of fell in love with it. Well. Once Orihime dropped into Ichigo's life rather literally, I completely fell in love with it. I love the structure of it, the author's writing style here, it's almost sort of sparse, yet brings to mind a sort of fairy tale between the tone of it and the bits of description. I adore the take on Ichigo's character--such a cantankerous little snot and then this girl just sort of drops down on him and he can't help the way he sees her. I adored this so hard, it's one of my more recent favorites for these two. ♥ (Ichigo/Orihime.)
Final Fantasy VIII: Something Blue by measuringlife - You know, lately I've really been in a shippy mood. And sometimes fic comes along that just hits all the right buttons for me, especially with these two, which are practically in the mold of a shoujo OTP. (Shut up, they are so!) Add in Rinoa being sweet and Squall being surprisingly patient as they go shopping of all things and planning for a wedding and Squall hardly saying a word yet you can tell how much he loves her, well. I am all over that. This was a lovely treat today. <3 (Squall/Rinoa.)
Glee: blame it on bartle & jaymes. by jan - I think what really got me with this fic was the use of the line from the second episode about Rachel not having a gag reflex--I love it when fandom runs with a line like that, especially when it's put together with a hilarious Puck narrative voice and great characterization for both of them. I love the way Rachel is about giving her first blowjob here, of course that's how she'd be. And I love that Puck is... he's a teenage boy still, but he's not a total jerk and there are moments of not being so bad even if he's not really a gentleman or anything. And mostly I just love that the whole thing felt right and was kind of hilarious. Plus, Puck/Rachel makeouts and more! Awesome. (Puck/Rachel, NC-17.)
Glee: Diverging Normality by dazeyhaze - [ part 1 - part 2 ] - I wasn't sure what to think when I read the prologue. Awhile later, I read the first chapter (not realizing that it was connected to the prologue, because I'm a genius and can totally remember stuff from day to day) and found that the first chapter stood pretty well on its own and sucked me in with a whole lot of curiosity--I really want to know where the author is going with this storyline! It's sort of a retelling of the first few episodes that sticks to the basic backbone of events, but works in a Puck/Rachel pregnancy storyline and I am not ashamed to say that I want more like burning, especially if it's a pairing I'm onboard with. And I do like that they're not instantly in love, that Puck is a dick with a lot of growing to do here, but he shows the same signs he does in the canon series. More plz. (Puck/Rachel.)
Glee: set myself on fire by dress without sleeves - I'd been waiting until this fic was finished to read it and then sat down and read over 40,000 words in one sitting. I think this is kind of a huge testament to how a) fucking much I love this pairing omfg and b) how really epic and great this fic is. It's a story that starts with Puck and Rachel as kids and then shows them growing up, takes the story all the way through 1x08/1x09, then creates this really kind of perfect future for them because it's not perfect. But it deals with their feelings for other people and the problems between them and the growth of both of their characters and touches on so many complicated issues between all four of the love quadrangle characters. Hell, it even addresses Finn and Puck's friendship! It's mostly centered on the Puck/Rachel relationship, but the voices for everyone are stellar, the building/use of fanon (the whole thing with Rachel and Puck having known each other since they were kids since they're both Jews in a small town) is the kind that's so completely in tune with the show that it'd be easy to blur it together with the actual canon.
This fic is one of those where it does things right, it doesn't just shove them immediately back together, but instead takes its time and builds something genuine between them again. It genuinely deals with the Finn/Rachel and Puck/Quinn. It genuinely deals with the ups and downs of kids that had a lot of growing up to do before they got to the point they're at. Hell, it even touches on all the other kids in Glee and I swear. One of the greatest things ever was the way Puck thought about Artie. Seriously, after reading about them in this fic, it was kind of a struggle not to hit up the rest of FFNET to see if there was more Puck - Artie interaction because it was just that beautiful and yet I know no one else would do it justice, but I didn't really mind. ....which is the thing about this fic, I guess. It was so complete, so satisfying that I really didn't need much more after it. Well. For that day. I think this'll probably always be one of those defining fics in the fandom for these two and one of the ones I hold up as why the Puck/Rachel fandom is so goddamned much fun. ♥ (Puck/Rachel, some dealing with all sides of the Finn/Rachel/Puck/Quinn thing.)
Glee: don’t do sadness by hariboo_smirks - And, no matter how satisfied I am by previous fics, I always want more and fic like this is the reason why. It's another fic where I plunked myself down and read almot 9,000 words of fic in one sitting, then being disappointed when there wasn't more to immediately read with this story. It's another fic that deals with so many of the issues of these characters and I think this Rachel is a little off from the canon Rachel in the sense that she's kind of a better person and has done some growing and is the Rachel that came out of 1x08 rather than 1x09 (meaning, a Rachel that never backslid) and this is the Rachel that I'm pining to see on the show. I know she's in there. And this fic brought out all that potential in her character, the way she's slowly making friends and she's good in this group of people and they're warming up to her as well. I even love that it's not precisely Puck/Rachel in the romantic sense but deals with their relationship in a really natural-feeling way, I can so easily see all of this. And I really like that the fic also deals with Quinn's pregnancy and deals with a lot of the hurt and pain so many of them have gone through, but is ultimately about healing. And I really, really adore this Rachel a whole hell of a lot. ♥ (Sort of Puck/Rachel with implications of the quadrangle, but is ultimately more gen than anything.)
Glee: Vera Wang by smilebackwards - Another fic based off a hilarious line from the show: I'm a stud, dude. I could wear a dress to school and people would think it's cool." I love it when fic does that. But I love it even more when it's a great fic that accomplishes two things--gets Puck to grow up a little more once again and kind of starts to build a friendship with Kurt. I love Kurt's reaction to Puck wearing a dress to school, I love the little details worked in and the things that don't have to be said to be understood, and I am in utter love with the ending of this piece. Wonderful. ♥ (No warnings/pairings.)
Glee: like that stupid police song by hariboo_smirks - This is a shorter piece, but a nice way to cap off my evening of fic reading, with Puck and Rachel making out on a couch, in Puck's POV. I am really charmed by how... fond he is of her crazy even as she drives him up the wall. It's the kind of dynamic that gives off a ton of sparks and is really kinda hot. It's fluffy, sure, but it's also so damn cute and fun to read. <3 (Puck/Rachel.)
Gravitation: He Kinda Proposed In A Taxi Cab by cuethe_pulse - I think what sold me on reading this fic was the line in the summary: He was always his grumpiest when he was trying to be sweet because, yes, that's Eiri and of course Shuuichi gets that. I love that this takes the whole "Yuki giving Shuuichi a ring" cliche and actually does something really funny and in character with it. I love this dynamic, where Yuki is grumpy because he's doing something kind of nice and Shuuichi is just... Shuuichi about it. asdlkfjalksj the notes about telling the grandkids were great, too. (Yuki/Shuuichi.)
Sailor Moon: Forces of Attraction by Aislinn Cailin - I continue to love stories set in the first season when Usagi and Mamoru were constantly bitching at each other as a cover for their attraction towards each other, which this fic plays very nicely on. It's a premise that could have been really cliche--Motoki thinks that their opposing natures make them attracted to each other, Mamoru thinks that's stupid, so Motoki makes a bet that he can't stay away from Usagi for a week, and thus true feelings start bubbling up to the surface--but the author has a solid grasp of the characters and gives it this really fun tone that's just so... Sailor Moon. I love that it's obvious the two of them like each other, but refuse to admit it even to themselves until they can't stand it anymore and it's just... it's Usagi and Mamoru and that pull they have towards each other. Like destiny without being so overwrought here. ♥ (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: Choose for Me, Old Santa Claus by Alicia Blade - This is another one of those stories (and again at over 10,000 words that I read in a single sitting, clearly I am very hyped on this series lately) where it's all about Usagi and Mamoru bickering at each other until they're nudged forward just enough to push them past that and into realizing just how much they really like each other. It's set around Christmas and it's just really cute and fun, watching two elves try to play matchmaker with Mamoru and all of the Inner Senshi until finally he and Usagi just... trip into their feelings for each other. It could have been cliche or too weird, but somehow the author just makes it really darn charming instead. ♥ (Mamoru/Usagi.)
Sailor Moon: Return of the Moon Princess by Princess Nat - [Note: Chapter 4's formatting seems to have been stripped away, so you can also find the entire fic at the author's site.] So, the plot of this fic? Sailor Moon collapses after a battle and when she wakes up she only has the memories of Princess Serenity before she met Endymion. DO WANT DO WANT DO WANT. I love a good reveal and I love time-travel-esque or past-memories-resurfacing fics and this one was delicious for providing me with Mamoru and Serenity interaction. Set during the R season, not too long after the breakup, it's a fic that's allll about getting them to be in close quarters (since she's sick and needs to stay close to the Earth Prince to not die) and getting Mamoru over his dipshit ideas of staying away from her. The writing is solid and the OTP is lovely and the fic did the premise justice. I ate this up with a spoon without irony or restraint. (Mamoru/Usagi.)
xxxHOLiC: Tokens of Memory by smakn - [Note: There are likely spoilers in this fic and this rec.] Oh, man, I love how much Clow/Yuuko fic there's been around lately. Not that I've read all the things on my list (my backlog is kind of ridiculous) but I stop to read pieces every so often and this one was wonderful. The use of imagery and language was fantastic, it was just this really fantastic combination of anger and elegance and something almost like whimsy that made so much sense for Yuuko here, the way she thinks about Clow and looks at Watanuki. The way she feels herself slowly dying and her time finally running out, all of it is lovely. (Clow/Yuuko.)