Even more Trickyfish recs
During October - December last year I made 50 story recs featuring Lance for rec50 and many of them were, of course, Trickyfish. (Almost half of them in fact :-)
Author: Calico, at Calico's Lair and ukcalico
Title: Rumour
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: This is one of the first stories I ever read in popslash and quite probably the cause of my strong love of the Chris/Lance pairing. In this story it is Chris who is the schemer, getting Lance to go along with his plans, and putting strange new ideas in his head. It's at once serious and funny, with great dialogue and atmosphere.
Prompt for rec50: 48 Reccer's Choice (Dec 14 2005)
Author: Cappuccino, at Fluff On Top and fluffontop
Title: The Gay One
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Lance is hard to figure out, but Chris does his best. An interesting, well-written story taking place in the early years in Germany.
Prompt for rec50: 40 Confession (Dec 12 2005)
Author: Donna, at It's A Dirty Story and withdiamonds
Title: My Boyfriend's Back or here
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium/long
My opinion: A story about Chris and Lance's renewed attempt to get together, and this time perhaps avoid the usual spectacular breakup. In a desperate attempt to avoid any more disasters such as the mohawk and the nose job, and to ensure that he won't still be working on the Nsync reunion record when he's 30, Justin decides that their fellow bandmembers must lend a hand this time. This story is at once funny, serious, and sweet. It's deceptively simple on the surface, but a closer look reveals asides and details that gives it resonance and depth. The characterizations are sharply drawn, and the central story about Chris and Lance's long-drawn-out mating dance over the whole of Nsync's career rings wonderfully true.
Prompt for rec50: 37 Make-up (Oct 28 2005)
Author: Giddy, at The Geekdom and giddygeek
Title: No Comment
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Chris is on vacation and has turned off his cellphone. The press is constructing elaborate theories about what he's really doing and Nsync's attempts at damage control is only making things worse. Lance worries, but also seems to be keeping secrets of his own. This is one of Giddy's best stories. It's fast-paced, has wonderful dialogues and internal monologues, the love story is well thought out, and it's also hysterically funny. Justin's big gaffe at the end is definitely not to be missed!
Prompt for rec50: 32 Secrets (Dec 6 2005)
Author: joyfulseeker, at joyfulseeker
Title: The Proper Care of Houseplants
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: short
My opinion: What is Bob really after? Is his growing influence over Lance cause for worry? A very atmospheric and sensual story.
Prompt for rec50: 27 Original Character (Nov 27 2005)
Author: k8, at mainly in the plain... and paintedmaypole
Title: Arizona
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: The recurring theme in this story, that takes place after Lance's illness in 1999, is how much things have changed during the last year and how trapped they all are beginning to feel. Chris and Lance have an added stress factor, but this vacation in Arizona may perhaps offer a way to change things between them to the better. Like the other k8 story I've recced, The Haircuts, this story has a wonderful sense of place and atmosphere.
Prompt for rec50: 45 Trapped (Dec 9 2005)
Author: k8, at mainly in the plain... and paintedmaypole
Title: The Haircuts
Pairing: Lance/Chris, JC/Nick, and several others
Length: epic (34 chapters)
My opinion: Wonderfully written, atmospheric AU with great characterizations, set in modern-day Boston. This is a story to read at the computer since the pages are peppered with links to pages that'll give you more information about the neighborhoods, the shops, the cafés, and the other spots where the story takes place. Following them is definitely not a waste of time, it enriches the story immeasurably. The story is funny, it's witty, it's clearsighted. Lance is deligthfully snarky and arrogant in it and the spectacle of Chris dragging him kicking and screaming into a relationship form a major part of the plot of this epic tale.
Prompt for rec50: 02 AU (Oct 25 2005)
Author: Kate & Mercutio, at Index of Stand Alone Stories & Mercutio's Stories and sirkate & bard_mercutio
Title: Ice, Ice, Baby or here
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: short
My opinion: Chris discovers his mission in life. Wonderfully funny little Trickyfish story.
Prompt for rec50: 25 Kink (Dec 11 2005)
Author: Lily, at improvidence and lilysaid
Title: Beyond Reproach
Pairing: Lance/Chris, JC/Justin
Length: long/epic
My opinion: Chris is an art student with a wild reputation and Lance is the president of the Baptist Student Union. This is the story about how two people from such widely different backgrounds can slowly come to know one another and in the end fall in love. A well-written, wonderfully atmospheric tale with great characterisations.
Prompt for rec50: 07 Love (Dec 9 2005)
Author: Linda, at Infinite Passions and pierson
Title: The Lance Bass Song
Pairing: Lance/Chris (Chris/JC)
Length: long
My opinion: I have a great fondness for on-tour stories and this is one of the best. Lance's relationship with the mercurial Chris, JC's excentricity, the sex scenes, everything is wonderfully written, and the breakfast scene is one of my favourites in any story ever.
Prompt for rec50: 13 Established Relationship (Nov 20 2005)
Author: Mercutio, at Mercutio's Stories and bard_mercutio
Title: Getting It or start here if you want to read it in the original installments with comments
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: At first glance this story seems to fit the prompt Kink perfectly, but you soon realize this story has very little to do with kinky sex (even if there is slightly kinky sex in it) and much more with who Lance really is and what he needs. Can Chris give it to him and does he want to? Is Lance capable of letting Chris give it? A masterful character study of a person who isn't at all what he appear to be on the surface.
Prompt for rec50: 11 Character Study (Nov 8 2005)
Author: Merry, at any road and merryish
Title: Runaways
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium/long
My opinion: Lance and Chris runs away to Paris, but the Js still manage to find them. Who has betrayed them? The interaction between Lance and Chris feels very real, and the phone conversations with the other guys are simply hilarious. This is a very warm and very funny story.
Prompt for rec50: 38 Betrayal (Dec 9 2005)
Author: Patchwork Dragon, at Patchwork Dragon and patchworkdragon
Title: This Time
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: Lance is thirty-four years old and he and Chris have been friends and friends-with-benefits whenever they were both single for half of Lance's life, perhaps it is finally time for them to try something else. The Lance and Chris in this story may have mellowed a little over the years, but they are still very much themselves. Despite both of them being afraid to lose their best friend if they try and reach for something more, and angsting a bit now and then, this is at heart a happy story, full of heartwarming scenes and fun dialogues.
Prompt for rec50: 24 Future Fic (Oct 25 2005)
Author: Pen, at Pen's Nest and pensnest
Title: Merchandising or here
Pairing: None
Length: short
My opinion: A story that clearly demonstrates why Chris and Lance should never, ever be alowed to do things together without supervision.
Prompt for rec50: 16 Teamwork (Nov 4 2005)
Author: Pen, at Pen's Nest and pensnest
Title: Round Dance or Four Strangely Convoluted Days on the Path to Perfection
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Poor Lance wonders whether the rest of the guys have all turned crazy, or if it's a great practical joke cooked up by Chris. In this entertaining story Pen uses that hardy popslash perennial, the bodyswap, to great effect and also manages to poke gentle fun at several other fandom cliches. This isn't only a funny tale though, the moments of introspection and the sweet little love story fit seamlessly into the whole, and the result is a small gem of a story that deserves to be widely read.
Prompt for rec50: 10 Fandom Cliche (Nov 25 2005)
Author: Rhys, at Experiment V and rhyssj
Title: Backwards
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: They begin by fucking, then they break up. After that they argue and snark, and break up again. Then they start dating. I love this story of Lance and Chris and their dysfunctional way to start a relationship. Rhys has written so many exceptional stories, and while this isn't one of her major works it's still incredibly funny and the characterization is spot-on as usual.
Prompt for rec50: 39 Break-up (Oct 28 2005)
Author: Rhys, at Experiment V and rhyssj
Title: Body
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Most First Time stories featuring Lance and Chris takes place in Germany during the early days of Nsync's career, this one is a little bit different. One night Chris watches Lance rehearse the dancing for the PopOdyssey tour once again, ruminating on the changes in Lance and on this thing that keeps growing between them. Excellent characterisations, atmosphere, and dialogue, as is usual with Rhys stories.
Prompt for rec50: 01 First Time (Nov 27 2005)
Author: Sola Fiamma, at When Wrong Feels Right and sola_fiamma
Title: Under My Skin
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: Lance's growth from youth to young man seen through the eyes of Chris who does not have a crush on him, not at all! Wonderful characterisations and fund dialogue, and the scenes from the different stages of their career rings very true.
Prompt for rec50: 23 Time (Nov 23 2005)
Author: Synecdochic, at venus in furs and synecdochic
Title: Heart of Stone, Eyes of Tree
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: epic (eight parts)
My opinion: This is a modern day fairy tale, based on Tam Lin, but first and foremost it is a story about the strenght of friendship, and of love. The never-admitted love that makes Lance desperate to find a way to save Chris, the friendship that makes the rest of Nsync willing to take on something none of them really believes in for Chris' sake. The writing is beautiful and fully captures the contrasts between their modern-day life and the old, old tale they find themselves caught up in.
Prompt for rec50: 08 Friendship (Nov 1 2005)
Author: Tiffany Rawlins, at i am one & we are many and wearemany
Title: Mädchen
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Chris really sucks at protecting people from themselves. A very well-written story from the early days in Germany. Characterisation, atmosphere, dialogue, everything about it really, feels exactly right.
Prompt for rec50: 47 Reccer's Choice (Dec 14 2005)
Author: Tiffany Rawlins, at i am one & we are many and wearemany
Title: The Long Run (There are also several related short stories, all linked from this page.)
Pairing: Lance/Justin, Lance/Chris
Length: epic (2 parts)
My opinion: I don't know how many times I started reading this story and never made it farther than a few paragraphs, but when I finally managed to read it the whole way through I wished I had done so much earlier. It's a wonderful tale with great characterizations and atmosphere, but I have a very low tolerance for angst and this balances right at the outer edge of it. If you don't have that handicap you will probably love this story even more than I did. It takes place several years into the future and the members of Nsync have all gone their separate ways, hardly ever seeing each other anymore, when into Chris' bar in Chicago walks a very changed Lance.
Prompt for rec50: 03 Angst (Nov 25 2005)
Author: Calico, at Calico's Lair and ukcalico
Title: Rumour
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: This is one of the first stories I ever read in popslash and quite probably the cause of my strong love of the Chris/Lance pairing. In this story it is Chris who is the schemer, getting Lance to go along with his plans, and putting strange new ideas in his head. It's at once serious and funny, with great dialogue and atmosphere.
Prompt for rec50: 48 Reccer's Choice (Dec 14 2005)
Author: Cappuccino, at Fluff On Top and fluffontop
Title: The Gay One
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Lance is hard to figure out, but Chris does his best. An interesting, well-written story taking place in the early years in Germany.
Prompt for rec50: 40 Confession (Dec 12 2005)
Author: Donna, at It's A Dirty Story and withdiamonds
Title: My Boyfriend's Back or here
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium/long
My opinion: A story about Chris and Lance's renewed attempt to get together, and this time perhaps avoid the usual spectacular breakup. In a desperate attempt to avoid any more disasters such as the mohawk and the nose job, and to ensure that he won't still be working on the Nsync reunion record when he's 30, Justin decides that their fellow bandmembers must lend a hand this time. This story is at once funny, serious, and sweet. It's deceptively simple on the surface, but a closer look reveals asides and details that gives it resonance and depth. The characterizations are sharply drawn, and the central story about Chris and Lance's long-drawn-out mating dance over the whole of Nsync's career rings wonderfully true.
Prompt for rec50: 37 Make-up (Oct 28 2005)
Author: Giddy, at The Geekdom and giddygeek
Title: No Comment
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Chris is on vacation and has turned off his cellphone. The press is constructing elaborate theories about what he's really doing and Nsync's attempts at damage control is only making things worse. Lance worries, but also seems to be keeping secrets of his own. This is one of Giddy's best stories. It's fast-paced, has wonderful dialogues and internal monologues, the love story is well thought out, and it's also hysterically funny. Justin's big gaffe at the end is definitely not to be missed!
Prompt for rec50: 32 Secrets (Dec 6 2005)
Author: joyfulseeker, at joyfulseeker
Title: The Proper Care of Houseplants
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: short
My opinion: What is Bob really after? Is his growing influence over Lance cause for worry? A very atmospheric and sensual story.
Prompt for rec50: 27 Original Character (Nov 27 2005)
Author: k8, at mainly in the plain... and paintedmaypole
Title: Arizona
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: The recurring theme in this story, that takes place after Lance's illness in 1999, is how much things have changed during the last year and how trapped they all are beginning to feel. Chris and Lance have an added stress factor, but this vacation in Arizona may perhaps offer a way to change things between them to the better. Like the other k8 story I've recced, The Haircuts, this story has a wonderful sense of place and atmosphere.
Prompt for rec50: 45 Trapped (Dec 9 2005)
Author: k8, at mainly in the plain... and paintedmaypole
Title: The Haircuts
Pairing: Lance/Chris, JC/Nick, and several others
Length: epic (34 chapters)
My opinion: Wonderfully written, atmospheric AU with great characterizations, set in modern-day Boston. This is a story to read at the computer since the pages are peppered with links to pages that'll give you more information about the neighborhoods, the shops, the cafés, and the other spots where the story takes place. Following them is definitely not a waste of time, it enriches the story immeasurably. The story is funny, it's witty, it's clearsighted. Lance is deligthfully snarky and arrogant in it and the spectacle of Chris dragging him kicking and screaming into a relationship form a major part of the plot of this epic tale.
Prompt for rec50: 02 AU (Oct 25 2005)
Author: Kate & Mercutio, at Index of Stand Alone Stories & Mercutio's Stories and sirkate & bard_mercutio
Title: Ice, Ice, Baby or here
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: short
My opinion: Chris discovers his mission in life. Wonderfully funny little Trickyfish story.
Prompt for rec50: 25 Kink (Dec 11 2005)
Author: Lily, at improvidence and lilysaid
Title: Beyond Reproach
Pairing: Lance/Chris, JC/Justin
Length: long/epic
My opinion: Chris is an art student with a wild reputation and Lance is the president of the Baptist Student Union. This is the story about how two people from such widely different backgrounds can slowly come to know one another and in the end fall in love. A well-written, wonderfully atmospheric tale with great characterisations.
Prompt for rec50: 07 Love (Dec 9 2005)
Author: Linda, at Infinite Passions and pierson
Title: The Lance Bass Song
Pairing: Lance/Chris (Chris/JC)
Length: long
My opinion: I have a great fondness for on-tour stories and this is one of the best. Lance's relationship with the mercurial Chris, JC's excentricity, the sex scenes, everything is wonderfully written, and the breakfast scene is one of my favourites in any story ever.
Prompt for rec50: 13 Established Relationship (Nov 20 2005)
Author: Mercutio, at Mercutio's Stories and bard_mercutio
Title: Getting It or start here if you want to read it in the original installments with comments
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: At first glance this story seems to fit the prompt Kink perfectly, but you soon realize this story has very little to do with kinky sex (even if there is slightly kinky sex in it) and much more with who Lance really is and what he needs. Can Chris give it to him and does he want to? Is Lance capable of letting Chris give it? A masterful character study of a person who isn't at all what he appear to be on the surface.
Prompt for rec50: 11 Character Study (Nov 8 2005)
Author: Merry, at any road and merryish
Title: Runaways
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium/long
My opinion: Lance and Chris runs away to Paris, but the Js still manage to find them. Who has betrayed them? The interaction between Lance and Chris feels very real, and the phone conversations with the other guys are simply hilarious. This is a very warm and very funny story.
Prompt for rec50: 38 Betrayal (Dec 9 2005)
Author: Patchwork Dragon, at Patchwork Dragon and patchworkdragon
Title: This Time
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: Lance is thirty-four years old and he and Chris have been friends and friends-with-benefits whenever they were both single for half of Lance's life, perhaps it is finally time for them to try something else. The Lance and Chris in this story may have mellowed a little over the years, but they are still very much themselves. Despite both of them being afraid to lose their best friend if they try and reach for something more, and angsting a bit now and then, this is at heart a happy story, full of heartwarming scenes and fun dialogues.
Prompt for rec50: 24 Future Fic (Oct 25 2005)
Author: Pen, at Pen's Nest and pensnest
Title: Merchandising or here
Pairing: None
Length: short
My opinion: A story that clearly demonstrates why Chris and Lance should never, ever be alowed to do things together without supervision.
Prompt for rec50: 16 Teamwork (Nov 4 2005)
Author: Pen, at Pen's Nest and pensnest
Title: Round Dance or Four Strangely Convoluted Days on the Path to Perfection
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Poor Lance wonders whether the rest of the guys have all turned crazy, or if it's a great practical joke cooked up by Chris. In this entertaining story Pen uses that hardy popslash perennial, the bodyswap, to great effect and also manages to poke gentle fun at several other fandom cliches. This isn't only a funny tale though, the moments of introspection and the sweet little love story fit seamlessly into the whole, and the result is a small gem of a story that deserves to be widely read.
Prompt for rec50: 10 Fandom Cliche (Nov 25 2005)
Author: Rhys, at Experiment V and rhyssj
Title: Backwards
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: They begin by fucking, then they break up. After that they argue and snark, and break up again. Then they start dating. I love this story of Lance and Chris and their dysfunctional way to start a relationship. Rhys has written so many exceptional stories, and while this isn't one of her major works it's still incredibly funny and the characterization is spot-on as usual.
Prompt for rec50: 39 Break-up (Oct 28 2005)
Author: Rhys, at Experiment V and rhyssj
Title: Body
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Most First Time stories featuring Lance and Chris takes place in Germany during the early days of Nsync's career, this one is a little bit different. One night Chris watches Lance rehearse the dancing for the PopOdyssey tour once again, ruminating on the changes in Lance and on this thing that keeps growing between them. Excellent characterisations, atmosphere, and dialogue, as is usual with Rhys stories.
Prompt for rec50: 01 First Time (Nov 27 2005)
Author: Sola Fiamma, at When Wrong Feels Right and sola_fiamma
Title: Under My Skin
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: long
My opinion: Lance's growth from youth to young man seen through the eyes of Chris who does not have a crush on him, not at all! Wonderful characterisations and fund dialogue, and the scenes from the different stages of their career rings very true.
Prompt for rec50: 23 Time (Nov 23 2005)
Author: Synecdochic, at venus in furs and synecdochic
Title: Heart of Stone, Eyes of Tree
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: epic (eight parts)
My opinion: This is a modern day fairy tale, based on Tam Lin, but first and foremost it is a story about the strenght of friendship, and of love. The never-admitted love that makes Lance desperate to find a way to save Chris, the friendship that makes the rest of Nsync willing to take on something none of them really believes in for Chris' sake. The writing is beautiful and fully captures the contrasts between their modern-day life and the old, old tale they find themselves caught up in.
Prompt for rec50: 08 Friendship (Nov 1 2005)
Author: Tiffany Rawlins, at i am one & we are many and wearemany
Title: Mädchen
Pairing: Lance/Chris
Length: medium
My opinion: Chris really sucks at protecting people from themselves. A very well-written story from the early days in Germany. Characterisation, atmosphere, dialogue, everything about it really, feels exactly right.
Prompt for rec50: 47 Reccer's Choice (Dec 14 2005)
Author: Tiffany Rawlins, at i am one & we are many and wearemany
Title: The Long Run (There are also several related short stories, all linked from this page.)
Pairing: Lance/Justin, Lance/Chris
Length: epic (2 parts)
My opinion: I don't know how many times I started reading this story and never made it farther than a few paragraphs, but when I finally managed to read it the whole way through I wished I had done so much earlier. It's a wonderful tale with great characterizations and atmosphere, but I have a very low tolerance for angst and this balances right at the outer edge of it. If you don't have that handicap you will probably love this story even more than I did. It takes place several years into the future and the members of Nsync have all gone their separate ways, hardly ever seeing each other anymore, when into Chris' bar in Chicago walks a very changed Lance.
Prompt for rec50: 03 Angst (Nov 25 2005)